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.
Luke 11.38-54 (King James Version) :And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.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 15.3-7 (King James Version) :And he spake this parable unto them, saying,What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.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 21.28-32 (King James Version) :But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.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