,the ,gospel of ,luke ,an ,exposition ,by ,charles ,r4 ,erdman ,professor of ,practical ,theology ,princeton ,theological ,seminary1 ,princeton1 ,new ,jersey ,philadelphia ,the ,westminster ,press #aicf ,,contents ,,foreword ,,introduction ,i4 ,the ,preface ,to the ,gospel4 ,luke #a3a-d ,,ii4 ,the ,birth and ,childhood of ,jesus4 ,chs4 #a3e to #b3eb ,a4 ,the ,birth of ,john ,foretold4 ,chs4 #a3e-be ,b4 ,the ,annunciation ,to ,mary4 ,ch4 #a3bf-ch ,c4 ,the 8,magnificat40 ,ch4 #a3ci-ef ,d4 ,the ,birth of ,john1 and the 8,benedictus40 ,ch4 #a3eg-hj ,e4 ,the ,birth of ,jesus4 ,ch4 #b3a-bj ,f4 ,the ,presentation of ,jesus1 and the 8,nunc ,dimittis40 ,ch4 #b3ba-dj ,g4 ,the ,boy ,jesus ,at ,jerusalem4 ,ch4 #b3da-eb ,,iii4 ,the ,preparation4 ,chs4 #c3a to #d3ac ,a4 ,the ,preaching ,of ,john4 ,ch4 #c3a-bj ,b4 ,the ,baptism ,of ,jesus4 ,ch4 #c3ba1 #bb ,c4 ,the ,genealogy ,of ,jesus4 ,ch4 #c3bc-ch ,d4 ,the ,temptation ,of ,jesus4 ,ch4 #d3a-ac ,,iv4 ,the ,ministry in ,galilee4 ,chs4 #d3ad to #i3ej ,a4 ,the ,first ,period4 ,ch4 #d3ad-dd #a4 ,jesus ,preaching at ,nazareth4 ,ch4 #d3ad-cj #b4 ,jesus ,performing ,miracles at ,capernaum4 ,ch4 #d3ca-dd ,b4 ,the ,second ,period4 ,chs4 #e3a to #f3aa #a4 ,the ,call of the ,first ,disciples4 ,ch4 #e3a-aa #b4 ,jesus ,cleansing a ,leper4 ,ch4 #e3ab-af #c4 ,jesus ,forgiving ,sins4 ,ch4 #e3ag-bf #d4 ,the ,call of ,levi4 ,ch4 #e3bg-cb #e4 ,the ,question of ,fasting4 ,ch4 #e3cc-ci #f4 ,the ,sabbath ,controversy4 ,ch4 #f3a-aa ,c4 ,the ,third ,period4 ,chs4 #f3ab to #h3ef #a4 ,the ,choice of the ,twelve4 ,ch4 #f3ab-ai #b4 ,the ,great ,sermon4 ,ch4 #f3bj-di #c4 ,the ,centurion of ,capernaum4 ,ch4 #g3a-aj #d4 ,jesus ,raising the ,widow's ,son4 ,ch4 #g3aa-ag #e4 ,jesus ,praising ,john4 ,ch4 #g3ah-ce #f4 ,a ,sinful ,woman ,forgiven4 ,ch4 #g3cf-ej #g4 ,the ,ministering ,women4 ,ch4 #h3a-c #h4 ,the ,parable of the ,sower4 ,ch4 #h3d-ah #i4 ,kinship with ,jesus4 ,ch4 #h3ai-ba #aj4 ,jesus ,stilling the ,storm4 ,ch4 #h3bb-be #aa4 ,a ,demoniac ,healed4 ,ch4 #h3bf-ci #ab4 ,the ,daughter of ,jairus and the ,woman with an ,issue of ,blood4 ,ch4 #h3dj-ef ,d4 ,the ,fourth ,period4 ,ch4 #i3a-ej #a4 ,the ,mission of the ,twelve4 ,ch4 #i3a-i #b4 ,the ,five ,thousand ,fed4 ,ch4 #i3aj-ag #c4 ,jesus ,predicting his ,death4 ,ch4 #i3ah-bg #d4 ,the ,transfiguration4 ,ch4 #i3bh-cf #e4 ,the ,demoniac ,boy4 ,ch4 #i3cg-de #f4 ,jesus ,rebuking ,pride and ,bigotry4 ,ch4 #i3df-ej ,v4 ,the ,journeys ,toward ,jerusalem4 ,chs4 #i3ea to #ai3bh ,a4 ,the ,first ,stages4 ,ch4 #i3ea to #ac3ba #a4 ,the ,inhospitable ,samaritans4 ,ch4 #i3ea-ef #b4 ,jesus ,rebuking ,rashness1 ,insincerity1 and ,indecision4 ,ch4 #i3eg-fb #c4 ,the ,mission of the ,seventy4 ,ch4 #aj3a-bd #d4 ,the ,good ,samaritan4 ,ch4 #aj3be-cg #e4 ,martha and ,mary4 ,ch4 #aj3ch-db #f4 ,jesus' ,teaching ,concerning ,prayer4 ,ch4 #aa3a-ac #g4 ,jesus ,rebuking ,blasphemy and ,unbelief4 ,ch4 #aa3ad-cf #h4 ,pharisaism ,exposed and ,denounced4 ,ch4 #aa3cg-ed #i4 ,faithful ,testimony ,encouraged4 ,ch4 #ab3a-ab #aj4 ,a ,warning ,against ,covetousness4 ,ch4 #ab3ac-ba #aa4 ,the ,cure of ,anxiety4 ,ch4 #ab3bb-cd #ab4 ,an ,exhortation to ,watchfulness4 ,ch4 #ab3ce-dh #ac4 ,the ,divisive ,influence of ,christ4 ,ch4 #ab3di-ei #ad4 ,a ,call to ,repentance4 ,ch4 #ac3a-i #ae4 ,a ,cure on the ,sabbath4 ,ch4 #ac3aj-ba ,b4 ,the ,second ,stages4 ,chs4 #ac3bb to #ag3aj #a4 ,the ,narrow ,door4 ,ch4 #ac3bb-cj #b4 ,the ,message to ,herod and the ,lament ,over ,jerusalem4 ,ch4 #ac3ca-ce #c4 ,jesus as a ,sabbath ,guest4 ,ch4 #ad3a-bd #d4 ,counting the ,cost4 ,ch4 #ad3be-ce #e4 ,the ,prodigal ,son4 ,ch4 #ae #f4 ,the ,unrighteous ,steward4 ,ch4 #af3a-ac #g4 ,the ,rich ,man and ,lazarus4 ,ch4 #af3ad-ca #h4 ,warnings to the ,disciples4 ,ch4 #ag3a-aj ,c4 ,the ,last ,stages4 ,chs4 #ag3aa to #ai3bh #a4 ,the ,samaritan ,leper4 ,ch4 #ag3aa-ai #b4 ,the ,coming of the ,kingdom4 ,ch4 #ag3bj-cg #c4 ,the ,unrighteous ,judge4 ,ch4 #ah3a-h #d4 ,the ,pharisee and the ,publican4 ,ch4 #ah3i-ad #e4 ,jesus ,receiving ,little ,children4 ,ch4 #ah3ae-ag #f4 ,the ,rich ,ruler4 ,ch4 #ah3ah-cj #g4 ,jesus ,again ,foretelling ,his ,death4 ,ch4 #ah3ca-cd #h4 ,the ,blind ,man at ,jericho4 ,ch4 #ah3ce-dc #i4 ,the ,conversion of ,zacchaeus4 ,ch4 #ai3a-aj #aj4 ,the ,parable of the ,pounds4 ,ch4 #ai3aa-bh ,,vi4 ,the ,closing ,ministry4 ,chs4 #ai3bi to #ba3ch ,a4 ,the ,triumphal ,entry4 ,ch4 #ai3bi-dh ,b4 ,the ,question ,as ,to ,authority4 ,ch4 #bj3a-h ,c4 ,the ,parable ,of ,the ,husbandmen4 ,ch4 #bj3i-ah ,d4 ,the ,question ,as ,to ,paying ,tribute4 ,ch4 #bj3ai-bf ,e4 ,the ,question ,as ,to ,the ,resurrection4 ,ch4 #bj3bg-dj ,f4 ,the ,question ,of ,jesus4 ,ch4 #bj3da-dd ,g4 ,the ,warning ,against ,the ,scribes4 ,ch4 #bj3de-dg ,h4 ,the ,widow's ,mites4 ,ch4 #ba3a-d ,i4 ,the ,destruction ,of ,jerusalem ,and ,the ,coming ,of ,christ4 ,ch4 #ba3e-ch #a4 ,the ,present ,age4 ,ch4 #ba3e-ai #b4 ,the ,destruction of ,jerusalem4 ,ch4 #ba3bj-bd #c4 ,the ,coming of ,christ4 ,ch4 #ba3be-bh #d4 ,the ,encouragement to ,hope and ,vigilance4 ,ch4 #ba3bi-cf #e4 ,the ,historic ,statement4 ,ch4 #ba3cg1 #ch ,,vii4 ,the ,death and ,resurrection4 ,chs4 #bb to #bd ,a4 ,the ,treachery ,of ,judas4 ,ch4 #bb3a-f ,b4 ,the ,last ,supper4 ,ch4 #bb3g-ch ,c4 ,the ,agony ,in ,gethsemane4 ,ch4 #bb3ci-df ,d4 ,the ,arrest ,of ,jesus4 ,ch4 #bb3dg-ec ,e4 ,peter's ,denial4 ,ch4 #bb3ed-fb ,f4 ,jesus ,before ,the ,jewish ,rulers4 ,ch4 #bb3fc-ga ,g4 ,jesus ,before ,pilate4 ,ch4 #bc3a-be ,h4 ,the ,crucifixion4 ,ch4 #bc3bf-ch ,i4 ,the ,penitent ,thief4 ,ch4 #bc3ci-dc ,j4 ,the ,death ,and ,burial4 ,ch4 #bc3dd-ef ,k4 ,the ,empty ,tomb4 ,ch4 #bd3a-ab ,l4 ,the ,walk ,to ,emmaus4 ,ch4 #bd3ac-ce ,m4 ,jesus ,appearing ,to ,the ,apostles4 ,ch4 #bd3cf-dc ,n4 ,the ,last ,words4 ,ch4 #bd3dd-di ,o4 ,the ,ascension4 ,ch4 #bd3ej-ec ,the ,bible text printed in boldface is taken from the ,american ,standard ,edition of the ,revised ,bible1 copyright1 #aija1 by ,thomas ,nelson ,sons1 and is used by permission4 ,,to ,,the ,,men ,,who ,,long ,,to ,,be ,,like ,,him ,,foreword ,the ,gospel of ,luke is the most beautiful book in the world2 at least1 so it has been called1 and those who know it best are not likely to dispute such praise4 ,the purpose of this little volume is to place the book in convenient form1 and by an outline and brief comments to aid in focusing the thought of the reader upon the successive scenes of the gospel story4 ,these are familiar scenes1 but each review of them more vividly reveals the great central ,figure as supreme among men in the matchless loveliness of his divine manhood1 himself the perfect1 the ideal ,man4 ,,introduction ,the surpassing beauty of this book betokens the personal attractiveness of its author and the dignity and importance of its theme4 ,it was written by ,luke1 8the beloved physician10 and it concerns the life and saving work of our ,lord4 ,the phrase which describes the writer as 8the physician1 the beloved one10 is full of significance4 ,it was penned by ,paul1 when a prisoner in ,rome1 to his friends in distant ,coloss4 ,it indicates that ,luke was a man of culture and scientific training and that the charm of his character was so conspicuous as to be recognized by the ,christian churches of ,europe and of ,asia4 ,the connection in which this phrase occurs indicates that ,luke was not a ,jew but a ,gentile by birth1 and further1 that he was a close companion of ,paul4 ,to ,luke's authorship is attributed not only this 8,third ,gospel0 but also 8,the ,acts40 ,he was a man of such modesty that he never mentioned his own name even when recording the stirring events in which he played so prominent a part4 ,nevertheless he revealed himself in every page of his writings and was evidently a man of broad sympathies1 an acute observer1 a careful historian1 and a loyal friend4 ,the story of his companionship with ,paul begins in the record of the apostle's second missionary journey when he was about to sail from ,troas on the memorable voyage which resulted in establishing ,christianity on a new continent4 ,the two friends journeyed together to ,philippi1 where a strong church was founded2 but while ,paul continued his travels through ,macedonia and ,greece1 ,luke remained behind1 possibly to care for the young converts4 ,seven years later when ,paul was on his third missionary tour he seems to have found ,luke at ,philippi and to have been accompanied by him on his way to ,jerusalem4 ,when ,paul was arrested and was confined for two years at ,csarea1 ,luke was his companion4 ,later they shared together the perils of the voyage and the shipwreck on the way to ,rome1 and the imprisonment in the imperial city4 ,paul appears to have been released and then imprisoned a second time1 and when he wrote his last letter1 under the shadow of approaching martyrdom1 the only friend to remain faithful and to comfort him in his loneliness was ,luke4 ,as might be expected1 the narrative composed by such an author is characterized by 7#a7 unusual literary beauty2 it is plainly the product of ,greek culture4 ,the divine ,spirit chose and equipped a rare instrument in the poetic and refined personality of ,luke and through him gave to the world that version of the gospel story which is most exquisite in style and most finished in form4 ,yet ,luke was not only a man of culture1 he was also a ,christian physician and thus a man of wide and tender sympathies1 and his narrative is therefore characterized 7#b7 by its absorbing human interest4 ,it is a story of real life2 it is suffused with emotion2 it is full of gladness and sorrow1 of songs and of tears2 it is vocal with praise and with prayer4 ,it is the gospel of childhood4 ,by its tender stories of the birth of ,john and of ,jesus1 it places an unfading halo of glory about the brow of infancy1 and it alone preserves the precious picture of the boyhood of our ,lord4 ,it is the gospel of womanhood4 ,it sketches for us that immortal group of women associated with the life of ,jesus4 ,we see ,elisabeth and the virgin mother and the aged ,anna1 the widow of ,nain1 the sisters at ,bethany1 and the repentant sinner1 the sufferer bowed down by ,satan and the stranger who congratulates ,mary1 the company that minister to ,jesus on his journeys and the 8daughters of ,jerusalem0 weeping on the way to the cross4 ,it is the gospel of the home4 ,it gives us glimpses of the family life at ,nazareth1 of the scene in the house of ,simon1 of the hospitality of ,martha and ,mary1 of the evening meal with the two disciples at ,emmaus and the picture in the parables of the importunate friend at midnight1 of the woman searching the room for the lost coin and of the prodigal turning back to his father's house4 ,it is the gospel of the poor and the lowly2 it warns against the perils of wealth and expresses sympathy and hope for those who are oppressed by poverty and want4 ,this sympathy is sounded in the song of ,mary1 in the first sermon of the ,saviour1 in the first ,beatitude1 8,blessed are ye poor40 ,luke also records the parables of the ,rich ,fool and of the ,rich ,man and ,lazarus1 and paints1 with ,mark1 the picture of the widow offering to the ,lord her two mites4 ,it is also the gospel of praise and of prayer1 expressions of the deepest convictions and longings of the human heart4 ,the ,gospel opens with a scene in the ,temple at the hour of incense and with the 8,magnificat0 of ,mary and the songs of ,zacharias and of the angels4 ,it closes with the benediction of the ascending ,lord and the thanksgiving of his joyful disciples4 ,luke1 however1 was not only a man of culture and a beloved physician2 he was also a companion of ,paul and had traveled with the apostle over a great portion of the ,roman world2 therefore he naturally wrote a gospel characterized by 7#c7 universal interest4 ,here no narrow prejudice divides race from race2 a despised ,samaritan stands as the supreme example of a neighbor1 the angels sing of peace among men1 and the aged ,simeon declares that ,jesus is to be a 8light for revelation to the ,gentiles0 as well as the glory of ,israel4 ,luke alone gives the data which link the sacred story to the secular history of the world4 ,his outlook is unlimited4 ,he regards the good news concerning ,christ as a message which is vital to the welfare and redemption of the entire human race4 ,these aspects of his ,gospel blend with the picture of his ,lord which ,luke portrays4 ,the character of ,jesus is so subtle and complex as to defy exact analysis1 and yet it is evident that certain of its features1 common to all1 are emphasized successively by each one of the ,gospel writers4 ,matthew depicts its majesty1 ,mark its strength1 and ,john its sublimity2 but ,luke reveals its beauty1 and paints a picture of the ideal ,man1 the ,saviour of the world4 ,as to all the prime elements of perfect manhood1 possibly no two persons may agree2 yet none would deny that such was the manhood of ,jesus1 and none would question that there are two or three moral qualities which he exhibited in a superlative degree1 qualities upon which ,luke lays special stress4 ,first of all ,jesus manifested matchless courage4 ,to some interpreters this fearlessness has formed the very essence of the 8manliness of ,christ40 ,he was not a weak and nerveless preacher of righteousness1 but a man of strength1 of dauntless resolve1 and of courageous action4 ,the mob was eager to destroy him as he began his work in ,nazareth1 but his enemies quailed before his majestic presence1 as 8he passing through the midst of them went his way40 ,he was advised to flee from the realm of ,herod but he flung defiance to the king1 beginning his message with the words1 8,go and say to that fox40 ,the section of ten chapters in this ,gospel which describes the last journeys of our ,lord opens with a deeply significant phrase1 8,he steadfastly set his face to go to ,jerusalem40 ,only five chapters devoted to his ministry precede1 only five follow4 ,during all the long period described in the chapters between1 ,jesus plainly foresaw his coming rejection and suffering and death1 but fearlessly and with unfaltering step he moved onward to the cross4 ,all the heroisms of history are dwarfed to insignificance by this incomparable courage of ,christ4 ,more obvious still is the boundless and tender sympathy of this ideal ,man4 ,he declared in his first address that he had come 8to preach good tidings to the poor3 444 to proclaim release to the captives1 and recovering of sight to the blind1 to set at liberty them that are bruised02 and as we follow in his footsteps we see how his tender heart yearned over all who suffered and were distressed2 he dried the tears of sorrow2 he showed his pity for the outcast and the impure2 he received sinners and was entertained by publicans2 he praised ,samaritans and comforted the dying thief4 ,this world has no other picture of such perfect compassion1 tenderness1 and love2 and these are essential to true manhood4 ,more mysterious1 but none the less real1 was his constant faith4 ,his life was lived in continual fellowship with ,god4 ,in his first recorded saying he declared1 8,i must be in my ,father's house10 and at the last he breathed out his spirit on the cross with the words1 8,father1 into thy hands ,i commend my spirit40 ,all the intervening days of his life and ministry were filled with ceaseless prayer4 ,on at least seven other occasions it is stated that he was praying3 at his baptism1 ch4 #c3ba2 after healing the leper1 ch4 #e3af2 before choosing his disciples1 ch4 #f3ab2 before ,peter's great confession1 ch4 #i3ah2 at his transfiguration1 ch4 #i3bi2 before teaching his disciples to pray1 ch4 #aa3a2 in the first agonies of crucifixion1 ch4 #bc3cd4 ,so1 too1 he taught his disciples to pray with importunity1 ch4 #aa3e-aj1 with perseverance1 ch4 #ah3a-g1 and with penitence1 ch4 #ah3i-ad4 ,such trust in ,god1 such sympathy1 such bravery1 are surely prominent among the many elements which are blended in this impressive portrayal of the ideal ,man4 ,however1 ,luke has written a version of the gospel and therefore has produced much more than a picture of human perfection or the story of an ideal life4 ,the gospel is the 8good news0 of salvation secured for us by our ,lord2 and in the narrative of ,luke we behold ,one who was not only supreme in his manhood but was also the ,saviour of the world4 ,it was in accomplishing this redeeming work that he revealed such courage and so steadfastly set his face to go to ,jerusalem4 ,the salvation he secured is inseparable from the cross4 ,it was a salvation provided for all1 even as his sympathy knew no bounds but was extended to the last and the lowest of men--to the despised publican1 to the outcast sinner1 to the hated ,samaritan1 to the crucified thief4 ,then1 too1 as he ever trusted in his ,father1 so the salvation he secured to us is conditioned upon faith in himself as ,redeemer and ,lord1 a faith which implies repentance and trust and submission and sacrifice4 ,one must be willing to count the cost1 to abandon anything which stands between self and the ,master4 ,this salvation1 however1 is wholly of grace1 unmerited1 free1 provided by the ,father for all who yield themselves to the loving care of his ,son4 ,this salvation was to be proclaimed to all the nations4 ,those to whom it became known1 and by whom it was accepted1 were to become witnesses to the transforming truth4 ,for such testimony they would require courage and wide sympathy and unfaltering faith1 and in their courage and sympathy and faith they would be like their ,master who by such qualities was manifested as the ideal ,man as he was the divine ,saviour of the world4 ,i4 ,,the ,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,gospel4 ,,luke #a3a-d #a ,forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us1 #b even as they delivered them unto us1 who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word1 #c it seemed good to me also1 having traced the course of all things accurately from the first1 to write unto thee in order1 most excellent ,theophilus2 #d that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed4 ,this preface is a perfect gem of ,greek art2 even in the ,english ,version it loses little1 if anything1 of its literary charm4 ,as a prologue it is regarded as unsurpassed for brevity1 modesty1 and dignity4 ,however1 its value lies not in its beauty but in its testimony to the veracity of the writer and to the historic worth and absolute credibility of the gospel story4 ,the fact of inspiration should not blind us to the human means by which the ,spirit of ,god secured accuracy in the communication of truth and in the composition of the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,here we are admitted to the study of a great historian4 ,we see about him his tools and his material2 we are informed as to his motives and methods in work1 and are told of the qualifications he possesses for his great task4 ,first of all1 he has before him many written accounts of the ministry of ,christ4 ,he does not reject these as inaccurate but regards any one of them as inadequate4 ,by comparing and combining them he secures valuable outlines for his more complete narrative4 ,then1 too1 he intimates that he is living and writing amidst the scenes and in the very atmosphere of the events he is recording2 only recently1 as he indicates1 have these 8matters 444 been fulfilled40 ,again1 he has access to the testimony of men who were eyewitnesses of these events and who have been public teachers of the gospel4 ,further1 he assures us of the absolute accuracy with which he has investigated the incidents of the life and ministry of ,christ1 even from the earliest scenes2 he has sifted his material and weighed the evidence and is to record only established facts4 ,these facts he is to relate 8in order10 that is1 in the sequence of time1 and further still1 with the system and the careful regard to proportion and to completeness which should characterize a scientific1 historical composition4 ,then again he dedicates the book to ,theophilus whose title1 8most excellent10 indicates that he is a man of rank and official position1 one to whom an author would not venture to present hasty1 imperfect1 and inaccurate work1 especially when the one addressed had been instructed already in reference to the matters related4 ,thus this preface shows the supreme purpose of ,luke was to confirm the belief of ,theophilus1 who is apparently his patron and friend1 and to deepen his conviction of the truth of the gospel story4 ,surely1 such an introduction must remind every reader that our ,christian faith is based upon an impregnable foundation of historic fact4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,birth ,,and ,,childhood ,,of ,,jesus4 ,,chs4 #a3e ,,to #b3eb ,a4 ,the ,birth of ,john ,foretold4 ,chs4 #a3e-be #e ,there was in the days of ,herod1 king of ,juda1 a certain priest named ,zacharias1 of the course of ,abijah3 and he had a wife of the daughters of ,aaron1 and her name was ,elisabeth4 #f ,and they were both righteous before ,god1 walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the ,lord blameless4 #g ,and they had no child1 because that ,elisabeth was barren1 and they both were now well stricken in years4 #h ,now it came to pass1 while he executed the priest's office before ,god in the order of his course1 #i according to the custom of the priest's office1 his lot was to enter into the temple of the ,lord and burn incense4 #aj ,and the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense4 #aa ,and there appeared unto him an angel of the ,lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense4 #ab ,and ,zacharias was troubled when he saw him1 and fear fell upon him4 #ac ,but the angel said unto him1 ,fear not1 ,zacharias3 because thy supplication is heard1 and thy wife ,elisabeth shall bear thee a son1 and thou shalt call his name ,john4 #ad ,and thou shalt have joy and gladness2 and many shall rejoice at his birth4 #ae ,for he shall be great in the sight of the ,lord1 and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink2 and he shall be filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 even from his mother's womb4 #af ,and many of the children of ,israel shall he turn unto the ,lord their ,god4 #ag ,and he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of ,elijah1 to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children1 and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just2 to make ready for the ,lord a people prepared for him4 #ah ,and ,zacharias said unto the angel1 ,whereby shall ,i know this8 for ,i am an old man1 and my wife well stricken in years4 #ai ,and the angel answering said unto him1 ,i am ,gabriel1 that stand in the presence of ,god2 and ,i was sent to speak unto thee1 and to bring thee these good tidings4 #bj ,and behold1 thou shalt be silent and not able to speak1 until the day that these things shall come to pass1 because thou believedst not my words1 which shall be fulfilled in their season4 #ba ,and the people were waiting for ,zacharias1 and they marvelled while he tarried in the temple4 #bb ,and when he came out1 he could not speak unto them3 and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple3 and he continued making signs unto them1 and remained dumb4 #bc ,and it came to pass1 when the days of his ministration were fulfilled1 he departed unto his house4 #bd ,and after these days ,elisabeth his wife conceived2 and she hid herself five months1 saying1 #be ,thus hath the ,lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me1 to take away my reproach among men4 ,luke is the gospel of gladness1 of praise1 and of prayer1 of tender1 human interest1 and of heavenly grace4 ,it is fitting1 therefore1 that the narrative should open with a scene in the ,temple at the hour of incense and with a divine promise which fills a heart with rapturous joy4 ,this promise concerns the birth of one who is to prepare the way for the ministry of ,christ1 and this ministry forms the sum and substance of the gospel story4 ,the time was 8in the days of ,herod10 called 8the ,great10 a monster of cruelty1 a vassal of ,rome1 who ruled the ,jews with savage tyranny4 ,the political slavery of the people was only less pitiful than their spiritual decline1 for religion had become an empty form1 a mere system of ceremonies and rites4 ,however1 ,god is never without his witnesses and his true worshipers4 ,among these were 8a certain priest named ,zacharias0 and his wife ,elisabeth1 who lived in the hill country of ,judea1 south of ,jerusalem4 ,they 8were both righteous before ,god10 not sinless but without reproach1 carefully observing the moral and also the ritual requirements of the law4 ,yet godliness is no guarantee against sorrow or against the disappointment of human hopes1 and these pious souls were saddened because their home was childless4 ,this trial was peculiarly great among a people who regarded childlessness as a sign of divine displeasure and it was even more distressing to the hearts of the faithful who were yearning for the birth of the promised ,messiah4 ,twice each year ,zacharias went to ,jerusalem to perform for a week his sacred tasks4 ,finally there came to him a privilege which a priest could enjoy only once in his lifetime2 the 8lot0 fell upon him1 and he thus was chosen to enter the ,holy ,place at the hour of prayer and there offer incense upon the golden altar just before the veil in the very presence of ,god4 ,it was the supreme hour of his life4 ,as the cloud of perfume began to rise1 true symbol of accepted petitions1 an angel appeared and assured the startled priest that his supplications had been heard4 ,for what had ,zacharias then been praying--for a son1 or for the salvation of his people8 ,were not both desires included in that supplication8 ,as the representative of a nation1 the priest hardly could have confined his petition to what was purely personal and private4 ,yet1 as he pleaded for the coming of the ,messiah1 there must have been in his soul the secret yearning of the long years or the memory of that abandoned hope which he had always associated in thought with the salvation of ,israel4 ,many a minister of ,christ has a similar experience2 in the very performance of his public tasks there rests on his soul the conscious shadow of some private grief4 ,the angel declared that the prayer for national salvation had been heard1 and he gradually unfolded the contents of the divine answer2 the ,messiah was about to appear1 and his coming was to be heralded by a son who was to be born to the aged priest4 ,the angel spoke with great definiteness3 the child would be named ,john2 many would rejoice at his birth2 he would be a ,nazirite1 and as such would take the vow of total abstinence from wine and of complete dedication to ,god2 as a consequence of this dedication he would be filled with the divine ,spirit and thus enabled to lead his people to repentance4 ,he would labor in the spirit and power of ,elijah1 calling men to lives of natural affection and justice and preparing them for the salvation which ,christ would bring4 ,so surprising a message was too great to be credited at once by the wondering priest4 ,he had ceased to hope that the longing of his heart could be fulfilled4 ,he therefore asked for a sign by which he might be assured that the blessed promise was true4 ,the angel replied with a statement of his own majestic power and the glory of his mission and he granted to ,zacharias a sign4 ,this sign was at once a rebuke and a blessing4 ,it rebuked the unbelief of the aged priest1 yet it strengthened his faith4 ,he was smitten with dumbness which was to continue until the promise of the angel had been realized4 ,zacharias would not accept the word of the ,lord2 he would not praise him for his goodness and his grace4 ,therefore1 his tongue was to be silent and he was to be unable to speak until at last his lips were opened in glad thanksgiving4 ,unbelief is never joyous2 infidelity has no songs4 ,however1 the sign suggests supernatural power4 ,the faith of ,zacharias and also of ,elisabeth will be strengthened by the very silence in their home4 ,so when the people in the court of the ,temple waited for the priest to reappear1 when as he came they still waited for the usual benediction1 when they found that ,zacharias had been stricken with dumbness1 they concluded he had seen a vision in the ,temple1 and he himself was assured that the messenger had come from ,god4 ,in due time the promise was fulfilled2 a new life came into being4 ,meanwhile1 until it would be evident that her 8reproach0 for childlessness had been taken away1 ,elisabeth lived in strict retirement4 ,she would not have others1 by seeing her1 think that she was under divine displeasure at the very time when she secretly knew that she was a special recipient of divine grace4 ,she was jealous for the glory of her ,god2 she delighted in her hidden fellowship with him4 ,from the homes of such priests who can pray1 and of such hearts which can trust1 there ever have been coming the great prophets of the ,lord4 ,b4 ,the ,annunciation ,to ,mary4 ,ch4 #a3bf-ch #bf ,now in the sixth month the angel ,gabriel was sent from ,god unto a city of ,galilee1 named ,nazareth1 #bg to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was ,joseph1 of the house of ,david2 and the virgin's name was ,mary4 #bh ,and he came in unto her1 and said1 ,hail1 thou that art highly favored1 the ,lord is with thee4 #bi ,but she was greatly troubled at the saying1 and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be4 #cj ,and the angel said unto her1 ,fear not1 ,mary3 for thou hast found favor with ,god4 #ca ,and behold1 thou shalt conceive in thy womb1 and bring forth a son1 and shalt call his name ,,jesus4 #cb ,he shall be great1 and shall be called the ,son of the ,most ,high3 and the ,lord ,god shall give unto him the throne of his father ,david3 #cc and he shall reign over the house of ,jacob for ever2 and of his kingdom there shall be no end4 #cd ,and ,mary said unto the angel1 ,how shall this be1 seeing ,i know not a man8 #ce ,and the angel answered and said unto her1 ,the ,holy ,spirit shall come upon thee1 and the power of the ,most ,high shall overshadow thee3 wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the ,son of ,god4 #cf ,and behold1 ,elisabeth thy kinswoman1 she also hath conceived a son in her old age2 and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren4 #cg ,for no word from ,god shall be void of power4 #ch ,and ,mary said1 ,behold1 the handmaid of the ,lord2 be it unto me according to thy word4 ,and the angel departed from her4 ,the prediction to ,mary of the birth of ,jesus is recorded by ,luke with marked dignity1 delicacy1 and reserve4 ,it is an important record4 ,this prediction is the crown of all prophecy and it reveals the supreme mystery of the ,christian faith1 namely1 the nature of our ,lord1 at once human and divine4 ,the same angelic being who had spoken to ,zacharias speaks again1 not now to an aged and distinguished priest amidst the splendors of the ,temple in ,jerusalem1 but to a humble maiden betrothed to a carpenter in an obscure village of ,galilee4 ,the angelic salutation1 8,hail1 thou that art highly favored10 has been translated less accurately1 8,hail1 thou that art full of grace10 and it has been misinterpreted to encourage the practice of praying to the virgin as divine4 ,it does not mean1 however1 that ,mary was to be a source but rather a recipient of grace2 upon her ,god was bestowing peculiar favor4 ,she may rightly be regarded as the most blessed among women2 but only a woman still4 ,mary had been startled by so strange an appearance and greeting2 now she was further amazed by the announcement1 8,thou shalt 444 bring forth a son1 and shalt call his name ,jesus40 ,before her marriage she was to become a mother1 and she was to call her child by that significant name which signifies 8,saviour0 or 8,god is ,saviour40 8,he shall be great10 continued the angel1 both in his person1 as 8the ,son of the ,most ,high10 and in his royal power1 for 8the ,lord ,god shall give unto him the throne of his father ,david40 ,this throne of ,david does not refer to the ,christian ,church or to merely heavenly or spiritual influence4 ,it is a rule on earth which here is promised1 yet it is not to be limited to one nation nor is it to be confined to one age4 ,it is the ,kingdom of the ,messiah1 which is to bring joy to 8the house of ,jacob for ever0 and also to all the nations of the world--8and of his kingdom there shall be no end40 ,the exclamation of ,mary expressed astonishment but not unbelief3 8,how shall this be80 ,then came the answer which is unsurpassed as a clear and sublime statement of the incarnation1 8,the ,holy ,spirit shall come upon thee1 and the power of the ,most ,high shall overshadow thee20 the creative power of ,god was to rest upon ,mary as the cloud of glory had rested upon the tabernacle of ,israel and as a result the child who would be born should be in reality1 and should be called1 8the ,son of ,god40 ,of the truth of his promise the angel added a sign and proof in the surprising fact that ,elisabeth1 the aged kinswoman of ,mary1 was soon to be blessed with a son4 ,this was in fulfillment of a promise made by the same angel messenger1 and the marvel in the case of ,elisabeth would assure ,mary of the certain accomplishment of the gracious and more surprising promise to her4 ,the reply of ,mary is probably unequaled in all history as an expression of perfect faith1 8,behold the handmaid of the ,lord2 be it unto me according to thy word40 ,thus she revealed belief in the word of ,god and submission to the will of ,god4 ,there was no doubt in her mind as to the truth of the divine promise with all that it suggested of miracle and of mystery2 and there was no shrinking on her part from all that the fulfillment of this promise possibly might involve of suspicion and shame and reproach and suffering and even death4 ,those who believe most firmly in the promises of ,god1 submit most patiently to his providences2 they see the glory which surely will succeed the gloom4 ,mary was to become the mother of the ,messiah1 of the ,son of ,man1 of the ,saviour of the world4 ,c4 ,the 8,magnificat40 ,ch4 #a3ci-ef #ci ,and ,mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste1 into a city of ,judah2 #dj and entered into the house of ,zacharias and saluted ,elisabeth4 #da ,and it came to pass1 when ,elisabeth heard the salutation of ,mary1 the babe leaped in her womb2 and ,elisabeth was filled with the ,holy ,spirit2 #db and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry1 and said1 ,blessed art thou among women1 and blessed is the fruit of thy womb4 #dc ,and whence is this to me1 that the mother of my ,lord should come unto me8 #dd ,for behold1 when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears1 the babe leaped in my womb for joy4 #de ,and blessed is she that believeth2 for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the ,lord4 #df ,and ,mary said1 ,my soul doth magnify the ,lord1 #dg ,and my spirit hath rejoiced in ,god my ,saviour4 #dh ,for he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid3 ,for behold1 from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed4 #di ,for he that is mighty hath done to me great things2 ,and holy is his name4 #ej ,and his mercy is unto generations and generations ,on them that fear him4 #ea ,he hath showed strength with his arm2 ,he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart4 #eb ,he hath put down princes from their thrones1 ,and hath exalted them of low degree4 #ec ,the hungry he hath filled with good things2 ,and the rich he hath sent empty away4 #ed ,he hath given help to ,israel his servant1 ,that he might remember mercy #ee 7,as he spake unto our fathers7 ,toward ,abraham and his seed for ever4 #ef ,and ,mary abode with her about three months1 and returned unto her house4 ,the ,magnificat1 the lovely lyric which comes from the lips of ,mary1 has been sung during many centuries as one of the chief canticles of the ,christian ,church4 ,its occasion was a visit paid to her kinswoman1 ,elisabeth1 by ,mary shortly after she had received the promise of the birth of a son4 ,elisabeth on hearing the salutation of ,mary addressed her in high spiritual ecstasy1 declaring her supremely blessed among women because of the ,son to be born1 and wondering at her own honor in being thus visited by the mother of her ,lord1 by which phrase she means the mother of the ,messiah2 it is to be noted that the ,bible does not contain the phrase 8,mother of ,god40 ,elisabeth congratulated ,mary upon her faith and assured her that the promise upon which ,mary relied was certain to be fulfilled4 ,the name of the song which ,mary then sang1 the ,magnificat1 has come from the first line in its ,latin form1 ,magnificat anima mea ,dominum4 ,the model is that of the ancient hymn sung by ,hannah when her heart1 like that of ,mary1 was rejoicing in the promised gift of a son4 ,the verses form a perfect mosaic of ,old ,testament quotations4 ,the hymn was not addressed to ,elisabeth or to the ,lord2 it is rather a meditation upon the mercy and grace of ,god4 ,according to the common division the song is composed of four stanzas of four lines each1 except the third stanza which contains six lines4 ,the general movement of thought seems to be from the goodness of ,god to ,mary as an individual1 to his consequent kindness to ,israel as a nation4 ,the first stanza1 or strophe1 vs4 #df-dh1 illustrates1 as do those which follow1 one of the chief features of ,hebrew poetry1 namely1 the expression1 in successive lines1 of thoughts which are parallel or closely related4 ,in her 8soul0 or 8spirit0 or innermost being1 ,mary praises or magnifies the ,lord and rejoices in him as her ,saviour4 ,this salvation is not only for her people1 but particularly for herself2 it is not only political but also spiritual4 ,it is to be wrought out by the gift ,god is granting to ,mary4 ,he has chosen her1 an obscure village maiden betrothed to a poor carpenter1 and has bestowed upon her such honor that all future generations will call her 8blessed40 ,while realizing the honor she dwells most upon her unworthiness while recognizing what it may cost her1 she declares her submission as a true 8bondmaid0 or slave of the ,lord4 ,humility and faith could hardly be more sublime4 ,the second stanza1 vs4 #di1 #ej1 centers the thought upon the character of ,god as revealed in his gracious gift4 ,his power1 his holiness1 his mercy are praised4 ,in his goodness to ,mary he had shown his divine power1 yet in accordance with the moral perfection of his revealed nature and in order to bring blessings to countless generations who would trust and reverence him4 ,in the third stanza1 vs4 #ea-ec1 is an illustration of another feature of ,hebrew poetry2 not only is there striking parallelism1 but here past tenses are used to describe future events2 the results of the coming of the ,messiah are stated as though already achieved4 ,in contrast with the blessedness of those that fear the ,lord1 8the proud10 the rebellious1 and unbelieving are pictured as 8scattered0 like the hosts of a defeated army2 the oppressed are exalted while tyrants are dethroned2 the hungry are filled and the rich are sent away 8empty40 ,these results are to be regarded as spiritual as well as physical4 ,such reversals are certain to occur where ,christ is accepted and those who receive blessings from him are the humble who are conscious of their need4 ,the last strophe1 vs4 #ed1 #ee1 emphasizes the faithfulness of ,god to his ancient promises which ,mary sees fulfilled in the birth of her ,son4 ,in this saving help given to ,israel1 ,god is showing that he has not forgotten the mercy 8toward ,abraham and his seed0 promised to the 8fathers0 of old4 ,only in ,christ ,jesus can be realized all the promises to ,israel1 all the hopes of the ages4 ,d4 ,the ,birth of ,john1 and the 8,benedictus40 ,ch4 #a3eg-hj #eg ,now ,elisabeth's time was fulfilled that she should be delivered2 and she brought forth a son4 #eh ,and her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the ,lord had magnified his mercy towards her2 and they rejoiced with her4 #ei ,and it came to pass on the eighth day1 that they came to circumcise the child2 and they would have called him ,zacharias1 after the name of his father4 #fj ,and his mother answered and said1 ,not so2 but he shall be called ,john4 #fa ,and they said unto her1 ,there is none of thy kindred that is called by this name4 #fb ,and they made signs to his father1 what he would have him called4 #fc ,and he asked for a writing tablet1 and wrote1 saying1 ,his name is ,john4 ,and they marvelled all4 #fd ,and his mouth was opened immediately1 and his tongue loosed1 and he spake1 blessing ,god4 #fe ,and fear came on all that dwelt round about them3 and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of ,juda4 #ff ,and all that heard them laid them up in their heart1 saying1 ,what then shall this child be8 ,for the hand of the ,lord was with him4 #fg ,and his father ,zacharias was filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 and prophesied1 saying1 #fh ,blessed be the ,lord1 the ,god of ,israel2 ,for he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people1 #fi ,and hath raised up a horn of salvation for us ,in the house of his servant ,david #gj 7,as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old71 #ga ,salvation from our enemies1 and from the hand of all that hate us2 #gb ,to show mercy towards our fathers1 ,and to remember his holy covenant2 #gc ,the oath which he sware unto ,abraham our father1 #gd ,to grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies ,should serve him without fear1 #ge ,in holiness and righteousness before him all our days4 #gf ,yea and thou1 child1 shalt be called the prophet of the ,most ,high3 ,for thou shalt go before the face of the ,lord to make ready his ways2 #gg ,to give knowledge of salvation unto his people ,in the remission of their sins1 #gh ,because of the tender mercy of our ,god1 ,whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us1 #gi ,to shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death2 ,to guide our feet into the way of peace4 #hj ,and the child grew1 and waxed strong in spirit1 and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto ,israel4 ,when the aged priest1 ,zacharias1 had received from an angel the promise that he was to be given a son who would be called ,john and who would be the herald of ,christ1 and when he had asked for a sign to attest the truth of the prediction1 he was smitten with dumbness as a rebuke for his unbelief and as a stimulus for his faith4 ,even when at last the promise was fulfilled1 the sign was not removed and he was not able to speak until he had given a written expression of his confidence in ,god4 ,this interesting incident occurred on the eighth day after the birth of ,john1 when in the presence of their rejoicing friends the parents were about to name the child4 ,many supposed that the name of the father would be selected4 ,the mother1 however1 intimated that the name might be 8,john40 ,when ,zacharias1 the father1 was consulted1 8he asked for a writing tablet1 and wrote1 444 ,his name is ,john40 ,there was no hesitation1 no uncertainty1 no question in his mind1 for this name had been predicted by the angel1 and ,zacharias showed by his decision and firmness that he believed absolutely in the fulfillment of all that the angel had promised concerning the career of the son who was to be regarded by his fellow men as a gift of divine grace and a prophet of divine appointment4 ,it usually happens that a public confession of faith results in new joy and in wider testimony4 ,it was surely so in the case of ,zacharias3 8,his mouth was opened immediately1 444 and he spake1 blessing ,god40 ,his thanksgiving was voiced in a hymn which1 for hundreds of years1 has been sung daily in ,christian worship4 ,it is indeed a ,christian hymn and a hymn of the nativity2 for while its occasion was the birth of ,john1 only one stanza refers to that event2 the whole burden of the thanksgiving refers to the approaching birth of ,jesus and to the salvation which he is to bring4 ,this hymn is named the ,benedictus from the first word in the ,latin version4 ,it is an ecstatic expression of gratitude to ,god for his boundless goodness4 ,the poem possibly may be divided into five stanzas of four lines each2 but there is a definite pause after the third of these stanzas when the thought turns from the work of ,christ to the specific mission of ,john4 ,the first strophe1 vs4 #fh1 #fi1 speaks of the redemption of ,israel as already accomplished in the gift of the ,christ who is about to be born and who is described as 8a horn of salvation10 that is1 a manifestation of saving power4 ,he is to appear as a son and heir of ,david the king4 ,the second stanza1 or strophe1 vs4 #gj-gb1 indicates that the salvation from all enemies is in fulfillment of the promises made through the prophets and cherished by the ancient fathers and embodied in the holy covenant made with ,israel of old4 ,the third stanza1 vs4 #gc-ge1 describes the nature of this salvation which was assured by the oath to ,abraham2 it is to be such a deliverance from political oppression as to make possible for ,israel a true1 priestly service of ,god1 as a nation holy and righteous before him4 ,in the fourth stanza1 vs4 #gf1 #gg1 the singer turns to address his own son whose birth has given occasion to the song4 ,he declares that ,john is to be recognized as a prophet of ,god whose divine mission will be to announce and to define the promised salvation as in its essence not a political but a spiritual redemption consisting in the remission of sin4 ,john was not to be a revolutionist but a reformer4 ,he was to call a nation to repentance that those who obeyed his message might be ready to receive the salvation of ,christ4 ,this mission of ,john is linked with that of ,christ as the description of the latter reaches its climax in the closing strophe4 ,vs4 #gh1 #gi4 ,the source of all the blessings ,christ will bring is found in 8the tender mercy of our ,god20 the essence is a visitation of 8the dayspring from on high10 when the ,sun of righteousness arises upon the helpless1 terrified wanderers of the night who are seated 8in darkness and the shadow of death20 the result will be 8to guide our feet into the way of peace40 ,such is the hymn of ,zacharias1 a hymn of faith1 of hope1 of gratitude1 a song of the salvation provided by the love of ,god in ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 ,e4 ,the ,birth of ,jesus4 ,ch4 #b3a-bj #a ,now it came to pass in those days1 there went out a decree from ,csar ,augustus1 that all the world should be enrolled4 #b ,this was the first enrolment made when ,quirinius was governor of ,syria4 #c ,and all went to enrol themselves1 every one to his own city4 #d ,and ,joseph also went up from ,galilee1 out of the city of ,nazareth1 into ,juda1 to the city of ,david1 which is called ,bethlehem1 because he was of the house and family of ,david2 #e to enrol himself with ,mary1 who was betrothed to him1 being great with child4 #f ,and it came to pass1 while they were there1 the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered4 #g ,and she brought forth her firstborn son2 and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes1 and laid him in a manger1 because there was no room for them in the inn4 #h ,and there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field1 and keeping watch by night over their flock4 #i ,and an angel of the ,lord stood by them1 and the glory of the ,lord shone round about them3 and they were sore afraid4 #aj ,and the angel said unto them1 ,be not afraid2 for behold1 ,i bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people3 #aa for there is born to you this day in the city of ,david a ,saviour1 who is ,christ the ,lord4 #ab ,and this is the sign unto you3 ,ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes1 and lying in a manger4 #ac ,and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising ,god1 and saying1 #ad ,glory to ,god in the highest1 ,and on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased4 #ae ,and it came to pass1 when the angels went away from them into heaven1 the shepherds said one to another1 ,let us now go even unto ,bethlehem1 and see this thing that is come to pass1 which the ,lord hath made known unto us4 #af ,and they came with haste1 and found both ,mary and ,joseph1 and the babe lying in the manger4 #ag ,and when they saw it1 they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child4 #ah ,and all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds4 #ai ,but ,mary kept all these sayings1 pondering them in her heart4 #bj ,and the shepherds returned1 glorifying and praising ,god for all the things that they had heard and seen1 even as it was spoken unto them4 ,the story of the birth of ,jesus as related by ,matthew is in striking contrast with that of ,luke4 ,matthew depicts ,jesus as a ,king and at his birth the reigning ,herod trembles on his throne and the ,magi adore him1 offering regal gifts4 ,luke represents ,jesus as the ideal ,man1 and the story is full of human interest4 ,it describes two obscure peasants journeying from their northern home in ,nazareth to ,bethlehem and there1 excluded from the inn1 placing in a manger their newborn babe1 while the first to visit them are humble shepherds from the neighboring plain4 ,human interests1 however1 are not merely earthly interests2 the story is vocal with heavenly melodies and inwoven with messages of divine meaning and grace4 ,only the most recent scholarship has vindicated the historic accuracy of ,luke in connecting the event with the decree of ,augustus and with the enrollment under ,quirinius4 ,however1 these facts are mentioned by ,luke not so much to fix the date of the birth of ,christ as to explain how this occurred in ,bethlehem when the home of his parents was in ,nazareth4 ,only a legal necessity would have made them willing to take such a journey at such a time1 but thus it appears that the emperor of the world was concerned unconsciously in the fulfillment of divine prophecy concerning the ,saviour of the world4 ,according to the imperial decree1 ,joseph left ,nazareth and with ,mary1 to whom according to ,matthew he was not only 8betrothed0 but married1 journeyed to ,bethlehem1 five miles south of ,jerusalem1 to be enrolled in his ancestral city4 ,there is born their promised ,son4 ,their exclusion from the inn was not due to any lack of hospitality2 much less did it express hostility to ,jesus2 it was due simply to the crowded condition of the town4 ,however1 it is suggestive of the obscurity and discomfort and poverty of ,joseph and ,mary4 ,in view of his evident appreciation of the supreme importance of the birth of ,jesus1 the account of ,luke is almost startling in its brevity and simplicity4 ,however1 with consummate art1 after his own short statement of fact1 he allows divine messengers to give the interpretation and to express the significance of the event4 ,these messengers were angels4 ,they appeared to a group of shepherds who were 8abiding in the field1 and keeping watch by night over their flock40 ,out of a blaze of heavenly glory came the tidings of great joy to ,israel1 8,there is born to you this day in the city of ,david a ,saviour1 who is ,christ the ,lord40 ,the angel did not then disclose the larger truth1 that this ,christ was to be the redeemer of all men or that he was a divine ,lord4 ,however1 a sign was given whereby the shepherds might be able to distinguish the child and to be assured that he was the ,christ3 8,ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes1 and lying in a manger40 ,a strange sign it was2 yet for us it has become a symbol full of meaning2 a ,redeemer who was cradled in a manger has known what it is to endure poverty and suffering and neglect1 and now he can sympathize with the lowly and distressed even as he is abundantly able to save4 ,when the good news had been given1 there suddenly swelled forth an angel chorus1 singing that great hymn of the nativity which1 as subsequently expanded by ,christian worshipers1 is named from its ,latin version1 the ,gloria in ,excelsis4 ,as sung by the angels it is composed of two verses1 each containing three corresponding notes1 8glory0 and 8peace10 8in the highest0 7heaven7 and 8on earth10 8,god10 and 8men40 ,this is a hymn of praise to ,god who in the gift of a ,saviour manifests in heaven his excellence and on earth reveals his grace to men1 the recipients of his favor4 ,the result of this1 however1 is declared to be 8peace20 in ,christ alone can peace be secured--peace with ,god1 peace for the human heart1 peace between men1 peace for the world4 ,the astonished shepherds hastened to verify the good news and they became in a real sense the first witnesses for ,christ as 8they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child40 ,it is not strange that all who heard wondered1 or that ,mary treasured in her heart the heavenly messages1 or that the shepherds returned to their tasks with gratitude and praise1 for there lingered in their memories a song which expresses still the hope of all mankind4 ,f4 ,the ,presentation of ,jesus1 and the 8,nunc ,dimittis40 ,ch4 #b3ba-dj #ba ,and when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him1 his name was called ,,jesus1 who was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb4 #bb ,and when the days of their purification according to the law of ,moses were fulfilled1 they brought him up to ,jerusalem1 to present him to the ,lord #bc 7as it is written in the law of the ,lord1 ,every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the ,lord71 #bd and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the ,lord1 ,a pair of turtledoves1 or two young pigeons4 #be ,and behold1 there was a man in ,jerusalem1 whose name was ,simeon2 and this man was righteous and devout1 looking for the consolation of ,israel3 and the ,holy ,spirit was upon him4 #bf ,and it had been revealed unto him by the ,holy ,spirit1 that he should not see death1 before he had seen the ,lord's ,christ4 #bg ,and he came in the ,spirit into the temple and when the parents brought in the child ,jesus1 that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law1 #bh then he received him into his arms1 and blessed ,god1 and said1 #bi ,now lettest thou thy servant depart1 ,o ,lord1 ,according to thy word1 in peace2 #cj ,for mine eyes have seen thy salvation1 #ca ,which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples2 #cb ,a light for revelation to the ,gentiles1 ,and the glory of thy people ,israel4 #cc ,and his father and his mother were marvelling at the things which were spoken concerning him2 #cd and ,simeon blessed them1 and said unto ,mary his mother1 ,behold1 this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in ,israel2 and for a sign which is spoken against2 #ce yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul2 that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed4 #cf ,and there was one ,anna1 a prophetess1 the daughter of ,phanuel1 of the tribe of ,asher 7she was of a great age1 having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity1 #cg and she had been a widow even unto fourscore and four years71 who departed not from the temple1 worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day4 #ch ,and coming up at that very hour she gave thanks unto ,god1 and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of ,jerusalem4 #ci ,and when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the ,lord1 they returned into ,galilee1 to their own city ,nazareth4 #dj ,and the child grew1 and waxed strong1 filled with wisdom3 and the grace of ,god was upon him4 ,the incidents of the infancy of ,jesus recorded by ,luke not only add human interest to the story but they interpret the future career and the saving work of our ,lord4 ,thus when on the eighth day he was named 8,jesus10 a name often given to ,jewish boys1 it was because he was destined to fulfill all that the name implies1 for he was to be the 8,salvation of the ,lord40 ,so1 too1 when five weeks later he was presented in the ,temple1 when his mother offered for herself a sacrifice which indicated lack of wealth but not abject poverty1 the real significance of the scene is set forth in the prophetic utterances of the saintly ,simeon and ,anna4 ,the first of these utterances was the song of ,simeon1 called from the ,latin form of its opening words the ,nunc ,dimittis 78,now ,lettest ,thou ,depart074 ,to this devout soul it had been revealed that he should not die until he had seen the ,messiah1 8the ,lord's ,christ40 ,led by the ,spirit to the ,temple while the parents of ,jesus are there presenting their ,son before the ,lord1 he took the little babe in his arms and sang the sweetest and most solemn song of the nativity1 which1 unlike the ,magnificat or the ,benedictus1 promises redemption not only to ,israel but to all the world4 8,now lettest thou thy servant depart 444 in peace20 the figure of speech is full of beauty2 it is the word of a faithful watchman who welcomes with joy the hour of his dismissal1 for he has caught the vision of the coming ,one2 now he is about to be sent away in the peace of an accomplished task1 in the peace of fulfilled hope2 for his eyes have seen the ,saviour according to the promise of the ,lord4 ,the redemption which the ,messiah brings1 as the song continues to declare1 is for all peoples2 it is a light to reveal the way of salvation to the ,gentiles2 it is to be the true glory of the favored people1 ,israel4 ,while this salvation is provided for all1 it will not be accepted by all4 ,to the wondering mother1 ,simeon uttered a dark word of prophecy4 ,the ministry of ,jesus will be the occasion for the fall and the rise of many4 ,their attitude toward him will be a revelation of character2 some will reject him and thus condemn themselves2 some will speak against him1 even though he is the very token and instrument of divine salvation2 this opposition will reach its climax at the cross1 when bitter anguish like a sword will pierce the soul of ,mary4 ,jesus is to be the touchstone of character2 wherever he is known1 by accepting or by rejecting him1 men will disclose their true nature2 8the thoughts out of many hearts0 will be 8revealed40 ,while ,mary and ,joseph were still wondering at these sublime words there appeared an aged prophetess whose long years of widowhood had been spent in continual worship2 she1 too1 praised ,god for the salvation to be accomplished by the ,child of ,mary and she went forth to speak of him to all who like her 8were looking for the redemption of ,jerusalem40 ,mary and ,joseph1 however1 returned to their home in ,nazareth where ,jesus was to spend his infancy and early childhood4 ,during those years of obscurity his development was normal1 but unique in its symmetry and its perfection2 he 8grew1 and waxed strong0 in body1 but there was just as true a growth in mind and spirit2 he was 8filled with wisdom3 and the grace of ,god was upon him40 ,the ,saviour of the world was to be the ideal ,man4 ,g4 ,the ,boy ,jesus ,at ,jerusalem4 ,ch4 #b3da-eb #da ,and his parents went every year to ,jerusalem at the feast of the passover4 #db ,and when he was twelve years old1 they went up after the custom of the feast2 #dc and when they had fulfilled the days1 as they were returning1 the boy ,jesus tarried behind in ,jerusalem2 and his parents knew it not2 #dd but supposing him to be in the company1 they went a day's journey2 and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance2 #de and when they found him not1 they returned to ,jerusalem1 seeking for him4 #df ,and it came to pass1 after three days they found him in the temple1 sitting in the midst of the teachers1 both hearing them1 and asking them questions3 #dg and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers4 #dh ,and when they saw him1 they were astonished2 and his mother said unto him1 ,son1 why hast thou thus dealt with us8 behold1 thy father and ,i sought thee sorrowing4 #di ,and he said unto them1 ,how is it that ye sought me8 knew ye not that ,i must be in my ,father's house8 #ej ,and they understood not the saying which he spake unto them4 #ea ,and he went down with them1 and came to ,nazareth2 and he was subject unto them2 and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart4 #eb ,and ,jesus advanced in wisdom and stature1 and in favor with ,god and men4 ,it has been said that the boyhood of ,jesus is like a walled garden from which we have been given but a single flower1 but this is so fragrant as to fill our hearts with a longing to enter within the secret inclosure4 ,we have but a single incident of his boyhood days2 it is recorded for us only by ,luke1 a visit to ,jerusalem paid by ,jesus when he was twelve years old4 ,at about this age a young ,jew became a 8son of the law0 and began to observe its requirements1 among which were the pilgrimages to the holy city to observe the sacred feasts4 ,on this first visit to ,jerusalem1 ,jesus was unintentionally left behind by his parents as they started on their return journey to ,nazareth4 ,at the end of the first day they failed to find him in the long caravan which was moving northward toward ,galilee4 ,the day following1 ,mary and ,joseph returned to ,jerusalem1 and on the third day they discovered ,jesus in the ,temple in the midst of the teachers who were surprised at his knowledge of the sacred ,scriptures4 ,there was an implied rebuke in the words of ,mary1 8,son1 why hast thou thus dealt with us8 behold1 thy father and ,i sought thee sorrowing80 ,in the reply of ,jesus there was something of surprise and also of reproof1 yet there were deep undertones of love1 of spiritual vision1 and of solemn resolve3 8,how is it that ye sought me8 knew ye not that ,i must be in my ,father's house80 ,these are the first recorded words of ,jesus and they are an index and an explanation of his entire career2 for their preservation this story was recorded by ,luke4 ,if they contained a rebuke for ,mary1 it must have been conveyed in accents of reverence and affection2 and was there not involved a delicate compliment8 ,jesus does not reprove his parents for seeking him1 but for not seeking him in the ,temple first of all2 and does he not seem to have implied that his parents had taught him to love the house of ,god and to delight in the law of ,god8 ,he was saying in effect3 8,why thus did you seek me8 ,why did you not remember that the ,temple is the very place where ,i should be found80 ,these words are thus a revelation of the life in the home at ,nazareth4 ,it was not by a miracle or due to some divine attribute1 but because of the training he had received from his pious parents1 that ,jesus at the age of twelve was a master of the ,scriptures1 and had learned to reverence and adore all that was related to them and to the worship of ,god4 ,is it not possible for parents to-day to awaken in the hearts of their children a love for the house and the ,word and the will of ,god8 ,these words1 further1 were a revelation of the consciousness of divine sonship4 ,jesus already realized that in a unique sense ,god was his own ,father1 the true source of his being4 ,he instantly corrected the words of ,mary1 8thy father10 which referred to ,joseph1 with his own words 8my ,father10 which referred to ,god4 ,luke depicts ,jesus as the ideal ,man1 but always as one conscious that he was the ,son of ,god4 ,our children should learn to regard ,god as their ,father1 not in the unique sense employed by ,jesus as the eternal ,son1 nor yet in the sense which can apply to all created beings1 but as denoting that intimate relationship with ,god made possible for believers through ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 ,most important of all1 these words are the revelation of a firm resolve1 of a great molding purpose2 ,jesus perceived that it was his duty to be in the house of his ,father--not merely in the literal ,temple1 but in the sphere of life and activity of which the ,temple was the great expression and symbol and sign4 ,he had determined1 that is1 to devote all his thoughts and energies and powers to the definite service of ,god4 ,at the age of twelve are not most children sufficiently mature to form a somewhat similar purpose and to recognize in the service of ,god the supreme and comprehensive duty of every life8 ,with this definite ideal in mind ,jesus returned to ,nazareth and continued to live in submission to his parents1 toiling for eighteen years as a carpenter and in the quiet retirement of an obscure village receiving a training for his public career which would have been impossible amidst the formalism and the distractions of ,jerusalem4 ,his development was as natural as it was perfect2 he 8advanced in wisdom and stature1 and in favor with ,god and men20 his bodily and mental growth were no more marked than his increasing charm and spiritual power4 ,such development is possible in the humblest sphere for those whose lives are yielded to the will of ,god4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,preparation4 ,,chs4 #c3a ,,to #d3ac ,a4 ,the ,preaching ,of ,john4 ,ch4 #c3a-bj #a ,now in the fifteenth year of the reign of ,tiberius ,csar1 ,pontius ,pilate being governor of ,juda1 and ,herod being tetrarch of ,galilee1 and his brother ,philip tetrarch of the region of ,itura and ,trachonitis1 and ,lysanias tetrarch of ,abilene1 #b in the high priesthood of ,annas and ,caiaphas1 the word of ,god came unto ,john the son of ,zacharias in the wilderness4 #c ,and he came into all the region round about the ,jordan1 preaching the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins2 #d as it is written in the book of the words of ,isaiah the prophet1 ,the voice of one crying in the wilderness1 ,make ye ready the way of the ,lord1 ,make his paths straight4 #e ,every valley shall be filled1 ,and every mountain and hill shall be brought low2 ,and the crooked shall become straight1 ,and the rough ways smooth2 #f ,and all flesh shall see the salvation of ,god4 #g ,he said therefore to the multitudes that went out to be baptized of him1 ,ye offspring of vipers1 who warned you to flee from the wrath to come8 #h ,bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance1 and begin not to say within yourselves1 ,we have ,abraham to our father3 for ,i say unto you1 that ,god is able of these stones to raise up children unto ,abraham4 #i ,and even now the axe also lieth at the root of the trees3 every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down1 and cast into the fire4 #aj ,and the multitudes asked him1 saying1 ,what then must we do8 #aa ,and he answered and said unto them1 ,he that hath two coats1 let him impart to him that hath none2 and he that hath food1 let him do likewise4 #ab ,and there came also publicans to be baptized1 and they said unto him1 ,teacher1 what must we do8 #ac ,and he said unto them1 ,extort no more than that which is appointed you4 #ad ,and soldiers also asked him1 saying1 ,and we1 what must we do8 ,and he said unto them1 ,extort from no man by violence1 neither accuse any one wrongfully2 and be content with your wages4 #ae ,and as the people were in expectation1 and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning ,john1 whether haply he were the ,christ2 #af ,john answered1 saying unto them all1 ,i indeed baptize you with water2 but there cometh he that is mightier than ,i1 the latchet of whose shoes ,i am not worthy to unloose3 he shall baptize you in the ,holy ,spirit and in fire3 #ag whose fan is in his hand1 thoroughly to cleanse his threshing-floor1 and to gather the wheat into his garner2 but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire4 #ah ,with many other exhortations therefore preached he good tidings unto the people2 #ai but ,herod the tetrarch1 being reproved by him for ,herodias his brother's wife1 and for all the evil things which ,herod had done1 #bj added this also to them all1 that he shut up ,john in prison4 ,john the ,baptist was the first inspired prophet to break the silence of the centuries which had elapsed since the days of ,malachi4 ,the importance of his ministry is indicated by ,luke in the minute exactness with which he fixes its date4 ,by naming the civil and religious rulers he gives a sixfold designation of the time2 then1 too1 it accords with the universal aspect of his ,gospel1 and with the genius of ,luke as a historian1 to link his story with secular events4 ,naturally he mentions first the reigning emperor1 ,tiberius ,csar2 he next names ,pilate1 the governor of ,judea who attained an immortality of shame for condemning ,jesus to the cross2 ,herod ,antipas1 a seducer and murderer1 son of ,herod the ,great1 is designated as ruler of ,galilee2 ,philip and ,lysanias are said to be governing neighboring provinces2 as ecclesiastical rulers1 ,annas and ,caiaphas are mentioned2 while the former had been deposed some years before1 he continued to share with his son-in-law the actual duties of the high priesthood1 and he also shared the infamy in which their names are united4 ,such a list of leading spirits indicates the absolute moral and religious degeneracy of the times and the need of some one to call ,israel back to the service and worship of ,god4 ,such a messenger appeared in the person of ,john the ,baptist who after his long discipline in the wilderness came with a definite message from ,god and drew out great throngs to the ,jordan ,valley to attend his preaching and to accept his baptism as a sign and seal of their repentance4 ,the nature of his ministry is declared to have been a fulfillment of the prediction of ,isaiah who described 8one crying in the wilderness10 one sent of ,god to prepare the way for the coming of ,christ4 ,this preparation is pictured in terms of ,oriental imagery4 ,when a monarch was about to make a journey1 a servant was sent before him to prepare the highway4 ,valleys needed to be filled1 hills lowered1 crooked places made straight1 rough ways made smooth4 ,thus1 before men would be ready to receive ,christ1 moral obstacles must be removed2 men must repent of their sins and turn from them4 ,luke closes his quotation from ,isaiah with the line1 8,and all flesh shall see the salvation of ,god10 which is in accord with the universal character of his ,gospel4 ,the burden of the message preached by ,john was that which in all ages has awakened a response in the hearts of men3 he preached sin and judgment1 repentance and pardon4 ,the tone of his message as recorded by ,luke1 however1 was particularly severe2 here he is said to have addressed the multitudes as the 8offspring of vipers0 and to have asked them why they were pretending to have heard a warning of wrath to come4 ,the reason for such severity was that1 while wishing to escape the impending judgment1 the people were unwilling to forsake their sins4 ,they regarded the baptism of ,john as a magical rite which could make impenitent men safe in the hour of judgment4 ,john bade them show their repentance by their works and not to trust in their descent from ,abraham as securing their salvation4 ,he declared that judgment was upon them2 the ax was already lying at the root of the trees and every fruitless tree was about to be 8hewn down1 and cast into the fire40 ,to the question of the people ,john made it perfectly plain that by repentance he meant no mere form or ceremony1 nor was the word merely an abstract theological term2 the thing he demanded was plain and practical1 that each man should turn from his besetting sin and should show love to his fellow man4 ,clothing and food were to be given to those in need1 for repentance meant to turn from the sin of selfishness4 ,publicans or taxgatherers1 who were everywhere detested because of their dishonesty and greed1 were told to demand no more tribute than was appointed and lawful4 ,soldiers1 or more exactly 8men on military service10 possibly acting as local police1 were told to extort no money by violence and to seek for none by false charges1 and to be content with their wages4 ,all who are to receive ,christ in any age must turn from their sins4 ,repentance is not a mystical experience2 it is plain and simple and practical4 ,it consists in turning from greed and dishonesty and unkindness and violence and discontent1 and from all that is contrary to the revealed will of ,god4 ,the coming of ,christ was very definitely predicted by ,john4 ,while some imagined that the prophet himself was the ,messiah1 ,john declared that the mission of ,christ was so much greater than his own that he would be unworthy as a slave1 to loose the latchet of his shoes4 ,while ,john baptized with water1 ,christ would baptize with the ,holy ,spirit and with fire4 ,water was a material element1 and merely symbolized an inward change2 ,jesus would bring them into fellowship with a divine ,person1 and would exert upon their souls cleansing and transforming power4 ,he would come1 however1 to punish the impenitent2 he would separate the wheat from the chaff2 the former he would gather into his garner1 but the chaff he would burn with unquenchable fire4 ,the close of the career of ,john is introduced by ,luke at this point of his narrative to prepare the way for his account of the ministry of ,christ4 ,it was actually some time after ,jesus had begun his work that ,herod the tetrarch arrested ,john and cast him into prison because he had rebuked the profligate king for his impurity and his sin4 ,john had been a faithful messenger of ,god1 but the world does not reverence its prophets2 they are usually imprisoned1 beheaded1 burned1 or crucified4 ,b4 ,the ,baptism ,of ,jesus4 ,ch4 #c3ba1 #bb #ba ,now it came to pass1 when all the people were baptized1 that1 ,jesus also having been baptized1 and praying1 the heaven was opened1 #bb and the ,holy ,spirit descended in a bodily form1 as a dove1 upon him1 and a voice came out of heaven1 ,thou art my beloved ,son2 in thee ,i am well pleased4 ,why did the ideal ,man1 the ,son of ,god1 submit to the baptism of ,john1 a baptism of repentance8 ,surely not to confess any sin of his own2 but first of all to set his seal of approval upon the work of ,john and to attest the message which declared that repentance and confession of sin are absolutely necessary for all who are to share the salvation of ,christ4 ,then again by his baptism ,jesus identified himself with his people1 not as being sinful1 but as doing what they were commanded to do and as sympathizing with them in their hatred of sin1 in their distress for its burden1 and in their hope and expectation of relief4 ,only those who sympathize can serve and save4 ,then again baptism indicated that the penitent had broken with the past to begin a life of new holiness and obedience4 ,so in his baptism ,jesus was ending his quiet years of preparation in ,nazareth and was about to enter upon the ministry of service and sacrifice which was to be performed in obedience to the will of his ,father4 ,it is for this reason that ,luke1 with the art of a skilled historian1 first completed the story of ,john1 the great forerunner1 before mentioning that which in reality was the supreme incident in the career of ,john--his baptism of ,jesus4 ,that incident introduced ,jesus to his public ministry and that ministry was to form the very substance of the gospel4 ,that the incident is merely introductory to his narrative1 is evident also from the way in which ,luke records the baptism4 ,he does not describe the event4 ,he merely mentions it to designate the time when ,jesus saw the descending ,spirit and heard the voice from heaven4 ,the former was a symbolic indication of the power by which the work of ,jesus was to be performed2 the latter was a declaration that he was the ,christ1 upon whom rested the approval of ,god4 ,we are not to suppose that ,jesus before had lacked the presence of the ,holy ,spirit1 nor that he now assumed any new relation to his ,father1 but1 as in baptism he had yielded himself to his appointed service1 so now he was empowered for his task2 as in humility he had identified himself with the sons of men1 so now he was assured anew that he was the ,son of ,god2 as he had shown his sympathy with penitent sinners1 he now was declared to be the sinless ,one in whom ,god was well pleased4 ,thus with the followers of ,christ1 while all enjoy the abiding presence of his ,spirit1 yet1 as they yield themselves anew to his service1 they are filled anew with his power1 they are strengthened for their tasks1 and are cheered by a new assurance of their sonship and their acceptance with ,god4 ,luke alone mentions that this experience came when ,jesus was in prayer4 ,he realized that it was a time of crisis4 ,prayer is usually the condition of those heavenly visions and spiritual experiences which prepare us for our tasks in life4 ,c4 ,the ,genealogy ,of ,jesus4 ,ch4 #c3bc-ch #bc ,and ,jesus himself1 when he began to teach1 was about thirty years of age1 being the son 7as was supposed7 of ,joseph1 the son of ,heli1 #bd the son of ,matthat1 the son of ,levi1 the son of ,melchi1 the son of ,jannai1 the son of ,joseph1 #be the son of ,mattathias1 the son of ,amos1 the son of ,nahum1 the son of ,esli1 the son of ,naggai1 #bf the son of ,maath1 the son of ,mattathias1 the son of ,semein1 the son of ,josech1 the son of ,joda1 #bg the son of ,joanan1 the son of ,rhesa1 the son of ,zerubbabel1 the son of ,shealtiel1 the son of ,neri1 #bh the son of ,melchi1 the son of ,addi1 the son of ,cosam1 the son of ,elmadam1 the son of ,er1 #bi the son of ,jesus1 the son of ,eliezer1 the son of ,jorim1 the son of ,matthat1 the son of ,levi1 #cj the son of ,symeon1 the son of ,judas1 the son of ,joseph1 the son of ,jonam1 the son of ,eliakim1 #ca the son of ,melea1 the son of ,menna1 the son of ,mattatha1 the son of ,nathan1 the son of ,david1 #cb the son of ,jesse1 the son of ,obed1 the son of ,boaz1 the son of ,salmon1 the son of ,nahshon1 #cc the son of ,amminadab1 the son of ,arni1 the son of ,hezron1 the son of ,perez1 the son of ,judah1 #cd the son of ,jacob1 the son of ,isaac1 the son of ,abraham1 the son of ,terah1 the son of ,nahor1 #ce the son of ,serug1 the son of ,reu1 the son of ,peleg1 the son of ,eber1 the son of ,shelah1 #cf the son of ,cainan1 the son of ,arphaxad1 the son of ,shem1 the son of ,noah1 the son of ,lamech1 #cg the son of ,methuselah1 the son of ,enoch1 the son of ,jared1 the son of ,mahalaleel1 the son of ,cainan1 #ch the son of ,enos1 the son of ,seth1 the son of ,adam1 the son of ,god4 ,the genealogy of ,jesus given by ,luke contains marked differences from that recorded by ,matthew4 ,possibly some of these differences can be explained and may be found of real significance4 #a4 ,first of all1 the genealogy is found in a different part of the ,gospel4 ,in ,matthew it opens the story2 in ,luke it closes the third chapter4 ,this is of course by no mere chance4 ,the purpose of ,matthew is to prove that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,messiah1 who1 as the ,king of ,israel1 fulfills all the ,old ,testament prophecies4 ,it is of the utmost importance that ,jesus should be shown to be the ,son of ,david and of ,abraham and that the official genealogy containing this record should open the story and even precede the account of the nativity4 ,luke1 however1 has given the significant account of the birth and infancy and career of the great forerunner1 ,john1 because of the light these throw upon the ministry of ,christ4 ,therefore1 when the career of ,john has been related1 when the ministry of ,jesus is about to be recorded1 ,luke gives his genealogy to emphasize the fact that the narrative concerning ,john has closed and the story of the ministry of ,jesus is about to begin4 ,the genealogy is thus an artistic interlude1 or an important introduction4 ,it suggests the real purpose of the writer and marks the transition from the ministry which called men to repentance to the saving work which secures salvation from sin4 ,the gospel is not good advice but good news4 ,we are not followers of ,john but of ,jesus4 #b4 ,then again1 the genealogy in ,matthew follows the order of descent2 ,luke ascends the family line from son to father4 ,the former is the order of an official record2 individuals are registered only as they are born2 the latter is that of a private document compiled from the public records with a view to fixing the attention upon the particular person whose name stands at the head of the list4 ,this is quite in accord with the literary art of ,luke1 who desires at this point in the narrative to center the thought upon the supreme importance of ,jesus1 the ,saviour1 of whose redeeming work he is now to write4 #c4 ,in the third place1 while the names given by ,luke1 from ,abraham to ,david1 correspond with those given by ,matthew1 the names from ,david to ,jesus differ4 ,some have attempted to explain the differences on the ground that ,matthew gives the genealogy of ,joseph1 while ,luke gives that of ,mary4 ,it is probably wiser to conclude that both give the genealogy of ,joseph1 but ,matthew traces the line of royal succession showing ,jesus to be the heir of ,david2 while ,luke gives the line of actual descent4 ,this surely accords with the purpose of ,matthew who ever depicts ,christ as the ,king1 and also with the purpose of ,luke who is painting for us ,christ as the true1 the ideal ,man4 #d4 ,then1 too1 the genealogy in ,matthew begins with ,abraham1 while ,luke traces the line back to ,adam4 ,the former proves ,jesus to be a ,jew1 the true son of ,abraham1 in whom the covenant was fulfilled4 ,the latter reminds us that ,jesus belongs to the whole human race4 ,it makes us look beyond all national lines and remember that this ideal ,man on whom ,luke is fixing our thoughts is the ,saviour of mankind4 #e4 ,when the genealogy closes with the statement that ,adam was 8the son of ,god10 it does indicate that ,jesus was reckoned as one in the great brotherhood of man1 and like all his brothers1 owed his origin to ,god2 but it does not mean to deny that he also sustained to ,god a relationship that is absolutely unique4 ,the genealogy opens with the statement that ,jesus was the reputed ,son of ,joseph2 he was the legal heir of ,joseph and so the promised ,son of ,david because of the marriage of ,joseph to ,mary2 but he was not really the son of ,joseph2 he was the 8only begotten ,son0 of ,god4 ,d4 ,the ,temptation ,of ,jesus4 ,ch4 #d3a-ac #a ,and ,jesus1 full of the ,holy ,spirit1 returned from the ,jordan1 and was led in the ,spirit in the wilderness #b during forty days1 being tempted of the devil4 ,and he did eat nothing in those days3 and when they were completed1 he hungered4 #c ,and the devil said unto him1 ,if thou art the ,son of ,god1 command this stone that it become bread4 #d ,and ,jesus answered unto him1 ,it is written1 ,man shall not live by bread alone4 #e ,and he led him up1 and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time4 #f ,and the devil said unto him1 ,to thee will ,i give all this authority1 and the glory of them3 for it hath been delivered unto me2 and to whomsoever ,i will ,i give it4 #g ,if thou therefore wilt worship before me1 it shall all be thine4 #h ,and ,jesus answered and said unto him1 ,it is written1 ,thou shalt worship the ,lord thy ,god1 and him only shalt thou serve4 #i ,and he led him to ,jerusalem1 and set him on the pinnacle of the temple1 and said unto him1 ,if thou art the ,son of ,god1 cast thyself down from hence3 #aj for it is written1 ,he shall give his angels charge concerning thee1 to guard thee3 #aa and1 ,on their hands they shall bear thee up1 ,lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone4 #ab ,and ,jesus answering said unto him1 ,it is said1 ,thou shalt not make trial of the ,lord thy ,god4 #ac ,and when the devil had completed every temptation1 he departed from him for a season4 ,the temptation of ,jesus was the last step in the preparation for his public ministry1 and for many of his followers the final discipline for service consists in such a trial as results in a new determination to live not for self but for ,god4 ,the time of the temptation was significant4 ,it was just after ,jesus had been filled with the ,holy ,spirit and had been assured anew of his divine sonship4 ,under the influence of the ,spirit he was brought to the place of trial1 and the temptation consisted1 in large part1 of the suggestion to use for selfish ends the divine powers of which he was conscious1 and to forget his filial relation to his ,father4 ,while ,god never tempts us1 in the sense of enticing us to sin1 it does seem to be a part of his gracious purpose to allow us to be tested2 these experiences come while we are guided by his ,spirit1 and the essence of these temptations usually consists in some inclination to please self in forgetfulness of our true relation to ,god4 ,the place of temptation was the wilderness1 and there is a sense in which the experience of moral struggle is always one of intense loneliness4 ,on the other hand1 to live in a literal desert does not free one from solicitation to sin4 ,wherever one may be1 he can be certain of the presence and sympathy of ,christ2 and victory is possible through faith in him4 ,this seems to be the supreme message of the story4 ,in both ,matthew and ,luke1 three temptations are mentioned4 ,they are probably intended to be symbolic and inclusive2 and under one or the other of these enticements to evil can be grouped all the moral trials of mankind4 ,it is to be noted1 however1 that the order of the temptations given by ,luke differs from that of ,matthew4 ,in both accounts the first temptation is to make bread of stone2 but ,luke mentions as the second temptation that which is last in the account of ,matthew1 the temptation which offered to ,jesus all the kingdoms of the world4 ,this was a fitting climax to the testing of the ,king4 ,luke1 however1 mentions last the temptation of ,jesus to cast himself from the pinnacle of the ,temple and thus to test ,god4 ,it is the temptation in the sphere of intellectual desire and comes in the subtle form of presumptuous trust4 ,it forms a true climax in the testing of the ideal ,man4 ,the order given by ,matthew is suggested by the apostle ,john who mentions 8the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life40 ,the order of ,luke takes us back to the story of ,eden and to the first human sin1 which was due to a love for that which was 8good for food0 and 8a delight to the eyes0 and 8to be desired to make one wise40 ,as in ,eden also1 the first temptation is to doubt the goodness of ,god1 the second to doubt his power1 and the third to distrust his wisdom4 ,the victory of ,jesus1 however1 was secured by the triumph of his faith1 and faith is still 8the victory which overcomes the world40 ,the first temptation1 then1 was in the sphere of bodily appetite2 ,jesus was urged by ,satan to transform a stone into bread4 ,why not8 ,his appetite was innocent2 he possessed the ability to gratify it4 ,the sin1 however1 would lie in his using divine power to satisfy his human needs4 ,if this should have been his way of life1 there would have been for him no hunger1 no pain1 no sorrow1 no cross4 ,he would have defeated the very purpose for which he came into the world2 and anyone who makes the gratification of appetite his supreme purpose is wasting his life4 ,the essence of the temptation1 however1 was to doubt the goodness of ,god1 as ,jesus showed by his reply1 8,man shall not live by bread alone40 ,he was quoting from the ,old ,testament2 he was declaring that as by a miracle ,god preserved his people of old1 so now he would sustain the life of his ,son4 ,jesus would not be driven into a panic of fear4 ,he believed that ,god would supply his need and that1 however strong the demand of appetite might be1 the way and the will of ,god are certain to secure satisfaction and the truest enjoyment in life4 ,the second temptation was in the sphere of earthly ambition4 ,it consisted in an offer of unlimited human power4 ,satan would give to ,jesus all the kingdoms of the world on the condition that ,jesus should bow down and worship him4 ,the force of the temptation consisted in the fact that ,jesus expected some day to rule the world4 ,the ,tempter suggested that he himself possessed such power1 and that if ,jesus would submit to him he would attain the desired goal of universal rule4 ,it was a temptation to doubt the power of ,god and to be disloyal to him1 as is shown by the reply of ,jesus1 8,thou shalt worship the ,lord thy ,god1 and him only shalt thou serve40 ,this is a familiar form of temptation to-day4 ,the ,devil does not ask us to give up our purposes of ultimate helpfulness to others and service to the world2 he only asks us to compromise with the evil to attain our goal2 he insists that the end will justify the means2 he intimates that in the world of commerce1 or society1 or politics1 evil methods are so much in vogue that success can be attained only by complicity with evil4 ,he tells us that this is his world and that we can rule only in so far as we make terms with him4 ,for ,christ the issue was clearly drawn4 ,it was submission to ,satan or loyalty to ,god4 ,the latter would involve opposition to the ruler of this world and therefore would mean conflict and toil and tears and a cross2 but the ultimate issue would be universal rule4 ,the same choice opens for the followers of ,christ4 ,unswerving loyalty is the way of the cross1 but this is the way of the crown4 ,the last temptation was in the sphere of intellectual curiosity4 ,it suggested to ,jesus that he should see for himself what would be the experience of one who should cast himself from a great height and then1 by angel hands1 be kept from harm4 ,this is the temptation to place oneself needlessly in a situation of moral peril and then to expect to be delivered by ,god's miraculous power4 ,this is not faith1 but presumption4 ,satan still seeks by this device to destroy human souls4 ,he urges men to see for themselves1 to increase their knowledge by experiences which needlessly endanger their credit1 their health1 and their honor1 to place themselves in moral peril1 to live beyond their means1 to undertake tasks beyond their strength4 ,jesus replied1 8,thou shalt not make trial of the ,lord thy ,god40 ,in the path of actual duty one need not fear the most threatening danger2 but one who puts himself in unnecessary peril need not expect divine help4 ,in his own time and way1 and in the path of our appointed service1 ,god will open our eyes and give us such knowledge as we need4 ,to seek in presumption for such knowledge while endangering our souls is to doubt the wisdom of ,god4 ,real trust preserves us from sinful presumption4 ,the story closes with the statement that when ,jesus had secured his victory the ,devil 8departed from him for a season40 ,the life of faith is a life of repeated moral conflicts1 but victory is assured to those who trust in the goodness and power and wisdom of ,god4 ,,iv4 ,,the ,,ministry ,,in ,,galilee4 ,,chs4 #d3ad ,,to #i3ej ,a4 ,the ,first ,period4 ,ch4 #d3ad-dd #a4 ,jesus ,preaching at ,nazareth4 ,ch4 #d3ad-cj #ad ,and ,jesus returned in the power of the ,spirit into ,galilee3 and a fame went out concerning him through all the region round about4 #ae ,and he taught in their synagogues1 being glorified of all4 #af ,and he came to ,nazareth1 where he had been brought up3 and he entered1 as his custom was1 into the synagogue on the sabbath day1 and stood up to read4 #ag ,and there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet ,isaiah4 ,and he opened the book1 and found the place where it was written1 #ah ,the ,spirit of the ,lord is upon me1 ,because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor3 ,he hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives1 ,and recovering of sight to the blind1 ,to set at liberty them that are bruised1 #ai ,to proclaim the acceptable year of the ,lord4 #bj ,and he closed the book1 and gave it back to the attendant1 and sat down3 and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him4 #ba ,and he began to say unto them1 ,to-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears4 #bb ,and all bare him witness1 and wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of his mouth3 and they said1 ,is not this ,joseph's son8 #bc ,and he said unto them1 ,doubtless ye will say unto me this parable1 ,physician1 heal thyself3 whatsoever we have heard done at ,capernaum1 do also here in thine own country4 #bd ,and he said1 ,verily ,i say unto you1 ,no prophet is acceptable in his own country4 #be ,but of a truth ,i say unto you1 ,there were many widows in ,israel in the days of ,elijah1 when the heaven was shut up three years and six months1 when there came a great famine over all the land2 #bf and unto none of them was ,elijah sent1 but only to ,zarephath1 in the land of ,sidon1 unto a woman that was a widow4 #bg ,and there were many lepers in ,israel in the time of ,elisha the prophet2 and none of them was cleansed1 but only ,naaman the ,syrian4 #bh ,and they were all filled with wrath in the synagogue1 as they heard these things2 #bi and they rose up1 and cast him forth out of the city1 and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built1 that they might throw him down headlong4 #cj ,but he passing through the midst of them went his way4 ,after his baptism and temptation ,jesus remained for a time in ,jerusalem and in ,judea and then returned to ,galilee where he began that ministry to which ,luke devotes the next six chapters of his ,gospel4 ,of this ministry he mentions three features3 ,first1 it was wrought in the power of the ,holy ,spirit2 secondly1 its fame extended through the entire country2 and thirdly1 its essence consisted in the most arresting and impressive public teaching4 ,the first recorded sermon of ,jesus was preached in the synagogue at ,nazareth1 the town in which he had spent his youth and early manhood4 ,luke places this sermon at the very opening of his record of the public ministry of ,jesus1 probably because he regarded it as containing the program of that ministry1 or as forming the proclamation of the saving work of our ,lord4 ,it was a ,sabbath ,day4 ,the place of worship was crowded with the relatives and friends and townsmen of ,jesus4 ,all were eager to hear one whom they knew so well1 and who had attained so sudden a renown4 ,either at his request1 or providentially1 ,jesus was handed the book of ,isaiah to lead in the reading of the ,scripture4 ,he found the place in the prophecy where1 in terms of the joy of ,jubilee1 the writer is describing the gladness of those who are to return from their long captivity in ,babylon4 ,when ,jesus had finished the lesson he sat down1 thereby taking the attitude of a public teacher4 ,as all gazed upon him intently1 he undertook to show that the prophecy was to be fulfilled by himself1 claiming thereby to be the promised ,messiah4 ,the very phrase with which the prophecy begins1 8,the ,spirit of the ,lord is upon me10 indicates1 when applied to himself1 that he had been anointed1 not with oil as a prophet or a priest or a king1 but with the ,holy ,spirit as the ,anointed ,one1 or the ,christ of ,god4 ,as such he was 8to preach good tidings to the poor10 that is1 to those in spiritual as well as in physical poverty4 ,he was to proclaim deliverance for those enslaved by sin and to establish those principles which will result in political freedom for mankind4 ,he was 8to set at liberty them that are bruised10 that is1 to remove the consequences and the cruelties of selfishness and of crime4 ,he was to proclaim the era of universal blessedness which will result from his perfected reign4 ,thus in these words1 which combine the figures of deliverance from captivity with those of the joy of jubilee1 ,jesus expressed the gracious and beneficent character of his ministry4 ,his auditors listened in amazement1 unable to resist the charm of his address or to deny the fascinating beauty of his words1 but unable also to admit his claim2 they received his predictions with stubborn unbelief4 ,they expressed their incredulity and at the same time explained it by their question1 8,is not this ,joseph's son80 ,they were saying in effect3 8,is not this man our neighbor1 the carpenter1 with whom we have all been acquainted2 do we not know him and his family8 ,surely he cannot be the ,messiah40 ,the reply of ,jesus was to the effect that their unwillingness to accept him was due in part to the fact that he had not wrought in their presence the miracles which marked his ministry in other places4 ,this is what he meant by quoting the proverb1 8,physician1 heal thyself10 that is1 8,establish your claim here as you have done elsewhere1 if you expect to be received as the ,christ40 ,jesus also quoted another proverb to explain more fully their jealous doubts3 8,no prophet is acceptable in his own country40 ,those most familiar with great men usually are least able to appreciate their greatness2 8,familiarity breeds contempt10 because men are so apt to judge one another by false standards and by that which is accidental and external and because so frequently men do not know those whom they think they know the best4 ,this same stupid lack of appreciation shadows human lives to-day1 and makes us fail to realize the worth of our friends and the value of our opportunities1 until it is too late4 ,it even has its tragic bearing upon the present ministry of ,christ2 some reject him for reasons altogether superficial and foolish1 thinking that they know him perfectly because they long have been familiar with his name1 while in reality they fail to understand the real beauty of his person and the transforming power of his grace4 ,the unbelief of his auditors was turned to mad hatred as ,jesus gave two examples from ,old ,testament history1 both of which indicated that his townsmen1 who knew him best1 were less worthy of his saving ministry than even men of heathen nations4 ,he even compared himself with ,elijah and ,elisha and indicated that as the former brought a great blessing to one who lived in ,sidon and the latter to a prince in ,syria1 while the people in ,israel were suffering for their unbelief1 so the nations of the world would accept the blessed salvation of ,christ while those who knew him best would suffer for their unbelief4 ,so maddened were his hearers by this severe rebuke that they drove him from the city and tried to take his life1 but he1 with majestic calm and divine strength1 8passing through the midst of them went his way40 ,it is still true that those who have enjoyed the best opportunities for knowing ,christ often reject him2 but1 where faith is present1 broken hearts are healed as by ,elijah of old and lepers are cleansed as was ,naaman by the word of ,elisha4 ,thus in this scene in the synagogue of ,nazareth1 ,jesus indicated not only the grace of his ministry but its universal power4 ,he came to relieve all the needs of mankind and in all the world4 #b4 ,jesus ,performing ,miracles at ,capernaum4 ,ch4 #d3ca-dd #ca ,and he came down to ,capernaum1 a city of ,galilee4 ,and he was teaching them on the sabbath day3 #cb and they were astonished at his teaching2 for his word was with authority4 #cc ,and in the synagogue there was a man1 that had a spirit of an unclean demon2 and he cried out with a loud voice1 #cd ,ah6 what have we to do with thee1 ,jesus thou ,nazarene8 art thou come to destroy us8 ,i know thee who thou art1 the ,holy ,one of ,god4 #ce ,and ,jesus rebuked him1 saying1 ,hold thy peace1 and come out of him4 ,and when the demon had thrown him down in the midst1 he came out of him1 having done him no hurt4 #cf ,and amazement came upon all1 and they spake together1 one with another1 saying1 ,what is this word8 for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits1 and they come out4 #cg ,and there went forth a rumor concerning him into every place of the region round about4 #ch ,and he rose up from the synagogue1 and entered into the house of ,simon4 ,and ,simon's wife's mother was holden with a great fever2 and they besought him for her4 #ci ,and he stood over her1 and rebuked the fever2 and it left her3 and immediately she rose up and ministered unto them4 #dj ,and when the sun was setting1 all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him2 and he laid his hands on every one of them1 and healed them4 #da ,and demons also came out from many1 crying out1 and saying1 ,thou art the ,son of ,god4 ,and rebuking them1 he suffered them not to speak1 because they knew that he was the ,christ4 #db ,and when it was day1 he came out and went into a desert place3 and the multitudes sought after him1 and came unto him1 and would have stayed him1 that he should not go from them4 #dc ,but he said unto them1 ,i must preach the good tidings of the kingdom of ,god to the other cities also3 for therefore was ,i sent4 #dd ,and he was preaching in the synagogues of ,galilee4 ,the ,sabbath at ,nazareth is placed by ,luke in sudden contrast with a ,sabbath passed at ,capernaum4 ,on the former1 as the story opens1 ,jesus was surrounded by his friends and townsmen2 as it closes1 they had turned into a fierce mob which was seeking his death4 ,in the latter1 as the scene opens1 ,jesus was faced by a demon2 but as it closes1 he was surrounded by an admiring throng who were eager to have him remain in their midst4 ,jesus was again in a synagogue1 and was awakening surprise by the character of his message4 ,unlike the teachers of his day1 he spoke with authority instead of quoting reputed 8authorities0 as he unfolded the ,scriptures4 ,suddenly the service was interrupted by the cries of a man who was possessed by an unclean spirit4 ,jesus rebuked the demon and compelled him to come out of the man4 ,there can be little doubt that the evil spirit which ,jesus thus controlled was an actual malign being who controlled the poor sufferer whom ,jesus graciously relieved2 yet such an 8unclean spirit0 is a type of the demoniac power of envy and of lust and of anger1 and of the whole host of debasing passions from which ,christ alone can give relief4 ,the second scene of this memorable ,sabbath is in the home of ,simon ,peter2 here by a single word ,jesus relieved a poor sufferer from a severe fever4 ,the cure was so instantaneous that the woman who had been sick immediately 8rose up and ministered unto them40 ,it is probably true that in many homes there are those1 not afflicted by the power of evil passions1 who nevertheless are suffering from worry and anxiety and fretfulness and unrest and so are unable to render to others the gracious service which they might perform if they could but hear the quieting word of ,christ and feel the soothing power of his touch4 ,the third scene is of peculiar beauty4 ,when the sun had set a great multitude gathered around the home of ,peter1 attracted by the report of the miracle wrought in the synagogue4 ,they brought with them great numbers of those who were sick or possessed by demons and ,jesus healed them all4 ,this is a picture which in reality is being reproduced to-day4 ,amid the shadows and mysteries of suffering and pain the ,saviour is standing2 about him are gathered those whom sin has stricken with its disease1 the sad1 the loveless1 the lonely1 the tempted1 the hopeless1 the lost4 ,his touch 8has still its ancient power40 ,in his mercy he is healing them all1 and in joy they are going away4 ,the last scene of this group is at dawn the next morning4 ,jesus had withdrawn to 8a desert place10 but the eager multitudes had found him and were beseeching him not to go from them4 ,he reminded them1 however1 of the other cities which needed to hear 8the good tidings of the kingdom of ,god40 ,have all of us who have felt the healing touch of ,christ something of his sympathy for those who have not yet heard the good news of his grace8 ,b4 ,the ,second ,period4 ,chs4 #e3a to #f3aa #a4 ,the ,call of the ,first ,disciples4 ,ch4 #e3a-aa #a ,now it came to pass1 while the multitude pressed upon him and heard the word of ,god1 that he was standing by the lake of ,gennesaret2 #b and he saw two boats standing by the lake3 but the fishermen had gone out of them1 and were washing their nets4 #c ,and he entered into one of the boats1 which was ,simon's1 and asked him to put out a little from the land4 ,and he sat down and taught the multitudes out of the boat4 #d ,and when he had left speaking1 he said unto ,simon1 ,put out into the deep1 and let down your nets for a draught4 #e ,and ,simon answered and said1 ,master1 we toiled all night1 and took nothing3 but at thy word ,i will let down the nets4 #f ,and when they had done this1 they inclosed a great multitude of fishes2 and their nets were breaking2 #g and they beckoned unto their partners in the other boat1 that they should come and help them4 ,and they came1 and filled both the boats1 so that they began to sink4 #h ,but ,simon ,peter1 when he saw it1 fell down at ,jesus' knees1 saying1 ,depart from me2 for ,i am a sinful man1 ,o ,lord4 #i ,for he was amazed1 and all that were with him1 at the draught of the fishes which they had taken2 #aj and so were also ,james and ,john1 sons of ,zebedee1 who were partners with ,simon4 ,and ,jesus said unto ,simon1 ,fear not2 from henceforth thou shalt catch men4 #aa ,and when they had brought their boats to land1 they left all1 and followed him4 ,the call of his first disciples is regarded by many as opening a new period in the public ministry of ,jesus4 ,his work was now to assume a more permanent form4 ,the growing popularity of his preaching indicated that the gospel was designed for the whole world4 ,for such a proclamation a definite group of workers must be prepared4 ,the growth of ,christianity ever depends upon securing men who will publicly confess and follow ,christ4 ,the scene of this call is described as being 8by the lake of ,gennesaret40 ,this charming sheet of water brings to mind so many scenes in the life of our ,lord that it has been termed a 8,fifth ,gospel40 ,on its western and northern side were the cities in which most of his work was done2 the eastern shores were not inhabited and thither ,jesus would resort for rest4 ,those whom ,jesus called were fishermen1 sturdy1 independent1 fearless4 ,they were not strangers to ,jesus nor had they been indifferent to spiritual truths4 ,they had attended the preaching of the ,baptist and had come to regard ,jesus as the ,messiah1 but they were now called to leave their homes and their tasks and to become his constant companions and disciples4 ,on this occasion ,jesus had borrowed the boat belonging to one of his friends to use as a pulpit and from this he had addressed the crowds4 ,when he had finished his discourse1 he gave to the four men he was about to call an impressive object lesson of the character of the work and of the great success which would attend their ministry if they would forsake all and follow him4 ,he wrought a miracle especially impressive because it was in the sphere of their daily calling at a time and place where they were sure it was useless to fish4 ,they were enabled by the guidance of ,jesus to take such a draft of fishes that their nets were strained and their boats so loaded as nearly to sink4 ,it was so plainly a manifestation of supernatural power that ,peter felt himself to be in the presence of a divine ,being and expressed the fear which all have felt when face to face with ,god4 ,jesus spoke the word which not only removed the terror of ,peter but gave to him and his companions courage for all the coming years1 8,fear not2 from henceforth thou shalt catch men40 ,so to-day ,jesus is calling men to become his disciples4 ,obedience may involve sacrifice1 but it is certain to result in the saving of human souls4 #b4 ,jesus ,cleansing a ,leper4 ,ch4 #e3ab-af #ab ,and it came to pass1 while he was in one of the cities1 behold1 a man full of leprosy3 and when he saw ,jesus1 he fell on his face1 and besought him1 saying1 ,lord1 if thou wilt1 thou canst make me clean4 #ac ,and he stretched forth his hand1 and touched him1 saying1 ,i will2 be thou made clean4 ,and straightway the leprosy departed from him4 #ad ,and he charged him to tell no man3 but go thy way1 and show thyself to the priest1 and offer for thy cleansing1 according as ,moses commanded1 for testimony unto them4 #ae ,but so much the more went abroad the report concerning him3 and great multitudes came together to hear1 and to be healed of their infirmities4 #af ,but he withdrew himself in the deserts1 and prayed4 ,leprosy was regarded as the most loathsome and terrible of diseases4 ,it existed in various forms but its invariable feature was its foul uncleanness4 ,the leper was an outcast2 he was compelled to live apart from the dwellings of men4 ,he was required to wear a covering over his mouth and to give warning of his approach by crying1 8,unclean6 ,unclean60 ,his case was regarded as hopeless2 he was reckoned as dead4 ,loathsome1 insidious1 corrupting1 pervasive1 isolating1 ceremonially and physically defiling1 surely leprosy is a fitting emblem of sin2 and this graphic narrative presents a parable of the power of ,christ to cleanse and to heal and to restore4 ,it is a vivid picture which ,luke draws2 the humble trust of the poor sufferer1 his pitiful cry1 the sympathetic touch of ,jesus1 the word of command and the instant cure4 ,while ,jesus forbade the man to arouse excitement by telling of his healing1 he commanded him to report his case to the priest1 that the highest religious authorities might have unanswerable testimony to the divine power of ,christ1 and also that the man might bring the offerings required by the ,law and thus express his gratitude to ,god4 ,our ,master does expect all who have felt his healing touch to testify of his grace and to show their gratitude by offering to him the service of their lives4 ,such miracles could not be hid4 ,the crowds so pressed upon ,jesus that he was forced to withdraw to the desert for rest2 and as the scene closed he who had startled the multitude by the manifestation of his divine power was left alone seeking help from ,god in prayer4 #c4 ,jesus ,forgiving ,sins4 ,ch4 #e3ag-bf #ag ,and it came to pass on one of those days1 that he was teaching2 and there were ,pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by1 who were come out of every village of ,galilee and ,juda and ,jerusalem3 and the power of the ,lord was with him to heal4 #ah ,and behold1 men bring on a bed a man that was palsied3 and they sought to bring him in1 and to lay him before him4 #ai ,and not finding by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude1 they went up to the housetop1 and let him down through the tiles with his couch into the midst before ,jesus4 #bj ,and seeing their faith1 he said1 ,man1 thy sins are forgiven thee4 #ba ,and the scribes and the ,pharisees began to reason1 saying1 ,who is this that speaketh blasphemies8 ,who can forgive sins1 but ,god alone8 #bb ,but ,jesus perceiving their reasonings1 answered and said unto them1 ,why reason ye in your hearts8 #bc ,which is easier1 to say1 ,thy sins are forgiven thee2 or to say1 ,arise and walk8 #bd ,but that ye may know that the ,son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins 7he said unto him that was palsied71 ,i say unto thee1 ,arise1 and take up thy couch1 and go unto thy house4 #be ,and immediately he rose up before them1 and took up that whereon he lay1 and departed to his house1 glorifying ,god4 #bf ,and amazement took hold on all1 and they glorified ,god2 and they were filled with fear1 saying1 ,we have seen strange things to-day4 ,leprosy was the symbol of the uncleanness of sin2 paralysis of its impotence and pain4 ,on the occasion of healing a paralytic1 ,jesus1 however1 did something more startling3 he forgave sin4 ,the poor sufferer had been borne by his four friends who were discouraged by no obstacles4 ,when they were unable to enter the house where ,jesus was1 because of the multitudes which surrounded it1 they went to the roof and let the sick man down through the tiles into the very presence of ,christ4 ,their earnestness is a rebuke to us who make so little effort to bring our comrades within the healing influence of our ,lord4 ,jesus recognized the faith both of the man and of his friends and responded with an utterance which occasioned his hearers more surprise than had the opening of the roof1 8,man1 thy sins are forgiven thee40 ,no request had been made for such forgiveness1 but ,jesus read the heart4 ,he saw the yearning of the sufferer for healing not only of his body but of his soul4 ,he recognized his sorrow for the sin which had caused the sickness1 and the anguish of remorse and immediately he spoke the word of pardon and of peace4 ,thus ,jesus voiced the message which the world seems reluctant to accept4 ,he declared that physical ills and social evils are less serious than the moral and spiritual maladies of which they are the symptoms and the results2 and further1 he expressed his claim of divine power to pronounce pardon and to remove guilt4 ,this claim at once aroused the bitter resentment of the scribes and ,pharisees who were present and they began to reason3 8,who is this that speaketh blasphemies8 ,who can forgive sins1 but ,god alone80 ,their reasoning was correct4 ,jesus was a blasphemer worthy of death1 or else he was divine4 ,to prove his deity ,jesus proposed an immediate test3 8,which is easier1 to say1 ,thy sins are forgiven thee2 or to say1 ,arise and walk80 ,of course neither is easier2 either requires divine power4 ,therefore1 when at the word of ,jesus the man arose and started for his home1 8glorifying ,god10 it is not strange that 8amazement took hold on all1 and they glorified ,god40 ,thus the miracles of ,christ were real proofs of his deity as well as expressions of his love2 they were moreover parables of his ability and willingness to deliver man from the guilt and power of sin4 #d4 ,the ,call of ,levi4 ,ch4 #e3bg-cb #bg ,and after these things he went forth1 and beheld a publican1 named ,levi1 sitting at the place of toll1 and said unto him1 ,follow me4 #bh ,and he forsook all1 and rose up and followed him4 #bi ,and ,levi made him a great feast in his house3 and there was a great multitude of publicans and of others that were sitting at meat with them4 #cj ,and the ,pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples1 saying1 ,why do ye eat and drink with the publicans and sinners8 #ca ,and ,jesus answering said unto them1 ,they that are in health have no need of a physician2 but they that are sick4 #cb ,i am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance4 ,nothing could further emphasize the sympathy of ,jesus than his calling a publican to be his close companion and friend4 ,these taxgatherers were everywhere despised for their dishonesty1 extortion1 and greed2 but ,jesus chose one of them named ,levi1 or ,matthew1 and transformed him into an apostle1 an evangelist1 and a saint4 ,there must have been something admirable in the character of the man2 at least there was something inspiring in his example1 for as soon as he heard the clear call of the ,master1 8,he forsook all1 and rose up and followed him40 ,probably he had more to leave than any of the twelve men who became apostles of ,christ4 ,he must have been possessed of wealth4 ,at least1 as soon as he was converted1 he made 8a great feast in his house0 and invited 8a great multitude of publicans and of others0 to be his guests4 ,he had the courage of his convictions2 he was not ashamed of his new ,master4 ,he was eager to have his old friends introduced to ,christ4 ,it was on the occasion of this feast that ,jesus was criticized by the ,pharisees for eating and drinking with publicans and sinners4 ,he made this most significant reply3 8,they that are in health have no need of a physician2 but they that are sick4 ,i am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance40 ,by this statement ,jesus emphasized and vindicated his conduct and defined his mission4 ,a physician enters a sick room1 not because he delights in disease or rejoices in suffering1 but because he desires to cure and to relieve2 so ,jesus companied with sinners not because he countenanced sin or enjoyed the society of the depraved1 but because1 as a healer of souls1 he was willing to go where he was most needed and to work where the ravages of sin were most severe4 ,he came into the world to save sinners4 ,their conduct distressed him1 their sins pained him2 but to accomplish his task he sought them out and showed his sympathy by his presence and by his healing power4 ,are there any who do not need the spiritual cure he can effect8 ,are any 8sound20 are some not 8sinners08 ,these questions each must answer for himself4 ,probably those who like the ,pharisees are least conscious of their sickness are in most desperate danger4 ,then again1 are those who know his power willing like the ,master to go with his gospel to the places of greatest need8 #e4 ,the ,question of ,fasting4 ,ch4 #e3cc-ci #cc ,and they said unto him1 ,the disciples of ,john fast often1 and make supplications2 likewise also the disciples of the ,pharisees2 but thine eat and drink4 #cd ,and ,jesus said unto them1 ,can ye make the sons of the bride-chamber fast1 while the bridegroom is with them8 #ce ,but the days will come2 and when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them1 then will they fast in those days4 #cf ,and he spake also a parable unto them3 ,no man rendeth a piece from a new garment and putteth it upon an old garment2 else he will rend the new1 and also the piece from the new will not agree with the old4 #cg ,and no man putteth new wine into old wine-skins2 else the new wine will burst the skins1 and itself will be spilled1 and the skins will perish4 #ch ,but new wine must be put into fresh wine-skins4 #ci ,and no man having drunk old wine desireth new2 for he saith1 ,the old is good4 ,the ,pharisees were disturbed by the attitude of ,jesus toward sinners4 ,much more were they distressed by his attitude toward the forms and ceremonies which to their mind constituted the very essence of religion4 ,this attitude had been expressed by the failure of ,jesus to require his disciples to observe the fasts which had become so prominent in the system of legalism taught by the religious leaders of the ,jews4 ,the ,law of ,moses prescribed no fasts4 ,the rabbis had so multiplied them that a ,pharisee could boast of fasting 8twice in the week40 ,the disciples of ,john the ,baptist were taught to fast frequently1 not as an empty form1 but to express the solemn character of the ministry of ,john who had come preaching 8repentance unto remission of sins40 ,it was not strange1 therefore1 that the enemies of ,jesus came to him with a complaint and with the question1 8,the disciples of ,john fast often1 and make supplications2 likewise also the disciples of the ,pharisees2 but thine eat and drink40 ,in his reply ,jesus stated distinctly the view his followers should take1 not only of fasting but of all religious forms3 8,can ye make the sons of the bride-chamber fast1 while the bridegroom is with them8 ,but the days will come2 and when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them1 then will they fast in those days40 ,fasting is an expression of sorrow4 ,how absurd then would it be for ,jesus' followers to fast while the heavenly ,bridegroom was with them6 ,they might express their distress thus when he should be taken away4 ,thus ,jesus declared that fasting1 like all religious rites1 may be quite fitting if it is a true expression of religious feeling1 but if it is a matter of form1 of rule1 or requirement1 if it is regarded as a ground of merit1 it is an absurdity and an impertinence4 ,jesus added a parable which further indicates his attitude toward all the rites and ceremonies in which the ,pharisees took such delight4 ,he declared that he had not come to regulate the fasts and feasts or to amend the ,jewish ritual4 ,that would be like sewing a new patch on an old garment4 ,this religion of ceremonies had served its purpose4 ,jesus had come with something1 new and better4 ,the life of freedom and of joy which he was imparting could not be bound up in the narrow forms and rites of ,judaism4 ,new wine could not be kept in old wine skins4 ,christianity cannot be comprehended by any system of rites and ceremonies4 ,it must not be interpreted as a set of rules and requirements2 it must not be confused with any ritual4 ,it controls men1 not by rules1 but by motives4 ,its symbol is not a fast but a feast1 for its pervasive spirit is joy4 ,as reported by ,luke1 ,jesus added a characteristic phrase indicating his tender sympathy1 8,and no man having drunk old wine desireth new2 for he saith1 ,the old is good40 ,those who long have been accustomed to a religion of forms find it difficult to be satisfied with the religion of faith4 ,we must be patient with them4 ,it is not easy for them to give up the practices of childhood and it takes time for them to learn the gladness and the freedom of spiritual maturity offered to the followers of ,christ4 #f4 ,the ,sabbath ,controversy4 ,ch4 #f3a-aa #a ,now it came to pass on a sabbath1 that he was going through the grainfields2 and his disciples plucked the ears1 and did eat1 rubbing them in their hands4 #b ,but certain of the ,pharisees said1 ,why do ye that which it is not lawful to do on the sabbath day8 #c ,and ,jesus answering them said1 ,have ye not read even this1 what ,david did1 when he was hungry1 he1 and they that were with him2 #d how he entered into the house of ,god1 and took and ate the showbread1 and gave also to them that were with him2 which it is not lawful to eat save for the priests alone8 #e ,and he said unto them1 ,the ,son of man is lord of the sabbath4 #f ,and it came to pass on another sabbath1 that he entered into the synagogue and taught3 and there was a man there1 and his right hand was withered4 #g ,and the scribes and the ,pharisees watched him1 whether he would heal on the sabbath2 that they might find how to accuse him4 #h ,but he knew their thoughts2 and he said to the man that had his hand withered1 ,rise up1 and stand forth in the midst4 ,and he arose and stood forth4 #i ,and ,jesus said unto them1 ,i ask you1 ,is it lawful on the sabbath to do good1 or to do harm8 to save a life1 or to destroy it8 #aj ,and he looked round about on them all1 and said unto him1 ,stretch forth thy hand4 ,and he did so3 and his hand was restored4 #aa ,but they were filled with madness2 and communed one with another what they might do to ,jesus4 ,jesus had aroused the anger of the ,pharisees by his claim to forgive sins4 ,he had further enraged them by his treatment of sinners4 ,but he brought their hatred to a climax of fury by his attitude toward ,sabbath observance4 ,henceforth they sought to destroy him4 ,the question of the ,sabbath has never lost its interest4 ,the followers of ,christ need to stand firmly by the principles set forth by their ,lord4 ,these principles are few but fundamental3 ,the ,sabbath is a day designed for worship and for rest and is to be broken only by works of necessity and of mercy4 ,the first of these exceptions to the required rest of the ,sabbath ,day was illustrated by the case of the disciples who were accused by the ,pharisees of breaking the ,sabbath because as they walked through the fields they picked the ripened ears and thus1 according to the interpretation of their enemies1 were guilty of working on the ,sabbath ,day4 ,our ,lord did not deny that the ,sabbath law had been broken4 ,he merely referred his enemies to the case of ,david and his followers who1 forced by hunger1 broke the ,mosaic ,law in entering the tabernacle and eating the 8showbread40 ,jesus argued that1 when necessary to relieve their hunger1 his followers were also justified in disregarding the law of rest4 ,an illustration of the second exception to the law of absolute cessation from labor was given 8on another sabbath0 when in the synagogue ,jesus healed a man whose right hand was 8withered40 ,the ,pharisees regarded this action of ,jesus as another breach of the law of rest4 ,jesus defended his action on the ground that it was dictated by mercy and that work which secured relief from suffering was allowable on the ,sabbath ,day4 ,he replied to his enemies by a searching question1 assuming the principle that refraining from help is the same as inflicting harm4 ,he1 asked them whether they regarded the ,sabbath ,day as of such character as to make it right on that day to do that which on other days was wrong3 8,i ask you1 ,is it lawful on the sabbath to do good1 or to do harm8 to save a life1 or to destroy it80 ,while ,jesus taught that the law of rest might thus be broken to meet the necessities of man and to show mercy to those in need or in distress1 he by no means abrogated the ,sabbath4 ,he declared1 however1 that 8the ,son of man is lord of the sabbath10 by which he meant that as the representative of men he had a right to interpret the ,law for the highest good of man4 ,he was justified in relieving the ,sabbath from the narrow and burdensome observances which had been bound upon it by the ,pharisees and to restore it to mankind as a glad day of rest and of refreshment and of fellowship with ,god4 ,c4 ,the ,third ,period4 ,chs4 #f3ab to #h3ef #a4 ,the ,choice of the ,twelve4 ,ch4 #f3ab-ai #ab ,and it came to pass in these days1 that he went out into the mountain to pray2 and he continued all night in prayer to ,god4 #ac ,and when it was day1 he called his disciples2 and he chose from them twelve1 whom also he named apostles3 #ad ,simon1 whom he also named ,peter1 and ,andrew his brother1 and ,james and ,john1 and ,philip and ,bartholomew1 #ae and ,matthew and ,thomas1 and ,james the son of ,alphus1 and ,simon who was called the ,zealot1 #af and ,judas the son of ,james1 and ,judas ,iscariot1 who became a traitor2 #ag and he came down with them1 and stood on a level place1 and a great multitude of his disciples1 and a great number of the people from all ,juda and ,jerusalem1 and the sea coast of ,tyre and ,sidon1 who came to hear him1 and to be healed of their diseases2 #ah and they that were troubled with unclean spirits were healed4 #ai ,and all the multitude sought to touch him2 for power came forth from him1 and healed them all4 ,the choice of the twelve apostles marks a new and important period in the public ministry of our ,lord4 ,the deep significance of the act is indicated by ,luke in his statement that ,jesus passed the entire preceding night in prayer to ,god4 ,one reason for his decision may have been the mad hatred of the ,pharisees whose anger had now reached a murderous height4 ,to give more assured permanence to his work ,jesus saw the necessity of organizing his followers4 ,he had been surrounded by a multitude of disciples1 some of whom were his constant companions1 but he now determined to appoint officers who would act as trained leaders1 who would be his official messengers accredited by miraculous powers4 ,in all four places in the ,new ,testament where the names of these twelve apostles are found1 they are arranged in three invariable groups1 possibly in accordance with their intimacy with ,jesus and their real service to him4 ,in all ages there have been among his followers such concentric circles1 such inner groups1 who have been blessed by peculiar intimacy with their ,lord1 not due to his arbitrary choice1 but to their peculiar capacities for love and obedience and faith4 ,the first six mentioned by ,luke were men who under the influence of ,john the ,baptist had become the first followers of ,christ4 ,other things being equal1 those who have known ,jesus longest are able to serve him best4 ,the chief place in the first group is always assigned to ,simon ,peter1 bold1 impulsive1 fickle1 but possessing the peculiar powers of leadership which qualified him for the place of primacy among the apostles of our ,lord4 ,with him ,luke names his brother ,andrew1 probably a man of less ability and strength1 but one who will ever be remembered as having brought ,peter into fellowship with ,jesus4 ,none can ever tell what share in the reward of a more famous worker will be enjoyed by one more obscure to whom the greater leader owes his ,christian career4 ,the next to be mentioned are ,james and ,john1 the 8sons of thunder10 the courageous1 loving1 faithful companions who with ,peter form the inmost circle of the followers of ,christ4 ,james was the first to suffer martyrdom for the sake of his ,master1 while ,john lingered longest of all the apostolic band1 testifying to the cause of him who had chosen ,john as his closest friend1 and for whose return ,john continued to watch and to wait4 ,of the second four1 the first to be mentioned are ,philip and ,bartholomew2 the latter is supposed to be the same as ,nathanael1 the ,israelite without guile whom ,philip won as a disciple for ,christ4 ,the next were ,matthew and ,thomas4 ,the former had been a despised publican1 but his training had prepared him to become a careful recorder of facts1 so that after his intimate fellowship with ,christ he became one of his biographers and wrote that which is numbered as the first of the ,gospels4 ,thomas has won the reputation of being a doubting disciple4 ,he was certainly naturally despondent and incredulous4 ,the fact1 however1 that such a man became convinced of the resurrection of ,christ so soon after the event is one of the most important testimonies to the reality of the fundamental fact of our ,christian faith4 ,as to the last group1 we know nothing of ,james1 the son of ,alphus1 commonly called 8,james the less0 in contrast with ,james the brother of ,john2 but it is surely a mistake to identify him with ,james the brother of our ,lord who became the head of the church in ,jerusalem and wrote the ,epistle which bears his name4 8,simon who was called the ,zealot0 was by this latter title distinguished from ,simon ,peter4 ,if this title is correctly interpreted1 he had formerly belonged to that fanatical party of ,jews who were promoters and supporters of the revolt against ,rome1 which finally resulted in the destruction of ,jerusalem4 ,judas1 the son of ,james1 is carefully distinguished in the narrative from the traitor whose infamous name always comes last on the list of apostles and is never mentioned in ,scripture without some designation of disgrace and shame4 ,why he should have been chosen as a follower of ,christ no one can sufficiently explain1 yet there must have been in him original elements of good4 ,there was surely the possibility of development into usefulness and sainthood1 but he tried to cherish the passion of greed while companying with ,jesus1 and the inevitable reaction was so great and rapid that he soon degenerated into a thief and a traitor4 ,his fate serves as a warning to all the followers of ,christ and his testimony to the character of ,jesus has been repeated through all the years1 8,i have 444 betrayed innocent blood40 ,all of the ,twelve were men of modest means and humble stations in life2 they were men of moderate ability1 and most of their names are still obscure2 yet they were the first leaders and the real organizers of the most important society the world has known1 and their names are yet to be graven on the foundations of the holy city1 the light of which is to fill the earth with glory4 #b4 ,the ,great ,sermon4 ,ch4 #f3bj-di #bj ,and he lifted up his eyes on his disciples1 and said1 ,blessed are ye poor3 for yours is the kingdom of ,god4 #ba ,blessed are ye that hunger now3 for ye shall be filled4 ,blessed are ye that weep now3 for ye shall laugh4 #bb ,blessed are ye1 when men shall hate you1 and when they shall separate you from their company1 and reproach you1 and cast out your name as evil1 for the ,son of man's sake4 #bc ,rejoice in that day1 and leap for joy3 for behold1 your reward is great in heaven2 for in the same manner did their fathers unto the prophets4 #bd ,but woe unto you that are rich6 for ye have received your consolation4 #be ,woe unto you1 ye that are full now6 for ye shall hunger4 ,woe unto you1 ye that laugh now for ye shall mourn and weep4 #bf ,woe unto you1 when all men shall speak well of you6 for in the same manner did their fathers to the false prophets4 #bg ,but ,i say unto you that hear1 ,love your enemies1 do good to them that hate you1 #bh bless them that curse you1 pray for them that despitefully use you4 #bi ,to him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other2 and from him that taketh away thy cloak withhold not thy coat also4 #cj ,give to every one that asketh thee2 and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again4 #ca ,and as ye would that men should do to you1 do ye also to them likewise4 #cb ,and if ye love them that love you1 what thank have ye8 for even sinners love those that love them4 #cc ,and if ye do good to them that do good to you1 what thank have ye8 for even sinners do the same4 #cd ,and if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive1 what thank have ye8 even sinners lend to sinners1 to receive again as much4 #ce ,but love your enemies1 and do them good1 and lend1 never despairing2 and your reward shall be great1 and ye shall be sons of the ,most ,high3 for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil4 #cf ,be ye merciful1 even as your ,father is merciful4 #cg ,and judge not1 and ye shall not be judged3 and condemn not1 and ye shall not be condemned3 release1 and ye shall be released3 #ch give1 and it shall be given unto you2 good measure1 pressed down1 shaken together1 running over1 shall they give into your bosom4 ,for with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again4 #ci ,and he spake also a parable unto them1 ,can the blind guide the blind8 shall they not both fall into a pit8 #dj ,the disciple is not above his teacher3 but every one when he is perfected shall be as his teacher4 #da ,and why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye1 but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye8 #db ,or how canst thou say to thy brother1 ,brother1 let me cast out the mote that is in thine eye1 when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye8 ,thou hypocrite1 cast out first the beam out of thine own eye1 and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote that is in thy brother's eye4 #dc ,for there is no good tree that bringeth forth corrupt fruit2 nor again a corrupt tree that bringeth forth good fruit4 #dd ,for each tree is known by its own fruit4 ,for of thorns men do not gather figs1 nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes4 #de ,the good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good2 and the evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil3 for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh4 #df ,and why call ye me1 ,lord1 ,lord1 and do not the things which ,i say8 #dg ,every one that cometh unto me1 and heareth my words1 and doeth them1 ,i will show you to whom he is like3 #dh he is like a man building a house1 who digged and went deep1 and laid a foundation upon the rock3 and when a flood arose1 the stream brake against that house1 and could not shake it3 because it had been well builded4 #di ,but he that heareth1 and doeth not1 is like a man that built a house upon the earth without a foundation2 against which the stream brake1 and straightway it fell in2 and the ruin of that house was great4 ,it might seem difficult to prove that the ,sermon on the ,mount is the same as this discourse which has been called by some the ,sermon on the ,plain4 ,the exact relation between the sermon reported by ,matthew and this great address recorded by ,luke has long been a subject of debate4 ,it is quite probable1 however1 that they are identical4 ,after ,jesus had chosen the twelve apostles on the summit of the mountain where he had spent the night1 he descended to a level place on the mountain side and there met the multitude and delivered the sermon which holds first place among all the discourses in the world4 ,if this address is the same as the ,sermon on the ,mount1 it is to be noted that each account begins with beatitudes and closes with a warning1 while the main body of the discourse differs only in the aspect of truth emphasized by the two writers4 ,in ,matthew the essence of the ,christian life is described as true righteousness in distinction from the formalism of the ,pharisees4 ,in ,luke the essence of righteousness is found in love4 ,matthew was writing with ,jewish ,christians in mind4 ,the ,gospel of ,luke was for the world and many of his readers would not have appreciated the distinction which ,matthew was emphasizing4 ,the word which would describe the sermon as recorded by ,matthew is spirituality1 but the substance of the ,christian life as here indicated by ,luke is charity4 ,the ,beatitudes here recorded are four in number1 while ,matthew mentions eight or nine2 but ,luke adds four woes1 each one of which is in striking contrast with the parallel ,beatitude1 vs4 #bj-bf4 ,the sermon begins1 therefore1 by pronouncing blessings upon the followers of ,christ and contrasted woes upon those who reject him4 ,those who are declared to be blessed are the poor1 the hungry1 the mourners1 and the despised2 while woes are pronounced upon the rich1 the satisfied1 the joyous1 and the praised4 ,it is1 of course1 understood that there are spiritual implications in these different terms4 ,poverty1 hunger1 sorrow1 reproach1 have no merit in themselves and issue in present and eternal blessedness only when accompanied by humility1 trust1 and patience1 and when endured for the sake of ,christ4 ,so1 too1 there is no wrong in riches and satisfaction and laughter and praise unless these are accompanied by the selfishness and greed and frivolity and unworthiness with which they are so often identified4 ,by these blessings and woes the ,master indicated the real character as well as the abiding blessedness of those who are his true disciples4 ,the burden of the discourse1 vs4 #bg-de1 sets forth the ,christian life as being in essence a life of love4 ,this sermon on love might be accompanied properly by the 8hymn of love0 composed by ,paul1 #a ,cor41 ch4 #ac1 and by the 8,scripture lesson0 on love written by ,john1 #a ,john #d3g-ba4 ,first then1 in place of all revenge1 vs4 #bg-cj1 ,jesus established the ,golden ,rule3 8,as ye would that men should do to you1 do ye also to them likewise40 ,v4 #ca4 ,then1 in contrast with the self-interest and desire for recompense which so often passes among men as charity1 vs4 #cb-cd1 he pointed to the perfect example of ,god and intimated that his mercy should incline us to kindly judgments of our fellows1 assuring us of the boundless liberality with which our ,father will reward our unselfish love4 ,vs4 #ce-ch4 ,the second portion of the main discussion1 vs4 #ci-de1 dwells still more definitely upon the fault of unkindly judgments to which ,jesus had just referred and which constitutes such a common infraction of the law of love4 ,a man who is unkind in his criticisms and unconscious of his own faults cannot help his fellow man2 he is like a blind man trying to lead the blind1 like one in whose eye there is a beam trying to help one in whose eye there is a mote4 ,as good fruit is produced only by good trees1 only out of hearts full of love can real helpfulness come4 ,to warn men against calling themselves ,christians while they do not observe the law of love1 and to encourage his disciples in faithfully keeping his commandments1 ,jesus concluded this sermon with the familiar figure of the two houses1 founded one upon the sand and the other upon the rock4 ,amid the storms and tempests and floods of the time of judgment1 only the latter will stand secure4 #c4 ,the ,centurion of ,capernaum4 ,ch4 #g3a-aj #a ,after he had ended all his sayings in the ears of the people1 he entered into ,capernaum4 #b ,and a certain centurion's servant1 who was dear unto him1 was sick and at the point of death4 #c ,and when he heard concerning ,jesus1 he sent unto him elders of the ,jews1 asking him that he would come and save his servant4 #d ,and they1 when they came to ,jesus1 besought him earnestly1 saying1 ,he is worthy that thou shouldest do this for him2 #e for he loveth our nation1 and himself built us our synagogue4 #f ,and ,jesus went with them4 ,and when he was now not far from the house1 the centurion sent friends to him1 saying unto him1 ,lord1 trouble not thyself2 for ,i am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof3 #g wherefore neither thought ,i myself worthy to come unto thee3 but say the word1 and my servant shall be healed4 #h ,for ,i also am a man set under authority1 having under myself soldiers3 and ,i say to this one1 ,go1 and he goeth2 and to another1 ,come1 and he cometh2 and to my servant1 ,do this1 and he doeth it4 #i ,and when ,jesus heard these things1 he marvelled at him1 and turned and said unto the multitude that followed him1 ,i say unto you1 ,i have not found so great faith1 no1 not in ,israel4 #aj ,and they that were sent1 returning to the house1 found the servant whole4 ,no more perfect picture of faith has been recorded than that in which ,luke sketches the centurion of ,capernaum who sent to ,jesus the request to heal a favorite servant then lying at the door of death4 ,this military commander1 a heathen by birth1 was evidently a man of the same high character as is attributed in the ,new ,testament to all soldiers of a similar rank4 ,it may be helpful to notice some features of his faith which was so great that our ,lord 8marvelled at him40 ,first of all1 the centurion was confident that ,jesus could cure1 because of what he had heard concerning our ,lord4 ,this is the very essence of faith1 namely belief founded upon evidence4 ,faith is not credulity or fancy or caprice2 it is a purely rational exercise of the mind2 it is reasoning from the reports of credible witnesses4 ,the centurion had heard enough of the power and goodness of ,jesus to convince him of his ability to heal4 ,unbelief in the face of evidence is stupidity or sin4 ,again1 the centurion revealed the sincerity of true faith4 ,he had accepted light as far as this had been revealed4 ,he had been attracted by the pure worship of ,judaism and had shown his sympathy with its adherents by building for them a synagogue4 ,when one lives in accordance with the light he has1 more light is sure to break4 ,then again1 he revealed the humility of faith4 ,he regarded himself as unworthy to come into the presence of ,jesus to present his request2 and when ,jesus offered to come to his home1 he sent word that he was not worthy to have the ,master come under his roof4 ,most explicitly of all1 he expressed the trust in ,christ and the dependence upon his power which characterize true faith4 ,he said that it was unnecessary for ,jesus to come to his house2 as a soldier and an officer he knew what could be accomplished by a word of command2 he knew what it was to obey and to be obeyed1 and he had accredited to ,jesus such control over the unseen powers of disease that he sent his surprising message1 8,but say the word1 and my servant shall be healed40 ,it was just this aspect of his faith which so impressed our ,lord1 and it is such humble trust that he still regards with favor and is certain to reward4 ,it is not strange that they 8that were sent1 returning to the house1 found the servant whole10 or that ,luke rejoiced to tell this story which reveals belief in ,christ on the part of one who was found outside of ,israel1 a belief which was prophetic of the blessings which faith was to bring to men of all the nations in the world4 #d4 ,jesus ,raising the ,widow's ,son4 ,ch4 #g3aa-ag #aa ,and it came to pass soon afterwards1 that he went to a city called ,nain2 and his disciples went with him1 and a great multitude4 #ab ,now when he drew near to the gate of the city1 behold1 there was carried out one that was dead1 the only son of his mother1 and she was a widow3 and much people of the city were with her4 #ac ,and when the ,lord saw her1 he had compassion on her1 and said unto her1 ,weep not4 #ad ,and he came nigh and touched the bier3 and the bearers stood still4 ,and he said1 ,young man1 ,i say unto thee1 ,arise4 #ae ,and he that was dead sat up1 and began to speak4 ,and he gave him to his mother4 #af ,and fear took hold on all3 and they glorified ,god1 saying1 ,a great prophet is arisen among us3 and1 ,god hath visited his people4 #ag ,and this report went forth concerning him in the whole of ,juda1 and all the region round about4 ,if it was the purpose of ,luke to impress upon his readers the sympathy and tenderness of the ,man ,christ ,jesus1 it is easy to understand why he alone of all the evangelists records this touching story of the raising from the dead of the son of the widow of ,nain4 ,no picture could be more full of pity and compassion4 ,jesus had not been asked to perform the miracle2 he was moved wholly by the mute appeal of human sorrow and distress4 ,as he drew near to the gate of the little city1 he met the sad procession wending its way out to the place of burial4 ,he was touched by the tears of the lonely mother who had lost her only son2 moved with deep compassion he spoke to her the word of hope1 8,weep not40 ,then he came near and touched the bier on which the lifeless body was being borne4 ,it was a sign more eloquent than a spoken word4 ,then came the command3 8,young man1 ,i say unto thee1 ,arise4 ,and he that was dead sat up1 and began to speak4 ,and he gave him to his mother40 ,in view of such miracles1 possibly we dwell too exclusively upon their purpose as authenticating the mission of ,jesus1 or as demonstrating his divine message4 ,these purposes are real1 but we must never forget that such works were also manifestations of the nature of the ministry of ,jesus and revelations of the very heart of ,god4 ,such recitals dry the tears of mourners and bind up broken hearts and inspire the despondent with eternal hope4 ,surely ,jesus is the ,lord of life and he will yet wipe away all tears from the eyes of those that trust him4 #e4 ,jesus ,praising ,john4 ,ch4 #g3ah-ce #ah ,and the disciples of ,john told him of all these things4 #ai and ,john calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to the ,lord1 saying1 ,art thou he that cometh1 or look we for another8 #bj ,and when the men were come unto him1 they said1 ,john the ,baptist hath sent us unto thee1 saying1 ,art thou he that cometh1 or look we for another8 #ba ,in that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits2 and on many that were blind he bestowed sight4 #bb ,and1 he answered and said unto them1 ,go and tell ,john the things which ye have seen and heard2 the blind receive their sight1 the lame walk1 the lepers are cleansed1 and the deaf hear1 the dead are raised up1 the poor have good tidings preached to them4 #bc ,and blessed is he1 whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me4 #bd ,and when the messengers of ,john were departed1 he began to say unto the multitudes concerning ,john1 ,what went ye out into the wilderness to behold8 a reed shaken with the wind8 #be ,but what went ye out to see8 a man clothed in soft raiment8 ,behold1 they that are gorgeously apparelled1 and live delicately1 are in kings' courts4 #bf ,but what went ye out to see8 a prophet8 ,yea1 ,i say unto you1 and much more than a prophet4 #bg ,this is he of whom it is written1 ,behold1 ,i send my messenger before thy face1 ,who shall prepare thy way before thee4 #bh ,i say unto you1 ,among them that are born of women there is none greater than ,john3 yet he that is but little in the kingdom of ,god is greater than he4 #bi ,and all the people when they heard1 and the publicans1 justified ,god1 being baptized with the baptism of ,john4 #cj ,but the ,pharisees and the lawyers rejected for themselves the counsel of ,god1 being not baptized of him4 #ca ,whereunto then shall ,i liken the men of this generation1 and to what are they like8 #cb ,they are like unto children that sit in the marketplace1 and call one to another2 who say1 ,we piped unto you1 and ye did not dance2 we wailed1 and ye did not weep4 #cc ,for ,john the ,baptist is came eating no bread nor drinking wine2 and ye say1 ,he hath a demon4 #cd ,the ,son of man is come eating and drinking2 and ye say1 ,behold1 a gluttonous man1 and a winebibber1 a friend of publicans and sinners6 #ce ,and wisdom is justified of all her children4 ,due to the darkness of his dungeon or to the long delay of ,jesus in fulfilling his cherished hopes1 the mind of ,john the ,baptist became clouded with doubt and he sent messengers to ,jesus to ask whether or not he was really the ,messiah whom ,john had declared him to be1 8,art thou he that cometh1 or look we for another80 ,john had not lost faith in ,god or in his promises2 he believed that if ,jesus were not the ,messiah1 the ,messiah was still to come4 ,the ,master lovingly reassured his great herald by sending back the report of the mighty works which he was accomplishing4 ,john was already familiar with these acts but the recital must have dispelled his fears4 ,jesus sympathizes with us also in our hours of darkness1 but his relief usually consists in reminding us of facts we already know concerning his power and love and presence and the truths of his written ,word4 ,jesus1 however1 does not praise us for our doubts2 he sent to ,john a gentle and loving rebuke3 8,and blessed is he1 whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me40 ,this benediction he pronounces upon all who in spite of darkness1 imprisonment1 delay1 and mystery still confidently put their trust in him4 ,it was upon this occasion when ,john seems to have failed that ,jesus pronounced upon him unparalleled praise1 declaring that 8among them that are born of women there is none greater than ,john40 ,he vindicated this deliberate judgment and thereby1 showed wherein true greatness lies4 ,he spoke first of the character of ,john and then of his career4 ,he praised the man and then the messenger4 ,he described his moral and then his official greatness4 ,his expression as to the character of ,john is voiced by two questions1 to each of which a negative answer of course must be given3 first1 8,what went ye out into the wilderness to behold8 a reed shaken with the wind80 ,surely true greatness does not lie in the moral cowardice which bends before every breeze2 quite on the contrary1 ,john was like a rock which no storm could move4 ,then there was a second question3 8,what went ye out to see8 a man clothed in soft raiment80 ,surely greatness does not lie along the line of self-gratification and indulgence4 ,john endured all hardships and was oblivious to all human delights because he was so devoted to his divine task4 ,courage and consecration--these constitute prime factors in moral greatness4 ,the real greatness of ,john consisted1 however1 in his mission4 ,jesus declared that he was the messenger whom ,malachi had predicted should prepare the way of the ,lord4 ,other prophets had appeared and had predicted the coming of the ,messiah4 ,it was given to ,john not only to declare that the ,christ would come1 but to point to him and to say1 8,behold1 the ,lamb of ,god6 444 this is the ,son of ,god40 ,no greater dignity had ever been conferred upon a human soul2 and no higher privilege can now be enjoyed than that of turning the thoughts and hearts of men to ,jesus ,christ1 the ,saviour of the world4 ,the present followers of ,christ have a larger knowledge of him than was possessed by ,john4 ,what their relative positions will be in the glory of the perfected ,kingdom will depend upon the comparative faithfulness with which they serve their ,master4 ,the praise of ,john is sharply contrasted with the condemnation of the ,pharisees which ,jesus now turned to express4 ,he declared that these professed leaders were like children sitting in the market place1 complaining one to another that they are willing to play neither at mock funerals nor at mock weddings1 for when ,john came they refused to follow him because his aspect and message were too severe1 and when ,christ came they criticized him as being too genial1 8a friend of publicans and sinners40 ,the trouble with the ,pharisees was that they made an excuse of the demeanor of ,john and the conduct of ,jesus for refusing what was essential in their mission and message4 ,they were unwilling to repent at the command of ,john or to put their trust in ,christ in response to his promise of grace and life4 ,thus some men are still refusing to accept the salvation which is offered because of something in ,christianity which is purely external1 while they fail to appreciate its true essence2 but there were those in the days of ,jesus1 and there are those to-day who are willing to accept both the call to repentance and the offer of life1 8,and wisdom is justified of all her children40 #f4 ,a ,sinful ,woman ,forgiven4 ,ch4 #g3cf-ej #cf ,and one of the ,pharisees desired him that he would eat with him4 ,and he entered into the ,pharisee's house1 and sat down to meat4 #cg ,and behold1 a woman who was in the city1 a sinner2 and when she knew that he was sitting at meat in the ,pharisee's house1 she brought an alabaster cruse of ointment1 #ch and standing behind at his feet1 weeping1 she began to wet his feet with her tears1 and wiped them with the hair of her head1 and kissed his feet1 and anointed them with ointment4 #ci ,now when the ,pharisee that had bidden him saw it1 he spake within himself1 saying1 ,this man1 if he were a prophet1 would have perceived who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him1 that she is a sinner4 #dj ,and ,jesus answering said unto him1 ,simon1 ,i have somewhat to say unto thee4 ,and he saith1 ,teacher1 say on4 #da ,a certain lender had two debtors3 the one owed five hundred shillings1 and the other fifty4 #db ,when they had not wherewith to pay1 he forgave them both4 ,which of them therefore will love him most8 #dc ,simon answered and said1 ,he1 ,i suppose1 to whom he forgave the most4 ,and he said unto him1 ,thou hast rightly judged4 #dd ,and turning to the woman1 he said unto ,simon1 ,seest thou this woman8 ,i entered into thy house1 thou gavest me no water for my feet3 but she hath wetted my feet with her tears1 and wiped them with her hair4 #de ,thou gavest me no kiss3 but she1 since the time ,i came in1 hath not ceased to kiss my feet4 #df ,my head with oil thou didst not anoint3 but she hath anointed my feet with ointment4 #dg ,wherefore ,i say unto thee1 ,her sins1 which are many1 are forgiven2 for she loved much3 but to whom little is forgiven1 the same loveth little4 #dh ,and he said unto her1 ,thy sins are forgiven4 #di ,and they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves1 ,who is this that even forgiveth sins8 #ej ,and he said unto the woman1 ,thy faith hath saved thee2 go in peace4 ,the ,gospel of ,luke appears to place special emphasis upon the grace and forgiveness manifested by ,jesus4 ,it alone records his sympathy with the sorrowing widow of ,nain1 and it is also alone in expressing the sympathy which ,jesus felt for the sinful woman who anointed his feet in the house of ,simon1 the ,pharisee4 ,it is a picture1 however1 not only of the loving mercy of our ,lord1 but of the unbounded gratitude felt by one who truly appreciated the priceless gift of his pardoning grace4 ,by an unfortunate error of interpretation this woman has been confused with ,mary of ,magdala or with ,mary of ,bethany4 ,these three persons should be1 however1 absolutely distinct4 ,it is true that ,jesus delivered the first of these from demoniac possession1 and that the second1 like the woman in this story1 anointed his feet with perfume1 but there is every reason for believing that of the three only this woman was reputed to be a sinner4 ,she seems to have met ,jesus on some previous occasion1 to have repented of her sins1 and to have received from the ,lord his word of forgiveness4 ,it was her gratitude which gave her courage to enter unbidden into the house of ,simon1 where ,jesus was being entertained as a guest4 ,she had come to anoint his feet but as she beheld him1 she thought again of her sins and her hot tears of penitence fell upon the feet of her ,lord4 ,she hastily unbound her hair and with it dried his feet and then poured upon them a flask of fragrant ointment4 ,no truer expression could have been given to her gratitude and passionate devotion4 ,the fact that ,jesus allowed a woman of such notorious character to express her love for him made ,simon conclude that ,jesus could not be a prophet1 for otherwise he would have been able to discern the nature of so depraved a woman4 ,by his reply ,jesus showed his ability to read even the secret thoughts of his host4 ,the words of ,jesus not only answered the silent criticism of ,simon but also rebuked him for his own impenitence and lack of faith4 ,jesus proposed to his host a parable of two forgiven debtors1 illustrating the fact that gratitude depends upon the realization of the amount which has been forgiven1 and then he applied this principle to ,simon and to the woman whom ,simon had been regarding with scorn4 ,jesus showed how keenly he had felt the lack of love shown him by his host1 and he contrasted it with the affection shown by the woman4 ,when he had entered the house ,simon had neglected the customary service of providing a bath for his feet2 the woman had washed his feet with her tears4 ,simon had withheld the kiss with which a host usually welcomed his guests2 the woman had passionately kissed his feet4 ,simon had not furnished the perfume with which it was usual to anoint an honored guest2 the woman had come to the house with the special purpose of pouring fragrant oil upon the feet of her ,lord4 ,in view of the parable the message of ,jesus is plain1 8,wherefore ,i say unto thee1 ,her sins1 which are many1 are forgiven2 for she loved much2 but to whom little is forgiven1 the same loveth little40 ,jesus did not mean to say that until now she had not been pardoned1 nor yet that her pardon was conditioned upon her love4 ,he meant that her love resulted from her pardon1 and his words have been rightfully interpreted thus3 8,i say unto thee that her many sins are forgiven1 as thou mayest infer from this exhibition of her love40 ,the remainder of the sentence was devoted to ,simon1 8,to whom little is forgiven1 the same loveth little40 ,the words do not prove that ,simon had been pardoned2 they rather indicate that his lack of love had proved his lack of penitence and so of forgiveness4 ,jesus then turned to the woman with a word of benediction3 8,thy sins are forgiven40 ,he thus assured her of the pardon previously granted1 but still more he vindicated her in the eyes of the guests and assured them of the new life upon which the woman already had entered4 ,they marveled as they heard him pronouncing pardon4 ,that is a divine function2 but the ideal ,man whose sympathy ,luke records was likewise the ,son of ,god4 ,last of all1 ,jesus turned to the woman with the final word of blessing3 8,thy faith hath saved thee2 go in peace40 ,this is a clear statement of the fact that faith had secured pardon and pardon had awakened gratitude and gratitude had been expressed by a deed of devoted love4 ,such a penitent can rightfully go away 8into peace10 that is1 to its present and continual enjoyment4 #g4 ,the ,ministering ,women4 ,ch4 #h3a-c #a ,and it came to pass soon afterwards1 that he went about through cities and villages1 preaching and bringing the good tidings of the kingdom of ,god1 and with him the twelve1 #b and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities3 ,mary that was called ,magdalene1 from whom seven demons had gone out1 #c and ,joanna the wife of ,chuzas ,herod's steward1 and ,susanna1 and many others1 who ministered unto them of their substance4 ,luke writes the ,gospel of womanhood4 ,he alone records those tender incidents in the lives of ,elisabeth1 ,mary1 and ,anna which are associated with the infancy of ,jesus2 he alone tells us of the widow of ,nain whose son ,jesus restored to life2 of the woman bowed down by ,satan but relieved by ,jesus2 of the penitent sinner who anointed his feet2 of the domestic scene in the home of ,mary and ,martha2 of the woman who congratulated the mother of ,jesus2 and of the women who condoled with him on his way to the cross4 ,perhaps most significant of all is the statement of ,luke that as ,jesus and his apostles moved about ,galilee preaching the gospel1 they were attended by a company of women 8who ministered unto them of their substance40 ,among these women ,luke mentions 8,mary that was called ,magdalene10 probably so designated from the town of ,magdala where formerly she had lived4 ,by this title she was distinguished from ,mary the mother of ,jesus1 from ,mary of ,bethany1 and from other women of this same name4 ,it is a cruel error to confuse her with the sinful woman of whom ,luke has just been writing4 ,mary had suffered from demon possession1 as here stated1 but there is nothing in the ,gospels to indicate that she had ever been a woman of notoriously evil life4 ,luke also mentions ,joanna1 whose husband1 ,chuzas1 had charge of the household and personal estates of ,king ,herod1 evidently then a woman of some social standing2 but of her and her companions nothing further is known1 excepting this important fact1 that their motive in ministering to the ,master was that of gratitude2 they 8had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities40 ,this statement by ,luke is brief but illuminating4 ,it throws light upon an interesting question to which no other answer is given in the ,gospels3 ,how did ,jesus and his followers secure financial support during the years of his ministry8 ,evidently those who had received from him spiritual help gladly supplied his temporal wants and rendered to him all needful service4 ,thus this passage indicates not only what ,jesus did for women1 but what women did for him4 ,it suggests a question3 ,who can estimate how far the gifts and sacrifices of grateful women have been making possible1 through the passing ages1 the preaching of the gospel in all the world8 #h4 ,the ,parable of the ,sower4 ,ch4 #h3d-ah #d ,and when a great multitude came together1 and they of every city resorted unto him1 he spake by a parable3 #e ,the sower went forth to sow his seed3 and as he sowed1 some fell by the way side2 and it was trodden under foot1 and the birds of the heaven devoured it4 #f ,and other fell on the rock2 and as soon as it grew1 it withered away1 because it had no moisture4 #g ,and other fell amidst the thorns2 and the thorns grew with it1 and choked it4 #h ,and other fell into the good ground1 and grew1 and brought forth fruit a hundredfold4 ,as he said these things1 he cried1 ,he that hath ears to hear1 let him hear4 #i ,and his disciples asked him what this parable might be4 #aj ,and he said1 ,unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of ,god3 but to the rest in parables2 that seeing they may not see1 and hearing they may not understand4 #aa ,now the parable is this3 ,the seed is the word of ,god4 #ab ,and those by the way side are they that have heard2 then cometh the devil1 and taketh away the word from their heart1 that they may not believe and be saved4 #ac ,and those on the rock are they who1 when they have heard1 receive the word with joy2 and these have no root1 who for a while believe1 and in time of temptation fall away4 #ad ,and that which fell among the thorns1 these are they that have heard1 and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life1 and bring no fruit to perfection4 #ae ,and that in the good ground1 these are such as in an honest and good heart1 having heard the word1 hold it fast1 and bring forth fruit with patience4 #af ,and no man1 when he hath lighted a lamp1 covereth it with a vessel1 or putteth it under a bed2 but putteth it on a stand1 that they that enter in may see the light4 #ag ,for nothing is hid1 that shall not be made manifest2 nor anything secret1 that shall not be known and come to light4 #ah ,take heed therefore how ye hear3 for whosoever hath1 to him shall be given2 and whosoever hath not1 from him shall be taken away even that which he thinketh he hath4 ,because of its greater length and more elaborate workmanship and greater fullness of detail1 this story of the sower is rightly regarded as the first parable of our ,lord1 even though he had previously used brief illustrations which were designated by the same name4 ,parables henceforth formed a prominent part of his teaching1 and that he was now beginning a somewhat new method of instruction is evident from the fact that the disciples now asked him to explain his meaning1 v4 #i1 and from the fact that he here gave the reason for the use of all his parables4 ,this reason is twofold3 these inimitable illustrations would enable those who were attentive and rightly disposed toward him to remember more easily the teachings of the ,master2 while to inattentive or hostile minds the meaning would be veiled4 ,v4 #aj4 ,this twofold purpose met the demands of the crisis which had arisen1 due on the one hand to the increasing popularity of ,jesus' teachings and on the other to the murderous hatred and dark plots of the ,pharisees and scribes4 ,the parable of the ,sower thus forms a proper introduction to all the parables for they are vehicles of truth1 and our ,lord here made it clear that the effect of truth depends upon the spiritual state of the hearers4 ,this is sometimes called the parable of the ,soils1 for it illustrates the various states of heart found among men to whom the ,christian message comes4 ,in some cases 8the word of ,god10 whether preached by ,christ or by his followers1 falls on hearts which are pictured by the hard-trodden footpath which runs through the field of grain4 ,no possible impression can be made4 ,the ,word finds no entrance and ,satan snatches it away as a bird picks up the grain which falls by the wayside4 ,faith and salvation cannot result4 ,other hearers are compared to the thin layer of earth which covers a ledge of stone4 ,seed which falls into such soil springs up most quickly because warmed by the underlying rock2 but as the roots cannot strike downward1 the grain soon withers beneath the scorching sun4 ,so there are hearers who receive with joy the message of life1 but when subjected to the persecution and trials which followers of ,christ must endure1 they quickly desert his cause4 ,other hearers are compared to seed which falls where thorns are growing4 ,this seed springs into life but it has not room for development4 ,it is robbed by the thorns of its needed nourishment4 ,thus some ,christians are so preoccupied by 8cares and riches and pleasures0 that they can bear no spiritual fruit4 ,there are those1 however1 who are like seed which fell on 8good ground0 and 8brought forth fruit a hundredfold20 they receive the truth 8in an honest and good heart0 and patiently and perseveringly they produce in their lives a golden harvest of grain4 ,the great message of the parable is summarized in the words of our ,lord1 8,take heed therefore how ye hear40 ,v4 #ah4 ,the purpose of his parables1 as of all his teachings1 was to give spiritual light4 ,those who love him and obey his word will have their understanding quickened and their knowledge increased2 but one who is careless or disobedient to the truth1 will lose 8even that which he thinketh he hath40 ,it is a great privilege to hear the gospel of ,christ1 but it involves a great responsibility as well4 #i4 ,kinship with ,jesus4 ,ch4 #h3ai-ba #ai ,and there came to him his mother and brethren1 and they could not come at him for the crowd4 #bj ,and it was told him1 ,thy mother and thy brethren stand without1 desiring to see thee4 #ba ,but he answered and said unto them1 ,my mother and my brethren are these that hear the word of ,god1 and do it4 ,it is only from the other ,gospels that we learn the exact nature and purpose of the visit paid to ,jesus by his mother and brethren4 ,luke does not reveal the fact that it occasioned one of the most delicate and difficult dilemmas by which our ,lord was ever confronted4 ,the real purpose of these relatives was to interrupt his work4 ,they feared that his mind was unbalanced and they wished to take him home4 ,should ,jesus repudiate them1 or should he allow his work needlessly to be interrupted8 ,this situation ,luke does not sketch1 but he does state clearly the impressive message which ,jesus found occasion to deliver4 ,when ,jesus was told that these relatives desired to see him1 he pointed to his disciples with the reply1 8,my mother and my brethren are these that hear the word of ,god1 and do it40 ,thus ,luke connects this incident with the parable of the ,sower which he has just related4 ,the parable shows the need of careful attention to the gospel truth1 and1 according to ,luke's account of this incident1 the same fact is emphasized1 namely1 the blessed result of heeding the divine ,word4 ,according to the statement of ,christ1 such obedience to him and such true discipleship as was shown by his followers results in a relationship with him more intimate and close than is secured by any human ties4 ,this spiritual kinship is more vital than any relationship of blood or of nature4 ,it results in a fellowship1 at once blessed and forever abiding1 which is possible for all4 ,the reply of our ,lord could not have offended his brethren even though it did contain a delicate rebuke4 ,only those have a right to claim relationship with him who submit to him as their ,lord and are ready to do his will4 #aj4 ,jesus ,stilling the ,storm4 ,ch4 #h3bb-be #bb ,now it came to pass on one of those days1 that he entered into a boat1 himself and his disciples2 and he said unto them1 ,let us go over unto the other side of the lake3 and they launched forth4 #bc ,but as they sailed he fell asleep3 and there came down a storm of wind on the lake2 and they were filling with water1 and were in jeopardy4 #bd ,and they came to him1 and awoke him1 saying1 ,master1 master1 we perish4 ,and he awoke1 and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water3 and they ceased1 and there was a calm4 #be ,and he said unto them1 ,where is your faith8 ,and being afraid they marvelled1 saying one to another1 ,who then is this1 that he commandeth even the winds and the water1 and they obey him8 ,storms were common on the surface of the little lake which ,jesus so often crossed with his disciples2 and storms are still frequent in the lives of his followers4 ,to accompany the ,master does not exempt us from struggles and tempests1 from dark skies and angry waves4 ,this1 however1 was no usual storm4 ,even the sturdy fishermen of ,galilee1 who were familiar with all the changeful moods of that inland sea1 were filled with terror4 ,jesus at the time was quietly resting and had fallen asleep in what seemed to his followers to be an hour of greatest peril4 ,their fear may have been foolish but it was wise in them to come to the ,master in their moment of pressing need4 ,they awoke him with the cry1 8,master1 master1 we perish40 ,the followers of ,christ are not saved from encountering storms but in the hour of peril they should be comforted by his presence and they can ever turn to him for relief4 8,he awoke1 and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water3 and they ceased1 and there was a calm40 ,then when he had rebuked the disordered elements ,jesus turned to rebuke his followers1 8,where is your faith80 ,he did not find fault with them for awakening him1 or for crying out for help2 he rebuked only their lack of trust which should have relieved them from distress of mind while he was so near and so abundantly able to save4 ,such a miracle must have strengthened their faith but its first effect was to fill them with wonder and with awe4 ,every new manifestation of his power came as a surprise to these disciples1 and now for the first time they saw his control over the blind forces of nature2 thus once again they felt themselves in the presence not only of a perfect ,man--but of ,one who was divine4 #aa4 ,a ,demoniac ,healed4 ,ch4 #h3bf-ci #bf ,and they arrived at the country of the ,gerasenes1 which is over against ,galilee4 #bg ,and when he was come forth upon the land1 there met him a certain man out of the city1 who had demons2 and for a long time he had worn no clothes1 and abode not in any house1 but in the tombs4 #bh ,and when he saw ,jesus1 he cried out1 and fell down before him1 and with a loud voice said1 ,what have ,i to do with thee1 ,jesus1 thou ,son of the ,most ,high ,god8 ,i beseech thee1 torment me not4 #bi ,for he was commanding the unclean spirit to come out from the man4 ,for often-times it had seized him3 and he was kept under guard1 and bound with chains and fetters2 and breaking the bands asunder1 he was driven of the demon into the desert4 #cj ,and ,jesus asked him1 ,what is thy name8 ,and he said1 ,legion2 for many demons were entered into him4 #ca ,and they entreated him that he would not command them to depart into the abyss4 #cb ,now there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain3 and they entreated him that he would give them leave to enter into them4 ,and he gave them leave4 #cc ,and the demons came out from the man1 and entered into the swine3 and the herd rushed down the steep into the lake1 and were drowned4 #cd ,and when they that fed them saw what had come to pass1 they fled1 and told it in the city and in the country4 #ce ,and they went out to see what had come to pass2 and they came to ,jesus1 and found the man1 from whom the demons were gone out1 sitting1 clothed and in his right mind1 at the feet of ,jesus3 and they were afraid4 #cf ,and they that saw it told them how he that was possessed with demons was made whole4 #cg ,and all the people of the country of the ,gerasenes round about asked him to depart from them2 for they were holden with great fear3 and he entered into a boat1 and returned4 #ch ,but the man from whom the demons were gone out prayed him that he might be with him3 but he sent him away1 saying1 #ci ,return to thy house1 and declare how great things ,god hath done for thee4 ,and he went his way1 publishing throughout the whole city how great things ,jesus had done for him4 ,the sufferings of a demoniac were so similar to those of mental disease that by many they are regarded as identical4 ,those who observe the distinction are faced with a further problem as to whether demon possession exists at the present day4 ,what is most important of all is to note the exact parallel existing between the demoniacs described in the ,new ,testament and those persons who at all times are tormented by envy and lust and anger and greed and other evil passions which dominate the human soul4 ,on the eastern shore of the ,lake of ,gennesaret ,jesus was encountered by a man whose suffering and nakedness are types of the anguish and shamelessness of sin4 ,he could not be controlled2 he was dwelling among the tombs1 and these1 too1 are pictures of the helplessness and loneliness and hopelessness which evil passions produce4 ,most of all it is interesting to note that while the demon cried out in dread1 the man drew near to ,jesus1 really hoping for help4 ,the experience was like that of those who suffer from mental disease where a dual consciousness is manifested4 ,likewise most of us have experienced such a conflict of desires2 we have longed for liberty at the very moment when we have felt the controlling power of some passion4 ,some tell us that we must cease to love the sin before ,christ will give us help1 but this picture sketched by ,luke gives a more hopeful message4 ,it intimates that as we cry out for relief1 or even before we speak1 ,jesus sees the heart and recognizes the longing and assures release4 ,jesus asked the sufferer for his name4 ,he wished the real man to be awakened and to be conscious of the distinction between himself and the evil spirit by which he was possessed4 ,the reply of the demoniac was full of pathos4 ,he declared that his name was 8,legion10 the reason assigned being that 8many demons were entered into him40 ,his case was particularly desperate2 but the evil spirits realized that they stood before ,one whose power was absolute4 ,certain that they were to be expelled from the sufferer1 they asked permission to enter into a herd of swine which was feeding on the mountain side4 ,a question has often been raised as to why ,jesus granted this request4 ,probably one reason was that the sight which followed assured the sufferer of his cure2 another may have been that the destruction of the herd would give to the men of the region an arresting message both of their own peril and of the power of ,christ4 ,however1 when 8,they went out to see what had come to pass10 they were full of terror and they requested ,jesus to leave their land4 ,they were evidently more concerned for the beasts which had been lost than for the soul that had been saved1 when they saw their countryman sitting clothed and in his right mind as a disciple at the feet of ,jesus4 ,their request was granted2 our ,lord never continues the gracious manifestations of his presence when these are not desired4 ,however1 he refused the request of the man whom he had healed4 ,the latter wished to accompany ,jesus as he entered the boat to cross to the other side of the lake2 but ,jesus bade him to remain as a witness for ,christ in his own home and among his own people4 ,it is ever the desire of the ,master that the testimony of those who have known his power should be given first to those by whom they are best known4 #ab4 ,the ,daughter of ,jairus and the ,woman with an ,issue of ,blood4 ,ch4 #h3dj-ef #dj ,and as ,jesus returned1 the multitude welcomed him2 for they were all waiting for him4 #da ,and behold1 there came a man named ,jairus1 and he was a ruler of the synagogue3 and he fell down at ,jesus' feet1 and besought him to come into his house2 #db for he had an only daughter1 about twelve years of age1 and she was dying4 ,but as he went the multitudes thronged him4 #dc ,and a woman having an issue of blood twelve years1 who had spent all her living upon physicians1 and could not be healed of any1 #dd came behind him1 and touched the border of his garment3 and immediately the issue of her blood stanched4 #de ,and ,jesus said1 ,who is it that touched me8 ,and when all denied1 ,peter said1 and they that were with him1 ,master1 the multitudes press thee and crush thee4 #df ,but ,jesus said1 ,some one did touch me2 for ,i perceived that power had gone forth from me4 #dg ,and when the woman saw that she was not hid1 she came trembling1 and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people for what cause she touched him1 and how she was healed immediately4 #dh ,and he said unto her1 ,daughter1 thy faith hath made thee whole2 go in peace4 #di ,while he yet spake1 there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house1 saying1 ,thy daughter is dead2 trouble not the ,teacher4 #ej ,but ,jesus hearing it1 answered him1 ,fear not3 only believe1 and she shall be made whole4 #ea ,and when he came to the house1 he suffered not any man to enter in with him1 save ,peter1 and ,john1 and ,james1 and the father of the maiden and her mother4 #eb ,and all were weeping1 and bewailing her3 but he said1 ,weep not2 for she is not dead1 but sleepeth4 #ec ,and they laughed him to scorn1 knowing that she was dead4 #ed ,but he1 taking her by the hand1 called1 saying1 ,maiden1 arise4 #ee ,and her spirit returned1 and she rose up immediately3 and he commanded that something be given her to eat4 #ef ,and her parents were amazed3 but he charged them to tell no man what had been done4 ,as ,jesus returned to ,capernaum after curing the demoniac across the lake1 he was welcomed by a great multitude in the midst of which were two sufferers for whom the ,saviour showed his sympathy as he perfected their faith and relieved their distress4 ,they were strangely contrasted in circumstances1 alike only in their desperate need4 ,one was ,jairus1 a man of prominence in his community1 8a ruler of the synagogue10 a person of comparative wealth and power and social position1 whose home for twelve years had been brightened by the presence of a little daughter1 an only child1 who was now lying at the point of death4 ,the other was a woman1 poor1 weak1 ceremonially unclean1 friendless1 who for twelve years had been suffering from an incurable disease and who knew that by no human power could her life be prolonged4 ,as ,jesus was starting for the home of ,jairus this woman came up behind him1 touched the border of his garment1 and was instantly healed4 ,her faith was imperfect but it was real4 ,she had supposed the power of ,christ to be merely magical and mechanical4 ,jesus showed that it is inseparable from divine knowledge and love4 ,he had felt the touch of her trembling finger4 ,he had distinguished it from the press of the jostling throng2 and now for her own sake he required the woman 8in the presence of all the people0 to acknowledge her cure4 ,jesus would have us know that faith is a dependence upon his gracious person and purpose1 and also that only after public confession of our relation to him can we receive the assurance that we are saved and can hear his blessed word1 8,thy faith hath made thee whole2 go in peace40 ,the faith of ,jairus was likewise imperfect4 ,it was more intelligent than the faith of the woman but it fell short of that revealed by the centurion in the same city who felt it unnecessary for ,jesus to come to his house but only to speak a word and a cure would be effected4 ,nevertheless this faith was genuine and so ,jesus strengthened it and rewarded it4 ,the very fact that ,jesus started toward his home was reassuring to the father1 but his faith was tested by the delay caused in curing the woman4 ,however1 it was also strengthened by this proof of divine wisdom and power4 ,most terribly was his faith tested by the message which then reached him1 8,thy daughter is dead2 trouble not the ,teacher40 ,yet again1 it was confirmed by the word of ,jesus1 8,fear not3 only believe1 and she shall be made whole40 ,as he entered the house1 ,jesus spoke another word which rebuked the faithless mourners and cheered the agonized parents1 8,weep not2 for she is not dead1 but sleepeth40 ,he meant that in his presence and in virtue of his power death loses its reality and is robbed of its victory4 ,nor has the word lost its meaning and its comfort for the followers of ,christ during all the subsequent years4 ,jesus showed clearly what he meant as he took into the death chamber his three closest friends and the two trembling parents1 as he stood before the sleeping child and 8taking her by the hand1 called1 saying ,maiden1 arise4 ,and her spirit returned1 and she rose up immediately3 and he commanded that something be given her to eat40 ,the record indicates the supreme thoughtfulness and tenderness of the ,master4 ,he took with him only three disciples for he would not have the awakened child terrified by the sight of more strangers4 ,when the miracle had been performed he requested that the little girl should be given food2 this was for her own comfort but also to break for the parents the spell of awe and terror which had been cast upon them by the presence of death1 and also as a proof not only that life had returned but also that complete recovery from disease had been secured4 ,one other command is recorded1 8,he charged them to tell no man what had been done40 ,the three disciples would be competent witnesses of the miracle but a widespread report by the parents and their friends might arouse such an outburst of excitement as to interrupt his work and precipitate a crisis before the earthly ministry of our ,lord was complete4 ,d4 ,the ,fourth ,period4 ,ch4 #i3a-ej #a4 ,the ,mission of the ,twelve4 ,ch4 #i3a-i #a ,and he called the twelve together1 and gave them power and authority over all demons1 and to cure diseases4 #b ,and he sent them forth to preach the kingdom of ,god1 and to heal the sick4 #c ,and he said unto them1 ,take nothing for your journey1 neither staff1 nor wallet1 nor bread1 nor money2 neither have two coats4 #d ,and into whatsoever house ye enter1 there abide1 and thence depart4 #e ,and as many as receive you not1 when ye depart from that city1 shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony against them4 #f ,and they departed1 and went throughout the villages1 preaching the gospel1 and healing everywhere4 #g ,now ,herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done3 and he was much perplexed1 because that it was said by some1 that ,john was risen from the dead2 #h and by some1 that ,elijah had appeared2 and by others1 that one of the old prophets was risen again4 #i ,and ,herod said1 ,john ,i beheaded3 but who is this1 about whom ,i hear such things8 ,and he sought to see him4 ,as ,jesus sent forth his twelve disciples on their first mission he was entering the closing period of his ministry in ,galilee4 ,until now the apostles had been his companions2 henceforth they were to be more strictly messengers and representatives4 ,jesus foresaw his approaching rejection and death1 but before leaving for ,jerusalem and the cross he wished to offer himself once more to the people of ,galilee among whom he had long been laboring2 and for this purpose he sent out the ,twelve4 ,their circumstances and the directions given them by ,jesus were peculiar to the time and occasion4 ,however1 these commands are not without application to the messengers of the ,master in all ages of the world4 ,they were given 8power and authority over all demons1 and to cure diseases40 ,such miraculous gifts were limited to their own day and were designed as credentials of their mission4 ,it is true1 however1 that those who represent ,christ must ever be concerned for the mental and physical conditions of mankind1 even though the great purpose is to bring a message of spiritual import4 ,the latter was1 of course1 the great purpose of the apostles4 ,they went forth 8to preach the kingdom of ,god10 as well as 8to heal the sick40 ,when ,christ commanded the disciples to take nothing for their journey1 he did not intend to impose needless hardships or even to suggest peculiar denial4 ,he rather intimated the principle that his heralds must not be encumbered with worldly cares and burdens and that those who proclaim his gospel may expect to be supported by those to whom the message is preached4 ,in advising the disciples to remain in the first home where they were properly received1 he indicated the wisdom of having a fixed center for their work1 of being content with their entertainment and surroundings1 and of avoiding social complications which might hinder their work4 ,they were instructed1 in case they were not received and welcomed as the messengers of ,christ1 to show their just displeasure as they departed from the place1 by shaking off the dust from their feet1 an ,oriental custom which in this case indicated the disavowal of any possible relationship with the enemies of their ,lord4 8,and they departed1 and went throughout the villages1 preaching the gospel1 and healing everywhere40 ,these were the supreme representatives of the great band of heroes who have continued the work and have made known their message in all times and lands4 ,they were prepared by the divine instruction of their ,master4 ,it has been said that there is something greater than preaching2 it is to prepare preachers4 ,surely none were ever so trained and none ever accomplished their work so well2 but it is possible for every follower of ,christ to have some part in making known the gospel of his grace4 ,the great success of the disciples and the tremendous excitement produced by their mission is indicated by the fact that the reports of their work reached ,herod the king and made him tremble on his throne4 ,it was not that he feared what ,jesus might do2 it was rather because there was something in the rumor which awakened his sleeping conscience and filled him with a secret alarm and dread4 8,it was said by some1 that ,john was risen from the dead40 ,herod had beheaded ,john1 but the memory of his foul deed could not be buried2 now he was wondering what might be the real nature of the miracles which were being reported and of the ,man in whose name they were wrought4 ,he 8sought to see0 ,jesus4 ,that was mere curiosity4 ,he probably wished to see some miracles performed4 ,before long an opportunity was to be given him to stand face to face with the divine ,man1 but it was to be on an unexpected occasion when the latter would stand before him as a prisoner1 when ,herod might offer him protection or release2 but when the occasion came he was disappointed by the silence of the ,lord and allowed him to go away to crucifixion and death4 ,one who beheaded ,john need not have hoped to understand ,jesus4 ,one who violates his own conscience to-day and refuses solemn warnings to repent1 need not expect that ,christ will be revealed to him in his beauty and grace and saving power4 #b4 ,the ,five ,thousand ,fed4 ,ch4 #i3aj-ag #aj ,and the apostles1 when they were returned1 declared unto him what things they had done4 ,and he took them1 and withdrew apart to a city called ,bethsaida4 #aa ,but the multitudes perceiving it followed him3 and he welcomed them1 and spake to them of the kingdom of ,god1 and them that had need of healing he cured4 #ab ,and the day began to wear away2 and the twelve came1 and said unto him1 ,send the multitude away1 that they may go into the villages and country round about1 and lodge1 and get provisions3 for we are here in a desert place4 #ac ,but he said unto them1 ,give ye them to eat4 ,and they said1 ,we have no more than five loaves and two fishes2 except we should go and buy food for all this people4 #ad ,for they were about five thousand men4 ,and he said unto his disciples1 ,make them sit down in companies1 about fifty each4 #ae ,and they did so1 and made them all sit down4 #af ,and he took the five loaves and the two fishes1 and looking up to heaven1 he blessed them1 and brake2 and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude4 #ag ,and they ate1 and were all filled3 and there was taken up that which remained over to them of broken pieces1 twelve baskets4 ,the feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle recorded by all four evangelists1 in fact the only incident of the ,galilan ministry of our ,lord common to them all4 ,here this ministry attains its climax4 ,this was the hour of the greatest popularity of ,jesus2 the multitudes would have offered him a crown1 but he saw before him the shadow of the cross4 ,the ,twelve had returned weary with labor but elated by success4 ,jesus desired for them a season of retirement1 of rest1 and instruction4 ,they withdrew to a secluded place beyond ,bethsaida on the east shore of the lake2 but there they were discovered by the eager multitudes4 ,jesus showed his infinite sympathy by cordially welcoming the crowds which had intruded upon his privacy and interrupted his plans2 he gladdened their hearts with the gospel message and healed their diseases4 ,and as the day declined he pitied their hunger and met their needs by miraculously multiplying five loaves and two fishes which the disciples had secured4 ,for the disciples of to-day there are serious messages in this familiar story2 perhaps none is more obvious than that of the measureless compassion of ,christ4 ,with something of his sympathy we should look upon the multitudes perishing for lack of physical and spiritual food4 ,their call for help should not be regarded as an interruption but as a guide in shaping our personal plans4 ,while of ourselves we are unable to give relief1 yet if our all is offered to the ,master1 it will be multiplied marvelously by his divine power4 ,the miracle seems to have been wrought as ,jesus looked up in prayer4 ,we must surely look to him and seek his blessing in our service4 ,we must allow no broken fragments to be lost2 some families could live on what other families waste2 then1 too1 the followers of ,christ must learn a true economy of time and talents and wealth if the ,bread of life is to be brought to a famishing world4 #c4 ,jesus ,predicting his ,death4 ,ch4 #i3ah-bg #ah ,and it came to pass1 as he was praying apart1 the disciples were with him3 and he asked them1 saying1 ,who do the multitudes say that ,i am8 #ai ,and they answering said1 ,john the ,baptist2 but others say1 ,elijah2 and others1 that one of the old prophets is risen again4 #bj ,and he said unto them1 ,but who say ye that ,i am8 ,and ,peter answering said1 ,the ,christ of ,god4 #ba ,but he charged them1 and commanded them to tell this to no man2 #bb saying1 ,the ,son of man must suffer many things1 and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes1 and be killed1 and the third day be raised up4 #bc ,and he said unto all1 ,if any man would come after me let him deny himself1 and take up his cross daily1 and follow me4 #bd for whosoever would save his life shall lose it2 but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake1 the same shall save it4 #be ,for what is a man profited1 if he gain the whole world1 and lose or forfeit his own self8 #bf ,for whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words1 of him shall the ,son of man be ashamed1 when he cometh in his own glory1 and the glory of the ,father1 and of the holy angels4 #bg ,but ,i tell you of a truth1 ,there are some of them that stand here1 who shall in no wise taste of death1 till they see the kingdom of ,god4 ,the first clear prediction of his death was made by ,jesus directly after he had heard the famous confession of ,peter4 ,the latter was occasioned by a question ,jesus himself had asked1 8,who do the multitudes say that ,i am80 ,the answer is exactly that given by multitudes in modern days1 8,and they answering said1 ,john the ,baptist2 but others say1 ,elijah2 and others1 that one of the old prophets is risen again20 that is to say1 a reformer1 a great preacher1 a messenger of ,god4 ,such an estimate of himself never satisfied our ,lord and so he asked pointedly3 8,but who say ye that ,i am8 ,and ,peter answering said1 ,the ,christ of ,god40 ,this is the great affirmation concerning ,christ which the world to-day needs to hear2 but at that time ,jesus earnestly commanded his disciples to 8tell this to no man40 ,the message would then have been misunderstood and the disciples themselves needed first to learn the truth concerning the death and resurrection of ,jesus4 ,no man to-day is qualified to testify for ,christ who does not know the meaning of his atoning death and 8the power of his resurrection40 ,then ,jesus told his disciples of the absolute necessity of his approaching sufferings and assured them that on the third day he would be raised up4 ,this prediction of death must have astonished the disciples2 quite as surprising was the further statement that every follower of ,christ must likewise take up his cross daily1 and the cross was not merely a symbol of suffering and shame2 it was the instrument of death4 ,every ,christian1 therefore1 must die daily to self and yield himself wholly to the service of ,christ4 ,such self-denial and sacrifice and obedience will result in the only experience worthy of the name 8life20 to refuse is to forfeit 8life20 and the loss will be eternal for those who are ashamed to follow the ,master now will be rejected by him when he returns 8in his own glory1 and the glory of the ,father1 and of the holy angels40 ,of this future glory of the coming ,christ1 three of the disciples were to catch a foregleam only eight days later on the ,mount of ,transfiguration1 and ,jesus therefore adds1 8,there are some of them that stand here1 who shall in no wise taste of death1 till they see the kingdom of ,god40 #d4 ,the ,transfiguration4 ,ch4 #i3bh-cf #bh ,and it came to pass about eight days after these sayings1 that he took with him ,peter and ,john and ,james1 and went up into the mountain to pray4 #bi ,and as he was praying1 the fashion of his countenance was altered1 and his raiment became white and dazzling4 #cj ,and behold1 there talked with him two men1 who were ,moses and ,elijah2 #ca who appeared in glory1 and spake of his decease which he was about to accomplish at ,jerusalem4 #cb ,now ,peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep3 but when they were fully awake1 they saw his glory1 and the two men that stood with him4 #cc ,and it came to pass1 as they were parting from him1 ,peter said unto ,jesus1 ,master1 it is good for us to be here3 and let us make three tabernacles2 one for thee1 and one for ,moses1 and one for ,elijah3 not knowing what he said4 #cd ,and while he said these things1 there came a cloud1 and overshadowed them3 and they feared as they entered into the cloud4 #ce ,and a voice came out of the cloud1 saying1 ,this is my ,son1 my chosen3 hear ye him4 #cf ,and when the voice came1 ,jesus was found alone4 ,and they held their peace1 and told no man in those days any of the things which they had seen4 ,the transfiguration of ,christ was closely associated with the predictions both of his death and of his return in glory4 ,it prepared him and also his disciples for the former and it was a symbol and a foretaste of the latter4 ,just what the physical experience may have been1 it is difficult to conjecture4 ,it was not like that of ,moses on ,mount ,sinai when his face glowed with reflected light4 ,in the case of ,jesus the glory was from within4 ,a divine splendor shone forth irradiating the body and even the garments of our ,lord4 ,luke tells us that this occurred as ,jesus was praying2 and it is more than a mere figure of speech to say that when in prayer his followers find1 in some measure1 what it is to be transfigured into his likeness from one degree of glory to another by the power of his indwelling ,spirit4 ,jesus had been accompanied on the mountain top by only ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john2 but suddenly 8,there talked with him two men1 who were ,moses and ,elijah2 who appeared in glory1 and spake of his decease which he was about to accomplish at ,jerusalem40 ,this1 then1 was the high purpose of the event2 it was to interpret to the mind of ,christ more perfectly the meaning of his death1 and to encourage him to endure its anguish by this glimpse of the glory that would follow4 ,it is easy to understand why ,moses and ,elijah should be selected for so august a conference4 ,one had been regarded as the symbol of law and the other of prophecy1 and both law and prophecy pointed forward to ,calvary2 and again both ,moses and ,elijah had received a special revelation of the grace of ,god1 and he was to manifest his grace supremely in the death of his ,son4 ,it is not strange that ,peter longed to linger in such heavenly companionship1 and in bewilderment absurdly proposed the erection on the mountain of three booths for the comfort of ,jesus1 ,moses1 and ,elijah4 8,while he said these things1 there came a cloud1 and overshadowed them3 444 and a voice came out of the cloud1 saying1 ,this is my ,son1 my chosen3 hear ye him40 ,there was no need of detaining ,moses and ,elijah2 if the ,master remained with his disciples1 that was enough4 ,henceforth all that the ,law and the ,prophets had foreshadowed would be completely revealed and embodied in ,jesus ,christ4 ,part of that revelation was made in his death2 the full revelation will come when he returns in that glory of which the ,mount of ,transfiguration gave a foregleam4 #e4 ,the ,demoniac ,boy4 ,ch4 #i3cg-de #cg ,and it came to pass1 on the next day1 when they were come down from the mountain1 a great multitude met him4 #ch ,and behold1 a man from the multitude cried1 saying1 ,teacher1 ,i beseech thee to look upon my son2 for he is mine only child3 #ci and behold1 a spirit taketh him1 and he suddenly crieth out2 and it teareth him that he foameth1 and it hardly departeth from him1 bruising him sorely4 #dj ,and ,i besought thy disciples to cast it out2 and they could not4 #da ,and ,jesus answered and said1 ,o faithless and perverse generation1 how long shall ,i be with you1 and bear with you8 bring hither thy son4 #db ,and as he was yet a coming1 the demon dashed him down1 and tare him grievously4 ,but ,jesus rebuked the unclean spirit1 and healed the boy1 and gave him back to his father4 #dc ,and they were all astonished at the majesty of ,god4 ,but while all were marvelling at all the things which he did1 he said unto his disciples1 #dd ,let these words sink into your ears3 for the ,son of man shall be delivered up into the hands of men4 #de ,but they understood not this saying1 and it was concealed from them1 that they should not perceive it2 and they were afraid to ask him about this saying4 ,it is not strange that artists love to paint the contrast between the picture of ,jesus on the mountain encompassed by glory and of the demoniac boy surrounded by the multitudes on the plain2 yet it requires no canvas or artificial color to heighten the contrast presented by the historian in his simple story4 ,jesus long before had learned what it was to exchange the glories of heaven for the shadows and sufferings of earth and the compassion which drew him from the skies was never withheld1 even at times when he naturally might have been absorbed in thoughts concerning his coming suffering and redeeming work4 ,he was instantly moved with tender pity as he heard the agonizing words of the father and saw the distress of the son4 ,however1 he was even more moved by the unbelief and sin and anguish and godlessness of the world which he had come to save1 and of which this scene was but a symbol and a picture4 8,o faithless and perverse generation10 he cried1 8how long shall ,i be with you1 and bear with you80 ,can it not be said reverently that the contrasted experiences of the mountain and the plain made ,jesus for the moment homesick for heaven8 ,yet ,jesus neither hesitated nor delayed in the path of duty or in the presence of human need4 ,he 8rebuked the unclean spirit1 and healed the boy1 and gave him back to his father40 ,while all were wondering and astonished at his divine power and marvelous works1 he turned to his disciples to impress upon them the dark secret which was resting on his soul4 ,he told them that the time was near when he was to be given up to suffer and to die2 8,but they understood not this saying40 ,here was a ,man whose sympathy was tender toward all2 but who sympathized with him8 ,how often some one of his followers has borne a burden of hidden sorrow1 even in the company of friends and when surrounded by admiring throngs6 #f4 ,jesus ,rebuking ,pride and ,bigotry4 ,ch4 #i3df-ej #df ,and there arose a reasoning among them1 which of them was the greatest4 #dg ,but when ,jesus saw the reasoning of their heart1 he took a little child1 and set him by his side1 #dh and said unto them1 ,whosoever shall receive this little child in my name receiveth me3 and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me3 for he that is least among you all1 the same is great4 #di ,and ,john answered and said1 ,master1 we saw one casting out demons in thy name2 and we forbade him1 because he followeth not with us4 #ej ,but ,jesus said unto him1 ,forbid him not3 for he that is not against you is for you4 ,this was no new dispute in which the followers of ,jesus were engaged4 ,the question was as to which of them should be the greatest in his ,kingdom4 ,there was something admirable in the discussion1 for it revealed their faith4 ,to them the ,master was yet to be ,king of kings and ,lord of lords1 and they desired to have places nearest to his throne4 ,our conception of his ,kingdom may be more correct1 but if its glories were as real to us as they were to them1 if we had faith enough to see this ,kingdom in its real importance1 we1 too1 might at times question what our relative places in this ,kingdom are or will be4 ,however1 ,jesus rebuked them1 for there is no place for pride among the followers of ,christ4 ,our nearness to him is not won by selfish effort or granted by arbitrary decree2 it is conditioned upon the humble service we may render in his name4 8,he took a little child1 and set him by his side20 not because a child is a picture of humility--most children are self-conscious and absurdly proud--but because the care of a child is a symbol of humble service1 and it was this spirit which ,jesus praised4 ,to care for a child1 or for men and women who like children are in need of our help and sympathy and support1 if done for the sake of ,christ and in the name of ,christ1 is a service rendered to the ,master himself and not only to him but also to his ,father4 ,the willingness to undertake such humble service is the measure of true greatness4 ,the mention of service in the mind of the ,master reminded ,john of a recent incident which he felt to be quite to his credit2 so 8,john answered and said1 ,master1 we saw one casting out demons in thy name2 and we forbade him1 because he followeth not with us40 ,there was something admirable in the spirit and action of ,john4 ,he was so devoted to ,christ that he wished everyone professing his name to join the company of disciples1 to live and to labor and to suffer with them4 ,there is always something admirable in loyalty to a denomination or a sect4 ,if one has found what he believes to be the highest form of ,christian life and service1 if one feels that he is treading the surest and shortest road to heaven1 it is certainly commendable in him to wish others to share his peculiar blessedness4 ,jesus1 however1 rebuked him1 and said1 8,forbid him not3 for he that is not against you is for you40 ,after all1 there is no place for bigotry among the followers of ,christ4 ,we may love and admire our sect or society1 but we are never to stop the work of a fellow ,christian however much he may differ from us4 ,there are only two questions to ask3 ,first1 ,is he casting out demons8 ,that is to say1 is he really accomplishing good8 ,second1 ,is he doing the work in the name of a divine1 crucified1 risen ,christ8 ,if so1 8,forbid him not40 ,we must not expect all ,christians to repeat the same creed or to enjoy the same ritual or to accept the same polity or to employ the same methods of work4 ,we should remember the word of the ,master1 8,he that is not against you is for you40 ,v4 ,,the ,,journeys ,,toward ,,jerusalem4 ,,chs4 #i3ea ,,to #ai3bh ,a4 ,the ,first ,stages4 ,ch4 #i3ea to #ac3ba #a4 ,the ,inhospitable ,samaritans4 ,ch4 #i3ea-ef #ea ,and it came to pass1 when the days were well-nigh come that he should be received up1 he stedfastly set his face to go to ,jerusalem1 #eb and sent messengers before his face3 and they went1 and entered into a village of the ,samaritans1 to make ready for him4 #ec ,and they did not receive him1 because his face was as though he were going to ,jerusalem4 #ed ,and when his disciples ,james and ,john saw this1 they said1 ,lord1 wilt thou that we bid fire to come down from heaven1 and consume them8 #ee ,but he turned1 and rebuked them4 #ef ,and they went to another village4 ,the record of the last journeys of our ,lord toward ,jerusalem forms a unique feature in the ,gospel of ,luke4 ,in the other ,gospels some of these incidents are included but they occupy only one or two chapters2 here1 however1 they fill ten chapters with events most of which are no where else related4 ,the direction of the journeying was first eastward through the borders of ,galilee and ,samaria1 then across the ,jordan and then southward through the region of ,perea4 ,this region is not so designated in the ,bible but is described by the phrase1 8beyond the ,jordan10 and as most of these incidents occurred there1 this period of the life of ,jesus is commonly called his 8,perean ministry40 ,luke here emphasizes the divine prevision and at the same time the human courage of our ,lord4 ,he indicates that ,jesus saw plainly his coming death and also his glorious ascension1 but that he unfalteringly moved forward to the intervening agonies of the cross4 ,the first incident of these journeys was in a village of the ,samaritans4 ,certain messengers had gone before to prepare entertainment for the large company which followed ,jesus1 but the ,samaritans would not receive him2 then his disciples1 ,james and ,john1 suggested that they should 8bid fire to come down from heaven and consume them40 ,there was something admirable in the indignation of these disciples4 ,the ,samaritans were moved by a narrow and provincial prejudice and they were offering to ,jesus a gratuitous insult4 ,it sometimes seems that the genius for indignation has disappeared1 and it is refreshing to see men who feel deeply any disrespect to ,christ1 any injury to his cause4 ,but ,jesus rebuked his disciples1 8,and they went to another village40 ,there may be place for righteous indignation1 but there is no place among the followers of ,christ for anger1 for intolerance1 or for revenge4 ,this is not a time of judgment1 but of grace4 ,it is not for us to attempt to administer vengeance1 but to preach the gospel of love4 #b4 ,jesus ,rebuking ,rashness1 ,insincerity1 and ,indecision4 ,ch4 #i3eg-fb #eg ,and as they went on the way1 a certain man said unto him1 ,i will follow thee whithersoever thou goest4 #eh ,and ,jesus said unto him1 ,the foxes have holes1 and the birds of the heaven have nests2 but the ,son of man hath not where to lay his head4 #ei ,and he said unto another1 ,follow me4 ,but he said1 ,lord1 suffer me first to go and bury my father4 #fj ,but he said unto him1 ,leave the dead to bury their own dead2 but go thou and publish abroad the kingdom of ,god4 #fa ,and another also said1 ,i will follow thee1 ,lord2 but first suffer me to bid farewell to them that are at my house4 #fb ,but ,jesus said unto him1 ,no man1 having put his hand to the plow1 and looking back1 is fit for the kingdom of ,god4 ,these three incidents show how carefully ,jesus was sifting those who wished to become his followers and how deeply he appreciated the fact that he was passing through this region for the last time4 ,the first of the three men with whom ,jesus spoke was being swept along by his emotions1 by the sight of the crowd which was following the ,master1 and by the thought that it would be a great privilege to be in such company4 ,he had not for a moment realized that it might involve sacrifice and pain to become a disciple of the ,master4 ,it was for this reason that ,jesus turned to him with a statement which implies a rebuke and suggests that the ,master realized the thoughtlessness and rashness which were prompting this professed follower4 8,the foxes have holes1 and the birds of the heaven have nests2 but the ,son of man hath not where to lay his head40 ,of course ,jesus is eager to have men vow their allegiance to him and openly acknowledge their discipleship2 but among his followers there is no place for rashness4 ,he would have us count the cost4 ,in the case of the next man1 when he was bidden to follow ,christ1 he offered an excuse1 8,lord1 suffer me first to go and bury my father40 ,this was a natural request and it seemed that a tender duty made it necessary for him to decline the invitation of the ,master4 ,there seems something rather severe in the reply1 8,leave the dead to bury their own dead2 but go thou and publish abroad the kingdom of ,god40 ,it is evident that ,jesus had looked into the heart of this man and saw that he was making a selfish excuse out of a sacred duty4 ,if his reply was sincere1 it none the less merited a reproof1 for a more sacred duty than caring for the dead was laid upon him by the invitation of the living ,christ4 ,no tie1 however tender1 can be regarded as a sufficient excuse for refusing to become a follower of ,christ4 ,jesus was passing that way for the last time4 ,prompt obedience was absolutely necessary4 ,those who were spiritually 8dead0 and who had not heard the summons of the ,master could provide the needed burial2 but it was possible for the one who had been called by ,christ to perform a more sacred task3 he could begin to proclaim the gospel of salvation and of life4 ,in the case of the third possible disciple1 there was no carelessness2 he had counted the cost2 it was not his intention to make any excuse2 he was sincere and definite in his intention1 but he wished to delay4 ,he was not quite certain that it was best just then to leave his family and his friends4 ,at least he wished to delay long enough to return to his home and to bid them farewell4 ,but ,jesus rebuked him2 8,no man1 having put his hand to the plow1 and looking back1 is fit for the kingdom of ,god40 ,such hesitation indicates that one has not appreciated the glory and privilege involved in the call of ,christ or that he still weighs against it the sacrifices it involves4 ,he is self-condemned4 ,there is no place for indecision among those who are to be heirs of the ,kingdom of ,god4 #c4 ,the ,mission of the ,seventy4 ,ch4 #aj3a-bd #a ,now after these things the ,lord appointed seventy others1 and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place1 whither he himself was about to come4 #b ,and he said unto them1 ,the harvest indeed is plenteous1 but the laborers are few3 pray ye therefore the ,lord of the harvest1 that he send forth laborers into his harvest4 #c ,go your ways2 behold1 ,i send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves4 #d ,carry no purse1 no wallet1 no shoes2 and salute no man on the way4 #e ,and into whatsoever house ye shall enter1 first say1 ,peace be to this house4 #f ,and if a son of peace be there1 your peace shall rest upon him3 but if not1 it shall turn to you again4 #g ,and in that same house remain1 eating and drinking such things as they give3 for the laborer is worthy of his hire4 ,go not from house to house4 #h ,and into whatsoever city ye enter1 and they receive you1 eat such things as are set before you3 #i and heal the sick that are therein1 and say unto them1 ,the kingdom of ,god is come nigh unto you4 #aj ,but into whatsoever city ye shall enter1 and they receive you not1 go out into the streets thereof and say1 #aa ,even the dust from your city1 that cleaveth to our feet1 we wipe off against you3 nevertheless know this1 that the kingdom of ,god is come nigh4 #ab ,i say unto you1 ,it shall be more tolerable in that day for ,sodom1 than for that city4 #ac ,woe unto thee1 ,chorazin6 woe unto thee1 ,bethsaida6 for if the mighty works had been done in ,tyre and ,sidon1 which were done in you1 they would have repented long ago1 sitting in sackcloth and ashes4 #ad ,but it shall be more tolerable for ,tyre and ,sidon in the judgment1 than for you4 #ae ,and thou1 ,capernaum1 shalt thou be exalted unto heaven8 thou shalt be brought down unto ,hades4 #af ,he that heareth you heareth me2 and he that rejecteth you rejecteth me2 and he that rejecteth me rejecteth him that sent me4 #ag ,and the seventy returned with joy1 saying1 ,lord1 even the demons are subject unto us in thy name4 #ah ,and he said unto them1 ,i beheld ,satan fallen as lightning from heaven4 #ai ,behold1 ,i have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions1 and over all the power of the enemy3 and nothing shall in any wise hurt you4 #bj ,nevertheless in this rejoice not1 that the spirits are subject unto you2 but rejoice that your names are written in heaven4 #ba ,in that same hour he rejoiced in the ,holy ,spirit1 and said1 ,i thank thee1 ,o ,father1 ,lord of heaven and earth1 that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding1 and didst reveal them unto babes3 yea1 ,father2 for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight4 #bb ,all things have been delivered unto me of my ,father3 and no one knoweth who the ,son is1 save the ,father2 and who the ,father is1 save the ,son1 and he to whomsoever the ,son willeth to reveal him4 #bc ,and turning to the disciples1 he said privately1 ,blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see3 #bd for ,i say unto you1 that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which ye see1 and saw them not2 and to hear the things which ye hear1 and heard them not4 ,the sending out of the seventy messengers who were to prepare the way for the ministry of ,jesus is recorded by ,luke alone4 ,this is in harmony with the fact that only in this ,gospel do we read of the extended journeys toward ,jerusalem made by our ,lord on the occasion of which the ,seventy were sent forth4 ,the work was for only a limited time and their office was temporary2 but in his instructions to them ,jesus suggested many principles of life which apply to his followers in all the ages4 ,he first intimated the reason for their being chosen4 ,it was because the harvest field in which they were to work was so great and the laborers so few4 ,he intimated that before the world can receive the message which the ,seventy were sent to deliver1 they and their successors must earnestly pray the ,lord of the harvest to send forth more laborers into the field4 ,this is a prayer which all who serve the ,master may offer earnestly and at all times4 ,the work seems to be only begun4 ,our sympathy with the ,master will make us yearn to see the work accomplished with more speed1 which can only be possible when larger numbers of laborers are secured4 ,v4 #b4 ,jesus told his messengers that as they went forth they must expect to meet with dangers4 8,i send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves40 ,they were1 however1 to encumber themselves with nothing superfluous and they were to waste no time in idle ceremonies2 they must journey as men who are impelled by one supreme motive4 ,vs4 #c1 #d4 ,as they entered a home they were to offer the peace which the gospel can give1 but if rejected1 they were to believe that their very message would return to them with added force4 ,thus our ,lord signified that no word spoken for his sake is really wasted4 ,vs4 #e1 #f4 ,they were to continue in the home which received them1 content with what was given1 offering relief to those in distress and using every opportunity to proclaim the message of grace4 ,vs4 #g-i4 ,where their message was refused1 and they were not received by city or town1 they were to turn away1 shaking off the dust of their feet1 thus intimating by an ,oriental symbol that they had no connection with the enemies of ,christ4 ,at no time is the reception of the gospel message universal4 ,there are always some who refuse to accept its gracious offer4 ,vs4 #aj-ab4 ,the thought of those who would surely reject his messengers reminded ,jesus of the cities which had already rejected him1 and he paused for a moment to speak solemnly of their guilty unbelief4 ,he referred to ,chorazin and ,bethsaida1 declaring that in the ,day of ,judgment it would be more tolerable for ,tyre and ,sidon than for these cities1 for even the heathen world would have repented in the face of such evidence of his divine mission as ,jesus had given to the cities of ,israel4 ,he referred particularly to ,capernaum1 to its peculiar privileges and to its consequently greater condemnation4 ,jesus was stating the abiding principle that unusual opportunities involve unusual responsibilities4 ,he emphasized the seriousness of rejecting his messengers by stating that in despising them men are really despising himself and that those who reject ,jesus are rejecting his ,father who sent him41 vs4 #ac-af4 ,in order to complete the story of the ,seventy1 ,luke proceeds at once to describe their return4 ,they came back elated1 with the report that even the demons were subject to them4 ,our ,lord replied by a statement that in the overthrow of these messengers of ,satan he saw the ultimate defeat of the ,prince of darkness and of all the forces of evil1 and he declared that he was giving to his messengers power over all that might oppose or might threaten to destroy them4 ,yet1 he added1 their chief joy should not be in their ability to perform these works of wonder1 but rather in their having a part in his triumphant cause and in receiving his salvation4 ,vs4 #ag-bj4 ,at this time our ,lord himself shared in the exultation of his followers and returned thanks to the ,father for what he was accomplishing through the humble messengers whom ,jesus had chosen1 so that the results were a manifestation of divine power4 ,he added a striking claim which indicates that the ideal ,man is likewise the true ,son of ,god who alone can reveal the ,father to men4 ,then lastly1 as he turned to his disciples1 he congratulated them upon their great privilege1 assuring them that 8many prophets and kings0 desired to see the things which they were seeing as his servants and as the instruments of his power4 ,he intimated something of the exalted joy which through all the coming years his followers would feel as they realized their privilege of serving such a ,master1 and of revealing him to men4 ,vs4 #ba-bd4 #d4 ,the ,good ,samaritan4 ,ch4 #aj3be-cg #be ,and behold1 a certain lawyer stood up and made trial of him1 saying1 ,teacher1 what shall ,i do to inherit eternal life8 #bf ,and he said unto him1 ,what is written in the law8 how readest thou8 #bg ,and he answering said1 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with all thy heart1 and with all thy soul1 and with all thy strength1 and with all thy mind2 and thy neighbor as thyself4 #bh ,and he said unto him1 ,thou hast answered right3 this do1 and thou shalt live4 #bi ,but he1 desiring to justify himself1 said unto ,jesus1 ,and who is my neighbor8 #cj ,jesus made answer and said1 ,a certain man was going down from ,jerusalem to ,jericho2 and he fell among robbers1 who both stripped him and beat him1 and departed1 leaving him half dead4 #ca ,and by chance a certain priest was going down that way3 and when he saw him1 he passed by on the other side4 #cb ,and in like manner a ,levite also1 when he came to the place1 and saw him1 passed by on other side4 #cc ,but a certain ,samaritan1 as he journeyed1 came where he was3 and when he saw him1 he was moved with compassion1 #cd and came to him1 and bound up his wounds1 pouring on them oil and wine2 and he set him on his own beast1 and brought him to an inn1 and took care of him4 #ce ,and on the morrow he took out two shillings1 and gave them to the host1 and said1 ,take care of him2 and whatsoever thou spendest more1 ,i1 when ,i come back again1 will repay thee4 #cf ,which of these three1 thinkest thou1 proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers8 #cg ,and he said1 ,he that showed mercy on him4 ,and ,jesus said unto him1 ,go1 and do thou likewise4 ,the parable of the ,good ,samaritan was spoken to a certain lawyer who1 trusting to his knowledge of the ,old ,testament1 and of its subtle interpretations by the rabbis1 came to ,jesus hoping to dispute with him and to defeat him in debate4 ,he asked ,jesus this question1 8,teacher1 what shall ,i do to inherit eternal life80 ,he evidently thought that ,jesus would prescribe some new rites or ceremonies or would in some other way disparage the ,law4 ,he was startled1 then1 to have ,jesus reply1 8,what is written in the law80 ,this answer robbed the enemy of his own weapon4 ,he1 however1 made a skillful reply1 and declared that the ,law is summarized in the requirement to love ,god and man4 ,jesus again replied1 8,thou hast answered right3 this do1 and thou shalt live40 ,there was no shadow of evasion or deception in the statement of ,jesus4 ,perfect love to ,god and to man is surely the way of life2 but who can show such perfect love8 ,jesus came not to destroy this requirement of the ,law but to reveal its complete fulfillment1 to secure pardon for those who were guilty of its infraction1 and to give power to those who felt their need4 ,the reply of ,jesus not only defeated the lawyer2 it smote his conscience4 ,he realized that he himself had never fulfilled the requirement of the ,law he knew so well4 ,he therefore attempted to justify himself by limiting the sphere to which the law of love applies4 ,this is always the experience of those who seek to save themselves while rejecting the salvation of ,christ4 ,no one in his own power can fulfill the demands of this perfect law2 either we must secure aid outside ourselves and trust in a loving ,saviour1 or else we must in some way lessen the demands which the law makes4 ,the lawyer suggested that it is impossible to love everyone1 even though it be required to love our neighbors1 and to justify himself he asked the question1 8,and who is my neighbor80 ,jesus replied by the story of the man1 evidently a ,jew1 who went down the steep road from ,jerusalem to ,jericho and1 as he passed through the narrow gorge1 was beset by robbers who stripped him of his garments and his possessions and left him half dead4 ,the first to approach this pitiful sufferer was a priest1 a man whose profession and task in life would induce him to perform a deed of mercy1 but in fear of thieves or in blind oblivion to the need of the wounded man1 he passed by on the other side4 ,next came a ,levite1 one whose office was that of a helper to the priests1 a man who supposedly would be less burdened by official duties and would have more time to extend relief2 but he likewise passed by4 ,at last came a ,samaritan1 a man of an alien race and of a despised religion1 but he showed compassion2 he bound up the wounds of the sufferer and placed him on his beast and brought him to an inn and paid for his entertainment4 ,he showed the spirit of love4 ,thus ,jesus indicated that our neighbor is not only one who 8lives near0 but one who needs our help1 as well as one who helps our need4 ,he demonstrated the truth that the law of love is not limited by rank or station or race or creed4 ,nor is it limited to man4 ,one must likewise love ,god with all the heart1 and thus he will surely love and serve the ,son in whom the love of ,god is made perfect4 #e4 ,martha and ,mary4 ,ch4 #aj3ch-db #ch ,now as they went on their way1 he entered into a certain village3 and a certain woman named ,martha received him into her house4 #ci ,and she had a sister called ,mary1 who also sat at the ,lord's feet1 and heard his word4 #dj ,but ,martha was cumbered about much serving2 and she came up to him1 and said1 ,lord1 dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone8 bid her therefore that she help me4 #da ,but the ,lord answered and said unto her1 ,martha1 ,martha1 thou art anxious and troubled about many things3 #db but one thing is needful3 for ,mary hath chosen the good part1 which shall not be taken away from her4 ,the unfailing human interest of ,luke is nowhere more perfectly expressed than by this exquisite scene in the home at ,bethany4 ,it is to be regretted that it has become the occasion for endless debate as to the relative merits of ,martha and ,mary4 ,some imagine that the former was unloving but energetic and efficient1 and that the latter was affectionate1 but sentimental and indolent4 ,in reality both sisters had admirable qualities2 both loved the ,master and longed to please him2 but on this occasion ,martha1 in her very eagerness to serve1 had overburdened herself in the preparation of an elaborate meal1 while ,mary1 with truer intuition of what ,jesus wished1 8sat at the ,lord's feet1 and heard his word40 ,she knew that he desired1 not for his own sake1 but for theirs1 to reveal himself and to deliver his heavenly message1 and thus according to the fine art of hospitality1 she considered first the wish of her guest and was thus doing more to entertain the ,master than was her sister4 8,martha was cumbered about much serving20 she was distracted by the many things she was trying to do4 ,it is possible for a follower of ,christ to attempt too much2 sometimes this is due to a sense of self-importance and of pride4 ,it may result in such a mood of irritation and temper as was shown by ,martha when in criticizing her sisters he humiliated her by rebuking her in the presence of their ,guest1 and by addressing the remark to him rebuked him as well1 8,lord1 dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone8 bid her therefore that she help me40 ,in his reply ,jesus showed his affection by tenderly repeating her name1 but he rebuked her spirit and revealed its cause1 8,martha1 ,martha1 thou art anxious and troubled about many things3 but one thing is needful3 for ,mary hath chosen the good part1 which shall not be taken away from her40 ,there was no need for an elaborate meal2 but few things or one would have sufficed2 yet one thing was needful1 and that ,mary had chosen1 for while the ,master does appreciate all that we undertake for him1 he knows that our first need is to sit at his feet and learn his will2 then in our tasks we shall be calm and peaceful and kindly1 and at last our service may attain the perfectness of that of ,mary when in a later scene she poured upon the feet of ,jesus the ointment1 the perfume of which still fills the world4 #f4 ,jesus' ,teaching ,concerning ,prayer4 ,ch4 #aa3a-ac #a ,and it came to pass1 as he was praying in a certain place1 that when he ceased1 one of his disciples said unto him1 ,lord1 teach us to pray1 even as ,john also taught his disciples4 #b ,and he said unto them1 ,when ye pray1 say1 ,father1 ,hallowed be thy name4 ,thy kingdom come4 #c ,give us day by day our daily bread4 #d ,and forgive us our sins2 for we ourselves also forgive every one that is indebted to us4 ,and bring us not into temptation4 #e ,and he said unto them1 ,which of you shall have a friend1 and shall go unto him at midnight1 and say to him1 ,friend1 lend me three loaves2 #f for a friend of mine is come to me from a journey1 and ,i have nothing to set before him2 #g and he from within shall answer and say1 ,trouble me not3 the door is now shut1 and my children are with me in bed2 ,i cannot rise and give thee8 #h ,i say unto you1 ,though he will not rise and give him1 because he is his friend1 yet because of his importunity he will arise and give him as many as he needeth4 #i ,and ,i say unto you1 ,ask1 and it shall be given you2 seek1 and ye shall find2 knock1 and it shall be opened unto you4 #aj ,for every one that asketh receiveth2 and he that seeketh findeth2 and to him that knocketh it shall be opened4 #aa ,and of which of you that is a father shall his son ask a loaf1 and he give him a stone8 or a fish1 and he for a fish give him a serpent8 #ab ,or if he shall ask an egg1 will he give him a scorpion8 #ac ,if ye then1 being evil1 know how to give good gifts unto your children1 how much more shall your heavenly ,father give the ,holy ,spirit to them that ask him8 ,when the disciples came to the ,master with the request1 8,lord1 teach us to pray10 they had already1 for some time1 been with ,christ in the school of prayer1 and they had been impressed by that most valuable of object lessons1 namely1 the example of ,christ himself4 ,if in our minds doubt ever arises as to the reality and efficacy of prayer1 we need only turn to the ,gospel of ,luke to be reminded that our ,lord spent long hours in intercession and that he prayed at every crisis in his life4 ,surely we shall not be misled if we follow in his steps6 ,what the disciples wished1 however1 was some special form or formula for prayer1 such as ,john the ,baptist seems to have given his followers4 ,jesus replied by granting them a matchless model and then by encouraging them in the assurance that prayer will surely be heard4 ,this 8,lord's ,prayer10 more fully recorded by ,matthew1 was not intended as a form which must be used rigidly on all occasions1 but as a type which should mold all prayer1 however free and varied and spontaneous it may be4 ,the first word1 8,father10 suggests the filial spirit in which all believers should draw near to ,god1 and it intimates much of the encouragement which ,jesus gave his disciples in the verses which immediately follow this prayer4 ,the prayer contains five petitions1 two relating to the cause of ,god in the world1 and three to personal needs of the petitioners4 ,the first is a request that the 8name0 of ,god1 his revelation1 or our conception of ,god1 be so reverenced1 or so exalted1 on earth as it is in heaven4 ,the second is a parallel request1 namely1 that his ,kingdom may come4 ,this ,kingdom is to be external1 visible1 glorious2 it depends upon the inward transformation of individuals1 but it will yet appear in a perfected social order1 and in the universal reign of ,christ4 ,the next petition is for 8bread sufficient for our needs10 and it implies our right to pray for all that concerns our physical welfare4 ,we are then taught to pray for pardon1 as we come to ,god in a spirit of forgiveness toward others2 and lastly1 to ask for continual protection from the snares of the ,adversary and from all the powers of evil4 ,to encourage his disciples in such petitions ,jesus gave them the story of the man whose ceaseless1 almost shameless1 asking secured for him the answer to his request for needed bread4 ,jesus implied1 however1 that there is1 on the part of ,god1 no such reluctance to be overcome1 so that all who 8ask0 of him will receive what they need2 if they 8seek0 relief he will grant it1 if they 8knock10 even at 8midnight10 he will open the door without delay4 ,further still ,jesus encouraged prayer by again reminding his hearers that they were praying to a ,father4 ,human parents reply to the requests of their children1 not by mocking them or with injurious gifts1 not by giving a stone when bread is asked1 or a serpent for a fish1 or a scorpion instead of an egg4 ,if then1 with all our imperfections and limitations1 we know how to give good gifts to our children1 much more can we expect our heavenly ,father to give his ,holy ,spirit1 and so all other good if lesser gifts1 to them that ask him4 ,thus again we see that the blessed name of 8,father0 is the key to the lesson4 ,if we approach him as children it will be with confidence1 but also with submission1 as we know that1 whether he gives or withholds1 his reply will be an expression of infinite mercy and of fatherly love4 #g4 ,jesus ,rebuking ,blasphemy and ,unbelief4 ,ch4 #aa3ad-cf #ad ,and he was casting out a demon that was dumb4 ,and it came to pass1 when the demon was gone out1 the dumb man spake2 and the multitudes marvelled4 #ae ,but some of them said1 ,by ,beelzebub the prince of the demons casteth he out demons4 #af ,and others1 trying him1 sought of him a sign from heaven4 #ag ,but he1 knowing their thoughts1 said unto them1 ,every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation2 and a house divided against a house falleth4 #ah ,and if ,satan also is divided against himself1 how shall his kingdom stand8 because ye say that ,i cast out demons by ,beelzebub4 #ai ,and if ,i by ,beelzebub cast out demons1 by whom do your sons cast them out8 therefore shall they be your judges4 #bj ,but if ,i by the finger of ,god cast out demons1 then is the kingdom of ,god come upon you4 #ba ,when the strong man fully armed guardeth his own court1 his goods are in peace3 #bb but when a stronger than he shall come upon him1 and overcome him1 he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted1 and divideth his spoils4 #bc ,he that is not with me is against me2 and he that gathereth not with me scattereth4 #bd ,the unclean spirit when he is gone out of the man1 passeth through waterless places1 seeking rest2 and finding none1 he saith1 ,i will turn back unto my house whence ,i came out4 #be ,and when he is come1 he findeth it swept and garnished4 #bf ,then goeth he1 and taketh to him seven other spirits more evil than himself2 and they enter in and dwell there3 and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first4 #bg ,and it came to pass1 as he said these things1 a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice1 and said unto him1 ,blessed is the womb that bare thee1 and the breasts which thou didst suck4 #bh ,but he said1 ,yea rather1 blessed are they that hear the word of ,god1 and keep it4 #bi ,and when the multitudes were gathering together unto him1 he began to say1 ,this generation is an evil generation3 it seeketh after a sign2 and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of ,jonah4 #cj ,for even as ,jonah became a sign unto the ,ninevites1 so shall also the ,son of man be to this generation4 #ca ,the queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation1 and shall condemn them3 for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of ,solomon2 and behold1 a greater than ,solomon is here4 #cb ,the men of ,nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation1 and shall condemn it3 for they repented at the preaching of ,jonah2 and behold1 a greater than ,jonah is here4 #cc ,no man1 when he hath lighted a lamp1 putteth it in a cellar1 neither under the bushel1 but on the stand1 that they which enter in may see the light4 #cd ,the lamp of thy body is thine eye3 when thine eye is single1 thy whole body also is full of light2 but when it is evil1 thy body also is full of darkness4 #ce ,look therefore whether the light that is in thee be not darkness4 #cf ,if therefore thy whole body be full of light1 having no part dark1 it shall be wholly full of light1 as when the lamp with its bright shining doth give thee light4 ,the first of these two discourses1 vs4 #ad-bf1 was given by ,jesus in reply to the charge that he wrought his miracles by ,satanic power1 v4 #ae2 the second1 vs4 #bi-cf1 was an answer to the demand that he should compel his enemies to believe in him by giving them 8a sign from heaven10 v4 #af4 ,jesus had just cast out a demon4 ,his enemies did not attempt to deny that a miracle had been performed2 but1 in order to discredit him with the people1 they explained the miracle on the ground that ,jesus must be in league with the ,devil4 ,he replied by showing the absurdity of suggesting that the ,devil was casting out devils1 or 8demons10 for in that case his power would be like a kingdom 8divided against itself0 and so certain to be 8brought to desolation10 or like a house thus divided and sure to fall4 ,vs4 #ag1 #ah4 ,he then turned the charge against themselves3 some of their countrymen claimed the power to cast out demons2 ,jesus did not discuss the reality of these reputed cures but pointedly asked by what power they were effected2 is it also demonic power8 v4 #ai4 ,jesus then declared definitely that his miracles were being wrought by divine power and that their character was a certain proof that he was representing not the kingdom of the ,devil but 8the kingdom of ,god40 ,v4 #bj4 ,instead of aiding the ,devil1 he was despoiling him4 ,he described the ,devil as though a strong man1 fully armed and guarding his goods1 but ,jesus himself was a 8stronger than he10 and was taking away his armor and delivering his captives by miracles of grace4 ,vs4 #ba1 #bb4 ,in this conflict there can be no neutrality2 one must be on the side either of the ,devil or of ,christ4 ,v4 #bc4 ,jesus then rebuked his enemies by the parable of the ,unclean ,spirit4 ,the demon of unbelief had once possessed the ,jews1 and had been manifested in the form of idolatry2 it had been cast out1 but it had returned with more terrible manifestations of hypocrisy1 covetousness1 hatred1 fanaticism1 and pride4 ,such had been the fate of the nation2 and such is the experience of an individual who turns from sin and rebels against ,satan but fails to accept the ,lordship of ,christ4 ,the empty heart is in peril4 ,reformation is not regeneration4 ,one must beware of the demon of unbelief4 ,vs4 #bd-bf4 ,at this juncture a 8woman out of the multitude0 interrupted with an expression of congratulation for the mother of ,jesus4 ,in reply ,jesus intimated that his mother might rightly be called 8blessed10 but that the woman had missed the real point2 it was a privilege to sustain to ,christ such a close human and natural relationship1 but better far to possess that spiritual kinship which is indicated by faith and by obedience to ,god4 ,vs4 #bg1 #bh4 ,jesus continued to rebuke the unbelief of the ,jews as he now turned to answer directly the demand for 8a sign from heaven40 ,he declared that such a sign would be given1 in his resurrection from the dead4 ,this miracle would be wrought without any human intervention2 it would be a direct act of ,god and would fulfill the conditions of 8a sign from heaven20 it would be the counterpart of the miraculous deliverance of ,jonah from the sea4 ,however1 the very demand for such a sign was an impertinence and an insult2 it reflected discredit upon the divine character of the miracles which ,jesus had already wrought4 ,it failed to recognize the nature of his teachings1 which surpassed the wisdom of ,solomon and the startling message of ,jonah4 ,the eagerness of the heathen queen to hear1 the willingness of the ,ninevites to repent1 rebuked the stubborn unbelief of the ,jews who refused to accept 8a greater than ,solomon10 8a greater than ,jonah40 ,vs4 #bi-cb4 ,finally ,jesus showed that their guilty unbelief was not due to lack of evidence or to the need of a new 8sign10 but to their indifference and their impenitence4 ,as a lamp is designed to light a house1 and as the eye is intended to illumine the body1 so the soul which is right with ,god possesses the faculty of spiritual sight4 ,this sight is dimmed and destroyed by sin4 ,the inability of the ,jews to believe was not due to lack of 8signs0 and proofs1 but to lack of sight4 ,no amount of light will help a blind man4 ,those who turn to ,christ in repentance and faith and love will find him to be the ,light of the world1 and their whole souls will become radiant with divine splendor4 ,vs4 #cc-cf4 #h4 ,pharisaism ,exposed and ,denounced4 ,ch4 #aa3cg-ed #cg ,now as he spake1 a ,pharisee asketh him to dine with him3 and he went in1 and sat down to meat4 #ch ,and when the ,pharisee saw it1 he marvelled that he had not first bathed himself before dinner4 #ci ,and the ,lord said unto him1 ,now ye the ,pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter2 but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness4 #dj ,ye foolish ones1 did not he that made the outside make the inside also8 #da ,but give for alms those things which are within2 and behold1 all things are clean unto you4 #db ,but woe unto you ,pharisees6 for ye tithe mint and rue and every herb1 and pass over justice and the love of ,god3 but these ought ye to have done1 and not to leave the other undone4 #dc ,woe unto you ,pharisees6 for ye love the chief seats in the synagogues1 and the salutations in the marketplaces4 #dd ,woe unto you6 for ye are as the tombs which appear not1 and the men that walk over them know it not4 #de ,and one of the lawyers answering saith unto him1 ,teacher1 in saying this thou reproachest us also4 #df ,and he said1 ,woe unto you lawyers also6 for ye load men with burdens grievous to be borne1 and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers4 #dg ,woe unto you6 for ye build the tombs of the prophets1 and your fathers killed them4 #dh ,so ye are witnesses and consent unto the works of your fathers3 for they killed them1 and ye build their tombs4 #di ,therefore also said the wisdom of ,god1 ,i will send unto them prophets and apostles2 and some of them they shall kill and persecute2 #ej that the blood of all the prophets1 which was shed from the foundation of the world1 may be required of this generation2 #ea from the blood of ,abel unto the blood of ,zachariah1 who perished between the altar and the sanctuary3 yea1 ,i say unto you1 it shall be required of this generation4 #eb ,woe unto you lawyers6 for ye took away the key of knowledge3 ye entered not in yourselves1 and them that were entering in ye hindered4 #ec ,and when he was come out from thence1 the scribes and the ,pharisees began to press upon him vehemently1 and to provoke him to speak of many things2 #ed laying wait for him1 to catch something out of his mouth4 ,the conflict between ,jesus and his enemies here reached its climax4 ,he rebuked their hypocrisy1 and pronounced upon them six solemn woes4 ,his words are full of warning for his followers in all ages2 religion ever tends to become a matter of form and ritual2 hypocrisy is often unconscious2 its practice is almost universal4 ,a ,pharisee whose heart was foul with sinful thoughts wondered that ,jesus had sat down to eat without first washing his hands according to the ,jewish ritual4 ,no such ceremony was required by the ,law1 but only by the traditions upon which the ,pharisees laid such stress4 ,jesus declared that to wash the body while the heart is impure is as absurd as to cleanse the outside of an unclean cup or platter4 ,he declared that ,god who made the body created the soul also1 and that ,god is more concerned with the latter than with the former4 ,he insisted that while it may be well to wash the hands1 a better preparation for a meal would consist in filling the heart with love1 which might be expressed in gifts to the poor4 ,it was much more important that the ,pharisee should take the hatred from his heart1 than that ,jesus should wash his hands4 ,vs4 #cg-da4 ,hypocrisy1 however1 is ever concerned with external forms while disregarding realities4 ,therefore ,jesus pronounced a woe upon the ,pharisees for tithing the small garden herbs while neglecting justice toward men and love toward ,god1 for observing some minute religious rite while breaking all the ,ten ,commandments4 ,yet he did not condemn them for caring for these trifles1 but for neglecting things essential4 8,these ought ye to have done1 and not to leave the other undone40 ,v4 #db4 ,jesus further rebuked the vanity and the desire for prominence and public recognition which is at once a mark and a cloak of hypocrisy4 ,v4 #dc4 ,he further compared the evil influence of hypocrites to the defiling contact with a grave1 which is level with the ground1 upon which one may unconsciously tread and so become ceremonially unclean4 ,men are not on their guard against those who make loud boasts of religion4 ,v4 #dd4 ,at this juncture a lawyer interrupted ,jesus with the statement that these severe denunciations seemed to include him and his associates4 ,it was true that most lawyers were ,pharisees1 but they were the professional teachers of this sect1 the recognized leaders of the party2 and in denouncing all ,pharisees ,jesus seemed to include even these proud expounders of the ,law4 ,jesus replied that religious teachers who are insincere1 or who allow their religion to become a mere matter of form1 are most of all to be rebuked4 ,he pronounced upon them three woes3 the first1 for extracting from the ,law minute and burdensome requirements which they were not careful to observe themselves4 ,it is a grievous fault for students and scholars to make religion a matter of weariness and distaste1 instead of a delight to the common people4 ,vs4 #de1 #df4 ,secondly1 ,jesus rebuked their heartless cruelty and fanaticism4 ,teachers of religion are ever tempted to become bitter partisans1 and even to have a share in killing the very prophets and apostles of ,god4 ,the hatred of ,jesus shown by his enemies was like that of their fathers who had killed the divine messengers of old4 ,the blood of these martyrs1 from the first to the last mentioned in the ,hebrew ,bible was yet to be required of the nation1 and those who rejected ,jesus would partake in the judgment as they were partakers of the crime1 vs4 #dg-ea4 ,lastly1 the lawyers were rebuked for keeping back the knowledge of ,god1 by their false interpretations of ,scripture and their disregard of the real spiritual needs of the people4 ,such teachers of religion are like men who hold the key to a sacred temple2 they themselves will not enter and they keep back all who would4 ,it is a solemn responsibility to be a professed teacher of divine truth2 and to be at once a 8lawyer0 and a 8hypocrite10 is to merit these solemn woes which fell from the lips of ,christ4 ,so enraged were his hearers that they threatened him with physical violence4 ,hypocrites hate to be exposed4 ,wise men are glad to be warned and to repent before it is too late4 ,he who spoke these bitter words of rebuke is ready to pardon and to purify and to lead his followers in the paths of service and of peace4 ,vs4 #eb-ed4 #i4 ,faithful ,testimony ,encouraged4 ,ch4 #ab3a-ab #a ,in the mean time1 when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together1 insomuch that they trod one upon another1 he began to say unto his disciples first of all1 ,beware ye of the leaven of the ,pharisees1 which is hypocrisy4 #b ,but there is nothing covered up1 that shall not be revealed2 and hid1 that shall not be known4 #c ,wherefore whatsoever ye have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light2 and what ye have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops4 #d ,and ,i say unto you my friends1 ,be not afraid of them that kill the body1 and after that have no more that they can do4 #e ,but ,i will warn you whom ye shall fear3 ,fear him1 who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell2 yea1 ,i say unto you1 ,fear him4 #f ,are not five sparrows sold for two pence8 and not one of them is forgotten in the sight of ,god4 #g ,but the very hairs of your head are all numbered4 ,fear not3 ye are of more value than many sparrows4 #h ,and ,i say unto you1 ,every one who shall confess me before men1 him shall the ,son of man also confess before the angels of ,god3 but he that denieth me in the presence of men shall be denied in the presence of the angels of ,god4 #aj ,and every one who shall speak a word against the ,son of man1 it shall be forgiven him3 but unto him that blasphemeth against the ,holy ,spirit it shall not be forgiven4 #aa ,and when they bring you before the synagogues1 and the rulers1 and the authorities1 be not anxious how or what ye shall answer1 or what ye shall say3 #ab for the ,holy ,spirit shall teach you in that very hour what ye ought to say4 ,when ,jesus had bitterly rebuked the public religious teachers of his day he turned to his disciples and spoke words of cheer which have strengthened his followers in all days4 ,such encouragement was needed2 the bitter hatred of his enemies now threatened the life of ,jesus1 and made it evident that his disciples could expect no kinder treatment than their ,lord4 ,then1 too1 ,jesus had shown the special guilt of those who professed to be guides in matters of religion2 his disciples therefore needed courage to continue their public witness both because of the great responsibility involved and because it would bring upon them the hatred of men4 ,he encouraged them1 first1 by the assurance that the corrupting influence of the ,pharisees would come to an end2 their hypocrisy would be mercilessly unmasked2 their power would cease2 while on the other hand the witness of the disciples would not always be confined to places of obscurity but would be heard in all the world4 ,vs4 #a-c4 ,how truly has this prophecy been fulfilled6 ,compare the present influence of ,hillel or ,gamaliel with that of ,peter or ,john4 ,no one can measure the power for good possessed by the humblest witness for ,christ4 ,jesus further encouraged his disciples by assuring them of the loving care of ,god4 ,they should look to him in reverent trust2 this would give confidence and strength and free them from the fear of man4 ,their enemies could harm only the body2 ,god controls the eternal destiny of souls1 and to him even the body is precious1 and he is concerned with the most minute details of our lives4 ,if he notes the fall of a sparrow1 he must know the peril and need of every one who is testifying for his ,son4 ,vs4 #d-g4 ,then again for faithful witnesses there remain great rewards1 in spite of what they now may suffer from men4 ,as they now acknowledge ,jesus ,christ as ,saviour and ,lord1 so in the glories of heaven he will acknowledge them as his true and loyal warriors who merit and will share the blessedness of his triumphant reign4 ,vs4 #h1 #i4 ,on the other hand1 those who blaspheme his name by ascribing his power to a ,satanic source1 ch4 #aa3ae1 will be regarded as guilty of an unpardonable sin4 ,this would not apply to such as in ignorance rejected ,jesus1 but to those who had full opportunity of knowing him1 and who then scoffed at his claims and maliciously insulted his divine ,person1 and made of him an impostor and associated him with the powers of evil4 ,v4 #aj4 ,last of all1 in spite of opposition and threats of all the earthly powers1 and in the presence of the most imposing tribunals1 the witnesses of ,jesus never need fear1 and must never allow themselves to be silenced4 ,the ,holy ,spirit1 whom their enemies opposed and blasphemed1 would speak through them2 he would teach them both how and what to say1 vs4 #aa1 #ab4 ,this promise was not designed to encourage indolence or lack of possible preparation1 but to assure the ,christian witness that a divine ,presence would ever give him needed wisdom and strength and grace4 ,it is a grave responsibility to testify for ,christ1 but it is the duty of everyone who bears his name2 and in this service he can be assured that the influence will be measureless1 the protection unfailing1 the reward heavenly1 the sustaining grace divine4 #aj4 ,a ,warning ,against ,covetousness4 ,ch4 #ab3ac-ba #ac ,and one out of the multitude said unto him1 ,teacher1 bid my brother divide the inheritance with me4 #ad ,but he said unto him1 ,man1 who made me a judge or a divider over you8 #ae ,and he said unto them1 ,take heed1 and keep yourselves from all covetousness3 for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth4 #af ,and he spake a parable unto them1 saying1 ,the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully3 #ag and he reasoned within himself1 saying1 ,what shall ,i do1 because ,i have not where to bestow my fruits8 #ah ,and he said1 ,this will ,i do3 ,i will pull down my barns1 and build greater2 and there will ,i bestow all my grain and my goods1 #ai ,and ,i will say to my soul1 ,soul1 thou hast much goods laid up for many years2 take thine ease1 eat1 drink1 be merry #bj ,but ,god said unto him1 ,thou foolish one1 this night is thy soul required of thee2 and the things which thou hast prepared1 whose shall they be8 #ba ,so is he that layeth up treasure for himself1 and is not rich toward ,god4 ,the parable of the ,rich ,fool was related by our ,lord to teach that riches neither form the real content nor assure the continuance of life1 so that it is the sheerest folly to seek for gold while forgetting ,god4 ,a man had come to ,jesus with the request1 8,teacher1 bid my brother divide the inheritance with me40 ,the reply implied that the ,master regarded his work as spiritual1 and that he was not willing to invade the sphere of civil law or to usurp the place of regularly appointed authorities1 8,man1 who made me a judge or a divider over you80 ,possibly this reply contains a message for the modern day and warns us against confusing the functions of the ,church with those of the ,state4 ,the sphere of the ,church is spiritual1 and its province is not to determine questions which are commercial and political4 ,the ,church1 however1 does provide and inculcate principles which are involved in all moral questions and which determine justice and right in every sphere of human life4 ,thus ,jesus refused to 8divide the inheritance10 but he pierced to the root of the request and saw that the man was neglecting the civil law and seeking the support of a religious teacher because he was moved by avarice2 and it is this same 8love of money0 which lies at the root of most of the injustice and inequity and cruelty which burden the world to-day4 ,therefore ,jesus turned to the multitude with the warning3 8,take heed1 and keep yourselves from all covetousness3 for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth40 ,to enforce his message ,jesus told the story of the rich man who was heaping up goods for selfish enjoyment in future years1 and who was suddenly confronted by the necessity which death brings of leaving to others all that he had amassed4 ,his foolishness consisted in forgetting that fortune and life itself are dependent upon the will of ,god1 and that a man really owns nothing but owes everything to ,god1 and that the real value of life consists in the unselfish use of wealth and of opportunity according to the will of ,god4 ,how his vain words1 8my fruits10 8my barns10 8my grains10 8my goods10 8my soul10 are contrasted with the solemn message3 8,this night is thy soul required of thee40 8,so is he10 continued ,jesus1 8that layeth up treasure for himself1 and is not rich toward ,god40 ,it is the sheerest folly to forget that riches neither form the real content nor assure the continuance of life2 it is madness to heap up goods while neglecting ,god4 #aa4 ,the ,cure of ,anxiety4 ,ch4 #ab3bb-cd #bb ,and he said unto his disciples1 ,therefore ,i say unto you1 ,be not anxious for your life1 what ye shall eat2 nor yet for your body1 what ye shall put on4 #bc ,for the life is more than the food1 and the body than the raiment4 #bd ,consider the ravens1 that they sow not1 neither reap2 which have no store-chamber nor barn2 and ,god feedeth them3 of how much more value are ye than the birds6 #be ,and which of you by being anxious can add a cubit unto the measure of his life8 #bf ,if then ye are not able to do even that which is least1 why are ye anxious concerning the rest8 #bg ,consider the lilies1 how they grow3 they toil not1 neither do they spin2 yet ,i say unto you1 ,even ,solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these4 #bh ,but if ,god doth so clothe the grass in the field1 which to-day is and to-morrow is cast into the oven2 how much more shall he clothe you1 ,o ye of little faith8 #bi ,and seek not ye what ye shall eat1 and what ye shall drink1 neither be ye of doubtful mind4 #cj ,for all these things do the nations of the world seek after3 but your ,father knoweth that ye have need of these things4 #ca ,yet seek ye his kingdom1 and these things shall be added unto you4 #cb ,fear not1 little flock2 for it is your ,father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom4 #cc ,sell that which ye have1 and give alms2 make for yourselves purses which wax not old1 a treasure in the heavens that faileth not1 where no thief draweth near1 neither moth destroyeth4 #cd ,for where your treasure is1 there will your heart be also4 ,in addressing the crowds ,jesus warned them against covetousness by speaking to them the parable of the ,foolish ,rich ,man who trusted in his goods and forgot ,god2 he now turned to his disciples to urge them to forget their worries by trust in ,god4 ,while a ,christian must not be selfishly absorbed in amassing wealth1 he need not be anxious about even the necessities of life4 ,the reason is that 8the life is more than the food1 and the body than the raiment10 and therefore ,god who gave life and made the body will surely provide food and clothing2 he who did the greater will not fail to do the less4 ,for an example of such providential care ,jesus points to the birds3 without the 8fruits0 and the 8barns0 and the 8goods10 which failed to prolong the life of the rich man1 the ravens continue to live2 8,god feedeth them3 of how much more value are ye than the birds60 ,of course we are to be diligent and industrious and to exercise thrift and foresight2 but we are not to be anxious4 ,worry will not prolong life2 on the other hand1 it is worry and not work that kills4 ,therefore1 if anxiety shortens life1 it surely will not supply the necessities of life2 trust ,god for food4 ,vs4 #bd-bf4 ,so1 too1 as for clothing2 if ,god robes in such beautiful colors the perishable flowers of the field1 will he not provide garments for his own children8 ,to be anxious about these necessities is to imitate the heathen who know nothing of ,god's providential care4 ,we show ourselves to be his children by our trust in him4 ,vs4 #bg-cj4 ,however1 while we are not to be absorbed in seeking wealth1 as the foolish rich man1 or to be anxious about food and raiment1 as are men of the world1 there is something about which we should feel a deep concern1 and that is the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,if we seek and labor for its coming1 we can be sure that our ,father will supply our temporal needs4 ,even though at times we may be in peril and in want1 we can be certain that we are to share at last the blessedness of that ,kingdom4 ,vs4 #ca1 #cb4 ,therefore we should not be absorbed in gathering the goods that perish1 but by deeds of sacrifice and works of charity1 inspired by gratitude to ,god and love to men1 we are to lay up 8treasure in the heavens0 which will never be stolen or destroyed2 and as the heart always follows its treasure1 our thoughts will be turned upward toward ,god2 trust in his power and love will banish our anxiety and free us from care4 ,vs4 #cc1 #cd4 #ab4 ,an ,exhortation to ,watchfulness4 ,ch4 #ab3ce-dh #ce ,let your loins be girded about1 and your lamps burning2 #cf and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord1 when he shall return from the marriage feast2 that1 when he cometh and knocketh1 they may straightway open unto him4 #cg ,blessed are those servants1 whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching3 verily ,i say unto you1 that he shall gird himself1 and make them sit down to meat1 and shall come and serve them4 #ch ,and if he shall come in the second watch1 and if in the third1 and find them so1 blessed are those servants4 #ci ,but know this1 that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming1 he would have watched1 and not have left his house to be broken through4 #dj ,be ye also ready3 for in an hour that ye think not the ,son of man cometh4 #da ,and ,peter said1 ,lord1 speakest thou this parable unto us1 or even unto all8 #db ,and the ,lord said1 ,who then is the faithful and wise steward1 whom his lord shall set over his household1 to give them their portion of food in due season8 #dc ,blessed is that servant1 whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing4 #dd ,of a truth ,i say unto you1 that he will set him over all that he hath4 #de ,but if that servant shall say in his heart1 ,my lord delayeth his coming2 and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants1 and to eat and drink1 and to be drunken2 #df the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not1 and in an hour when he knoweth not1 and shall cut him asunder1 and appoint his portion with the unfaithful4 #dg ,and that servant1 who knew his lord's will1 and made not ready1 nor did according to his will1 shall be beaten with many stripes2 #dh but he that knew not1 and did things worthy of stripes1 shall be beaten with few stripes4 ,and to whomsoever much is given1 of him shall much be required3 and to whom they commit much1 of him will they ask the more4 ,our ,lord had been warning his disciples against allowing their minds to be absorbed in the selfish acquisition of wealth1 and against being anxious about needed food and clothing2 they were to be supremely concerned about his ,kingdom which would appear in glory at the time of his return4 ,as to the events preceding this return1 as to its circumstances and results1 he taught them more definitely just before his death2 here he simply enjoined upon them the attitude of watchfulness1 implying that if his coming was occupying their thoughts they would be kept at once from worldliness and from worry1 and would be diligent in serving him4 ,he illustrated this attitude of heart and mind by two parables1 the parable of the ,returning ,lord and the parable of the ,thief4 ,in the former1 the master has been attending a marriage1 his servants are awake and clothed1 the house is lighted1 and all are ready to receive him4 ,so delighted is he on his arrival to find them faithful that he is ready to give any expression to his joy2 he even is willing to cause them to sit down and to partake of the banquet they have prepared for him4 ,the second parable illustrates the truth that as the time when a thief will come is unknown1 therefore the only way to act is to be ready at all times for his approach2 therefore1 our ,saviour added1 8,be ye also ready3 for in an hour that ye think not the ,son of man cometh40 ,the ,master here as elsewhere indicated that his return was to be delayed2 his absence was to be like a long night2 much must transpire1 much be done before he would reappear1 but his followers must ever be prepared for his return4 ,this did not mean that they were to be nervously expectant nor were they to be saying that the day of his coming was just at hand2 rather they were to be at their places of duty1 faithfully performing their tasks1 and absorbed in the work which the ,master had given them to do4 ,this attitude of watchfulness1 and of interest in the return of ,christ1 should particularly characterize teachers and leaders4 ,this is the force of the question which ,peter now asked4 ,he inquired whether all believers would share equally in the blessings of the ,lord's return2 would not those1 like the apostles1 who had been most prominent in his service receive from him a greater reward8 ,jesus replied that larger privileges imply greater temptations and greater responsibilities4 ,if a ,christian minister has been faithful in feeding his people with spiritual food1 he will be rewarded with even higher opportunities for service2 but if the long delay of his ,lord's return shall make him forgetful and unmindful of its reality1 if he shall use his high position selfishly or shall use his power unkindly1 then when the ,master appears he will be punished with the utmost severity4 ,the chief advantage of a religious leader lies in his opportunity for knowing more fully the teachings of ,christ2 his superior knowledge1 therefore1 will be the ground of his more terrible punishment in case of unfaithfulness2 the principle is abiding and applies in every sphere4 8,to whomsoever much is given1 of him shall much be required40 ,thus ,christ taught that in the future there will be degrees and gradations both of punishments and rewards4 #ac4 ,the ,divisive ,influence of ,christ4 ,ch4 #ab3di-ei #di ,i came to cast fire upon the earth2 and what do ,i desire1 if it is already kindled8 #ej ,but ,i have a baptism to be baptized with2 and how am ,i straitened till it be accomplished6 #ea ,think ye that ,i come to give peace in the earth8 ,i tell you1 ,nay2 but rather division3 #eb for there shall be from henceforth five in one house divided1 three against two1 and two against three4 #ec ,they shall be divided1 father against son1 and son against father2 mother against daughter1 and daughter against her mother2 mother in law against her daughter in law1 and daughter in law against her mother in law4 #ed ,and he said to the multitudes also1 ,when ye see a cloud rising in the west1 straightway ye say1 ,there cometh a shower2 and so it cometh to pass4 #ee ,and when ye see a south wind blowing1 ye say1 ,there will be a scorching heat2 and it cometh to pass4 #ef ,ye hypocrites1 ye know how to interpret the face of the earth and the heaven2 but how is it that ye know not how to interpret this time8 #eg ,and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right8 #eh ,for as thou art going with thine adversary before the magistrate1 on the way give diligence to be quit of him2 lest haply he drag thee unto the judge1 and the judge shall deliver thee to the officer1 and the officer shall cast thee into prison4 #ei ,i say unto thee1 ,thou shalt by no means come out thence1 till thou have paid the very last mite4 ,jesus had been warning the crowds against the peril of selfish enjoyment and urging his followers to watch and to labor for his return and his ,kingdom2 but he did not want them to be deceived and to suppose that this ,kingdom could be established without conflict and delay4 ,the present age was to be one of strife and division1 and the ,master himself was to be their innocent cause4 ,some day he would return to bring justice and holiness and righteousness to complete victory1 and then he would be indeed the ,prince of peace4 ,now1 however1 his coming into the world had cast upon the earth the burning brand of division and strife4 ,this was so inevitable that ,jesus had no regret that the fire was already kindled2 but it would not burst into a conflagration until ,jesus had been crucified1 and he felt a pathetic impatience to have that dreadful experience accomplished4 ,as ,jesus emerged from that baptism of fire he would be the torch which would set the world ablaze with conflict and separation4 ,this division would occur even in a home circle of five3 father and mother would be divided against son and daughter and daughter-in-law4 ,thus ,christ1 and specifically his cross1 is now dividing the world4 ,happy are those who interpret his message and understand his mission and turn to him in repentance and faith6 ,the multitudes1 however1 were still unbelieving1 and ,jesus rebuked their stupid ignorance4 ,he declared that they could so interpret the signs of weather as to predict correctly rain or drought1 but they could not see in his words and works the proofs that he was the ,christ1 the ,saviour of the world4 ,however1 he warned them to repent before it was too late4 ,they would have wisdom enough to agree with an adversary while on the way to a courtroom before sentence had been pronounced1 much more should they see that it was the part of wisdom to seek peace with ,god before the day of mercy and grace had passed4 #ad4 ,a ,call to ,repentance4 ,ch4 #ac3a-i #a ,now there were some present at that very season who told him of the ,galilans1 whose blood ,pilate had mingled with their sacrifices4 #b ,and he answered and said unto them1 ,think ye that these ,galilans were sinners above all the ,galilans1 because they have suffered these things8 #c ,i tell you1 ,nay3 but1 except ye repent1 ye shall all in like manner perish4 #d ,or those eighteen1 upon whom the tower in ,siloam fell1 and killed them1 think ye that they were offenders above all the men that dwell in ,jerusalem8 #e ,i tell you1 ,nay3 but1 except ye repent1 ye shall all likewise perish4 #f ,and he spake this parable2 ,a certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard2 and he came seeking fruit thereon1 and found none4 #g ,and he said unto the vinedresser1 ,behold1 these three years ,i come seeking fruit on this fig tree1 and find none3 cut it down2 why doth it also cumber the ground8 #h ,and he answering said unto him1 ,lord1 let it alone this year also1 till ,i shall dig about it1 and dung it3 #i and if it bear fruit thenceforth1 well2 but if not1 thou shalt cut it down4 ,at the very time when ,jesus was urging upon his hearers their need of repentance1 a report was made of a cruel slaughter of ,galilans at the hand of ,pilate4 ,it was expected that ,jesus would declare the poor sufferers to have merited their fate1 and that he would fall into the common fallacy of supposing that exceptional suffering is a proof of exceptional guilt on the part of men4 ,jesus1 however1 replied that temporary exemption from suffering is a mark of special grace on the part of ,god4 ,all impenitent men are certain to suffer1 and deserve to suffer2 if judgment has not fallen the delay should be regarded as a merciful opportunity to repent4 ,jesus enforced the same truth by referring to a recent calamity in which eighteen men had been crushed by the fall of a tower4 ,their fate was not to be regarded as a sign of their special sinfulness1 but as a warning to others that they would likewise suffer unless they repented of their sins4 ,the ,master had in mind the entire ,jewish nation and he further enforced his call to repentance by the parable of the ,fruitless ,fig ,tree4 ,this was a true type of ,israel1 but also a symbol of every impenitent soul4 ,god mercifully preserves and blesses and spares1 but the day of mercy will end4 ,the nation1 as the individual1 which produces no fruit of penitence and of righteousness is certain to be cut down4 ,while the opportunity is given1 repentance must be shown4 8,now is the acceptable time2 444 now is a day of salvation40 #ae4 ,a ,cure on the ,sabbath4 ,ch4 #ac3aj-ba #aj ,and he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath day4 #aa ,and behold1 a woman that had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years3 and she was bowed together1 and could in no wise lift herself up4 #ab ,and when ,jesus saw her1 he called her1 and said to her1 ,woman1 thou art loosed from thine infirmity4 #ac ,and he laid his hands upon her3 and immediately she was made straight1 and glorified ,god4 #ad ,and the ruler of the synagogue1 being moved with indignation because ,jesus had healed on the sabbath1 answered and said to the multitude1 ,there are six days in which men ought to work3 in them therefore1 come and be healed1 and not on the day of the sabbath4 #ae ,but the ,lord answered him1 and said1 ,ye hypocrites1 doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall1 and lead him away to watering8 #af ,and ought not this woman1 being a daughter of ,abraham1 whom ,satan had bound1 lo1 these eighteen years1 to have been loosed from this bond on the day of the sabbath8 #ag ,and as he said these things1 all his adversaries were put to shame3 and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him4 #ah ,he said therefore1 ,unto what is the kingdom of ,god like8 and whereunto shall ,i liken it8 #ai ,it is like unto a grain of mustard seed1 which a man took1 and cast into his own garden2 and it grew1 and became a tree2 and the birds of the heaven lodged in the branches thereof4 #bj ,and again he said1 ,where unto shall ,i liken the kingdom of ,god8 #ba ,it is like unto leaven1 which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal1 till it was all leavened4 ,a true follower of ,christ will worship in public on the ,sabbath ,day1 for this was the custom of our ,lord4 ,on one of these days he found occasion to reveal his sympathy and power by releasing a poor woman who for eighteen years had been bound by 8a spirit of infirmity10 just as on such occasions his word to-day brings deliverance to souls bound by the power of sin4 ,it was his sympathy which prompted this act and further led him to relieve the consciences of his hearers from the burden of traditions placed upon them by false interpretations of the ,law4 ,when the ruler of the synagogue criticized ,jesus1 by addressing those whom the woman represented1 on the ground that such healing broke the law of ,sabbath rest1 his hypocrisy and that of his sympathizers was unmasked by the reply that where self-interest prompted1 they interpreted the ,law so liberally as to allow them on the ,sabbath to loose their cattle which had been bound but a few hours1 while they refused to allow ,jesus to relieve a daughter of ,abraham whom ,satan had bound for years4 ,they were pretending to be zealous for the ,law while denying its essential principle of love4 ,their real breach of the ,law was shown both by their lack of sympathy for the woman and their hatred of ,christ4 ,their interpretation of the ,law was shown to be absurd1 for it prevented an act of mercy which1 on the ,sabbath1 was not only allowable but necessary4 ,jesus never intimated that he would abolish the ,sabbath2 he only designed to restore to it the true spirit of worship and love and liberty and joy4 ,in view of this gracious work of power the multitude rejoiced2 and ,jesus spoke the parables of the ,mustard ,seed and the ,leaven1 the former to indicate that his power yet was to extend over all the earth and the latter that it was to transform all human life4 ,some readers interpret the former parable as indicating the unsubstantial forms that ,christianity at times assumes1 and the latter the false doctrine which at times permeates the ,church4 ,whichever interpretation one accepts1 it is hardly wise to base upon it any theories as to the order of events related to the coming and ,kingdom of ,christ4 ,all will agree that small beginnings and invisible forces are not to be despised or distrusted by the followers of the ,christ who some day will deliver the whole suffering creation 8from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of ,god40 ,b4 ,the ,second ,stages4 ,chs4 #ac3bb to #ag3aj #a4 ,the ,narrow ,door4 ,ch4 #ac3bb-cj #bb ,and he went on his way through cities and villages1 teaching1 and journeying on unto ,jerusalem4 #bc ,and one said unto him1 ,lord1 are they few that are saved8 ,and he said unto them1 #bd ,strive to enter in by the narrow door3 for many1 ,i say unto you1 shall seek to enter in1 and shall not be able4 #be ,when once the master of the house is risen up1 and hath shut to the door1 and ye begin to stand without1 and to knock at the door1 saying1 ,lord1 open to us2 and he shall answer and say to you1 ,i know you not whence ye are2 #bf then shall ye begin to say1 ,we did eat and drink in thy presence1 and thou didst teach in our streets2 #bg and he shall say1 ,i tell you1 ,i know not whence ye are2 depart from me1 all ye workers of iniquity4 #bh ,there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth1 when ye shall see ,abraham1 and ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 and all the prophets1 in the kingdom of ,god1 and yourselves cast forth without4 #bi ,and they shall come from the east and west1 and from the north and south1 and shall sit down in the kingdom of ,god4 #cj ,and behold1 there are last who shall be first1 and there are first who shall be last4 ,this is the first in a new series of incidents on the last journeys of ,jesus toward ,jerusalem4 ,he realized the seriousness of the situation4 ,he knew that he was offering his salvation to the people for the last time1 and therefore he was making an effort to reach every possible city and village with his message4 ,some one among his hearers asked him the question1 8,lord1 are they few that are saved80 ,he did not reply directly but his answer implied that many ,jews who expected to be saved would be lost and many ,gentiles whom the ,jews expected to be lost would be saved4 ,jesus likened the blessings of his ,kingdom to a banquet served in a palace4 ,the door into this palace is narrow1 and many who are invited refuse to pass in thereby2 after a time this door is shut1 and then those who before have refused to enter1 intreat the ,master of the house to reopen it1 but in vain2 they are forever excluded1 and are overwhelmed with remorse and chagrin4 ,the narrow door is that of repentance and faith in ,christ2 the opportunity for entrance is present but not endless2 those who reject ,christ will be excluded from his ,kingdom2 among these will be many whose folly will be specially apparent4 ,in the parable they are represented as pleading for entrance1 and on the very ground which condemned them4 ,they are pictured as saying that they had known ,christ well2 they had eaten in his presence and he had taught in their streets4 ,why1 then1 had they not accepted him8 ,these privileges only increase their guilt2 and the ,lord refused to recognize them as his own4 ,thus did ,jesus describe the exclusion from his ,kingdom of many ,jews2 and he added the equally surprising statement of the reception of ,gentiles3 8,they shall come from the east and west1 and from the north and south1 and shall sit down in the kingdom of ,god40 ,thus ,jesus gave a very practical turn to the question which had been asked in mere curiosity4 ,it is not important to know exactly how many will be saved2 it is for each who hears the gospel to place himself in that number1 now and at any cost4 ,it is not enough that one lives in a ,christian land1 and in a religious home1 and possesses knowledge of saving truth2 each must repent and accept ,christ for himself4 ,the sad truth is that many who1 like the ,jews1 have the largest religious opportunities are the furthest from salvation3 8,there are last who shall be first1 and there are first who shall be last40 #b4 ,the ,message to ,herod and the ,lament ,over ,jerusalem4 ,ch4 #ac3ca-ce #ca ,in that very hour there came certain ,pharisees1 saying to him1 ,get thee out1 and go hence3 for ,herod would fain kill thee4 #cb ,and he said unto them1 ,go and say to that fox1 ,behold1 ,i cast out demons and perform cures to-day and to-morrow1 and the third day ,i am perfected4 #cc ,nevertheless ,i must go on my way to-day and to-morrow and the day following3 for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of ,jerusalem4 #cd ,o ,jerusalem1 ,jerusalem1 that killeth the prophets1 and stoneth them that are sent unto her6 how often would ,i have gathered thy children together1 even as a hen gathereth her own brood under her wings1 and ye would not6 #ce ,behold1 your house is left unto you desolate3 and ,i say unto you1 ,ye shall not see me1 until ye shall say1 ,blessed is he that cometh in the name of the ,lord4 ,a report reached ,jesus that ,herod was threatening his life4 ,this report was brought by the ,pharisees who hoped that it would terrify the followers of ,jesus and induce him to flee to ,jerusalem where he would fall into the hands of the ,jewish rulers4 ,instead1 ,jesus sent to the king a message of defiance and irony2 it has no note of insolence1 but reveals the courage and indignation of a true man4 8,go and say to that fox0--,jesus thus addressed ,herod because he saw the craftiness of the king4 ,herod did not wish the disrepute of killing another prophet so soon after the death of ,john1 but he wished his realm to be rid of one whom he regarded as a dangerous leader2 so he did not arrest ,jesus but tried to put him to flight4 ,the ,pharisees were asked to bear this message to the king because ,jesus saw that they were one with the king in the malicious cunning of their report4 8,behold1 ,i cast out demons and perform cures to-day and to-morrow and the third day ,i am perfected40 ,thus ,jesus declared that his time and task were divinely allotted2 no king could shorten the time till the task was done4 ,when his work was complete1 then in his death and resurrection the glory and grace and power of ,jesus would be made perfect4 8,nevertheless ,i must go on my way40 ,jesus was to leave ,galilee and ,perea1 the realm of ,herod1 not because he feared the king1 but in fulfillment of his task which would take him to ,jerusalem4 ,the explicit reference to ,jerusalem was made in a tone of solemn irony1 8,for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of ,jerusalem20 that city had a monopoly in murdering prophets2 it would be quite improper for ,jesus to be killed in any other place4 ,however1 the reference to ,jerusalem led ,jesus to pronounce a lament of touching pathos over the city he truly loved4 ,he saw that his rejection and death would hasten the destruction of the city4 ,he saw its doom already hovering over it like a bird of prey4 ,he gladly would have given his divine salvation and protection1 but his people would not accept him4 ,now they would be left to their own defense1 that is to say1 to the ruin which he alone could have averted4 ,henceforth they would not see him in his saving power until as a suffering and repentant nation they would finally welcome his return as that of their true ,saviour and ,lord4 ,how ,jesus always yearns to bless and to deliver1 and how often he is spurned and rejected by those who need him the most6 #c4 ,jesus as a ,sabbath ,guest4 ,ch4 #ad3a-bd #a ,and it came to pass1 when he went into the house of one of the rulers of the ,pharisees on a sabbath to eat bread1 that they were watching him4 #b ,and behold1 there was before him a certain man that had the dropsy4 #c ,and ,jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and ,pharisees1 saying1 ,is it lawful to heal on the sabbath1 or not8 #d ,but they held their peace4 ,and he took him1 and healed him1 and let him go4 #e ,and he said unto them1 ,which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a well1 and will not straightway draw him up on a sabbath day8 #f ,and they could not answer again unto these things4 #g ,and he spake a parable unto those that were bidden1 when he marked how they chose out the chief seats2 saying unto them1 #h ,when thou art bidden of any man to a marriage feast1 sit not down in the chief seat2 lest haply a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him1 #i and he that bade thee and him shall come and say to thee1 ,give this man place2 and then thou shalt begin with shame to take the lowest place4 #aj ,but when thou art bidden1 go and sit down in the lowest place2 that when he that hath bidden thee cometh1 he may say to thee1 ,friend1 go up higher3 then shalt thou have glory in the presence of all that sit at meat with thee4 #aa ,for everyone that exalteth himself shall be humbled2 and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted4 #ab ,and he said to him also that had bidden him1 ,when thou makest a dinner or a supper1 call not thy friends1 nor thy brethren1 nor thy kinsmen1 nor rich neighbors2 lest haply they also bid thee again1 and a recompense be made thee4 #ac ,but when thou makest a feast1 bid the poor1 the maimed1 the lame1 the blind3 #ad and thou shalt be blessed2 because they have not wherewith to recompense thee3 for thou shalt be recompensed in the resurrection of the just4 #ae ,and when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things1 he said unto him1 ,blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of ,god4 #af ,but he said unto him1 ,a certain man made a great supper2 and he bade many3 #ag and he sent forth his servants at supper time to say to them that were bidden1 ,come2 for all things are now ready4 #ah ,and they all with one consent began to make excuse4 ,the first said unto him1 ,i have bought a field1 and ,i must needs go out and see it2 ,i pray thee have me excused4 #ai ,and another said1 ,i have bought five yoke of oxen1 and ,i go to prove them2 ,i pray thee have me excused4 #bj ,and another said1 ,i have married a wife1 and therefore ,i cannot come4 #ba ,and the servant came1 and told his lord these things4 ,then the master of the house being angry said to his servant1 ,go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city1 and bring in hither the poor and maimed and blind and lame4 #bb ,and the servant said1 ,lord1 what thou didst command is done1 and yet there is room4 #bc ,and the lord said unto the servant1 ,go out into the highways and hedges1 and constrain them to come in1 that my house may be filled4 #bd ,for ,i say unto you1 that none of those men that were bidden shall taste of my supper4 ,luke pictures our ,lord not as a severe ascetic but as a man of human sympathies and social instincts1 mingling freely with his fellow men1 worshiping with them in their synagogues and eating with them in their homes4 ,no domestic scene in the life of our ,lord is sketched with more detail than that of the ,sabbath feast in the house of a ,pharisee4 ,jesus is pictured as entering with the guests1 noting the ranks of society to which they belong1 and taking a leading part in their conversation4 ,yet he never for a moment forgot his mission2 he seized every opportunity for delivering some needed message4 ,here his tones were unusually severe1 for he was among persons who1 while formally courteous1 were in their hearts hostile to him2 but he showed to all his unfailing grace1 and his desire for their highest good4 ,while the guests were assembling ,jesus saw a man suffering from disease4 ,he knew that the ,pharisees were watching him and would object to his effecting a cure upon the ,sabbath ,day and he therefore turned to ask whether a cure would be lawful4 ,when they hesitated to reply1 he healed the sufferer and then rebuked their hypocrisy1 and warned against all insincerity in religion by reminding these formalists that they would not hesitate on the ,sabbath to rescue a beast they owned2 should they regard it as sinful to deliver a human being from distress8 ,jesus never encouraged breaking the ,sabbath law1 but he taught that this law must be interpreted by love4 ,when the guests were seated and ,jesus saw how they chose for themselves the most desirable places1 he took occasion to rebuke selfish ambition and to give a lesson in humility4 ,evidently1 when ,jesus advised a guest to 8sit down in the lowest place2 that when he that hath bidden thee cometh1 he may say to thee1 ,friend1 go up higher10 he was not merely teaching good manners or worldly wisdom1 nor was he advising the pride that masquerades as humility4 ,he was stating the great law that among his followers true lowliness and conscious unworthiness in the sight of ,god are the real conditions of advancement and honor2 8,for every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled2 and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted40 ,then as ,jesus looked around upon the company he took occasion to teach a lesson in true charity4 ,he told his host--and there was something of playfulness in his voice--that in selecting guests one should invite not only the rich1 lest he might be so unfortunate 787 as to receive an invitation in return1 but also the poor1 who could not return the favor4 ,here again1 ,jesus was not giving merely rules of social hospitality2 he was illustrating the great spiritual principle of unselfish motives in all deeds of kindness4 ,we are not to confer benefits with a view to receiving benefits in return4 ,however1 ,jesus did not mean literally to forbid inviting rich guests to our homes or to insist that all feasts must be confined to paupers1 but to teach that no service is to be rendered with the mere hope of personal gain4 ,it is proper and pleasant1 it may be even profitable1 to entertain 8friends0 or 8brethren0 or 8kinsmen0 or 8rich neighbors20 but in none of these cases is such entertainment a ground of merit for they may 8bid thee again20 but if kindness is shown to the poor or rich simply for their good and with no thought of personal gain either present or future1 the deed will not be without its reward3 8for thou shalt be recompensed in the resurrection of the just40 ,possibly this reference or some similar reference called forth from one of the guests the exclamation1 8,blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of ,god40 ,jesus took the occasion to give the parable of the ,great ,supper1 by which he illustrated the sinful folly of refusing to accept his offer of salvation4 ,in this story those who were bidden to the feast at first feigned a willingness to come1 but subsequently1 by their refusal and their flimsy excuses1 they showed their complete absorption in selfish interests and their utter disregard for their host4 ,however1 their places were filled with other guests1 some of them poor and helpless1 from their own city2 others were vagrants from the highways and hedges beyond4 ,thus ,jesus plainly pictured the refusal by the rulers and ,pharisees of his offered salvation and its acceptance1 first by publicans and sinners1 and then by despised ,gentiles4 ,there was1 however1 a message for each one who heard the story1 and there is a message to-day for anyone who is rejecting ,christ4 ,the ,pharisees1 by inviting ,jesus to dine1 pretended to feel some sympathy for him as a prophet1 while in their hearts they hated him2 and the very man whose pious and sentimental remark about 8the kingdom of ,god0 occasioned the parable1 was unwilling to accept the invitation to 8eat bread in the kingdom of ,god0 which ,jesus was presenting4 ,so there are those to-day who show an outward respect for ,christian truth and talk sentimentally about the ,kingdom of ,god1 who1 however1 are so absorbed in selfish interests and have so little real love for ,god that they refuse the offer of salvation1 while social outcasts and despised heathen gladly accept the invitation to life and divine fellowship and eternal joy4 #d4 ,counting the ,cost4 ,ch4 #ad3be-ce #be ,now there went with him great multitudes3 and he turned1 and said unto them1 #bf ,if any man cometh unto me1 and hateth not his own father1 and mother1 and wife and children1 and brethren1 and sisters1 yea1 and his own life also1 he cannot be my disciple4 #bg ,whosoever doth not bear his own cross1 and come after me1 cannot be my disciple4 #bh ,for which of you1 desiring to build a tower1 doth not first sit down and count the cost1 whether he have wherewith to complete it8 #bi ,lest haply1 when he hath laid a foundation1 and is not able to finish1 all that behold begin to mock him1 #cj saying1 ,this man began to build1 and was not able to finish4 #ca ,or what king1 as he goeth to encounter another king in war1 will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand8 #cb ,or else1 while the other is yet a great way off1 he sendeth an ambassage1 and asketh conditions of peace4 #cc ,so therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath1 he cannot be my disciple4 #cd ,salt therefore is good3 but if even the salt have lost its savor1 wherewith shall it be seasoned8 #ce ,it is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill3 men cast it out4 ,he that hath ears to hear1 let him hear4 ,as ,jesus was journeying on toward ,jerusalem the attending crowds were increasing in size and in excitement4 ,the people imagined that he was about to establish a kingdom in pomp and splendor and power1 and in these glories they expected to share4 ,to remove the misunderstanding1 ,jesus turned to declare the true conditions of discipleship4 ,his followers must expect sacrifice and suffering and be willing to part with all they possessed1 even with life itself4 ,when he declared that they must hate their kindred and their own lives1 he of course meant that they must love them less than they loved him1 regarding them with aversion only in so far as they were opposed to him or stood in the way of his service4 ,to be his disciple one must be willing to 8bear his own cross10 which was a symbol of suffering and of death2 one must continually yield his will to the will of ,christ1 no matter what hardship or loss might be involved4 ,jesus did not wish to discourage men from following him1 but warned them first to count the cost4 ,this he illustrated by referring to the folly of laying the foundation for a building without first estimating the entire expense and one's ability to meet it2 he also stated1 as a further illustration1 the rashness of entering a war without first calculating what sacrifices must be made to win4 ,jesus did not mean that it is better not to begin the ,christian life than to begin and fail1 but that it is not wise even to begin unless one first realizes that it involves a readiness to renounce everything which the service of ,christ may demand4 8,so therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath1 he cannot be my disciple40 ,nothing could be more useless than a worldly and selfish and willful follower of ,christ2 he is like salt that has lost its savor2 he lacks the very essence of discipleship2 he can be of no possible service to his ,lord4 #e4 ,the ,prodigal ,son4 ,ch4 #ae #a ,now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him to hear him4 #b ,and both the ,pharisees and the scribes murmured1 saying1 ,this man receiveth sinners1 and eateth with them4 #c ,and he spake unto them this parable saying1 #d ,what man of you1 having a hundred sheep1 and having lost one of them1 doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness1 and go after that which is lost1 until he find it8 #e ,and when he hath found it1 he layeth it on his shoulders1 rejoicing4 #f ,and when he cometh home1 he calleth together his friends and his neighbors1 saying unto them1 ,rejoice with me1 for ,i have found my sheep which was lost4 #g ,i say unto you1 that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth1 more than over ninety and nine righteous persons1 who need no repentance4 #h ,or what woman having ten pieces of silver1 if she lose one piece1 doth not light a lamp1 and sweep the house1 and seek diligently until she find it8 #i ,and when she hath found it1 she calleth together her friends and neighbors1 saying1 ,rejoice with me1 for ,i have found the piece which ,i had lost4 #aj ,even so1 ,i say unto you1 there is joy in the presence of the angels of ,god over one sinner that repenteth4 #aa ,and he said1 ,a certain man had two sons3 #ab and the younger of them said to his father1 ,father1 give me the portion of thy substance that falleth to me4 ,and he divided unto them his living4 #ac ,and not many days after1 the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country2 and there he wasted his substance with riotous living4 #ad ,and when he had spent all1 there arose a mighty famine in that country2 and he began to be in want4 #ae ,and he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country2 and he sent him into his fields to feed swine4 #af ,and he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat3 and no man gave unto him4 #ag ,but when he came to himself he said1 ,how many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare1 and ,i perish here with hunger6 #ah ,i will arise and go to my father1 and will say unto him1 ,father1 ,i have sinned against heaven1 and in thy sight3 #ai ,i am no more worthy to be called thy son3 make me as one of thy hired servants4 #bj ,and he arose1 and came to his father4 ,but while he was yet afar off1 his father saw him1 and was moved with compassion1 and ran1 and fell on his neck1 and kissed him4 #ba ,and the son said unto him1 ,father1 ,i have sinned against heaven1 and in thy sight3 ,i am no more worthy to be called thy son4 #bb ,but the father said to his servants1 ,bring forth quickly the best robe1 and put it on him2 and put a ring on his hand1 and shoes on his feet3 #bc and bring the fatted calf1 and kill it1 and let us eat1 and make merry3 #bd for this my son was dead1 and is alive again2 he was lost1 and is found4 ,and they began to be merry4 #be ,now his elder son was in the field3 and as he came and drew nigh to the house1 he heard music and dancing4 #bf ,and he called to him one of the servants1 and inquired what these things might be4 #bg ,and he said unto him1 ,thy brother is come2 and thy father hath killed the fatted calf1 because he hath received him safe and sound4 #bh ,but he was angry1 and would not go in3 and his father came out1 and entreated him4 #bi ,but he answered and said to his father1 ,lo1 these many years do ,i serve thee1 and ,i never transgressed a commandment of thine2 and yet thou never gavest me a kid1 that ,i might make merry with my friends3 #cj but when this thy son came1 who hath devoured thy living with harlots1 thou killedst for him the fatted calf4 #ca ,and he said unto him1 ,son1 thou art ever with me1 and all that is mine is thine4 #cb ,but it was meet to make merry and be glad3 for this thy brother was dead1 and is alive again2 and was lost1 and is found4 ,the precious and matchless parable of the ,prodigal ,son belongs naturally to ,luke4 ,its literary charm1 its tender beauty1 its deep human interest1 its breadth of sympathy1 its perfect picture of the grace and love of ,god1 all are in peculiar accord with the purpose and genius of this ,gospel4 ,the parable is linked with two others1 the teachings of which it includes and completes3 the parables of the ,lost ,sheep and of the ,lost ,coin4 ,the occasion of all three parables was the censure passed by the ,pharisees upon ,jesus because of his association with social outcasts and his cordial welcome to penitent sinners4 ,jesus rebuked his enemies by showing that it is natural to rejoice in the recovery of a lost sheep or a lost coin or a lost son3 much more1 then1 must ,god rejoice in the recovery of a lost soul4 ,evidently they who fail to share his joy must be out of sympathy and fellowship with him4 ,the first parable reveals the love of ,god in depicting his compassion for the distress and helplessness of the sinner4 ,the second shows how precious a lost soul is in the sight of the loving ,god4 ,both of them picture his yearning and patient effort for the recovery of the sinner and his abounding joy in the restoration of the lost4 ,the statement that 8there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth1 more than over ninety and nine righteous persons1 who need no repentance10 is not to be interpreted too literally4 ,it does not mean that ,god finds more satisfaction in a repentant sinner than in a sinless saint4 ,jesus was here referring definitely to the penitent publicans and to the self-righteous ,pharisees4 ,god did not take delight in the sins of the former1 nor did he regard the state of the latter as perfect1 even taking the ,pharisees at their best and regarding them as faithful to the laws of ,god4 ,whatever its motive1 morality is always better than lawlessness and impurity4 ,however1 a repentant sinner who understands the grace and mercy of ,god is always more pleasing to him than the ,pharisee1 proud1 critical1 and unloving1 however correct he may be in his moral behavior4 ,this truth is made more plain in the parable of the ,prodigal ,son4 ,here we have perfectly described the experience of the repentant sinner and also the unsympathetic attitude of the disdainful ,pharisee4 ,the first is represented in the story by the prodigal and the second by the conduct of his elder brother4 ,in describing the waywardness of this younger son1 ,jesus gave a complete picture of the character and consequences of sin4 ,some have thought that the parable of the ,lost ,sheep indicates that sin is due in part to ignorance and folly and that the parable of the ,lost ,coin shows that it may be occasioned by misfortune or accident4 ,the parable of the ,prodigal ,son1 however1 shows that it is usually due to willful choice and to a desire for indulgence4 ,its results are sketched in appalling colors4 ,we are shown all its disillusion1 suffering1 slavery1 and despair4 ,as a picture of the inevitable consequences of sin1 no touch could be added to the scene of the prodigal in the far country when he had spent all1 when the famine had arisen1 when he had sold himself to feed swine and was unable to be satisfied even with the coarse food he was providing for beasts4 ,nor is there any more beautiful picture of repentance than was drawn when the ,master described the prodigal as 8he came to himself10 his sin had not been mere folly1 it had been madness4 ,he remembered a former time of joy and plenty in his early home4 ,he realized his present desperate need2 he resolved to arise and go to his father4 ,most of all1 he saw that his offense had been not only against a loving1 earthly parent but against ,god1 and that he was wholly undeserving of fellowship with his father4 ,repentance is not only sorrow for sin2 it is an acknowledgment that the offense has been committed against a holy ,god2 it is a change of heart toward him1 and a resolution for a new life which manifests itself in definite action4 8,he arose1 and came to his father40 ,strictly speaking1 this is the end of the parable of the ,prodigal ,son4 ,in another sense the most beautiful part immediately follows4 ,it is a description of the matchless love shown by ,god to every repentant soul4 ,the father had never ceased to love the prodigal or to hope and yearn for his return4 ,he had been eagerly looking for his wayward son4 ,the first sight of the prodigal filled his heart with compassion2 he 8ran1 and fell on his neck1 and kissed him40 ,the prodigal was ready to confess his fault1 but the father scarcely heard his words as he commanded the servants to 8bring forth quickly the best robe1 and put it on him2 and put a ring on his hand1 and shoes on his feet3 and bring the fatted calf1 and kill it1 and let us eat1 and make merry40 ,it is a picture not only of pardon but of complete restoration4 ,it assures the sinner that as he turns to ,god he will be received into the closest fellowship of a son and heir and that his return will give joy to the heart of ,god who will regard him as one that 8was dead1 and is alive again10 as one who 8was lost1 and is found40 ,the picture of the elder son is exquisitely sketched4 ,it was unquestionably intended to describe the loveless ,pharisees who envied the joy of the repentant publicans and sinners4 ,it furthermore brings a message to all persons in every age to whom religion is merely a matter of unwilling obedience and of loveless faithfulness to the laws of ,god4 ,it depicts souls out of fellowship with ,god1 feeling no real joy in his service and sharing none of his gladness in the salvation of lost souls4 ,the elder brother knew nothing of the experience of a true son4 ,he was merely a slave4 ,when the prodigal returned he was not watching with his father1 he was 8in the field20 when he learned that his brother had been welcomed to the home he was filled with anger4 ,he refused to enter the house and when his father came out to entreat him1 he accused him of partiality and unkindness4 ,his words described admirably the self-righteousness of the ,pharisees1 8,i never transgressed a commandment of thine20 they also show how little he appreciated his true privileges1 8thou never gavest me a kid40 ,the reply of his father intimates the possibilities which he never had appreciated and the privileges which he never had enjoyed1 8,son1 thou art ever with me1 and all that is mine is thine40 ,it had always been possible for the ,pharisees to enjoy the grace and mercy and love of ,god2 but to them religion had been a mere burdensome round of rites and duties4 ,it had given no satisfaction1 no gladness1 to their hearts4 ,something of their experience is paralleled even by ,christians of the present day4 ,failing to appreciate the gracious pardon of ,god and his willingness to supply every spiritual need1 forgetting the possibility of living in daily communion and fellowship with him1 knowing nothing of his joys in the salvation and repentance of lost souls1 they are seeking in their own strength1 wearily and joylessly1 to do the things that they believe to be right and to obey the commands of ,god1 but their lives are like those of servants1 not like the free1 joyous1 loving experience of true sons4 ,possibly the most artistic touch in the parable is its abrupt close4 ,we do not know whether the elder son yielded to the entreaty of his father or not4 ,it was an appeal to the ,pharisees2 would they accept the grace of ,god and further his plans for the salvation of the lost1 or would they continue to criticize and envy the repentant sinner8 ,shall we live as servants or as sons8 #f4 ,the ,unrighteous ,steward4 ,ch4 #af3a-ac #a ,and he said also unto the disciples1 ,there was a certain rich man1 who had a steward2 and the same was accused unto him that he was wasting his goods4 #b ,and he called him1 and said unto him1 ,what is this that ,i hear of thee8 render the account of thy stewardship2 for thou canst be no longer steward4 #c ,and the steward said within himself1 ,what shall ,i do1 seeing that my lord taketh away the stewardship from me8 ,i have not strength to dig2 to beg ,i am ashamed4 #d ,i am resolved what to do1 that1 when ,i am put out of the stewardship1 they may receive me into their houses4 #e ,and calling to him each one of his lord's debtors1 he said to the first1 ,how much owest thou unto my lord8 #f ,and he said1 ,a hundred measures of oil4 ,and he said unto him1 ,take thy bond1 and sit down quickly and write fifty4 #g ,then said he to another1 ,and how much owest thou8 ,and he said1 ,a hundred measures of wheat4 ,he saith unto him1 ,take thy bond1 and write fourscore4 #h ,and his lord commended the unrighteous steward because he had done wisely3 for the sons of this world are for their own generation wiser than the sons of the light4 #i ,and ,i say unto you1 ,make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness2 that1 when it shall fail1 they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles4 #aj ,he that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much3 and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much4 #aa ,if therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon1 who will commit to your trust the true riches8 #ab ,and if ye have not been faithful in that which is another's1 who will give you that which is your own8 #ac ,no servant can serve two masters3 for either he will hate the one1 and love the other2 or else he will hold to one1 and despise the other4 ,ye cannot serve ,god and mammon4 ,the parable of the ,unrighteous ,steward is often regarded as the most perplexing of all the parables of our ,lord4 ,it seems to picture a man who robbed his master and received his master's praise and was pointed to by ,jesus as an example for his followers2 further1 it seems to indicate that a place in heaven can be purchased with money4 ,a more careful reading shows that the praise was bestowed1 not for dishonesty1 but for prudence and foresight1 that our ,lord would have his followers imitate these good qualities in a bad man1 and further that it is possible to use wealth so generously as to secure endless satisfaction and joy4 ,the story is that of a steward or a trustee who was in charge of the property of a rich landowner4 ,report had reached his master of the extravagance and dishonesty of this servant4 ,an account was demanded and he was certain to lose his position4 ,however1 he seized on the opportunity which was still his so to use the wealth intrusted to him as to secure friends who would provide a home for him when his stewardship had been lost4 ,the story is intended to illustrate the stewardship of wealth4 ,no money is really owned by a follower of ,christ2 it is simply intrusted to him to be wisely used in accordance with the will of the ,master4 ,for its use a strict account must some day be made4 ,it will1 therefore1 be the part of wisdom and of prudence so to use that which is now intrusted that in the eternity to come there will be no regret but only joy for the way in which wealth was employed4 ,in the parable the steward was guilty of fraud1 as he reduced the debts of those who owed money to his master4 ,he was really using for his future benefit money which was not his own4 ,of course the ,christian is to act with scrupulous honesty2 nevertheless1 as he benefits others by his generous gifts1 he really is using money which belongs to the ,lord1 but of course he is using it in accordance with the will of his ,master4 ,in applying the parable1 ,jesus indicated that the right use of money1 which seeks the welfare of others1 applies not only to the rich but also to the poor1 8,he that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much40 ,jesus further indicated that the stewardship which all ,christians now enjoy is a training for larger service in the life to come4 8,if therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon1 who will commit to your trust the true riches80 ,the motive which inspires fidelity as stewards is that of love4 ,the difficulty with the dishonest servant was that he was disloyal to his master and was really seeking to serve himself4 ,one who really loves his ,lord will be faithful in the use of that which is intrusted to him4 ,the danger of stewards is that of divided allegiance4 8,no servant can serve two masters3 for either he will hate the one1 and love the other2 or else he will hold to one1 and despise the other4 ,ye cannot serve ,god and mammon40 #g4 ,the ,rich ,man and ,lazarus4 ,ch4 #af3ad-ca #ad ,and the ,pharisees1 who were lovers of money1 heard all these things2 and they scoffed at him4 #ae ,and he said unto them1 ,ye are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men2 but ,god knoweth your hearts3 for that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of ,god4 #af ,the law and the prophets were until ,john3 from that time the gospel of the kingdom of ,god is preached1 and every man entereth violently into it4 #ag ,but it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away1 than for one tittle of the law to fall4 #ah ,every one that putteth away his wife1 and marrieth another1 committeth adultery3 and he that marrieth one that is put away from a husband committeth adultery4 #ai ,now there was a certain rich man1 and he was clothed in purple and fine linen1 faring sumptuously every day3 #bj and a certain beggar named ,lazarus was laid at his gate1 full of sores1 #ba and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table2 yea1 even the dogs came and licked his sores4 #bb ,and it came to pass1 that the beggar died1 and that he was carried away by the angels into ,abraham's bosom3 and the rich man also died1 and was buried4 #bc ,and in ,hades he lifted up his eyes1 being in torments1 and seeth ,abraham afar off1 and ,lazarus in his bosom4 #bd ,and he cried and said1 ,father ,abraham1 have mercy on me1 and send ,lazarus1 that he may dip the tip of his finger in water1 and cool my tongue2 for ,i am in anguish in this flame4 #be ,but ,abraham said1 ,son1 remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things1 and ,lazarus in like manner evil things3 but now here he is comforted1 and thou art in anguish4 #bf ,and besides all this1 between us and you there is a great gulf fixed1 that they that would pass from hence to you may not be able1 and that none may cross over from thence to us4 #bg ,and he said1 ,i pray thee therefore1 father1 that thou wouldst send him to my father's house2 #bh for ,i have five brethren2 that he may testify unto them1 lest they also come into this place of torment4 #bi ,but ,abraham saith1 ,they have ,moses and the prophets2 let them hear them4 #cj ,and he said1 ,nay1 father ,abraham3 but if one go to them from the dead1 they will repent4 #ca ,and he said unto him1 ,if they hear not ,moses and the prophets1 neither will they be persuaded1 if one rise from the dead4 ,the parable of the ,unrighteous ,steward was intended to teach the possibility of the right use of wealth4 ,the parable of the ,rich ,man and ,lazarus was designed by our ,lord to warn his hearers against its abuse4 ,between the two parables ,luke records a number of sayings1 the connection of which cannot be determined beyond question but they seem to have been quoted by him as an introduction to the second of these parables1 vs4 #ad-ah4 ,they contain a rebuke of the ,pharisees for their besetting sin of avarice and a statement of the unfailing authority of the ,law1 the letter of which they observed1 but by the spirit of which they were condemned4 ,these ,pharisees ridiculed our ,lord for teaching the absolute necessity of generosity and benevolence and the unselfish use of wealth4 ,our ,lord replied that while these enemies of his might receive the approval of men1 ,god read their hearts and many who received human praise were but abominable in the sight of ,god4 ,jesus stated that while the gospel message did differ from the ,law and while many were eagerly accepting its blessed privileges1 it did not set aside the ,law1 but only showed how its demands could be met4 ,when he stated that 8one tittle of the law0 could not fall1 he referred to the minute projections which distinguish ,hebrew letters1 and meant that the slightest requirement of the ,law was sacred and abiding4 ,he illustrated these truths by a reference to the ,seventh ,commandment1 and insisted that adultery did not lose its sinful character because of any interpretation of the ,law such as was put upon it by those who were teaching lax theories of divorce4 ,it was still sinful1 even when justified by civil enactment4 ,thus ,jesus was reminding the ,pharisees that the ,law might abide and be sacred even when legalists who observed its letter were condemned4 ,in the parable of the ,rich ,man and ,lazarus1 ,jesus by no means taught that it is sinful to be rich or that the poor are all saved4 ,he did mean to suggest the solemn peril of the selfish use of wealth4 ,the sin of the rich man did not consist either in the way in which he had acquired his wealth or in the fact that he possessed it1 nor yet in any breach of moral law1 but in the plain statement that while he was living in selfish luxury one who was in sore need lay unrelieved at his door4 ,the rich man is commonly called ,dives1 the ,latin name for 8a man of wealth40 ,lazarus is the only person in any parable of our ,lord to whom a special name is given4 ,it is just possible that the name was intended to indicate the character of the man as one who trusted in the help of ,god4 ,the story shows not only the contrast between the two men in the present life1 but the still greater contrast in the life that is to come4 ,the picture is not to be interpreted with absurd literalness2 but it does contain a serious warning1 and behind its figures of speech are solemn realities4 ,it does indicate the remorse and the anguish which forever may be experienced by those who upon earth make only a selfish and heartless use of wealth and position and opportunity4 ,the consequences are shown to be as endless as they are distressing4 ,a time of reversal is to come1 a time of judgment and retribution4 ,it is evident that ,jesus was especially warning the ,pharisees2 the rich man was a representative of this class who were notorious for their scrupulous observance of law and for their lives of selfish luxury and indulgence4 ,the rich man addressed ,abraham as his father1 and was addressed by ,abraham as his son4 ,this is an intimation that the most orthodox ,jew might be lost and come at last to a place of torment4 ,as the rich man requested that a special warning be sent to his brethren1 it is possible that he was expressing his sympathy2 more probably he was making an excuse and intimating that had he been given more light he would not have so grievously sinned4 ,the reply is1 therefore1 very significant1 8,if they hear not ,moses and the prophets1 neither will they be persuaded1 if one rise from the dead40 ,it was an answer to the ,pharisees for their continual request that ,jesus should give some striking sign by which they would recognize his divine mission4 ,our ,lord indicated that a striking prodigy or miracle will never convince those whose hearts are not right with ,god4 ,he declared further that the ,law and the ,prophets plainly set forth the divine requirement of love4 ,one who fails to observe this supreme law in the use of wealth and of all similar opportunities and privileges is under condemnation and is in peril of eternal pain4 #h4 ,warnings to the ,disciples4 ,ch4 #ag3a-aj #a ,and he said unto his disciples1 ,it is impossible but that occasions of stumbling should come2 but woe unto him1 through whom they come6 #b ,it were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck1 and he were thrown into the sea1 rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble4 #c ,take heed to yourselves3 if thy brother sin1 rebuke him2 and if he repent1 forgive him4 #d ,and if he sin against thee seven times in the day1 and seven times turn again to thee1 saying1 ,i repent2 thou shalt forgive him4 #e ,and the apostles said unto the ,lord1 ,increase our faith4 #f ,and the ,lord said1 ,if ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed1 ye would say unto this sycamine tree1 ,be thou rooted up1 and be thou planted in the sea2 and it would obey you4 #g ,but who is there of you1 having a servant plowing or keeping sheep1 that will say unto him1 when he is come in from the field1 ,come straightway and sit down to meat2 #h and will not rather say unto him1 ,make ready wherewith ,i may sup1 and gird thyself1 and serve me1 till ,i have eaten and drunken2 and afterward thou shalt eat and drink8 #i ,doth he thank the servant because he did the things that were commanded8 #aj ,even so ye also1 when ye shall have done all the things that are commanded you1 say1 ,we are unprofitable servants2 we have done that which it was our duty to do4 ,after the severe rebuke given by our ,lord to the ,pharisees in view of their selfish abuse of wealth1 ,luke records four apparently disconnected warnings given to the disciples4 ,the first1 vs4 #a1 #b1 was against the peril of causing others to sin4 ,in this world of selfishness and of evil desire1 our ,lord declared1 it is inevitable that such offenses will be committed1 but he pronounced a solemn woe upon anyone guilty of this grievous fault4 ,he declared that it would be better for such a person to be drowned in the sea rather than to allow himself to become guilty of such a sin4 ,the death of the body is far preferable to the death of the soul4 ,therefore1 ,jesus warned his followers lest they might lead anyone astray or causes anyone to stumble1 particularly such as might be in years or experience less mature than themselves4 ,no age of the ,church has been without its tragedies in which power and influence have been selfishly used to mislead innocent souls1 and no life is beyond the possibility of placing stumblingblocks in the paths of others or of exerting even unconsciously influences which may cause others to sin4 ,in the second warning1 here recorded by ,luke1 vs4 #c1 #d1 ,jesus guarded his disciples against lack of charity4 ,he intimated that his followers should be ready always to forgive4 ,he did not advise weakness or indifference to sin2 he suggested that a brother who offends may deserve and should receive a rebuke4 ,it is proper that he should be made to feel and to appreciate his fault4 ,nevertheless1 he is to be treated with kindness and if he sincerely repents1 he is to be forgiven freely4 ,even if he repeats his sin with frequency1 no revenge is to be harbored against him4 ,jesus suggested that his offense might be committed 8seven times in the day10 by which he meant an unlimited repetition of the fault2 even then if his repentance is sincere1 forgiveness must not be denied4 ,the twelve apostles1 probably in view of the particular responsibilities which rested upon them1 turned to their ,master with the petition1 8,lord1 increase our faith40 ,the reply contains a solemn warning1 that there is need of such increase1 a far greater need than the petitioners realized4 ,nevertheless1 there is also in the reply a gracious promise4 ,they were lovingly rebuked for their lack of faith1 but they were reassured by a revelation of the unlimited power of faith4 ,our ,lord asserted that if they possessed real faith1 even so small as to be compared with one of the most minute objects in nature1 namely1 8a grain of mustard seed10 they would be able by a word to accomplish incredible results1 speaking figuratively1 to cause a mulberry tree to be rooted up and planted in the sea4 ,the followers of ,christ to-day need to be reminded of these same truths1 namely1 of the narrow limits to which faith is usually confined and the unbounded possibilities which might be theirs if their trust in ,christ were more simple1 more unquestioning1 and more real4 ,vs4 #e1 #f4 ,the fourth warning here recorded rebukes the pride1 the self-confidence1 the desire for praise and for reward1 which too often characterize the followers of ,christ4 ,jesus taught that no human works1 however perfect1 give a claim upon ,god1 but are merely the fulfillment of duty4 ,this truth is set forth in the parable of the ,unprofitable ,servant4 ,vs4 #g-aj4 ,the word 8unprofitable0 does not mean worthless1 but merely implies one who has not gone beyond his obligation or duty4 ,the picture is that of a slave who has labored faithfully in the field and who when the day is done merely continues in the evening to accomplish his appointed tasks4 ,his master does not show any particular gratitude to one who is doing that which he is expected to do4 ,he does not especially praise his servant for doing the things commanded4 ,so in the case of every man1 a life of the most blameless holiness and love is no more than ,god requires4 ,it is no ground on which a special reward can be demanded4 ,it is no reason for expecting promotion or praise4 ,to do less would be to neglect an obvious duty1 and to do more than duty is impossible4 ,while this parable rebukes all pride and cuts off all merit of works1 it is nevertheless true that in other parables our ,lord taught the certainty of rewards which he is to grant faithful servants not as a matter of compulsion on his part but in loving grace4 ,c4 ,the ,last ,stages4 ,chs4 #ag3aa to #ai3bh #a4 ,the ,samaritan ,leper4 ,ch4 #ag3aa-ai #aa ,and it came to pass1 as they were on the way to ,jerusalem1 that he was passing along the borders of ,samaria and ,galilee4 #ab ,and as he entered into a certain village1 there met him ten men that were lepers1 who stood afar off3 #ac and they lifted up their voices1 saying1 ,jesus1 ,master1 have mercy on us4 #ad ,and when he saw them1 he said unto them1 ,go and show yourselves unto the priests4 ,and it came to pass1 as they went1 they were cleansed4 #ae ,and one of them1 when he saw that he was healed1 turned back1 with a loud voice glorifying ,god2 #af and he fell upon his face at his feet1 giving him thanks3 and he was a ,samaritan4 #ag ,and ,jesus answering said1 ,were not the ten cleansed8 but where are the nine8 #ah ,were there none found that returned to give glory to ,god1 save this stranger8 #ai ,and he said unto him1 ,arise1 and go thy way3 thy faith hath made thee whole4 ,the healing of ten lepers begins the closing cycle of incidents which marked the last journeys of ,jesus toward ,jerusalem4 ,it is quite like ,luke to record this miracle1 for the chief feature of the story is the gratitude and the blessing of a ,samaritan1 and ,luke is ever describing ,jesus as the ,saviour1 not only of the ,jews1 but of the whole human race4 ,there is in this miracle1 however1 another peculiar feature2 before the lepers were cured they were bidden to go to the priests and to declare that the cure had been effected1 and 8,as they went1 they were cleansed40 ,it required no little faith to start upon that journey2 but they started1 and their faith was rewarded4 ,so to-day when men come to ,christ with their request to be delivered from sin1 he commands them to act as though the petition already were granted1 and with the act of faith comes the answer to the prayer4 ,the command of ,christ involved a promise and upon his promises we can always rely with absolute safety4 ,one of the lepers 8,when he saw that he was healed1 turned back1 with a loud voice glorifying ,god2 and he fell upon his face at his feet1 giving thanks3 and he was a ,samaritan40 ,there is something of surprise and sadness in the question of ,jesus as he saw this restored leper lying at his feet3 8,were not the ten cleansed8 but where are the nine8 ,were there none found that returned to give glory to ,god1 save this stranger80 ,it is always surprising to find that ingratitude is so common among men4 ,nine out of ten probably will forget every favor they may receive4 ,it is rare that one realizes and acknowledges his debt4 ,still more sad it is to see so few among those who have accepted the salvation of ,christ showing real gratitude in lives of joyous service and declaring that they are constrained to live for him who died for them4 ,there was1 however1 for the ,samaritan a glad word of blessed assurance and promise1 8,arise1 and go thy way3 thy faith hath made thee whole40 ,jesus either meant to call attention to the means of the cure1 namely faith in himself1 and so to nurture that germ of new life into fuller trust in his divine person2 or he meant to say that the faith which first had secured the healing of the body and which was manifested in the man's return and his gratitude now secured for him the salvation of his soul4 ,in either case we are reminded that gratitude is often found where least it is expected2 that it is always pleasing to our ,lord2 and that it is the certain condition of further blessedness and joy4 #b4 ,the ,coming of the ,kingdom4 ,ch4 #ag3bj-cg #bj ,and being asked by the ,pharisees1 when the kingdom of ,god cometh1 he answered them and said1 ,the kingdom of ,god cometh not with observation3 #ba neither shall they say1 ,lo1 here6 or1 ,there6 for lo1 the kingdom of ,god is within you4 #bb ,and he said unto the disciples1 ,the days will come1 when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the ,son of man1 and ye shall not see it4 #bc ,and they shall say to you1 ,lo1 there6 ,lo1 here6 go not away1 nor follow after them3 #bd for as the lightning1 when it lighteneth out of the one part under the heaven1 shineth unto the other part under heaven2 so shall the ,son of man be in his day4 #be ,but first must he suffer many things and be rejected of this generation4 #bf ,and as it came to pass in the days of ,noah1 even so shall it be also in the days of the ,son of man4 #bg ,they ate1 they drank1 they married1 they were given in marriage1 until the day that ,noah entered into the ark1 and the flood came1 and destroyed them all4 #bh ,likewise even as it came to pass in the days of ,lot2 they ate1 they drank1 they bought1 they sold1 they planted1 they builded2 #bi but in the day that ,lot went out from ,sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven1 and destroyed them all3 #cj after the same manner shall it be in the day that the ,son of man is revealed4 #ca ,in that day1 he that shall be on the housetop1 and his goods in the house1 let him not go down to take them away3 and let him that is in the field likewise not return back4 #cb ,remember ,lot's wife4 #cc ,whosoever shall seek to gain his life shall lose it3 but whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it4 #cd ,i say unto you1 ,in that night there shall be two men on one bed2 the one shall be taken1 and the other shall be left4 #ce ,there shall be two women grinding together2 the one shall be taken1 and the other shall be left4 #cg ,and they answering say unto him1 ,where1 ,lord8 ,and he said unto them1 ,where the body is1 thither will the eagles also be gathered together4 ,either in mere curiosity or with a desire for debate the ,pharisees approached ,jesus with a question as to when the ,kingdom of ,god would come4 ,jesus replied that it would not come in such manner as they were expecting1 nor would it appear as a visible development of which they could say1 8,it is here10 or 8there10 for1 in the person of the ,king1 it was already 8in the midst0 of them and they did not recognize it4 ,thus when ,jesus said1 8,the kingdom of ,god is within you10 he could hardly have meant that it was in the hearts of the hostile and godless ,pharisees2 nor is the familiar and beautiful conception of the ,kingdom as 8a reign of ,god in human hearts0 thus expressed in the ,new ,testament4 ,jesus more probably meant that in his own person and work the ,kingdom was present4 ,the essence of this ,kingdom is always spiritual and consists in 8righteousness and peace and joy40 ,it is to have1 however1 a future1 visible manifestation at the appearing of the ,king4 ,the question as to the time and manner of its coming is not to be asked either to satisfy mere curiosity or to arouse controversy2 for men of the world1 like the ,pharisees1 the important fact is that ,christ1 who is ever a divine and spiritual presence1 is to be accepted as ,master and ,lord2 his service always issues in new and more blessed life4 ,to the disciples1 who trusted him1 it was possible for ,jesus to answer more in detail the question as to the coming of the ,kingdom which is to be inaugurated in splendor on his return4 ,he told them that they must expect first a period of long delay in which their weary hearts would often yearn for a single day of the coming glory and that many deceivers would point to places and times of his appearing4 ,however1 when he did appear it would be with suddenness and unmistakable splendor1 like the lightning which in an instant flashes across the whole heaven4 ,first1 however1 this ,king who will then come to reign must suffer and die2 and the world which has rejected him will not be expecting his return4 ,when he does reappear the race will be in the same carnal security1 careless and indifferent and absorbed in the usual occupations of life1 as were the men in the time of the ,flood or the inhabitants of ,sodom in the day of its doom4 ,on the contrary1 those who are to share the glories of the ,kingdom must be looking for their returning ,lord4 ,their proper attitude of mind is pictured by a series of acts2 one who is on the housetop is not to come down to secure his goods2 one in the field will not return to his house2 they will not look backward1 but will go forth eagerly to meet their ,master in whom alone is their safety and their hope4 ,it will be a time of certain separations even for those most closely related2 for example1 two men will be sleeping in the same bed3 one will be taken and the other left2 two women will be sharing a common task3 one will be taken and the other left4 ,this word 8taken0 is the same beautiful expression found in the ,gospel of ,john1 where is recorded ,jesus' promise1 8,i 444 will receive you unto myself40 ,it speaks of the peace and joy and blessedness of those who gladly welcome the coming of the ,king4 ,at a question from the disciples as to where such judgment would take place1 our ,lord replied that it will be universal2 wherever the carcass is there the vultures will be gathered together2 where there is corruption and sin1 there will judgment fall4 ,yet this judgment will be followed by the splendor of the ,kingdom for which the followers of ,christ watch and pray and labor and wait4 #c4 ,the ,unrighteous ,judge4 ,ch4 #ah3a-h #a ,and he spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray1 and not to faint2 #b saying1 ,there was in a city a judge1 who feared not ,god1 and regarded not man3 #c and there was a widow in that city2 and she came oft unto him1 saying1 ,avenge me of mine adversary4 #d ,and he would not for a while3 but afterward he said within himself1 ,though ,i fear not ,god1 nor regard man2 #e yet because this widow troubleth me1 ,i will avenge her1 lest she wear me out by her continual coming4 #f ,and the ,lord said1 ,hear what the unrighteous judge saith4 #g ,and shall not ,god avenge his elect1 that cry to him day and night1 and yet he is longsuffering over them8 #h ,i say unto you1 that he will avenge them speedily4 ,nevertheless1 when the ,son of man cometh1 shall he find faith on the earth8 ,the parable of the ,unrighteous ,judge was spoken in direct connection with the instructions given to the disciples by their ,master in reference to his return4 ,it is1 therefore1 not merely a general exhortation to prayer1 but to prayer for the coming of ,christ1 and more specifically to the confident expectation of this event and of the blessedness which will result4 ,it does1 however1 contain a very real encouragement to prayer and for all ,christians and at all times4 ,the argument is this3 ,if an unjust judge1 who has regard for neither ,god nor man1 would yield to the importunity of an unknown widow because he feared that she would annoy him by her repeated requests1 how much more will a just ,god be ready to reward the persevering petitions of his own loved ones who cry to him continually6 ,in spite of all the mysteries involved1 the followers of ,christ should pray without ceasing1 and with all importunity should present their petitions with the assurance that ,god does hear and in his own time will answer4 ,the particular force of the parable relates1 however1 to the ,church in her conscious weakness and loneliness1 in the age between the crucifixion and the second coming of ,christ4 ,jesus had just given a description of the world at the time of his return4 ,he had pictured the prevalent carelessness and indifference and absorption in earthly pursuits1 and now he wished to encourage his followers to be patient and to turn their hearts toward him in expectation and prayer4 ,the widow in the parable is not so much requesting that an enemy should be punished as that she should be given her property rights for which she is applying to the judge4 ,so the ,church is pictured1 not simply as crying for vengeance upon persecutors1 but rather as longing and praying for all those blessings which have been promised and which will be received at the coming of the ,lord4 ,there is a deep mournfulness in the question which ,jesus asked after expounding his parable1 8,nevertheless1 when the ,son of man cometh1 shall he find faith on the earth80 ,will there still remain those who are true to ,christ1 who love him and are looking for his return8 ,the very question is a solemn warning against the peril of being overcome by prevalent worldliness and unbelief4 ,however1 the answer is not to be given in a spirit of hopelessness and pessimism and despair4 ,the ,church will always have her adversaries1 she ever will need to be on her guard against the worldly influences by which she is surrounded4 ,however1 there will always be those who are true to him who has chosen them out of the world1 and after long days of weary waiting their hearts will rejoice in the sudden appearing of the righteous judge who will bring with him glories brighter than they have dared to ask or to expect4 #d4 ,the ,pharisee and the ,publican4 ,ch4 #ah3i-ad #i ,and he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous1 and set all others at nought3 #aj ,two men went up into the temple to pray2 the one a ,pharisee1 and the other a publican4 #aa ,the ,pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself1 ,god1 ,i thank thee1 that ,i am not as the rest of men1 extortioners1 unjust1 adulterers1 or even as this publican4 #ab ,i fast twice in the week2 ,i give tithes of all that ,i get4 #ac ,but the publican1 standing afar off1 would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven1 but smote his breast1 saying1 ,god1 be thou merciful to me a sinner4 #ad ,i say unto you1 ,this man went down to his house justified rather than the other3 for every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled3 but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted4 ,the parable of the ,pharisee and the ,publican was designed to teach humility not only in prayer but in every estimate of oneself and in every approach to ,god4 ,it further contrasts the religion of form with the religion of the heart4 ,it shows that the way of penitence is the only path to pardon and to peace4 ,it was not addressed to ,pharisees1 although it is a severe exposure of the hypocrisy and self-deception of ,pharisaism of every kind4 ,jesus seems rather to have had in mind some of his own followers2 but whatever their class or profession1 ,pharisees have their representatives in every age and land4 ,they are described as 8certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous1 and set all others at nought40 ,such1 indeed1 was the ,pharisee here described4 ,he had gone up to the ,temple to pray2 he stood in some conspicuous place2 he addressed ,god but he uttered no true prayer4 ,he began by saying1 8,i thank thee10 but he really addressed himself4 ,he rejoiced that in comparison with other men he formed a class by himself4 ,he declared all others to be 8extortioners1 unjust1 adulterers10 and as an example of such sinners he pointed to the poor publican at whom he was looking instead of looking to ,god4 ,he boasted that he had refrained from the sins of other men and also that he had performed more good deeds than the law required4 ,moses instituted no obligatory fast2 but the ,pharisee fasted twice in the week4 ,moses exempted certain things from the tithe2 the ,pharisee had tithed his entire income4 ,in other words1 he had been better than ,god required4 ,he had placed ,god under obligation to him4 ,how little does such a man understand the real holiness of ,god1 of the requirements of that law the essence of which is love6 ,in striking contrast the publican was standing at a respectful distance from the supposed saint whose formal piety had impressed his fellow men4 ,he did not venture even to look toward heaven4 ,he beat upon his breast1 as a sign of mourning1 and cried out in anguish1 8,god1 be thou merciful to me a sinner40 ,the original words seem to imply that he regarded himself as likewise distinct from all other men4 ,he felt and confessed himself to be 8the sinner20 but as he acknowledged his guilt and turned to ,god in penitence1 he was accepted as righteous in the sight of ,god and received pardon and peace4 ,there can be no misunderstanding as to the lesson which the ,master wished to impress4 8,this man went down to his house justified rather than the other40 ,a sense of guilt and a yearning for pardon and a cry to ,god for mercy--this is the very beginning of a new life2 and however far one may progress in holiness there is ever need of similar humility4 ,the nearer one is to ,god1 the more conscious is he of his sinfulness and the less likely to boast of his own moral attainments4 ,the more one acknowledges his unworthiness1 the better is he prepared to serve his ,master and his fellow men4 ,the pride of ,pharisaism on the part of nations1 as well as in the lives of individuals1 stands in the way of helpfulness and brotherhood and the favor of ,god4 ,what is needed to-day is universal repentance1 a manifestation of the humble and the contrite heart2 8,for every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled2 but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted40 #e4 ,jesus ,receiving ,little ,children4 ,ch4 #ah3ae-ag #ae ,and they were bringing unto him also their babes1 that he should touch them3 but when the disciples saw it1 they rebuked them4 #af ,but ,jesus called them unto him saying1 ,suffer the little children to come unto me1 and forbid them not3 for to such belongeth the kingdom of ,god4 #ag ,verily ,i say unto you1 ,whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of ,god as a little child1 he shall in no wise enter therein4 ,this charming picture of ,jesus blessing little children is sketched by ,matthew and ,mark as well as by ,luke4 ,its attractiveness has given it a place on the canvas of many an artist4 ,its symbolic message is being accepted by the modern ,church1 8,they were bringing unto him also their babes40 ,the parents were probably carrying these children in their arms4 ,they realized that not only the lepers and the infirm needed the touch of ,christ1 but that the power of the ,master would bring blessing to the children as well4 ,this touch may properly picture that personal relation and spiritual contact with ,christ which to-day1 with equal eagerness1 should be sought for their children by all parents4 8,when the disciples saw it1 they rebuked them40 ,they seemed to have felt that children were too insignificant to be allowed to interfere with the work or to demand the attention of ,christ4 ,at this present time there are many things which tend to keep parents from bringing their children to the ,master3 custom and carelessness and indifference and fear and diffidence2 even friends seem to play the part of those 8disciples0 and to conspire to prevent and rebuke those who really long to see their children brought into a sanctifying relationship to the ,lord4 ,no problem of to-day is more important than the removal of such barriers and obstacles4 ,the ,christian nurture of children is the supreme need of the times4 8,but ,jesus called them unto him1 saying1 ,suffer the little children to come unto me1 and forbid them not40 ,this reply of the ,master has cast an unfading halo about the faces of all children4 ,their innocence and their need made a special appeal to the ,master4 ,should it not affect us in like manner1 and should we not feel that no work is more ,christlike and none more blessed than the care of these little ones whom our ,lord so truly loves8 ,we are the real servants of our ,master only as we feel the appeal of childhood and as we seek to supply to children their physical and mental and spiritual needs4 8,for to such belongeth the kingdom of ,god40 ,it is theirs by right4 ,it belongs not only to those particular children whom ,jesus was then blessing1 not only to all children in general1 but to all of whatever age who are childlike in their trust and dependence and purity4 ,all those who are intrusted to the care of the ,master and who accept his saving grace will find a place in his ,kingdom4 ,as the crowds gazed in wonder and sympathy on this tender scene1 our ,lord added this word of warning1 8,whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of ,god as a little child1 he shall in no wise enter therein40 #f4 ,the ,rich ,ruler4 ,ch4 #ah3ah-cj #ah ,and a certain ruler asked him1 saying1 ,good ,teacher1 what shall ,i do to inherit eternal life8 #ai ,and ,jesus said unto him1 ,why callest thou me good8 none is good1 save one1 even ,god4 #bj ,thou knowest the commandments1 ,do not commit adultery1 ,do not kill1 ,do not steal1 ,do not bear false witness1 ,honor thy father and mother4 #ba ,and he said1 ,all these things have ,i observed from my youth up4 #bb ,and when ,jesus heard it1 he said unto him1 ,one thing thou lackest yet3 sell all that thou hast1 and distribute unto the poor1 and thou shalt have treasure in heaven3 and come1 follow me4 #bc ,but when he heard these things1 he became exceedingly sorrowful2 for he was very rich4 #bd ,and ,jesus seeing him said1 ,how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of ,god6 #be ,for it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle's eye1 than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of ,god4 #bf ,and they that heard it said1 ,then who can be saved8 #bg ,but he said1 ,the things which are impossible with men are possible with ,god4 #bh ,and ,peter said1 ,lo1 we have left our own1 and followed thee4 #bi ,and he said unto them1 ,verily ,i say unto you1 ,there is no man that hath left house1 or wife1 or brethren or parents1 or children1 for the kingdom of ,god's sake1 #cj who shall not receive manifold more in this time1 and in the world to come eternal life4 ,in contrast with the penitent publican and with the loving trust of little children which ,luke has been depicting1 there steps upon the scene a young man1 rich1 upright1 morally earnest1 but apparently unconscious of the sinful greed which threatened his soul and of that trust in riches which might prevent his entering the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,in spite of his riches1 his youth1 his position1 and his power1 his heart was not satisfied4 ,he had come to ,jesus with the question1 8,good ,teacher1 what shall ,i do to inherit eternal life80 ,jesus at once rebuked him1 8,why callest thou me good8 none is good1 save one1 even ,god40 ,by this reproof ,jesus was neither defending his own divinity nor denying his sinlessness4 ,he wished to convince the young man of his moral need4 ,he intimated that the thoughtless use of the word 8good10 addressed to one whom he regarded as a human teacher1 was a proof that the young man had a superficial view of goodness4 ,judged by a divine standard the young inquirer could not claim to be good1 nor can any man regard himself as righteous in the light of divine holiness4 ,in order to awaken the conscience and to disturb the complacent self-righteousness of the young inquirer1 ,jesus now tested him in the light of the commandments in which ,god has revealed his holy will4 ,the youth at once replied1 8,all these things have ,i observed from my youth up40 ,jesus now applied the deep probe which showed that the man had never observed the spirit of the ,law1 even though he believed that he had kept the letter4 ,jesus disclosed the real selfishness of the heart as he proposed a supreme test3 8,one thing thou lackest yet3 sell all that thou hast1 and distribute unto the poor1 and thou shalt have treasure in heaven3 and come1 follow me40 ,in this sentence ,jesus convicted the man of having broken the ,law1 the essential requirement of which was to love his neighbor as himself4 ,jesus promised an eternal recompense for sacrifice1 and he offers by his personal companionship the influence and power which will make the keeping of the ,law more possible and complete4 ,no one can claim to be righteous when judged by the commandments as interpreted by ,christ4 ,our only hope is to come to him for guidance and help4 ,he will lay bare the secret selfishness of our hearts1 and will develop the spirit of love and service which forms the essence of eternal life1 and in heaven he will ultimately recompense his followers for every loss4 ,jesus does not demand that all who obey him must literally leave their worldly possessions4 ,in his command to the rich ruler he was dealing with a specific case4 ,he does demand1 however1 that each one shall give up anything which prevents open1 honest discipleship and fellowship with himself4 ,in the case of this inquirer the obstacle was his wealth4 ,it was impossible for him to retain it and yet to follow ,christ4 ,the ,master made plain to him that his goodness had been superficial and inadequate4 ,he showed him that love of money was the canker which had been hidden in his soul4 ,he plainly placed before him the necessity of choosing between his wealth and the eternal life which ,jesus alone can give4 ,no wonder that when the young ruler heard the stern requirements and realized for the first time that he was controlled by his wealth1 8,he became exceeding sorrowful2 for he was very rich40 ,he kept his wealth and he rejected his ,saviour4 ,he saw the possibility of eternal life1 but he was not willing to pay the price4 ,he retained his riches1 but he lost his soul4 ,as ,jesus looked upon him in pity1 he startled his disciples by the statement of a truth which the scene had illustrated3 8,how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of ,god60 ,this was particularly surprising to the ,jews4 ,they imagined that wealth was a positive proof of divine favor4 ,what then did ,jesus mean8 ,he did not intend to teach that wealth is sinful or that private property is a social wrong4 ,he meant that riches may possibly keep their possessor from ,christian discipleship and that one who seeks to satisfy himself with such wealth as keeps him from ,christ can never enter the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,jesus even added a pardonable hyperbole1 8,it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle's eye1 than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of ,god40 ,one who would enter that ,kingdom must become as a little child2 he must abandon all trust in self1 and be willing to sacrifice anything which prevents his becoming an obedient servant of ,christ4 ,when the disciples heard this1 they were astonished and asked1 8,then who can be saved80 ,our ,lord replied1 8,the things which are impossible with men are possible with ,god40 ,it does require resolution and decision and sacrifice1 but ,god is ready to supply all needed grace4 ,his spirit can strengthen those who turn to him in their conscious need and with a real desire for a higher life4 ,as the rich man moved away sorrowfully in his costly robes1 ,peter looked upon him with apparent scorn1 and turned to ,jesus with the self-complacent remark1 8,lo1 we have left our own1 and followed thee40 ,the reply of ,jesus was not intended to encourage men to follow him in hope of gain4 ,his salvation is a matter of grace4 ,we are not to think that by any sacrifice of worldly goods we can purchase eternal life4 ,however1 the tender words of the ,master do remind us that a rich recompense will be received for all that we may surrender in becoming his disciples4 ,even in this present time one receives a hundredfold reward1 not in literal kind but in experiences which now satisfy the soul and 8in the world to come eternal life40 #g4 ,jesus ,again ,foretelling ,his ,death4 ,ch4 #ah3ca-cd #ca ,and he took unto him the twelve1 and said unto them1 ,behold1 we go up to ,jerusalem1 and all the things that are written through the prophets shall be accomplished unto the ,son of man4 #cb ,for he shall be delivered up unto the ,gentiles1 and shall be mocked1 and shamefully treated1 and spit upon3 #cc and they shall scourge and kill him3 and the third day he shall rise again4 #cd ,and they understood none of these things2 and this saying was hid from them1 and they perceived not the things that were said4 ,as ,jesus moved southward through ,perea1 nearing the end of his last journey to ,jerusalem1 he was accompanied by admiring multitudes1 but his own heart was heavy with the knowledge of the suffering that awaited him and he clearly saw before him the outline of the cross4 ,many of his followers to-day share his experience in part2 even in surroundings which all observers envy1 their hearts are crushed by secret sorrows and by the knowledge of approaching pain4 ,those who then were nearest to him were quite unconscious of his thoughts or his need of sympathy4 ,then for the third time ,jesus clearly predicted his approaching death4 ,he declared that his sufferings were to be in accordance with written prophecy and now more clearly than ever he described the details of all the anguish he must endure4 ,he was to be 8delivered up unto the ,gentiles0 and therefore to be crucified1 and with all the sickening accompaniments of mockery and spitting and scourging1 he was to be killed4 ,such a clear vision of what awaited him enhances for us the revelation of his matchless heroism as he moved forward with unfaltering tread1 giving an inspiring example to each one who may be asked to take up the cross and come after him4 ,such knowledge reveals one who consciously was more than man1 such a confidence that he was fulfilling the prophecies of the inspired ,scriptures shows that he regarded himself as the ,saviour of the world4 ,such a willingness to suffer demonstrates the fact that he believed his atoning death to be an essential part of his redeeming work4 ,the grave1 however1 was by no means his goal4 ,with absolute definiteness he declared that on the third day he would rise again4 ,this vision of triumph was in part the explanation of his courage4 ,it was in virtue of such a resurrection victory that he could be the ,saviour of mankind4 ,his disciples1 however1 understood none of these things2 with threefold emphasis ,luke describes their dullness of apprehension4 ,they did not believe that his death was necessary and for them the resurrection was not even a dream4 ,their lack of expectation only made them more credible witnesses of that resurrection when it did occur4 ,however1 would not a clearer vision1 unclouded by false notions of their own1 have enabled them to understand their ,master and to bring some cheer to his lonely soul2 and does he not always desire his followers to accept his predictions with implicit faith and to rest upon his promises with triumphant hope8 #h4 ,the ,blind ,man at ,jericho4 ,ch4 #ah3ce-dc #ce ,and it came to pass1 as he drew nigh unto ,jericho1 a certain blind man sat by the way side begging3 #cf and hearing a multitude going by1 he inquired what this meant4 #cg ,and they told him1 that ,jesus of ,nazareth passeth by4 #ch ,and he cried1 saying1 ,jesus1 thou son of ,david1 have mercy on me4 #ci ,and they that went before rebuked him1 that he should hold his peace3 but he cried out the more a great deal1 ,thou son of ,david1 have mercy on me4 #dj ,and ,jesus stood1 and commanded him to be brought unto him3 and when he was come near1 he asked him1 #da ,what wilt thou that ,i should do unto thee8 ,and he said1 ,lord1 that ,i may receive my sight4 #db ,and ,jesus said unto him1 ,receive thy sight3 thy faith hath made thee whole4 #dc ,and immediately he received his sight1 and followed him1 glorifying ,god3 and all the people1 when they saw it1 gave praise unto ,god4 ,as for the last time ,jesus was journeying through ,jericho1 he healed a blind man whom ,mark in his record names ,bartimus4 ,this miracle was a proof of divine power and an expression of human sympathy1 but it was also a parable of the ability which ,jesus alone has of giving sight to the morally blind and of imparting that spiritual vision which is absolutely necessary if men are to live in right relations to one another and to ,god4 ,in certain minor details ,luke's account differs from those of ,matthew and ,mark4 ,the former mentions two blind men and agrees with ,mark in stating that the miracle occurred as ,jesus was leaving the city4 ,possibly ,mark and ,luke refer to the best known of the two men and ,luke may designate the older of the two towns which bore the name of ,jericho4 ,all agree1 however1 in picturing the pitiful condition of the helpless man who because of his blindness was reduced to beggary and was a true symbol of the misery to which one is brought by the lack of spiritual sight4 ,then there is the picture of the obstacles to be overcome1 of the doubts and difficulties that lie in the way of those who seek to come under the healing influence of our ,lord4 8,they that went before rebuked him1 that he should hold his peace40 ,often do those who yearn for light and healing hear words which dishearten and suggestions which lead to hopelessness and despair6 ,again there is the picture of eager determination and of unshaken faith4 8,he cried out the more a great deal1 ,thou son of ,david1 have mercy on me40 ,he had been told that 8,jesus of ,nazareth0 was passing by4 ,he1 however1 called him 8,jesus1 thou son of ,david40 ,he recognized the ,prophet of ,nazareth as the promised ,messiah1 the ,saviour of the world1 and when rebuked for crying to him for mercy1 he continued steadfast in his faith and his confident trust that ,jesus would sympathize and heal4 ,lastly1 there is the picture of complete relief4 ,the blind man was not disappointed4 ,jesus said unto him1 8,receive thy sight3 thy faith hath made thee whole40 ,how many likewise have found ,christ able and willing to give them spiritual vision6 ,their eyes have been opened to behold things unseen and eternal and they have been enabled to follow the ,master with joyful footsteps as they journey toward the celestial city where they will see the ,king in his beauty and will be like him when they 8see him even as he is40 ,such miracles of grace rejoice the hearts not only of those who are healed2 they occasion gratitude and joy to countless others also as they are assured of the sympathy and grace and divine power of the ,saviour4 ,as ,luke here states1 8,all the people1 when they saw it1 gave praise unto ,god40 #i4 ,the ,conversion of ,zacchaeus4 ,ch4 #ai3a-aj #a ,and he entered and was passing through ,jericho4 #b ,and behold1 a man called by name ,zacchus2 and he was a chief publican1 and he was rich4 #c ,and he sought to see ,jesus who he was2 and could not for the crowd1 because he was little of stature4 #d ,and he ran on before1 and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him3 for he was to pass that way4 #e ,and when ,jesus came to the place1 he looked up1 and said unto him1 ,zacchus1 make haste1 and come down2 for to-day ,i must abide at thy house4 #f ,and he made haste and came down1 and received him joyfully4 #g ,and when they saw it1 they all murmured1 saying1 ,he is gone in to lodge with a man that is a sinner4 #h ,and ,zacchus stood1 and said unto the ,lord1 ,behold1 ,lord1 the half of my goods ,i give to the poor3 and if ,i have wrongfully exacted aught of any man1 ,i restore fourfold4 #i ,and ,jesus said unto him1 ,to-day is salvation come to this house1 forasmuch as he also is a son of ,abraham4 #aj ,for the ,son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost4 8,and he entered and was passing through ,jericho10 a city famous alike for faith and unbelief4 8,by faith the walls of ,jericho fell down10 and in blind unbelief they were rebuilt and the curse which had been pronounced came upon the defiant builder4 ,as ,jesus passed through the city he was to witness faith and unbelief1 the latter to be shown by multitudes1 the former by a single man named ,zacchus4 ,this name signifies 8holiness0 but it was a poor designation of the man4 ,those who knew him best called him a 8sinner10 and they were probably right4 8,he was a chief publican1 and he was rich40 ,a man might be a publican and be honest1 but he would probably be poor4 ,zacchus' task was that of a taxgatherer1 and when it is remembered that these officials made their wealth by extortion and dishonesty1 to say the least1 it was suspicious when a taxgatherer was rich4 8,he sought to see ,jesus who he was40 ,it may have been curiosity1 but there was a certain eagerness in his desire4 ,he possibly had heard of the great ,prophet who was so kind in his treatment of publicans and sinners4 ,however1 he could not see ,jesus 8for the crowd1 because he was little of stature40 ,obstacles often arise in the way of those whose attention is first turned toward ,christ4 ,if1 however1 they are earnest in their desire1 they are certain to learn more of him4 ,the earnestness of ,zacchus was shown as 8he ran on before1 and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him40 ,there was something undignified in the action of this little man of wealth1 but his eagerness received an unexpected reward1 for 8,when ,jesus came to the place he looked up1 and said unto him1 ,zacchus1 make haste1 and come down2 for to-day ,i must abide at thy house40 ,this is the only time so far as we know that ,jesus invited himself to be a guest1 but we are certain that he is ever ready to abide with those whose hearts are open to receive him4 ,it has been said that ,zacchus was converted before he had reached the ground4 ,there can be no doubt that a great change came into his heart as he realized how fully ,jesus knew him and anticipated what the ,saviour could do for him2 and his faith and hope were manifest at once4 8,he made haste1 and came down1 and received him joyfully40 ,what did the crowd say8 ,exactly what the world always says when a man is turning to ,christ and seeking to begin a new life4 ,men always call to mind the dark past from which the rescued man is turning4 8,they all murmured1 saying1 ,he is gone in to lodge with a man that is a sinner40 ,what did ,zacchus say8 ,what every man says who has found the grace which ,christ bestows and who realizes that a new life can begin only with repentance and resolution4 8,behold1 ,lord1 the half of my goods ,i give to the poor40 ,thus he determined1 as a ,christian1 to do far more than was required by the ,jewish ,law2 that ,law required a tenth2 ,zacchus promised that half of all his income would be used in the service of the ,lord4 8,and if ,i have wrongfully exacted aught of any man1 ,i restore fourfold40 ,there can be little doubt that any publican would find large opportunities for such restoration2 and nothing more definitely indicates true repentance than the desire to make amends for the past4 ,what did ,jesus say8 ,this is most important of all1 8,to-day is salvation come to this house1 forasmuch as he also is a son of ,abraham40 ,by his faith the publican of ,jericho showed himself to be a true son of ,abraham1 the 8father of the faithful40 ,his trust in ,christ secured for him that salvation which is offered to all1 even to the lowest and most hopeless and despised4 8,for the ,son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost40 #aj4 ,the ,parable of the ,pounds4 ,ch4 #ai3aa-bh #aa ,and as they heard these things1 he added and spake a parable1 because he was nigh to ,jerusalem1 and because they supposed that the kingdom of ,god was immediately to appear4 #ab ,he said therefore1 ,a certain nobleman went into a far country1 to receive for himself a kingdom1 and to return4 #ac ,and he called ten servants of his1 and gave them ten pounds1 and said unto them1 ,trade ye herewith till ,i come4 #ad ,but his citizens hated him1 and sent an ambassage after him1 saying1 ,we will not that this man reign over us4 #ae ,and it came to pass1 when he was come back again1 having received the kingdom1 that he commanded these servants1 unto whom he had given the money1 to be called to him1 that he might know what they had gained by trading4 #af ,and the first came before him1 saying1 ,lord1 thy pound hath made ten pounds more4 #ag ,and he said unto him1 ,well done1 thou good servant3 because thou wast found faithful in a very little1 have thou authority over ten cities4 #ah ,and the second came1 saying1 ,thy pound1 ,lord1 hath made five pounds4 #ai ,and he said unto him also1 ,be thou also over five cities4 #bj ,and another came1 saying1 ,lord1 behold1 here is thy pound1 which ,i kept laid up in a napkin3 #ba for ,i feared thee1 because thou art an austere man3 thou takest up that which thou layedst not down1 and reapest that which thou didst not sow4 #bb ,he saith unto him1 ,out of thine own mouth will ,i judge thee1 thou wicked servant4 ,thou knewest that ,i am an austere man1 taking up that which ,i laid not down1 and reaping that which ,i did not sow2 #bc then wherefore gavest thou not my money into the bank1 and ,i at my coming should have required it with interest8 #bd ,and he said unto them that stood by1 ,take away from him the pound1 and give it unto him that hath the ten pounds4 #be ,and they said unto him1 ,lord1 he hath ten pounds4 #bf ,i say unto you1 that unto every one that hath shall be given2 but from him that hath not1 even that which he hath shall be taken away from him4 #bg ,but these mine enemies1 that would not that ,i should reign over them1 bring hither1 and slay them before me4 #bh ,and when he had thus spoken1 he went on before1 going up to ,jerusalem4 ,jesus felt impelled to deliver the parable of the ,pounds because of the mistaken belief among the crowds that on his arrival in ,jerusalem he would establish his ,kingdom4 ,he well knew that he was to be rejected and crucified1 and that a long interval of time would elapse before his return in triumph4 ,in this parable he definitely predicted this rejection and warned the unbelieving ,jews of their peril4 ,on the other hand he encouraged his disciples to wait with patience for his return1 to watch for his coming1 and to be engaged diligently in his service1 promising to the faithful1 abundant and gracious rewards4 ,this parable of the ,pounds should be studied in connection with the parables of the ,unprofitable ,servant1 ch4 #ag3g-aj1 the ,laborers in the ,vineyard1 ,matt4 #bj3a-af1 and the ,talents1 ,matt4 #be3ad-cj4 ,the first teaches that no reward can be claimed as a matter of merit2 in view of all that the ,master has given us1 even pouring out his life for our redemption1 we never by the most faithful service could begin to pay the debt we owe2 even the most loyal devotion would be no ground for claiming a reward4 ,the parable of the ,laborers in the ,vineyard likewise warns us against a mercenary spirit in which we might serve the ,master for the sake of a reward1 bargaining for so much labor for so much pay1 jealous of those who may receive as much as ourselves1 though deserving1 as we believe1 less4 ,however1 while no reward may be deserved1 and while the hope of reward should not be the motive for service1 the ,master has assured us that1 in absolute grace and with perfect justice1 rewards will be granted to those who are found faithful when he returns4 ,the parable of the ,talents teaches that while opportunities and abilities for the service of ,christ may differ1 those who are equally faithful will receive equal rewards4 ,the parable of the ,pounds tells us that when opportunities are the same1 greater faithfulness will receive greater reward4 ,this latter parable was delivered1 as ,luke tells us1 because ,jesus 8was nigh to ,jerusalem1 and because they supposed that the kingdom of ,god was immediately to appear40 ,jesus therefore compared himself with a nobleman who went into a far country1 8to receive for himself a kingdom1 and to return40 ,jesus was always indicating the fact that there would be a long delay after his ascension before he would return1 and that meanwhile his followers should be faithful to the opportunities granted them for serving their ,master4 ,in this parable ,jesus pictured these opportunities under the figure of pounds1 that is1 sums of money amounting to something like sixteen dollars each4 ,in comparison with a 8talent0 this was an insignificant sum4 ,our ,lord wished to suggest that to every one of his followers something is intrusted which may be used for the advancement of his cause4 ,jesus knew that the ,jews were not only to reject him but were to continue in unbelief after his departure2 thus in the parable he stated that 8his citizens hated him1 and sent an ambassage after him1 saying1 ,we will not that this man reign over us40 ,the main portion of the picture1 however1 is concerned with the return of the nobleman and the reward of his servants4 ,this reward was proportioned to fidelity during the time of his absence4 ,by way of example1 one who had so used his pound as to gain ten pounds was made the ruler over ten cities2 and one who had gained five1 was appointed over five cities4 ,the reward for service is thus shown to be larger service4 ,faithfulness in that which is very small is a preparation for larger responsibilities and more glorious tasks4 ,this is true in the present1 and the principle will be the same in the future4 ,one man was found1 however1 who had made no use of his pound4 ,he had kept it 8laid up in a napkin40 ,his excuse was that he feared his master and he said1 almost boastfully1 that he had not lost what had been intrusted to him4 ,he was giving back that which he had been given him4 ,the nobleman1 however1 properly rebuked this unfaithful servant in the very terms which he himself had used4 ,if the master was known to be so strict1 the servant should have been prepared to give a better account of his stewardship4 ,it is true that one cause for unfaithfulness is an ignorance of the true nature of our ,lord4 ,some are really afraid to undertake ,christian service because they do not know1 what the parable could not indicate1 namely1 that he who intrusts us with opportunities and abilities will give us grace1 if we seek to do our best and with a real desire to advance the interests of our ,lord1 try to use the little which we have4 ,thus the nobleman rebuked the unfaithful servant for not having done the least which was possible4 ,he could have placed the money in the bank and then if nothing more1 the master would have received the interest on the loan4 ,there is always something which every servant of ,christ can do for him4 ,there is never any real excuse for idleness and inactivity and failure to achieve something in the cause of ,christ4 ,the pound was taken from the unfaithful servant and given to him who had secured the ten pounds1 because our ,lord wished to illustrate the truth that with our opportunities and privileges and gifts1 the principle1 use or lose1 always applies4 ,the right employment of even small gifts results in their enlargement1 but failure to appreciate and employ that which we possess results in its ultimate loss4 8,unto every one that hath shall be given2 but from him that hath not1 even that which he hath shall be taken away from him40 ,the parable closes with a solemn warning to those who reject ,christ4 ,it is not only perilous to be unfaithful in his service but pitiful to be found in the class of those who refuse to acknowledge him as ,lord4 ,jesus describes in these last words not only the destruction of ,jerusalem1 but the penalty of all who share in rejecting his rule4 8,but these mine enemies1 that would not that ,i should reign over them1 bring hither1 and slay them before me40 ,the time of his departure was at hand4 ,the nation was about to reject him4 ,the nobleman was just to start for the far country1 for 8,when he had thus spoken1 he went on before1 going up to ,jerusalem40 ,,vi4 ,,the ,,closing ,,ministry4 ,,chs4 #ai3bi ,,to #ba3ch ,a4 ,the ,triumphal ,entry4 ,ch4 #ai3bi-dh #bi ,and it came to pass1 when he drew nigh unto ,bethphage and ,bethany1 at the mount that is called ,olivet1 he sent two of the disciples1 #cj saying1 ,go your way into the village over against you2 in which as ye enter ye shall find a colt tied1 whereon no man ever yet sat3 loose him1 and bring him4 #ca ,and if anyone ask you1 ,why do ye loose him8 thus shall ye say1 ,the ,lord hath need of him4 #cb ,and they that were sent went away1 and found even as he had said unto them4 #cc ,and as they were loosing the colt1 the owners thereof said unto them1 ,why loose ye the colt8 #cd ,and they said1 ,the ,lord hath need of him4 #ce ,and they brought him to ,jesus3 and they threw their garments upon the colt1 and set ,jesus thereon4 #cf ,and as he went1 they spread their garments in the way4 #cg ,and as he was now drawing nigh1 even at the descent of the mount of ,olives1 the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise ,god with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen2 #ch saying1 ,blessed is the ,king that cometh in the name of the ,lord3 peace in heaven1 and glory in the highest4 #ci ,and some of the ,pharisees from the multitude said unto him1 ,teacher1 rebuke thy disciples4 #dj ,and he answered and said1 ,i tell you that1 if these shall hold their peace1 the stones will cry out4 #da ,and when he drew nigh1 he saw the city and wept over it1 #db saying1 ,if thou hadst known in this day1 even thou1 the things which belong unto peace6 but now they are hid from thine eyes4 #dc ,for the days shall come upon thee1 when thine enemies shall cast up a bank about thee1 and compass thee round1 and keep thee in on every side1 #dd and shall dash thee to the ground1 and thy children within thee2 and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another2 because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation4 #de ,and he entered into the temple1 and began to cast out them that sold1 #df saying unto them1 ,it is written1 ,and my house shall be a house of prayer3 but ye have made it a den of robbers4 #dg ,and he was teaching daily in the temple4 ,but the chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him3 #dh and they could not find what they might do2 for the people all hung upon him1 listening4 ,the story of ,luke is never lacking in human interest1 but no scene is more suffused with sentiment1 none more vivid with color1 than that which pictures ,jesus entering ,jerusalem in triumph4 ,we see our ,lord mounted as a king1 surrounded by acclaiming multitudes1 sweeping over the brow of ,olivet1 while his attendant disciples spread their garments in the way and hail him as the ,messiah4 ,we see him lamenting over the doomed city and hear the harsh tones of the rulers who are plotting his death4 ,with all these shouts of joy and sobs of grief and mutterings of malice1 surely no scene is so full of emotion and none can illustrate more strikingly the relation between religious feeling and religious faith4 ,an appeal to the eye and ear and heart may awaken sentiment and prepare the way for the surrender of the will4 ,there is to-day a proper place for music and architecture and eloquence as aids to devotion4 ,in the case of the triumphal entry1 ,jesus planned every detail4 ,he sent two disciples to secure the colt on which he was to ride2 he allowed the disciples to place on the colt their garments1 and as he rode toward the city he accepted the acclamations of the crowd4 ,when the ,pharisees criticized ,jesus for permitting such praise and arousing such excitement1 he declared that such homage to himself was not only proper but necessary1 and that if the multitudes were silenced the very stones would 8cry out0 to welcome and to honor him4 ,jesus was offering himself as ,king for the last time1 and therefore his offer was to be made in the most impressive way4 ,he appealed to the imagination4 ,he stirred the emotions4 ,he did not mean that he was to be such a king as the people supposed2 the borrowed colt1 the garments of peasants1 the banners of leafy branches were not to be the permanent furnishings of a court4 ,he wished to secure the submission of their wills1 the complete surrender of their lives1 and therefore he made this stirring1 dramatic1 emotional appeal to the multitudes4 ,he knew that religious feeling is an aid to religious faith4 ,however1 religious feeling is not to be confused with religious faith4 ,emotion is no substitute for conviction4 ,jesus was not deceived4 ,as he caught sight of the sacred city and heard the bitter criticism of the ,pharisees1 he realized the stubborn unbelief he was to encounter2 he saw his rejection and death and the consequent destruction of ,jerusalem and he pronounced his pathetic lament1 8,if thou hadst known in this day1 even thou1 the things which belong unto peace60 ,he predicted the ghastly horrors of the coming siege and the desolation of ,zion and declared that it was due to inability to see that he had come as a ,saviour and that his ministry had been a gracious visitation which might have resulted in repentance and in continued life for the nation4 ,it is the sad1 sad lament for what might have been4 ,jesus entered the ,temple and rebuked the rulers for allowing the house of ,god to be desecrated by degrading traffic4 ,as the story closes we see ,jesus standing in the center of the scene1 on one hand the rulers plotting against his life1 and on his other the multitudes hanging admiringly upon his words4 ,only too soon the rulers were to persuade the crowds to cry out for his crucifixion1 and we are reminded that religious feeling unaccompanied by conviction may soon be chilled into indifference and hate4 ,there were those1 however1 like the disciples1 who never forgot this scene of triumph4 ,its fuller meaning was appreciated in later years and as their trust in ,christ strengthened1 they looked back with ever deeper emotions upon the experiences of that memorable day2 for it is true that religious feeling is after all a natural and inevitable consequence of religious faith4 ,b4 ,the ,question ,as ,to ,authority4 ,ch4 #bj3a-h #a ,and it came to pass1 on one of the days1 as he was teaching the people in the temple1 and preaching the gospel1 there came upon him the chief priests and the scribes with the elders2 #b and they spake1 saying unto him1 ,tell us3 ,by what authority doest thou these things8 or who is he that gave thee this authority8 #c ,and he answered and said unto them ,i also will ask you a question2 and tell me3 #d ,the baptism of ,john1 was it from heaven1 or from men8 #e ,and they reasoned with themselves1 saying1 if we shall say1 ,from heaven2 he will say1 ,why did ye not believe him8 #f ,but if we shall say1 ,from men2 all the people will stone us3 for they are persuaded that ,john was a prophet4 #g ,and they answered1 that they knew not whence it was4 #h ,and ,jesus said unto them1 ,neither tell ,i you by what authority ,i do these things4 ,after his triumphal entry into the city1 ,jesus continued to be the popular idol of the multitudes that thronged ,jerusalem at the passover season4 ,it was this popularity which delayed the designs of the rulers1 as they had determined to put ,jesus to death4 ,they must first discredit him with the people4 ,with this in view they sent a deputation from their chief court1 the sanhedrin1 to entrap ,jesus in his talk or to bring him into conflict with the ,jewish or ,roman rulers4 ,they challenged him to state by what authority he was receiving such honors as the ,messiah1 or driving the traders from the ,temple1 or performing his miracles4 ,their question was framed with subtle skill1 8,by what authority doest thou these things8 or who is he that gave thee this authority80 ,they placed ,jesus in a dilemma2 if he should claim that authority had been delegated to him1 then he might be accused of disloyalty and of schism1 in supplanting the recognized 8authorities0 of the ,jewish state2 if he should claim inherent divine authority1 as identified with ,god1 he might be condemned for blasphemy4 ,jesus silenced his enemies with a question which involved them in a counter dilemma3 8,the baptism of ,john1 was it from heaven1 or from men80 ,they could not say 8from heaven10 for they had rejected ,john2 they dared not say 8from men10 for they feared the people by whom ,john was regarded as a prophet4 ,so they tried to escape by cowardly replying that they did not know4 ,agnosticism is usually cowardly and deserving of little respect4 ,but ,jesus did more than silence them2 he answered them4 ,his question was no irrelevant riddle by which he met a difficulty and delayed the necessity of a reply4 ,he definitely implied that the authority of ,john was divine and that his own authority was the same2 but as they were afraid to deny the divine authority of ,john they were also powerless to deny that of ,jesus2 and further he implied that if they had accepted the message of ,john1 they would be prepared to accept ,jesus4 ,it is true that if we are afraid to accept the logical conclusions of our doubts and denials1 we never can hope to discover truth4 ,jesus further rebuked and exposed his enemies4 ,when they said that they did not know1 ,jesus knew1 and they knew1 and the crowds knew1 that they were not honest2 the ,lord had laid bare their hypocrisy2 he had made it perfectly evident that the real question at issue was not authority but obedience4 ,the enemies of ,jesus pretended that they wanted to know more of his credentials2 they really wanted to discredit and entrap him4 ,the modern enemies of our ,lord declare that they want more proofs1 more evidence2 what they really lack is love for ,god and submission to his will4 ,those who do not repent when ,john preaches1 will not believe when ,jesus offers to save4 ,the world needs to-day1 not more proof of divine authority1 but more obedience to the divine will4 ,jesus absolutely discredited his enemies in the sight of the people4 ,they were the constituted authorities in all matters civil and religious1 and yet they were made to confess publicly that they were not competent to judge a clear1 familiar1 important case relating to religious authority4 ,they really abdicated their position4 ,they1 therefore1 were disqualified to pass an opinion on the exactly parallel case of the authority of ,jesus4 ,jesus had defeated them with their own weapon4 ,no wonder that subsequently1 when on trial before such judges1 he refused to answer them a word4 ,he had shown their incompetence1 their insincerity1 their unbelief4 ,honest doubters are deserving of sympathy2 but professed seekers after truth1 who are unwilling to accept the consequences of belief1 should expect to receive no further light4 ,an increasing knowledge of divine realities is conditioned upon humble submission of the heart and the will to what already has been revealed4 ,c4 ,the ,parable ,of ,the ,husbandmen4 ,ch4 #bj3i-ah #i ,and he began to speak unto the people this parable3 ,a man planted a vineyard1 and let it out to husbandmen1 and went into another country for a long time4 #aj ,and at the season he sent unto the husbandmen a servant1 that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard3 but the husbandmen beat him1 and sent him away empty4 #aa ,and he sent yet another servant3 and him also they beat1 and handled him shamefully1 and sent him away empty4 #ab ,and he sent yet a third3 and him also they wounded1 and cast him forth4 #ac ,and the lord of the vineyard said1 ,what shall ,i do8 ,i will send my beloved son2 it may be they will reverence him4 #ad ,but when the husbandmen saw him1 they reasoned with one another1 saying1 ,this is the heir2 let us kill him1 that the inheritance may be ours4 #ae ,and they cast him forth out of the vineyard1 and killed him4 ,what therefore will the lord of the vineyard do unto them8 #af ,he will come and destroy these husbandmen1 and will give the vineyard unto others4 ,and when they heard it1 they said1 ,god forbid4 #ag ,but he looked upon them1 and said1 ,what then is this that is written1 ,the stone which the builders rejected1 ,the same was made the head of the corner8 #ah ,every one that falleth on that stone shall be broken to pieces2 but on whomsoever it shall fall1 it will scatter him as dust4 ,to the malicious challenge of his enemies ,jesus had already replied1 claiming for himself divine authority and condemning the rulers for their guilty unbelief4 ,he now added a parable1 more clearly stating his claims and more solemnly rebuking these hostile rulers and pronouncing judgment upon the nation they represented4 ,he told the story of a householder who established and equipped a vineyard and let it out to tenants4 ,he lived at a distance and expected as rent a certain portion of the vintage4 ,when he sent for the fruit1 however1 his messengers were abused and killed2 at last his own son was sent and was slain4 ,he determined to come and to exact justice and to deliver his vineyard to tenants who were more worthy4 ,the parable was so plain that the enemies of ,jesus perfectly understood its meaning4 ,the householder was his ,father2 the vineyard was ,israel2 the husbandmen were the rulers to whom the nation had been intrusted2 the servants were the prophets sent to summon the people to repent and to render to ,god the fruits of righteousness2 the son was ,jesus himself1 who thus claimed a unique relation to ,god1 distinct from the prophets and from all human messengers2 the death of the heir was his own approaching crucifixion2 the return of the householder was the coming visitation of divine judgment1 the rejection of ,israel1 and the call of the ,gentiles4 ,it was aside from the present purpose of ,jesus to refer to the individual ,jews who would accept him and to the future conversion of the nation of which ,paul wrote4 ,he wished now to emphasize his own rejection and the guilt and punishment of the nation4 ,he declared1 however1 that this death would issue in his exaltation and triumph2 that he was 8the stone which the builders rejected10 which 8was made the head of the corner40 ,he also warned his enemies that all who1 in unbelief1 should stumble on that stone1 all who should reject him1 would be 8broken to pieces10 and all who should attempt to drag down that stone would be ground and scattered as dust4 ,d4 ,the ,question ,as ,to ,paying ,tribute4 ,ch4 #bj3ai-bf #ai ,and the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that very hour2 and they feared the people3 for they perceived that he spake this parable against them4 #bj ,and they watched him1 and sent forth spies1 who feigned themselves to be righteous1 that they might take hold of his speech1 so as to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor4 #ba ,and they asked him1 saying1 ,teacher1 we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly1 and acceptest not the person of any1 but of a truth teachest the way of ,god3 #bb ,is it lawful for us to give tribute unto ,csar1 or not8 #bc ,but he perceived their craftiness1 and said unto them1 #bd ,show me a denarius4 ,whose image and superscription hath it8 ,and they said1 ,csar's4 #be ,and he said unto them1 ,then render unto ,csar the things that are ,csar's1 and unto ,god the things that are ,god's4 #bf ,and they were not able to take hold of the saying before the people3 and they marvelled at his answer1 and held their peace4 ,the rulers had been defeated1 discredited1 and disgraced but they had not been discouraged4 ,in their first question they failed utterly to bring ,jesus into any unlawful opposition to the religious courts4 ,they now attempted by a new question to draw from him an answer which either would make him unpopular with the people or would bring him under the condemnation of the civil ruler4 ,they asked him a question relative to the payment of tribute to the ,roman ,government4 ,the more conservative ,jews held that ,god was the ruler of ,israel and that possibly it was wrong to pay taxes to support a heathen state4 ,the more liberal party sided with the ,herods1 who owed their power to ,rome4 ,therefore the enemies of ,jesus sent to him representatives of both parties1 ,pharisees and ,herodians1 so that if he should avoid offending one party he would displease the other4 ,they approached ,jesus with the flattering assurance that he was so truthful and courageous that he would not hesitate to express his true convictions2 and then they proposed their artful question3 8,is it lawful for us to give tribute unto ,csar1 or not80 ,should ,jesus say1 8,yes08 ,then he would cease to be a popular idol1 for the people loathed the hateful oppression of ,rome4 ,should ,jesus say1 8,no08 ,then his enemies would hurry him away to the ,roman governor and the cross1 as a traitor and a rebel4 ,the dilemma seemed complete2 yet ,jesus not only escaped the snare1 but1 in his reply1 he enunciated a law for all time4 8,render unto ,csar the things that are ,csar's1 and unto ,god the things that are ,god's40 ,to make plain his meaning1 ,jesus first called for a ,roman coin1 and asked whose image and superscription it bore4 ,the reply1 of course1 was 8,csar's40 ,jesus therefore declared that those who accept the protection of a government and the privileges provided by a government1 are under obligation to support that government4 ,christianity never should be identified with any political party or social theory2 but ,christians ever should take their stand for loyalty1 for order1 and for law4 ,it is not the whole of life1 however1 to 8render unto ,csar the things that are ,csar's20 one must also render 8unto ,god the things that are ,god's40 ,the latter higher allegiance includes the former4 ,the enemies of ,jesus suggested a conflict of duties2 he showed that there was perfect harmony4 ,he intimated1 however1 that there was danger of forgetting ,god1 and our obligations to him of trust1 service1 worship1 love4 ,the true basis for citizenship is devotion to ,god1 and no political theory or party allegiance can be taken as a substitute for loyalty to him4 ,the enemies of ,jesus were answered and rebuked1 and his followers were given guidance for all the coming years4 ,e4 ,the ,question ,as ,to ,the ,resurrection4 ,ch4 #bj3bg-dj #bg ,and there came to him certain of the ,sadducees1 they that say that there is no resurrection2 #bh and they asked him saying1 ,teacher1 ,moses wrote unto us1 that if a man's brother die1 having a wife1 and he be childless1 his brother should take the wife1 and raise up seed unto his brother4 #bi ,there were therefore seven brethren3 and the first took a wife1 and died childless2 #cj and the second2 #ca and the third took her2 and likewise the seven also left no children1 and died4 #cb ,afterward the woman also died4 #cc ,in the resurrection therefore whose wife of them shall she be8 for the seven had her to wife4 #cd ,and ,jesus said unto them1 ,the sons of this world marry1 and are given in marriage3 #ce but they that are accounted worthy to attain to that world1 and the resurrection from the dead1 neither marry1 nor are given in marriage3 #cf for neither can they die any more3 for they are equal unto the angels2 and are sons of ,god1 being sons of the resurrection4 #cg ,but that the dead are raised1 even ,moses showed1 in the place concerning the ,bush1 when he calleth the ,lord the ,god of ,abraham1 and the ,god of ,isaac1 and the ,god of ,jacob4 #ch ,now he is not the ,god of the dead1 but of the living3 for all live unto him4 #ci ,and certain of the scribes answering said1 ,teacher1 thou hast well said4 #dj ,for they durst not any more ask him any question4 ,jesus had foiled the scribes and the chief priests in their plan to entrap him in his public teaching4 ,he was now attacked by the ,sadducees who were the priestly and most powerful party among the ,jews4 ,they denied the immortality of the soul and believed neither in angels nor in spirits2 they represented the modern materialists4 ,it is to be noted that the question with which they approached ,jesus was not one which referred only to immortality but specifically to the resurrection of the body4 ,they proposed the case of a woman married successively to seven brothers from each of whom she was separated by death2 and they asked1 8,in the resurrection therefore whose wife of them shall she be8 for the seven had her to wife40 ,they hoped that ,jesus would either deny the orthodox belief as to the resurrection or would make some statement which would contradict the ,law of ,moses in accordance with which the successive marriages were made4 ,they implied that this accepted ,law was inconsistent with the belief in a resurrection4 ,in his reply ,jesus declared that in the resurrection life will be regulated by larger laws than are known in this present age4 ,those who will share the glory of that age1 and who will experience the blessedness of 8the resurrection from the dead0 will be immortal in soul and body4 ,marriage1 which is now necessary for a continuance of the race1 will no longer exist4 ,the relationships in that life will be higher than even the most sacred relationship of the present life4 ,those who have a part in this resurrection will be 8equal unto the angels10 not in all particulars1 but in the fact that their state will be deathless4 ,in that larger sense they will be 8sons of ,god0 and 8sons of the resurrection10 for death will have lost its power over them4 ,such a reply should be carefully weighed by men of the present day who deny miracles and refuse to believe in resurrection and immortality4 ,many beliefs which are now ridiculed because they seem to contradict established laws of science will some day be vindicated by the discovery of higher and more inclusive laws than are now known4 ,in his answer ,jesus already had rebuked the ,sadducees for denying the existence of angels4 ,he next established the fact of the resurrection by a quotation from the very ,law on which they had depended to show that resurrection was impossible4 ,he recalled the words recorded by ,moses in reference to 8the ,god of ,abraham1 and the ,god of ,isaac1 and the ,god of ,jacob40 ,he then added1 8,he is not the ,god of the dead1 but of the living40 ,jesus meant to establish the fact of the continued existence of the dead2 yet not merely this1 but to prove the resurrection of the dead4 ,the latter was the question at issue4 ,the word 8living10 as used by our ,lord1 indicates those who are enjoying a normal life1 not that of disembodied spirits1 but of immortal spirits clothed with deathless bodies4 ,therefore ,jesus added1 8for all live unto him40 ,in the mind and purpose of ,god all are to be raised from the dead and to enjoy that complete and blessed existence which resurrection implies4 ,the confident expectation of such a future state is based on our relation to ,god4 ,if he is truly our ,god and we are his people1 the triumph of death is not real and permanent but will be ended by the glorious immortality of the body and of the soul4 ,f4 ,the ,question ,of ,jesus4 ,ch4 #bj3da-dd #da ,and he said unto them1 ,how say they that the ,christ is ,david's son8 #db ,for ,david himself saith in the book of ,psalms1 ,the ,lord said unto my ,lord1 ,sit thou on my right hand1 #dc ,till ,i make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet4 ,david therefore calleth him ,lord1 and how is he his son8 ,jesus had defeated his enemies in debate4 ,they had come to him with a series of crafty questions designed to discredit him as a public teacher and to secure some ground for his arrest4 ,to each of these questions he had given a reply by which his foes had been unmasked and condemned4 ,he then asked them a question4 ,it was intended not only forever to silence his foes1 though it accomplished this1 for henceforth no man ventured to meet him in public discussion2 nor yet did ,jesus desire further to humiliate his enemies4 ,in the presence of the people he had already shown them to be ridiculous1 contemptible1 impotent1 and insincere4 ,his real motive was to ask a question1 the answer to which would embody the chief of all his claims1 namely1 the claim that he is divine4 ,it was of supreme importance that this claim should be made at exactly this time4 ,he knew that the rulers had been unable to find a charge on which to arraign him before either the ecclesiastical or the civil court4 ,he realized that they would dare to make no other attempt in public1 but he clearly foresaw the fact that1 through the treachery of ,judas1 he would be arrested and1 before both these courts1 would be arraigned on the charge of blasphemy4 ,his enemies would accuse him of claiming to be not only the ,messiah but also divine4 ,on this occasion1 therefore1 in the presence both of the rulers and the people1 he made the defense which never can be broken or forgotten as he definitely demonstrated from ,scripture that the ,messiah was described by the inspired writers as a divine ,being4 ,all that ,jesus claimed for himself1 as recorded in the ,gospel of ,john1 was included in the answer which was implied by the question which he now asked4 ,even for the present day it involves the supreme problem in the sphere of philosophy and religion4 ,this problem concerns the person of ,christ4 ,is he to be regarded as ,man or ,god1 or at once ,god and ,man8 ,where is he to be placed in the scale of being2 or1 as ,jesus voiced the problem1 how could ,david speak of the coming ,messiah as both his son and his ,lord8 ,there was but one answer4 ,there can be but one4 ,the ,messiah was to be divine4 ,the son of ,david is also the ,son of ,god4 ,the incarnation is the only solution of our most serious difficulties in the realm of religious belief4 ,by his question ,jesus not only silenced his enemies2 he also showed their insincerity in condemning him to death and their rejection of the inspired ,scriptures in their unwillingness to believe the testimony concerning the person of the ,messiah4 ,jesus unquestionably claimed to be the divine ,saviour of the world4 ,the ideal ,man is also the incarnate ,god4 ,g4 ,the ,warning ,against ,the ,scribes4 ,ch4 #bj3de-dg #de ,and in the hearing of all the people he said unto his disciples1 #df ,beware of the scribes1 who desire to walk in long robes1 and love salutations in the marketplaces1 and chief seats in the synagogues1 and chief places at feasts2 #dg who devour widows' houses1 and for a pretence make long prayers3 these shall receive greater condemnation4 ,as the long day of public controversy drew to its close1 it was not strange that ,jesus turned to warn the people against these enemies who had been seeking to defeat him and who were determined upon his death4 ,these professed guides could not be followed safely4 ,these rulers had shown themselves to be unworthy of their place and power4 ,the people must look elsewhere for true teachers4 ,they must find other men to interpret for them the will of ,god4 ,the scribes were the professional teachers of the day1 the trained expositors of the ,law4 ,most of them were ,pharisees4 ,they were of all men the most bitter enemies of ,christ2 they were jealous of his power2 they were angered at his claims2 and finally they had been goaded to desperation by their humiliating defeat at his hands4 ,upon these men ,jesus pronounced the most stern condemnation4 ,his words are recorded at length by ,matthew4 ,in the brief summary of the discourse made by ,mark and by ,luke we find only a few short sentences which sketch three principal features in the character of these unworthy leaders of religious thought4 ,the first is their vanity1 their ambition for display and for high position1 and their love of flattery4 ,the second is their cruel avarice1 expressed by our ,lord in the suggestive clause1 8who devour widows' houses40 ,the third was their shameful hypocrisy2 they are described as men who 8for a pretence make long prayers40 ,it has always been remarked that the most bitter denunciations of ,jesus were addressed to the men whose outward lives were most respectable and whose religious professions were most loud4 ,this does not mean1 however1 that open vice and flagrant sin are better than selfish and proud morality2 but it does remind us that great religious privileges and the possession of revealed truth involve solemn responsibilities and that hypocrisy and pretense are abominations in the sight of ,god4 ,h4 ,the ,widow's ,mites4 ,ch4 #ba3a-d #a ,and he looked up1 and saw the rich men that were casting their gifts into the treasury4 #b ,and he saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites4 #c ,and he said1 ,of a truth ,i say unto you1 ,this poor widow cast in more than they all3 #d for all these did of their superfluity cast in unto the gifts2 but she of her want did cast in all the living that she had4 ,what a contrast this charming sketch supplies to the picture which ,jesus drew of the ,pharisees6 ,in the eyes of the world the service of the poor widow was meager and worthless1 while the gifts of the hypocrites were costly and great2 in the eyes of the ,lord their offerings were comparatively worthless and she gave more than they all4 ,as a matter of fact1 she had brought but two small coins1 worth less than a half cent1 but they were all that she had4 ,with this scene in mind we should be careful not to call our offerings 8mites0 unless they are all that we possess2 we should be encouraged1 however1 to know that our ,lord looks upon the heart and estimates the gift by the motive and the love and the sacrifice involved2 above all1 we should be reminded that we can best measure our offerings not by what we give but by how much we keep4 ,the influence of the woman is still moving multitudes toward the treasury of the ,lord4 ,i4 ,the ,destruction ,of ,jerusalem ,and ,the ,coming ,of ,christ4 ,ch4 #ba3e-ch ,during the days of his ministry ,jesus frequently predicted his death and also his return to glory4 ,he saw clearly before him a cross but on the distant horizon a throne4 ,again and again he had warned the ,jews that their rejection of him and of his call to repentance would result in the destruction of ,jerusalem and in the anguish of their race1 and quite as frequently he had told his disciples that while indeed he was to die and rise again1 a long period of time would pass before he would return in glory to establish his ,kingdom4 ,the great1 final discourse relating to the future was delivered at the close of his last day of public controversy and teaching4 ,as ,jesus sat with his disciples on the slope of the ,mount of ,olives1 as he looked westward and saw the sun sinking behind the majestic buildings of the sacred city1 he realized that in truth the night was gathering over the nation1 that his own day of earthly ministry was done1 and that the true dawning would not break for the world until the ,son of righteousness should arise in true glory1 until he himself would return to fill the earth with the peace and joy and splendor of his universal reign4 ,he1 therefore1 told his disciples with much detail the story of the approaching destruction of ,jerusalem and of his own return after the long years of faithful service and of eager waiting which were appointed for his followers4 ,this prophetic discourse of ,jesus is difficult to interpret2 first of all1 because it is phrased in figurative terms1 the exact meaning of which is not always apparent4 ,again it appears that we have only a partial report of the prophecies then spoken by our ,lord2 it is necessary to compare the records of ,matthew and ,mark with the statements here given by ,luke1 and then to remember that we have probably only a fraction of the whole discourse4 ,in the third place1 it is evident that our ,lord was describing not one event1 but two4 ,he was prophesying the literal overthrow of the holy city by the armies of ,rome1 but he was using the colors of this tragic scene to paint the picture of his own return in glory4 ,so interwoven are these two series of predictions that it is not always evident whether the reference is to the nearer or to the more remote of these events4 ,while we may note with some definiteness the general outline of the prophecy and while there need be little doubt as to its two outstanding features1 namely1 the destruction of the city and the return of our ,lord1 the study of this chapter should be undertaken with humility1 and our conclusions should be stated with caution and with reserve4 ,the result need not be bewilderment or despair2 it should be encouragement and more confident expectation of the coming of ,christ and the ultimate triumph of his cause4 #a4 ,the ,present ,age4 ,ch4 #ba3e-ai #e ,and as some spake of the temple1 how it was adorned with goodly stones and offerings1 he said1 #f ,as for these things which ye behold1 the days will come1 in which there shall not be left here one stone upon another1 that shall not be thrown down4 #g ,and they asked him1 saying1 ,teacher1 when therefore shall these things be8 and what shall be the sign when these things are about to come to pass8 #h ,and he said1 ,take heed that ye be not led astray3 for many shall come in my name1 saying1 ,i am he2 and1 ,the time is at hand3 go ye not after them4 #i ,and when ye shall hear of wars and tumults1 be not terrified3 for these things must needs come to pass first2 but the end is not immediately4 #aj ,then said he unto them1 ,nation shall rise against nation1 and kingdom against kingdom2 #aa and there shall be great earthquakes1 and in divers places famines and pestilences2 and there shall be terrors and great signs from heaven4 #ab ,but before all these things1 they shall lay their hands on you1 and shall persecute you1 delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons1 bringing you before kings and governors for my name's sake4 #ac ,it shall turn out unto you for a testimony4 ,settle it therefore in your hearts1 not to meditate beforehand how to answer3 #ae for ,i will give you a mouth and wisdom1 which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay4 #af ,but ye shall be delivered up even by parents1 and brethren1 and kinsfolk1 and friends2 and some of you shall they cause to be put to death4 #ag ,and ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake4 #ah ,and not a hair of your head shall perish4 #ai ,in your patience ye shall win your souls4 ,the occasion of this prophetic message was the question asked by the disciples1 as they gazed on the splendor of the ,temple1 concerning the destruction of which ,jesus had spoken as he declared that the days would come 8in which there shall not be left here one stone upon another1 that shall not be thrown down4 ,and they asked him1 saying1 ,teacher1 when therefore shall these things be8 and what shall be the sign when these things are about to come to pass80 ,in the words of ,matthew1 they also asked1 8,what shall be the sign of thy coming1 and of the end of the world80 ,first of all1 then1 ,jesus sketched for his disciples the character of this present age down to its very end1 and described the experiences of his followers urging them to be faithful to him amidst all the commotions and trials of the coming years until he should return4 ,according to his description the age will be characterized by the appearance of many deceivers who will claim the allegiance of his followers and assume to take the place of ,christ4 ,furthermore1 there will be wars and tumults but by these believers are not to be terrified4 ,it is always a temptation of shallow minds to interpret every unusual event as a sign of the approaching end of the world4 ,our ,lord assured his disciples that all through the passing years such events would happen without warranting the conclusion that the great event is near2 as he declared1 8,the end is not immediately20 there would be a long period of delay2 there would be a political commotion1 8,nation shall rise against nation1 and kingdom against kingdom40 ,there would also be earthquakes1 famines1 pestilences1 and 8great signs from heaven10 but these again must be regarded as characteristics of the present age and not as signs of its approaching end4 ,furthermore1 the followers of ,christ must suffer bitter persecution and be brought before kings and governors for his name's sake4 ,they must continue steadfast in their testimony4 ,they need not be troubled as to the exact form of their witness but must trust the unseen ,master to give them all needed wisdom as they speak boldly in his name4 ,most distressing of all1 they must suffer from the treachery of 8parents and brethren1 and kinsfolk1 and friends0 and some of them must taste the bitter cup of martyrdom2 they will be hated of all men1 yet their souls will not perish4 ,by their steadfast endurance they will win eternal salvation4 ,it is true1 the picture is one of great hardship and distress but its message has encouraged sufferers who in all ages have been faithful in their testimony and have found the comfort and inspiration which is possible for all as they look for the coming and ,kingdom of ,christ4 #b4 ,the ,destruction of ,jerusalem4 ,ch4 #ba3bj-bd #bj ,but when ye see ,jerusalem compassed with armies1 then know that her desolation is at hand4 #ba ,then let them that are in ,juda flee unto the mountains2 and let them that are in the midst of her depart out2 and let not them that are in the country enter therein4 #bb ,for these are days of vengeance1 that all things are written may be fulfilled4 #bc ,woe unto them that are with child and them that give suck in those days6 for there shall be great distress upon the land1 and wrath unto this people4 #bd ,and they shall fall by the edge of the sword1 and shall be led captive into all the nations3 and ,jerusalem shall be trodden down of the ,gentiles1 until the times of the ,gentiles be fulfilled4 ,as our ,lord scanned the future he now fixed his eyes first of all upon that dreadful event which in some of its features foreshadowed the end of that age which he had been describing4 ,on more than one occasion he had predicted the destruction of ,jerusalem4 ,he now declared that the definite sign of the descending doom would be the siege of the city3 8,when ye see ,jerusalem compassed with armies1 then know that her desolation is at hand40 ,he warned those within the city to flee to the mountains and declared that those who were in the country should not turn to the city for safety1 because the days of vengeance will have come and the prophecies of punishment upon the guilty nation will be about to be fulfilled4 ,it would be a time of unparalleled distress and horror2 as ,jesus declared1 8,they shall fall by the edge of the sword1 and shall be led captive into all the nations40 ,how literally his words were fulfilled is a familiar fact of history4 ,it would be difficult to recall another scene of equally hideous carnage4 ,it is estimated that a million ,jews fell victims to the slaughter and outrage of the soldiers under ,titus1 and that unnumbered thousands were led as captives to ,egypt and other lands4 ,last of all ,jesus predicted that ,jerusalem would be 8trodden down of the ,gentiles1 until the times of the ,gentiles be fulfilled40 ,the first phrase denotes something more than mere domination and ,gentile control2 it indicates something of indignity and disgrace and humiliation and this state of the holy city is to continue until 8the times of the ,gentiles0 are fulfilled1 which probably means during all the ages of ,gentile control1 and further1 during all the seasons of grace in which the gospel is being preached to the ,gentile world1 indeed1 until the return of our ,lord4 8,gentiles0 are plainly contrasted with ,jews1 and not with ,christians4 ,the mere fact that the sacred city has passed into control of ,christian powers is no proof that the age is near its end2 for this end there will be definite signs as ,jesus himself proceeded to declare4 ,however1 as one turns from this lurid picture of the destruction of the historic city1 and remembers how exactly these prophecies came to pass1 it should be with a new confidence in the further predictions made by ,christ and with a new belief that the more significant events of which he next proceeded to speak will be fulfilled likewise with exactness and in all their promised glory4 #c4 ,the ,coming of ,christ4 ,ch4 #ba3be-bh #be ,and there shall be signs in the sun and moon and stars2 and upon the earth distress of nations1 in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows2 #bf men fainting for fear1 and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world3 for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken4 #bg ,and then shall they see the ,son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory4 #bh ,but when these things begin to come to pass1 look up1 and lift up your heads2 because your redemption draweth nigh4 ,immediately before the return of our ,lord1 as the age draws to its close1 there are to be certain signs so definite1 so startling1 and so terrifying1 that they will leave no doubt that the predicted event is immediately to follow4 ,they are described1 however1 in terms which may be largely figurative3 8signs in the sun and moon and stars2 and upon the earth distress of nations1 in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows2 men fainting for fear 444 for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken20 then will occur the event toward which all the ages are moving1 for which the weary world has waited and by which the work of the ,church will be crowned and her hopes fulfilled1 namely1 the personal1 glorious appearing of the crucified1 risen1 ascended ,lord4 ,it may be a time of distress for the impenitent but for believers it will be a time of hope and expectation4 ,when the signs of which ,jesus spoke 8begin to come to pass10 then1 according to the words of ,jesus1 his followers may hopefully lift up their heads to greet their ,deliverer1 for their redemption will be at hand4 ,the coming of ,christ will be an event unexpected by the world1 but ,christians will be so definitely warned that they can be looking for the promised deliverance and for the predicted glory4 #d4 ,the ,encouragement to ,hope and ,vigilance4 ,ch4 #ba3bi-cf #bi ,and he spake to them a parable3 ,behold the fig tree1 and all the trees3 #cj when they now shoot forth1 ye see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now nigh4 #ca ,even so ye also1 when ye see these things coming to pass1 know ye that the kingdom of ,god is nigh4 #cb ,verily ,i say unto you1 ,this generation shall not pass away1 till all things be accomplished4 #cc ,heaven and earth1 shall pass away3 but my words shall not pass away4 #cd ,but take heed to yourselves1 lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting1 and drunkenness1 and cares of this life1 and that day come on you suddenly as a snare3 #ce for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth4 #cf ,but watch ye at every season1 making supplication1 that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass1 and to stand before the ,son of man4 ,in speaking of his return in glory1 ,jesus mentioned certain definite signs by which his followers will know that his coming is near4 ,to explain more clearly the purpose of these 8signs10 ,jesus spoke a brief parable in which he compared their appearance to the foliage put forth in the springtime which becomes a certain harbinger of the summer4 ,many have supposed that ,jesus indicated ,israel by his reference to 8the fig tree0 and have concluded that a revival of ,judaism and a return of the ,jews to ,palestine will be a certain indication that the present age is drawing to its close4 ,whatever may be predicted elsewhere concerning the ,jews1 there is no such reference here1 for ,jesus not only said1 8,behold the fig tree10 but also1 8all the trees40 ,his meaning is perfectly plain4 ,he did not refer to nations under the figure of trees1 but he declared that as the foliage is a sure precursor of summer1 so the signs of which he spoke are a certain indication of his imminent return4 8,even so ye also1 when ye see these things coming to pass1 know ye that the kingdom of ,god is nigh10 the ,kingdom which is to be established in glory at the appearing of our ,lord4 ,jesus further awakened the expectation of his hearers by the statement1 8,this generation shall not pass away1 till all things be accomplished40 ,it is improbable1 as again many have supposed1 that ,jesus referred to the ,hebrew race by the term 8this generation40 ,the words are almost certainly to be interpreted in their usual significance and 8all things0 to be 8accomplished0 refers to the destruction of ,jerusalem regarded as the type and symbol of the return of ,christ4 ,these two events are thus closely related in this prophetic discourse and the literal fulfillment of the first gives to believers a more confident assurance of the certain occurrence of the latter3 8,heaven and earth shall pass away3 but my words shall not pass away40 ,the hope that our ,lord will come is not based on human conjectures1 but on his own unfailing predictions4 ,all that is material and temporal may cease to exist1 but his promises are eternal4 ,in view of such glorious prophecies the heart of the ,christian is ever to be set upon the gracious realities relating to the coming of the ,master4 ,the followers of ,christ must be on their guard lest they be overcome by the influences which ,jesus described as characterizing the days immediately preceding his return4 ,there will be temptation to self-indulgence and indifference and absorption in worldly cares4 ,believers are warned to be on their watch lest the coming of ,christ overtake them unexpectedly1 as indeed it will come upon others4 ,they are urged to watch and to pray that they may be able to escape from those judgments which will break upon a guilty world1 and may be counted worthy to take their places in the glorious ,kingdom of their ,lord4 #e4 ,the ,historic ,statement4 ,ch4 #ba3cg1 #ch #cg ,and every day he was teaching in the temple2 and every night he went out1 and lodged in the mount that was called ,olivet4 #ch ,and all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple1 to hear him4 ,luke closes his account of the discourse delivered by ,jesus in reference to his return by a statement which summarizes the general conditions which marked the final events of ,jesus' earthly ministry4 ,he states that ,jesus passed his days teaching in the ,temple and spent the nights under the open skies on the slopes of the ,mount of ,olives1 and that the people were so eager to hear him that they resorted to the ,temple early each morning4 ,this statement is rather in the nature of a review4 ,it marks a transition in the narrative4 ,in reality1 ,jesus seems to have returned to the city only once more1 when he was arrested and led forth to die4 ,luke prepares us for these last events4 ,the story has reached its climax4 ,,vii4 ,,the ,,death ,,and ,,resurrection4 ,,chs4 #bb ,,to #bd ,a4 ,the ,treachery ,of ,judas4 ,ch4 #bb3a-f #a ,now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh1 which is called the ,passover4 #b ,and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death2 for they feared the people4 #c ,and ,satan entered into ,judas who was called ,iscariot1 being of the number of the twelve4 #d ,and he went away1 and communed with the chief priests and captains1 how he might deliver him unto them4 #e ,and they were glad1 and covenanted to give him money4 #f ,and he consented1 and sought opportunity to deliver him unto them in the absence of the multitude4 ,the statement that 8the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh1 which is called the ,passover10 forms a fitting preface to the story of the passion1 for the ,hebrew feast commemorated the deliverance of ,israel when the angel of death passed over the homes which were marked with blood1 and now a greater redemption was to be purchased by the blood of ,christ1 and those who would accept his salvation were to put away sin from their lives1 even as leaven was excluded from ,hebrew homes during all the days of the feast4 ,the rulers of the ,jews had already determined upon the death of ,jesus4 ,their problem lay in his immense popularity4 ,they were determining to delay until after the feast1 when the great crowds would have left the city1 when suddenly help came to them from a most unexpected quarter4 ,judas ,iscariot1 one of the twelve immediate followers of ,jesus1 offered to betray his ,master into the hands of the rulers at such a time and place as they desired1 namely1 8in the absence of the multitude40 ,of course the chief priests and the officers of the ,temple guard 8were glad0 and contracted to pay the money demanded by the traitor for his treachery4 ,luke states that ,judas acted under the direction of ,satan4 ,we are not to conclude1 however1 that he was a demoniac or that he lacked control of his faculties4 ,his act was deliberate1 unsolicited1 and without excuse4 ,the explanation is that he long had been cherishing his lust for gold4 ,he had listened to the suggestion of ,satan and now he yielded himself to his foul service4 ,the alarming truth is that the treachery of ,judas was not the act of a unique monster1 but only an example of what1 finally1 may be done by any man who1 in daily fellowship with ,jesus1 does not renounce his one besetting sin4 ,to resist continually the gracious influence of the ,saviour is to fall the more rapidly under the complete power of ,satan4 ,b4 ,the ,last ,supper4 ,ch4 #bb3g-ch #g ,and the day of unleavened bread came1 on which the passover must be sacrificed4 #h ,and he sent ,peter and ,john1 saying1 ,go and make ready for us the passover1 that we may eat4 #i ,and they said unto him1 ,where wilt thou that we make ready8 #aj ,and he said unto them1 ,behold1 when ye are entered into the city1 there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water2 follow him into the house whereinto he goeth4 #aa ,and ye shall say unto the ,master of the house1 ,the ,teacher saith unto thee1 ,where is the guest-chamber1 where ,i shall eat the passover with my disciples8 #ab ,and he will show you a large upper room furnished3 there make ready4 #ac ,and they went1 and found as he had said unto them3 and they made ready the passover4 #ad ,and when the hour was come1 he sat down1 and the apostles with him4 #ae ,and he said unto them1 ,with desire ,i have desired to eat this passover with you before ,i suffer3 #af ,for ,i say unto you1 ,i shall not eat it1 until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of ,god4 #ag ,and he received a cup1 and when he had given thanks1 he said1 ,take this1 and divide it among yourselves3 #ah for ,i say unto you1 ,i shall not drink from henceforth of the fruit of the vine1 until the kingdom of ,god shall come4 #ai ,and he took bread1 and when he had given thanks1 he brake it1 and gave to them1 saying1 ,this is my body which is given for you3 this do in remembrance of me4 #bj ,and the cup in like manner after supper1 saying1 ,this cup is the new covenant in my blood1 even that which is poured out for you4 #ba ,but behold1 the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table4 #bb ,for the ,son of man indeed goeth1 as it hath been determined3 but woe unto that man through whom he is betrayed6 #bc ,and they began to question among themselves1 which of them it was that should do this thing4 #bd ,and there rose also a contention among them1 which of them was accounted to be the greatest4 #be ,and he said unto them1 ,the kings of the ,gentiles have lordship over them2 and they that have authority over them are called ,benefactors4 #bf ,but ye shall not be so3 but he that is the greater among you1 let him become as the younger2 and he that is chief1 as he that doth serve4 #bg ,for which is greater1 he that sitteth at meat1 or he that serveth8 is not he that sitteth at meat8 but ,i am in the midst of you as he that serveth4 #bh ,but ye are they that have continued with me in my temptations2 #bi and ,i appoint unto you a kingdom1 even as my ,father appointed unto me1 #cj that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom2 and ye shall sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of ,israel4 #ca ,simon1 ,simon1 behold1 ,satan asked to have you1 that he might sift you as wheat3 #cb but ,i made supplication for thee1 that thy faith fail not2 and do thou1 when once thou hast turned again1 establish thy brethren4 #cc ,and he said unto him1 ,lord1 with thee ,i am ready to go both to prison and to death4 #cd ,and he said1 ,i tell thee1 ,peter1 the cock shall not crow this day1 until thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me4 #ce ,and he said unto them1 ,when ,i sent you forth without purse1 and wallet1 and shoes1 lacked ye anything8 ,and they said1 ,nothing4 #cf ,and he said unto them1 ,but now1 he that that hath a purse1 let him take it1 and likewise a wallet2 and he that hath none1 let him sell his cloak1 and buy a sword4 #cg ,for ,i say unto you1 that this which is written must be fulfilled in me1 ,and he was reckoned with transgressors3 for that which concerneth me hath fulfillment4 #ch ,and they said1 ,lord1 behold1 here are two swords4 ,and he said unto them1 ,it is enough4 ,the last meal of which ,jesus partook with his disciples was a passover feast1 and it was the occasion of the establishment of that sacrament which is known as the ,lord's ,supper4 ,the passover called to mind a national deliverance in the past and pointed forward to a greater deliverance to come1 which was effected by the death of ,christ4 ,the ,lord's ,supper points us backward to the great redemption he achieved by his atoning death1 and forward to the fuller redemption he will accomplish in his return4 ,the 8,last ,supper0 may rightly be reviewed in connection with the ,christian sacrament1 and the story here recorded may intimate to us how this sacrament may be most helpfully observed4 #a4 ,it must be for us a time of retirement4 ,so far as possible we must exclude all distracting thoughts and fix our minds upon ,christ and his redeeming love4 ,jesus made such provision for his disciples4 ,he sent ,peter and ,john to the city to prepare a room in which he might partake of the passover with his disciples1 but he was careful to provide against any possible interruption4 ,he did not mention to the disciples the place of meeting4 ,had he done so1 ,judas would have disclosed the place to the enemies who would have arrested ,jesus in the midst of the supper4 ,our ,lord was careful to say to the two disciples that as they entered the city there would meet them 8a man bearing a pitcher of water20 they were to follow him into the house and were there to prepare the passover4 ,according to the account of the other evangelists1 it seems that after the passover feast had been eaten and before ,jesus established his memorial supper1 he dismissed ,judas from the circle4 ,surely it must be our endeavor to shut out from our hearts all traitorous and intrusive thoughts1 that during the sacred service we may be consciously alone with our ,lord4 #b4 ,it is to be a time of communion4 ,our ,lord had eagerly looked forward to those hours to be spent with his disciples in unbroken fellowship4 ,he had much to tell them4 ,he knew it was to be a season of tender farewell1 and he wished to strengthen them by messages of cheer and of hope4 ,probably in the whole ,bible there are no chapters more familiar1 more tender1 more helpful1 than those written by ,john containing the words spoken by our ,lord in the upper room on the occasion of this ,last ,supper4 ,to those whose hearts are prepared1 the unseen ,lord is surely present and ready to speak1 through the appointed symbols and by his ,spirit1 truths which will inspire strength and joy4 #c4 ,it is to be a season of gratitude4 ,the sacrament has often been called the 8,eucharist10 the service of 8thanksgiving10 for we then call to mind the infinite benefits secured for us by the atoning death of our ,lord4 ,this is the supreme purpose of the feast4 ,jesus stated this clearly when establishing it2 the bread was to call to mind his body broken for us1 and the wine was to be a symbol of his blood1 which as he said to his disciples1 was to be poured out for them4 ,this supper is therefore to be a memorial of redeeming grace2 it is to show forth the ,lord's death1 as he himself said1 8,this do in remembrance of me40 #d4 ,it is to be a time of hope4 ,even under the shadow of the cross our ,lord pointed his disciples to the glory of his throne2 while their hearts were torn by the thought of separation1 he reminded them of a reunion when they would eat and drink together 8in the kingdom of ,god40 ,he declared that they were to have a time of temptation1 but if they suffered with him1 they would also reign with him4 8,i appoint unto you a kingdom1 even as my ,father appointed unto me1 that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom40 ,thus the communion season is a time when we especially look forward to glad reunions with those who have passed on before4 ,we cheer our hearts with visions of coming glory4 ,under the darkest shadows we look for the opening skies and for the return of ,christ2 we 8proclaim the ,lord's death till he come40 #e4 ,it is a time of consecration4 ,while the disciples were seated at the table they were disputing as to which of them was greatest4 ,our ,saviour gave them a memorable example when he stooped down and washed their feet1 and then most impressively he explained to them the character of true greatness and showed that its essence lay in service2 to quote his own words1 8,he that is the greater among you1 let him become as the younger2 and he that is chief1 as he that doth serve40 ,as we turn from the table of our ,lord it should ever be with a desire to go forth in his name and to do anything in our power to serve our fellow men1 and to follow in his footsteps who came 8not to be ministered unto but to minister1 and to give his life a ransom for many40 #f4 ,it should be a time of humility1 when we realize anew our weakness and our dependence upon ,christ and his sustaining grace4 ,jesus found it necessary to warn his disciples concerning their coming temptations and trials1 and particularly to foretell the fall of ,peter4 ,turning to the impulsive1 affectionate1 fickle disciple1 who seems to have been the leader of the apostolic band1 he told him that ,satan had desired to have the disciples1 to sift them as wheat1 but that ,jesus himself had made special prayer for ,peter that his faith should not fail1 even though ,jesus foresaw that for a time his courage would give way and that he would deny his ,master4 ,he urged ,peter1 however1 to repent after his fall and to encourage his fellow disciples4 ,such a statement of the weakness and unfaithfulness which ,peter was to manifest seemed incredible to him and he protested1 8,lord1 with thee ,i am ready to go both to prison and to death40 ,but ,jesus sadly replied1 8,i tell thee1 ,peter1 the cock shall not crow this day1 until thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me40 ,it is impossible to observe the ,lord's ,supper without memories of past failure1 and it is only too true that similar experiences of weakness will be shown in days to come4 ,every such disloyalty gives pain to our ,lord1 but if our hearts are really yielded to him1 our faults will be followed by true repentance4 ,if we really trust in him1 he is ready to pardon2 as he prayed for ,peter1 so he is praying for us2 though we at times stumble1 he will not allow us utterly to fall4 ,he is able to save 8to the uttermost 444 seeing he ever liveth to make intercession0 for us4 #g4 ,this should be a time of new resolution4 ,we should be humble and trustful in view of past and of possible future failures1 but we should determine to stand firmly in the strength which the ,master supplies4 ,he told his followers in the upper room of the changed conditions which they were to meet when he had been taken from them4 ,the enemies who would take his life would surely not treat his disciples with kindness4 ,he assured them that they were now to be left more to their own resources and that they were to meet with the most bitter hostility4 ,he even suggested that it would be necessary for each one to buy a sword4 ,they took his words with absurd literalness and they said1 8,lord1 behold1 here are two swords40 ,it was with sad irony that ,jesus replied1 8,it is enough40 ,of course1 he did not mean that his followers are to use violence or are to extend the gospel by means of force4 ,he only wished us to be warned and to resolve anew that in the spiritual conflict which awaits us we shall be true to him as loyal soldiers of the cross4 ,we go forth to battle1 but on some brighter morrow we shall be seated with him at a heavenly feast with banquet and song4 ,c4 ,the ,agony ,in ,gethsemane4 ,ch4 #bb3ci-df #ci ,and he came out1 and went1 as his custom was1 unto the mount of ,olives2 and the disciples also followed him4 #dj ,and when he was at the place1 he said unto them1 ,pray that ye enter not into temptation4 #da ,and he was parted from them about a stone's cast2 and he kneeled down and prayed1 #db saying1 ,father1 if thou be willing1 remove this cup from me3 nevertheless not my will1 but thine1 be done4 #dc ,and there appeared unto him an angel from heaven1 strengthening him4 #dd ,and being in an agony he prayed more earnestly2 and his sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground4 #de ,and when he rose up from his prayer1 he came unto the disciples1 and found them sleeping for sorrow1 #df and said unto them1 ,why sleep ye8 rise and pray1 that ye enter not into temptation4 ,from the quiet fellowship in the upper room ,jesus with his disciples1 under the shadow of the night1 went forth to the ,garden of ,gethsemane1 a favorite resort on the slope of the ,mount of ,olives1 and he there experienced that unequaled anguish of soul which is commonly known as his 8agony40 ,to enter the sacred privacy of that scene even in imagination seems to be an intrusion1 and yet some glimpses have been revealed for our instruction and encouragement as his disciples4 ,there can be no doubt that this distress which seized him was due to his clear vision of the death he was to endure on the following day2 and this very agony adds beyond measure to the meaning and the mystery of that death4 ,for any sensitive soul to shrink from pain and anguish is but natural and pardonable2 yet if ,jesus suffered such incomparable agony simply in view of physical torture1 he was less heroic than many of his followers have been4 ,if1 however1 in the hour of death1 he was to be so identified with sin as to become the ,redeemer of the world2 if he was 8to give his life a ransom for many20 if his experience as the ,lamb of ,god was to be absolutely unique2 if he was to endure the hiding of his ,father's face1 then we can understand why it was that in the dark hour of anticipation his soul was sorrowful 8even unto death40 ,the agony of our ,lord must never be supposed to reflect upon his human heroism2 it is rather a proof of his divine atonement4 ,the 8cup0 which ,jesus was asked to drink consisted of death as 8the ,bearer of sin40 ,in this hour of most bitter trial ,jesus found relief in prayer4 ,he had come to ,gethsemane that he might be alone with ,god4 ,he had exhorted his disciples to follow his example4 ,when the agony most fiercely gripped his lonely heart he still prayed and he was heard4 ,the cup was not removed1 but 8,there appeared unto him an angel from heaven1 strengthening him40 ,he was given grace to drain the cup to its very dregs and death lost its sting and the grave its terror4 ,he was fitted for perfect sympathy with those who are called upon to face the mystery of 8unanswered prayer40 8,he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation40 ,jesus prayed in faith2 and the very essence of such believing prayer is the willingness to obey4 ,this was the petition which comes to us as an example1 8,nevertheless not my will1 but thine1 be done40 ,he won his victory by complete submission to the will of his ,father4 ,henceforth there was no more struggle4 ,he turned with unfaltering step to meet betrayal and agony and death4 ,the hour struck and he was ready4 8,he was well content40 ,d4 ,the ,arrest ,of ,jesus4 ,ch4 #bb3dg-ec #dg ,while he yet spake1 behold1 a multitude1 and he that was called ,judas1 one of the twelve1 went before them2 and he drew near unto ,jesus to kiss him4 #dh ,but ,jesus said unto him1 ,judas1 betrayest thou the ,son of man with a kiss8 #di ,and when they that were about him saw what would follow1 they said1 ,lord1 shall we smite with the sword8 #ej ,and a certain one of them smote the servant of the high priest1 and struck off his right ear4 #ea ,but ,jesus answered and said1 ,suffer ye them thus far4 ,and he touched his ear1 and healed him4 #eb ,and ,jesus said unto the chief priests1 and captains of the temple1 and elders1 that were come against him1 ,are ye come out1 as against a robber1 with swords and staves8 #ec ,when ,i was daily with you in the temple1 ye stretched not forth your hands against me3 but this is your hour1 and the power of darkness4 ,the manner in which ,judas concluded his foul crime was in perfect keeping with its essential baseness4 ,he led a multitude armed with swords and clubs into the ,garden where his ,master was wont to retire for prayer1 and there betrayed him with a kiss1 a sign which had been agreed upon in order that1 in the deep shadows1 one of the disciples might not be mistaken for the ,master and arrested in his place4 ,a kiss was a usual sign of friendship1 but the manner of ,judas and the rebuke of ,jesus indicate that it was given with a false semblance of deep affection and was thus the more repulsive to the ,lord4 ,acts of disloyalty to ,christ are even more distressing to him in surroundings which are sacred and when committed by those who have made loud protestations of love4 ,the fearless composure of the ,master is now contrasted with the conduct of his followers4 ,they asked whether they should defend him with the sword1 and before he could reply1 ,peter rashly smote the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear4 ,to this act ,jesus made reply1 8,suffer ye them thus far20 the exact meaning is not certain1 but probably he was addressing his disciples to prevent further violence4 ,he then touched the ear of the servant and healed him4 ,only ,luke1 8the beloved physician10 mentions this 8unique miracle of surgery40 ,the incident has its message for disciples in all ages4 ,violence and cruelty in the defense of the cause of ,christ misrepresent him to the world4 ,the act of ,peter gave countenance to charges which would be preferred against ,jesus1 and further resistance would have compromised the position of his ,lord4 ,however well intended1 such rash defenses weaken the cause they are designed to promote4 ,jesus turned to rebuke his enemies and resented the fact that they had come against him as against a robber with swords and clubs4 ,he reminded them that daily he had taught in public4 ,their coming with violence1 in secrecy2 and under the cover of night1 was a proof that the arrest was false and that it could not be justified4 ,there had been abundant opportunities during many days to seize him in public when he was unprotected4 ,their present course bore its own condemnation2 but he added mournfully1 8,this is your hour1 and the power of darkness40 ,in the mystery of his providence ,god was allowing this iniquity4 ,he was giving this temporary authority to the forces of evil4 ,it was to be a brief hour1 but those who willingly put it to such a use would incur eternal condemnation4 ,nothing is more solemn than the possibility of using for evil ends the liberty allotted us of ,god4 ,e4 ,peter's ,denial4 ,ch4 #bb3ed-fb #ed ,and they seized him1 and led him away1 and brought him into the high priest's house4 ,but ,peter followed afar off4 #ee ,and when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the court1 and had sat down together1 ,peter sat in the midst of them4 #ef ,and a certain maid seeing him as he sat in the light of the fire1 and looking stedfastly upon him1 said1 ,this man also was with him4 #eg ,but he denied1 saying1 ,woman1 ,i know him not4 #eh ,and after a little while another saw him1 and said1 ,thou also art one of them4 ,but ,peter said1 ,man1 ,i am not4 #ei ,and after the space of about one hour another confidently affirmed1 saying1 ,of a truth this man also was with him2 for he is a ,galilan4 #fj ,but ,peter said1 ,man1 ,i know not what thou sayest4 ,and immediately1 while he yet spake1 the cock crew4 #fa ,and the ,lord turned1 and looked upon ,peter4 ,and ,peter remembered the word of the ,lord1 how that he said unto him1 ,before the cock crow this day thou shalt deny me thrice4 #fb ,and he went out1 and wept bitterly4 ,peter really loved ,jesus and his faith in him never failed2 but in the hour of trial1 which ,jesus had predicted1 ,peter lost courage and denied his ,lord4 ,his sin1 however1 was unlike that of ,judas4 ,the latter was the final step in a downward course4 ,the former was an act of cowardice in a career of moral development which resulted in blessing and service to all the followers of ,christ4 ,the fall of ,peter may be traced to his self-confidence4 ,when he protested that he would be true to ,christ1 even though all should forsake him1 he was sincere and expressed the true feeling of his heart1 but he betrayed his pride4 ,the immediate result was his failure to obey the ,master and to watch and pray as he had been bidden2 and consequently he was surprised and stunned by the arrest of ,jesus1 and like the other disciples1 after a rash stroke in his defense1 he forsook ,jesus and fled4 ,he followed ,jesus to the palace of the high priest but hoped to conceal his discipleship and to be regarded as one of the excited crowd4 ,every follower of ,christ is in mortal danger when confident of his moral strength and especially when at the same time he is ashamed to be publicly known as a disciple1 and most of all when he feels1 as ,peter probably felt1 that confessed loyalty to ,christ can under the circumstances be of no special help to his ,lord4 ,at such a time when the cause of ,jesus seemed hopeless1 when the courage of ,peter was gone1 when he was wearied by the long night of sleeplessness1 when cold and lonely1 the unexpected attack was made and ,peter suffered his tragic defeat4 ,it may be easy to point the finger of scorn at the great apostle1 but there are few followers of ,christ who at times of less severe testing have not as truly denied their ,lord1 by word or deed1 with cowardice and deceit and passion4 ,three times ,peter repeated his denial and then he heard the crowing of a cock4 ,the incident was insignificant in itself1 but it recalled the word of his ,master2 it made ,peter conscious of his disgrace but it called him to himself1 and then as he turned toward the palace1 for a moment he caught sight of his ,lord4 ,we may be unable to conjecture what was expressed in the face of ,jesus as at that moment he 8looked upon ,peter40 ,there may have been something of rebuke1 but probably there was more of unutterable sorrow and of tender sympathy4 ,we read that as 8,peter remembered the word of the ,lord1 444 he went out1 and wept bitterly40 ,surely these were tears of repentance and they prepared the way for pardon and for peace4 ,to many a fallen follower of ,christ there has come some minute providence recalling hours of glad fellowship and messages of solemn warning1 and the heart has been turned toward the ,master1 and true repentance has been felt in realizing the pain which the disloyalty has brought to the loving ,lord4 ,the consciousness has brought bitter tears and hours of regret and of anguish1 but they have been followed by a brighter morning1 by a meeting with the risen ,christ1 by a new confession of love1 by words of peace1 and by a truer life of deeper devotion to his cause4 ,f4 ,jesus ,before ,the ,jewish ,rulers4 ,ch4 #bb3fc-ga #fc ,and the men that held ,jesus mocked him1 and beat him4 #fd ,and they blindfolded him1 and asked him1 saying1 ,prophesy3 who is he that struck thee8 #fe ,and many other things spake they against him1 reviling him4 #ff ,and as soon as it was day1 the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together1 both chief priests and scribes2 and they led him away into their council1 saying1 #fg ,if thou art the ,christ1 tell us4 ,but he said unto them1 ,if ,i tell you1 ye will not believe3 #fh and if ,i ask you1 ye will not answer4 #fi ,but from henceforth shall the ,son of man be seated at the right hand of the power of ,god4 #gj ,and they all said1 ,art thou then the ,son of ,god8 ,and he said unto them1 ,ye say that ,i am4 #ga ,and they said1 ,what further need have we of witness8 for we ourselves have heard from his own mouth4 ,after ,jesus had been denied by ,peter1 he was grossly insulted and abused by his captors4 ,he was mocked and beaten and reviled4 ,those responsible for these indignities were the ,jewish rulers1 the most cultured and refined and professedly religious men of their day2 but the beast within man is more powerful than we commonly suppose4 ,when ,christ is rejected1 when his teachings are despised1 when his ,spirit is opposed1 then it is only a question of time and of occasion when hatred or malice or lust or anger awaken in man the passions and ferocity of the brute4 ,when the morning dawned1 ,jesus was led away to be arraigned formally before the sanhedrin1 the supreme ecclesiastical court of the ,jews4 ,he was supposed to be on trial for his life2 in reality the council was being judged1 and in its guilt the entire nation was involved4 ,the rulers convicted themselves of prejudice1 dishonesty1 and malice4 ,they did not seek to learn the truth that justice might be done2 they sought to find some evidence on which ,jesus might be condemned4 ,when every attempt to convict ,jesus had failed1 they finally charged him in the words3 8,if thou art the ,christ1 tell us40 ,jesus' reply shows how fully he appreciated their blind hatred and their unwillingness to be just2 he told them that no statement he might make would be believed1 and that no explanation or defense he might offer would be accepted2 nevertheless1 he would answer their question1 with the statement that his exaltation to the place of divine power was about to take place4 ,then they asked him directly1 8,art thou then the ,son of ,god80 ,he answered with all distinctness1 8,ye say that ,i am40 ,then they at once decreed that he was worthy of death4 ,they had prejudged the case4 ,they were unwilling to consider whether his claim to be the ,son of ,god was true2 they only wished to be sure that he made the claim4 ,when they had made sure of this1 they agreed that he must die as a blasphemer4 ,their logic was so far true4 ,there is no other alternative4 ,in the presence of ,christ there can be no neutrality4 ,either he was an impostor who deserves our contempt1 or else he is the divine ,son of ,god whom we must worship and obey4 ,every soul must choose between the sanhedrin and the ,church4 ,g4 ,jesus ,before ,pilate4 ,ch4 #bc3a-be #a ,and the whole company of them rose up1 and brought him before ,pilate4 #b ,and they began to accuse him1 saying1 ,we found this man perverting our nation1 and forbidding to give tribute to ,csar1 and saying that he himself is ,christ a king4 #c ,and ,pilate asked him1 saying1 ,art thou the ,king of the ,jews8 ,and he answered him and said1 ,thou sayest4 #d ,and ,pilate said unto the chief priests and the multitudes1 ,i find no fault in this man4 #e ,but they were the more urgent1 saying1 ,he stirreth up the people1 teaching throughout all ,juda1 and beginning from ,galilee even unto this place4 #f ,but when ,pilate heard it1 he asked whether the man were a ,galilan4 #g ,and when he knew that he was of ,herod's jurisdiction1 he sent him unto ,herod1 who himself also was at ,jerusalem in these days4 #h ,now when ,herod saw ,jesus1 he was exceeding glad3 for he was of a long time desirous to see him1 because he had heard concerning him2 and he hoped to see some miracle done by him4 #i ,and he questioned him in many words2 but he answered him nothing4 #aj ,and the chief priests and the scribes stood1 vehemently accusing him4 #aa ,and ,herod with his soldiers set him at nought1 and mocked him1 and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to ,pilate4 #ab ,and ,herod and ,pilate became friends with each other that very day3 for before they were at enmity between themselves4 #ac ,and ,pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people1 #ad and said unto them1 ,ye brought unto me this man1 as one that perverteth the people3 and behold1 ,i1 having examined him before you1 found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him3 #ae no1 nor yet ,herod3 for he sent him back unto us2 and behold1 nothing worthy of death hath been done by him4 #af ,i will therefore chastise him1 and release him4 #ah ,but they cried out all together1 saying1 ,away with this man1 and release unto us ,barabbas--#ai one who for a certain insurrection made in the city1 and for murder1 was cast into prison4 #bj ,and ,pilate spake unto them again1 desiring to release ,jesus2 #ba but they shouted1 saying1 ,crucify1 crucify him4 #bb ,and he said unto them the third time1 ,why1 what evil hath this man done8 ,i have found no cause of death in him3 ,i will therefore chastise him and release him4 #bc ,but they were urgent with loud voices1 asking that he might be crucified4 ,and their voices prevailed4 #bd ,and ,pilate gave sentence that what they asked for should be done4 #be ,and he released him that for insurrection and murder had been cast into prison1 whom they asked for2 but ,jesus he delivered up to their will4 ,the ,jews had been deprived by their ,roman conquerors of the right to inflict capital punishment4 ,when1 therefore1 their chief council had decided that ,jesus was worthy of death1 the rulers brought him to ,pilate1 the ,roman governor1 that he might confirm their sentence and execute the cruel penalty of crucifixion4 ,the trial before ,pilate developed into a disgraceful contest between the murderous and determined ,jewish rulers and the weak and vacillating ,roman governor1 who was at last compelled to act contrary to his conscience and his desire and to submit his will to that of the subjects whom he detested4 ,luke gives only a bare outline of the story1 which is sketched best by the apostle ,john4 ,enough1 however1 is given to show the infamous baseness of the ,jews and the futile endeavors of ,pilate to avoid the judicial murder which he finally committed4 ,the ,jewish rulers had asked ,pilate to pronounce sentence without hearing the charge2 this ,pilate properly refused to do4 ,when the accusation was made1 ,luke shows most clearly how craftily the decision of the ,jewish court was perverted1 and how forcibly the false charge was presented4 ,jesus had been convicted of claiming to be the divine ,messiah4 ,it was the claim of deity1 and thus of blasphemy1 on which he was condemned4 ,the ,jews knew that this would make no impression on ,pilate4 ,however1 the office of ,messiah did imply rule and authority1 and therefore the claim of ,jesus was distorted into a political offense and he was charged with sedition1 with forbidding tribute to ,csar1 and with claiming to be a king4 ,how absurd all these accusations were1 ,pilate soon learned2 he probably was not a little suspicious of the sudden zeal for their ,roman tyrants shown by these rebellious ,jews4 ,however1 he lacked the courage of his convictions2 he declared ,jesus to be innocent1 but fearing to offend the rulers and the crowds whom they had won to their will1 he hesitated to release ,jesus4 ,that was a fatal step2 the only thing to do is to act with decision and promptness as soon as one sees what is right4 ,it is surely true in matters of conscience that 8he who hesitates is lost40 ,then ,pilate did what all weak men are apt to do3 he attempted to avoid making a decision2 he tried to shift the responsibility2 he learned that ,jesus was from ,galilee1 and so ,pilate sent ,jesus to be judged by ,king ,herod1 within whose realm ,galilee lay4 ,herod was then in ,jerusalem1 and he was eager to see ,jesus1 of whom he had heard so much1 and he hoped that his curiosity might be gratified by seeing ,jesus perform some miracle4 ,however1 when appearing before ,herod1 ,jesus refused even to answer him by a single word4 ,jesus has a message for every penitent1 and a miracle for every believer2 but for the murderer of ,john and for the shallow1 sinful profligate there is only silence and contempt4 ,to wreak upon ,jesus a petty revenge1 ,herod mocked ,jesus by clothing him with royal apparel1 and sent him back thus arrayed to ,pilate4 ,it was a cruel jest1 but it was an acquittal of ,jesus as guilty of no political offense4 ,thus ,pilate was forced to act as judge2 others cannot decide for us questions of conscience4 ,when compelled to act1 ,pilate attempted a second maneuver familiar to all weak souls2 he proposed to compromise4 ,he would do what was wrong but he would avoid the crime of murder4 ,he offered to scourge ,jesus1 whom he declared to be absolutely innocent1 or to release him as a notable criminal1 as one such was usually released at this feast4 ,on the one hand1 he would be subjecting ,jesus to the most agonizing bodily torture2 on the other1 he would brand ,jesus as a malefactor who had deserved death4 ,compromise in a case of conscience is always a sign of weakness1 and the enemy is sure to press his advantage4 ,as the rulers saw ,pilate yielding thus far1 they asked for the release of a notorious murderer by the name of ,barabbas2 and as they saw ,jesus coming forth from the scourging1 torn and bleeding1 they cried out for his life1 8,crucify him1 crucify him40 ,as ,pilate hesitated1 the rulers used their most deadly weapon2 they suggested that they would report ,pilate to the emperor as shielding a political revolutionist2 they would imperil the position and life of the governor4 ,this attack ,pilate could not withstand2 when some personal loss was involved conscience was no longer to be considered4 ,he decided to do what he knew to be wrong2 he 8gave sentence that what they asked for should be done20 and so doing he placed himself near the head of that long list of moral cowards who share his eternal infamy for fearing to do the right4 ,the degradation of the ,jewish rulers was even greater4 ,with all their knowledge of the moral law1 they who professed to be special representatives of ,god put to death his ,son1 and chose a murderer instead of the ,saviour4 ,to the tragedy of such a choice ,luke refers with horror in the only personal comment he makes upon the scene4 ,v4 #be4 ,are not thousands1 however1 making that same choice to-day8 ,there can be no neutral ground2 indecision is impossible3 one must choose either ,barabbas or ,christ4 ,h4 ,the ,crucifixion4 ,ch4 #bc3bf-ch #bf ,and when they led him away1 they laid hold upon one ,simon of ,cyrene1 coming from the country1 and laid on him the cross1 to bear it after ,jesus4 #bg ,and there followed him a great multitude of the people1 and of women who bewailed and lamented him4 #bh ,but ,jesus turning unto them said1 ,daughters of ,jerusalem1 weep not for me1 but weep for yourselves1 and for your children4 #bi ,for behold1 the days are coming1 in which they shall say1 ,blessed are the barren1 and the wombs that never bare1 and the breasts that never gave suck4 #cj ,then shall they begin to say to the mountains1 ,fall on us2 and to the hills1 ,cover us4 #ca ,for if they do these things in the green tree1 what shall be done in the dry8 #cb ,and there were also two others1 malefactors1 led with him to be put to death4 #cc ,and when they came unto the place which is called ,the skull1 there they crucified him1 and the malefactors1 one on the right hand and the other on the left4 #cd ,and ,jesus said1 ,father1 forgive them2 for they know not what they do4 ,and parting his garments among them1 they cast lots4 #ce ,and the people stood beholding4 ,and the rulers also scoffed at him1 saying1 ,he saved others2 let him save himself1 if this is the ,christ of ,god1 his chosen4 #cf ,and the soldiers also mocked him1 coming to him1 offering him vinegar1 #cg and saying1 ,if thou art the ,king of the ,jews1 save thyself4 #ch ,and there was also a superscription over him1 ,,this ,,is ,,the ,,king ,,of ,,the ,,jews4 ,the ,gospel narratives spare us the distressing details of the crucifixion2 this was the most cruel and agonizing form of death2 but the facts are written with surprising delicacy and reserve4 ,as ,jesus was being led from the city a certain ,simon of ,cyrene was pressed into the service of bearing his cross4 ,the cause of this action is purely a matter of conjecture4 ,its result was to give ,simon immortal fame and apparently to secure for him eternal salvation2 for it seems that this experience1 and the knowledge of ,christ gained at ,calvary1 resulted in the conversion of ,simon and his household1 ,mark #ae3ba2 ,rom4 #af3ac4 ,in a figure1 he was the first of that long line of men and women who have taken up the cross and followed ,christ4 ,of course this is a mere symbol1 and the actual contrasts are vital4 ,in reality no one can share the burden of the cross which our ,saviour bore4 ,his sufferings1 and his alone1 made atonement for sin4 ,then again no one can be compelled to take up the cross4 ,there are burdens in life which cannot be evaded but one can refuse the cross4 ,it is a type of the voluntary suffering endured for the sake of ,christ2 it is a symbol of the complete sacrifice of self and the complete submission to his will which is necessary for all who share in the redeeming benefits of his death4 ,luke alone records the incident of the women who1 wailing and lamenting1 followed ,jesus out of the city4 ,it is quite fitting that in this ,gospel1 in which womanhood is so exalted1 a place should be found for this picture4 ,it is not to be supposed that these were the loyal friends who had followed ,jesus on his journeys and helped to supply his needs2 these were rather residents of ,jerusalem whose hearts were bleeding with sorrow for the loving ,prophet who was being led forth to an agonizing death4 ,our ,lord turned to these women with a message of sympathy and told them that they were not to weep for him but for themselves and their children4 ,he was not rebuking them for their compassion2 he rather meant to indicate that while his sufferings were pitiful1 their own were more worthy of tears1 for they were to be even more intense4 ,he had in mind the destruction of the city due to its impenitence and made certain by its rejection of the ,redeemer4 ,jesus declared that the days would come when childlessness would be a ground for congratulation because of the universal distress4 ,he predicted that the horror would be so great that men would call upon the mountains to fall on them and the hills to cover them1 preferring such forms of death to the torments which threatened from the armies of ,rome4 ,jesus added a proverb1 the force of which is evident even though its exact application may not be clear3 8,for if they do these things in the green tree1 what shall be done in the dry80 ,in other words1 if the sufferings of ,christ were so great1 what would be the sufferings of the ,jews6 ,if the ,romans were putting to death him whom they regarded as innocent1 what would they do to the inhabitants of the rebellious and hated city8 ,it is quite in accordance with the character of ,luke to note how ,jesus1 in this very hour of his anguish1 thought rather of others than of himself and pronounced this prophesy1 not in resentment1 but in infinite tenderness and pity4 ,while the actual sufferings of the crucifixion are not described1 ,luke tells us of the cruel mockery to which ,jesus was subjected4 ,he states that two malefactors were crucified with ,jesus1 8one on the right hand and the other on the left40 ,this was evidently designed to add to the disgrace and humiliation of his cruel death4 ,the place of the crucifixion was called 8,the skull10 probably because it was a bare1 rounded hill located outside the city gates4 ,of the seven words spoken by ,jesus on the cross1 ,luke records three1 all of them characterized by love and trust4 ,the first is found in no other ,gospel4 ,as ,jesus tasted the first bitterness of his anguish he was heard to pray1 8,father forgive them2 for they know not what they do40 ,he did not have in mind simply the soldiers who were involuntary instruments of his death1 but rather the ,jews who had not fully recognized the enormity of their crime4 ,for them ,jesus felt no hatred in his heart4 ,he yearned for their repentance and their salvation4 ,this prayer was a revelation of the matchless grace and mercy of this ideal ,man4 ,luke adds the details of the mockery to which the other evangelists likewise refer4 ,the crowds stood gazing upon the ,sufferer but the rulers and the soldiers cruelly mocked him2 the former scoffed at him saying1 8,he saved others2 let him save himself40 ,in reality1 had he saved himself1 he never could have saved others4 ,he died for the very men who were deriding him1 to make possible their salvation4 ,the soldiers made sport of him by casting lots for his garments and by offering him drink and hailing him as 8,king of the ,jews40 ,this last title had been placed on the cross above the head of ,jesus4 ,it was put there by ,pilate in bitter irony4 ,it was his way of taking revenge upon the rulers who1 contrary to his conscience1 had compelled him to put to death an innocent ,man4 ,in place of this superscription the eye of faith sees another1 8,behold1 the ,lamb of ,god1 that taketh away the sin of the world60 ,i4 ,the ,penitent ,thief4 ,ch4 #bc3ci-dc #ci ,and one of the malefactors that were hanged railed on him1 saying1 ,art not thou the ,christ8 save thyself and us4 #dj ,but the other answered1 and rebuking him said1 ,dost thou not even fear ,god1 seeing thou art in the same condemnation8 #da ,and we indeed justly2 for we receive the due reward of our deeds3 but this man hath done nothing amiss4 #db ,and he said1 ,jesus1 remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom4 #dc ,and he said unto him1 ,verily ,i say unto thee1 ,to-day shalt thou be with me in ,paradise4 ,this story which enshrines for us the second saying of our ,lord upon the cross has often been regarded as one of the most significant narratives in the ,gospels3 first1 because it gives us such a picture of the unique person of ,christ2 here was a dying man who at the same time was a forgiving ,god4 ,then1 here is a picture of the transforming power of ,christ who in an instant of time changed a robber into a saint4 ,most of all1 we have here a message of the conditions of salvation which are ever the same1 namely1 repentance and faith4 ,the first of these conditions is strikingly illustrated from the fact that the repentant thief was thinking of ,god and remembering that it was against a divine ,being that he had sinned4 ,of this fact he reminded his companion1 intimating that they might properly fear him into whose august presence they were so soon to be ushered4 ,it is the very essence of repentance to regard sin1 not as a mistake or a weakness1 or as an injury to men1 but as rebellion and insult against ,god4 ,his penitence was further shown in his recognition that the penalty which he was suffering was just1 and in his recognition of the innocent sufferings of ,christ4 ,his faith was as remarkable as his repentance4 ,he saw in the bleeding1 dying ,sufferer1 ,one who is yet to return as universal ,king1 and to him he addressed his prayer3 8,jesus1 remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom40 ,we do not know the source of such faith4 ,the robber may have heard part of the trial of ,jesus2 he did hear him praying for his enemies2 but whatever gave rise to his belief and trust1 he regarded ,jesus as a ,saviour and ,lord who was yet to reign and who could bring him to eternal glory4 ,this story thus reveals to us the truth that salvation is conditioned upon repentance and faith4 ,however1 it contains other important messages also4 ,it declares that salvation is independent of sacraments4 ,the thief had never been baptized1 nor had he partaken of the ,lord's ,supper4 ,it is obvious that had he lived he would have carried out the requirements of his ,lord by accepting these sacraments4 ,he did1 in fact1 boldly confess his faith in the presence of a hostile crowd and amid the taunts and jeers of rulers and soldiers1 yet he was saved without any formal rites4 ,it is further evident that salvation is independent of good works4 ,the thief was pardoned before he had lived a single1 righteous1 innocent day4 ,of course1 good works follow faith2 they evidence its reality2 but faith precedes and results in holiness4 ,a life of goodness is an expression of gratitude for salvation already begun4 ,it is further evident that there is no 8sleep of the soul40 ,the body may sleep1 but consciousness persists after death4 ,the word of the ,master was1 8,to-day shalt thou be 444 in ,paradise40 ,again it is evident that there is no 8purgatory40 ,if any man ever needed discipline and 8purifying fires10 it was this penitent robber4 ,out of a life of sin and shame he passed immediately into a state of blessedness4 ,this was the promise3 8,to-day shalt thou be with me in ,paradise40 ,again it may be remarked that salvation is not universal4 ,there were two robbers2 only one was saved4 ,jesus had heard them both speaking of him4 ,he did not say 8ye10 but 8,verily ,i say unto thee1 ,to-day shalt thou be with me in ,paradise40 ,last of all1 it may be noted that the very essence of the joy which lies beyond death consists in personal communion with ,christ4 ,the heart of the promise to the dying thief was this3 8,thou shalt be with me40 ,this is our blessed assurance1 that to depart is 8to be with ,christ10 which is 8very far better40 ,j4 ,the ,death ,and ,burial4 ,ch4 #bc3dd-ef #dd ,and it was now about the sixth hour1 and a darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour1 #de the sun's light failing3 and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst4 #df ,and ,jesus1 crying with a loud voice1 said1 ,father1 into thy hands ,i commend my spirit3 and having said this1 he gave up the ghost4 #dg ,and when the centurion saw what was done1 he glorified ,god1 saying1 ,certainly this was a righteous man4 #dh ,and all the multitudes that came together to this sight1 when they beheld the things that were done1 returned smiting their breasts4 #di ,and all his acquaintance1 and the women that followed with him from ,galilee1 stood afar off1 seeing these things4 #ej ,and behold1 a man named ,joseph1 who was a councillor1 a good and righteous man #ea 7he had not consented to their counsel and deed71 a man of ,arimatha1 a city of the ,jews1 who was looking for the kingdom of ,god3 #eb this man went to ,pilate1 and asked for the body of ,jesus4 #ec ,and he took it down1 and wrapped it in a linen cloth1 and laid him in a tomb that was hewn in stone1 where never man had yet lain4 #ed ,and it was the day of the ,preparation1 and the sabbath drew on4 #ee ,and the women who had come with him out of ,galilee1 followed after1 and beheld the tomb1 and how his body was laid4 #ef ,and they returned and prepared spices and ointments4 ,and on the sabbath they rested according to the commandment4 ,the death of ,christ was an event of such supreme importance that it properly was accompanied by supernatural signs of deep significance4 ,of these ,luke mentions two4 ,the first was the darkened skies1 a fit symbol of the blackest crime in all the history of man4 ,the second was the rending of the ,temple veil1 a type of the 8new and living way0 opened into the presence of ,god for all believers4 ,thus these two signs correspond to the human and the divine aspects of this atoning death1 and indicate the heinousness of sin and the purpose of redeeming grace4 ,the last word spoken by ,jesus on the cross was an expression of perfect trust and peace4 ,he had shown his sympathy for others by his prayer1 by his promise to the penitent thief1 and by his provision for his mother2 by three other words he had revealed his sufferings of mind and body and their result in a completed redemption3 8,my ,god1 my ,god 44402 8,i thirst20 8it is finished40 ,he now breathed out his soul in a sentence of absolute confidence taken from the psalmist and recorded by ,luke alone3 8,father1 into thy hands ,i commend my spirit40 ,it was the supreme utterance of faith4 ,the earthly ministry of the ,son of ,god had ended4 ,luke notes the effects produced by the manner of ,jesus' death1 and by the accompanying signs upon the ,roman centurion1 the ,jewish multitudes1 and the ,christian disciples4 ,the soldier was so impressed that he 8glorified ,god10 giving his testimony to the fact that the ,one whom he had crucified as a criminal was a 8righteous man40 ,possibly he may be regarded as a type of that host of believing ,gentiles1 of whom ,luke liked to write1 who were yet to enlist under the banner of the cross4 ,the crowds of ,jews had little real desire for the crucifixion of ,jesus2 they had been hounded by their rulers to cry out for his death1 but they now returned to the city 8smiting their breasts0 in an agony of remorse1 a prophecy of ,israel's future repentance and mourning as they 8look on him whom they pierced40 ,most pathetic of all was that group of saddened disciples who 8stood afar off0 gazing in bewilderment upon the scene2 but for them the meaning of that cross would begin to dawn as they should meet their risen ,lord4 ,for none of his followers has the cross lost its mystery2 yet to them all it has become a symbol of triumph and of hope4 ,the body of ,jesus was given burial by ,joseph of ,arimatha1 a man whom ,matthew designates as rich1 ,mark as a 8councillor of honorable estate10 and ,luke as 8good and righteous40 ,thus together they describe an ideal man from the ,jewish and ,roman and ,greek point of view4 ,perhaps he is to be criticized for not having identified himself before this more publicly with the cause of ,christ2 but ,luke makes not the slightest unfavorable reflection upon his character4 ,he declares definitely that this powerful and influential member of the sanhedrin 8had not consented0 to the 8counsel and deed0 of the rulers who had compassed the death of ,jesus2 and now in the hour when his ,master was most deeply dishonored1 he risked the scorn of the people and the hatred of the rulers and begged from ,pilate the body of ,jesus1 which he wrapped in linen cloth and lay reverently in his own new1 rock-hewn tomb4 ,it was a deed of loving devotion1 and adds a gratifying contrast and a touch of tenderness to the story of the cross4 ,other loving hearts longed to have a part in this expression of affection4 ,the women who had followed ,jesus out of ,galilee1 noted the place of his burial and purchased perfumes to embalm the body of their ,lord4 ,however1 as the declining sun marked the beginning1 at eventide1 of the ,sabbath1 they rested until the first day of the week1 and then they found that their task was needless4 ,it was well to show affection for the crucified ,master1 it is a greater privilege to serve a risen ,lord4 ,k4 ,the ,empty ,tomb4 ,ch4 #bd3a-ab #a ,but on the first day of the week1 at early dawn1 they came unto the tomb1 bringing the spices which they had prepared4 #b ,and they found the stone rolled away from the tomb4 #c ,and they entered in1 and found not the body of the ,lord ,jesus4 #d ,and it came to pass1 while they were perplexed thereabout1 behold1 two men stood by them in dazzling apparel3 #e and as they were affrighted and bowed down their faces to the earth1 they said unto them1 ,why seek ye the living among the dead8 #f ,he is not here1 but is risen3 remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in ,galilee1 #g saying that the ,son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men1 and be crucified1 and the third day rise again4 #h ,and they remembered his words1 #i and returned from the tomb1 and told all these things to the eleven1 and to all the rest4 #aj ,now they were ,mary ,magdalene1 and ,joanna1 and ,mary the mother of ,james3 and the other women with them told these things unto the apostles4 #aa ,and these words appeared in their sight as idle talk2 and they disbelieved them4 #ab ,but ,peter arose1 and ran unto the tomb2 and stooping and looking in1 he seeth the linen cloths by themselves2 and he departed to his home1 wondering at that which was come to pass4 ,after seeing where ,jesus was buried the women who had followed him from ,galilee and had ministered to him1 began preparing spices and ointments with which to embalm his body4 ,however1 as the day drew to its close1 because this ,friday evening was the beginning of a ,jewish ,sabbath1 they rested from their labor of love until ,sunday1 8the first day of the week10 and then 8at early dawn0 they came to the tomb1 but were astonished to find that the body of ,jesus was gone4 ,there are several explanations of this empty tomb1 but only one which is credible and which accords with the facts4 ,some persons profess to believe that ,jesus did not die1 that he only swooned upon the cross1 that he regained consciousness after being laid in the tomb1 that he escaped and then appeared to his disciples2 but ,jesus had declared that he was to die and was to rise again on the third day1 and he afterwards made his disciples believe that such an experience had been his2 this theory1 therefore1 cannot be held without denying the honesty and morality of our ,lord4 ,a second theory maintains that 8his disciples came by night1 and stole0 away his body2 but these disciples continually declared that he rose from the dead on the third day2 according to this theory1 then1 these disciples were impostors2 but this can be believed by no one familiar with their subsequent lives and influence4 ,it is as impossible to believe the third theory namely1 that the enemies of ,jesus stole his body1 for had that body been in their possession1 how gladly they would have produced it and thus forever have silenced the disciples who declared that ,jesus was alive and that his resurrection proved these enemies had put to death an innocent ,man1 their divine ,messiah4 ,the only true explanation of this empty tomb is that given to the wondering women by two angels3 8,why seek ye the living among the dead8 ,he is not here1 but is risen3 remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in ,galilee40 ,this startling statement of the angels embodies the substance of the message delivered by the apostles4 ,the truth it declares forms the corner stone of ,christian faith4 ,the resurrection of our ,lord is vitally connected with all the realities which relate to his person and work and to the life of his followers4 ,when1 however1 the fact of the resurrection had been reported to the apostles1 they regarded the words of the women 8as idle talk1 and they disbelieved them40 ,this incredulity on the part of the apostles shows the absolute absurdity of another theory advanced by those who deny the resurrection of our ,lord1 namely1 the theory that his followers so eagerly expected him to rise from the dead that their fevered brains finally imagined that he had so risen and they testified to what was only a product of their own fancy4 ,in reality the disciples did not expect ,jesus to rise1 and1 as here recorded1 when the truth was reported to them1 they refused to accept it until proof upon proof had been given them and doubt and unbelief became absolutely impossible4 ,they were prepared1 however1 for further proofs by the fact that the tomb in which the body was laid had been found empty4 ,there is even more weighty evidence of the resurrection2 but those who deny this supremely important event must give first some rational account of this empty tomb4 ,l4 ,the ,walk ,to ,emmaus4 ,ch4 #bd3ac-ce #ac ,and behold1 two of them were going that very day to a village named ,emmaus1 which was threescore furlongs from ,jerusalem4 #bd ,and they communed with each other of all these things which had happened4 #ae ,and it came to pass1 while they communed and questioned together1 that ,jesus himself drew near1 and went with them4 #af ,but their eyes were holden that they should not know him4 #ag ,and he said unto them1 ,what communications are these that ye have one with another1 as ye walk8 ,and they stood still1 looking sad4 #ah ,and one of them1 named ,cleopas1 answering said unto him1 ,dost thou alone sojourn in ,jerusalem and not know the things which are come to pass there in these days8 #ai ,and he said unto them1 ,what things8 ,and they said unto him1 ,the things concerning ,jesus the ,nazarene1 who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before ,god and all the people3 #bj and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death1 and crucified him4 #ba ,but we hoped that it was he who should redeem ,israel4 ,yea and besides all this1 it is now the third day since these things came to pass4 #bb ,moreover certain women of our company amazed us1 having been early at the tomb2 #bc and when they found not his body they came1 saying1 that they had also seen a vision of angels1 who said that he was alive4 #bd ,and certain of them that were with us went to the tomb1 and found it even so as the women had said3 but him they saw not4 #be ,and he said unto them1 ,o foolish men1 and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken6 #bf ,behooved it not the ,christ to suffer these things1 and to enter into his glory8 #bg ,and beginning from ,moses and from all the prophets1 he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself4 #bh ,and they drew nigh unto the village1 whither they were going3 and he made as though he would go further4 #bi ,and they constrained him1 saying1 ,abide with us2 for it is toward evening1 and the day is now far spent4 ,and he went in to abide with them4 #cj ,and it came to pass1 when he had sat down with them to meat1 he took the bread and blessed2 and breaking it he gave to them4 #ca ,and their eyes were opened1 and they knew him2 and he vanished out of their sight4 #cb ,and they said one to another1 ,was not our heart burning within us1 while he spake to us in the way1 while he opened to us the scriptures8 #cc ,and they rose up that very hour1 and returned to ,jerusalem1 and found the eleven gathered together1 and them that were with them1 #cd saying1 ,the ,lord is risen indeed1 and hath appeared to ,simon4 #ce ,and they rehearsed the things that happened in the way1 and how he was known of them in the breaking of the bread4 ,no man saw ,christ rise2 but many saw the risen ,christ4 ,he appeared to ,mary and to ,peter and to ,james and to 8the eleven0 and to more than five hundred disciples at one time2 but of the appearances on the day of his resurrection none is recorded with more dramatic vividness and more definiteness of detail than that related by ,luke when ,jesus walked with two disciples toward ,emmaus4 ,this village was probably situated some seven miles northwest of ,jerusalem4 ,thither these two men were moving with sad and discouraged hearts when ,jesus joined them and drew from them expressions of their disappointment and despair4 ,the ,one on whom they had set their hopes of redemption for ,israel had been put to death1 and although he had spoken mysteriously of a resurrection on the third day1 the day was passing1 and he had not been seen1 although it was true that reports had reached them of a vision of angels who said that he was alive4 ,such in substance seem to have been their words1 in no small measure a confession of obstinate unbelief4 ,they had little expectation that the ,lord would fulfill his own promises2 the third day of which he had spoken was not ended and yet they were hopelessly turning their backs upon ,jerusalem2 heavenly messengers had sent them an announcement of cheer which they refused to receive4 ,it was not strange1 therefore1 that ,jesus rebuked them3 8,o foolish men1 and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken6 ,behooved it not the ,christ to suffer these things1 and to enter into his glory80 ,it is noticeable that ,jesus did not chide them for refusing to accept his own words1 or those of their friends1 or those of angels2 they were rebuked for not believing the ,old ,testament4 ,they had accepted it in part2 as men often accept just so much as suits their prejudices and tastes and notions2 but they failed to believe in all that the prophets had spoken1 and particularly the predictions of ,jesus' atoning death1 and of his return to the heavenly glory which he would share when he ascended4 ,they listened in wonder to his explanation of the ,scriptures1 and finally as they were sitting at meat with him they discovered that they were in the actual presence of their living ,lord4 ,as he disappeared from sight1 they hastened back to the disciples in ,jerusalem and found them already wondering at the news that earlier in the day ,jesus had appeared to ,peter4 ,no story tells us more impressively the truth that a divine ,saviour walks beside us all the way of our earthly journey4 ,it is pathetic that our eyes are so often dimmed by unbelief that we fail to realize his presence4 ,we walk and are sad while we might be rejoicing in his companionship4 ,it may be as the ,scriptures are opened to us1 or as we meet to break bread in his name1 that our blindness will be removed2 and surely when the journey ends and we enter the home toward which we are moving1 we shall see him face to face1 and the vision will not fade in deepening twilight1 but grow more glorious through the eternal day4 ,m4 ,jesus ,appearing ,to ,the ,apostles4 ,ch4 #bd3cf-dc #cf ,and as they spake these things1 he himself stood in the midst of them1 and saith unto them1 ,peace be unto you4 #cg ,but they were terrified and affrighted1 and supposed that they beheld a spirit4 #ch ,and he said unto them1 ,why are ye troubled8 and wherefore do questionings arise in your heart8 #ci ,see my hands and my feet1 that it is ,i myself3 handle me1 and see2 for a spirit hath not flesh and bones1 as ye behold me having4 #dj ,and when he had said this1 he showed them his hands and his feet4 #da ,and while they still disbelieved for joy1 and wondered1 he said unto them1 ,have ye here anything to eat8 #db ,and they gave him a piece of a broiled fish4 #dc ,and he took it1 and ate before them4 ,the incidents of the day on which ,jesus rose from the dead1 as recorded by ,luke1 form not only a sequence in time1 but also move in logical order4 ,the empty tomb can be explained by no other theory than that of a resurrection2 but this was only negative proof4 ,to it was added the actual appearance of ,jesus to two disciples on their way to ,emmaus4 ,yet this was not evidence enough4 ,some persons might believe that such an appearance had been a mere vision1 a phantom1 a ghost2 therefore1 as ,luke relates the appearance of ,jesus to the eleven disciples in the upper room1 after night had fallen1 he lays stress upon the fact that ,jesus appeared in bodily form4 ,when the disciples saw him they thought that they did see a mere specter1 an apparition1 a spirit1 just as many persons have thought1 even to the present day2 but to forever dispel such a false impression1 ,jesus1 by every possible appeal to the senses1 made it evident that he possessed not an 8immaterial10 or 8spiritual10 or 8celestial0 body1 but the identical body of flesh and blood which on ,friday had been crucified and laid in the tomb2 in that actual body1 scarred by the cruel nails1 a body capable of eating food1 a material body which could be touched and felt1 he appeared to his disciples4 ,moreover1 he solemnly declared that he was not a disembodied spirit2 he showed them the wounds in his hands and feet2 he declared that a spirit does not have flesh and bones which they saw he had2 and finally1 to remove every lingering doubt1 he took 8a piece of a broiled fish0 and 8ate before them40 ,the appearances and disappearances of ,jesus after his resurrection may have been mysterious or miraculous as was his walking upon the sea in the days of his previous ministry2 but he gave his disciples to understand by every conceivable1 sensible sign that he had risen from the dead in his actual1 physical1 human body4 ,the theory that the resurrection can be explained as a hallucination1 a vision1 or an apparition is forever silenced by the testimony of ,luke1 the careful historian1 the intelligent physician4 ,upon the foundation of the established fact of a literal1 bodily resurrection1 this superstructure of our ,christian faith firmly stands4 ,n4 ,the ,last ,words4 ,ch4 #bd3dd-di #dd ,and he said unto them1 ,these are my words which ,i spake unto you1 while ,i was yet with you1 that all things must needs be fulfilled1 which are written in the law of ,moses1 and the prophets1 and the psalms1 concerning me4 #de ,then opened he their mind1 that they might understand the scriptures2 #df and he said unto them1 ,thus it is written1 that the ,christ should suffer1 and rise again from the dead the third day2 #dg and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations1 beginning from ,jerusalem4 #dh ,ye are witnesses of these things4 #di ,and behold1 ,i send forth the promise of my ,father upon you3 but tarry ye in the city1 until ye be clothed with power from on high4 ,it need not be supposed that the last words of ,jesus as recorded by ,luke were spoken on the day of the resurrection or at any one time or place4 ,they more probably indicate the general substance of those teachings which are given by the risen ,christ to his disciples during the forty days between his resurrection and his ascension4 ,they are luminous with truths which are needed by the disciples of ,christ to-day4 ,among them are such facts as these3 ,the ,scriptures contain authoritative messages concerning ,christ2 these messages can be understood only by those who believe in ,christ and are guided by him2 the essential truths concerning ,christ center in the facts of his death and resurrection2 in virtue of the salvation thus secured1 repentance and forgiveness of sins can be preached2 this salvation is to be proclaimed in all the world2 the followers of ,christ are the messengers by whom this good news is to be made known2 the power for such proclamation is imparted by the ,spirit of ,christ who was manifested in new power on the ,day of ,pentecost1 and who is now an abiding ,presence and a source of limitless strength to all who seek to do the will of ,christ and to glorify his name4 ,o4 ,the ,ascension4 ,ch4 #bd3ej-ec #ej ,and he led them out until they were over against ,bethany3 and he lifted up his hands1 and blessed them4 #ea ,and it came to pass1 while he blessed them1 he parted from them1 and was carried up into heaven4 #eb ,and they worshipped him1 and returned to ,jerusalem with great joy3 #ec and were continually in the temple1 blessing ,god4 ,the ascension of our ,lord was an event quite distinct from the resurrection2 it occurred nearly six weeks later1 and indicates a number of supremely important truths4 #a4 ,jesus then withdrew from the sphere of the seen and physical to the sphere of the unseen and spiritual4 ,he did not pass up or down through vast spaces of the skies4 ,we are not to think of him as far away4 ,he is an unseen1 divine ,presence1 superior to the limitations of time and space1 and capable of being manifest in any period or place4 ,the ascension should make us feel that ,jesus is near rather than far away4 #b4 ,jesus then assumed universal power2 not at the time of his resurrection1 but at the time of his ascension1 he was seated 8on the right hand of the ,majesty on high40 ,this indicates divine omnipotence4 ,it is the continual representation of the ,new ,testament that ,jesus ,christ has all authority in heaven and on earth4 ,the ascension should therefore remind us of the limitless power of ,christ4 #c4 ,it was therefore at the time of the ascension that ,jesus entered 8into his glory40 ,then it was that his body was transformed1 made deathless1 8spiritual10 celestial1 immortal2 and then he again began to share the divine glory which he had with the ,father 8before the world was40 ,the ascension1 therefore1 is a pledge and type of the glory which yet awaits his followers4 ,it is an assurance that he yet will fulfill his promises and will again appear2 emerging from the sphere of the unseen he will be manifested to all mankind as both the ideal ,man and as the ,saviour of the world4