• PER285 Healing of blind and lame people

    After the cleansing of the Temple, Jesus heals the blind and the lame in the courtyard on Monday, March 28, AD 33. Only Matthew reports this episode. The crowd and the children acclaim him as Son of David, while the chief priests and the scribes, increasingly hostile, are indignant at these messianic demonstrations. This episode illustrates the contrast between the faith of the common people and the rejection by the religious authorities.

    Mark 11.15-18 (King James Version) :
    And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  • PER289 The authority of the Messiah Jesus challenged

    In the Temple of Jerusalem, the religious leaders publicly challenge Jesus’ authority. With a clever counter-question about the baptism of John, he reduces them to silence and exposes their bad faith. This synoptic episode (Matt 21.23-27; Mark 11.27-33; Luke 20.1-8) illustrates the growing opposition of the authorities to the Messiah during his last week before the arrest.

    Mark 11.27-33 (King James Version) :
    And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  • PER294 The questions of the Pharisees and the Herodians

    The Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Jesus by asking him whether one should pay the tax to Caesar. His answer — “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” — foils the trap and establishes the fundamental distinction between civil authority and divine sovereignty, reminding us that man, who bears the image of God, belongs wholly to him.

    Mark 12.13-17 (King James Version) :
    And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Cæsar, or not?Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cæsar’s.And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  • PER295 The questions of the Pharisees and the Herodians

    In the Temple of Jerusalem, the Sadducees try to trap Jesus with a question about the resurrection involving a woman who had seven husbands. Jesus answers by revealing their ignorance of the Scriptures and of the power of God: in the life to come, people no longer marry. He proves the resurrection from the Torah by quoting Exodus 3.6: God is the God of the living, not of the dead. His adversaries are reduced to silence.

    Luke 20.27-40 (King James Version) :
    Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.Last of all the woman died also.Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  • PER296 The questions of the teachers of the law

    During the last week before his Passion, Jesus is questioned by teachers of the Law about the greatest commandment. He sums up the whole Law in two principles: loving God and loving one’s neighbor. A sincere scribe acknowledges the rightness of this answer, and Jesus tells him that he is not far from the Kingdom. The article nuances the view of Pharisaism and invites a faith lived in love rather than in legalism.

    John 7.50-51 (King James Version) :
    Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  • PER297 The Messiahship of Jesus

    At the Temple court in Jerusalem, on the Tuesday before his Passion, Jesus questions the Pharisees about the identity of the Messiah. Citing Psalm 110, he reveals that the Messiah is both Son of David according to the flesh and eternal Lord according to his divinity, confounding his opponents, who are left without an answer. A fundamental Christological statement about the dual nature of Jesus.

    Psalms 110.1 (King James Version) :
    The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  • PER298 Indictment Against the Religious Leaders

    In the courtyard of the Temple in Jerusalem, on the Wednesday before his Passion, Jesus delivers a severe indictment against the scribes and the Pharisees. Through eight proclamations of ‘Woe to you!’, he denounces their hypocrisy, their pride and their outward show of religion, while expressing deep sorrow over Jerusalem. He calls his disciples to a genuine, humble faith that serves others.

    Matthew 23.11 (King James Version) :
    But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  • PER299 The Widow’s Offering

    In the Temple of Jerusalem, Jesus watches a poor widow put two small coins into the treasury, all that she has. Unlike the rich, who give ostentatiously out of their surplus, she offers her entire livelihood. Jesus declares that she has given more than all the others, overturning human standards of value. This account, reported by Mark (12.41-44) and Luke (21.1-4), teaches that true generosity is measured not by the amount given, but by the disposition of the heart and the sacrifice made.

    Luke 21.1-4 (King James Version) :
    And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  • PER300 The unbelief of the Jews

    Pericope 300 deals with the unbelief of the Jews in the face of the signs performed by Jesus, an episode reported only by John (Jn 12,37-50), set in the Temple of Jerusalem on Wednesday, 30 March AD 33. In contrast, the poor widow's gift illustrates genuine faith. Jesus overturns human criteria: true generosity is measured not by the quantity given but by the disposition of the heart, offering to God all that one is.

    Mark 12.41-44 (King James Version) :
    And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate