Interpretive Study of Luke's Gospel - Summary

Jesus is the Son of Man.

Chapter links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, God.

Chapter 19 Summary:

A fruitful religion versus a show religion.

In 13:33 we read: Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. then in Luke 19:28 says: And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. there are a couple of sentences after that dealing with His entrance into Jerusalem. However, everything from Luke 13:33 through Luke 19:28 is a report of His actions and teaching on the three day journey to Jerusalem where he would end up being falsely accused, tried and crucified. Thus, one fourth of Luke's Gospel is from this time frame.

Our chapter starts with the well-known account of Zacchaeus, who had a true Biblical conversion. We see this in his change of attitude and when Jesus said: This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. forthe Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. 19:9).

Next, we have a parable from Jesus because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. They were looking for the 1,000 year reign of Christ where, they thought, they would rule the world. The parable was `the 'Parable of the Ten Pounds'. In it, Jesus makes it clear that God is looking for a profit from His saving people. Unfortunately, many people of today act just like the Jews in the day of Jesus and expect God to reward their sin with the 'Rapture' and returning to rule with Christ. Just like happened to the Jews, people should expect judgment, especially on a personal level.

In the parable of this chapter, the one saved person ended up an eternal pauper, which most people of today deny. Many people spend their life selfishly in sin and pursuing the things of this world while giving God no spiritual profit. They expect to receive a mansion and eternal bliss when they are only promised a place (possibly a bed in a dorm room for 10,ooo) and over 1,000-years of tears twice a week.

After the parable Jesus sent two of his disciples to get the colt of an ass for Him to ride into Jerusalem on His triumphal entrance. The Pharisees complained about the people glorifying God and he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. Then Jesus wept over Jerusalem and prophesied to destruction of it. After that He cleansed the Temple and started teaching. However, the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him.

What we see in this chapter is people like Zacchaeus and the disciples who have a true conversion and let God change their life. Then we have the general people who glorify God when they think God will fulfill the desires of their sinful life, but turn against God's truth, and against Jesus when they are disappointed. While they claim to have a true religion, their reaction to disappointment reveals the truth about the type of religion that they truly have. We also see he chief priests and the scribes and the Pharisees who are the leaders of the outward show religion and who seek to destroy Jesus when He reveals the truth of their show religion by doing things like cleansing the Temple. Hopefully, the reader understands how these two different forms of religion fight against each other.

Please see the Doctrinal Studies called: Significant Gospel Events; Gospel Time Sequences, Table Of Miracles and Table of Parables in the New Testament for references related to events in this chapter and for how the events of this chapter fit in the time sequence of the life of Jesus.

Luke 19:1-20:7; Matthew 21 and Mark 11 are all similar in that they tell accounts which have the same message even while details differ.

Luke 19:1-10 tell us about Zacchaeus being truly Biblically saved and displaying a changed life due to having received true Biblical salvation. This account is only in the Gospel of Luke.

In Luke 19:11-27, we read `the 'Parable of the Ten Pounds'. It is also found in the Table of Parables in the New Testament. In addition, it is also related to the 'Parable of Talents', found in Matthew 25:14-30 and the 'Parable of the Householder', found in Mark 13:34.

Jesus entered Jerusalem for the final conflict as reported in Luke 19:28-38; Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-17 and John 12:12. These references also give the basis for what is called 'Palm Sunday'. These references tell about about the time that Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph and the people cried Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest and Jesus was glorified. This is a fulfillment of Psalms 148; Isaiah 40:9 and Zechariah 9:9 which show us how they praised Him. In addition, Zechariah 9:9 tells us that He would be riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. Further, the prophecy for Judah, when Jacob died, includes: The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. (Genesis 49:10-12).

In Luke 19:30-35; Matthew 21:1-3 and Mark 11:1-3 we are told that Jesus prophesied that the disciples would find a colt tied, whereon never man sat.

Luke 19:35-38; Matthew 21:5; Matthew 21:7; Mark 11:7 and John 12:12 all tell about Jesus being glorified.

Luke 19:39-40 and Matthew 21:15-16 tell us that the Pharisees objected to Jesus being glorified.

Luke 19:41-44 prophesies the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. This same prophecy is also said in Matthew 24:1-2; Mark 13:1-2 and Luke 21:5-6.

Luke 19:45-48; Matthew 21:12-13 and Mark 11:15-19 and John 2:13-16 all tell about Jesus cleaning the Temple. The chief priests sought to destroy Jesus over this act.

C19-S1 says: And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. This is the start of the next chapter and incident. Jericho is where the incident happened.
C19-S2 : the second character of the account is introduced.
1. The word behold means: 'Pay close attention'.
2. The phrase there was a man named Zacchaeus means: 'This is his name'.
3. The phrase which was the chief among the publicans means: 'This was his job. As a result, he was hated by all Jews and despised by the religious leaders'.
4. The phrase and he was rich means: 'This was the result of his job'. The Jewish religious leaders taught that the richer a person was, the more that were blessed by God and the higher position they would have in eternity. However, I strongly believe that they made exception to their doctrine for someone who became rich as a despised publican. Other places in the Gospel accounts indirectly let us know that the religious leaders claimed that all such were unclean and heading to Hell. The point of this is that the true laws of God do not change from one person to another. (Please see the Words Index to links to where the word of God teaches us that God is no respecter of persons.) Religion changes their rules for their favored persons but God does not do that.
C19-S3 : Zacchaeus had a problem doing what he wanted to do.
1. The phrase And he sought to see Jesus who he was means: 'This is what he tried to do'.
2. The phrase and could not for the press, because he was little of stature means: 'This was his problem'.
C19-S4 : Zacchaeus solved his problem.
1. The phrase And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him means: 'Zacchaeus got into position to see before Jesus arrived'.
2. The phrase for he was to pass that way means: 'Zacchaeus knew the way that Jesus would travel through the city'.
C19-S5 : Jesus responded to Zacchaeus.
1. The phrase And when Jesus came to the place means: 'This is when the action happened'.
2. The phrase he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him means: 'This is what Jesus did'.
3. The phrase Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down means: 'This is what Jesus commanded'.
4. The phrase for to day I must abide at thy house means: 'This is why'.
5. The true lesson of this incident is not written. Jesus dealt with Zacchaeus because he demonstrated a heart which wanted to get to know Jesus. He wasn't like most of the people only wanting to claim that they had seen Jesus and got physically close. He wasn't wanting a miracle. He wanted to know Jesus but thought that Jesus would not have anything to do with him because he was the chief among the publicans and Jesus was recognized as a prophet. His beliefs came from religion but we see that God can overcome doctrinal error taught by religion if we truly want to know God. Notice that our sentence tells us that Jesus said for to day I must abide at thy house. Out of all the people in the city, Jesus went to his house and that was because of his demonstrated attitude of heart.
C19-S6 : Zacchaeus was joyful when he received Jesus.
1. The phrase And he made haste means: 'Zacchaeus hurried to receive Jesus. Many people have to be pulled to the altar to receive Jesus'.
2. The phrase and came down means: 'Zacchaeus did what was necessary to receive Jesus'.
3. The phrase and received him joyfully means: 'This was his attitude of heart'. As we see in the Gospel accounts, and in the world today, people who are more aware of their own sin nature tend to be more thankful of salvation. There is a relationship here that many religious people overlook or even deny.
C19-S7 : the people murmured.
1. Our sentence adds the reaction of the religious people who compared themselves to other people and thought that they were better than others.
2. The phrase And when they saw it means: 'This is when the religious people reacted'.
3. The phrase they all murmured, saying means: 'This is how the religious people reacted'.
4. The phrase That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner means: 'This is why the religious people reacted'.
5. The religious people reacted this way to hide their hurt an jealousness that Jesus phrase did not go to their house nor did He go the house of someone who had their approval. Instead of accepting that Jesus used a different criteria for how He chose to approve people, they criticized His choice. Thus, they failed to learn the lesson and have their attitude corrected by God.
C19-S8 : Zacchaeus responded and proved his salvation.
1. The phrase And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord means: 'This was his statement to his future judge (Lord)'. Many people fail to consider their own future judgment when making decisions.
2. The word behold means: 'Pay close attention'.
3. The phrase Behold, Lord means: 'Many people teach this sentence as evidence of a changed heart in Zacchaeus. And they should. However, what most people fail to teach is that all who claim to be truly saved should have the same attitude of heart towards money and worldly possessions'.
4. The phrase the half of my goods I give to the poor means: 'Most people are so far in debt that they could not do this'. Most people are constantly looking to buy bigger and better and more impressive things instead of saving for future need or for emergencies.
5. The phrase and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation means: 'People would have to show that he did this in order to collect on the next phrase'.
6. The phrase I restore him fourfold means: 'This is his promised change in behavior due to a changed heart'. Although Zacchaeus was a rich man, he did not have to cheat people in order to become rich. Since he was the chief among the publicans, most of the Jews would assume that he was a cheat. However, quite often assumptions are not correct. And, if Zacchaeus truly was a cheat, it is highly unlikely that he would make this offer. And, it is highly unlikely that he would have done what he did in order to been saved. There are other rich people who simply use proper money management and that people assume that they must be cheats simply because they are rich. We are warned against judging others and we should carefully control our assumptions with efforts to verify them.
C19-S9 : Jesus recognized his salvation. What we see here is that the truly saved should also have a God-changed character
1. The phrase And Jesus said unto him means: 'This is Who gave the judgment to Zacchaeus'.
2. The phrase This day is salvation come to this house means: 'This is the spiritual judgment'.
3. The phrase forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham means: 'He demonstrated the character of Abraham' Please see the note for Galatians C3S9 about the phrase children of Abraham. The functional definition is: 'The Jews claimed to be children of Abraham but Jesus said that the true children of Abraham would have his faith'. The Jews claimed to be children of Abraham because they were physical descendants. However, Jesus denied their claims if they did not demonstrate the character of Abraham.
C19-S10 : Jesus says why he was saved.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For and explains why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase the Son of man is come to seek and to save means: 'In His role as a literal physical man (Son of man), Jesus came to save us by paying the debt for our sins'. In His same role, He came to seek us and show us how to live in the flesh and please God. Please see the Doctrinal Document called What Did Jesus Do? for how we are to do that by following the example of Jesus.
3. The phrase that which was lost means: 'We were lost when Adam sinned and we inherited a sin nature'. We were not just lost spiritually, as some preachers claim. No, all three parts of us were lost. We were lost spiritually when our spirit was separated from God and we were born spiritually dead. We were lost physically when we inherited a corrupted body which is corrupted with the aging process. Our soul was lost when the world taught us to think differently than God and to react in negative emotions like anger and to refuse to submit to the will of God. Jesus came to seek and to save each part of us. When we accept Him as our personal Lord He blots our sin record, in the court of Heaven, and legally adopts us as God's children. When we get to heaven, we will receive a new incorruptible body. And, while we live in this physical life, He tries to give us the mind of Christ and the compassion of God to replace our anger and the wisdom to understand that submitting to the will of God gets us the greatest everlasting rewards. The Son of man is come to seek by offering to fix all three parts of us.
C19-S11 : Jesus corrected doctrinal error which was commonly believed.
1. Luke 19:11-27 gives the 'Parable of the Ten Pounds'. It also is a prophecy of Jesus returning to Heaven until He returns to rule and reign this World as Christ. Included in the prophecy is the parable because only the saved people who also bring a spiritual profit to God will be allowed to return with Christ.
2. The 'Parable of Talents' (Matthew 25:14-30) and the 'Parable of the Householder' (Mark 13:34) are related to this parable.
3. In context, this parable was given because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. in this parable, we are told that it will not be immediate. We are also told that different people will receive different levels of reward with the amount of reward directly related to the level of profit returned to God. Therefore, while the kingdom of God should not immediately appear, our work for the position that we have in the kingdom is immediate.
4. The phrase And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable means: 'Jesus added this parable because people believed doctrinal error'.
5. The phrase because he was nigh to Jerusalem means: 'He added the parable because He would soon be crucified (he was nigh to Jerusalem) and it would be easy for most people to misunderstand what was to happen'. He had prophesied the future to His disciples, several times, and only Mary Magdalene believed Him. Therefore, Jesus gave this parable so that some would think about it, while He was in the grave, and, hopefully, some of those disciples would understand what was happening.
6. The phrase and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear means: 'The people misunderstood the meaning of the kingdom of God, at that time, just like most people misunderstand it today'. The phrase the kingdom of God means: 'God's character in you today and the 1,000 years reign of Christ in the future'. Although some people received some of the character of God during the ministry of Jesus, the majority would receive that only after that had God's indwelling Holy Ghost. And, He didn't come until Pentecost. In addition to that, the people were partially correct in believing that the kingdom of God meant: 'the 1,000 years reign of Christ', but that would not happen immediately because the religious leaders convinced the people to reject Jesus as their Christ and King. Therefore, because of that rejection, the offer of the kingdom was removed.
C19-S12 : this parable is because of the error identified in the prior sentence. Please remember that all parables are to be interpreted within the context of where they are reported.
1. The phrase He said therefore means: 'Jesus gave this parable as a direct result of what was reported in the prior sentence'.
2. The phrase A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return means: 'This is a symbolic prophecy of what Jesus will do after the resurrection'. The far country represents Heaven. The phrase to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return represents Christ returning to rule and reign for 1,000 years.
C19-S13 : the instructions given to the servants.
1. The phrase And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds means: 'He gave the same amount to each servant'. In the parallel parables, each servant was given amounts according to their ability. Therefore, the fact that each servant was given an equal amount is not relevant. What is relevant is that each servant was given amount to use to produce a profit for their lord.
2. The phrase and said unto them, Occupy till I come means: 'The true servants of God are to control the spiritual forces around them, not the physical'. Please see the Detailed Note for more about the word occupy.
C19-S14 : the response from the servants.
1. The word But 'continues the subject of the prior sentence while changing directions'.
2. The phrase But his citizens hated him means: 'This describes the attitude of the Jews in general and of the religious leaders in particular'.
3. The phrase and sent a message after him, saying means: 'This is what they told God the Father'.
4. The phrase We will not have this man to reign over us means: 'This is why the offer of the kingdom was withdrawn and why most Jews go to Hell'.
C19-S15 : When the lord returned he demanded an accounting.
1. The phrase And it came to pass, that when he was returned means: 'This is a prophecy of what will happen in Heaven before Christ returns to rule and reign on this Earth'.
2. The phrase having received the kingdom means: 'Christ will return to rule and reign on this Earth'.
3. The phrase then he commanded these servants to be called unto him means: 'There will be an accounting at the judgment seat of Christ', which will be before the return.
4. The phrase to whom he had given the money means: 'The money is symbolic of what God gives to each person to use to produce a spiritual profit for God. Each saved person is given a spiritual gift, at salvation, for this purpose. Those saved people who use their gift for pride and to lord over other saved people will suffer loss at judgment seat of Christ'.
5. The phrase that he might know how much every man had gained by trading means: 'We are required to produce a gain for God with how we use our spiritual gift'.
C19-S16 : the accounting given by the first servant.
1. The phrase Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds means: 'This is how much of a profit he produced'. Notice that only three, of ten, servants produced a profit. The rest were slain, which represents being sent to Hell.
C19-S17 : the lord rewarded the servant.
1. The phrase And he said unto him means: 'This is what Christ will say to the profitable saved person'.
2. The phrase Well, thou good servant means: 'This phrase is said to all who produce a profit regardless of how much of a profit is produced'.
3. The phrase because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities means: 'This person received a crown and their position in the kingdom of Christ will be directly proportionate to the amount of profit returned to God'.
C19-S18 : the accounting given by the second servant. Our sentence says: And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. He also produced a profit but a lesser amount.
C19-S19 : the lord rewarded the servant.
1. The phrase And he said likewise to him means: 'Christ will also reward this profitable saved person'.
2. The phrase Be thou also over five cities means: 'This person also received a crown and their position in the kingdom of Christ will be directly proportionate to the amount of profit returned to God'.
C19-S20 : the accounting given by the third servant.
1. The phrase And another came, saying means: 'This person had a different report but he was not sent to Hell like the remaining seven'.
2. The word behold means: 'Pay close attention'.
3. The phrase Lord, behold means: 'He knew that he was required to obey because he addressed his master as Lord'. The seven sent to Hell did not acknowledge their requirement to obey.
4. The phrase here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin means: 'He returned what was given to him but did not produce a profit'.
5. The phrase For I feared thee means: 'This is why he was judged differently than the seven who were sent to Hell. They refused to fear'.
6. The phrase because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow means: 'He accuses his Lord of being like Satan'. The main thing that the saved are required to do is to study the word of God so that they can learn the character of their God. The saved are not to study in order to win arguments. In addition, they are to not neglect the word of God or they will be deceived into believing their God is different than God truly is. This person was deceived about the character of God because he neglected to study the word of God and learn the true character of his God.
C19-S21 : the response of the lord.
1. The phrase And he saith unto him means: 'The nobleman, who symbolically represents the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ, passes this judgment'.
2. The phrase Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee means: 'This saved person is judged with the character that He accused the Lord Jesus Christ of having'. That means no mercy. Our next sentence expresses this truth in more detail.
C19-S22 : the lord pronounced judgment.
1. The phrase Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow means: 'He thought this because he only looked at the physical and what saved people did in the physical reality. This saved fool did not consider all of the spiritual help that the Lord Jesus Christ gives to the saved'.
2. The phrase Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank means: 'This is symbolically speaking about church ministries with the least effort such as putting money into missions or other church ministries'.
3. The phrase that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? means: 'This is the easiest way to put treasure into your Heavenly account'.
C19-S23 : the lord pronounced punishment.
1. The phrase And he said unto them that stood by means: 'This is the command that the Lord Jesus Christ will give concerning anyone who is saved but does not bring God a spiritual profit'.
2. The phrase Take from him the pound means: 'Such people will be paupers for eternity. They will be at the bottom of Heavenly social order and be given jobs that no one else wants to do'.
3. The phrase and give it to him that hath ten pounds means: 'God will transfer the spiritual gift to the person who best uses spiritual gifts'.
C19-S24 says: (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds). God is not interested in doing what we think is right but does things according to what produces the best results that God wants.
C19-S25 : the lord promises variable results based upon the profit returned.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For and explains why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase For I say unto you means: 'Jesus explains the precept which applies'.
3. The phrase That unto every one which hath shall be given means: 'Everyone who brings God a spiritual profit will receive more everlasting rewards'.
4. The phrase and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him means: 'Anyone who does not brings God a spiritual profit will lose the spiritual gift that they were given at salvation'.
C19-S26 : the lord kills those who refused to serve.
1. The word But 'continues the subject of the prior sentence while changing directions'.
2. The phrase But those mine enemies means: 'There are the people who did not even return the spiritual gift made available to them. They are the lost who never received salvation, and therefore never took the spiritual gift which was made available to them'.
3. The phrase which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me means: 'They are sent to Hell for refusing to accept Jesus as their personal Lord. Notice that they might have done several religious things, including saying a prayer of salvation, but they would not that I should reign over them'.
C19-S27 : Jesus continued on His way after giving the warning.
1. The phrase And when he had thus spoken means: 'After Jesus had explained the type of judgment that would be done by God'. If they did not use what God gave to them and bring a spiritual profit to God then they would be sent to Hell.
2. The phrase he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem means: 'Jesus walked towards His own torture and death on the cross'.
C19-S28 : Jesus instructs two disciples on how to prepare for the next incident. Please see the Doctrinal Studies called: Significant Gospel Events and Gospel Time Sequences for this prophecy and how it relates to other references in the word of God.
1. The phrase And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives means: 'This is when and where Jesus gave these instructions'.
2. The phrase he sent two of his disciples, Saying means: 'Jesus told them what to do'. The other Gospel accounts give different details but there is no conflict between the various accounts.
3. The phrase Go ye into the village over against you means: 'This was where they were to go'.
4. The phrase in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat means: 'This is what they would find'.
5. The phrase loose him, and bring him hither means: 'This is what they were to do'.
C19-S29 says: And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? Here, Jesus prepares them for any question.
C19-S30 says: thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. Jesus tells them how to answer any question. Notice that Jesus knew who owned the colt and that the owner would submit to His representatives.
C19-S31 says: And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. The disciples witnessed fulfillment of prophecy.
C19-S32 says: And as they were losing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?. They were questioned just the way that Jesus prepared them.
C19-S33 says: And they said, the Lord hath need of him. . They gave the answer that Jesus told them to give.
C19-S34 : the disciples did as Jesus had commanded.
1. The phrase And they brought him to Jesus means: 'The disciples did as commanded'.
2. The phrase and they cast their garments upon the colt means: 'This was in place of a saddle'.
3. The phrase and they set Jesus thereon means: 'The colt did not object even though this was the first time that anyone sat on him'.
C19-S35 says: And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way the people honored Jesus as He entered Jerusalem. Today, they roll out a red carpet or do something similar.
C19-S36 : the disciples praised God.
1. The phrase And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives means: 'This is where the praise started'.
2. The phrase the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen means: 'We are to praise God in a similar manner'.
3. The phrase Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord means: 'Notice that they call Jesus King. This was before He cleansed the Temple and made it clear that their sin had to end'.
4. The phrase peace in heaven, and glory in the highest means: 'This is what they would have had if they did not, later, reject Jesus as their King'.
C19-S37 : Some of the Pharisees objected.
1. The phrase And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him means: 'They had nothing that could match the miracles which Jesus had done and which the disciples were praising God for'.
2. The phrase Master means: 'They only accepted Jesus as a teacher'.
3. The phrase rebuke thy disciples means: 'They wanted to stop the truth because their lies could not match the truth'.
C19-S38 : Jesus answered them.
1. The phrase And he answered and said unto them means: 'Jesus answered the complaint of the Pharisees'.
2. The phrase I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out means: 'God was motivating their witness and they could not stop God'. God can use any witness that He wants. He used an ass to correct His prophet. He used a cock to correct Peter. Psalms tells us Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies and also tells us that all of nature is a witness of God.
C19-S39 : Jesus wept over Jerusalem. Please see the Doctrinal Studies called: Significant Gospel Events for this prophecy and references to related prophecies in other Gospel accounts.
1. The phrase And when he was come near means: 'This is when this sentence happened'.
2. The phrase he beheld the city, and wept over it means: 'This is what prompted the weeping and prophecy'.
3. The phrase Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day means: 'It was possible to avoid the destruction up until Jesus entered Jerusalem as their King and they rejected Him'.
4. The phrase the things which belong unto thy peace! means: 'The next sentence gives us details of what will happen when God removes their peace'. They did not know that they had to truly accept Jesus as their King in order to retain their peace.
C19-S40 says: but now they are hid from thine eyes. The word But 'continues the subject of the prior sentence while changing directions'. God had offered them peace and the kingdom but they refused God's King and God's true Law. They replaced God's true Law with their own law. In addition, they refused God's true King and replaced Him with their own chosen rulers. In addition, they did this multiple times and hardened their hearts from correction be the truth. Therefore, God hardened their hearts in their own chosen error and reaped the results of their own choice.
C19-S41 : Jesus prophesies in detail.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For and explains why the prior sentence is true. Please remember that, quite often, prophecy has more than one event mixed together and that, often, each part happens at a different time.
2. The phrase For the days shall come upon thee means: 'This future event will come when God determines that it is the right day'. Also, remember that what God calls a day can be 1,000 years as we measure time.
3. The phrase that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side means: 'This has been partially fulfilled when the Roman Army destroyed the Temple. However, I believe that the complete fulfillment will happen in the great tribulation'.
4. The phrase And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee means: 'Again, this has been partially fulfilled when the Roman Army destroyed the Temple. However, I believe that the complete fulfillment will happen in the great tribulation'.
5. The phrase and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another means: 'This was fulfilled with the destruction of the Temple. However, it probably will be fulfilled for the city in the great tribulation'.
6. The phrase because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation means: 'They refused to know when Jesus lived and visited the city. They also did not know when Paul last visited the city and brought the true Gospel which the Church of Jerusalem rejected. And, they also will not know when God's two great witnesses visit the city during the great tribulation'.
C19-S42 : Jesus cleanses the Temple.
1. Again, the other Gospel accounts give us more details about this incident without causing a conflict.
2. The phrase And he went into the temple means: 'This was after the conflict with the Pharisees on the way into the city'.
3. The phrase and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought means: 'The other Gospel accounts give us more details about this action'. These people had the approval of the religious leaders, and even worked for the religious leaders. The Temple was supposed to be used for worship and prayer to God and for teaching the word of God. Instead, they turned it into a market. The Roman Catholic Church, and almost all other religious organizations, do the same. They claim to re-present people and get spiritual results if the people pay or bur their religious things.
4. The phrase Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer means: 'This sentence quotes Isaiah 56:7 '.
5. The phrase but ye have made it a den of thieves means: 'They not only turned it into a market, but were defrauding God's people in the process'. That is why Jesus sais ye have made it a den of thieves.
C19-S43 says: And he taught daily in the temple. Jesus did what was supposed to be done in the Temple.
C19-S44 : the reaction by the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people.
1. The word But 'continues the subject of the prior sentence while changing directions'. Jesus was doing what God intended to be done in the Temple and the religious leaders sought to destroy him because of it. Devils always motivate their people to fight against anyone who lives according to God's truth.
2. The phrase But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people means: 'This is who was controlled by devils. They are the people who acted like this sentence describes'.
3. The phrase sought to destroy him means: 'This is what they sought to do'.
4. The phrase And could not find what they might do means: 'They could not figure how to do what they sought'.
5. The phrase for all the people were very attentive to hear him means: 'This is why. If they did what they wanted then the people would turn against them'.

Chapter 20 Summary:

The Religious Leaders Challenge Jesus.

Please see the Doctrinal Document called What Did Jesus Do? for the section on how He dealt with conflict. This entire chapter is an example of how to handle conflict, especially conflict which is motivated by devils.

in this chapter we are told how the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders and challenged Jesus about authority. The demanded that He Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority? Jesus responded by asking them: The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? they refused to answer His question. Therefore, He also refused to answer their question.

After this Jesus gave them the 'Parable of the Hirelings Killing the Heir'. As a result, we are told And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them. (Luke 20:19). Then, they had several of the religious groups try to catch Him in an error, or anything that they could use against Him. All failed. First, they tried to get Him in trouble with the Civil Governor. Next, the Sadducees tried. In addition, other Gospels report other groups trying. However, eventually, they durst not ask him any question at all.

After all of the religious groups tried to trip up Jesus, He asked them: How say they that Christ is David's son? and used scripture to show that the doctrine taught by the religious leaders must be wrong. After that, Jesus, said to His disciples: Beware of the scribes along with describing their actions.

As we see here, they kept challenging Jesus until it was undeniable that they would lose every time. Then He challenged them and showed His disciples their doctrinal error. Therefore, it should be obvious to the reader how the theme of this chapter fits every account within the chapter.

Please see the Doctrinal Studies called: Significant Gospel Events; Gospel Time Sequences and Table of Parables in the New Testament for references related to events in this chapter and for how the events of this chapter fit in the time sequence of the life of Jesus.

Luke 20; Matthew 22 and Mark 12 all tell us some of the same things. In addition, they probably happened at the same time as the accounts in John 8. Later, at John 8:20; we are told These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple and the accounts in these other Gospels happened in the Temple and end with Jesus being by the treasury. In addition, while the specific accounts differ, all Gospels report the same types of incidents between the religious leaders and Jesus.

In Luke 20:1-7; Matthew 21:23-27 and Mark 11:27-33, the chief priests and the elders challenged Jesus as He taught in the Temple.

Mark 12:1 tells us that Jesus responded to the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders in parables. With this consideration, we read in Luke 20:9-19; Matthew 21:33-46 and Mark 12:2-12 that Jesus gives us 'the Parable of the Hirelings Killing the Heir'. This is a prophecy by Jesus about how the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders would have Him killed. It is also found in the Table of Parables in the New Testament. Matthew 21:33-46 also tells us about the religious leaders killing the prophets.

Luke 20:20-40; Matthew 22:15-46 and Mark 12:13-37 tell us about when the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders tried to use others to destroy Jesus. All failed.

In Luke 20:20-26; Matthew 22:15-33 and Mark 12:13-17 we read that the Herodians tried an argument about money and taxes.

In Luke 20:27-40; Matthew 22:23-33 and Mark 12:18-27 we read that the Sadducees tried an argument about the resurrection.

Luke 20:40; Matthew 22:46 and Mark 12:34 tell us And no man after that durst ask him any question.

Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 12:35-37 and Luke 20:41-44 all cover the time when Jesus asked How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?.

In Luke 20:45-47; Matthew 23:1-12 and Mark 12:38-40, Jesus talks to the general people and tells them: Beware of the scribes, when He received no answer from the religious leaders to His own challenge.

C20-S1 : The chief priests and the scribes, with the elders and challenged Jesus about authority.
1. Our sentence adds the start of this chapter to the end of the prior chapter. Our prior chapter told us that the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy Jesus. This chapter tells us what they did in that attempt.
2. The phrase And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel means: 'Jesus was doing in the Temple what the chief priests and the scribes were commanded by God to do but were refusing to do.'.
3. The phrase the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders means: 'These were all of the people who were teaching doctrinal error in the Temple of God'. . . .
4. The phrase And spake unto him, saying means: 'They vocalized their challenge'.
5. The phrase Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? means: 'This was their challenge'. Notice that they did not challenge anything that Jesus preached and taught because they knew that he preached and taught the word of God.
C20-S2 says: or who is he that gave thee this authority?. They had their authority from God as s-specified in the Mosaic Law. However, they also knew that God sent them prophets to correct doctrinal error. The prophets spoke with the authority of God and had been sent throughout their history. And, they knew that Jesus was a prophet from God teaching and preaching the word of God. Therefore, with this challenge, they were directly challenging the authority of God in God's Temple and they knew that they were doing so.
C20-S3 : Jesus demands that they must first answer His question.
1. The phrase And he answered and said unto them means: 'Jesus gave this answer'. Here, He was demanding that they do their job and recognize the authority of God in God's Temple.
2. The phrase I will also ask you one thing; and answer me means: 'Jesus is obviously demanding that they answer His question first'.
3. The phrase The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? means: 'If they admit that the baptism of John was from heaven, then they had to admit that John was a prophet from God and that Jesus was a greater prophet from God because of all of the miracles and prophecies which He gave. If they refuse to admit that John was a prophet from God then they prove that they are refusing to do their main job and destroy their own claim to authority'.
C20-S4 : they consider one answer.
1. The phrase And they reasoned with themselves, saying means: 'This is what they did before answering'.
2. The phrase If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? means: 'They realized that they had already proven that they refused to accept a message from God'.
C20-S5 : they consider another answer.
1. The word But 'continues the subject of the prior sentence while changing directions'. They already considered, and rejected, one possible answer. Now they are considering the opposite answer.
2. The phrase But and if we say, Of men means: 'This is the only other possible answer as specified by the question fro, Jesus'.
3. The phrase all the people will stone us means: 'This was the specified punishment, according to the Mosaic Law, for a false prophet or a false teacher of God's word'. This answer would be an obvious lie and would justify this punishment.
4. The phrase for they be persuaded that John was a prophet means: 'These religious leaders claimed to be the experts in spiritual matters. If the common Jew be persuaded that John was a prophet, then it was so obvious that the so-called spiritual experts could not deny the truth and retain their claims of being an expert'. They got away with doing this only because God allowed it in order to justify sending them to Hell for their deliberate and conscious sin.
C20-S6 says: And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was. Their answer was an obvious lie.
C20-S7 : Jesus acknowledges that their lie is a refusal to answer.
1. The phrase And Jesus said unto them means: 'Jesus refused to continue a discussion when the other person refused to answer honestly'. This is an example that people need to follow.
2. The phrase Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things means: 'Since they refused to recognize the authority of God, it was a waste of time to say that His authority came from God'.
C20-S8 : Jesus started telling 'the Parable of the Hirelings Killing the Heir'. Please remember that all parables must be understood within the context of where they are found. This parable tells the people what the religious leaders are doing from a spiritual perspective and what will happen to them if they continue to support the religious leaders in their fight against God.
1. The phrase Then began he to speak to the people this parable means: 'Jesus spoke to the people because the religious leaders refused to be reasonable'.
2. The phrase A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen means: 'The certain man symbolically represents God. The vineyard symbolically represents the Jewish nation. The husbandmen symbolically represent the Jewish religious leaders'.
3. The phrase and went into a far country for a long time means: 'This represents the time between when God put Adam and Eve out of the garden and when Jesus started His ministry'.
C20-S9 : the second servant was treated like the first.
1. The phrase And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen means: 'The servant symbolically represents the prophets that God sent to the Jews. Again, the husbandmen symbolically represent the Jewish religious leaders'.
2. The phrase that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard means: 'The fruit symbolically represent the saved people. That is, people who had an ongoing personal relationship with God. God commanded His priests and Levites to teach the people to have such a relationship. Instead, they taught the people to replace God with the religious leaders and to look down on Gentiles instead of reaching them with God's love'.
3. The phrase but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty means: 'This is how the Jewish religious leaders treated all of God's true prophets'.
C20-S10 says: And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. God sent another prophet and the religious leaders treated him the same way.
C20-S11 says: And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. God sent another prophet and the religious leaders treated him worse.
C20-S12 says: Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do?. The man considered his options.
C20-S13 : the lord pl and his next option.
1. The phrase I will send my beloved son means: ''. God sent Jesus to the Jews and He fulfilled so many prophecies that there could be no doubt Who He was. The Jewish religious leaders deliberately refused to acknowledge who Jesus was.
2. The phrase it may be they will reverence him when they see him means: 'God gave them this option even though He knew that they would refuse it'. Many times people complain about God not blessing them and even punishing them when they refuse to believe and obey.
C20-S14 : they planned to kill the heir.
1. The word But 'continues the subject of the prior sentence while changing directions'. Instead of reverencing the Son they murdered Him. And, they did it for the foolish reason stated in our sentence. Our physical life is short but we will spend eternity in the spiritual reality. The true inheritance is in Heaven, which lost religious people can not steal. What we have here, in the physical reality, is only a temporary testing ground. It will not last and it is not real like Heaven and the lake of fire are real.
2. The phrase But when the husbandmen saw him means: 'The husbandmen symbolically represent the Jewish religious leaders. The phrase saw him means that they realized that Jesus was God's Son, even though they refused to admit it.'.
3. The phrase they reasoned among themselves, saying means: 'They talked with each other but ignored God. They only considered the physical and ignored the spiritual'.
4. The phrase This is the heir means: 'They knew exactly Who Jesus was'.
5. The phrase come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours means: 'They thought that they could bring in the 1,000 years reign of Christ, without Christ. They thought that they could force God to give them the kingdom and let them replace Christ as rulers of the world.'.
C20-S15 : Jesus they killed the heir.
1. The phrase So they cast him out of the vineyard means: 'They got the Jewish people to cry crucify him'. This was how the religious leaders cast him out of the vineyard.
2. The phrase and killed him means: 'This is a prophecy of the crucifixion'.
C20-S16 says: What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? Jesus asks what they think will be he result.
C20-S17 : Jesus says what God will do the Jewish religious leaders. Another Gospel account says that the people said this answer. This is not a conflict. They answered and Jesus repeated their answer as confirmation that they were right.
1. The phrase He shall come and destroy these husbandmen means: 'God will destroy the Jewish religious leaders'.
2. The phrase and shall give the vineyard to others means: 'God will start the 'Church Age''.
C20-S18 says: And when they heard it, they said, God forbid. The listeners are shocked at the results.
C20-S19 : Jesus gave a scriptural reference which none of them understood. The scripture was a prophecy of what was about to happen with God starting the church. Our sentence quotes Psalms 118:22-23 and references 1Samuel 2:10; Proverbs 6:15; Isaiah 8:13-15; Isaiah 28:16 and Zechariah 3:8-9.
1. The phrase And he beheld them, and said means: 'Jesus made sure that He had their attention before He quoted this scripture'.
2. The phrase What is this then that is written means: 'Jesus is challenging them to understand the scripture which He is quoting'.
3. The phrase The stone which the builders rejected means: 'This was an actual event during the building of Solomon's Temple. God used it in a prophecy to say that the Jewish religious leaders would reject God's Christ'.
4. The phrase the same is become the head of the corner? means: 'God's Christ is the chief cornerstone of God's Church'.
C20-S20 : Jesus explains the personal application of that scripture.
1. Our sentence continues the scriptural reference of the prior sentence.
2. The phrase Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. Please see the note for the prior sentence for references to the scripture that Jesus references in this sentence. What we see in these references is that the people who accept Christ will be changed but those who reject His ministry will be destroyed.
C20-S21 : The chief priests and the scribes react to the parable. They knew that Jesus said the parable against them, even though they did not understand the parable nor the scriptural references which it was based upon. .
1. The phrase And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him means: 'They wanted to kill Jesus'.
2. The phrase and they feared the people means: 'The feared the consequences if the people knew that they wanted to kill Jesus, simply because He told the truth about them'.
3. The phrase for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them means: 'This is why they wanted to kill Him'. This shows their foolishness. They should have known that killing Jesus would not stop God from destroying them, especially since that was the message of the parable.
C20-S22 : The chief priests and the scribes act.
1. The phrase And they watched him, and sent forth spies means: 'They watched in secret and fraudulentlyfraudently'. However, we can be sure that Jesus knew what they were doing.
2. The phrase which should feign themselves just men means: 'These were the frauds'.
3. The phrase that they might take hold of his words means: 'They hoped He would say something that they could pervert into claiming the He broke the law'.
4. The phrase that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor means: 'The Jews were not allowed to condemn someone to death. They had to convince the governor to pronounce a death sentence'.
C20-S23 : the spies ask a trap question.
1. Our sentence adds how the spies thought they would get Jesus in trouble. If He said yes to their question, the Jews would be mad at Him. If He said no to their question, the Governor would be mad at Him. However, they were surprised because they did not expect the wisdom which He displayed. This is because they considered Him to only be a man and refused to accept that He was 'God in human flesh'.
2. The phrase And they asked him, saying means: 'They thought they had a trick question'.
3. The phrase Master means: 'Teacher, not Lord nor God'.
4. The phrase we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly means: 'Liar, liar, pants on fire'. If they really believe this lie then they would not be trying to trick Him.
5. The phrase neither acceptest thou the person of any means: 'They really resented this truth because they thought they were better than others and demanded preferential treatment by other people'.
6. The phrase but teachest the way of God truly means: 'If they truly believed this then they would listen to Him instead of trying to destroy Him'.
7. The phrase Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? means: 'Here is their trick question, which was explained at the start of this sentence outline'.
C20-S24 : Jesus challenged them.
1. The word But 'continues the subject of the prior sentence while changing directions'. They thought that they had tricked Jesus but had not.
2. The phrase But he perceived their craftiness means: 'Jesus was not fooled'.
3. The phrase and said unto them means: 'Jesus called them on their lie'..
4. The phrase Why tempt ye me? means: 'This was His question'. He made it clear that He understood that they were not honestly seeking an answer but were trying to trap Him with a question which they thought any answer would be wrong.
C20-S25 says: Shew me a penny.. Jesus demands an example to use to illustrate the truth.
C20-S26 says: Whose image and superscription hath it?. Jesus asks them a question where the answer is obvious.
C20-S27 says: They answered and said, Caesar's they give the obvious answer.
C20-S28 : Jesus answers their question based upon the example and their prior answer.
1. The phrase And he said unto them means: 'Jesus gave this answer'.
2. The phrase Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's means: 'They denied the right of government to receive payment for service rendered even while using the money provided by the government'. That attitude is a disobedience of God's law about accepting government officials as ministers of God that we are to obey and honor.
3. The phrase and unto God the things which be God's means: 'This is what they truly were refusing to do. They refused to give God the honor and obedience that is due to God'.
C20-S29 : Jesus shut their mouths.
1. The phrase And they could not take hold of his words before the people means: 'They could not use His answer against Him like they expected to be able to do'.
2. The phrase and they marvelled at his answer means: 'His answer was beyond their thinking'.
3. The phrase and held their peace means: 'They kept their mouths shut so that He could not make them look like greater fools'.
C20-S30 : the second group to challenge Jesus.
1. The phrase Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection means: 'This is another group of religious fools. They are fools, first because deny that there is any resurrection and secondly, because they try to match wits with God in human flesh'. It is not possible to have any evidence to support a claim of no resurrection. And, three times in the Old Testament people were raised from the dead and that is in their own history. In addition, Jesus had raised three people from the dead at this time. Further, Lazarus lived an easy walk from the Temple. Therefore, there was evidence easily available to them. However, like fools throughout history, they refused to look at available evidence to verify or disprove their opinion. Think of the people who claim that death is the end of existence. They can not have any evidence to back that claim and they ignore the thousands of people through history and everywhere, who were declared dead and then came back to life. Simply put, anyone who clings to an opinion while refusing to verify or deny that opinion with available evidence, is a fool.
2. The phrase and they asked him, Saying means: 'They challenged Jesus to match wits with them'.
3. The phrase Master means: 'They only recognized Him as a human teacher and not as God in human flesh'.
4. The phrase Moses wrote unto us means: 'They proved that they had read the Mosaic Law even while rejecting the evidence in the prophets'.
5. The phrase If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children means: 'This is the condition that they are going to exaggerate in order to try and prove their foolishness'.
6. The phrase that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother means: 'Moses wrote this for a purpose which they ignore'. Like Satan, they are quoting scripture out of context so that they can pervert it.
C20-S31 says: There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children. This was their made up condition.
C20-S32 says: And the second took her to wife, and he died childless. The second did as the first.
C20-S33 says: And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died. The rest did as the first.
C20-S34 says: Last of all the woman died also. Everyone died.
C20-S35 says: Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she?. Their question.
C20-S36 says: for seven had her to wife. Their reasoning.
C20-S37 : Jesus explains the first error they had. They other Gospel accounts tell us more about how Jesus corrected their error.
1. The phrase And Jesus answering said unto them means: 'This answer is from Jesus. Many religions, including some which claim to be Christian, dispute the doctrine of this answer'. They are liars who preach a doctrine from devils. And, if they want to dispute that claim, let them die and be dead for three days and nights and then rise from the dead, by their own power, in order to show that they have conquered death. If they can not, or will not, prove that they personally have at least as much power as Jesus, then their claim to be a greater authority is a lie and their doctrine comes from devils.
2. The phrase The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage means: 'Jesus is starting His answer with a fact which can not be disputed'.
3. The phrase But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead means: 'The many miracles done by Jesus prove that He came from God as witnessed in John 3:2. In addition, His resurrection from the dead proves that He speaks from personal knowledge. Since on one else has those credentials, no one else can dispute this statement'.
4. The phrase neither marry, nor are given in marriage means: 'This statement proves that their whole argument is pure foolishness'. When we combine this truth with the evidence provided for the earlier phrases of this sentence, only a obvious fool would dispute the doctrine found here.
5. The phrase Neither can they die any more means: 'This phrase disproves the foolish doctrine of people loosing salvation'.
6. The phrase for they are equal unto the angels means: 'This phrase disproves the foolish doctrine that angels had sex with women'.
7. The phrase and are the children of God means: 'The saved, which are accounted worthy to obtain the resurrection from the dead, and which Jesus identified in an earlier phrase, are the children of God'. This means that they have the character of God. As explained elsewhere on this web site, this does not include the saved who refuse to accept the character of God.
8. The phrase being the children of the resurrection means: 'Not all saved will be the children of the resurrection and return for the 1,000 years reign of Christ'.
C20-S38 : Jesus explains the second error they had.
1. The word Now means: 'After you understand what was said prior'. If people reject any of the doctrine of the prior sentence, they will have trouble truly understanding the doctrine of this sentence.
2. The phrase that the dead are raised means: 'This is their main doctrinal error and dispute with what other Jews believed'.
3. The phrase even Moses shewed at the bush means: 'Their argument was based upon what Moses wrote. Therefore, they prove themselves to be lying fools is they dispute something else that Moses wrote. And, in Exodus 3:2, Moses wrote about seeing the bush on fire which did not burn. Therefore, Jesus is giving us the scriptural reference for what He answers to these fools'.
4. The phrase when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob means: 'This phrase quotes Exodus 3:6 and Exodus 3:15. It also directly references the famous statement by God of I am'. That statement by God was so revered by the Jews that even these fools did not dare dispute it.
C20-S39 : Why they were wrong.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For and explains why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase For he is not a God of the dead means: 'This is why it is foolishness to dispute the resurrection. God could not be the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob if there was no resurrection and these fools could not claim Moses as their authority for what he wrote one place while disputing what he wrote in another place'.
3. The phrase but of the living means: 'God is the God of all living'.
4. The phrase for all live unto him means: 'Here's why. All physical life comes from God. Men and women can get together as many times as they wish. But, unless God provides the spirit, they don't get a baby. In addition, no one gets true spiritual life unless God provides it'.
C20-S40 : the scribes admit defeat.
1. The word Then means: 'After Jesus answered every challenge and won them all'.
2. The phrase certain of the scribes answering said means: 'They were the God appointed people who were supposed to teach the word of God'.
3. The phrase Master means: 'They still thought of Him only as a teacher'.
4. The phrase thou hast well said means: 'You personally have won every challenge'.
C20-S41 says: And after that they durst not ask him any question at all. Jesus had shut the mouth of everyone.
C20-S42 : Jesus now challenges them to be sure that they don't return later with another challenge.
1. The phrase And he said unto them means: 'Jesus questions a conflict in their doctrine'.
2. The phrase How say they that Christ is David's son? means: ''. This doctrine comes directly from Psalms 89:4 and is true. Jesus is a physical descendent (son) of King David. In addition, both Matthew 1 and Luke 3 tell us this truth.
C20-S43 : Jesus gives them the scriptural reference.
1. Our sentence adds the scriptural reference which proves that their doctrine was wrong.
2. The phrase And David himself saith in the book of Psalms means: 'This sentence is a direct reference to Psalms 110:1 '.
3. The phrase The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies thy footstool means: 'This is the quote and the next sentence explains how it proves that their doctrine was wrong'.
C20-S44 : Jesus explains their doctrinal problem.
1. The phrase David therefore calleth him Lord means: 'This means that king David recognized that God's Christ was his Lord and King and God'.
2. The phrase how is he then his son? means: 'The Jewish doctrine claimed that a son could never be greater than his father'. Another place in scripture, where we find this truth, is where Jacob moved to Egypt and had to bow to his son Joseph. Therefore, this doctrine of the Jews was wrong.
C20-S45 : Jesus warns the people.
1. The word Then means: 'After Jesus challenged all of the Jewish religious leaders about their doctrine and they could not answer His challenge'.
2. The phrase in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples means: 'Jesus spoke to His disciples but made sure that all of the Jews heard Him'.
3. The phrase Beware of the scribes means: 'Their doctrine is a danger'.
4. The phrase which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts means: 'They love, and seek, honor among men and not from God even though they are supposed to be servants of God'.
5. The phrase Which devour widows' houses means: 'They sin by robbing the very people whom they are supposed to protect'.
6. The phrase and for a shew make long prayers means: 'They put on a spiritual act which is not real'.
7. The phrase the same shall receive greater damnation means: 'Any who follow their doctrine will also receive damnation from God'.

Chapter 21 Summary:

Prophecy of Future Events.

Our chapter starts with the well known account of the widow's two mites. In that account, Jesus made it clear that her little amount was far more than those who threw in much more money when taken from a spiritual perspective. Then, our chapter continues with people talking about how grand the Temple was. Again, Jesus made it clear that the Temple was not very grand from a spiritual perspective. This led to Jesus prophesying about future events including the destruction of the Temple. This destruction, and the other destruction which is prophesied in this chapter, is all because people, especially religious people, insist upon keeping a physical perspective when God keeps telling them that the spiritual perspective is what is important.

What we see in the two incidents, which are at the start of the chapter, is that people were looking at things physically while Jesus looked at them spiritually. What we see as a theme of this chapter is that Jesus is using prophecy to express spiritual perceptions. Lots of people want to know about prophecy, but they want to use their physical senses and reasoning to understand what can only be rightly understood spiritually. Thus, most people either don't understand, or misunderstand, the prophecy of this chapter.

Our chapter ends by telling us that Jesus spent His day time teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives. This was where He went to pray just before His arrest and crucifixion. Thus, Jesus spent His nights seeking spiritual comfort and strength so that He could spend His days ministering to people that He knew would turn against Him and demand that He be crucified. from this we learn that, even when we know that the worst possible thing will happen to us physically, we are to still concentrate on doing the spiritual job which God gave to us to do.

This chapter is best understood by understanding the details, which are presented below.

All of Matthew 10:17-23; Matthew 24:1-25:30; Mark 13 and Luke 21:8-36 are dealing with prophecies of future events. The prophecy in Luke 17:22-31 is similar, but different, from the prophecies in this chapter and the matching prophecies in the other gospels. While the prophecies in these chapters all deal with the same general subject, the details vary between Gospel accounts. No single Gospel account has all of the details and each Gospel account has details not found in the other Gospel accounts. Therefore, all three Gospel accounts need to be studied together in order to understand all that can be understood. In addition, the notes in the related Book Studies provide further details and links to matching references within the Bible and those details and references probably are not in the other Gospel accounts. Therefore, all three Gospel accounts should also be studied together for a fuller understanding of these prophecies.

Please see the section called Prophecies, within the Study called Significant Gospel Events, and the detailed notes for various sentences within this Study, for links to where other places in the Bible provide similar prophecies to those found within this chapter. Please also see the section called Minor Titles of the Son of God in the Significant Gospel Events Study where we are told that the Son of Man is a prophet. Please also see the notes for Romans C16S33; Romans C12S5; Jude about the word prophet. The functional definition for this word is: ' In Scripture, a person illuminated, inspired or instructed by God to announce God's word; as Moses, Elijah, David, Isaiah, etc'. Please also see the Study called false prophets. Please also see the notes for Romans C12S5; 1Corinthians C11S4; 1Thessalonians 5:20 about the words prophecy / prophesy. Please also see the Prophecies and Prophecy Fulfilled Sections for Bible references to resurrection.

Luke 21:8-36 has prophecies which can be divided into three broad categories which are:

Luke 21:8-19; Matthew 10:17-23; Matthew 24:4-13 and Mark 13:5-13 have prophecies of events before the 'Rapture'.
Luke 21:20-28; Matthew 24:15-31 and Mark 13:14-27 have prophecies of events that will happen to Jews during the great tribulation.
Luke 21:29-38; Matthew 24:32-44 and Mark 13:26-37 give the 'Parable of the Fig Tree' and the command to watch. This is a command for today.

Luke 21:1-4 and Mark 12:41-44 give the account of the widow's two mites.

Luke 21:5-6; Matthew 24:1-2 and Mark 13:1-2 all prophesy the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. This same prophecy is also said in Luke 19:44.

Luke 21:7; Matthew 24:3 and Mark 13:3-4 tell us that the disciples asked about future events and the signs of their coming. Almost all of the rest of this chapter is reporting His answer.

Luke 21:8; Matthew 24:4-5; Matthew 24:23-25; Mark 13:5-6 and Mark 13:21-22 give the same message about false Christs.

Luke 21:9-11; Matthew 24:6-8 and Mark 13:7-8 warn about wars and rumours of wars. We are told that the end shall not be yet. Therefore, anyone who claims otherwise is a liar and / or deceived and is deceiving others.

Luke 21:12-19; Matthew 24:9-13 and Mark 13:9-13 warn about persecution of the true witnesses of Christ by religious and civil authorities. In addition, Matthew 24:20-13 warns about false prophets and people claiming to be saved but living in hate instead of in love.

Luke 21:14-15 and Mark 13:11-13 tell us how to react and how to let God's Holy Ghost work through us at these times.

Luke 21:20-22; Matthew 24:15-18 and Mark 13:18-20 warn about the Jews to pray about the conditions, during the great tribulation, when they will have to flee to the mountains.

Luke 21:23; Matthew 24:19 and Mark 13:17 say: woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!.

Luke 21:24-26; Matthew 24:29-30 and Mark 13:24-25 warn about terrible things that will happen just before the return of Christ.

Luke 21:27-28; Matthew 24:27-31 and Mark 13:26-27 tell about Christ's return to Earth to rule and reign.

Luke 21:28; Matthew 24:31 and Mark 13:27 tell about Christ gathering the Jews from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

Luke 21:29-32; Matthew 24:32-34 and Mark 13:28-30 tell us the 'Parable of the Fig Tree'. It is also found in the Table of Parables in the New Testament.

Luke 21:32; Matthew 24:34 and Mark 13:30 tell us Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

Luke 21:33; Matthew 24:35 and Mark 13:31 say: heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Luke 21:33-36; Matthew 24:35-37 and Mark 13:31-37 give us a final warning and final commandments which are based upon these prophecies and on the precept which started these Bible references.

C21-S1 : Jesus considered what happened around Him.
1. Our sentence adds Jesus observing the attitudes and actions of men to His warning about doctrinal error.
2. The phrase And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury means: 'Jesus could see this action from where He was teaching. The Jews set things up so that everyone would know who gave a lot to the treasury'.
C21-S2 says: And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. Most people would ignore her but Jesus did not. This shows us that God sees even the smallest things which we do.
C21-S3 : Jesus reported what happened spiritually.
1. The phrase And he said means: 'Jesus said this to His disciples and to the Jews that He was teaching in the Temple'.
2. The phrase Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all means: 'Jesus said that this was a truth but it has to be understood spiritually because it does not make sense from a physical perspective'. God is a Spirit and God wants us to understand the things of our life from a spiritual perspective.
3. The phrase For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God means: 'Notice that Jesus ignored how much they gave and concentrated on the lack of true sacrifice'. Many preachers preach this report based upon the amount given when it is really about the amount of sacrifice.
4. The phrase but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had means: 'The phrase all the living that she had means all that she had earned to live on'. Many wrongly claim that this was all that she had. However, she probably had a place to stay and clothes and other things. However, she probably had to fast after giving all the living that she had. Jesus recognized her sacrifice.
C21-S4 : When some responded with physical observations, Jesus prophesied their future.
1. The phrase And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts means: 'They changed subjects from sacrifice to the physical place of sacrifice'. Other Gospel accounts tell us that this was when Jesus and His disciples were leaving for the night. Thus, these prophecies were only given to the disciples and not to the Jews whom Jesus had been teaching in the Temple.
2. The phrase he said means: 'Jesus gave these prophecies'.
3. The word behold means: 'Pay close attention'.
4. The phrase As for these things which ye behold means: 'Jesus dealt with what they looked at closely and were impressed with'.
5. The phrase the days will come means: 'This is a prophecy'. Please see the Prophecies section, of the Significant Gospel Events Study, for this sentence and for the rest of this chapter.
6. The phrase in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another means: 'Many people claim that God had this done because of the way that the Jews had been acting for over 400 years. But that doesn't make sense. This prophecy was fulfilled after Paul's head was cut off. The saved Jews who kept holding onto doctrinal error and insisted that people had to keep Jewish religious traditions in order to be saved, were the ones who had Paul arrested and, eventually, beheaded. God used that to have Paul write much of our New Testament. But afterwards, God had the Temple torn down so that the saved could not keep the Jewish religious traditions.'.
7. The phrase that shall not be thrown down means: 'This is how the Temple was destroyed, according to history'.
C21-S5 : the disciples asked when the prophecy would happen.
1. The phrase And they asked him, saying means: 'The disciples asked this question of Jesus'.
2. The word Master usually means 'Teacher'. However, in this sentence, it is used for 'a prophet who teaches'.
3. The phrase but when shall these things be? means: 'They knew that Jesus was a prophet and could answer this question'.
C21-S6 : they asked how they would know that the prophecy would happen.
1. Our sentence adds a second question about the prophecy.
2. The phrase and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? means: 'The Jews looked for signs to tell them about spiritual events. As Jesus explained in John 3, with the wind, the spiritual can not be seen directly in the physical reality but the effect can be seen in the physical reality. The signs were effects of smaller spiritual events which preceded the main spiritual event'.
C21-S7 : the warning from Jesus.
1. Our sentence adds a warning.
2. The phrase And he said means: 'Jesus gave this warning as the first part of His answer. That means that it is extremely important that we pay attention to the warning'.
3. The phrase Take heed that ye be not deceived means: 'P{ay close attention or you will be deceived'.
4. The phrase for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ means: 'The Bible warns us about other gods and other lords and other Jesus and other christs. The only way to avoid being deceived is to know the true character of the true Biblical God and Lord and Jesus and Christ. Many people study the Bible so that they can argue the doctrine in it but we are actually supposed to study the word of God so that we can learn and receive His character'.
5. The phrase and the time draweth near means: 'Notice that these signs are not of the actual event'. Many false prophet claim that signs of early events are signs of the return of Christ. And, many Godly people have been deceived and repeated the deception. Such people did not take proper heed of this warning.
6. The phrase go ye not therefore after them means: 'This is a very clear command to not follow people who give false prophecies and claim to be what they are not'.
C21-S8 : Beware of false signs.
1. The word But 'continues the subject of the prior sentence while changing directions'. Jesus is still talking about signs while warning us about false signs.
2. The phrase But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified means: 'These are constant throughout human history. Reportedly, the only time that there was peace throughout all of the Earth was while Jesus was alive on the Earth'.
3. The phrase for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by means: 'Pay attention to the word not in these phrases'.
C21-S9 : Other false signs.
1. The word Then means: 'After Jesus gave them the warning to avoid being deceived'.
2. The phrase Then said he unto them means: 'Jesus gave this prophecy'.
3. The phrase Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom means: 'There will be constant hot and cold wars. All political leaders of nations try to expand and take control of the whole Earth. That is why there are constant wars.'.
4. The phrase And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences means: 'There are going to be non-stop natural disasters'.
5. The phrase and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven means: 'There will be strange things happening is space which will be seen on Earth'.
C21-S10 : What to beware of.
1. The word But 'continues the subject of the prior sentence while changing directions'. in this case, Jesus is changing from prophesying general events to prophesying events which will affect the saved personally.
2. The phrase But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you means: 'This prophecy is about the persecution of the early church (before all these)'.
3. The phrase delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake means: 'Religious and civil authorities will persecute the church. The book of Acts tells about persecution of the church in synagogues. History tells us about persecution by governments'.
C21-S11 says: And it shall turn to you for a testimony means: 'Truly saved people who are persecuted but react Godly will have a testimony which can not be gained any other way'.
C21-S12 : How to prepare.
1. The phrase Settle it therefore in your hearts means: 'We are to prepare our heart'.
2. The phrase not to meditate before what ye shall answer means: 'Do not consider how to answer beforehand'.
3. The phrase For I will give you a mouth and wisdom means: 'Trust God to tell you what to say and how to say it'.
4. The phrase which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist means: 'Our adversaries can out-talk us but not God'.
C21-S13 : Warning of betrayal and death by trusted people.
1. Our sentence adds another prophecy which is fulfilled repeatedly through time.
2. The phrase And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends means: 'Those most close to us and trusted will betray us to the government'. It would be nice to be able to claim that only lost people will do this but history has shown that, sometimes, even the save will betray other saved.
3. The phrase and some of you shall they cause to be put to death means: 'Not only persecution but also death will be visited upon the true servants of Christ'.
C21-S14 says: And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake this particular prophecy has come and gone throughout history.
C21-S15 says: But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In all honesty, I can not explain this sentence.
C21-S16 : says: In your patience possess ye your souls. This means: 'Keep your mind, your emotions and your will focused on God and know that He is in control. Also remember that we are promised God will not let anything happen to us unless we can handle it'.
C21-S17 : this sentence starts prophecy for Jews who will go through the great tribulation.
1. The phrase And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies means: 'This is when the man that the world calls 'The Antichrist'', but that the word of God calls beast, decides to kill all living Jews.
2. The phrase then know that the desolation thereof is nigh means: 'It is close to the time when the greatest number of Jews will die'.
C21-S18 says: Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. This means that all living Jews are to run for their lives and hide.
C21-S19 : Why to flee.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For and explains why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase For these be the days of vengeance means: 'This is when Satan and his two beasts will seek to kill everyone who is associated with Go as a way of getting vengeance on God. And, this is when God will get vengeance on everyone who has rejected Jesus Christ as their personal Lord'. Lots of people will die at this time.
3. The phrase that all things which are written may be fulfilled means: 'All prophecies which are to be fulfilled before the 1,000 years reign of Christ will be fulfilled'.
4. Matthew 24:22 and Mark 13:20 tell us: And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. In both of those references, Jesus is speaking of the same days as our current sentence.
C21-S20 says: But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! Such women will find it hard to flee fast enough.
C21-S21 says: for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. God will let Satan do this in order to kill all Jews who will still refuse to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord.
Jeremiah 23:5-6 says: Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, thE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. means: 'Only those Jews who accept Jesus Christ as God's righteous Branch, and a King will be saved and go into the land where He will rule'.
C21-S22 : says: And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. This destruction started near the start of the 'Church Age'. This prophecy continued from when the Temple was destroyed through the restoration of the country of Israel.
C21-S23 says: And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. At various times people have claimed that this prophecy has been fulfilled but I believe it will not be truly fulfilled until the end of the great tribulation. Please notice that our next sentence starts with the phrase And then and is followed by the prophecy of the return of Christ.
C21-S24 : the Second Coming.
1. The phrase And then means: 'After all of the prior prophecies are fulfilled'.
2. The phrase shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory means: 'This is the return of Christ to rule and reign'. All devils and all men and even all animals will see His return.
C21-S25 : says: And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Preachers sometimes quote this sentence to people for today but the context makes it a promise for the Jews living through the great tribulation.
C21-S26 : the Parable of the Fig Tree.
1. The phrase And he spake to them a parable means: 'Jesus spoke this parable. The saved and serving should understand it while the lost and carnal will be led into error'.
2. The word behold means: 'Pay close attention'.
3. The phrase Behold the fig tree, and all the trees means: 'Jesus is using trees to teach a spiritual lesson'.
4. The phrase When they now shoot forth means: 'When trees put out the first bits of green which will uncurl into a leaf in a couple of days'.
5. The phrase ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand means: 'It is not summer but summer is close'. In Michigan, summer is a little more than a month after trees shoot forth. The error that lost and carnal make is that they believe that these signs mean that the prophesied event will happen immediately while Jesus said that it was close, but not yet.
C21-S27 : the application of the parable. Please notice that our sentence has the word ye ('Each and every one of you personally') in it three times. We are to personally pray and verify the prophecy for ourselves. Too many people believe some false prophet who claims that some Bible prophecy is about to come true instead of obeying this sentence and to make it a matter of personal study.
1. The phrase So likewise ye means: 'Each and every one of you personally, in the same manner as you understand the signs from the trees'.
2. The phrase when ye see these things come to pass means: 'Pay attention so that you personally see these things come to pass'. When the signs of this chapter happen, understand that the prophesied event is near but not yet.
3. The phrase know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand means: the kingdom of God is: 'God's character in us and the 1,000 years reign of Christ when everyone acts according to the character of God'. Thus, our phrase means: '1,000 years reign of Christ is soon (nigh at hand)'.
C21-S28 : How soon things will be fulfilled.
1. The phrase Verily I say unto you means: 'Jesus personally verified these prophecies'.
2. The phrase This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled means: 'Once the great tribulation starts, all will be completed in the lifetime of the current generation'.
C21-S29 : the applicable precept.
1. The phrase Heaven and earth shall pass away means: 'This physical reality is temporary and corrupted. It will be replaced by a new Heaven and earth which is not corrupted'.
2. The phrase but my words shall not pass away means: 'The word of God is eternal'. By putting both phrases in the same sentence, Jesus is letting us know that we are to compare the two things. And, since the word of God is eternal while this reality is temporal, we are to value the word of God far above anything in this physical reality.
C21-S30 : Warning against over-valuing the physical.
1. The phrase And take heed to yourselves means: ''. . . .
2. The phrase lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life means: 'This matches the Parable of the sower for the seed sown among the weeds'. Our current sentence warns us that this condition can come on the saved so that they become unfruitful.
3. The phrase and so that day come upon you unawares means: 'If we do not actively pay attention, we will not realize that we have been distracted from what is most important'.
C21-S31 says: For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. This warns that even the saved are subject to this snare if they do not actively take heed to avoid the snare. The physical reality provide many distractions and those things contain many snares. They entangle (Galatians C5-S1) us so that we do not remain free to serve God.
C21-S32 : How to avoid the snare.
1. The phrase Watch ye therefore means: 'Pay attention to your environment like a guard does when in enemy territory. Do so because you have been warned (therefore) of the danger'.
2. The phrase and pray always means: 'The snare is always seeking to trap us. Therefore, we need to pray always for God's power and wisdom to see and avoid the multiple snares'.
3. The phrase that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass means: 'Some saved will not avoid these snares. We are to personally (ye) pray that we may be accounted worthy to escape. They shall come to pass, but with God's help we can avoid being entangled by them'.
4. The phrase and to stand before the Son of man means: 'Those saved people who avoid these snares will be part of the government of Christ when He returns to rule and reign for 1,000 years'.
C21-S33 : How Jesus spent His time.
1. The phrase And in the day time he was teaching in the temple means: 'This was the main thing that He was doing while He could'.
2. The phrase and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives means: 'This was where Jesus went to pray. He knew that His time was limited and that the crucifixion was soon. Therefore, He sought wisdom from God the Father for what to teach His disciples, and other Jews, while He still had time'.
C21-S34 says: And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him this is how the people reacted, at this time.

Chapter 22 Summary:

The Betrayal of Jesus.

Our chapter starts by telling us the time when these events happened and how the Jewish holy day affected events. We have the doctrinal error called 'Good Friday' because religious people did not understand the Jewish holy days and their significance. In particular, everything involved in the Jewish holy day of Passover is symbolically pointing to the crucifixion and resurrection and the spiritual significance of them. While there is much symbolism and this Study may not deal with all of it, understanding the true meaning of all of the symbolism will surely help any true Bible Student better understand what happens in the last chapters of the Gospels.

In addition to that symbolism, there is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy which the detail sentence notes provide links to. (Please see the Doctrinal Studies called: Significant Gospel Events for Prophecy Fulfilled that I have found in the Gospel accounts.) Further, none of the Gospels provide all of the details involved in events starting with this chapter and going through the end of this Gospel account. Therefore, the detail sentence notes provide links to where the other Gospel accounts relate the same incidents as Luke's account relates. In addition, the events not reported by Luke, and their place in the sequence of events, are reported in the Doctrinal Studies called Sequence of Gospel Events. Therefore, a deep study of the events reported in this chapter should include looking at that separate Study.

With those notes on consideration of context, this summary will continue and only deal with events reported in this chapter.

As already mentioned, our chapter starts by telling us the time when these events happened and how the Jewish holy day affected events. In particular, it affected the pl and by the religious leaders and Satan, who had entered Judas Iscariot.

Once Luke tells us about those background events, he continues with the preparations by the disciples for the passover supper. What they did not realize was that this would be the last one they ate with Jesus on this world and that it would become the basis of the Lord's supper. With this, we not only have prior symbolism, but we also have ongoing symbolism.

Luke does not go into as much dental about the preparations as other authors and it is easy to miss some things like the prophecy reported here if we are not careful in our studying.

Luke quickly gets to the symbolically important parts related to the Lord's supper. Luke then quickly gets into Jesus telling the eleven about how God determines lordship and continues with the promise they each of them would receive a kingdom. From there, Luke quickly gets into Jesus warning Peter about his upcoming denial. Luke also quickly moves onto the change in commands for preparing to go to the mission field. And then, Luke skips to the instructions from Jesus to the inner-three during His agony in the garden. Thus, while Luke has some details not found elsewhere, we find his account to be, basically, a summary of important events.

Luke ends his chapter with the decision by the elders of the people and the chief priests, which ended their trial of Jesus.

Luke 22; Matthew 26; Mark 14 and John 13 all tell about when Jesus had the 'Last Supper' and the betrayal of Jesus. (Jesus said that He had the 'Last Supper' with the twelve before His crucifixion: his hour was come that he should depart out of this world). links to Bible references, which are related to this chapter, can be found in the Betrayal of Jesus are in the Gospel Time Sequence Study. In addition, there are several references to these chapters in the Significant Gospel Events Study in Sections like Prophecies, Prophecy Fulfilled and Promises and other Sections of that reference document. Further, this chapter is found in the Study called Miracles in the Gospels. Hopefully, with all of thee Bible references, the reader understands that the events of this chapter are critical to true Bible faith.

Luke 22:1 says, that the Passover was nigh. Matthew 26:1-2 and Mark 14:1 say that the Passover was in two (2) days. John 12:1 say that the Passover was in six (6) days. Thus, all of the Gospel accounts are synced by time within a couple of days.

Luke 22:2; Matthew 26:3-5; Mark 14:1-2 and John 11:47-53 tell us that the chief priests and the Pharisees plotted the death of Jesus.

Luke 22:3-6; Matthew 26:14-16 and Mark 14:10-11 report that Judas plots with the chief priests to betray Jesus. Jesus. also prophesied of this in John 6:70-71.

Luke 22:7-13; Matthew 26:17-19 and Mark 14:12-16 report the preparation for the passover / 'Last Supper' of Jesus. John does not report the preparation but has far more about the actual 'Last Supper' than any other gospel writer.

Luke 22:14-38; Matthew 26:20-30; Mark 14:18-46; John 13:1-14:31 and 1Corinthians 11:23-34 report the 'Last Supper' of Jesus.

Luke 22:21-23; Matthew 26:21-25; Mark 14:18-21 and John 13:21-30 present the prophecy by Jesus that Judas would betray Him. Please see the Prophecies Section of the Significant Gospel Events Study for more related Bible references.

In Luke 22:24-30; Matthew 20:25-28; Mark 10:42-45 and John 13:12-15, Jesus explained how to get the greatest position in His kingdom.

Luke 22:31-34; Matthew 26:33-35; Mark 14:29-31 and John 13:37-38 all report that Jesus prophesies Peter's denials. The rest of the disciples also denied that they would scatter.

Luke 22:35-38 tells us that Jesus changed His orders for how God's preachers were to go out and represent the Gospel. In the past, while they were going to Jews only and only within the country of the Jews, they were to take nothing and rely on God to move Jews to provide for their physical needs. Now, when going to strangers in strange cultures, they were to take provision with them.

Luke 22:39-53; Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42 and John 18:1-13 all report that Jesus going to Gethsemane. (Although Luke 22:39 calls it the mount of Olives.) the reader can search these accounts for uniquely reported events such as the fact that there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. (Luke 43).

Luke 22:45-46; Matthew 26:40-45 and Mark 14:37-42 tell us about Jesus finding the disciples asleep three times when they were supposed to be praying. Judas Iscariot came with the mob while Jesus talked to them the third time.

Luke 22:47-54; Matthew 26:47-50; Mark 14:43-46 and John 18:2-13 report the betrayal and arrest of Jesus.

Luke 22:49-53; Matthew 26:51-56; Mark 14:47-49 and John 18:10-11 all tell us about Peter cutting off the servant's ear during the arrest of Jesus. Those references also tell us about Jesus healing the man. Some of the details are only told in one of the Gospels. This event is also found in the Table of Miracles within the Gospels.

Luke 22:54; Matthew 26:57; Mark 14:53 and John 18:24-re port that Jesus was taken before Caiaphas the high priest.

Luke 22:54-23:1; Matthew 26:57-27:2; Mark 14:53-15:1 and John 18:12-28 tell about the trial of Jesus by Caiaphas and the scribes and elders and the council.

In Luke 22:54; Matthew 26:58; Mark 14:54 and John 18:15-16 we read that Peter followed at a distance. In addition, John's Gospel also tells us that John followed with Peter and that John was the person who got Peter into the high priest's house.

In Luke 22:55; Matthew 26:69; Mark 14:66 and John 18:18 we read that Peter sat at the fire of the servants to the High priest.

Luke 22:56-62; Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; John 18:15-18 and John 18:25-27 all report that Peter denies knowing Jesus. Each of the Gospels give us some details about this event which are not in the other Gospels. Piecing these accounts together we see that it was two servant maids and a guard who questioned Peter. The first maid also opened the door for John and Peter.

Luke 22:63-65; Matthew 26:67-68 and Mark 14:65 report that We read that the high priest's servants and guards abuse Jesus.

Luke 22:67-71; Matthew 26:63; Mark 14:61 and John 10:24 report that the religious rulers question Jesus and ask Him if He is the Christ, which also makes Him the Son of God.

C22-S1 : the season of the 'Last Supper'.
1. The word Now means: 'After you understand what came before this'. Our entire prior chapter was prophecy and warnings of things to come. This chapter tells us about events which include the fulfillment of prophecies given earlier which the disciples refused to accept.
2. The phrase the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh means: 'This feast is the basis for the 'Last Supper''.
3. The phrase which is called the Passover means: 'Jesus Christ is our Passover'. 1Corinthians 5:6-8 says: Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. foreven Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. In the original Passover, anyone who had blood on their door did not suffer the judgment of God. Their first born was not killed. Likewise, if we have the blood of Jesus Christ on the door of our heart, then we will not suffer the consequences of our sin and will not go to the lake of fire. Jesus made this feast a memorial for what he would do for everyone.
C22-S2 : What the religious leaders were doing.
1. The phrase And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him means: 'This is how mad they were because Jesus had proven that their doctrine was wrong and warned the people against their doctrine'.
2. The phrase for they feared the people means: 'This is why they didn't act on what they wanted to do'.
C22-S3 : Judas allowed himself to be possessed.
1. The word Then means: 'After the Jewish religious leaders sought to kill Jesus'.
2. The phrase Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot means: 'Judas had to allow this to happen'. We are warned against doing certain things, such as taking drugs for any reason other than to cure a medical problem. Doing these things opens us up to the influence of devils. In the case of Judas, he got very upset over the waste of money when Mary Magdalene anointed the head of Jesus with the very expensive perfume. The Jews taught that our rewards in Heaven were proportional to how many riches we have in the physical reality. Thus, we see that doctrinal error, and other things which get us extremely upset, can also open us up to the influence of devils.
3. The phrase being of the number of the twelve means: 'No one is immune to the influence of Satan'.
C22-S4 : All of the devil led people plotted together.
1. The phrase And he went his way means: 'Judas deliberately sought how he could do this sin'. We are warned to avoid situations which can be used to tempt us to sin. We are to not deliberately seek ways to sin.
2. The phrase and commused with the chief priests and captains means: 'They were who sought to kill Jesus'.
3. The phrase how he might betray him unto them means: 'Judas wanted to help the enemies'.
C22-S5 says: And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. Judas sold his soul for money. Devils will provide people with whatever is required in order to have them turn their back towards God.
C22-S6 : says: And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude. This was because people will object when they see a wrong being planned or being done but will, usually, go along with it once the wrong is accomplished.
C22-S7 says: Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. This was the start of the 'Last Supper'. Please see the Detailed Note for more on this sentence.
C22-S8 : Who did the preparation.
1. The phrase And he sent Peter and John, saying means: 'This tells us whom Jesus sent to prepare'. The other Gospel accounts give us different details but the differences do not constitute a conflict. They only give greater understanding to those people who compare the different accounts.
2. The phrase Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat means: 'This religious feast had to be prepared'. The symbolism is significant but I have not analyzed it. Other people have analyzed the Old Testament feasts and their symbolic significance.
C22-S9 says: And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? they made sure that they did it where the Lord desired. This is important to do for major things and even for the minor things of life.
C22-S10 : Jesus prophesied what they would find.
1. Many people who look for prophecy often overlook this sentence because it was fulfilled right away. However, the only way that Jesus could tell them what would happen is by the spiritual gift of prophecy.
2. The phrase And he said unto them means: 'Jesus told them this prophecy'. Like this prophecy, it is easy to overlook the little things that God does for us.
3. The word behold means: 'Pay close attention'.
4. The phrase Behold, when ye are entered into the city means: 'This is when they will find the prophecy fulfilled'.
5. The phrase there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water means: 'This is the sign that the prophecy is fulfilled'.
6. The phrase follow him into the house where he entereth in means: 'This is what they are to do as a result'.
C22-S11 : What they were to say to the home owner.
1. The phrase And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house means: 'This is the house owner'. Since Jesus was expecting this man to make the room available for free, and He knew that they would be there for several weeks, Jesus knew that this man was saved. God expects the saved to make everything that they have available for God's use.
2. The phrase The Master saith unto thee means: 'Jesus tells them to use the title of Master because Jesus is going to use the room to teach His disciples the last things that He teaches them before His crucifixion. Most of the Gospel of John deals with that teaching'.
3. The phrase Where is the guestchamber means: 'This is what they were to ask'.
4. The phrase where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? means: 'This is how Jesus planned to use the room'.
C22-S12 : Jesus prophesied what they would find.
1. The phrase And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished means: 'This is what they were to find'. This phrase is part of the prophecy.
2. The phrase there make ready means: 'This is what they were to do'.
C22-S13 : the prophecy was fulfilled.
1. The phrase And they went, and found as he had said unto them means: 'The prophecy was fulfilled exactly as he had said unto them'.
2. The phrase and they made ready the passover means: 'They obeyed'.
C22-S14 : the 'Last Supper' was started.
1. The phrase And when the hour was come means: 'If the reader checks God's specification for the original passover, they will find several very specific requirements which have symbolic spiritual significance including the time'. We also see the hour mentioned when Jesus was crucified and when He gave up the ghost.
2. The phrase he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him means: 'Jesus shared this meal with the twelve, eleven of which would carry on after He returned to heaven'.
C22-S15 : Jesus expresses His feelings about the 'Last Supper'.
1. The phrase And he said unto them means: 'Jesus told them the importance of this supper'.
2. The phrase With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer means: 'He is telling them, again, that He will suffer'. They still do not believe it but will understand the symbolism at a later time.
3. The phrase For I say unto you means: 'Jesus is making a point for them to remember'.
4. The phrase I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God means: 'Jesus is not going to eat another meal until the marriage supper of the Lamb'. This phrase is easy to misunderstand. Yes, Jesus did eat a piece of fish after He rose from the dead, but that was not a meal and it was only to prove that He was physically there and not a ghost. In addition, while the marriage supper of the Lamb will be in Heaven, only those saved people who will return for the 1,000 years reign of Christ will be allowed to attend it. Those saved people who do not bring God a spiritual profit, and earn a crown, will not be allowed to attend. And, since the 1,000 years reign of Christ is part of the kingdom of God, so is the marriage supper of the Lamb part of the kingdom of God.
C22-S16 : Jesus establishes a memorial ceremony.
1. The phrase And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said means: 'Jesus gave thanks for the symbolism of the indwelling Holy Spirit which would lead them to live a spiritual life'.
2. The phrase Take this, and divide it among yourselves means: 'They were to all participate'. . . .
3. The phrase For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come means: 'As explained for the prior note, Jesus said that He would not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the marriage supper of the Lamb'. In addition, as explained in the notes for John 2, what Jesus will drink in Heaven is what he actually turned the water into and that was not any form of corrupted fruit of the vine which men make.
C22-S17 : Jesus adds to the memorial ceremony.
1. The phrase And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them means: 'Jesus gave thanks for the symbolism of the changed life which His followers were to have in their flesh'. Please see the notes for the other Gospel accounts which explain this symbolism. (The chapter summary above, and the Detailed Note, provide links to those other Gospel accounts.)
2. The phrase saying, this is my body which is given for you means: 'Jesus not only gave His body to pay for our sins (Isaiah 53:5) but He also lived in His flesh as an example for us to follow. (Please see the Doctrinal Document called What Did Jesus Do? for those examples)'.
3. The phrase This do in remembrance of me means: 'We are to remember His suffering and our commitment to follow His example'.
C22-S18 : Jesus explains the symbolism of the cup.
1. The phrase Likewise also the cup after supper means: 'This was a separate ceremony which was like the bread was made a ceremony'.
2. The phrase saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood means: 'Jesus had to shed His blood in order to bring in the new testament. It was not just His death as some liars claim'.
3. The phrase which is shed for you means: 'He shed His blood to give us God's indwelling Holy Spirit and change our spirits (for you)'.
C22-S19 : Judas Iscariot would not enjoy the new testament.
1. The word But 'continues the subject of the prior sentence while changing directions'. Jesus just finished a ceremony showing the changed lives of the truly saved then this sentence tells us about Judas Iscariot who died lost because he refused a changed life.
2. The word behold means: 'Pay close attention'.
3. The phrase But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table means: 'Jesus allowed the lost to participate but then he suffered the consequences of desecrating this symbolic ceremony'.
C22-S20 : Jesus declares the results of the betrayal.
1. The phrase And truly the Son of man goeth means: 'Jesus would be crucified as a literal physical man (Son of man)'. He could not die as God. He had to put aside His power and authority as God / Creator in order to be conceived, live and die as a literal physical man. He took back His power and authority after the devils took Him into Hell. He did that in order to bind Satan and all of his devils and then rise from the dead without the help of any man. But, at the time of this sentence, Jesus was still living as a literal physical man.
2. The phrase as it was determined means: 'This was prophesied'. Please see the Prophecies Section for Bible references to the suffering and death of Jesus.
3. The phrase but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! means: 'Judas will have a special place of torment in the lake of fire'.
C22-S21 : the disciples had no idea who it was.
1. The phrase And they began to inquire among themselves means: 'This is always the wrong way to get a true answer'. The other Gospel accounts tell us that Peter had John ask Jesus.
2. The phrase which of them it was that should do this thing means: 'They could not imaging any of them doing this'. Conviction of doctrinal error has led many people into doing very foolish and destructive things. This is why it is critical that we do all we can to verify any doctrine that we wish to believe.
C22-S22 : they quickly switched subjects to argue about. At times, we need to be amazed at the patience of Jesus.
1. The phrase And there was also a strife among them means: 'They started arguing'.
2. The phrase which of them should be accounted the greatest. This phrase is quite clear. However, the one who determines this dispute is Jesus. Therefore, their arguing is foolish and immature. However, it serve the purpose of providing the answer for our benefit.
C22-S23 : Jesus corrects their thinking.
1. The phrase And he said unto them means: 'Jesus gave them this explanation'.
2. The phrase The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them means: 'This is a statement of reality at that time and even today'.
3. The phrase and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors means: 'This title makes it sound like the ruler is doing a great favor to the ruled'.
C22-S24 : they personally were to be different.
1. The word But 'continues the subject of the prior sentence while changing directions'. Jesus explains that in God's kingdom, the way to measure greatness is different.
2. The phrase But ye shall not be so means: 'We are to not use the way of the world nor the measurements of the world'.
3. The phrase but he that is greatest among you means: 'Hear is how to be greatest in God's kingdom'.
4. The phrase let him be as the younger means: 'Accept the position of least honor'.
5. The phrase and he that is chief means: 'If you want to be in charge'.
6. The phrase as he that doth serve means: 'serve everyone else'.
C22-S25 says: For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Jesus gives them an example of what is common.
C22-S26 says: is not he that sitteth at meat? this is the common thinking.
C22-S27 says: but I am among you as he that serveth. This is the example that Jesus gave and expects us to follow.
C22-S28 says: Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. They had a special place with Jesus because they had been with Him throughout His ministry.
C22-S29 : the promise for the future.
1. The phrase And I appoint unto you a kingdom means: 'They will each have a high place and do not have to worry about who is greatest'. This promise was given because of the prior sentence.
2. The phrase as my Father hath appointed unto me means: 'Jesus will treat those who serve Him exactly like God the Father treated Him. God the Father promised to make Jesus Christ ruler of the world for 1,000 years because of His service to God the Father. Likewise, Jesus Christ promises to reward those saved people who truly serve Him. And, in the case of the eleven disciples, He promises to make them rulers of the Earth under Him'.
3. The phrase That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom means: 'He also promises them everlasting fellowship with Him in the future'.
4. The phrase and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel means: 'This is the job that each of them will have'.
C22-S30 : The Lord changes the subject. Sometimes, the Lord allows us to fail so that we can learn from the experience. Please see the section called The Failure of Peter in the book titled SbS-Preacher Missionaries for more about this truth.
1. The phrase And the Lord said means: 'Our sentence uses the title of Lord because that is the role that He uses to judge us'. in this case, He judged the failure of peter and already forgave it.
2. The phrase Simon, Simon means: 'The word of God uses this name for Peter when he is acting in his flesh. It uses the name of Peter when he is following God's Holy Spirit'.
3. The word behold means: 'Pay close attention'.
4. The phrase behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat means: 'Satan wanted to break him down into little pieces so that he would be useless to God'.
5. The phrase But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not means: 'Jesus Christ is praying for His true children even before that mess up. Yes, we mess up but that is not a complete failure, especially when we truly confess and seek forgiveness from our God'.
6. The phrase and when thou art converted means: 'Peter was changed By this experience which he never forgot. When we mess up and then are forgiven and restored, we are to use our experience to strengthen thy brethren. Some things are only understood by experience. Therefore, when we experience something that we consider to be terrible, we are to use our method of recovery to help others who need to recover and we are to warn others before they mess up like we did'.
7. The phrase strengthen thy brethren means: 'This is what we are to do. We are to not waste any experience, even failure, but are to help others any time and any way that we can'.
C22-S31 : Peter claims the attitude that he is sure that he has.
1. The phrase And he said unto him means: 'Simon said this to Jesus'.
2. The phrase Lord means: 'Simon recognized the role that Jesus was using'.
3. The phrase I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death means: 'Simon disputed the warning from Jesus about Satan. This is evidence of pride and pride is what got Satan and the devils kicked out of Heaven. Pride is the first step to failure'.
C22-S32 : Jesus prophesies what will happen.
1. The phrase And he said means: 'Jesus said this to peter'.
2. The phrase I tell thee, Peter means: 'Jesus is using his name of Peter to try and get a spiritual warning past his fleshly pride'.
3. The phrase the cock shall not crow this day means: 'God can use any messenger that He chooses. Our pride tell us to look at the messenger because the messenger is not greater than we are. Our pride tells us that we can ignore the messenger where we can not ignore God. However, God says that we are not rejecting the messenger but are rejecting God because God is the author of the message (1Samuel 8:7)'.
4. The phrase before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me means: 'This will be the sin that his pride leads him into'.
C22-S33 : Jesus asks a question to get them thinking.
1. The phrase And he said unto them means: 'Jesus said this to change the subject'.
2. The phrase When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes means: 'He reminded them of when He sent them out to do missions woprk'.
3. The phrase lacked ye anything? means: 'He reminded them of God's provision while they did that work'.
C22-S34 says: And they said, Nothing. They answer His question.
C22-S35 : Jesus changes His command. God never changes His basic message but changes the application based upon who He is dealing with and the circumstances. We need to be careful when referencing the word of God to be sure that the section which we reference applies to us and to our circumstances.
1. The phrase Then said he unto them means: 'Our Lord said this new command'.
2. The phrase But now means: 'He is changing directions of His command because He sends His people into different cultures than what they experienced with the Jews in the days of the Gospel accounts'.
3. The phrase he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip means: 'Missionaries are to get financial support before they go to the mission field'.
4. The phrase and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one means: 'Missionaries are to take necessary caution and protection'.
C22-S36 : Prophecy that will be fulfilled.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For and explains why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase For I say unto you means: 'Jesus gives this prophecy of His fulfilling an earlier prophecy'.
3. The phrase that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me means: 'Jesus was required to fulfill all earlier prophecies about His life'.
4. The phrase And he was reckoned among the transgressors means: 'This is a quote of Isaiah 53:12 '.
5. The phrase for the things concerning me have an end means: 'The prophecies related to the physical life of Jesus will be fulfilled, and have an end, with His resurrection and return to Heaven'.
C22-S37 : the disciples ignore uncomfortable prophecy.
1. The phrase And they said, Lord means: 'The disciples did not understand that this command was for after the resurrection. They thought it was for immediately. And, Jesus did not correct them because He understood that they were still in denial of His prophecies of His suffering, death and resurrection. God does not force understanding on His children who refuse it'.
2. The word behold means: 'Pay close attention'.
3. The phrase behold, here are two swords means: 'They were ready for what would come later'. Their having these is why Peter was able to cut off the ear of the high priest's servant.
C22-S38 says: And he said unto them, It is enough. Jesus allows it.
C22-S39 : they went to the mount of Olives. The 'Last Supper' was over and it was time to prepare for the next event. The Gospel of John tells us much more about what Jesus taught His disciples as they took this walk.
1. The phrase And he came out, and went, as he was wont means: 'This was common action by Jesus. The disciples thought nothing about it and were not prepared for what followed. Jesus had tried to prepare them with prophecy, but they refused to believe it'.
2. The phrase to the mount of Olives means: 'This was where Jesus prayed when He was in the area'.
3. The phrase and his disciples also followed him means: 'They thought this was just another common night with prayer after the religious feast'.
C22-S40 : Jesus commanded them to pray.
1. The phrase And when he was at the place, he said unto them means: 'After they arrived, Jesus commanded them what to do'.
2. The phrase Pray that ye enter not into temptation means: 'This was their command but they fell asleep instead. Therefore, each and every one of them personally did enter into temptation. We see this because they scattered later in the night'.
C22-S41 : What and where Jesus prayed
1. The phrase And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast means: 'This is the distance between Jesus and His disciples while He prayed'.
2. The phrase and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying means: 'He kneeled down in submission'. Please notice that the disciples later knew what He prayed even though they did not hear His prayers at the time.
3. The phrase Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me means: 'Jesus prayed this as a fleshly human man. However, in spite of what His flesh wanted, He submitted to the spiritual will of God the Father. This is our example to follow'.
4. The phrase nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done means: 'Here we read that Jesus put the will of God above everything else'.
C22-S42 : God sent help.
1. The phrase And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven means: 'Again, the disciples did not personally witness this at the time'.
2. The phrase strengthening him means: 'This is why God sent the angel'. God provides the necessary help when we are truly serving God.
C22-S43 : the agony of Jesus.
1. The phrase And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly means: 'The more we are in stress, the more earnestly we are to pray. We are to not give into the sinful act of worry but are to keep in mind that whatever God has planned is the best for us'.
2. The phrase and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground means: 'Reportedly, this only happens to people who are very physically fit and are in extreme stress. Most people die from the stress before this happens. Thus, we see that Jesus knew and understood all of the agony that He would go through for our sins. And, according to the Bible, that would be physical, mental, emotional and spiritual agony'.
C22-S44 : Jesus stopped to check on the others. The other Gospel accounts tell us that He did this three times and they also report other things that He said. However, those differences do not constitute a conflict nor are they in error. They only provide greater understanding to people who truly study what is written.
1. The phrase And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples means: 'Even in His agony, Jesus was concerned about His disciples. We are to never get so caught up in our own problems that we ignore the problems of others'.
2. The phrase he found them sleeping for sorrow means: 'The phrase for sorrow is interesting'. They knew the prophecies of Jesus even though they were in denial of those prophecies. They denied them at a mental and emotional level, but could not do so at a spiritual level. When we are full of sorrow, or some other negative emotion, but do not know why, it could be that we are like the disciples were. That is, we are denying the truth at a mental and emotional level, but can not do so at a spiritual level.
3. The phrase And said unto them, Why sleep ye? means: 'Jesus asked this question so that they would think about it and, possibly, realize the truth'.
C22-S45 says: rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. Jesus gave them a commandment that would help them if they obeyed.
C22-S46 : It was too late to pray.
1. The phrase And while he yet spake means: 'This is when the mob arrived'.
2. The word behold means: 'Pay close attention'.
3. The phrase behold a multitude means: 'The religious leaders convinced many of their followers to get involved in this sin'. It is never wise to become part of a mob because such groups are ruled by emotion and not by logic.
4. The phrase and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them means: 'Judas was the betrayer of Jesus'.
5. The phrase and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him means: 'Judas kissed Jesus as the sign of betrayal'.
C22-S47 : Jesus says what Judas really was doing.
1. The word But 'continues the subject of the prior sentence while changing directions'. Judas used a sign of love for the betrayal, which is different from how it is supposed to be used.
2. The phrase But Jesus said unto him means: 'Jesus knew exactly what Judas was doing and called him on it'.
3. The phrase Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? means: 'Judas betrayed Him as a human man but acted as His enemy in the spiritual reality'.
C22-S48 : the disciples were ready to fight.
1. The phrase When they which were about him saw what would follow means: 'First, the disciples figured out what was happening then they asked what to do'.
2. The phrase they said unto him means: 'Here is where they asked'.
3. The phrase Lord means: 'They used this title because they planned to obey'. Remember that there were two swords. While most asked before acting, our sentence says that Peter did not wait for an answer.
4. The phrase shall we smite with the sword? means: 'This is what they were thinking to do'.
C22-S49 : Peter swung his sword.
1. The phrase And one of them smote the servant of the high priest. Another Gospel account tells us that it was Peter. Peter was apparently aiming for the servant's neck, but he ducked and only lost an ear. Even though Jesus healed it, he received a warning from God about future judgment if he continued down the same path. A lot of the times that people complaining that God lets bad things happen to them, God is actually giving them a warning that they are refusing to consider.
2. The phrase and cut off his right ear means: 'This was the result of being part of a mob and being in front'.
C22-S50 : Jesus stopped the violence.
1. The phrase And Jesus answered and said means: 'Jesus answered the violent action'.
2. The phrase Suffer ye thus far means: 'Each and every one of you allow this and stop trying to stop it'.
C22-S51 says: And he touched his ear, and healed him Jesus healed the servant. That should have made the servant grateful to Jesus and possibly could havwe led to hius salvation.
C22-S52 : Jesus questioned their actions.
1. The word Then means: 'After He stopped the violent actions'.
2. The phrase Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders means: 'The religious leaders all came but brought a mob with them and had the mob ready to do violence'.
3. The phrase which were come to him means: 'They came to Jesus because they were anxious to destroy Him and could not wait until He was brought to them'.
4. The phrase Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? means: 'Jesus questioned their attitude'.
C22-S53 : Jesus identifies the source of their actions.
1. Our sentence adds why their attitude is not justified.
2. The phrase When I was daily with you in the temple means: 'Jesus had been readily available but they did not want witnesses to the truth. By arresting Him when only their people are around, they can get the support required to convince the people of a lie'.
3. The phrase ye stretched forth no hands against me means: 'This is how they acted in public'.
4. The phrase but this is your hour, and the power of darkness means: 'They are hiding their true motivations and actions'.
C22-S54 : Jesus is arrested.
1. The phrase Then took they him, and led him means: 'Jesus walked willingly with them. They did not have to drag Him'.
2. The phrase and brought him into the high priest's house means: 'This is where the first false trial happened'.
C22-S55 says: And Peter followed afar off Another Gospel account tells us that John also went to the high priest's house and was actually the one who convinced a maid to let Peter in. Please see the section called The Failure of Peter in the book titled SbS-Preacher Missionaries for more about how this sentence was one of the steps in Peter's failure.
C22-S56 : Peter sat with the servants.
1. The phrase And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall means: 'This was an open space in the middle which was open to the outside air. As such, it was cold in the night'.
2. The phrase and were set down together means: 'The lost servants of the high priest were sitting around the fire'.
3. The phrase Peter sat down among them means: 'This was the next step in Peter's failure. He sat with lost religious people and socialized with them'.
C22-S57 : Peter was identified the first time.
1. The word But 'continues the subject of the prior sentence while changing directions'. Peter was hoping to hide among the group while God prevented that from happening. Numbers 32:23 says: ...be sure your sin will find you out.
2. The phrase But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire means: 'This maid was used by God to identify Peter'.
3. The phrase and earnestly looked upon him, and said means: 'She made certain that Peter was a follower of Jesus before saying anything'.
4. The phrase This man was also with him means: 'She identified him to the others who were at the fire'.
C22-S58 says: And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. Peter denies the first time.
C22-S59 : Peter was identified the second time.
1. The phrase And after a little while another saw him, and said means: 'This person is not identified as male ot female, only that they identified Peter'.
2. The phrase Thou art also of them means: 'Peter is identified as a follower of Jesus'.
C22-S60 : Peter denies the second time.
1. The phrase And Peter said, Man, I am not means: 'While this expression seems to identify the prior person as male, it is actually a generic expression used when speaking to a group'. in this instance, Peter is speaking to all around the fire and does not constitute a conflict with another Gospel account which identifies the initial speaker as a maid. Please see the note from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge which is at the Detailed Note. This does not constitute a conflict between Gospel accounts.
C22-S61 : Peter was identified the third time.
1. The phrase And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying means: 'As with the prior sentence, Luke does not identify this person as male or female. Luke makes it clear that the message of the identification is important and the person is not. Even the face that they are male or female is not important'.
2. The phrase Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean means: 'When cultures make distinctions between groups within the culture, it is common for them to develop identifying characteristics such as accents or ways of speaking. That is how Peter was identified in this instance. And, Jesus was known to come from Galilee'.
C22-S62 says: And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. Peter denies the third time.
C22-S63 says: And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. This was actually the second time but Luke does not report the first time. Regardless of what the liars claim, this does not constitute an error nor is it a conflict. When anyone makes a report, there are details that they leave out as irrelevant. in this case, this is the sign prophesied by Jesus.
C22-S64 says: And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. The Lord makes sure that Peter realized that he had sinned, exactly as the Lord had prophesied.
C22-S65 : Peter remembers.
1. The phrase And Peter remembered the word of the Lord means: 'The role of Lord is used here because this is part of a the evidence in a legal account'. However, the important thing is that peter remembered and no longer denied truth. It was a bitter lesson for Peter. We need to remember this lesson and not deny truth if we want to avoid God giving us a similar lesson.
2. The phrase how he had said unto him means: 'Jesus had prophesied and now the prophecy is fulfilled'.
3. The phrase Before the cock crow means: 'Luke does not mention the word twice because it is not relevant. What is important is that peter realized the sign of the prophecy being fulfilled'.
4. The phrase thou shalt deny me thrice means: 'The number three is often, but not always, symbolic of God. What is more important, in this case, id that John 21 reports Jesus asking Peter, three times, Do you love me? He did it the same number of times in order to assure Peter of his forgiveness and restoration to the service of God'.
C22-S66 says: And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. This is how Peter reacted. We are to see this as a warning. There are people who truly get saved and then live their life in denial of Jesus they will have bitter tears, in Heaven, an average of more than twice a week for more than 1,000 years.
C22-S67 says: And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. This is the report of the high priest's servants mocking and abusing Jesus. This is different from the Roman soldiers and others doing likewise. Many people blame the Jews but the word of God makes it clear that representatives of all groups of people were guilty of the same.
C22-S68 : the servants abuse Jesus.
1. The phrase And when they had blindfolded him means: 'They did this as an insult and to prevent Him from anticipating being struck'.
2. The phrase they struck him on the face means: 'This is a form of insult as well as abuse. Our face is the primary way that we are identified. They were deliberately attacking the identity of Jesus as the King of the Jews'.
3. The phrase and asked him, saying means: ''. . . .
4. The phrase Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? means: 'This is not how the true spiritual gift of prophecy is used. What we see here is men following the example of Satan and perverting the true meaning of a spiritual gift'.
C22-S69 says: And many other things blasphemously spake they against him. Our sentence adds spiritual denial to the physical denial that Jesus was the King of the Jews.
C22-S70 : the religious leaders repeat a question that Jesus already answered.
1. The phrase And as soon as it was day means: 'This is when the leaders took Him back from the servants'.
2. The phrase the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together means: 'These are all of the God appointed Jewish religious leaders'. The Pharisees were not appointed by God and, therefore, are not listed here.
3. The phrase and led him into their council, saying means: 'They returned Jesus to their full council because not all were present at the trial where the chief priest declared that Jesus blasphemed by telling them the truth'.
4. The phrase Art thou the Christ? means: 'Jesus already answered this question and they used the true answer as their justification to murder Him'..
C22-S71 says: tell us the religious leaders demand that Jesus answer again.
C22-S72 : Jesus gives them the only answer that they will accept.
1. The phrase And he said unto them means: 'Jesus answered their question'.
2. The phrase If I tell you, ye will not believe means: 'They had already determined what they would believe. They were not interested in the truth. They only wanted to justify their decision to murder Him'.
3. The phrase And if I also ask you means: 'They refused to give Jesus anything including an honest answer'.
4. The phrase ye will not answer me, nor let me go means: 'This was what they refused'.
C22-S73 says: Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Jesus told them a truth which they refused to believe. He uses the phrase Son of man because they believed that He was 'just a literal physical man'. So, yes, He admitted to being 'a literal physical man' but also made it clear that He would be recognized as the most powerful being next to God the Father.
C22-S74 says: Art thou then the Son of God?. Here we see the religious leaders ask Him to say it a second time. Jesus had already answered this question but not to them all. With this question and answer, none could claim innocence when judged by God. We need to be careful about going along with the crowd.
C22-S75 : Jesus answers a second time.
1. The phrase And he said unto them means: 'Jesus gave this answer to all of the religious leaders'.
2. The phrase Ye say that I am means: 'This is a truth that is so well known that even you know it in spite of your attempts to deny'. Devil motivated people try to claim that this answer meant that Jesus was not sure. But that claim is ridiculous. He would not have suffered what He did and gone to the cross if He was not sure. No, this was a figure of speech which they try to pervert the meaning of. They deliberately claim that we must use wrong methods to interpret and then, when they get a conflict, they claim that the conflict is in God's perfect word instead of being due to their deliberately using a wrong procedure to interpret God's perfect word.
C22-S76 says: And they said, What need we any further witness?. They had heard the truth but declared it a lie because it went against their religious doctrine. Any religious doctrine which declares a lie to be truth and declares truth to be a lie is of the devil.
C22-S77 : says: for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth . The religious leaders condemn the truth.

Chapter 23 Summary:

The Trial by Pilate and the Crucifixion of Jesus.

This chapter gives us the trial by Pilate and the crucifixion of Jesus. in this chapter is a lot of fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy which the detail sentence notes provide links to. Further, none of the Gospels provide all of the details involved in events starting with this chapter and going through the end of this Gospel account. Therefore, while the detail sentence notes provide links to where the other Gospel accounts relate the same incidents as Luke's account does, the events not reported by Luke, and their place in the sequence of events, are reported in the Doctrinal Studies called: Significant Gospel Events. Therefore, a deep study of the events reported in this chapter should include looking at that separate Study.

Our chapter gives us the trial by Pilate. Here we see that Pilate tried to get out of crucifying Jesus, but was not willing to risk personal loss in this world in order to do so. Many people condemn Pilate but they also are not willing to risk loss in this world in order to stand with Jesus in a significant way. Therefore, their criticism proves them to be hypocrites.

First, Pilate questioned Jesus to try and find a way to let Him go. And, even though Pilate said: I find no fault in this man, (23:4), he still sent Jesus to be crucified. Pilate also tried sending Jesus to Herod but Herod did not do the job for Pilate. Pilate tried having Jesus beat, but that did not satisfy the religious rulers who were motivated by devils. In the end, Pilate was like most people in the world and not willing to give up the things of this life for everlasting salvation.

Our chapter starts with the religious leaders bringing Jesus to Pilate. Then he sent Jesus to Herod. Herod questioned Jesus and then returned Him to Pilate. Pilate tried to release Jesus but the people demanded Barabbas instead. Then Luke tells us about Jesus speaking to women on His way to Golgotha, but skips over the abuse reported in other Gospel accounts. Luke continues with Jesus on the cross and His praying for forgiveness for the people who crucified Him and the salvation of the thief on the cross with Him. Luke also tells us about the centurion who believed and with the account of others who believed in Jesus and were there for the crucifixion and to care for Hid body upon death.

In general, if the reader pays attention, we see that Luke tries to report the good things which happened during this terrible event.

Please see the Doctrinal Studies called: Significant Gospel Events; Gospel Time Sequences and Table Of Miracles for references related to events in this chapter and for how the events of this chapter fit in the time sequence of the life of Jesus.

Luke 23:1-26; Matthew 27:1-34; Mark 15:1-20 and in John 18:29-19:16 tell us about the trial of Jesus, done by Pilate and Herod. Jesus was sent to Pilate for a judgment of death since it was not lawful for the Jews to give a death sentence. There is quite a lot, in all of the Gospels, about this judgment. The accounts start with the references provided and some of the details are reported in one account but not in others. Please see the note for John 18:29 which has the time-line for this trial that comes from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.

In Luke 23:1; Matthew 27:1-2; Mark 15:1 and John 18:15 we read that Jesus was sent to Pilate after His trial by the Jews.

Only in Luke 23:2 do we read the accusation which the religious leaders made to Pilate against Jesus.

In Luke 23:3; Matthew 27:11; Mark 15:2 and John 18:33 Pilate asked Jesus: Art thou the King of the Jews? the answer is reported in Luke 23:3; Matthew 27:11; Mark 15:2 and John 18:34. The answer from Jesus, in every Gospel account, is almost the same words(Thou sayest it), except that John relates more of the conversation.

In Luke 23:4; Luke 23:14; John 18:38; John 19:4 and John 19:6 we read that Pilate said, about Jesus, I find no fault in this man. His pronouncement did not make him innocent and, since he represented the government of this world, we see that the governments of this world were as guilty as the Jews for the crucifixion of Jesus. Pilate tried to free Jesus again in Luke 23:16 and John 19:14-15. This second time was after Pilate declared Jesus to be innocent.

Only in Luke 23:5 do we read that the Jewish leaders and people rejected Jesus for the first time when Pilate tried to free Him.

Luke 23:6-7 tells us that Pilate sent Jesus to Herod for trial. Only in Luke 23:7-12 do we read about the trial of Jesus by Herod.

Only in Luke 23:13-16 do we read that Pilate called the Jewish leaders and said that he would beat Jesus and then release Him. This was when they stirred up the people to demand Barabbas instead. This offer from Pilate was also reported in: Matthew 27:15; Mark 15:6; John 18:39.

We read about Barabbas, and the crowd's preference for him over Jesus in: Luke 23:18-25; Matthew 27:16-26; Mark 15:7-15; John 19:14-15 and Acts 3:14.

The Jewish leaders and the people prove their rejection when they cried crucify him in: Luke 23:21; Matthew 20:19; Matthew 27:31; Mark 15:13-14; Mark 15:14; Mark 15:20; John 19:6 and John 19:14-15.

In Luke 23:22-23 Pilate again offered to chasten Jesus and let Him go. In John 19:1-5 we read that Pilate did this then brought Jesus back before the crowd wearing a crown of thorns and tried to release Him again. But the religious leaders stirred up the crowd to demand crucify Him.

Luke 23:24 reports Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. In Matthew 27:19 and John 19:13 we see that Pilate sat in the judgment seat. These references give us the reports of the official legal judgment by the Roman Government.

Pilate condemned Jesus to death as reported in Luke 23:24-25; Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15 and as reported in John 19:16. This was after Pilate declared Jesus to be innocent in John 19:4; John 19:6 and Luke 23:4.

Luke 23:26; Mark 15:15 and John 19:16 all tell us that Jesus was led from the Roman judgment seat to be crucified. Between the judgment hall and the cross He was beaten by the Roman soldiers although this beating appears to have been done before Jesus was rejected for the last time. That would mean that Jesus was in Pilate's judgment hall at least three times: before being sent the Herod, before being beat and given a crown of thorns, and before being sent to be crucified. This fulfills the prophecy by Jesus found in Matthew 26:31 and Mark 14:27 and John 16:32.

Jesus was mocked while He hung on the cross according to: Luke 23:26-56; Matthew 27:31-66; Mark 15:29-32 and John 19:16-42. Please note that some mocking was before the cross, by different groups, and there was also more mocking while Jesus was on the cross

Luke 23:27-31 tell us that many people disagreed with the Jewish religious leaders and that Jesus gave them a prophecy of future judgment upon the Jews.

Luke 23:32-33; Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27 and John 19:17-18. All report that Jesus was crucified between two malefactors.

Jesus was on the cross as reported in Luke 23:32-46; Matthew 27:35-50; Mark 15:23-37 and as reported in John 19:17-30.

Luke 23:34 is one of the 'Eight Sayings from the Cross'.

Luke 23:34; Mark 15:24 and John 19:23 tell us that the soldiers parted the clothes of Jesus among themselves. Spoils were considered normal part of a soldier's pay at that time.

Matthew 27:36-37 reports about the soldiers that sitting down they watched him there. Matthew 27:39-49; Mark 15:29-36 and Luke 23:35-43 report others watching and mocking Jesus. However, John 19:25-27 tells us about the loved ones of Jesus being there and Jesus talking to them.

Luke 23:36-37; Matthew 27:34; Matthew 27:48; Mark 15:36; John 19:29 and John 19:30 tell us that Jesus was given vinegar to drink while on the cross. Matthew 27:34; and probably, Luke 23:36-37 tell us that it was mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. This is assumed to be because gall dulled the senses and it was offered to Him as an insult. However, when it was offered plain, as in the other references, Jesus did drink.

Luke 23:38 Matthew 27:37; Mark 15:26 and John 19:19-20 tell us the superscription that Pilate had put on the cross of Jesus. John 19:21-22 tells us that the chief priests of the Jews objected to the truth of the title and wanted it changed to support their lie but Pilate refused to change the superscription.

Only Luke 23:39-43 tells us about one of the thieves repenting and being saved.

Luke 23:44; Matthew 27:45 and Mark 15:33 tells us that there was darkness over the whole land (from the sixth hour) until the ninth hour.

Luke 23:45; Matthew 27:51-53 and Mark 15:38 tell us that the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

Luke 23:46; Matthew 27:50; Mark 15:37 and John 19:30 all tell us that Jesus literally physically died.

In John 10:15 and John 10:17 Jesus prophesied that He would lay down my life. We read that this was fulfilled in Luke 23:46; Matthew 27:50; Mark 15:37 and John 19:30. In addition, we also have prophecies in the Old Testament in: Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalms 22:14; Psalms 22:16-17; Psalms 34:20 and Zechariah 12:10.

The witness of the centurion that Jesus is the Son of God is reported in: Luke 23:47; Matthew 27:54 and Mark 15:39.

Matthew 27:54 and Luke 23:48 give us the same message only uses different words to tell us that the people: saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, (and) they feared greatly.

Luke 23:49; Matthew 27:55-56 and John 19:25 tell us that there were followers of Jesus at the cross.

Jesus was buried as reported in Luke 23:50-56; Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47 and in John 19:38-42.

C23-S1 says: And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. All of the religious leaders went to condemn Jesus. The Jews had a form of government but were not allowed capital punishment. Therefore, that had to take Jesus to Pilate in order for Him to be killed. And, all of them went in order to enforce that idea that Pilate could not refuse them unless he wanted a religious riot on his hands.
C23-S2 : they lied about what Jesus did. As is common with devil motivated liars, they perverted the word of God just like Satan did. Notice that the liars accused Jesus of doing what they were guilty of.
1. The phrase And they began to accuse him, saying means: 'They lied when they told Pilate what they claimed that Jesus did'.
2. The phrase We found this fellow perverting the nation means: 'The truth was that He taught people to pay taxes and to submit to government authorities as ministers of God'.
3. The phrase and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar means: 'They trued to trip up Jesus with a question about taxes and He told them Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's (Luke 20:25)'.
4. The phrase saying that he himself is Christ a King means: 'This was true. However, they perverted the truth when they made this claim and presented it as if Christ would be in competition with Caesar. John 18:36 tells us that Jesus told Pilate Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. In addition, Jesus had told the Jews, and in particular told the Jewish religious leaders, that God's offer of the kingdom was taken away from them. Therefore, they perverted the truth with this very sentence where they accused Jesus of perverting the nation'.
C23-S3 says: And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews?. Here we see that Pilate sought for the real reason for the accusations. Matthew 27:18 and Mark 15:19 tell us: For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. So, Pilate learned the truth but helped them to murder Jesus because the Jewish religious leaders threatened his position in the Roman government.
C23-S4 : says: And he answered him and said, thou sayest it. Jesus said Pilate already knew the truth. The phrase Thou sayest it means: 'This is a truth that is so well known that even you personally know it in spite of not being a Jew'. Devil motivated people try to claim that this answer meant that Jesus was not sure if He was, or was not the King of the Jews. But that claim is ridiculous. He would not have suffered what He did and gone to the cross if He was not sure. No, this was a figure of speech which they try to pervert the meaning of. They deliberately claim that we must use wrong methods to interpret and then, when they get a conflict, they claim that the conflict is in God's perfect word instead of being due to their deliberately using a wrong procedure to interpret God's perfect word.
C23-S5 : Pilate tried to free Jesus for the first time.
1. The phrase Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people means: 'Pilate spoke as the legal judge, govorner of the Roman government, to all of the people who were there to accuse Jesus'.
2. The phrase I find no fault in this man means: 'Pilate returned a verdict of 'Not Guilty''.
C23-S6 : the religious leaders come closer to the truth in their accusations. They made it clear that they did not care about legality. They demanded a 'Politically Correct' verdict.
1. The phrase And they were the more fierce, saying means: 'These religious liars became more emotional and threatened the peace'.
2. The phrase He stirreth up the people means: 'They are saying that it is wrong for people to express their feelings'. The true concern of government is based upon how people express those feelings and what they are getting upset about. If He was causing the people to riot and violently disobey the law, then the government should be concerned. However, what Jesus was doing was exposing religious lies and trying to free people from the control of sin. He was actually making the people better citizens. However, the Jewish religious leaders didn't want the people free and good citizens. They wanted people who were slaved to their religious lies. Therefore, they told a half-truth lie to get the governor to participate in the murder of an innocent man. This is the way that 'Politically Correct' liars work.
3. The phrase teaching throughout all Jewry means: 'This phrase was true'. However, the real question was not if He was teaching but what he was teaching. Again, we see these people giving another half-truth lie. Jesus was teaching against their religious lies but they presented their claim as if He was teaching against the government.
4. The phrase beginning from Galilee to this place means: 'This phrase was true'. Part of their objection was that they had less control of Galilee than they wanted.
C23-S7 : Pilate thought he found a way out of his problem. The phrase When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean means: 'Pilate was looking for a way to get rid of a political problem'. This is the only Gospel account which reports this incident. As a physician, Luke is concerned about the physical man. That's why Luke's Gospel presents Jesus as a literal physical man. And, this account is dealing with the politics of government, which is related to how men operate. (The politics is different from the law of government, which Matthew presents.) therefore, what we are seeing in this chapter is politics in action.
C23-S8 : Pilate tried to pass the problem to Herod.
1. The phrase And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction means: 'Pilate found a way to give his political problem to someone else'.
2. The phrase he sent him to Herod means: 'Pilate sent Jesus, and the political problem, to Herod'.
3. The phrase who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time means: 'They did not have to travel far nor long'.
C23-S9 : Herod wanted to see Jesus.
1. The phrase And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad means: 'This is the reaction by Herod'.
2. The phrase for he was desirous to see him of a long season means: 'This is what Herod wanted but could not get for a long time'. As a ruler who could order someone's head chopped off, the refusal of Jesus, to come when demanded, frustrated Herod.
3. The phrase because he had heard manythings of him means: 'This is why Herod wanted to see Him'.
4. The phrase and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him means: 'Herod expected Jesus to perform upon demand, like some trained animal'.
C23-S10 : Herod was disappointed.
1. The phrase Then he questioned with him in many words means: 'Herod demanded answers and expected to receive answers because he was a ruler with the power of life and death'.
2. The phrase but he answered him nothing means: 'Jesus refused to answer because that would support Herod's assumption that he was more powerful than Jesus'.
C23-S11 says: And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. The chief priests and scribes said and tried to help Herod make Jesus answer. But, Jesus answered him nothing.
C23-S12 : Herod let his men abuse Jesus.
1. The phrase And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him means: 'When nothing else worked, they tried insults and threats'.
2. The phrase and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate means: 'They showed Pilate what they thought of Him'.
C23-S13 : the two rulers became friends.
1. The phrase And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together means: 'Their relationship changed because they were in agreement'.
2. The phrase for before they were at enmity between themselves means: 'They used to fight over power'.
C23-S14 : Pilate summarizes the legal procedures to this point in time.
1. The word behold means: 'Pay close attention'.
2. The phrase And Pilate means: 'This is who announced the legal decision'.
3. The phrase when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people means: 'This is who the decision was told to'.
4. The phrase Said unto them means: 'Pilate spoke in official language of a court decision'.
5. The phrase Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people means: 'This was the formal legal accusation'.
6. The phrase and, behold means: 'Pay attention to the formal court procedures and decision'.
7. The phrase I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him means: 'This was Pilate's procedure and legal decision'.
8. The phrase No, nor yet Herod means: 'This was a second court's legal decision'.
9. The phrase for I sent you to him means: 'You went and argued your case'.
10. The phrase and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him means: 'You failed to make your legal case'.
C23-S15 : the response planned by Pilate.
1. The phrase I will therefore chastise him means: 'Pilate agreed to have Jesus beat to appease them'.
2. The phrase and release him means: 'Pilate refused to do anything more to Jesus'.
C23-S16 says: (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) this was the custom of that day.
C23-S17 : the Jewish religious leaders did exactly what they accused Jesus of doing and caused the people to demand Barabbas.
1. The phrase And they cried out all at once, saying means: 'The leaders had people throughout the mob helping them to get the mob to do what they wanted'.
2. The phrase Away with this man means: 'They demanded an illegal murder'.
3. The phrase and release unto us Barabbas means: 'They demanded the criminal'.
4. The phrase (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) means: 'This is what Barabbas had done'.
C23-S18 says: Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. Pilate tried to free Jesus again.
C23-S19 says: But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. The crowd refused the choice of Pilate and were more specific in their demand of what to do with Jesus.
C23-S20 says: And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? Pilate asked for a legal accusation. However, the people demanded a political execution even though it violated every legal and moral law of all systems.
C23-S21 : Pilate offered an alternative punishment.
1. The phrase I have found no cause of death in him means: 'Pilate is now appealing to the people with the same argument that He gave to the religious leaders'.
2. The phrase I will therefore chastise him means: 'Pilate is willing to punish Jesus for making the leaders mad at Him'.
3. The phrase and let him go means: 'Pilate does not want to murder Jesus'.
C23-S22 : the people rejected Pilate's offer.
1. The phrase And they were instant with loud voices means: 'The mob demanded that Pilate do what their religious leaders wanted'. This is why we should avoid a mob. People went along with the mob thinking and reacted emotionally without individual thought. Now consider the consequences that they brought upon their own descendants. This is why to avoid a mob.
2. The phrase requiring that he might be crucified means: 'This is what the religious leaders demanded'. What they could not do legally, they did with emotions and mob mentality.
C23-S23 says: And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. means: 'There were some that disagreed but these people shouted them down'.
C23-S24 says: And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. Pilate did as the chief priests and people demanded. He probably figured that they would riot otherwise and that would not look good for his career.
C23-S25 : What Pilate did.
1. The phrase And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison means: 'Pilate released Barabbas'.
2. The phrase whom they had desired means: 'The chief priests and people prevailed'.
3. The phrase but he delivered Jesus to their will means: 'Pilate agreed to crucify Jesus'.
C23-S26 : they made Simon carry His cross. There is a lot in the other Gospel accounts about what happened between the prior sentence and this sentence. Please see the Gospel Time Sequences for those references. In addition, the action of this sentence was taken because the soldiers were afraid they Jesus might die on the way because He was beaten so badly. Therefore, they made Simon carry His cross so that He would live long enough to be crucified.
1. The phrase And as they led him away means: 'The soldiers were leading Jesus to Calvary'.
2. The phrase they laid hold upon one Simon means: 'This is who was forced to carry His cross'. His sons were members of the early church.
3. The phrase a Cyrenian means: 'This is where he was from'.
4. The phrase coming out of the country means: 'This is why he was there'.
5. The phrase and on him they laid the cross means: 'This is what the soldiers did to him'.
6. The phrase that he might bear it after Jesus means: 'This is what he was forced to do'.
C23-S27 : Many people regretted His crucifixion.
1. The phrase And there followed him a great company of people means: 'They surely objected to the crucifixion but were out-shouted'.
2. The phrase and of women means: 'This is why it was easier for the men to out-shout the women'.
3. The phrase which also bewailed and lamented him means: 'They saw what was done to Him and understood that He would die but most probably never heard, or did not believe, His prophecies that He would rise from the dead'.
C23-S28 : Jesus told them to lament the judgment to come.
1. The word But 'continues the subject of the prior sentence while changing directions'. Jesus told them to change who they were weeping for.
2. The phrase But Jesus turning unto them said means: 'Even on the way to Calvary, Jesus had compassion for His followers'.
3. The phrase Daughters of Jerusalem means: 'Jewish females'.
4. The phrase weep not for me means: 'Jesus was heading to defeat and bind Satan and all of the devils. He was heading towards victory'.
5. The phrase but weep for yourselves, and for your children means: 'The judgment of God on Jews was coming in the future'.
C23-S29 : Why they should lament future judgment.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For and explains why the prior sentence is true.
2. The word behold means: 'Pay close attention'.
3. The phrase For, behold, the days are coming means: 'Pay close attention to this prophecy because it is why the prior sentence is true'.
4. The phrase in the which they shall say means: 'This is what Jews will say'.
5. The phrase Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck means: 'It is better to never have children than to have them and then have to bury them'.
C23-S30 : What future generations will say. .
1. The phrase Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. means: 'This is definitely reported in Revelation 6:16 but might have been applied at other times by the Jews'.
C23-S31 says: For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?. This sentence is telling us that the world will be farther from truth. The phrase green tree refers to a living tree and is symbolically referring to the days when Jesus was alive. The phrase the dry *tree) refers to a time when there is no evidence of spiritual live and the shell which should have contained spiritual life is dead religion. Thus, the question is: 'If the religious people did this to the Son of God in human flesh, imagine what they will do to truly saved people who are scared to show any true spiritual life'.
C23-S32 says: And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. This was prophesied in Isaiah 53:12.
C23-S33 : Where they were crucified.
1. The phrase And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary means: 'This is where was Jesus crucified'.
2. The phrase there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left means: 'All three were crucified together with Jesus in the middle'. He offered salvation to each but only one accepted it.
C23-S34 : Jesus had a forgiving attitude.
1. The phrase Then said Jesus means: 'This is one of eight sayings from the cross'. There was a famous preacher who preached a message called: 'Seven Sayings from the Cross'. He claimed that two different sayings, said to two different people, were one saying. He did this because Jesus said It is finished and he said that seven is the symbolic number of completion. However, symbolism varies from one application to another. Symbolism can not be used to correct what is literally written in the word of God. Therefore, his claim was doctrinal error. And, it does not matter how popular or famous a preacher is, he does not have the authority to correct the word of God.
2. The phrase Father, forgive them means: 'Jesus asked for forgiveness and gives the reason in the next phrase but they did not truly repent. Those who did repent, later, were forgiven because of their ignorance. But, history tells us that God brought judgment on many of the participants including the Jews and even Palate'. Therefore, I believe that the difference in the treatment of God was dependent upon their truly repenting after God made them aware of their own personal sin.
3. The phrase for they know not what they do means: 'Many people use this phrase to claim that 'Jesus forgives everybody'. However, history and the true doctrine of the Bible tell us differently'. I believe that each of the people involved received a temporary forgiveness, but only until God made them aware of their own personal sin. Then, they would have been required to truly repent.
C23-S35 says: And they parted his raiment, and cast lots this was prophesied. In addition, other similar things are reported in the other Gospel Accounts. Please see the Detailed Note for related Bible references.
C23-S36 says: And the people stood beholding. People watched closely to what happened. Again, other similar things are reported in the other Gospel Accounts. Please see the Detailed Note for related Bible references.
C23-S37 : the action of the rulers.
1. The phrase And the rulers also with them derided him, saying means: 'This identifies who, and how, people watching made comments'
2. The phrase He saved others; let him save himself means: 'This, and the rest of the sentence, is what they said'. in this saying, they displayed their own ignorance and proved that they were not qualified for the religious positions that they held. Jesus healed many, and did other physical miracles. However, anyone that he saved He did so spiritually. And, as the religious leaders of God's people, these people should have known the difference between the spiritual and the physical. However, this sentence shows that they were confused and did not know the difference.
3. The phrase if he be Christ, the chosen of God means: 'Here, they are openly saying that they doubt that Jesus was truly God's Christ'. However, they did not know, nor understand, the prophecies about the suffering of Christ. . Please see the Prophecies Section for Bible references to this truth.
C23-S38 : the action of the lost soldiers.
1. The phrase And the soldiers also mocked him means: 'This is who mocked'. They were lost. They did not know the prophecies and hated all Jews because of their attitudes which included insisting that they were better than all other people, even though they were conquered. And, the Jews claimed to be better because of their relationship to God while they refused to do their part in that relationship.
2. The phrase coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying means: 'This is what they did'. Please see the Detailed Note for more Bible references and explanation of this sentence.
3. The phrase If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself means: 'Notice that they used a lowercase king. This means that they thought of Him as a human king and not a spiritual King. And, obviously, a human king could not come down from the cross. What we see here is what we see often and that is people who are ignorant of all that is involved in a religious doctrine supporting it for their own fleshly reasons. It is foolish to do so'.
C23-S39 : the action of Pilate.
1. The phrase And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew means: 'Pilate ordered this done. John 19:21-22 reports: Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, the King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written. Pilate wrote truth but the religious leaders wanted it turned into a lie by implying that Jesus lied about His claim'.
2. The phrase This IS thE KING OF thE JEWS means: 'This is what was on the sign'.
C23-S40 : the action of the malefactors. This sentence, and the next few sentences, tell of the salvation of the one malefactor.
1. The phrase And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying means: 'Wrong attitude'. OK, he was desperate but the action of the other man shows that his desperation was not an excuse for his attitude. In addition, Christ saves spiritually, not physically and certainly not someone who refuses to repent and makes demands of God while continuing in their sin.
2. The phrase If thou be Christ, save thyself and us means: 'The if makes it clear that he did not truly believe and the rest of the phrase makes it clear that he did not understand what God offered in true spiritual salvation'.
C23-S41 : the repentance of one malefactor.
1. The word But 'continues the subject of the prior sentence while changing directions'. Where the one refused to repent, the other truly did repent. The second was saved while the first died lost.
2. The phrase But the other answering rebuked him, saying means: 'The second told the first that he had a wrong attitude'.
3. The phrase Dost not thou fear God means: 'The first was still trying to save his physical life and ignoring what would happen to him after he physically died and faced the judgment of God. The second accepted that he would physically die and became concerned about his judgment by God'.
4. The phrase seeing thou art in the same condemnation? means: 'There was no denying that they were both sinners'.
C23-S42 : He confessed the truth.
1. The phrase And we indeed justly means: 'He admitted that the legal system was just'.
2. The phrase for we receive the due reward of our deeds means: 'He admitted that the two of them earned the punishment that they were receiving'.
3. The phrase but this man hath done nothing amiss means: 'He admitted that Jesus had not earned the punishment that He was receiving'.
C23-S43 : He asked for mercy.
1. The phrase And he said unto Jesus means: 'He addressed the physical man Who hung on the cross next to him'.
2. The phrase Lord means: 'He addressed Jesus as God in human flesh'..
3. The phrase remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom means: 'He did not ask for forgiveness but only remembrance. He hoped for forgiveness but did not expect it'.
C23-S44 : Jesus promised salvation.
1. The phrase And Jesus said unto him means: 'Jesus gave him a promise of salvation. Most religions tell you that God must save you if you do what they say. However, true salvation is done completely by the Son of God after you accept an ongoing personal relationship with Him. Yes, we must repent, like this man did. But that is not turning 180 degrees, as religion says, but turning towards the Son of God with an agreement to trust His power and to obey Him. That is what we see this man do.'.
2. The word verily means: 'This is verified'. The phrase Verily I say unto thee means: 'He had a personally (thee) verified message of salvation'
3. The phrase To day shalt thou be with me in paradise means: 'No one could go to Heaven until after Jesus took His blood there as payment for our sins. Before that, they went to paradise'.
C23-S45 says: And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour 'God gave a sign to all of the people on Earth'. The meaning of these hours as, reported in the Bible, are different from what we use today. And, there is a lot of doctrinal error which is reported based upon wrong interpretation of the hours and days which are reported in the Bible. Please see the Detailed Note for more on how to properly interpret this sentence.
C23-S46 : Other signs.
1. The phrase And the sun was darkened means: 'Reportedly, this sign shows God's statement that sin had caused the death of His Son'. However, some dispute this interpretation.
2. The phrase and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst means: 'Reportedly, this sign shows God has opened the way for anyone to approach God's throne through Jesus Christ. That is, God removed the barrier caused by Adam's sin'. While some might dispute this interpretation, I have not heard of any other valid interpretation of this sign.
C23-S47 : Jesus chose when to die.
1. The phrase And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said means: 'This is one of the eight things which are reported that Jesus said from the cross'. Please see the note, above, for C23-S34, about the number of sayings.
2. The phrase Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit means: 'Jesus trusted God the Father to restore His power and authority as God after the devils took Him into Satan's domain of Hell'. God is always righteous. Therefore, the Son of God had to set aside His own power and authority as God before He could be conceived, live and die as a literal physical human being. And, He could not bust into Satan's domain but had to wait until Satan's devils took Him there. After that, He bound Satan and all of his devils and robbed Satan, but God the Father had to restore His power and authority first.
3. The phrase and having said thus means: 'Jesus said this for our example. When we each face physical death, we must trust God to take care of our spirit'.
4. The phrase he gave up the ghost means: 'Jesus chose when to die. He did not die naturally. He chose the hour to fulfill prophecy as Luke already reported'.
C23-S48 : the centurion glorified God as a result.
1. The phrase Now when the centurion saw what was done means: 'This lost man was saved as a result of what he saw'. Please remember that there are things reported in the other Gospel accounts which Luke does not report. And, there were probably things which none of the accounts reported. The important thing is to not believe someone who claims that the centurion could not have been saved based upon what we read because we do not know how he thought and do not know all that he saw. The thing to keep in mind is that God never lies. So, despite what some liar claims, we are to believe this report that he was saved.
2. The phrase he glorified God, saying means: 'This is what everyone should do if they are truly saved'.
3. The phrase Certainly this was a righteous man means: 'He testified of the truth even while he was ordered to participate in murder'.
C23-S49 : the people realized something important had happened.
1. The phrase And all the people that came together to that sight means: 'This means all of the people who saw Jesus die physically'.
2. The word behold means: 'Pay close attention'.
3. The phrase beholding the things which were done means: 'They watched closely'.
4. The phrase smote their breasts, and returned means: 'They made a common sign that they were guilty. That is, they realized, at some level, that He dies for their sins'.
C23-S50 : the friends of Jesus were witnesses.
1. The phrase And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee means: 'These phrases identify the people that this sentence speaks about'.
2. The phrase stood afar off means: 'Where they were afraid to go to the trial and other things, they could go to the cross'.
3. The phrase beholding these things means: 'They paid close attention to all that happened'. This is one reason why we have the details which are reported in the Gospel accounts.
C23-S51 : the testimony of Joseph of Arimathaea.
1. The word behold means: 'Pay close attention'.
2. The phrase And, behold, there was a man named Joseph means: 'This is who did this deed'. God had Luke use he word behold because He wants us to understand his reward for people who serve Him with courage. He risked consequences from the Jewish religious leaders but acted anyway.
3. The phrase a counsellor means: 'This was his job and his earnings depended upon his reputation'. The Jewish religious leaders could have driven him into poverty.
4. The phrase and he was a good man, and a just means: 'He treated others justly and lived a life which pleased God (good man)'.
5. The phrase (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) means: 'He did not agree with the attitudes and actions of the Jewish religious leaders'.
6. The phrase he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews means: 'He lived among Jews but not in Jerusalem. And a result, there were probably other Jews who agreed with him and did not agree with all that the Jewish religious leaders decreed'.
7. The phrase who also himself waited for the kingdom of God means: 'He was waiting for the 1,000 years reign of God'. Most likely, he also received God's indwelling Holy Ghost on Pentecost.
C23-S52 says: This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. The Romans didn't care about the bodies of dead whom they had crucified. In fact, they often left them on crosses for the birds and animals to eat and as a warning to others. Therefore, Joseph had to beg for the body of Jesus in order to properly bury it and preserve it for His resurrection.
C23-S53 : He buried the body of Jesus.
1. The phrase And he took it down means: 'He removed the body of Jesus from the cross'.
2. The phrase and wrapped it in linen means: 'This was more expensive cloth than most people used for their clothes. Linen was used for the rich and for formal wear'.
3. The phrase and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone means: 'This was an expensive sepulchre'. This type was reserved for the rich and royalty.
4. The phrase wherein never man before was laid means: 'sepulchres were often used for a family because of the expense. Joseph did not worry about expense when he honored the body of Jesus'.
C23-S54 : the time limit on the preparation for burial.
1. The phrase And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on means: 'The sabbath started at sunset'. And, under Jewish law, they could not do anything which the Jews considered to be work. Therefore, they did not have enough time to fully prepare the body of Jesus for burial. They did what they could and the women returned, when they were allowed to, in order to finish the preparation.
C23-S55 : the women paid attention so that they could return and complete the job.
1. The phrase And the women also, which came with him from Galilee means: 'This identifies the women'.
2. The phrase followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid means: 'They paid attention so that they could return and finish the job when they were allowed enough time'.
C23-S56 says: And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. The women prepared to complete the job when they were allowed.

Chapter 24 Summary:

The Resurrection and Ascension.

The time sequence of the events reported in this chapter can be confusing and have caused some people to, mistakenly, claim that there are conflicts or errors. There are not any conflicts nor errors. Please see the sections called: Sequence of the Resurrection of Jesus and Appearances of Jesus Christ After the Resurrection, in Doctrinal Study called: Gospel Time Sequences. Please see other Doctrinal Studies, reached with the Doctrines Menu item, for references to events in this chapter which are related to similar events in other chapters of this Gospel and to other Gospel accounts.

Our chapter starts with the return of the women to the sepulchre so that they could finish the job of preparing the body of Jesus for burial. Instead, angels met them and old them that Jesus was risen and that they were to go report that fact to His disciples, especially to Peter. They did as instructed, but were not believed.

Mary Magdalene had gone to the sepulchre with the other women but, when se saw that the body of Jesus was missing, she acted separately from the other women. How her actions intertwine with the actions of others is one significant source of confusion. Those interactions are reported in the Sequence of the Resurrection of Jesus. The important thing is that she reported and caused Peter and John to go to the sepulchre to verify her report. She also returned, after reporting to them, and was the first person to meet the resurrected Lord Jesus.

Luke's Gospel account skips many of those confusing events and goes to the report of the resurrected Lord Jesus meeting two disciples as they were on the road to Emmaus. He spent time with them and explained Old Testament prophecy about the suffering of Christ before disappearing. He deliberately kept them from realizing who He was until he disappeared. They returned to the upper room and also reported seeing the resurrected Lord Jesus, and they also were not believed.

Then our chapter reports the resurrected Lord Jesus appearing in the middle of the upper room and providing signs that He was literally physically there and not just some ghost. Luke then reported the instructions from the resurrected Lord Jesus on what they were to do from that point forward in time. Luke finishes his gospel telling us that the resurrected Lord Jesus returned to heaven and the disciples worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.

While Luke's Gospel does not contain part of the 'Great Commission', it does tell us the attitude that disciples are to have as the closing remarks of this Gospel. As we have seen throughout the Gospels, people who truly do as the end of the Gospel tells us to do will go out and do the 'Great Commission'. People who claim to be saved, and do not do the 'Great Commission', are denying part of the last instructions that Luke reports were given by the resurrected Lord Jesus. That is, when He said: And ye are witnesses of these things (24:48). We can not be a witness while we refuse to testify to the people who need to hear.

Please see Sequence of the Resurrection of Jesus as it has many related links which are not reported here. In addition, the explanations of how events fit together, without causing conflicts, are in the detail notes for the Book Studies on the various Gospels, especially in the notes for the Gospel of Mark. Please use the links provided to see the referenced notes for further details as needed.

Some of the most significant verses in the Gospels are those which identify the risen Jesus as Lord and God. In particular, we are told that the disciples worshipped the risen Lord. links to these references are available in the Sequence of the Resurrection of Jesus. In addition, many references to the resurrection are grouped there.

Luke 24:1; Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1-2 and John 20:1 tell us that several women came to the sepulchre on the first day of the week.

Luke 24:2; Matthew 28:2-4; Mark 16:3-4 and John 20:1 tell us that the women seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

Luke 24:3-7; Matthew 28:2-4; Mark 16:3-4 and John 20:1 tell us that the women entered the sepulchre, did not find Jesus, but were met by angels who told them that He is risen.

In Luke 24:6-7; Matthew 28:7 and Mark 16:6 we read that Jesus rose from the dead. John 20:1-18 does not say it literally but delivers the same message in a less direct manner. Please see the section called: Sequence of the Resurrection of Jesus for many Bible references to this fact. That section also has links to where the other Gospel accounts tell of incidents which Luke does not report.

Luke 24:8-11; Matthew 28:8 and Mark 16:8 tell us that the women reported what they saw and heard to the other disciples but the women were not believed.

Earlier we saw that Mary Magdalene reported to Peter and John that: They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. As a result, Peter and John ran to the sepulchre, inspected it and then went away again unto their own home. Now we see Mary Magdalene, with the other women, report that Jesus was alive and the eleven refused to believe (Mark 16:10-11; Luke 24:11 and John 20:18). As a result, Luke 24:12 says: Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. Apparently, this was a second visit to the sepulchre by Peter(John 20:3-10).

Luke 24:13-31 and Mark 16:12-13 report that Jesus appeared after His resurrection to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. After fellowshipping with them, He suddenly disappears in a miraculous way. Then Luke 24:22-24 makes it clear that this happened after the women brought their report to the upper room and after Peter was told about the risen Lord Jesus, for the second time, and he returned to the sepulchre. In addition, Luke 24:36-49 makes it clear that this happened before Jesus appeared in the upper room for the first time.

Luke 24:23-35 and Mark 16:13 report that these two disciples returned to the upper-room and reported to the rest of the disciples but, neither believed they them.

Luke 24:33-34 reports that Jesus appeared to a Simon who may or may not have been Peter. at this time, the eleven were in the upper-room and had not seen the resurrected Lord Jesus but were about to see Him.

Luke 24:36-49; Mark 16:14; and John 20:19-23 tells us about the first time that Jesus appeared in the upper room. He appeared suddenly, without going through the locked door, which is a miracle. Luke's Gospel gives us much more detail than the other Gospels provide. In addition, Mark's Gospel tells us that Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

Luke 24:45-49; Matthew 28:16-19; Mark 16:15-18 and Acts 1:8 report that Jesus commissioned the apostles, and us, to do the 'Great Commission'. Please see the message called The Great Commission for more details.

Next, Luke 24:50-53 appear to be a continuation of Jesus appeared in the upper room, but tell us about Jesus going out and returning to Heaven. Therefore, with what we read elsewhere in the Bible, there must be a time gap of several days between these two sections of the Gospel of Luke.

Jesus appeared to the apostles when He ascended into Heaven as reported in Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:50-53. We also have appearances in Acts 1:4 and Acts 9:3.

C24-S1 : the women returned to finish the job.
1. The phrase Now upon the first day of the week means: 'This is when the events of this chapter started'. The word Now means: 'After they made the preparations to bury the body of Jesus, as explained in the prior chapter, and they rested for the two Sabbaths, as required by Jewish law, it became the first day of the week (Sunday) and they could continue their actions to bury the body of Jesus'.
2. The phrase very early in the morning means: 'Sunrise was the earliest that they were legally allowed to work'.
3. The phrase they came unto the sepulchre means: 'This is what they did'.
4. The phrase bringing the spices which they had prepared means: 'This is what they prepared'.
5. The phrase and certain others with them means: 'The women, which came with Jesus from Galilee, and who were at the cross, were not alone'.
C24-S2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.. Another Gospel account reports that the women were worried about how they would roll away the stone. Apparently, they did not know that the Jewish religious leaders had demanded Roman soldiers to be stationed there to prevent the body of Jesus from being stolen in an act of fraud. However, the problem that the women worried about was already solved. The soldiers could have moved the stone but the angels already moved it.
C24-S3 says: And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. They didn't find what they were prepared to find. Instead, they found angels who delivered the message that the Lord Jesus left for them. Note that this is the first time that He is called the Lord Jesus by the word of God. Before this, in His physical life, the Lord Jesus promised forgiveness of sins and salvation when the people showed up in Heaven, but that was like someone meeting a judge in their office to get a plea bargain. The Lord Jesus did not actually do anything in His role as Lord until He took back His power and authority, as God, while in Hell. There is a lot of doctrinal error taught because people ignore the role, of the Son of God, which is specified in a given sentence / verse. However, it is critical for us to pay attention to the particular role which is specified if we wish to avoid doctrinal error.
C24-S4 What they did find.
1. The phrase And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout means: 'This means after they got there and looked around. They didn't understand what they were seeing and could not figure it out. As reported in another Gospel account, Mary Magdalene thought someone stole the body of Jesus'. .
2. The word behold means: 'Pay close attention'.
3. The phrase behold, two men stood by them in shining garments means: 'The shining garments probably clued these women in that the two men were probably angels'. The women believed but the men, back in the upper room, refused to believe.
4. The phrase And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth means: 'This was the reaction of the women to the angels'.
5. The phrase they said unto them means: 'The angels delivered their message'.
6. The phrase Why seek ye the living among the dead? means: 'The angels started with this question and continued in the next sentence'. We also read more in the other Gospel accounts.
C24-S5 : the message from the angels continues from the prior sentence.
1. The phrase He is not here, but is risen means: 'The angels explain why the women do not find the body of Jesus'.
2. The phrase remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying means: 'The angels remind them of the prophecy made by Jesus before they came to Jerusalem'.
3. The phrase The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again means: 'This is the prophecy that Jesus gave them several times'.
C24-S6 : the women delivered the message of fulfilled prophecy.
1. The phrase And they remembered his words means: 'With the reminder, they remembered the prophecies that they denied and tried to forget'.
2. The phrase And returned from the sepulchre means: 'The women returned to the upper room'.
3. The phrase and old all these things unto the eleven means: 'The delivered the news which they were told to deliver'.
4. The phrase and to all the rest means: 'By this time, there were others in the upper room besides the eleven. By the time of Pentecost, there were one hundred twenty (120) present'.
C24-S7 : Which women delivered the message.
1. The phrase It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them means: 'This names the messengers'. Note: another Gospel account tells us that Mary Magdalene had a different experience and, therefore, had a different report. However, this phrase is not about the report but is about the people who reported the resurrection.
2. The phrase which told these things unto the apostles means: 'These were the main people who were told. However, as our prior sentence reports others were also told'.
C24-S8 says: And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not the eleven, and the others, refused to believe the message. However, our next sentence reports that Peter and John, at least, ran to the sepulchre to verify the report from the women. Another Gospel account also reports this truth and provides more details.
C24-S9 : Peter tried to verify the message.
1. The phrase Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre means: 'This was his immediate reaction'.
2. The phrase and stooping down means: 'This is what he did when he arrived at the sepulchre so that he could see for himself'.
3. The phrase he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves means: 'This is what peter saw. Another account said that the head cloth was laid separate. Thus, the body did not evaporate but each piece of clothing was deliberately laid where they were found'.
4. The phrase and departed means: 'This is what Peter did after looking'.
5. The phrase wondering in himself at that which was come to pass means: 'He found the truth hard to believe but could not explain what he saw any other way'. If the body was stolen then the clothes would not have been left behind. And, there were problems with any explanation other than resurrection. However, peter had trouble believing that, especially after all that he had been through the past several days.
C24-S10 : the next witnesses reported by Luke.
1. The word behold means: 'Pay close attention'.
2. The phrase And, behold means: 'These two were witnesses also who brought a separate report from the women'.
3. The phrase two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus means: 'People speculate who these two were but their names are not important because God does not name them'. What is important is the message that they brought. And, another Gospel account also reports this incident has less details as we read in the next few sentences.
4. The phrase which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs means: 'If the reader converts this measurement into modern measurements then they can get an idea how long these people had to walk. But, please remember that most people walked in those days. Therefore, the distance was not as much of a hardship for them as it would be for many people of today'.
C24-S11 says: And they talked together of all these things which had happened. What they did as they walked.
C24-S12 : Jesus joined them.
1. The phrase And it came to pass, that means: 'At some point while they walked. The exact time is not important'.
2. The phrase while they commused together and reasoned means: 'They were deep in consideration and discussion'.
3. The phrase Jesus himself drew near, and went with them means: 'I do not know if it was commonly accepted, or not, for a stranger to join people who knew each other. That is more acceptable in some societies, and in some situations, than in others. However, with them trying to figure things out, it would have been more acceptable to get another opinion, than it might have been otherwise'.
C24-S13 says: But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. They didn't realize who Jesus was. They would have treated Him like a stranger. And, this way, He could find out how they honestly felt and thought.
C24-S14 : Jesus asked them about their conversation.
1. The phrase And he said unto them means: 'Jesus asked this question after joining them'.
2. The phrase What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another means: 'This was His question'.
3. The phrase as ye walk, and are sad? means: 'This was their general attitude, which prompted the question'.
C24-S15 : they were amazed that anyone had to ask about current events.
1. The phrase And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas means: 'This is the name of one of them but commentators say that it is not enough to positively identify him. Therefore, we are given his name so that we know that God cares about each of us individually, but do not know more than that'.
2. The phrase answering said unto him means: 'This was his answer which shows that he found it incredible that someone did not know what had happened. After all, it caused an uproar with everyone that was so spread out that ignorance by anyone was incredible'.
3. The phrase Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? means: 'This was the only way that he could imagine someone not knowing about the trial and crucifixion'.
C24-S16 says: And he said unto them, What things? Jesus asked them for details. They were so caught up in what had happened that they did not notice that he did not answer their question. They didn't worry about why He was claiming ignorance. They just filled Him on the details as they understood them.
C24-S17 : they gave a detailed answer.
1. The phrase And they said unto him means: 'This is what the two said to the man whom they thought was a stranger'.
2. The phrase Concerning Jesus of Nazareth means: 'They made it clear whom they were talking about'.
3. The phrase which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people means: 'This was all that they could say since they now doubted that He was God's Christ'.
4. The phrase And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death means: 'This is what the rulers did'.
5. The phrase and have crucified him means: 'Notice that they blame the rulers for the crucifixion and not the Roman government'.
C24-S18 : Why these events were different than they hoped for.
1. The word But 'continues the subject of the prior sentence while changing directions'. The prior sentence said what happened and this sentence says what they had hoped would happen.
2. The phrase But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel means: 'They had hoped that Jesus was God's Christ, but now they have given up that hope'.
3. The phrase and beside all this means: 'They are going to add another consideration'.
4. The phrase to day is the third day since these things were done means: 'The body starts to corrupt the fourth day after death. However, they forgot the prophecies by Jesus and now believe it is too late for their hopes'.
C24-S19 : Some women brought a report which was doubted.
1. The phrase Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished means: 'These two had heard the report but doubted it'.
2. The phrase which were early at the sepulchre means: 'This is the basis of the report by the women'.
3. The phrase And when they found not his body means: 'This is what they reported experiencing'.
4. The phrase they came, saying means: 'They brought the report to the upper room'.
5. The phrase that they had also seen a vision of angels means: 'They did nor see a vision but saw the actual physical angels. The angels had rolled away the stone. However, claiming that the women had a vision, instead of seeing and hearing actual physical angels, makes it easier to deny the report'.
6. The phrase which said that he was alive means: 'This is the report which they had trouble believing'.
C24-S20 : Peter and John had verified the report from the women.
1. The phrase And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre means: 'Peter and John did what was necessary to verify the report by the women'.
2. The phrase and found it even so as the women had said means: 'They verified all that the women reported about the sepulchre and that the body of Jesus was gone'.
3. The phrase but him they saw not means: 'They did not see the resurrected Jesus. Therefore, the people clung to their doubts.'.
C24-S21 : Jesus corrected their attitude.
1. The phrase Then he said unto them means: 'Jesus rebuked them'.
2. The phrase O fools means: 'They were fools because they were afraid, hiding in the upper room, not believing all that Jesus had prophesied and not searching the scriptures for answers'.
3. The phrase and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken means: 'They had heard Jesus quote prophecy many times and prove that it was reliable. Therefore, they should have been searching the scriptures for their answers. Instead they were fearful, hiding, depressed, and letting devils and devil motivated men to defeat them. 1John 5:4 says: For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. When they gave up their faith they also gave up their victory'.
4. The phrase Ought not Christ to have suffered these things means: 'The Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ' was prophesied in the Old Testament and Jesus told them about it several times. Please see the Prophecies Section for Bible references to this truth.
5. The phrase and to enter into his glory? means: 'Jesus Christ is in His glory in Heaven right now. He will have other glory when He returns to rule and reign this world for 1,000 years'.
C24-S22 : Jesus provided a detailed answer.
1. The phrase And beginning at Moses and all the prophets means: 'He knew all of the prophecies because He used to prophets to write the prophecies and He had to fulfill all of them'.
2. The phrase he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself means: 'He not only told them the prophecies but he also explained how He fulfilled all of them'.
C24-S23 : It appeared like they would separate company with Jesus.
1. The phrase And they drew nigh unto the village means: 'This gives us the time when Jesus stopped explaining'.
2. The phrase whither they went means: 'This was where their home was'.
3. The phrase and he made as though he would have gone further means: 'He gave them a choice of inviting Him to spend the night with them or to say goodbye'. God never forces Himself on anyone.
C24-S24 : they constrained Jesus to stay.
1. The word But 'continues the subject of the prior sentence while changing directions'. The prior sentence told us that He was willing to leave while this sentence tells us that they were forceful in their invitation for Him to stay.
2. The phrase But they constrained him, saying means: 'They were very forceful in their invitation'.
3. The phrase Abide with us means: 'Spend the night and possibly longer'.
4. The phrase for it is toward evening means: 'This is the first reason for Him the stay. It was time for dinner, fellowship and bed'.
5. The phrase and the day is far spent means: 'It would be hard to travel further that day'.
C24-S25 says: And he went in to tarry with them. Jesus obliged their request.
C24-S26 : Jesus repeated His action at the 'Last Supper'.
1. The phrase And it came to pass means: 'This happened after He agreed to stay'.
2. The phrase as he sat at meat with them means: 'This is when He acted'.
3. The phrase he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them means: 'This is how He acted'.
C24-S27 : Jesus revealed himself to them.
1. The phrase And their eyes were opened means: 'God let them see the spiritual truth'.
2. The phrase and they knew him means: 'They realized Who had explained all of the scriptures to them'.
3. The phrase and he vanished out of their sight. is reported in the Table Of Miracles.
C24-S28 : they reacted to His revelation.
1. The phrase And they said one to another means: 'One said it and the other agreed completely'.
2. The phrase Did not our heart burn within us means: 'How they felt'.
3. The phrase while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? means: 'This was why'.
C24-S29 : they acted on His revelation.
1. The phrase And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem means: 'They returned even though it was late at night'.
2. The phrase and found the eleven gathered together means: 'The last phrase says that one of the two was named Simon. And, they argue that he was Simon Peter. However, if Simon Peter was one of the two entering the room then they could only find ten gathered together. While this might interest some, it is not worth arguing over because all of the apparent conflicts can be answered'.
3. The phrase means: 'and them that were with them'. As mentioned for an earlier sentence, there were more than the eleven in the upper room at this time.
4. The phrase Saying, the Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon means: 'They delivered a definite report but the others still refused to believe'.
C24-S30 : they reported to the eleven.
1. The phrase And they told what things were done in the way means: 'The two repeated all of the scripture, and the proper interpretation, which Jesus had taught them in the way'.
2. The phrase and how he was known of them in breaking of bread means: 'They reported what they finally realized when Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them'.
C24-S31 : Jesus appeared.
1. The phrase And as they thus spake means: 'Jesus showed up during the testimony'.
2. The phrase Jesus himself stood in the midst of them means: 'He suddenly appeared in the middle of the closed room'. Jesus never did this before the resurrection. Please see the Doctrinal Studies called: Table Of Miracles for references to this miracle, and others, in all of the Gospel accounts.
3. The phrase and saith unto them, Peace be unto you means: 'Jesus opens with this greeting when He knows that He has frightened His followers'.
C24-S32 : they believed an error.
1. The word But 'continues the subject of the prior sentence while changing directions'. The prior sentence told us that they saw the physical Jesus while this sentence says that they did not believe their own eyes.
2. The phrase But they were terrified and affrighted means: 'How they reacted'.
3. The phrase and supposed that they had seen a spirit means: 'Why'.
C24-S33 : Jesus challenged their fear.
1. The phrase And he said unto them means: 'Jesus asked this question'.
2. The phrase Why are ye troubled? means: 'The question was asked to make them think'.
C24-S34 says: and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Jesus asked the second question because some did not start thinking with the first question.
C24-S35 : Jesus challenged them to use their own senses to verify His physical presence.
1. The word behold means: 'Pay close attention'.
2. The phrase Behold my hands and my feet means: 'Look closely and believe your own eyes'.
3. The phrase that it is I myself means: 'Verify and believe the truth'.
4. The phrase handle me, and see means: 'Use your other senses'.
5. The phrase for a spirit hath not flesh and bones means: 'This is why they could know that He was not a spirit. Notice that He did not say blood because His blood was in Heaven'.
6. The phrase as ye see me have means: 'Jesus was physically present and they could verify it'.
C24-S36 says: And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet Jesus demonstrated His evidence.
C24-S37 : Jesus offered another method of proof.
1. The phrase And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered means: 'They still did not believe because they did not act on His offer to verify that He was physically present'.
2. The phrase he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? means: 'He asked this question for another way to prove that He was physically present'.
C24-S38 says: And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. They verified His claims without physically touching Him.
C24-S39 says: And he took it, and did eat before them. Jesus provided the proof that they finally believed.
C24-S40 : Jesus reminded them of His earlier prophecy.
1. The phrase And he said unto them means: 'This was His message once they believed that He had physically risen from the dead'.
2. The phrase These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you means: 'He reminded them of His earlier prophecies'.
3. The phrase that all things must be fulfilled means: 'This is why things happened like they did'.
4. The phrase which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me means: 'He fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophecies'.
C24-S41 : Jesus commissioned them.
1. The phrase Then opened he their understanding means: 'Jesus gave them spiritual understanding'.
2. The phrase that they might understand the scriptures means: 'That understanding was of the Old Testament scriptures'. They needed to understand and believe the word of God so that they could do the job which He left them to do.
3. The phrase And said unto them means: 'This is the command from Jesus to them and to us'.
4. The phrase Thus it is written means: 'Everything that we do needs to be based upon the word of God'.
5. The phrase and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day means: 'He explained how the Gospel was in the scriptures'.
6. The phrase And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations means: 'He explained what they were to preach'.
7. The phrase beginning at Jerusalem means: 'This was where they were to begin but not end. Unfortunately, many in the Jerusalem Church refused to obey the command to take the Gospel to the whole world'. That is why the Jerusalem Church was destroyed and why many local churches fold today.
C24-S42 says: And ye are witnesses of these things. Jesus told them their main job to do for Him was to be a witness. Matthew and Mark give u more details of this command. Please see the Messages called Go Ye and The Great Commission for more details on how we are commanded to be witnesses.
C24-S43 : Jesus gave them the promise of power.
1. The word behold means: 'Pay close attention'.
2. The phrase And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you means: 'Jesus promised that they would receive the promise of my Father which was given in the Old Testament'.
3. The phrase but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem means: 'This was where they received God's indwelling Holy Ghost at Pentecost'.
4. The phrase until ye be endued with power from on high means: 'This was when they received God's indwelling Holy Ghost at Pentecost'.
C24-S44 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. Jesus took them to where He would ascend and the last thing that He did, before leaving, was bless them.
C24-S45 says: And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
C24-S46 : the eleven obeyed His commands.
1. The phrase And they worshipped him means: 'This is the primary thing for the saved to truly do. If the saved are not true in their worship then they will, eventually, quit everything else in this sentence'.
2. The phrase and returned to Jerusalem with great joy means: 'They had great joy going to their assigned mission field'.
3. The phrase And were continually in the temple means: 'They were faithful to church'.
4. The phrase praising and blessing God means: 'They were making sure that they always gave God glory'.
C24-S47 says: Amen. Any time that this word is found in the Bible it doubles what was just said prior to it. That makes the prior saying something which everyone must believe and something which we all will be judged for, By God, based upon our true belief or unbelief.

God

before God:
forgotten before God	12:6
Mighty before God	24:19
Be righteous before God	1:6
Do work before God	1:8
Lord God
Blessed Lord God	1:68
Lord God will give	1:32
Lord thy God	1:16; 4:8; 4:12; 10:27; 20:37
from God:
Sent from God	1:26
God's
things which be God's	20:25
God can
God can forgive sin	5:21
God did
God avenged	18:7
God did a miracle	8:39
God clothed	12:28
God feedeth	12:24
God is
God is able	3:8
God said	12:20; 18:19
God forbid	20:16
Justify God
People justified God	7:29
God of
God of the living	20:38
Fear God
Men should fear God	18:2; 18:4; 22:40
In God
rejoice in God	1:47
Mercy of God
sent His Son	1:78
be merciful to me	18:13
of God:
The angels of God	12:8; 12:9; 15:10
The chosen of God	22:3534
The children of God	20:36
The Christ of God	9:20
The council of God	7:30
The finger of God	11:20
the grace of God	2:40
the Holy One of God	4:34
the house of God	6:4
the kingdom of God	4:43; 6:20; 7:28; 8:1; 8:10; 9:2; 9:11; 9:27; 9:60; 9:62; 10:9; 10:11; 12:31; 13:18; 13:20; 13:28; 13:29; 14:15; 16:16; 17:20; 17:21; 18:16; 18:17; 18:24; 18:25; 18:29; 19:11; 21:31; 22:16; 22:18; 22:51
the love of God	11:42
The offering of God	21:4
the presence of God	1:19
The power of God	9:43; 22:69
the salvation of God	3:6
The sight of God	16:15
the Son of God	1:35; 3:38; 4:3; 4:9; 4:41; 8:28; 22:70
the wisdom of God	11:49
The way of God	20:21
the word of God	3:2; 4:4; 5:1; 8:11; 8:21; 11:28
Praise God
Angels	2:13
Shepherds	2:20
a man / men	1:64; 2:28; 18:43; 19:37; 24:53
Serve God
Man serve God	2:27; 16:13
Thank God	18:11
To God
glory to God	2:14; 5:25; 5:26; 7:16; 13:13; 17:15; 17:18; 22:47
Prayer to God	6:12
Toward God
Rich toward God	12:21
With God
Favor with God	1:30; 2:52
With God nothing shall be impossible	1:37; 18:27

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