From the second to the third Passover festival 1 study
From the 3rd Passover to the start of the final week 2 studies
The last week before the arrest 4 studies
From the second to the third Passover festival
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PER116
The disciple’s personal relationship with his Lord
Pericope 116 explores the personal relationship between the disciple and his Lord through Matthew 11.25-30 and Luke 10.21-24. After condemning the unbelieving towns, Jesus rejoices that the humble understand his word where the wise fail. He affirms his divine sonship and invites all the weary to come to him, promising rest and gentleness under his shared yoke, in contrast to the burdens imposed by the Pharisees.
Luke 10.21-24 (King James Version) :In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:For I tell you, that many prophets and kings 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.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
From the 3rd Passover to the start of the final week
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PER228
The judgment of religious leaders and the rebukes of Jesus the Messiah
During a meal at a Pharisee's house in Jerusalem (late 32), Jesus utters severe rebukes against the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. Luke 11.38-54, the only gospel to recount this episode, describes a hostile atmosphere in which the religious authorities look for evidence to condemn Jesus. His cutting words are in reality a call to repentance, ignored by men blinded by pride.
John 7.51 (King James Version) :Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
PER243
The parable of the lost and found sheep
This article deals with the parable of the lost sheep in the Gospel of Luke, stressing God's joy over the salvation of a sinner. It belongs to a set of three parables, illustrating different nuances of seeking and salvation.
Luke 15.11-32 (King James Version) :And he said, A certain man had two sons:And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
The last week before the arrest
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PER290
The parable of the two sons
The parable of the two sons (Matt 21,28-32), recorded only by Matthew, takes place in the Temple of Jerusalem during Jesus’ last week. It contrasts two attitudes: promising without acting versus refusing and then obeying. Jesus unmasks the hypocrisy of the religious leaders and announces that repentant sinners enter the Kingdom ahead of them. A universal call to humility and sincere repentance.
Matthew 13.24-30 (King James Version) :Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
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.
Mark 1.22 (King James Version) :And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
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.
Mark 12.34 (King James Version) :And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
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.
Romans 1.3-4 (King James Version) :Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org