From the second to the third Passover festival 6 studies
- 1The Sermon on the Mount (9): Vengeance
- 2The results of the Sermon on the Mount
- 3The comparison with the growing seed
- 4Other unrecorded parables
- 5Evening explanation of various parables (the weeds)
From the 3rd Passover to the start of the final week 3 studies
The last week before the arrest 1 study
From the second to the third Passover festival
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PER093
The Sermon on the Mount (9): Vengeance
PER093 examines Jesus' teaching on vengeance in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:38–42). Jesus reinterprets the law of retaliation (Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21) by calling his disciples to non-violence, forgiveness and love of enemies. This teaching, unique to Matthew, advocates a peaceful response transcending the logic of vengeance rather than total passivity, in keeping with Romans 12:17 and 1 Peter 3:9.
Matthew 5.38-42 (King James Version) :Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
PER108
The results of the Sermon on the Mount
PER108 concludes the Sermon on the Mount according to Matthew 7.28-29. The crowd and the disciples are struck by Jesus’ unique authority, so different from that of the Pharisees. Through 23 points, Jesus has outlined the portrait of a true disciple, an ideal impossible to attain without profound transformation. The crowd glimpses the Messiah in him and longs for the new life he offers.
Matthew 7.28-29 (King James Version) :And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
PER142
The comparison with the growing seed
Pericope 142 analyzes the comparison with the growing seed (Mark 4.26-29), the only parable unique to Mark. Delivered near Capernaum in Galilee around November–December 31, it teaches the mystery of the Kingdom of God: incomprehensible divine growth, the role of the human sower, the gradual development of spiritual life, and the eschatological prospect of the final harvest.
Mark 4.26-29 (King James Version) :And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
PER144
Other unrecorded parables
Pericope PER144 examines Mark 4.33-34, where it is acknowledged that Jesus told many parables not recorded by the evangelists. Set near Capernaum in November–December 31, this passage reveals Jesus' progressive teaching method: revelation adapted to his listeners, in-depth training of the disciples, and the importance of spiritual understanding. John himself acknowledges (Jn 20.30; 21.25) that the Gospels contain only a fraction of Jesus' teachings.
John 21.25 (King James Version) :And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
PER146
Evening explanation of various parables (the weeds)
PER146 reports the explanation Jesus gave to his disciples concerning the parable of the weeds (Mt 13.36-43), a testimony found only in Matthew. Jesus reveals a method of interpretation along three lines: symbolic identification of the elements, the eschatological dimension, and practical application. This passage belongs to the discourse of the seven parables of the Kingdom of God gathered by Matthew in chapter 13.
Matthew 13.1-23 (King James Version) :The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
PER150
Conclusion of Jesus the Messiah
Pericope 150 closes the parable discourse of Matthew 13. Jesus asks his disciples whether they have understood, then describes the ideal disciple as a scribe instructed in the kingdom, able to bring out of his treasure things new and old. This passage underscores the complementarity of the Old and New Testaments and the responsibility of teachers to pass on the Messiah's teaching faithfully.
Matthew 13.51-53 (King James Version) :Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
From the 3rd Passover to the start of the final week
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PER201
Offenses and occasions for stumbling
Pericope PER201 presents Jesus' private teaching in Capernaum on offenses and occasions for stumbling. He distinguishes two cases: those who cause new converts to stumble, and Christians confronted with their own weaknesses. Through radical bodily metaphors, Jesus calls us to eliminate everything that leads to sin, stressing that life in the kingdom of God is worth any sacrifice. Matthew, Mark and Luke report this teaching with complementary nuances.
Matthew 15.19 (King James Version) :For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
PER232
The mustard seed and the leaven
Pericope PER232 presents the twin parables of the mustard seed and the leaven (Luke 13.18-21). Spoken near a synagogue in Jerusalem on a Saturday, they illustrate the nature of the kingdom of God: it begins humbly, grows powerfully and works in a hidden yet transforming way. These two complementary images invite us to perceive the quiet and irresistible growth of God's reign in the world.
Matthew 13.33 (King James Version) :Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
PER239
The Parable of the Tower
The parable of the tower (Luke 14.28-30), transmitted only by Luke, is part of a discourse of Jesus on the cost of discipleship. Through the image of a builder who calculates his resources before building, Jesus invites his disciples to a considered, clear-sighted and persevering commitment, warning against a superficial or emotional faith without spiritual maturity.
Luke 14.25-35 (King James Version) :And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
The last week before the arrest
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PER286
Daily Teaching in the Temple
Pericope 286 describes Jesus’ daily teaching in the Temple of Jerusalem during Passover week (Monday, March 28, AD 33). Based mainly on Luke 19,47-48, it presents the growing opposition between the admiring crowds and the hostile religious authorities — scribes, chief priests, Sadducees and Pharisees — who seek to silence Jesus, whose message of the Kingdom of God threatens their established power.
Luke 19.47-48 (King James Version) :And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org