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Jesus Teaches That God Will Entrust His Kingdom to Those Who Bear Fruit (Matthew 21:33-46)

Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. 34 When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. 35 But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. 36 Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. 37 Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ 39 They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” 41 They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper tim...

Jesus Teaches His Disciples to Rejoice That Their Names Are Written in Heaven (Luke 10:17-24)

The seventy[-two] returned rejoicing, and said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” 18 Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. 19 Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” 21 At that very moment he rejoiced [in] the holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” 23 Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see...

Jesus Teaches That Greatness in the Kingdom Requires Humility (Matthew 18:1-5, 10)

At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a child over, placed it in their midst, 3 and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. 10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. The disciples approach Jesus with a question about greatness: “ Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? ” (v. 1). Their question follows several events in which Peter had received particular attention from Jesus, including Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah, the Transfiguration, and the payment of the Temple tax (Matthew 16:13–19; 17:1–8, 24–27). Jesus answers their question by calling a child, placing t...

Jesus Sends Seventy-Two Disciples to Proclaim the Kingdom of God (Luke 10:1-12)

After this the Lord appointed seventy[-two] others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. 2 He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. 3 Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6 If a peaceful person lives there, by tv your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. 8 Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’ 10 Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, 11 ‘The dust...

Jesus Teaches That Disciples Must Have an Undivided Commitment to the Kingdom of God (Luke 9:57-62)

As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” 59 And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “[Lord,] let me go first and bury my father.” 60 But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” 62 [To him] Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.” Jesus and His disciples are now on the journey toward Jerusalem. Luke has just told us that Jesus “ resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem ” (Luke 9:51). He knows that this road will lead to His suffering and death, followed by His Resurrection and Ascension. Against that background, three people encounter Jesus and learn what it means to f...

Jesus Reveals that He is the Son of Man Who Unites Heaven and Earth (John 1:47-51)

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him.” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Philip has just invited Nathanael to meet Jesus with the simple words, “ Come and see ” (John 1:46). As Nathanael approaches, Jesus identifies him as “ a true Israelite ” in whom there is “ no duplicity. ” Nathanael asks, “ How do you know me? ” Jesus answers, “ Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree .” Jesus reveals knowledge of Nathanael that Nathanae...

Jesus Corrects His Disciples About Greatness and Belonging (Luke 9:46–50)

An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. 47 Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.” 49 Then John said in reply, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.” The disciples have just heard Jesus tell them that “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men” (Luke 9:44). Earlier, He had taught them that anyone who wishes to follow Him must deny himself and take up his cross daily (Luke 9:23). Immediately after Luke tells us that the disciples do not understand Jesus’ words about His coming suffering, an argument arises among them about which o...

Jesus Calls Us to Repent and Do the Father’s Will (Matthew 21:28-32)

What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. 30 The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. 32 When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him. Jesus tells this parable while speaking with the chief priests and elders in the Temple. Just before this passage, they questioned His authority, and Jesus asked them whether John the Baptist’s ministry came from heaven or from human beings (Matthew 21:23–27). Their unwillingness to answer becomes the backgr...

Jesus Tells His Disciples That the Son of Man Will Be Handed Over (Luke 9:43b-45)

While they were all amazed at his every deed, he said to his disciples, 44 “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” 45 But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying. The people are amazed at what Jesus has just done. He has freed a boy from an unclean spirit, healed him, and returned him to his father (Luke 9:37–43a). Yet precisely while everyone is marveling at His power, Jesus turns to His disciples and speaks about what lies ahead: “ The Son of Man is to be handed over to men .” Jesus emphasizes that the Son of Man will be “ handed over to men .” In the Greek, the same word for “human being” lies behind both “Son of Man” and “men,” creating a striking contrast: the Son of Man, who receives everlasting authority from God (Daniel 7:13–14), will be handed over into human hands. Luke’s wording also broadens the significance bey...

Jesus Is the Messiah Who Must Suffer and Rise (Luke 9:18-22)

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Messiah of God.” 21 He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. 22 He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Luke often presents Jesus praying at important moments in His ministry. Here, while Jesus is praying in solitude with His disciples nearby, He raises the question that has been building throughout the Gospel: Who is He? The crowds have different answers. Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and others one of the ancient prophets. These are the same possibilities that had perplexed Herod only a few verses earlier (Luke 9:7–9)....

Herod Is Perplexed by What He Hears About Jesus (Luke 9:7-9)

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead”; 8 others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” 9 But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him. News of Jesus and His works has now reached Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee and Perea. He was a son of Herod the Great and governed the region under Roman authority. Luke has already introduced him as the ruler who imprisoned John the Baptist after John rebuked him for his conduct (Luke 3:19–20). Jesus has been proclaiming the Kingdom of God, healing the sick, casting out demons, and calming the storm. He has also sent the Twelve to proclaim the Kingdom and heal the sick (Luke 9:1–6). News of what Jesus is doing has now reached even Herod, and he is ‘ greatly perplexed ’ by what he hears. People offer several explanations. ...

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