MESSAGE STATEMENT:
JESUS AS THE "SON OF MAN" IN HUMILIATION (AND GLORY) CAME IN
FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISES TO ISRAEL TO BRING THE FORGIVENESS OF
SINS TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL AND TO ALL PEOPLES WHO REPENT AND
FOLLOW HIM AS THE SUFFERING-MESSIAH
I. THE PROLOGUE: Luke is writing a (theo)logical presentation
of Jesus' acts and teaching which is based upon carefully
researched, historical, eyewitness accounts so that
Theophilus may have a true knowledge about the nature of his
faith (that which he has been taught) 1:1-4
A. Description of Precedent: Luke notes that many have
compiled accounts of the life of Jesus 1:1
B. Origin of Precedent: Luke notes that the accounts were
handed down from those who were reliable eyewitnesses
(probably disciples) in that they served Jesus' cause
(the Lord--"word") 1:2
C. Luke's Approach: Having done careful research, Luke
wrote it out for Theophilus in logical order (the order
of salvation-history) 1:3
D. Luke's Goal: Luke wrote to Theophilus so that ( i@na )
he might know the truth about the things which he had
been taught 1:4
1. In view of Luke-Acts Theophilus may well have been
taught that God was judging the Church because it
had rejected the Jews for a Gentile version of
Christianity
2. Luke writes to explain that the Way is in fact an
outgrowth of Judaism, but that it was primarily
Gentile in nature (Acts) because the Jews had
rejected God's Messiah--Jesus
II. THE BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS: Through a literary interchange
between "John and Jesus" Luke proclaims that God has come
upon His people for the personal, national, and
international sake of His people, namely, to deliver them
from the evil of sin 1:5--2:52
A. Prophecy of John's Birth: The announcement of the
conception of John (who would prepare the way for the
Lord as the Elijah figure) was given by Gabriel, an
angel of the Lord, to Zacharias and Elizabeth, two
upright saints, and was fulfilled in exact accordance
with the word of the prophecy including the confirming
sign of muteness because of Zacharias' unbelief 1:5-25
1. Setting: During the reign of Herod the Great over
Judea, Zacharias was a priest, and he and his
wife, Elizabeth, were righteous before God, but
old and barren 1:5-7
a. When Herod (the Great) was king of Judea,
Zacharias was a priest from the division of
Abijah (1 Chron. 24:10), and his wife was
Elizabeth from the daughters of Aaron 1:5
b. Zacharias and Elizabeth were both righteous
and blameless before God, but they were also
old and without children because Elizabeth
was barren 1:6-7
2. The Announcement: When Zacharias was serving as an
appointed priest in the holy place, an angel
appeared to him and announced that the Lord had
heard his prayers, and thus he would have a son
whom he was to name John, who would be separated
unto the Lord in order to serve in a great way as
the Elijah figure to prepare the nation for the
Lord's coming 1:8-17
a. While Zacharias was serving as a priest in
Jerusalem, he was chosen by lot to enter the
temple of the Lord in order to burn incense
(cf. Ex. 30:6-7; Heb. 9:1-4) while all of the
people were praying outside of the temple
(perhaps at the time of the evening offering-
-3:00 PM; cf. Dan. 9:21; Acts 3:1) 1:8-10
b. When an angel of the Lord appeared to
Zacharias, he calmed Zacharias' fear by
announcing that he and Elizabeth would have a
son who would serve in a great way before the
Lord in the role of Elijah to the nation
awaiting the Lord 1:11-17
1) An angel of the Lord (Gabriel, 1:19)
appeared to Zacharias causing him to be
gripped with fear 1:11-12
2) The angel told Zacharias not to be
afraid because His prayer (for the
nation? for a son?) had been heard by
God 1:13a
3) The angel told Zacharias that Elizabeth
would also give birth to a son whose
name was to be John bringing about
rejoicing for them and many others
1:13b-14
4) The reason there will be rejoicing at
the birth of John is because of his
great, Spirit-filled ministry in the
role of Elijah 1:15-17
a) John will be great before the Lord
1:15a
b) John will not drink wine or
liquor,1 but be separate unto the
Spirit who will fill him will in
his mother's womb 1:15b
c) He will function in the role of
Elijah by turning the heart of the
nation to the Lord their God (Mal.
4:6), in order to make ready for
the coming of the Lord 1:16-17
3. The Sign: When Zacharias expressed unbelief by
questioning the certainty of the Angel's
announcement, He was given two assurances: (1)
this was a reliable message from Gabriel who
stands in God's presence, and (2) he will be mute
until the child is born 1:18-20
a. Zacharias questioned the certainty of the
angel's announcement since both he and
Elizabeth were old 1:18
b. The angel assured Zacharias of the certainty
of his announcement by affirming his identity
as a messenger from God, and by predicting
that Zacharias would be mute until the
predicted child was born 1:19-20
1) The angel confirmed his announcement by
the very essence of who he was: Gabriel,
who stands in God's presence, who was
sent to bring to Zacharias this good
news 1:19
2) The angel confirmed his announcement by
proclaiming that Zacharias would be
unable to speak until the birth of his
son occurs because of his unbelief 1:20
4. The Fulfillment: The words of Gabriel
supernaturally occurred as Zacharias came out of
the temple mute, as the people realized that he
had seen a vision, as Elizabeth became pregnant,
and as she silently identified with Zacharias for
five months thankful for the Lord's work 1:21-25
a. Setting: The people who were waiting for
Zacharias outside of the holy place (1:10)
began to wonder about his delay 1:21
b. When Zacharias came out of the holy place he
was unable to speak (as the angel predicted),
and the people knew that he had seen a vision
in the temple 1:22
c. After Zacharias completed his priestly duty
in Jerusalem, he returned home, and Elizabeth
became pregnant 1:23-24a
d. Identifying with Zacharias' silence,
Elizabeth kept her self in seclusion for five
months honoring God for taking away her
disgrace 1:24b-25
B. Prophecy of Jesus' Birth: After the angel Gabriel
announced to Mary that God was going to cause her to
conceive a son whom she would name Jesus, and who would
be the eternal, Davidic king over Israel, Mary found
the words to be confirmed by her relative Elizabeth and
honored the Lord for faithfully exalting the lowly
(Mary, Israel) who trust in Him 1:26-56
1. Setting: Gabriel was sent from God to Mary, a
virgin engaged to Joseph of the descendants of
David, who lived in Nazareth of Galilee during the
sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy 1:26-27
2. The Announcement: Through a dialogue with Mary,
the angel Gabriel announced that the Lord was
going to enable her to conceive a son whom she
would name Jesus, and who would be the eternal,
Davidic king over Israel 1:28-33
a. Gabriel entered into where Mary was and
greeted her as one upon whom God is bestowing
grace ( kecaritwmevnh ), and whom God is with
(cf. Judges 6:4) 1:28
b. Mary responded to Gabriel's greeting with
great confusion wondering what this meant
1:29
c. Calming Mary's fear by assuring her of God's
grace towards her, Gabriel announced to Mary
that she would conceive a son whom she would
name Jesus, and who would be Messiah/God
inheriting the Davidic throne, and reigning
over Israel forever 1:30-33
1) Gabriel assured her that she should not
be afraid because she had received grace
(found favor, cavrin) before God (cf.
Noah in Gen. 6:8; Moses in Ex. 33:16)
1:30
2) Gabriel then announced that Mary would
conceive, bear a son, and name him Jesus
(cf. Hagar, Gen. 16:11; Manoah, Judges
13:3; Ahaz, Isa. 7:14) 1:31
3) Gabriel then announced the ministry of
this child as being great as Messiah/God
who will inherit the Davidic throne and
reign forever over Israel 1:32-33
a) The child will be great 1:32a
b) The child will be Messiah/God (the
Son of the Most High) 1:32b
c) The Lord God will give the child
the Davidic throne upon which He
will reign over Israel (the house
of Jacob) forever (2 Sam. 7:16)
1:32c-33
3. The Sign: When Mary inquired as to how this could
occur, Gabriel explained that it would be through
the power of the Holy Spirit, and then confirmed
his words through God's work with Mary's relative
Elizabeth, whereupon Mary humbly submitted to
God's word, and the angel departed 1:34-38
a. Mary questioned how this could occur since
she did not know a man ( ejpeiV a!ndra ouj
ginovskw ) 1:34
b. Gabriel explained to Mary that her conception
would occur through the miraculous power of
the Holy Spirit, and then confirmed these
certain words by the example of Elizabeth who
was now in her sixth month of pregnancy 1:35-
36
1) Gabriel explained that Mary would
conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit
who would come upon her (cf. Acts 1:8)
and brightly overshadow her (Ex. 40:35;
Lk. 9:34; Matt. 17:5) causing the child
to be called the Son of God (deity)
1:35
2) Gabriel then confirms his words in that
God has done a similar miracle with her
relative Elizabeth who was barren but is
now in her sixth month because all words
( pa'n rJh'ma ) from God are not
impossible 1:36-37
c. Mary then expressed her faith and willingness
for God to act upon her by identifying
herself as the servant ( douvlh ) of the
Lord, and allowing the word ( rJh'mav ),
which is not impossible for God to do, to be
done to her 1:38a
d. The Angel then departed from Mary 1:38b
4. The Fulfillment: When Mary immediately came to
Elizabeth's house, the angel's words to her were
confirmed and she exalted the Lord for faithfully
exalting the lowly (her and Israel), then after
three months (Elizabeth's delivery?) Mary returned
home 1:39-55
a. In search of the confirmation Mary
immediately went south to the hill country of
Judea to Zacharias' house in Judah and
greeted Elizabeth 1:39-40
b. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting the baby
in her womb leaped (for joy) 1:41a
c. Elizabeth was then enabled by the Holy Spirit
and proclaimed that Mary and the child were
both blessed, confirmed the words of the
angel, and honored Mary for believing God's
word 1:41-45
1) Elizabeth was then filled with (enabled
by) the Holy Spirit 1:41b
2) Elizabeth then cried out with a loud
voice proclaiming Mary and the child
blessed, confirming the words of the
angel, and honoring Mary for believing
the words of the angel 1:42-45
a) Elizabeth loudly proclaimed both
Mary and the child in her womb as
blessed ( ejulogew ) 1:42
b) Elizabeth confirmed that words of
the angel by identifying Mary's
child as her Lord which her own
child responded to by leaping for
joy in the womb (gladness, cf. Acts
2:46) 1:43-44
c) Elizabeth then blessed Mary for
believing the word of the Lord
1:45
d. Mary responded to the confirmation which she
received from Elizabeth by honoring God for
faithfully exalting those who trust in Him
(Mary, Israel) 1:46-55
1) Mary then responded to Elizabeth's
confirmation by exalting and rejoicing
in God her savior 1:46-47
2) The reason Mary exalted the Lord was
because He had worked in consistency to
make those of little (like her, and the
nation Israel) into people of much when
they trust in Him and in His interests
1:48-55
a) One reason Mary rejoiced in the
Lord was because He had shown
regard for her--His bondservant
1:48-50
(1) Mary rejoiced in God because
she would always be known to
have been blessed by the Lord
who had done great things for
her and His name 1:48-49
(2) Mary rejoiced in the Lord
because He had shown Himself
faithful to those like her who
feared Him from generation to
generation 1:50
b) Another reason Mary rejoiced in the
Lord was because He had shown His
strength in bringing greatness out
of lowliness -- especially for the
nation Israel 1:51-55
(1) The Lord has scattered those
like rulers who were proud in
their heart and exalted those
who were humble 1:51-52
(2) The Lord has filled the
hungry, and sent away the rich
empty handed 1:53
(3) The Lord has fulfilled his
promises to the nation Israel
1:54-55
e. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three more
months (until her delivery?), and then
returned to her home 1:56
C. The Birth and Growth of John: At the appropriate time
a child was born to Zacharias and Elizabeth, he was
named John, and Zacharias was enabled to speak by the
Holy Spirit prophesying that the Lord had brought
salvation from the house of David, and that his son
would prepare His way, whereupon, John grew to be
spiritually strong, as he lived in the desert (as a
prophet) until he publicly appeared before Israel 1:57-
80
1. At the appropriate time Elizabeth gave birth to a
son and her neighbors and relatives rejoiced with
her for the mercy which she had received from the
Lord 1:57-58
a. At the appropriate time Elizabeth gave birth
to a son 1:57
b. Elizabeth's neighbors and relatives rejoiced
with her because the Lord had been very
merciful to her 1:58
2. The Prophecy: When Zacharias chose John as the
name for his son against the wishes of the people,
his speech was restored and he prophesied under
the enablement of the Holy Spirit that God had
brought salvation for the nation through His
servant from the house of David, and that his son
would prepare His way 1:59-66
a. When Zacharias and Elizabeth came to
circumcise their child on the eighth day,
they refused to name him after Zacharias, as
the people desired, whereupon God restored
Zacharias' speech, and the people marveled
about what would become of this child since
God had been involved with his birth 1:59-66
1) When Zacharias and Elizabeth came on the
eighth day to circumcise the child, the
people (family?) were going to name him
Zacharias, but Elizabeth insisted that
he be called John 1:59-60
2) The family objected to Elizabeth's
intention became there was not anyone in
their family who was named John,
therefore, they appealed, by sign, to
Zacharias 1:61-62
3) Zacharias wrote on a tablet that the
child's name would be John, whereupon,
the people were astonished, and God
loosed his tongue so that he began to
speak in praise to God 1:63-64
4) The people there and in the hill country
(as the word spread) responded to
Zacharias' speaking in fear and wonder
as to what God would do with the child
since He had been involved with his
birth 1:65-66
b. When Zacharias was enabled by the Holy
Spirit, he prophesied that God has brought
salvation through His servant from the house
of David, and that his son would prepare the
way for the Lord by proclaiming salvation
through the forgiveness of sins in accordance
with God's tender mercy 1:67-79
1) Then Zacharias was enabled by the Holy
Spirit and prophesied 1:67
2) Zacharias blessed the Lord because He
has graciously brought about salvation
through His servant from the house of
David for the nation Israel in
accordance with His promise to Abraham
1:67-74
a) Zacharias praises the Lord God
1:68a
b) The reason Zacharias praises God is
because he has brought about
salvation through His servant from
the House of David 1:68b-69
c) God's salvation is in accordance
with His prophetic word to deliver
the nation from their enemies (only
political? demons in the rest of
the book) in accordance with the
Abrahamic covenant in order to
serve Him 1:70-74
3) Zacharias prophesied that his son would
prepare the way for the Lord by
proclaiming salvation through the
forgiveness of sins in accordance with
God's tender mercy as He sends one who
will shine upon those in darkness (the
Gentiles), and bring about peace 1:75-
79
a) Zacharias prophecies that his son
will be the prophet of the Most
High 1:76a
b) Zacharias prophecies that his son
will go before the Lord in order to
prepare His ways (Isa. 40:3) by
informing the Lord's people of
salvation through the forgiveness
of sins 1:76b-78a
c) The forgiveness of sins will come
through the tender mercy of
Israel's God from whom one rising
like the sun (Mal. 4:2) will visit
His people and give light to those
who sit in darkness and guidance
leading to peace (Isa. 9:12; 42:1-
9; Matt. 4:12-16; Isa. 60) 1:78b-
79
3. Zacharias' son grew to become spiritually strong
as he lived in the deserts (as a prophet) until he
publicly appeared to Israel 1:80
D. The Birth and Growth of Jesus: Through Jesus' birth
and early childhood he was identified as Messiah, who
would save Israel and all peoples as the
teacher/revealer of the Father, but this would be
painful for many as He also revealed evil 2:1-52
1. The Birth of Jesus: When Joseph and Mary went to
Bethlehem in order to be counted in Caesar
Augustus' census, Mary gave birth to her first son
and named him Jesus in accordance with the
announcement by the angel, and the child was
confirmed by angels, shepherds, and two prophets
to be Messiah who would save all peoples
(especially Israel), and who would painfully
expose the evil of many 2:1-20
a. The Setting: When Caesar Augustus issued the
decree that all in "Rome" should be counted
for tax purposes, Joseph, along with the rest
of Israel, went to his home city of Bethlehem-
-the city of David--with his betrothed wife,
Mary, who was with child because Joseph was
of the line of David 2:1-5
1) Jesus was born during the time which was
before the census was issued, while
Quirinius was governor of Syria,2
namely, when Caesar Augustus issued a
decree that all under Rome should be
counted for tax purposes3 2:1-2
2) All the people (of Israel) were going to
their own city to register for the
census (as Rome complied with Hebrew
custom) 2:3
3) Joseph also went up (geographically)
from Nazareth of Galilee to Bethlehem,
the city of David, because he was from
the line of David in order to register
for the census along with Mary who was
engaged to him, and pregnant 2:4-5
b. The Birth of Jesus While Mary and Joseph
were in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to her
first born son who was then confirmed to be
Messiah by an angelic announcement given to
nearby shepherds who found the family and
reported to them what they had heard 2:6-20
1) The Birth: While Mary and Joseph were in
Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to her first
born son and snugly laid him in a manger
("cattle stall" favtnh/ ) because there
was no room for them in the place of
lodging 2:6-7
2) The Angels: While shepherds were
watching their flocks in a near-by field
that night, an angel appeared to them
and announced the birth of Messiah with
a description of his whereabouts as a
sign, then an army of angels appeared
proclaiming God's greatness and the
peace which He is bringing among men
2:8-14
a) Setting: Shepherds were in the
region of Bethlehem watching over
their flocks in the fields at night
2:8
b) Suddenly an angel appeared and
announced that a savior-Messiah for
Israel had been born in the city of
David and offered them a confirming
sign that they would find him
snugly wrapped and lying in a
manger 2:9-12
(1) Suddenly an angel of the Lord
appeared with the glory of the
Lord shining around him before
the intensely frightened
shepherds 2:9
(2) The angel told the shepherds
not to be afraid because he
had good news (eujaggelivzomai
) for all of Israel ( law'/ )
because the Messiah-Savior
(cf. Lk. 1:68-79) has been
born in the city of David
(Bethlehem) 2:10-11
(3) The angel then gave a sign to
authenticate his words for the
shepherds that they would find
this child snugly wrapped and
lying in a manger 2:12
c) Then, suddenly there appeared with
the angel an army ( stratia'" ) of
angels praising the greatness of
God and proclaiming peace upon men
who will benefit from what He has
done 2:13-14
3) The Shepherds: After the departure of
the angels, the shepherds found Mary,
Joseph, and the child, told them of the
angelic announcement, causing wonder for
many, but understanding for Mary, and
returned to their fields honoring God
for the confirmation of the announcement
2:15-20
a) When the angels left them into
heaven the shepherds decided to go
to Bethlehem and to see this thing
(word, rJh'ma) which had been
announced to them 2:15
b) When they discovered the way (
aneu'ran ) to Mary, Joseph and the
child, they made known the
announcement ( rJhvmato" ) which
the angel told them 2:17
c) All who heard of the angelic
announcement were in wonder, but
Mary put these things (rJhvmata)
together ( sum-bavllousa ) 2:18-19
d) The shepherds returned to their
fields glorifying and praising God
because of the confirmation of the
angelic announcement to them 2:20
c. Prophetic Proclamations of Jesus' Ministry by
Two Witnesses (male and female): As Mary and
Joseph were in the temple with Jesus two
witnesses (Simeon and Hanna) proclaimed Jesus
to be Messiah who would bring about salvation
for all peoples (especially Israel), and who
would bring about the painful ministry of
rejection, division and judgment for many
2:21-38
1) Setting: Mary and Joseph named the
child Jesus on the eighth day before his
circumcision in accordance with the word
of the angel, and came to the temple
when Mary was ceremonially clean in
order to dedicate Jesus to the Lord as
the first born and to offer sacrifices
in accordance with the Law 2:21-24
a) On the eighth day, before the
circumcision (Lev. 12:3) the child
was named Jesus ( jIhsou'", uwvy )
in accordance with the name given
by the angel before Mary conceived
2:21
b) When the days for their
purification4 they brought Jesus to
present him as the first born to
the Lord in accordance with the
Law5 and to offer the sacrifices of
the poor (a pair of turtledoves and
two young pigeons)6 2:22-23
2) Simeon: While Jesus' parents are in the
temple with him, a man named Simeon with
the Spirit upon him, identifies Jesus as
the future salvation of all peoples, and
prophesies of the rejection, division,
and judgment which Jesus will bring
about for many 2:24-35
a) While Mary, Joseph and the child
Jesus were in the temple to fulfill
the Law, an upright man named
Simeon who was expecting the
encouragement of Israel (Messiah,
cf. Isa. 40) due to a revelation,
entered the temple under the
direction of the Holy Spirit 2:24-
27
b) When Simeon saw the parents and the
Child Jesus, he held him, blessed
God and proclaimed that Jesus was
the fulfillment of God's word (
rJh'mav ) to him because he was
God's salvation for all peoples--
Gentiles and Jews 2:28-32
c) Mary and Joseph marveled at all the
things which were being said about
Jesus 2:33
d) Simeon then blessed the parents and
prophesied that Jesus would bring
about the collapse and rise of many
in Israel, would be opposed, would
bring severe pain to Mary, and
would uncover the inner reasonings
of many7 2:34-35
3) Hanna: While Simeon was speaking,
Hanna, a godly servant of the Lord, came
up and also identified Jesus as the one
who would bring about the redemption of
Israel 2:36-38
a) While Simeon was speaking, Hanna (
@Anna), an older, widowed
prophetess, who was the daughter of
Phanual of the tribe of Ahser (Gen.
49:20), who spiritually served all
of the time in the temple, came up
2:36-38a
b) Giving thanks in an agreeing way
(ajnqwmologei'to ) with Simeon,
Hanna continued to speak of Jesus
as the one who would bring
redemption ( luvtrwsin ) of Israel
2:38b
d. When Jesus' parents had performed all that
the Law required of them, they returned to
their home in Nazareth of Galilee 2:39
2. The Growth: The child Jesus not only grew in
physical and spiritual maturity, but he
momentarily revealed who he was as the Father's
teacher/revealer when He remained in Jerusalem at
the Passover, but then continued in subjection to
his parents 2:40-53
a. Summary statement: Jesus grew as a child to
become physically and spiritually strong
under God's favor 2:40
b. A Glimpse of Jesus' Growth: When Jesus
remained in Jerusalem after his parents had
left the Feast of the Passover, He revealed
Himself to be the teacher/revealer of God (as
he went about his Father's business), but his
parents did not understand this, even though
Mary treasured this in her heart as Jesus
continued in subjection to them 2:41-52
1) The Setting: Jesus' parents went up to
the Passover Feast, as was their custom,
when Jesus was twelve, and left
afterward unaware that Jesus had
remained in Jerusalem 2:41-43
a) Just as Jesus' parents used to go
to the Feast of the Passover every
year as pious Jews, so did they go
when Jesus became twelve years old
1:41-42
b) As Jesus' parents were returning
from the Feast of the Passover,
Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents were unaware of
this 1:43
2) When Jesus' parents could not find him,
they returned to Jerusalem and after the
third day, Joseph and Mary were
astonished to find Him sitting in the
Temple among the teachers listening and
asking questions which amazed all who
heard him 2:44
a) When Jesus' parents could not find
him in the caravan, they returned
to Jerusalem to look for him 1:44-
45
b) After three days, Jesus' parents
found him in the temple discussing
(the Scriptures) with the teachers
of the Law thereby causing all of
the people to be amazed at his
understanding 1:46-47
c) When Jesus' parents saw Jesus, they
were astonished
3) When Jesus' mother rebuked Jesus for the
anxiety which he had caused them by
remaining in Jerusalem, He explained
that they should have known that He had
to be in the temple, but even though
they did not understand, Mary treasured
these things in her heart as Jesus
returned with them in subjection to them
2:48-51
a) Jesus' mother rebuked him for the
anxiety which he caused them by
staying behind 1:48
b) Jesus was puzzled as to why His
parents would be looking for him
since they should have known that
he had (*) to be in his Father's
house--the temple 2:49
c) Jesus' parents did not understand
what Jesus had said, but Mary
treasured all of these things (
rJhvmata ) in her heart as Jesus
went to Nazareth with them in
continued subjection to them 2:50-
51
c. Summary Statement: Jesus continued to grow
physically and spiritually under God's and
men's favor 2:52
III. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SON OF MAN: Jesus is introduced as
being the Lord coming with salvation for whom Israel must
make spiritual preparation, as being the Messiah-Servant,
and as being the second Adam who is victorious over the
temptation of the devil 3:1--4:13
A. The Teaching of John: As John was led by God to
prepare the way for the coming of the Lord (Messiah) by
proclaiming the need for individuals in the nation to
repent in their hearts so as to produce works of
covenant faithfulness, he received official rejection
by being imprisoned by Herod Antipas 3:1-20
1. Setting: At a turbulent time of political and
religious division, John the son of Zacharias came
from the wilderness under God's call to proclaim
the need for the nation of Israel to prepare their
hearts for the Lord who was coming with salvation
3:1-6
a. Politically the time of John's public
ministry was in the fifteenth year of
Tiberius Caesar when the land was divided
into four parts under the Herods 3:1
1) The broad time of John's public ministry
was during the fifteenth year of
Tiberius Caesar when Pontius Pilate was
governor of Judea (A.D. 27/28) 3:1a
2) This was the time when Herod the Great's
kingdom was divided into four political
units (tetarchs): Herod Antapas over
Galilee, Philip over Ituraia and
Trachonitus, and Lysanias over Abilene
3:1b
b. Religiously the time of John's public
ministry was when the high priesthood was
divided between Annas and Caiaphas 3:2
c. At a turbulent political/religious time John
came under God's direction as a prophet
proclaiming the need for the nation to repent
as they prepared for the coming of the Lord
with salvation 1:2-6
1) At the above political/religious time
the word of God (cf. Jer. 1:2) came to
John the son of Zacharias while he was
in the desert 1:2
2) John came to the area around the Jordan
river preaching the need for those in
the nation to be baptized as an
expression of repentance for the
forgiveness of sins 3:3
3) John's preaching of the need for
repentance was in accordance with the
exhortation of Isaiah the prophet when
he urged the nation to prepare for the
coming of the Lord with salvation8 3:4-
6
2. John's Teaching: John proclaimed to those coming
out to him that they needed to prepare the way for
the coming of One greater than he (Messiah)
through repentance of the heart which expresses
itself in covenant faithfulness toward one another
because He will coming with greater blessing and
judgment than John 3:7-17
a. John's Proclamation: As the multitudes came
out to John, he urged them to prepare for the
coming of the Lord through a heart-repentance
which overflowed into deeds of covenant
faithfulness lest they experience the
judgment from which they were fleeing 3:7-9
1) Setting: John spoke to the multitudes
who were coming out to be baptized by
him 3:7a
2) John warned the multitude who were
fleeing to him (as from judgment) that
God expects them to do works of covenant
faithfulness from a repentant heart
because He is going to judge those from
external Israel who are evil 3:7b-9
a) As to snakes fleeing from a brush
fire, John asked them who warned
them of the judgment to come9 3:7b
b) John urged the multitude to
demonstrate their repentance
through their works 3:8a
c) John then warned the multitude not
to trust in their external
confidence of heritage because it
is nothing before God who is going
to judge those from physical Israel
who do not show forth covenant
faithfulness 3:8a-9
b. Responses to Questions: When John was asked
by various groups about what they should do
to prepare for the coming of the Lord, he
urged them all within their respective realms
to demonstrate covenant loyalty by caring for
those under their influence 3:10-14
1) Multitudes: When the multitudes asked
John what they should do to prepare for
the coming of the Lord, he urged them to
show covenant faithfulness toward those
among them with need 3:10-11
a) The multitudes asked John what they
should do in order to be prepared
for the coming of the Lord 3:10
b) John responded by urging covenant
faithfulness (love) from them for
those who have need among them by
supplying for their need
(clothing/food) 3:11
2) The Tax-Gathers: When tax-gathers asked
John what they should do in order to
prepare for the coming of the Lord he
urged them to show covenant faithfulness
(love) toward those from whom they
collected taxes by not stealing from
them 3:12-13
a) When the tax-gathers came to be
baptized by John they asked him
what they should do to prepare for
the coming of the Lord 3:12
b) John exhorted them to show covenant
faithfulness (love) by not stealing
from those from whom they collect
taxes 3:13
3) Soldiers: When soldiers asked John what
they should do in order to prepare for
the coming of the Lord he urged them to
show covenant faithfulness (love) toward
those over whom they have authority and
power by not abusing them 3:14
a) Soldiers came asking John what they
should do in order to prepare for
the coming of the Lord 3:14a
b) John responded by urging them to
show covenant faithfulness by not
using their authority (power) to
hurt those under their influence
3:14b
c. John's Identity: As the people began to
wonder as to whether or not John might be
Messiah, he explained to them that he was
not, but one was following with greater
blessing and judgment 3:15-17
1) Setting: The people were in a state of
expectation concerning the coming of
Messiah as a result of John's ministry
and wondered if he himself was Messiah
(the Christ) 3:15
2) Response: John answered the multitudes
wonderings by affirming that he is not
Messiah, but that Messiah was yet to
come who would bring about a greater
blessing of the Spirit (New Covenant),
and a more severe judgment of the wicked
3:16-17
a) John responded to the wondering of
the multitude by affirming that he
is not Messiah since his baptism
with water is only a symbol of the
greater baptism to be administered
by the one greater then he--the
baptism of the Holy Spirit and of
judgment (fire) 3:16
b) The one who is coming after him is
coming to bless his own (those
repentant), and to judge those who
are evil as a thresher with grain
3:17
d. Enclusio: John's preaching of the gospel (
eujhggelivzeto ) was full of many other such
exhortations (of repentance, blessing and
judgment) 3:18
3. John's Imprisonment (The Overall Response of the
Nation?): When John rebuked Herod the tetrarch
(Antipas) for his wicked deeds (cf. John 6:17-20)
Herod did even more evil (rather than covenant
faithfulness) by locking up John in prison 3:19-
20
B. The Baptism of Jesus: At Jesus' baptism by John he was
seen to be anointed for ministry (cf. Lk. 4) and
declared to be Messiah (Son/Servant) 3:21-22
1. While all of the people were being baptized by
John, Jesus was baptized 3:21a
2. While John was praying Jesus was visually
demonstrated to have been anointed by the Holy
Spirit as the Spirit descended upon Jesus in
bodily form like a dove 3:21a-22b
3. While John was praying Jesus was endorsed by the
Father to be Messiah (My beloved [elected] Son--
Gen. 22:2; 2 Sam. 7:14; Ps. 2:7), who was also the
Suffering Servant of Israel ("well pleased", Isa.
42:1) 3:22b
C. The Genealogy of Jesus: Jesus is more thoroughly
identified as a man: (1) by being thirty years old at
the beginning of his ministry, and (2) by being
identified with all of mankind through a genealogy
which legally traces Jesus through Joseph to the
Davidic line and to Adam 3:23-38
1. When Jesus began his public ministry he was about
thirty years of age 3:23
2. Jesus is identified with all mankind as the God-
Man through Joseph and David back to Adam10 3:23b-
38a
D. The Temptation of Jesus: Through the temptation Jesus
is demonstrated to be the second Adam who is victorious
against the luring of the devil 4:1-13
1. Jesus is placed in a position of great want and
need by the Holy Spirit 4:1-2
a. Jesus, being full of the Spirit, was led into
the wilderness by the Spirit for forty days
being tempted by the devil 4:1-2
b. Jesus was tempted as man's representative by
the devil with respect to his appetite only
to surface victorious in each event,
whereupon, the devil departed for a more
opportune time 4:3-13
1) In Matthew Jesus stands in the place of
the nation Israel and therefore his
trials match those of the nation in the
wilderness
a) Stones to Bread (Duet. 8:3)
b) Throw Yourself Down (Deut. 6:16)
c) Worship me (Deut. 6:13)This may
well have been the chronological
order after Peter's preaching (cf.
tovte, "then" in 4:5)
2) In Luke Jesus stands in the place of all
men (Adam--the Son of God, the Son of
Adam, cf. 3:38)11
a) Stones to Bread ("Don't eat" Gen.
3)
b) Worship Me (Deny the word of God,
"God has not said", Gen. 3)
c) Throw Yourself Down (God does not
care about you, "you will become
gods", Gen. 3)
IV. THE REVELATION OF THE SON OF MAN (IN GALILEE): Jesus
presented himself as the Suffering Servant who was bringing
the deliverance of the nation, and clarified his ministry
through teaching his disciples of his suffering Messiahship
so that they might not reject him, but choose to follow his
example as suffering-ministers 4:14---9:50
A. The Presentation of Jesus' ministry: Jesus presents
himself (and thus his ministry) as being the Suffering
Servant who is bringing the prophesied, yet radically
different, deliverance for the nation, facing criticism
as he gathers those to follow after him who realize
their need for help with their sin 4:14--6:16
1. An Overview of Jesus' Ministry: As Jesus goes
through Galilee and Judea, he proclaims that he
has come as the Suffering Servant who is bringing
prophesied deliverance for the nation, and
authenticates his words through miraculous
physical and spiritual healings resulting in a
mixed response of wonder and rejection by the
people 4:14-44
a. A Summary of Jesus' Galilean Ministry: As
Jesus returned to Galilee under the power of
the Holy Spirit and began to teach in their
synagogues, his reputation spread as he was
praised by all 4:14-15
1) Jesus returned to Galilee empowered by
the Holy Spirit 4:14
2) News about Jesus spread throughout all
of the surrounding areas of Galilee, and
as He began to teach in their synagogues
he was praised by all 4:15
b. An Example of Jesus as Teacher: When Jesus
taught in the synagogue of his home town
(Nazareth) that he was the Suffering Servant
who was bringing deliverance in accordance
with the Day of Jubilee, he was received by
some but overwhelmingly rejected as a prophet
because he was Joseph's son, whereupon, he
warned that unbelief would lead to a mission
to Gentiles like the ministries of Elijah and
Elisha 4:16-30
1) When Jesus came to his childhood home of
Nazareth, he entered the synagogue and
stood up to read 4:16
2) When Jesus unrolled the scroll, he found
the section from Isaiah (61:1; 58:6)
wherein he proclaimed that he was
fulfilling the sabbath aspects of the
day of Jubilee 4:17-21
a) Reading Isaiah 61:1, Jesus
proclaimed that He was fulfilling
the jubilee promises as the servant
of promise 4:18
(1) Jesus read that the Spirit of
the Lord was upon Him (his
baptism, 3:21-22)Note that the
eras are pulled apart here
unlike in Isaiah 61
(2) Jesus has been anointed to
proclaim good news to the poor
( ptwcoi'" , the covenant poor
[cf. Lk. 1:52-53])
(3) Jesus has been anointed to
herald the release of
prisoners from debt (
a!fevsei, a term describing
forgiveness [1:77] because all
are in debt to God due to sin)
(4) Jesus has been anointed to
herald the recovery of sight
to the blind (those trapped in
darkness, cf. 1:78-79)
(5) Jesus has been anointed to set
free those who are downtrodden
(spiritually broken)
(6) Jesus has been anointed and
sent to herald the year of
Jubilee in its spiritual sense
as Israel was supposed to do
through service (Isa. 58:6;
cf. Lev. 25)
b) When Jesus had finished reading, he
folded up the book, gave it back to
the attendant, sat down, and
proclaimed to all who were watching
him that this scripture had been
fulfilled in their hearing 4:19-21
3) The Response of the Hearers: Although
many were full of wonder at Jesus'
gracious words, he experienced rejection
by the synagogue as a whole in
accordance with the nation's rejection
of prophets of old 4:22-30
a) The people responded to Jesus'
words by being both full of wonder
and being critical of him because
they knew of his heritage 4:22
(1) Positive: All were speaking
well of Jesus as they wondered
at the gracious words which he
spoke 4:22a
(2) Negative: Some were
questioning Jesus' words
because he was "just" Joseph's
son 4:22b
b) Jesus responded to those who were
critical of his prophetic word by
foretelling of their future, evil
demands of him, and affirming that
he was being rejected as a true
prophet in line with the rejection
of the fathers which led to God's
ministry to the Gentiles 4:23-27
(1) Jesus foretold that those who
were critical of him would
turn his healing ability upon
him in the future, and demand
that he perform similar
miracles as he did in
Capernaum 4:23
(2) Jesus solemnly declared to the
critics that he was a prophet
who was not welcomed in his
home town as was the case
traditionally in the past
4:24
(3) Jesus then illustrated the
rejection of him as a prophet
with the nation's rejection of
Elijah and Elisha leading to
God's direction of ministry
unto the Gentiles (cf. Elijah
1 Ki. 17:8-16; Elisha 2 Ki.
5:1-19) 4:25-28
c) In response to Jesus' words the
people demonstrated their rejection
of Jesus in accordance with the
nation's rejection of the prophets
of old: the synagogue was filled
with rage, cast him out of the city
and intended to throw him down a
cliff 4:29
d) Jesus passed through the midst of
the crowd (miracle?) and went his
way 4:30
c. An Example of Jesus' Ministry: Although
Jesus demonstrated his authority in Capernaum
over spiritual and demonic forms of evil, he
insisted that his mission was to proclaim the
Kingdom of God to the Jews, which he
continued to do in the synagogues in Judea
4:31-44
1) A Demon: When Jesus came from Nazareth
to Capernaum, his teaching on the
sabbath was demonstrated to be with
authority and power as he cast a demon
out (bringing about spiritual freedom,
cf. 4:18-19) of a man causing the people
to wonder and his reputation to spread
in the surrounding district 4:31-37
a) Setting: Jesus came down
(geographically) from Nazareth to
Capernaum of Galilee and was
teaching, to the amazement of all,
on the Sabbath 4:31-32
b) A man possessed by a demon cried
out loudly the identity of Jesus as
the Holy One of God (separated to
service as Messiah; cf. Judges
13:7; 16:17 with Nu. 6:5,8), and
questioned the timing of his
exercise of authority over them
4:33-34
c) Jesus responded to the demon by
rebuking him to be quiet and to
come out of the man, and the demon,
though rebellious, obeyed 4:35
d) The people responded with amazement
over Jesus' authority and power
over demons and the report about
him spread into the surrounding
district 4:36-37
2) Sickness: On the remainder of the
Sabbath, Jesus demonstrated his
authority over physical and spiritual
sickness as he healed Simon's mother-in-
law of a high fever, and healed those
who were brought to him 4:38-41
a) When Jesus left the synagogue and
arrived at Simon's home, he healed
Simon's mother-in-law of a high
fever, whereupon, she immediately
arose and served them 4:38-39
(1) Setting: Jesus then left the
synagogue and entered Simon's
house where Simon's mother-in-
law was suffering from a high
fever 4:38a
(2) When the people (Simon and the
disciples/family) requested
that Jesus help Simon's mother-
in-law, he did by causing the
fever to leave her whereupon,
she immediately got up and
served them 4:38b-39
b) When the Sabbath evening arrived,
the people "legally" brought their
sick to Jesus for healing, and he
healed them of physical and
spiritual ailments, forbidding the
demons to continually identify him
as Messiah 4:40-41
(1) Setting: At sunset on the
same Sabbath day (cf. 4:31)
when it was "legal", the
people brought their sick to
Jesus 4:40a
(2) Jesus personally healed the
people of physical ailments,
and cast out demons who
continually identified him as
Messiah 4:40b-41
3) Although the people of Galilee requested
of Jesus to stay among them, he
explained that he must because his
mission was to preach the kingdom of God
to other cities as well, therefore,
Jesus preached in the synagogues of
Judea (the Jews) 4:42-44
a) Setting: On the next day Jesus
went to a private (lonely) place
but when the multitude found him
they tried to keep him from leaving
them 4:42
b) Jesus explained to the multitude
that he must leave because he was
sent to preach the Kingdom of God
to other cities as well 4:43
c) Jesus continued preaching in the
synagogues of Judea 4:44
2. The Gathering of Disciples: Interspersed among
demonstrations of His authority (over creation,
over physical and spiritual realms), Jesus
gathered together those with an awareness of their
need who would follow His radically distinct
presentation of the kingdom (from that of the
religious leaders) and become His apostles 5:1--
6:16
a. The Call of Peter: Through a mighty
demonstration to Peter of Jesus' authority
over creation, Jesus called him to not be
fearful, but to follow Him as a fisher of men
5:1-11
1) Setting: As Jesus was teaching the
multitudes at the Lake of Gennesaret
they crowded him so much that he moved
into one of the boats of Simon's from
which to teach the people 5:1-4
a) This is a time when Jesus was at
the lake of Gennesaret (Sea of
Galilee) teaching the word of God
to the multitudes 5:1
b) When Jesus saw two boats by the
edge of the lake which were empty
because the fisherman were out
washing their nets, he entered the
one which was Simon's, asked him to
move the boat away from land a bit,
and then continued teaching the
multitudes from the boat 5:2-3
2) After Jesus had finished teaching the
multitude from Simon's boat, he
demonstrated his greatness over creation
to Simon Peter by causing a great catch
of fish, whereupon, he exhorted the
fearful Simon to not be fearful, but to
follow as a catcher of men 5:4-11
a) When Jesus had finished teaching
the multitudes, he told Simon to
put out to deeper water and to fish
5:4
b) Simon reluctantly agreed to do as
Jesus instructed 5:5
c) When Simon and those with him began
to fish, they caught so many fish
that they had to receive help from
their partners (James and John) in
the other boat, and then both boats
were about to sink 5:6-7
d) When Simon-Peter saw the great
catch, he in honor (fear?) begged
Jesus to depart from him because he
was a sinful man 5:8
e) Jesus responded to Simon by
encouraging him not to fear, but to
follow him as one who catches men
alive 5:11
b. Miracles of Authority: Jesus demonstrated
that he had authority over physical illnesses
(a leper and a paralytic) in order to
proclaim to the religious leaders that He had
authority over the spiritual realm 5:12-26
1) The Leper: Jesus willingly healed a
leper exhorting him to testify to those
at the temple in accordance with the
command of Moses, and the word about Him
spread bringing multitudes to hear and
be healed, whereupon, he would go to the
wilderness to pray 5:12-16
a) Setting: While Jesus was in one of
the cities there was a man full of
leprosy who seeing Jesus begged Him
to heal him if He desired to 5:12
b) Jesus expressed his willingness to
heal the man and did so with a
touch of his hand 5:13
c) Jesus commanded the man to tell no
one before he went to the temple
and made an offering as Moses
commanded [thereby demonstrating
His authority to the religious
leaders, cf. Lev. 14:1-7) 5:14
d) But the news about Jesus began to
spread and great multitudes were
coming to hear him and to be healed
by him, and he slipped away to the
wilderness to pray 5:15-16
2) The Paralytic: One day when Jesus was
teaching before the religious leader
from Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem he
demonstrated that he had the spiritual
authority to forgive sins by physically
healing a paralyzed man causing the
people to glorify God at what they saw
5:17-26
a) Setting: One day as Jesus was
teaching religious leaders
(Pharisees, and teachers of the
Law) from Galilee, Judea, and
Jerusalem God's power was also
present for Jesus to preform
miracles 5:17
b) Some men lowered a paralyzed man
down through the roof before Jesus
since they were not able to reach
him otherwise because of the crowd
5:18
c) When Jesus saw their faith, he told
the man that his sins were forgiven
him 5:20
d) The religious leaders began to
reason (within themselves) that
Jesus was blaspheming since only
God could forgive sins 5:21
e) Knowing their reasoning, Jesus
physically healed the man so that
they would know that he had the
spiritual authority to forgive sins
5:22-25
f) The people responded by being
beside themselves, glorifying God
and noting that they had seen
unusual things that day 5:26
c. The Call of Levi: After Jesus declared his
authority through the healing of the
paralytic, he went out from the people,
called Levi to follow him, and then explained
to the religious leaders at a reception held
by Levi that he had come to help those who
realize their need for help with their sin
5:27-32
1) After Jesus' presentation of authority
by healing the paralytic, he went out
from the people and noticed a tax
gatherer sitting in his office named
Levi 5:27a
2) Jesus exhorted Levi to follow him and
he left everything behind and followed
5:27-28
3) At a public reception which Levi held in
order to identify with Jesus, He
explained to the religious leaders who
were critical of His association with
sinners, that He has come to help those
who are sick in that they are aware of
their sin 5:29-32
a) Setting: Levi identified with
Jesus by giving a public reception
for him in his house with tax
gatherers and other sinners
(a!llwn, cf. 5:30) 5:29
b) The religious leaders (Pharisees
and their scribes) criticized
Jesus' disciples for having
fellowship with tax gathers and
sinners 5:30
c) Jesus responded to the criticism of
the Pharisees by affirming that he
has come as a physician in order to
help those who recognize that they
are sick (sinners) and cannot be
cured without God's help (unlike
the Pharisees who considered
themselves to be well [righteous])
5:31-32
d. The Rise of Opposition: Through three
controversies Jesus explained that he was
bringing about something completely different
from the old perception of the kingdom as he
initiates the fulfillment of the Scriptural
Sabbath rest 5:33--6:11
1) Fasting: When Jesus is questioned about
fasting, he explains that he is offering
a message concerning the Kingdom (note
the feast imagery) which is different
and not to be mixed with old
understandings, but the leaders will not
receive it because they are satisfied
with the old system 5:33-39
a) The religious leaders asked Jesus
why his disciples do not fast like
those of John and of the Pharisees
5:33
b) Jesus answered the religious
leaders by affirming that he had
brought something different than
the old covenant system 5:34-39
(1) Jesus explained to the
religious leaders that his
disciples do not fast like
those of John and the
Pharisees because they are in
a different time: now that he
is with them they do not fast,
but they will fast when he is
taken away ( ajparqh'/ ) 5:34-
35
(2) Jesus explained to the
religious leaders that what he
is bringing (likened to new
material, new wine) is
different, and cannot be mixed
with that which has been
before (likened to an old
garment, old wineskins) 5:36-
38
(3) Jesus explained to the
religious leaders through
irony that the religious
leaders will not taste Jesus'
new proclamations because they
are not hollowed by age 5:39
2) Sabbath-Grain: In a controversy which
arose as some Pharisees accused the
disciples of breaking the law because
they were picking grain on the Sabbath,
Jesus explained that they were not
breaking the sabbath, but were
expressing its intent under him as the
proper lord of the Sabbath by providing
for the needs of men as presented in the
Scriptures (David) 6:1-5
a) Setting: This event occurred on a
Sabbath when he and his disciples
were passing through some
grainfields and his disciples were
picking and eating heads of grain
by rubbing them in their hands 6:1
b) Some of the Pharisees asked the
disciples why they are breaking the
law (nb--this is oral law) on the
Sabbath 6:2
c) Jesus answered the religious
leaders' question to his disciples
by affirming that He, as the one
properly bringing about the rule of
the Sabbath, was allowing for the
freedom which resided in the Law
(e.g., David) to provide for the
need of men 6:3-5
(1) Jesus used David as an example
of one under the Law who also
did not hold to a rigid
interpretation of the ritual
law as the Pharisees did
because David was not
condemned for his actions (cf.
1 Sam. 21; Lev. 24:5-9) 6:3-4
(2) Jesus then affirmed that he
was Lord of the Sabbath (in
the proper sense of bringing
about the true rest of the
Sabbath) 6:5
3) Sabbath-Healing: On another Sabbath
when Jesus was teaching he again did
good on the Sabbath by restoring a man's
withered hand to health, but the
religious leaders who were seeking to
accuse him became enraged and considered
what they might do to him (thus doing
evil on the Sabbath) 6:6-11
a) Setting: On another Sabbath Jesus
entered a synagogue and was
teaching where a man was whose
right hand was withered 6:6
b) The religious leaders were watching
Jesus closely to see if he would
heal on the Sabbath so that they
would have some reason to accuse
him 6:7
c) Knowing what the religious leaders
were thinking, Jesus questioned
them about the goal of the Sabbath,
and then in their silence healed
the man with the goal of doing good
on the Sabbath 6:8-10
(1) Knowing what the religious
leaders were thinking, Jesus
invited the man with the
withered hand to come forward
in the midst of everyone 6:8
(2) Jesus then asked the religious
leaders if it was lawful to do
good (save life) or to do evil
(destroy life) on the Sabbath
6:9
(3) When no one answered Jesus,
he did good by healing the man
on the sabbath 6:10
d) The religious leaders responded to
Jesus' good work of healing on the
Sabbath by discussing what they
might do to Jesus (doing evil on
the Sabbath) 6:11
e. The Choosing of the Twelve: After the
Sabbath controversies and prayer, Jesus named
his twelve apostles from among his disciples
6:12-16
1) After the sabbath controversies Jesus
went off to the mountain to spend the
whole night in prayer to God 6:12
2) In the morning Jesus called his
disciples to Himself and chose twelve of
them naming them apostles: Simon, Andrew
(his brother), James, John, Philip,
Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son
of Alphaeus), Simon the Zealot, Judas
(son of James), and Judas Iscariot (who
became a traitor) 6:13-16
B. The Clarifying of Jesus' Ministry: Jesus clarified
his ministry through teaching his disciples that the
ethic of his kingdom is to show love to others, by
revealing himself to those who recognize their need of
him, and finally by calling his disciples to not reject
him in his upcoming passion, but to follow his example
through suffering-service 6:17--9:50
1. Jesus' Teaching--The Sermon on the Plain: In the
context of just having chosen his apostles, and
being surrounded by those who are with great need,
Jesus teaches his disciples that the
responsibility and consequences of leadership are
inseparably connected urging them to
unconditionally love others--even those who cannot
(will not) love you back 6:17-49
a. The Setting: After Jesus had chosen his
twelve apostles, they descended the mountain
to find people from all over Palestine who
were seeking Jesus in order to hear him and
to be healed by him, then Jesus spoke to his
disciples 6:17-20a
1) After Jesus chose his apostles, he and
the twelve descended to a level place to
find a multitude of people from all of
Palestine (Judea, Jerusalem, Tyre and
Sidon) 6:17
2) The people came to hear Jesus and to be
healed by him because they were
physically and spiritually ill, and he
was healing them 6:18-19
3) Audience: While all of the needy were
pressing against Jesus, he turned his
eyes on his disciples and spoke to them
6:20a
b. The Message: Christ taught his disciples
against using their power (authority and
position) to benefit themselves at the
expense of others, but rather to love others
by examining themselves and by building
others up because it is in this way that they
will reflect God and be rewarded with life
6:20b-49
1) Positively: Jesus encouraged his
disciples that they are enriched when
they are poor, hungry, weep or are hated
by men because of their commitment to
Jesus for they will receive reward and
are then standing in line with the way
the prophets of old were treated 6:20b-
23
2) Negatively: Jesus warned his disciples
that their future will be empty if they
are rich, well fed, laughing or spoken
well of (because of their resistance to
God's desire for the sake of self-
satisfaction) for they are then standing
in line with the false prophets of old
6:24-26
3) Rather than using power (position and
ability) in an immoral way to provide
for their own desires, Jesus exhorts his
disciples to love others--especially
those who cannot (will not) love you
back just as God loves them 6:27-38
a) Jesus urges his disciples to love
their enemies 6:27-30
(1) The disciples are to do good
to those who hate them 6:27
(2) The disciples are to enrich
those who curse them 6:28a
(3) The disciples are to pray for
those who mistreat them 6:28b
(4) He illustrates loving one's
enemies by exhorting the
disciples to be gracious when
insulted and to be generous
when people take from you
6:29-30
b) Jesus urges his disciples to
unconditionally love others because
in so doing they will receive
reward from God, and best reflect
him 6:31-35
(1) The disciples are not to love
for profit 6:32
(2) The disciples are not to do
good for profit 6:33
(3) The disciples are not to use
money to help others for
profit 6:34
(4) The disciples are to do what
they do for the betterment of
others without expecting to
receive a profit from their
actions because God will
reward them and they will
reflect God through such
activity 6:35
c) Jesus urges the disciples to be
merciful just as God their Father
is merciful in order for them to
receive mercy 6:36-37
(1) Statement: The disciples are
to be merciful as God their
Father is merciful 6:36
(2) By not being judgmental or
condemning, the disciples will
not be judged or condemned but
pardoned 6:37
4) Jesus urges the disciples that it is
necessary for them to always improve
upon themselves because they will
reproduce themselves 6:39-45
a) Using the image of blind men, Jesus
teaches that evil ones leading evil
ones will destroy them both 6:39
b) Using the analogy of a pupil and a
teacher Jesus teaches that the
teacher will only produce more of
his kind 6:40
c) Christ exhorts the disciples,
therefore, to work on themselves
before they correct or help another
6:41-42
d) The reason Jesus exhorts the
disciples to correct themselves
before leading is because of the
fruit they will produce 6:43-45
(1) the fruit a tree produces
tells what kind of tree it is
6:43-44a
(2) Proof that fruit reveals the
tree is seen in the sources
that men go to when they want
fruit--they correspond to
identify the tree or the vine
6:44b
(3) Therefore, a good man produces
good fruit from that which is
within him, and an evil man
produces evil fruit from that
which is within him 6:45
5) Jesus questions those who verbally
acknowledge him and yet, do not obey him
because obedience will bring life while
disobedience will bring destruction
4:46-49
a) Jesus questions those who call him
Lord, but do not obey him 6:46
b) Jesus compares the one who comes,
hears and acts upon his words to a
man who does that which is
difficult in laying a house's
foundation upon a rock, but by
building well survives the storms
it faces 6:47-48
c) Jesus compares the one who had
heard and not acted accordingly to
a man who avoids the necessary hard
work in building a foundation, and
has his house destroyed by the
storms it faces 6:49
2. The First Expressions of Faith: Jesus continually
revealed himself to those who expressed their
need, rather than to those who were confident in
their self-sufficiency 7:1-50
a. Setting: After completing the Sermon of the
Plane (Mount), Jesus went to Capernaum 7:1
b. The Centurion's Servant: In Capernaum Jesus
responded to a centurion's faith by healing
his servant from afar as he marveled that his
faith was beyond that in Israel 7:2-10
1) Jesus was asked by Jewish elders to come
and save a worthy centurion's servant
because the centurion loved Israel 7:2-
5
2) When Jesus was not far off, the
centurion sent friends to tell him that
because of His greatness and authority,
He need not come, but simply command
healing and his servant would be healed
7:6-8
3) Jesus marveled saying to the multitudes
following him that not even in Israel
had he found such great faith 7:9
4) The slave was found to be healthy 7:10
c. The Widow of Nain ( Nai'n ): Going to the
obscure town of Nain, Jesus raised and gave
back the widow's only son to her resulting in
God being glorified as the people recognized
Jesus and spread the word about him 7:11-17
1) Setting: Jesus and his disciples,
followed by a multitude, went southward
to Nain soon after the healing of the
centurion's servant 7:12
2) As Jesus approached the city of Nain, he
was met by a large funeral procession
for a widow's only son 7:12
3) Jesus stopped the funeral procession,
ordered the young man to arise, and gave
him back to his mother, alive 7:13-15
4) The people responded positively by
glorifying God, recognizing Jesus as a
great prophet among them12, seeing God
as having visited them (cf. 1:68), and
spreading this report 7:16-17
d. John the Baptist: After encouraging John and
his followers, Jesus indicted the religious
leaders of capricious fickleness by rejecting
John and Himself warning that time will
expose their evil 7:18-35
1) Setting: The disciples of John reported
to him (in prison) about all that Jesus
was doing 7:18
2) John and Jesus: When John inquired
through two of his disciples whether or
not Jesus was the coming Messiah, Jesus
authenticated himself as the one
bringing that which Isaiah spoke of, and
urged John not to stumble over him 7:19-
23
a) John summoned two of his disciples
to ask Jesus if he was the expected
one ( ejrcomai ) or if they should
look for another ( ajllo" ) 7:19
b) When they inquired of Jesus, he
then did many miracles before them
and then told them to report to
John what they had seen, namely
that he was fulfilling that which
was spoken by Isaiah (Isa. 61:1;
cf. Lk. 4:18-19), and that he
should not stumble (over the
resistance which he was receiving)
7:20-23
3) Jesus on John: Jesus identified John as
the prophet to introduce him--Messiah--
and affirmed that those who enter the
kingdom by receiving Him will be greater
than John (cf. Lk. 16:16) 7:24-28
4) The Response of the People: Although
the people and the tax gatherers who
were baptized by John honored God
because of Jesus' words, religious
leaders (the Pharisees and lawyers) who
were not baptized by John rejected God's
purpose 7:29-30
5) Jesus accused the leaders of child-like
fickleness by rejecting both Jesus and
John affirming that time will expose the
truth 7:31-35
e. A Woman's Forgiveness: Jesus exposed the
heart of a Pharisee by contrasting his cold
reception of Christ with the thankful one of
a woman who knew the extent of her
forgiveness 7:36-50
f. A Picture of Faith--the Women: As Jesus
traveled and taught about the kingdom of God,
some of the women who were ministered unto by
Him also ministered to Him and the twelve
from their possessions 8:1-3
3. The Call to Faith: Moving from a general to a
specific manner, Jesus exhorted his disciples to
respond well to his word, then he demonstrated to
them that he was Messiah through showing them his
authority over creation, and finally urged them to
trust in him even though he must suffer, and to
follow his example as suffering-servants 8:4--
9:50
a. Exhortation: Jesus encouraged his followers
to trust in his word because of the positive
and negative consequences to their decision
8:4-25
1) Through a parable and then direct
instruction, Jesus explained to those
who came from all over to follow him
that their further response to His word
will determine its effectiveness in
their lives 8:4-15
a) Jesus challenged the multitudes who
came to him to understand their
response to him through a parable
about planting seeds which focuses
upon the many ways which one may
reject him, as opposed to a good
response 8:4-8
(1) Jesus spoke in a parable to a
great multitude who came from
various cities 8:4
(2) Jesus explained that there
were many reasons for
rejecting his word, but that
those who received it would be
fruitful 8:5-8
b) When the disciples questioned Jesus
about the meaning of the parable,
he explained that it was a way of
selectively revealing truth which
in this case was that the response
of people to his word will
determine its effectiveness in
their lives 8:9-15
(1) Jesus' disciples began to
question him about the meaning
of the parable 8:9
(2) Jesus explained that he spoke
in parables in order to
present new truth in a way
which may be more clearly
explained to those who seek it
and concealed from those who
do not desire to know as they
stand in the pattern of
Israel's hardness (Isa. 6:9)
8:10
(3) Jesus then explained the
parable as picturing the word
of God which is presented to
people, but only bears good
fruit with those who receive
it 8:11-15
2) Jesus encouraged his disciples to obey
his word because of the consequences of
their choices 7:16-25
a) (The Thorns that Choke) Jesus
warned his listeners to not conceal
(cover up) what they have heard
from him because it is meant to be
exposed and because they will loose
what they have, rather than
receiving more 8:16-18
(1) Jesus described how irrational
it was for someone to light a
candle and then to conceal the
light because it was meant to
give light to others, and
because all that is hidden
will one day be revealed
8:16-17
(2) Jesus urged his listeners to
take care as to how they
listened because those who do
receive his word will receive
more, but those who do not
will lose what they have 8:18
b) Through an incident where Jesus'
natural family (mother and
brothers) tried to reach him (to
take Him away), Jesus taught that
those who are truly a part of his
family are those who hear the word
of God and do it 8:19-21
b. Christological Revelation: Jesus
demonstrated his authority over all of
creation (which in chaos debilitates humans)
as he calmed the storm, delivered a severely
demonized man, healed a woman of internal
bleeding, and raised Jairus' daughter from
the dead 8:22-56
1) The Storm (outside): Jesus expressed
his authority over nature by calming the
sea which caused the disciples to wonder
again about who he might be 8:22-25
a) Setting: One day Jesus and his
disciples got into a boat and were
going to the other side of the lake
8:22
b) As they crossed the lake, Christ
fell asleep, and a fierce storm
overcame them placing them in
danger 8:23
c) Out of fear that they were going to
perish the disciples woke up Jesus
8:24a
d) Jesus then stilled the raging storm
by rebuking it 8:24b
e) Jesus then confronted the disciples
about their lack of faith 8:25a
f) The disciples responded by
wondering about who Jesus really
was since nature obeyed him 8:25b
2) Demons (outside): Jesus expressed his
authority over demonic, spiritual realms
by delivering a man from extremely
severe demonization which resulted in
the people fearfully requesting him to
leave, but he did leave a witness in the
delivered man 8:26-39
a) Setting: Jesus and his disciples
sailed across the Sea of Galilee to
the country of the Gerasenes which
is the opposite side of the Sea of
Galilee 8:26
b) When Jesus stepped onto the land he
was met by a man who was abused by
demons which he had 8:27
c) When Jesus, out of compassion for
the abused man, commanded the
unclean spirit to come out of him,
the demon identified Jesus as
Messiah and begged him not to
torture him with judgment (cf. 2
Macc. 7:13) 8:28-29
d) When Jesus learned that there were
six thousand demons (legion) in the
man, and that they were begging not
to be judged (abyss, cf. Rom. 10:7;
Rev. 9:1,11; 20:3), he permitted
them to enter swine 8:30-32
e) The demons then came out of the man
and entered the swine and drowned
them 8:33
f) Those who saw and heard of the
miraculous deliverance of the
demonized man asked Jesus to leave
their land because they were afraid
8:34-37a
(1) When the herdsmen saw what had
happened, they ran and
reported it to everyone in the
city and country 8:34
(2) When the people came out to
see what had happened, they
became frightened as they saw
the demonized man in his right
mind and under self-control
with Jesus 8:35
(3) When the herdsmen reported how
Jesus had made the man well to
those who had come out, the
people were gripped with fear
and asked Jesus to leave 8:36-
37a
g) Jesus responded to the people's
fearful request by leaving, but
also by providing a testimony to
them through the delivered man
8:37b-39
(1) Jesus responded to the
people's fearful request by
leaving 8:37b
(2) Jesus also sent the delivered
man back to the town to be a
witness to God's (Jesus') work
[note--he is not told to be
silent because he is in
Gentile territory] 8:38-39
3) Disease (inside): When Jesus returned
from the Gerasenes and was met by a
waiting multitude and a request to help
Jairus' daughter, He demonstrated his
authority over disease by healing a sick
woman who out of the multitude reached
to Jesus in faith 8:40-48
a) As Jesus returned (to the other
side of the Sea of Galilee--
Capernaum?), the multitudes, who
had been waiting for him, welcomed
him 8:40
b) A synagogue official named Jairus
(ray from rwa meaning "to
enlighten) pleaded with Jesus to
come to his house and help his
twelve year old daughter who was
dying 8:41a-42
c) As Jesus was on his way to the
house of Jairus, and as the crowds
were pressing upon him, a women
with an issue of internal bleeding
(cf. Lev. 15:25) touched the fringe
of his cloak and was immediately
healed 8:42b-44
d) When the woman realized that she
had not escaped Jesus' notice, she
confessed before all her need, and
the healing that had occurred, and
Jesus explained that her faith (in
him) had healed her 8:45-48a
4) Death (inside): When Jesus went to
Jairus' house, he demonstrated his
authority over death by restoring
Jairus' daughter to life, even in the
midst of doubt and derision, and ordered
the parents to tell no one 8:48b-56
a) While Jesus was encouraging the
woman who was healed by touching
him, Jairus learned that his
daughter was dead, and Jesus then
encouraged him to not be fearful,
but to believe (in him) and she
will be made well 8:48b-50
b) When Jesus entered the little
girl's home with her parents and
Peter, John and James, he
experienced derision from the
mourners whom he ordered to stop
mourning because she was not dead--
her body was asleep, 8:51-53
c) When Jesus took the girl's hand and
called her to arise, her spirit
returned to her body and she
resumed normal life 8:54-55
d) Although her parents were amazed,
Jesus instructed them to not tell
anyone what had occurred 8:56
c. Exhortations to Follow Jesus in Discipleship:
Through an extension of his mission to the
twelve, and confirmations of himself as
Messiah, Jesus continually warned his
disciples to receive him in his passion, and
thus to follow him as servant-representatives
9:1-50
1) When the apostles returned from their
divinely commanded mission into the
villages of Israel, which even raised
Herod's curiosity, they reported to
Jesus and withdrew with him to Bethsaida
9:1-10
a) When the disciples received power,
authority, and instruction from
Jesus to go out and preach, they
did went on their mission 9:1-6
(1) When Jesus gave the twelve
power and authority over
demons and illness (that which
he has just demonstrated--see
above), he sent them out to
proclaim ( khruvssein ) the
kingdom and to perform
healings 9:1-2
(2) Jesus instructed the twelve to
enter into their mission
dependent upon God's working
through those who receive them
(no provisions), and to
testify against those who do
not accept them 9:3-5
(3) The twelve left and did as
Jesus instructed them--
preaching and healing 8:6
b) The disciples actions were so
effective that Herod heard all
kinds of reports and wanted to see
Jesus himself 9:7-9
(1) Herod the tetrarch (Antipas)
heard of the ministry activity
of the twelve 8:7a
(2) Herod was perplexed (cf. Lk.
24:4) about the various
reports about the identity of
Jesus (John, Elijah, a risen
prophet) and was trying to see
Jesus himself 9:8-9
c) When Jesus heard of all the twelve
had done, he withdrew with them to
Bethsaida 9:10
(1) When the apostles returned
they gave an account (
dihghvsanto--to tell narrative
stories) of all that they had
done 8:10a
(2) Jesus then withdrew with the
twelve to a Bethsaida (north
on the sea of Galilee) 8:10b
2) After Jesus confirmed his authority to
provide for the multitudes through the
disciples, he exhorted them, as they
grew in their understanding of who he
was, to follow him even though it may
cost them (due to his passion), because
they would regret not doing so when he
returns in his glory 10:11-27
a) Feeding the 5,000: Jesus welcomed
the multitudes who followed him to
Bethsaida by preaching and healing
them, and refused to send them
away, but provided for them through
the twelve 9:11-17
(1) Jesus welcomed the multitude
who came to him, proclaimed
the kingdom of God, and healed
those with need 9:11
(2) Towards the end of the day the
twelve asked Jesus to send the
multitude away so that they
might find food and lodging
9:12
(3) Jesus responded by refusing to
send them away, but telling
the twelve to feed them 9:13a
(4) The twelve objected to Jesus'
advice because of the amount
of people (5,000) and their
inadequate provisions 9:13b-
14a
(5) However, Jesus demonstrated
his ability to enable the
twelve in ministry by feeding
the multitude through the
twelve with an excess (12
baskets--one for each tribe)
left over 9:14b-17
b) When Jesus heard the disciples
clear perception of who he was, he
encouraged them to follow him, even
though it may cost them (because of
his passion), because otherwise,
they will regret it when he comes
in his glory, which some of them
would see before they died 9:18-27
(1) When Jesus was alone with his
disciples, he questioned them
about the multitude's
perception of who he was 9:18
(2) The twelve reported to Jesus
that the multitude considered
him to be one of several
people: John the Baptist,
Elijah, or one of the prophets
raised to life (just as Herod
had been told, cf. 9:7-8)
9:19
(3) Jesus then asked the twelve
who they thought that he was
9:20a
(4) Peter then responded (for the
twelve) by identifying Jesus
as the anointed King of God--
Messiah ( toVn cristoVn tou'
qeou' ) 9:20b
(5) After Jesus warned the twelve
to tell no one of their
understanding because of the
up coming passion (must
suffer), he exhorted them to
follow him even it if cost
them because otherwise they
would regret it when he
returns in his glory 9:21-26
(6) Jesus then foretold that some
of the twelve would not die
before they saw the kingdom of
God 9:27
3) After strongly confirming his identity
as Messiah on the mount to some of his
disciples, Jesus reminded them of his
passion and exhorted them to follow his
example as servants sent by God 9:28-50
a) On a mountain with Peter, John, and
James, Jesus was confirmed in a
visual and audible way to be God's
Messiah 9:28-36
(1) Eight days after Peter's
confession and Jesus' promise,
Jesus took Peter, John, and
James up a mountain to pray
9:28
(2) While Jesus was praying he
began to glow (cf. Lk. 24:4),
and spoke with Moses and
Elijah (the Law and the
Prophets) about his passion (
e!xodon ) 9:29-31
(3) When the three disciples awoke
(from their praying?) they saw
it all and recognized it as
the coming of the kingdom
(thus Peter wishes to
celebrate the Feast of
Tabernacles--but in the wrong
order [before the Day of
Atonement]13) 9:32-33
(4) God the Father then spoke and
identified Jesus as Messiah
(Ps. 2; 110), and the prophet
like Moses (Deut. 18) 9:35
(5) When all was over and Jesus
was seen alone, the three
apostles did not tell anyone
(until after the resurrection)
9:36
b) Once again when Jesus showed his
greatness by casting out a demon,
he reminded the twelve of his
upcoming passion, and taught them
that greatness was in being someone
whom God sent as a servant (like a
child), and not being of a select
group 9:37-50
(1) When Jesus came down from the
mountain with the three
apostles on the next day, a
man begged him to heal his
demonized son whom the
remaining apostles could not
heal 9:37-40
(2) Then (in a way similar to
Moses who returned from the
mountain) Jesus rebuked the
people (including his
apostles) for their unbelief,
and delivered the demonized
boy to the amazement of all
9:41-43a
(3) While everyone was marveling
at the greatness of what Jesus
had just done, Jesus reminded
his disciples of his upcoming
passion, but they did not
understand (how this fit with
him as Messiah) 9:43b-45
(4) When the disciples were
arguing about who among them
was the greatest, Jesus taught
them that greatness was in
being someone whom God sent as
a servant (like a child), and
not being of a select group
9:46-50
V. THE REJECTION OF THE SON OF MAN AND DISCIPLESHIP (JERUSALEM
JOURNEY): As Jesus moved toward Jerusalem, he was
continually rejected by the religious leaders as Messiah, he
exposed the evil of people by emphasizing God's requirement
of loyal love, and he prepared his disciples for service by
instructing them in God's requirements of faithful love,
warning them of his upcoming suffering, and proclaiming the
upcoming judgment upon the nation 9:51--19:44
A. Rejection of (and by) the Son of Man (and
discipleship): As Jesus continually experienced
rejection by the leaders of the nation of Israel he
taught his disciples about how to serve and urged the
multitudes to repent because of the severe judgment
which would befall them as they were not part of God's
forming kingdom 9:51--13:35
1. Rejection Leads to Clarification About the Way:
When Jesus was rejected on his way to Jerusalem in
Samaria, he explained to those who were wishing to
follow him the necessity of high commitment
because of the danger involved, and then
demonstrated to those who did follow the reason as
to why he was worthy of such high commitment
because they received delegated Messianic
authority over Satan 9:51--10:24
a. Rejection at Samaria Leading to Instruction:
When Jesus was rejected in Samaria on his way
toward Jerusalem, he explained to his
disciples that now was not the time for
judgment upon those who rejected him, and
thus, that following him would be dangerous
requiring a high level of commitment 9:51-62
1) As Jesus moved toward providing
salvation for men, he was rejected in
Samaria, and thus explained to his angry
followers that now he desired to save
men rather than judge them 9:51-56
a) Setting: as the time came for Jesus
to return to the Father, he began
to move with purpose toward
Jerusalem14 9:51
b) Jesus sent messengers ahead of him
to make arrangements for him 9:52
c) Jesus was not received in Samaria
because he was gong to Jerusalem
(cf. John 4) 9:53
d) Although James and John were so
enraged at Samaria's rejection of
Jesus that they wanted the city to
be judged (cf. 1 Ki. 18:20ff; 2 Ki.
1:1-15), Jesus rebuked them because
he had come at this time to save
their lives 9:54-56a
2) Instruction: In view of his rejection
in Samaria, Jesus warned those who were
choosing to follow him that it was
dangerous requiring a high level of
commitment 9:56b-62
a) As Jesus was journeying to another
village on his way from Samaria, he
warned one who boasted of following
him anywhere, of the danger
involved since unlike animals,
there is no place of safety for him
9:57-58
b) When Jesus called another man to
follow him and the man requested
that he be allowed to bury his
dead, Jesus refused and urged the
man to proclaim the kingdom of God
9:59-60
c) When another man said that he would
follow Jesus after he said goodbye
to his family at home (like Eisha,
cf. 1 Ki. 19:19-20), Jesus said he
was not useful ( eu!qetov" ) for
the kingdom if he returned back
(since this is not the time to do
what the OT prophets did) 9:61-62
b. The Sending of the Seventy-Two: Jesus
demonstrated to those who followed him that
he was worthy of their high commitment
because he was bringing about through them OT
hopes of delegated spiritual authority over
Satan 10:1-24
1) After appointing seventy-two to precede
him on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus
prepared them by describing needs,
dangers, God's provision, and the effect
on those who reject them as His witness
1:1-16
a) After presenting the cost of
following him, Jesus appointed
seventy-two followers, in addition
to the twelve, and sent them two by
two ahead of him to every place
where he was going to come 10:1
b) Preparing his disciples for
ministry, Jesus exhorted them to
pray for help, warned them of
danger, exhorted them to trust God
for their provisions, and spoke of
the severe rejection they would
experience by people, but which was
ultimately of him 10:2-16
(1) Jesus exhorted the seventy-two
to pray for more laborers to
work with them in the rich
harvest of lives 10:2
(2) Jesus exhorted the seventy-two
to go with the shocking
reality that by doing so their
lives would be endangered
10:3
(3) Jesus exhorted the seventy-two
to not provide for their own
needs, but to receive those
provisions from those who
received them while testifying
against those who reject them
10:4-11
(4) Jesus warned the seventy-two
that a more severe judgment
would come upon the cities
(Choraizim, Bethsaida,
Capernaum) who, knowing
better, reject them, than upon
the immoral city of Sodom, or
the present Gentile cities of
Tyre and Sidon 10:12-15
(5) Jesus explained that the
seventy-two represented him,
and he represented the Father,
therefore, peoples' response
to them is also their response
to Christ and the Father (cf.
9:46-48) 10:16
2) The seventy-two responded with joy over
the ministry of the Holy Spirit among
them as God's authority was expressed
over demons in fulfillment of OT hopes
10:17-24
a) The seventy-two returned to Jesus
with joy as they reported to him
their authority over demons in his
name 10:17
b) Jesus agreed with their joy
describing Satan as falling under
their delegated authority over
evil15 10:18-19
c) Jesus clarified the issues for his
followers by affirming that their
joy should not be in their
strength16 but in their place with
God 10:20
d) Jesus rejoiced in God's self-
revelation through him to the young
and dependent rather than to the
wise and intelligent 10:21-22
e) Jesus told the disciples that they
were enriched because they have
seen and heard what OT prophets and
kings longed for 10:23-24
2. Discipleship as a Devotion of Love: Jesus urged
his disciples to love by being devoted to those
who have needs that they can help, by being
devoted to learning God's work, and by being
devoted to express desires to a willing God
through prayer 10:25--11:13
a. Devotion to One's Neighbor--The Good
Samaritan: Through a conversation with a
lawyer who wished to justify himself under
God's law in order to obtain eternal life,
Jesus explained the necessity to love all men-
-even one's enemies 10:25-37
1) When Jesus was questioned by a religious
lawyer about God's requirement for
eternal life, he confirmed the lawyer's
understanding that the Scriptures demand
complete commitment to God and to men,
and He encouraged him to do it 10:25-28
a) Jesus was questioned in a testing
way by a religious lawyer about
what is necessary to inherit
eternal life 10:25
b) Jesus responded by asking the
lawyer what he understood the Law
to say regarding that question
10:26
c) The man correctly described God's
requirement for eternal life as
unreserved commitment to God and
the need of all men 10:27
d) Jesus affirmed the man's
identification of God's
requirements, and exhorted him to
do it and live 10:28
2) When the lawyer wished to justify
himself by asking Jesus who his neighbor
really was, Jesus identified a neighbor
as any one who has a need which you are
able to assist, whereupon the lawyer
agreed and was urged to be a good
neighbor 10:29-37
a) The lawyer wished to justify
himself in view of God's high,
moral standard for eternal life, so
he asked Jesus who his neighbor
really was 9:29
b) Jesus identified one's neighbor for
the lawyer as anyone who is in
need, whose need I am able to help
through a story about a man who was
robbed and beaten, was ignored by
two (Jewish) religious leaders, but
helped by an enemy (a Samaritan)
who felt compassion for him 10:30-
35
c) Jesus asked the lawyer which of the
three characters in his story was a
neighbor to the man hurt by the
robbers 10:36
d) The lawyer identified the one who
showed mercy as the neighbor 9:37a
e) Jesus exhorted the lawyer to
likewise show mercy to all who have
need that he is able to help 9:37b
b. Devotion to Jesus--Mary & Martha: Although
Martha was devoted to Jesus by doing many
things for him and those with him, Mary chose
the better measure of devotion by hearing his
instruction 10:38-42
1) Setting: As Jesus was traveling in his
ministry to the people, he entered a
certain village of a woman, named
Martha, who welcomed him into her house
10:38
2) While Martha was distracted with all of
her preparations, her sister Mary was
listening to the Lord speak 10:39-40a
3) Martha complained to Jesus about Mary's
leaving her to do all the serving alone,
and entreated him to tell Mary to help
10:40b
4) Jesus corrected Martha about her
obsession with "things to do" because
listening to him was the better (best)
choice 10:41
c. Devotion to God--Prayer: Jesus taught his
questioning disciples to pray to Him in a way
which displays their dependence upon His
goodness for physical and spiritual needs
because His is extremely willing to answer
them 11:1-13
1) After Jesus had finished praying, his
disciples asked him to teach them to
pray just as John the Baptist had taught
his disciples to pray 11:1
2) Jesus taught his disciples to pray
without shame for their physical and
spiritual needs because the Father was
very willing to answer their prayers
11:2-13
a) Jesus exhorted the disciples to
ask, as unto a good Father, that
His holy character be known as he
comes and establishes his rule (in
judgment?) 11:2
b) Jesus exhorted his disciples to ask
God for their own physical (food)
and spiritual needs (forgiveness)
11:3-4
c) Physical Developed: Jesus
emphasized that God was more
willing to answer their prayer
requests for physical needs than a
reluctant friend 11:5-10
d) Spiritual Developed: Jesus
emphasized that God was like a good
father in that he was willing to
give them the Holy Spirit if they
asked 11:11
3. Controversy-Warning-Rebuke: When the religious
leaders attributed Jesus' healing of a demoniac to
the power of Satan, he exposed the error of their
thinking, warned them of the dire consequences of
closing their eyes to repentance, and later at a
meal with a Pharisee and lawyer exposed the
leaders for their self-centered religiosity which
missed God and hurt others 11:14-54
a. Controversy Over Healing: When Jesus healed
a man of demonic oppression, and witnessed
the doubting responses, He explained that
their attributions of his work to Satan were
illogical, and thus they should understand
his work to be by the power of God 11:14-23
1) Jesus enabled a man who was mute to
speak by casting out a demon of dumbness
11:14a
2) The response to the miracle was varied
from marveling to suspicion, and a need
for further confirmation 11:14-16
a) The multitudes responded by
marveling 11:14b
b) Some accused Jesus of using demonic
power to do the miracle 11:15Note,
Beelzebul (lord of the dung heap/or
flies) is a play off of the Hebrew
Beelsebub meaning "lord of lofty
abode (cf. 2 Ki. 1:2,6).
Therefore, Jesus is accused of
doing this miracle by the pagan god
lub of inhabitation
c) Some were demanding a sign from
heaven in order to authenticate
(test) Jesus 11:16
3) Jesus answered their objections
logically by affirming that it is
illogical to identify his work with the
work of Satan since he is overpowering
and plundering Satan, therefore, he must
be acting by the power of God 11:17-22
a) Jesus argued against the
possibility of his performing the
works of Satan by the principle
that a divided house falls even if
it is Satan's as the leaders' own
children would testify 11:17-19
b) Jesus argued that the only other
possible explanation for this
miracle was that he was casting out
demons by the power (finger) of
God, whereupon the kingdom of God
has suddenly come upon them17
because the strongman (Eph. 4) is
being overpowered and plundered
11:20-22
b. Warnings About Response: Jesus warned those
listening (the leaders) about the greater
calamity which would occur if they did not
receive him, affirming that obedience to his
word was how to be in relationship with him,
and thus exhorting them to not blind
themselves, but to repent of their great evil
11:23-36
1) Jesus warned that the nation
(represented by its rejecting leaders,
note--"this generation" in Matt. 12:45)
was in danger of being further demonized
if they did not receive him 11:23-26
2) Jesus corrected a woman who focused on
the greatness of being related to Jesus
by emphasizing that enrichment would
come from obeying his word 11:27-28
3) As more gathered around, Jesus accused
his generation of wickedness which
surpassed the Gentile nations of old
because of their insensitivity to their
superior revelation, and exhorted them
to be open to his word 11:29-36
a) As more began to gather around
Jesus, he accused his generation of
being a wicked one 11:29a
b) Jesus identified his generation
with the wicked Gentiles of Ninevah
affirming that they would receive a
sign for repentance through Jesus
just as the Ninevites did through
Jonah18 11:29b-30
c) Jesus called his generation wicked
because they were not as sensitive
as pagan Gentiles were when they
had lesser revelations through
Solomon and Jonah 11:31--32
d) Jesus exhorted those listening to
his rebuke (the leaders) to not
close their eyes so that they might
see the light which he was giving
to them (about who he is) 11:33-36
c. Rebuke of Pharisees and Scribes: When Jesus
dined with a Pharisee and a lawyer, he
exposed (through six woes) their religiosity
as personal gain which misses God and hurts
others only to have them respond in even
greater determination against Him 11:37-54
1) While dining at a Pharisee's home, Jesus
exposed the Pharisee's wrong thinking as
only caring about external praise to the
neglect of attitudes of the heart 11:37-
44
a) After Jesus accused his generation
of wickedness, he was invited by a
Pharisee for dinner 11:37a
b) The Pharisee was surprised that
Jesus sat down to eat in his house
without performing ceremonial
washings 11:37b-38
c) Jesus corrected the Pharisees'
wrong thinking by exposing them as
externalists who only care about
appearances rather than attitudes
of the heart 11:39-44
(1) Jesus corrected the Pharisee's
external thinking by declaring
his need for a clean heart
which will make all else clean
11:39-41
(2) Jesus specifically exposed the
inner wickedness of the
Pharisees who guard the
externals while ignoring
attitudes of love and justice,
who seek public praise and who
trap unsuspecting people
11:42-44
2) When a lawyer objected to Jesus' harsh
words as an insult, Jesus also exposed
the evil of lawyers who in all of their
"religion" hurt others, are against God,
and mislead people 11:45-52
a) A lawyer defensively accused Jesus
of insulting them as well as the
Pharisees with His harsh words
11:45
b) Jesus responded by recounting the
evilness of lawyers who also do not
help, but weigh others down, who
are hurtful to God's servants as
the evil leaders of old, and who
lead people astray with them from
any knowledge of God 11:46-52
3) When Jesus left the dinner, those
present only became more determined
against him 11:53-54
4. Discipleship--Trusting in God: In view of the
rejection by the religious leaders, Jesus exhorted
his disciples to avoid the self-preserving sins of
hypocrisy and greed, and to be faithful servants
whom God can reward when he returns 12:1-48
a. Avoid Hypocrisy: In view of the rejection of
the leaders and the coming of the multitudes
Jesus warned his disciples against hypocrisy
because God: will reveal private
inconsistencies, will provide for your life,
will hold everyone accountable for their
words, and will enable them to speak the
right words under pressure 12:1-12
1) Setting: While the religious leaders
were hostile toward Jesus' direct
confrontation (11:54), thousands of
people were seeking him out 12:1a
2) Jesus warned his disciples to guard
themselves from becoming hypocrites like
the Pharisees 12:1b
3) The reason Jesus warned against
hypocrisy was because those private
inconsistencies will not be private but
will be revealed to all 12:2-3
a) Jesus warned that hidden things
will be brought into the open 12:2
b) Jesus warned that private
conversations will be exposed 12:3
4) Another reason Jesus exhorted the
disciples against hypocrisy was because
in God's greatness, He will provide for
their needs in life as one who cares for
them 12:4-7
a) Jesus explained that men who
persecute them can only do limited
damage to them 12:4
b) Jesus then explained that God can
effect men eternally 12:5
c) Jesus finally assured the disciples
that God, who has such great power,
cared for their lives 12:6-7
5) Another reason Jesus exhorted his
disciples against hypocrisy was because
everyone will be held accountable before
God and his angels for their words 12:8-
10
a) Jesus explained that those who
stand for Him will be honored 12:8
b) Jesus explained that those who are
hypocrites will be dishonored 12:9
c) Jesus explained that those who
dishonor Christ will be forgiven
12:10a
d) Jesus explained that those (like
the religious leaders) who
completely reject him, even in
light of the Spirit's working
through him, will not be forgiven
12:10b
6) Another reason Jesus warns the disciples
against hypocrisy was because He will
enable them to respond to those who
would attack them by supernaturally
enabling them to speak 12:11-12
b. Avoid Greed: Ignited by a question on
possessions, Jesus exhorted his disciples to
not be greedy because of the deception
connected with it, but to invest in people
for God's sake knowing that He will provide
for them and that their hearts will be drawn
toward people 12:13-34
1) Jesus refused to judge a secular will in
which one brother was upset over not
having the will shared with him 12:13-
14
2) Jesus took the question about material
possessions as an opportunity to caution
against being overtaken by greed 12:15a
3) The reason Jesus warned about greed was
because it can be a substitution for
truly dealing with one's worth and with
God 12:15b-21
a) Jesus taught that one's worth is
not in one's many things 12:15b
b) Jesus illustrated his point about
greed through the rich man who used
his prosperity from God to spend
upon himself rather than investing
in people because of his
relationship with God 12:16-21
4) Jesus exhorted the disciples to pursue
God's rule over things because He will
provide for them as One who cares for
them 12:22-31
a) Jesus exhorted the disciples not to
worry about basic necessities for
life since life is more than food
and clothing 12:22-23
b) Jesus used birds as an example of
those for whom God provides food to
emphasize how much He will provide
for the disciples who are of much
more value 12:24
c) Jesus explained that being anxious
was futile since it could not add
to life 12:25-26
d) Jesus used lilies as an example of
clothes for fields which God
provides to emphasize how much He
will provide for the disciples who
are of much more value 12:27-28
e) Jesus exhorted the disciples to not
be obsessed with things as the
godless are because the disciples
have a caring Father for God, and
thus, they should seek his rule and
trust Him to provide for them
12:29-31
5) In contrast to being greedy, Jesus
exhorted his disciples to fearlessly
invest in the lives of people since the
Father wants to give them the kingdom,
and since their heart will be moved
toward where their money is invested
12:32-34
c. Call To Be Ready and Faithful: Jesus ordered
his disciples to be ready for the Lord's
coming because they do not know when he will
come, and he will hold them accountable when
he does return honoring those who are
faithful 12:35-48
1) Jesus exhorted his disciples to be alert
and watching for Messiah who will bless
those who are ready because one does not
know when he will come 12:35-40
a) Jesus urged his disciples to be
awake, alert, and ready for the
Lord who could come at any time
just as one would be for a master
returning from a wedding feast
12:35-36
b) The reason Jesus urged the
disciples to be ready was because
those who are will be personally
enriched by the Master who will
serve them when he comes 12:37-38
c) Jesus exhorted the disciples to not
be found off guard by the imminent
coming of Messiah which may be when
they least expect Him 12:39-40
2) When Peter asked Jesus about whom the
master-servant parable applied to, He
related it to leaders because the Master
will hold leaders over his servants
accountable when he returns 12:41-48
a) Peter asked Jesus if he was
directing his "exhortation to
readiness" to everyone or to the
disciples 12:41
b) Jesus applied his exhortation to
the disciples when he affirmed that
a person's master will enrich a
steward whom he placed in charge of
caring for the master's servants by
putting him in charge of all of his
possessions 12:42-44
c) Jesus warned that the servant who
takes advantage of the master's
slaves and over indulges in the
master's possessions will be
overtaken, severely judged, and
placed with those who are
unbelievers 12:45-46
d) Jesus further explains that the
discipline will be proportionate to
what the servant understood 12:47-
48
(1) Jesus explained that the
servant who knew better, but
did not obey will experience
severe consequences 12:47
(2) Jesus explained that the
servant who did not know
better, but did wrong will not
experience as severe of
consequences 12:48a
(3) Jesus explained that each
person will be held
accountable in proportion to
what he has 12:48b
5. Exhortations in View of Rejection: Jesus
continually exhorted the people of Israel to
choose to follow him in spite of the difficulties
which their commitment would bring because the
opportunity was not forever and the consequences
for rejection were severe leading to personal
judgment and a different character for the kingdom
than they expected 12:49--13:35
a. Choose in Spite of Division: Realizing the
pressure which would come because of the
divisions which he would cause, Jesus
exhorted the multitudes to judge rightly
concerning him because they will pay for
their evil otherwise 12:49-59
1) Even though Jesus came to purify the
earth from evil with judgment, he
acknowledged his difficult task of
taking upon him men's sins 12:49-50
2) Jesus denied that he came to give an
evil world peace, but that he came to
bring about choices of good which will
cause unrest and division in life 12:51-
53
3) Jesus accused the multitudes of being
selective in their perception of truth
as they recognize physical phenomena,
but do not analyze the time 12:54-56
4) Jesus exhorted the multitudes to take
the initiative to judge what is right
because continued passivity and denial
will lead to a long penalty of paying
for their evil 12:57-59
b. Choose During This Time: Jesus exhorted the
people to not deny their need, and thus, to
turn to him during this time of grace because
this opportunity will not be available
forever 13:1-9
1) When the people made attempts to justify
themselves by pointing to others19 who
had recently died as a supposed judgment
from God, Jesus corrected them by
identifying their common guilt, and
exhorting them to repent lest they too
faced judgment 13:1-5
2) Through a parable about a fig tree Jesus
taught the people (Israel) that this was
an extended time of grace for them to
respond to him, or else they will be
destroyed20 13:6-9
c. The Kingdom in Light of Rejection: As Jesus
continually faced rejection by the leaders of
the nation of Israel, he explained that the
kingdom would have a surprising character in
that it would grow in its impact and would be
have different inhabitants than might be
expected, then Jesus mourned over the
consequences of Israel's rejection of him
13:10-35
1) When Jesus was resisted for healing a
demonized daughter of Abraham on the
sabbath, he exposed the religious
leaders' inconsistent use of the word of
God to keep the covenant people bound by
Satan, and proclaimed that the kingdom
of God would begin small, but
continually grow in strength and effect
13:10-21
a) Setting: While Jesus was teaching
in one of the synagogues, a woman
was present with a demonic
affliction which had affected her
posture for eighteen years 13:10-
11
b) Jesus immediately freed the woman
from her affliction and she
glorified God 13:12-13
c) The synagogue official verbally
attacked the multitude telling them
that they should come on a day
other than the sabbath to be healed
13:14-15
d) Jesus corrected the official's
complaints by accusing the
religious leaders of inconsistency
with God's word when they treat an
animal better than one of God's
people (daughter of Abraham) 13:16-
17
e) When the opponents of Jesus were
humiliated and the multitude
rejoiced over what Jesus had done,
he described the kingdom of God as
that which will begin in a small
way (seed, leven), but will
continually grow in strength (tree)
and effect (permeates) 13:18-21
2) Who Will Be Saved: As Jesus passed from
town to town preaching on his way to
Jerusalem he answered those who wondered
about who were going to be saved by
exhorting them to enter in to salvation
now, and by predicting that there were
going to be big surprises about who
would be in the kingdom (Gentiles) and
who would not (Jews) 13:22-30
a) As Jesus passed from one place to
another preaching on his way to
Jerusalem, he was asked if many
were being saved 13:22-23
b) Jesus answered the question about
salvation by exhorting all to enter
through Him recognizing that there
will be some big surprises about
who will be saved (Gentiles) and
the loss of some (Jews) 13:22-30
3) Lament Over Jerusalem: When Jesus was
side-tracked by the religious leaders
whom he was trying to reach, Jesus
affirmed his destiny, and mourned for
the nation who continues to reject him
and will thus suffer for it 13:31-35
a) While Jesus was talking about who
would be saved, he was interrupted
by Pharisees who exhorted him to
leave since Herod desired to kill
him 13:31
b) Jesus responded by telling the
Pharisees to inform Herod that he
cannot be harmed until the
appointed time in Jerusalem, and
therefore, will continue to work
the works of God 10:32-33
c) Jesus then turned his attention
back to Israel as he mourned their
continual rejection of him which
will lead to their own physical
desolation as well as their own
future, painful recognition of who
he is (Ps. 118:26) 10:34-35
B. Discipleship by the Son of Man (and rejection): As
Jesus is continually challenged and rejected, he
instructs the multitudes, and especially his disciples
about the necessity of heart attitudes of loyal love
which God looks for, and then finally proclaims the
nation's upcoming destruction for their rejection of
Him 14:1--19:44
1. The Attitude of the Heart: Jesus chided the
religious leaders and those present with him at
the meal in the home of a Pharisee because they
had an attitude of personal superiority which
excluded "outsiders" (the poor and needy) thereby
rejecting the God they claimed to serve, and thus
risking to finding themselves excluded from God's
kingdom, and the outsiders included 14:1-24
a. Sabbath Healing: While Jesus was at a meal
under the scrutiny of the religious leaders,
he healed a man on the sabbath, and then
rebuked the leaders of partisan religion
because they would say that God approved of
their helping their own on the sabbath, but
not of Jesus healing a stranger on the
sabbath 14:1-6
1) Setting: Jesus was eating in the house
of a Pharisee on the sabbath and they
were laying in wait for him 14:1
2) When Jesus saw a man who was suffering
from dropsy (edema), he asked the
leaders present if it was lawful to heal
on the sabbath, but received no answer
14:2-3a
3) In view of the silence from the leaders
Jesus healed the man, and rebuked the
leaders for being hurtfully inconsistent
because they use the law to help their
own precious people or animals, but not
a stranger 14:4b-6
b. Lessons on Humility, Hospitality and
Responsiveness: Jesus instructed those
present at the dinner to correct their
arrogant attitudes, love those with need who
cannot love them back, and to respond to
God's invitation because otherwise they will
experience surprising loss in the future
kingdom 14:7-14
1) Humble One's Self: Jesus exhorted the
guests at the table to not exalt
themselves by seeking the seats of honor
because this might lead to dishonor, but
to humble themselves so that they might
be exalted by God 14:7-11
a) Setting: Jesus then turned his
attention to the guests who had
picked out the places of honor at
the table and instructed them 14:7
b) Jesus exhorted the guests to not
exalt themselves by taking seats of
honor because the seat may be
reserved for another, and they may
be disgraced when they must go to
the last seat 14:8-9
c) Jesus exhorted the guests to seek
the last seat so that the host may
extrude them to a position of more
honor 15:10
d) The reason Jesus gave this advice
was because self-exalting will be
humbled while humbling shall be
exalted (by God) 14:11
2) Hospitality: Jesus exhorted the
religious leader who had invited him to
diner to provide hospitality for those
with need who cannot repay rather than
for those who will return the kindness
because God will see and reward his
outreach at the resurrection of the
righteous 14:12-14
a) Jesus turned his attention to the
one who had invited him to dine
14:12a
b) Jesus exhorted his host not to only
share his food with those who can
repay him, but with the needy who
cannot return the favor 14:12b-14a
c) The reason Jesus exhorted the host
to care for the needy is because
God will she his caring and repay
him in the kingdom 14:14b
3) Responsiveness: Even though one spoke
well about being a part of the kingdom
feast, Jesus explained that many who are
considered outcasts will be enjoying the
kingdom while those with invitations
will not be in the kingdom because they
would not come 14:15-24
a) Setting: Someone at the table
jumped in on Jesus' word about the
resurrection and pronounced an
inclusive blessing upon all who
would be enjoying the kingdom of
God 14:15
b) Jesus then explained that those
expected to be in the kingdom feast
will not be there because they have
refused the finale invitation in
order to enjoy their own things--
land, work, animals, and family
relationships 14:16-20
c) Jesus explained that those who were
not expected will actually be the
ones who will fill the banquet hall
of the kingdom--the socially
unaccepted, and the Gentiles 14:21-
22
d) Jesus explained that those who were
unwilling to partake in the banquet
(kingdom) will not be present
14:24
2. Discipleship in the Face of Rejection: Jesus
exhorted the great crowds following him to commit
themselves to him over all other commitments lest
they later default and cause humiliation and loss
for Jesus 14:25-35
a. Setting: Large crowds were traveling with
Jesus as he continued to make his way to
Jerusalem (to die, cf. 9:51) 14:25a
b. When Jesus turned to the large crowds, he
challenged them to choose him at the expense
of every other commitment to truly be his
disciples 14:25b-27
1) Jesus exhorted the crowds to commit to
him over their commitments to parents,
personal family, siblings, or one's own
life to be a true follower of him21
14:26
2) Jesus taught the crowds that they must
be willing to suffer persecution because
of him in order to be his disciples
14:27
c. The reason Jesus required such consideration
of commitment in order to be a follower of
him was because by starting and then backing
out they would bring about great criticism
and personal loss 14:28-33
1) Jesus explained that one who did not
continue to follow him under pressure
would be like one who began to build a
tower and could not complete it in that
outsiders who watched would criticize
them for their incomplete efforts 14:28-
30
2) Jesus explained that one who did not
continue to follow him under pressure
would be like a king who is about to go
to war, but with only half of the army
he needed to win in that there will be
great loss and forfeit to the enemy if
he must back out of the battle 14:31-32
d. Through the analogy of salt which loses its
saltiness, and thus its usefulness, Jesus
warned the crowd against losing their
commitment to him and thus becoming useless
for him 14:34-35
3. The Pursuit of Sinners: Jesus corrected the
religious leaders' attacking accusations that he
was indiscriminate to sin by pictorially revealing
God'
