In Judea
[Mat 19:1-12; Lk 10:1-13:21]
Teaching concerning divorce
[Mat 19:1-12]
Jesus
and
his
followers
travel
to
the
area
of
Judea
where
many
more
people
follow
Jesus
and
are
healed.
The
Pharisees
come
intending
to
entrap
Jesus
with
a
question
concerning
divorce
and
the
law
as
given
by
Moses.
Jesus
responds
by
referring
to
Genesis
and
confirming
God’s
true
intent
for
marriage,
one
man
and
one
woman,
which
should
be
for
life.
Should
a
person
then
divorce,
remarriage
to another is not permitted all the time the spouse is still living. The exception given relating only to the Jewish period of betrothal.
The mission of the seventy
[Lk 10:1-24]
Jesus
sends
seventy
of
his
disciples
out
to
preach
the
gospel
with
the
ability
to
support
their
preaching
with
miracles,
and
with
full
instructions
on
how
to
practise
their
mission.
They
are
to
go
without
any
physical
means
of
support,
relying
on
the
hospitality
of
those
cities that accept them, but not lingering in those that don’t.
They
later
return
with
joy
reporting
the
success
they
had
experienced,
including
being
able
to
exorcise
spirits.
Jesus
tells
them
they
are blessed, as many prophets and kings had desired to have seen and heard the things they have seen and heard.
The parable of The Good Samaritan
[Lk 10:25-37]
A
lawyer
asks
Jesus
what
he
should
do
to
inherit
eternal
life.
Jesus
draws
from
him
the
need
to
love
God
and
your
neighbour,
then
relates the parable of The Good Samaritan as an example of what is meant by loving your neighbour.
At Bethany with Mary and Martha
[Lk 10:38-42]
On
an
occasion
when
Jesus
is
at
Martha’s
house,
Martha
complains
that
her
sister
is
spending
time
sitting
at
his
feet
leaving
her
to
do
the work. He tells Martha that Mary is right to take the opportunity to care for her soul rather than the things of this world.
Teachings in Judea
[Lk 11:11-13:21]
Later,
when
Jesus
has
finished
praying,
he
is
asked
by
one
of
his
disciples
to
teach
them
to
pray.
He
teaches
them
what
we
refer
to
as
The Lord’s Prayer, encouraging them to always ‘ask, seek and knock’ through prayer, to which God will respond.
When
Jesus
later
casts
out
a
demon,
some
people
say
that
it
is
done
in
the
name
of
Satan
(perhaps
having
heard
of
the
Pharisees’
accusation
some
time
before)
to
which
Jesus
explains
the
absurdity
of
that
idea,
and
then
warns
it
is
possible
for
a
person
to
be
repossessed to a greater degree if precautions are not taken once cleansed.
A
woman
speaks
up
and
says
how
blessed
Jesus’
mother
is
to
have
borne
him,
to
which
Jesus
replies
that
it
is
more
blessed
to
hear
the word of God and keep it.
Then,
when
many
people
are
gathered
around
him,
Jesus
refutes
those
looking
for
a
sign,
citing
Jonas
(Jonah)
and
Solomon
as
being
signs
of
their
times,
saying
that
one
who
is
greater
than
Jonas
and
Solomon
is
before
them,
and
their
eyes
should
be
able
to
perceive this.
Jesus
is
then
invited
to
dine
with
a
Pharisee,
but
when
he
sits
to
eat,
the
Pharisee
expresses
surprise
that
Jesus
did
not
wash
his
hands
first.
As
before,
Jesus
condemns
the
Pharisees
for
their
hypocrisy
in
appearing
to
be
righteous
by
their
ceremonies
and
behaviour,
but
not
following
the
spirit
of
the
law
in
many
things
they
do,
pronouncing
woes
against
the
Pharisees
and
the
lawyers
in
his
condemnation.
Meantime,
a
very
large
crowd
has
been
gathering
along
with
Jesus’
disciples
who
are
waiting
on
him.
When
Jesus
joins
the
crowd,
he
first
turns
to
his
disciples
and
again
warns
them
against
the
leaven
of
the
Pharisees
,
which
is
hypocrisy,
against
reticence
in
professing the gospel and in blaspheming against the Holy Spirit, the latter of which is an unforgivable sin.
In
response
to
a
request
by
a
man
concerning
inheritance
due
him,
Jesus
tells
a
parable
about
covetousness,
teaching
his
disciples
to
first
seek
the
kingdom
of
God,
encouraging
them
to
focus
their
lives
on
God
and
live
in
dependence
on
Him.
He
then
tells
another
parable
to
warn
them
they
will
not
know
the
hour
when
he
will
return,
but
they
are
to
remain
faithful
to
his
teaching,
for
the
faithful
will be rewarded, but the unfaithful will be punished. However, they are to expect trouble and persecution because of their faith.
Jesus
then
speaks
to
all
the
people
warning
them
to
discern
what
is
right,
so
they
too
might
be
prepared
in
time
for
the
judgement
to
come.
On
being
told
of
Galileans
who
were
slaughtered
by
Pilate
when
making
sacrifices,
Jesus
teaches
that
fate
is
not
caused
by
sin,
and
emphasises
the
necessity
of
repentance.
Then,
using
the
parable
of
the
fig
tree,
teaches
the
importance
of
bearing
fruit
in
one’s life.
Later,
when
Jesus
is
teaching
in
a
synagogue
on
the
Sabbath,
he
heals
a
woman
who
has
been
afflicted
for
eighteen
years,
and
puts
to
shame
the
ruler
of
the
Synagogue
for
his
indignation
that
this
healing
work
was
done
on
the
Sabbath.
Jesus
then
repeats
the
parables
of
the
mustard
seed
and
the
yeast,
first
told
when
he
was
ministering
in
Galilee,
as
these
parables
warn
against
false
teaching
in the church.
In and around Perea
Luke’s account
[Lk 13:22-18:14]
Jesus continues his journey towards Jerusalem, now passing through the cities and villages of Perea, east of the Jordan.
On
the
way,
Jesus
is
asked
if
there
will
just
be
a
few
who
will
be
saved,
to
which
he
replies
in
the
same
way
he
did
at
the
end
of
the
Sermon
on
the
Mount
[Mat
7:21-23]
,
emphasising
the
importance
of
knowing
him.
That
same
day,
certain
Pharisees
warn
Jesus
that
Herod
seeks
to
kill
him,
but
Jesus
is
defiant,
and
in
his
response
foretells
his
death
at
Jerusalem
and
denounces
judgements
on
that
city.
On
a
Sabbath,
Jesus
is
in
one
of
the
chief
Pharisee’s
house,
but
the
Pharisees
continue
to
try
to
find
fault
with
him.
When
Jesus
then
heals
a
man
there
with
dropsy,
he
is
again
challenged
concerning
‘working’
on
the
Sabbath,
but
rebukes
his
challengers.
A
parable
is
then
told
by
Jesus
to
certain
of
the
guests,
giving
a
lesson
on
humility,
then
to
the
same
people
he
speaks
of
the
need
for
charity.
One
of
those
present,
inspired
by
Jesus’
words,
says
to
him
Blessed
is
he
that
shall
eat
bread
in
the
kingdom
of
God
.
To
this
Jesus
responds
with
a
parable
telling
of
the
rejection
of
the
Jews,
and
others,
who
are
concerned
more
for
the
things
of
the
world,
and
of
the
acceptance of those that might be considered less worthy.
Later,
when
a
great
number
of
people
are
with
him,
Jesus
tells
them
that
discipleship
cannot
be
undertaken
without
serious
consideration of the personal consequences, otherwise it is likely to wane.
When
publicans
and
sinners
are
drawn
to
Jesus
to
hear
his
words,
the
Pharisees
and
scribes
murmur
against
his
keeping
company
with
such
people.
Jesus
responds
to
their
attitude
with
four
parables:
the
lost
sheep,
the
lost
silver,
the
prodigal
son
and
the
shrewd
manager.
The
Pharisees
are
offended
by
Jesus’
words
and
show
contempt
for
them.
Jesus
rebukes
them
and
relates
a
parable
about
the fate of the rich man and Lazarus, warning against covetousness and lack of compassion for the needy, and its consequences.
Jesus
turns
to
his
disciples
and
teaches
them
the
need
to
take
care
not
to
give
offence,
and
to
readily
forgive
offences
against
them.
He also encourages them to keep increasing their faith, and teaches them humility in their service to God.
As
Jesus
travels
on
towards
Jerusalem,
passing
through
Samaria
and
Galilee,
he
cleanses
ten
lepers,
but
only
one
gives
thanks
and
glorifies God, and he is notably a Samaritan.
Later,
following
an
enquiry
from
the
Pharisees,
Jesus
turns
to
his
disciples
with
words
concerning
the
coming
of
the
kingdom
of
God,
and how it will be at an unexpected time.
Jesus
then
relates
the
parable
of
the
persistent
widow
and
the
judge,
teaching
fervency
in
prayer,
followed
by
the
parable
of
the
Pharisee and the publican, teaching an attitude of humility.
Matthew’s account
[Mat 19:13-20:34]
Some
little
children
are
brought
to
Jesus
for
a
blessing,
but
his
disciples
seem
to
think
he
shouldn’t
be
troubled
by
their
presence.
Jesus corrects their attitude and blesses the children before continuing on his way.
A
rich
young
man
later
asks
Jesus
what
he
should
do
to
gain
eternal
life,
since
he
had
obeyed
the
commandments
from
his
youth,
but
still
felt
there
to
be
something
lacking.
When
Jesus
suggests
he
should
give
up
his
wealth
to
follow
him
he
leaves
disappointed,
for
his
possessions
are
considerable.
Jesus
tells
his
disciples
how
much
more
difficult
it
might
be
for
a
rich
man
to
enter
the
kingdom
of
heaven if his riches mean so much to him.
Peter
then
enquires
what
their
fate
might
be
as
they
had
given
up
everything
to
follow
him.
He
is
told
they
will
be
sitting
on
twelve
thrones,
judging
the
twelve
tribes
of
Israel.
Jesus
concludes
this
exchange
by
saying
that
anyone
who
surrenders
family
or
possessions
for his sake will receive much more, and inherit eternal life.
Jesus
then
relates
the
parable
of
the
workers
in
the
vineyard,
telling
us
that
the
kingdom
of
heaven
and
eternal
life
are
available
even to those who come to him very late in life.
Continuing
their
journey
towards
Jerusalem,
Jesus
again
tells
his
disciples
he
will
be
betrayed,
is
to
suffer
and
be
killed,
but
will
be
resurrected on the third day.
James
and
John’s
mother
comes
to
Jesus
and
asks
that
her
sons
should
have
positions
of
honour
in
his
kingdom.
Jesus
tells
her
this
honour is not for him to give, then reminds his disciples that they, like him, should not expect to be served but should serve others.
Later,
when
they
are
leaving
Jericho,
two
blind
men
call
to
Jesus
addressing
him
as
the
Son
of
David
and
asking
for
mercy.
Jesus
has
compassion for them, touches their eyes and their sight is immediately restored. They then join the others and follow Jesus.
Hierarchical Précis