The Gospel According to Luke

Birth of Jesus, ca. 7-6 B.C.

1. Reign of Herod the Great.
2. Died 4 B.C.
3. Governorship of Quirinius (Luke 2:2; spelled Cyrenius in KJV)
4. Appointed military overseer of Province of Syria by Augustus (12 B.C. – A.D.
17; actual governor A.D. 6-7)
5. After census ordered
6. Roman censuses every 14 years; last one 22 B.C.; later one in A.D. 6-7 (referred
to in Acts 5:37 and Josephus Ant. 17:13:5 and 18:1:1); thus census between in 8
B.C.
7. Possible correlation with star conjunction of 7 B.C. (Jupiter and Saturn in Pices)

 Birth, Infancy, and Childhood of Jesus

The NT says little about these years of Jesus’ life; the gospels concentrate on his adult
years—his ministry, Passion, and resurrection. However, what it does say is important as it
provides background for his adult life.

 Genealogies of Jesus
There are two genealogies of Jesus in the NT. They are quite different from each other at
various points. Two major interpretations reconcile these differences.
Traditional interpretation.—Both are genealogies of Jesus through his adopted
father Joseph. The differences are due to following different branches of his family,
branching at legal adoptions or levirate marriages. The earliest extant writer to suggest
this was Julius Africanus (ca. A.D. 230, quoted in Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 1:7).
It is the view of J. Gresham Machen in The Virgin Birth.
Mary interpretation.—Matthew uses the genealogy of Joseph, while Luke uses
the genealogy of Mary. This suggestion is offered by several modern conservative
scholars.
Either interpretation can harmonize the differences in the genealogies. The point is that Jesus is
not only fully human, but that he can rightfully claim the line of Abraham and the throne of
David.

 Birth and youth of John the Baptist

Since Mary and Elizabeth were related, perhaps cousins (Luke 1:36), John and Jesus
were also related, perhaps second cousins. The relation between the two expectant women,
implying a spiritual relationship between their two children, shows that the human spirit exists in
unborn babies.

 Birth and infancy

The Annunciation.—The angel Gabriel is an important messenger of God (cf. Dan 8:16;
9:21).
The virgin birth.—While not often stated in the NT, it is a vital doctrine, with strong
implications into his person. Matthew quotes Isa 7:14, using the technical Greek word “virgin,”
as did the LXX.
Bethlehem.—The ancestral town of David, prophesied in Mic 5:2. It was the Roman
census that caused the Nazarenes Mary and Joseph to be there for the birth of Jesus.
The shepherds.—Mentioned only in Luke. Mary remembered them, perhaps was Luke’s
source (Luke 2:19).
Circumcision.—On the eighth day of Jesus’ life, when he would have been named (Luke
1:21). “Jesus” is the Greek form of the Hebrew name “Joshua,” meaning “he will save.” Joseph
had been instructed by the angel to give the baby this name (Matt 1:21).
Purification of Mary and presentation of Jesus.—Forty days after Jesus’ birth (Lev 12:3-
4). Since we know that Mary brought two birds for the sacrifice, we deduce that they were poor
(Luke 2:24; cf. Lev 12:8). Firstborn sons were to be consecrated to the Lord (Exod 13:2, 12);
this would have been done at the same time. Simeon and Anna gave their testimonies to the
newborn Savior.
The Magi.—Recorded only in Matthew. Traditionally translated Wise Men. Probably
they were astrologers and historians from ancient Babylon. They saw the Star “in the East,” that
is, in the Babylon area. The Star may have been a natural phenomenon (nova, conjunction of
Saturn and Jupiter, etc.), or a miraculous sign. The Magi probably were familiar with Daniel’s
prophecies (especially Dan 2-7, written in Aramaic). They went to Jerusalem because they did
not know the town of the king’s birth. They arrived in Bethlehem and gave their gifts; money
from these gifts may have supported the young family as they fled to Egypt, lived there, and
traveled home to Nazareth.
Flight to Egypt.—Joseph and his little family may have lived with friends or relatives in
Alexandria. Herod the Great’s slaughter of the infants in Bethlehem is not recorded elsewhere,
but was typical of his murderously jealous paranoia in his last years. After Herod died, Joseph
decided to return, but avoided Judea because of the bad reputation of Herod’s son Archelaus.
The time in Egypt fits with Jesus being the antitype of the nation of Israel (Hos 11:1).
3.5

 Childhood and youth (Luke 2)

Childhood in Nazareth.—Jesus was an obedient child (Luke 2:40). Joseph and Mary
apparently had four other sons and several daughters (Matt 13:55-56). Jesus probably attended
synagogue school and grew up as other Jewish children, only without sin. The later made-up
stories of fantastic miracles and astounding wisdom of the child Jesus were pure fantasy (e.g., the
Infancy Story of Thomas [ca. A.D. 200; in Hennecke 1:392-399, also ANF 16:78-85]).
Visit to the temple.—At twelve years old, Jesus would enter religious adulthood, and
would be required to attend the pilgrim festivals in Jerusalem. The Passover lasted a week. He
by this time had great interest in Scripture and his place in God’s purposes for Israel. The
teachers were amazed by his interest, questions, and knowledge. He recognized God as his
“Father,” with primary claim to him. Again, Mary remembered this and may have told Luke
(Luke 2:51). This is the only story we have about Jesus between his infancy and his baptism by
John.
.

 Preparation for public ministry

Before Jesus could enter his public ministry, the Father needed to prepare him through
baptism by John and his trial in the desert of Judea. In these actions he repeated the history of
Israel with Moses in the Red Sea and the wilderness, only in perfect obedience.
John the Baptist was raised up the last OT prophet by God. He was in the tradition of
Elijah, calling people to repentance. His ministry was foretold as a precursor for the coming
Messiah (Mal 4:5-6). Jesus was baptized by him, not because of needing repentance, but
because he had to “fulfill all righteousness,” living as a perfectly obedient Israelite should.
Jesus’ perfect keeping of the law is called his “active obedience” by theologians; it is imputed to
us when we are justified by God.
God then led Jesus to the desert in Judea, to be tried and tested by the devil (Matt 4; Luke
4). This condition and these temptations mirror the experience of Israel in the wilderness under
Moses. Whereas the Israelites failed many times and fell into sin and judgment, Jesus steadfastly
resisted these temptations, quoting from the law in the same places where they had sinned (Deut
6, 8). Having passed the test and been refined, he now was ready to proclaim his mission to the
people.
 Beginning of public ministry
After his baptism and temptation in Judea in the fall of A.D. 26, Jesus gathered his first
five disciples (John, Andrew, Peter, Philip, Nathaniel = Bartholomew). He traveled with them to
Galilee, where he performed the first of the signs recorded in John’s Gospel, changing the water
to wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. This early ministry is recorded only in John.
Afterwards the disciples left him and returned to their own homes, where they resumed their
normal vocations, several of them at least being fishermen.

 Year of Obscurity
The activities of this first full year are mostly recorded in John 3-4. They begin in the
spring of A.D. 27, when Jesus appeared in the temple at Passover and drove out the money
changers, accusing them of making God’s house “a house of merchandise.” At the end of his
ministry he cleared the temple again. Jesus apparently had done some miracles prior to this time,
as Nicodemus came at night and said that no one could do such miracles if God were not with
him. Nicodemus appears three times in John, ending as a disciple helping to bury his body.
After the Passover Jesus returned to Galilee, going through Samaria. There he met the
Samaritan woman, leading to the conversion of her whole village. This account is in John; later
the apostle John, along with Peter, was very interested in the spread of Christianity in Samaria
(Acts 8:14). When Jesus reached Galilee, he was rejected in Nazareth, and therefore moved
from Nazareth to Capernaum, on the northern shore of the Lake of Galilee. Initially he stayed in
Peter’s home. Capernaum was to become his headquarters. Several of his closest disciples lived
there.
The Synoptic Gospels record how Jesus selected his first disciples by the Lake of Galilee,
as they were repairing their nets. They were two sets of brothers: James and John (sons of
Zebedee), and Peter and Andrew (sons of Jonah). He told them to follow him and he would
make them fishers of people. Actually, most of them had followed him for a while the previous
year (as recorded in John), but they had returned to their secular occupation. Now Jesus called
them to follow him permanently; so they left their work and followed him, forsaking their
parents and earthly means of support (Matt 4:22; Luke 5:11).
3.7
During the next months Jesus performed many miracles, especially healings, and traveled
around Galilee, preaching that the kingdom of God was at hand. There was a continually
growing band of disciples that followed him.

 Year of Public Favor

Assuming John 5:1 records a Passover feast, Jesus was in Jerusalem for that festival.
John 5 records how he healed the paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda; this healing led to one of his
early disputes with “the Jews” (a term John uses for the Jewish leaders). In this dispute Jesus
declared himself to be the Son of God, and gave the evidences of the witnesses to him: his
miracles, John the Baptist, the Father, and the Scriptures of Moses.
[The original Pool of Bethesda from the time of Jesus recently has been discovered in
Jerusalem by archeologists. The pool previously named as such was from a later time.]
After Jesus returned to Galilee, many more crowds and disciples followed him
everywhere. He performed many great miracles, healing all sort of diseases and demon
possessions. At the end of this period he continued his great miracles with the feeding of the
five thousand (recorded in all four gospels) and his walking on the water and stilling the storm.
Jesus taught the people as a rabbi, using simple, direct teaching, and employing a vivid
style using proverb-like sayings and parables. The Synoptic Gospels record most of these
teachings and events.
During this time Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount and selected and ordained his
twelve apostles. These included the original disciples plus several others from various
backgrounds, as Matthew the tax collector and Simon the Zealot. Eleven apostles were from
Galilee; only Judas Iscariot was from Judea.
During this year Jesus’ fame continued to surpass that of John the Baptist, and John the
Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded by Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea. This took
place in the fortress Macherus, fifteen miles southeast from the mouth of the Jordan at the Dead
Sea. John bore faithful witness to Jesus all during his life; Jesus paid tribute to him (Matt 11:2-
19; 17:10-13).
By the time the Passover of A.D. 29 arrived, Jesus’ enemies in the Jewish establishment
were getting bolder and more vicious in their opposition to Jesus, viewing him as a threat to their
leadership and their cherished beliefs. This hostility centered in Jerusalem, but often opponents
dodged his steps in Galilee as well. According to John 6:4 Jesus did not attend the Passover that
year, but instead ministered in Galilee and other areas.
3.8
After he fed the five thousand, the people tried to force him to become king, but he
turned away from that path. From that point many “turned away” from him (John 6:66). His
opposition steadily increased.
About half way through that year Jesus centered his attention on his coming Passion,
making several short trips to Jerusalem interspersed with time spent in Perea, parts of Samaria
and Galilee, and in areas of Judea outside Jerusalem. This transition is marked by Luke: “As the
time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem” (Luke
9:51). Jesus spent some of this time away from the Jewish areas entirely, traveling with his
disciples north to the area of Tyre and Sidon and to the territory of Philip the Tetrarch near
Caesarea Philippi. There he heard the great confession of Peter, and was transfigured before his
three closest disciples. He began preparing his disciples for his coming sufferings, death, and
resurrection. At that point his disciples did not comprehend what was happening. All four
gospels discuss this time in Jesus’ life. John centers more on his ministry in Jerusalem while the
Synoptics emphasize his ministry in the other areas; Luke has an extended section on Jesus’ time
in Perea (Luke 13-17).
During these last months Jesus attended two Jewish festivals prior to his last Passover. In
the fall of A.D. 29 he attended the Feast of Tabernacles, and then in December the Feast of
Dedication. John records the controversies he had with the Jewish leaders during both those
visits, as well as his great miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead (John 7-11). Events outside
Jerusalem recorded in the Synoptics, especially in Luke, can be harmonized and fit between the
final visits to Jerusalem recorded in John.

 The final week

Jesus’ last week before his crucifixion is divided into two parts. All during the week he
stayed at night in Bethany at the house of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, a short distance southeast
of Jerusalem. The first part of the week he went every day into Jerusalem, where he usually
argued with the Jewish teachers and leaders. The second part of the week he did not go to
Jerusalem, staying with his friends and disciples. He did not reenter the city until the time of the
Lord’s Supper.
Sunday: The triumphal entry.—The procession led from Bethpage on the Mount of
Olives across the Kidron Valley and into the eastern part of the city. Jesus formally presented
himself to the Jewish nation as its Messiah (note the messianic proclamation of the crowds [Matt
21:9; cf. Ps 118:26]). He did this in a literal fulfillment of prophecy (Zech 9:9). Jesus entered
3.9
the temple and “looked around at everything” (Mark 11:11). The leaders, followed by the
people, rejected this final presentation.
Monday: Second temple clearing.—Recorded in the Synoptics (John has the first temple
clearing). Jesus expelled the money changers and hawkers, saying that they were making God’s
house “a den of robbers.”
Tuesday: Challenge to authority.—Jesus defended his authority to clear the temple, and
described the Jewish leaders by means of parables.
Wednesday: Debates with the Jews.—Jesus in turn disputed with the Pharisees, the
Herodians, and the Sadducees.
On the way back to Bethany that evening Jesus gave to his disciples the Olivet Discourse,
describing the coming destruction of the temple, and the events at the end of the age. That night
in Bethany Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha, anointed him with precious ointment.
Thursday: preparation of the Passover.—Jesus sent out two disciples to prepare the
Passover in Jerusalem, obtaining a room and the lamb. That night, after sundown, Jesus
celebrated his last Passover with his disciples, instituted the Lord’s Supper, and delivered his
Upper Room Discourse to his disciples (John 12-17).
Late that night he crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples, and went into the Garden
of Gethsemane to pray. There he was arrested by the troops sent from the Jewish leaders, led by
Judas Iscariot.

 The Passion
Friday: trial, crucifixion, and burial.—Jesus was taken from the Garden to begin his
trials. There were six trials; all the Jewish trials were held at night, ending at dawn on Friday
morning; his Roman trials took about three hours, ending about 9 a.m. Friday morning.
• Jewish trials
o Before Annas, former high priest and father-in-law of Caiaphas
o Before Caiaphas and other leaders
o Formal trial before Sanhedrin
• Roman trials
o Before Pontius Pilate
o Before Herod Antipas
o Again before Pontius Pilate
During and between these stages of his trial, Jesus was mistreated, beaten, mocked, taunted, and
brutally scourged. In all his sufferings he was bearing our sins, and he responded without sin or
malice.
3.10
Jesus was crucified between two robbers, just outside the city wall, on the hill of
Golgotha (the Skull). The probable site is the tradition one in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
During the first three hours on the cross (ca. 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.) Jesus is reported to have uttered
three “sayings.” All three of these sayings are directed to the benefit of others. During this time
he was the object of continual mocking and ridicule from the crowds below.
1. To his Father, about the Roman soldiers, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what
they do” (in Luke; text doubtful—rated by UBS {C})
2. To the repentant thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” (in Luke)
3. To Mary his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to John “Here is your mother.”
(in John)
During the next three hours darkness covered the scene (12-3 p.m.). During these hours Jesus
bore the full weight of our sin and endured the wrath of the just God. All of Jesus’ recorded four
sayings during these hours are near the end, just before he died. They all show Jesus’ relation to
his Father in one aspect or another.
4. “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani —My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (spoken
in Aramaic, his native tongue; translated into Greek by the gospel writer; Matthew begins
with the Hebrew form Eli, while Mark begins with the Aramaic form Eloi)
5. “I am thirsty.” (in John)
6. “It is finished.” (in John)
7. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (in Luke)
Jesus died about 3 p.m. Friday afternoon. Joseph of Arimathea later asked Pilate for
permission, removed Jesus’ body from the cross, and buried it in his own tomb, which was near
the place of crucifixion. Nicodemus provided 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes to be used with the
linen wrappings. They wrapped his body and closed the tomb just before sundown Friday
evening. That point would mark the beginning of the weekly Sabbath, when everyone had to
rest. The women who followed Jesus intended themselves to prepare his body more carefully
after the Sabbath was over.
[The traditional sites of both Golgotha and the tomb are in the large Church of the Holy
Sepulcher. In the time of Christ that location was outside the city wall. The modern site
called Gordon’s Calvary has no real historical claim to authenticity; however, it does
provide a more serene, garden-like atmosphere.]
Saturday: Jesus in the grave.—Since no work could be done on the Sabbath, further
preparation of Jesus’ body came to a standstill. At sunset, after the Sabbath was over, some of
the women brought additional spices to Joseph’s house, to be used by them the following day
(Matt 28:1; Mark 16:1)

 Resurrection and appearances

Jesus actually arose sometime very early Sunday morning, while it was still dark. His
resurrection itself was not witnessed by anyone. When the angels appeared to the guards, Jesus
had already been risen (Matt 28:2-4). They opened the stone door, not so Jesus could come out,
but so that people could look and go in—to see that the tomb was empty.
At first Mary Magdalene and the other women and Peter and John go to the tomb and
find it empty, sometimes receiving a message from angels there. Then Jesus himself appeared to
his followers.

 Ascension
For forty days after his resurrection Jesus appeared at various times to his disciples and
taught them about the kingdom of God. He was to return to heaven until the kingdom would be
given to him at his second coming. During this interval his church is to be his witness,
empowered by the Holy Spirit. Luke in Acts 1 describes the ascension of Jesus into heaven at
the end of the forty days. This ascension was given for the disciples’ sakes; it was an indication
that he would come “in the same way.” Zechariah had predicted that the Messiah would come
and stand upon the Mount of Olives (Zech 14:4); and that is where Jesus was standing when he
went into heaven. Encouraged by the angels, the disciples returned to Jerusalem and awaited the
promised coming of the Holy Spirit.

 Jesus Christ is the only Son of God.

Jesus means in Hebrew: "God saves." At the annunciation, the angel Gabriel gave him the name Jesus as his proper

name, which expresses both his identity and his mission. Since God alone can forgive sins, it is God who, in Jesus his

eternal Son made man, "will save his people from their sins". in Jesus, God recapitulates all of his history of salvation

on behalf of men.

 Jesus Christ, Son of God, Our Lord.

In the history of salvation God was not content to deliver Israel "out of the house of bondage" by bringing them out of

Egypt. He also saves them from their sin. Because sin is always an offence against God, only he can forgive it. For

this reason Israel, becoming more and more aware of the universality of sin, will no longer be able to seek salvation

except by invoking the name of the Redeemer God.

 Jesus as the Christ.

The word "Christ" comes from the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah, which means "anointed". It became the

name proper to Jesus only because he accomplished perfectly the divine mission that "Christ" signifies. In effect, in

Israel those consecrated to God for a mission that he gave were anointed in his name. This was the case for kings, for

priests and, in rare instances, for prophets. This had to be the case all the more so for the Messiah whom God would

send to inaugurate his kingdom definitively. It was necessary that the Messiah be anointed by the Spirit of the Lord at

once as king and priest, and also as prophet.Jesus fulfilled the messianic hope of Israel in his threefold office of priest,

prophet and king.

 Jesus is the Son of Man.

The name "Jesus" signifies that the very name of God is present in the person of his Son, made man for the universal

and definitive redemption from sins. It is the divine name that alone brings salvation, and hence forth all can invoke his

name, for Jesus united himself to all men through his Incarnation, so that "there is no other name under heaven given

among men by which we must be saved.

 Jesus is Lord.

Jesus ascribes this title to himself in a veiled way when he disputes with the pharisees about the meaning of psalm 110,

but also in an explicit way when he addresses his apostles. Throughout his public life, he demonstrated his divine

sovereignty by works of power over nature, illnesses, demons, death and sin.

 Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

The name of Jesus is at the heart of Christian prayer. All liturgical prayers conclude with the words "through our Lord

Jesus Christ". The Hail Mary reaches its high point in the words "blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus." The Eastern

prayer of the heart, the Jesus prayer, says: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Many

Christians, such as St. Joan of Arc, have died with the one word "Jesus" on their lips.

 Jesus Christ is our Lord.

From the beginning of Christian history, the assertion of Christ's lordship over the world and over history has implicitly

recognized that man should not submit his personal freedom in an absolute manner to any earthly power, but only to

God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Caesar is not "the Lord". "The Church. . . believes that the key, the center

and the purpose of the whole of man's history is to be found in its Lord and Master."

 Jesus Christ is God himself.

The name Jesus means "God saves". The child born of the Virgin Mary is called Jesus, "for he will save his people

from their sins" (Mt 1:21): "there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved"

Christ Teaching in the parables.

 Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man (Part One) 

The Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man illustrates the resurrections from the dead and the Second Death. Martin Collins
explains how knowing the time element hidden within the parable opens up the meaning of Christ's teaching. 
 Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man (Part Two) 
Jesus' well-known parable preaches the gospel of the Kingdom of God by revealing salvation, the resurrection to eternal life,
and inheritance of His Kingdom on the earth. Martin Collins explains how. 
 Parable of the Barren Fig Tree 
In His discussion of the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree, Jesus does not attribute tragedy or accident directly to any person's
sins as the Jews did—instead, He affirms the sinfulness of everyone. The more important factor is will we repent to avoid
spiritual death? 
 Parable of the Cloth and Wineskins 
It is common sense not to put new wine in old wineskins or a new cloth patch on an old shirt. However, most people miss
the point Jesus is making: His new way of life is incompatible with our old habits and beliefs! 
 Parable of the Faithful and Evil Servants 
Jesus teaches His disciples to be ready at all times for His return. We show how well prepared we are by the quality of our
service to the brethren. 
 Parable of the Good Samaritan 
Most people understand the basic point of this well-known parable. The whole story describes working compassion as
contrasted to selfishness. It also clarifies just who is our neighbor. 
 Parable of the Great Supper  The Parable of the Great Supper is Jesus' response to a fellow dinner guest exclaiming,
"Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!" In the parable, Jesus exposes and corrects the ignorance of
those who, in their pride, misjudge their true moral condition. 
 Parable of the Light 
One of Jesus' most remembered sayings concerns the Parable of the Light. The Bible Study explains how we can let our
light shine both in the world and at home. 
 Parable of the Marriage Feast 
Jesus exposes the Jews' rejection of the gospel using the illustration of a king sending invitations to a wedding celebration.
Though God is shown to be merciful and just, the invitees' character is revealed to be wanting. 
 Parable of the Minas 
Jesus gives the Parable of the Minas in reaction to the people thinking He would set up His Kingdom immediately—an event
that still has not occurred. Martin Collins shows that the parable demonstrates what Jesus expects of and how He deals with
His servants in the meantime. 
 Parable of the Persistent Friend 
In this parable, Jesus illustrates persistence and perseverance in prayer. Unlike the sleeping friend, God is not reluctant to
answer our prayers, but He does want us to be diligent and patient in our requests. 
 Parable of the Persistent Widow 
Though the widow speaks only five words in this parable, she provides Christians in these last days with an example of
persistence in prayer. Martin Collins delves into the context and meaning of this helpful and encouraging parable. 
 Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector 
The two men who go to the Temple to pray contrast in character, belief, and self-examination. Martin Collins shows that,
although this parable involves prayer, it is not as much about how to pray as it is about how to be justified before God. 
 Parable of the Rich Fool 
Jesus teaches in this parable that we need to guard against every kind of covetousness. Even if we have everything we
could ever want or need, when we die, our goods will do nothing for us. It is the height of folly to believe that one has no
need of God. 
 Parable of the Sower 
God spreads His Word liberally among the world's people. Besides God's direct involvement in converting people, the
difference between one growing in it and another "dying on the vine" is the soil in which the Word is planted, explained in
Jesus' Parable of the Sower. 
 Parable of the Talents
The Parable of the Talents continues Jesus' thought from the Parable of the Ten Virgins. While the first parable highlights
preparation and watching for Christ's return, the second portrays Christians engaged in profitable activity in the meantime. 
 Parable of the Ten Virgins
Jesus gave the Parable of the Ten Virgins to encourage His disciples to be watchful and to make preparations for His
return. In Part One, Martin Collins compares the two groups of virgins, applying the lessons to our situation at the end of the
age. 
 Parable of the Treasure 
Jesus' Parable of the Treasure in Matthew 6:19-21 is designed to get us to evaluate the relative values of material wealth
and "treasures in heaven." Martin Collins expands on the metaphors of moths, rust, and thieves. 
 Parable of the Two Builders 
What have we founded our lives upon? Jesus asks this question in a parable in His Sermon on the Mount. Having a strong,
sturdy foundation will allow us to weather the storms of life and prevail. 
 Parable of the Two Debtors 
Within this parable Christ shows the principle of reciprocity. Just as we have been forgiven a huge, unpayable debt, so must
we extend forgiveness to those who owe us, showing that we appreciate what has been done for us. 
 Parable of the Two Sons 
Because of their different attitudes, people react to God's calling differently. The Parable of the Two Sons explains that
one's ultimate obedience to God is the one that really matters! 
 Parable of the Unjust Steward 
The Parable of the Unjust Steward has bothered Bible students for many years. Is Christ saying that Christians are foolish?
Are we make friends with greedy people? Are we doomed to fail? This Bible Study answers these frequent questions. 
 Parable of the Unprofitable Servants 
In this Parable, Jesus emphasizes the kind of faith His disciples need to endure trials and obey His commands. Martin
Collins explains that the only way for a Christian to obtain increased faith is to manifest steadfast, persevering obedience
grounded in humility with the help of God's Spirit. 
 Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers 
In this parable, Jesus manipulates His enemies into admitting their guilt in rejecting, persecuting, and even killing the
prophets—and ultimately Himself. Martin Collins shows that Jesus uses this parable to proclaim God's plan to take His
message to others, the church, who would accept it. 
 Parables and a Pearl 
What is a parable? How are we to understand them? John Ritenbaugh uses the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price to
explain how they apply to the church. 
 Parables of Counting the Cost 
In Luke 14:25-33, two parables and an exhortation urge us to forsake all that we have as a mandatory condition to
becoming Christ's disciples. One main lesson is emphasized in these scriptures: the nature and influence of true discipleship.
Miracles prove that Jesus is God

 Changing water into wine

 Healing of the royal official's son
 Healing of the capernaum demoniac
 Healing of Peter's mother-in-law
 Catching a large number of fish
 Healing a leper
 Healing a centurion's servant
 Healing a paralytic
 Healing a withered hand
 Raising a widow's son
 Calming the stormy sea
 Healing the Gerasene demoniac
 Healing a woman with internal bleeding
 Raising Jairus' daughter
 Healing two blind men
 Healing a mute demoniac
 Healing a 38 year invalid
 Feeding 5000 men and their families
 Walking on water
 Healing a demoniac girl
 Healing a deaf man with a speech impediment
 Feeding the 4000 men and their families
 Healing a blind man
 Healing a man born blind
 Healing a demoniac boy
 Catching a fish with a coin in its mouth
 Healing a blind and mute demoniac
 Healing a woman with an 18 year infirmity
 Healing a man with dropsy
 Healing 10 lepers
 Raising of Lazarus
 Healing Bartimaeus of blindness
 Restoring a severed ear
 Catching a great number of fish
 What is the truth about the Redemption of Christ?

Jesus Christ, the suffering servant, fulfilled the Jewish prophecies and perfectly upheld the Old Covenant of the Jewish people to
the extent that it was perfected in the New Covenant. Christ brought a new perfection to the Jewish law, and this is best
explained by Jesus two commandments, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all
your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The
whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments (Matthew 22:37-40)". Jesus both preached and upheld the
new spirit of the law with absolute, perfect love for God. He did not abolish the old Jewish covenant but rather fulfilled it and
correctly interpreted the Jewish law as only the Messiah could. The Jewish circumcision eventually gave way to Baptism by grace
and the sacrifice of animals gave way to the perfect offering of the Sacrifice of the Mass. Christ fulfilled the Passover banquet of
the lamb through the ultimate sacrifice of himself, the paschal lamb, for the life of the world. Jesus also fulfilled and perfected the
Jewish laws of ritual cleansing, "Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that
person; but the things that come out from within are what defile." Christ’s new teachings of sin are placed in the context of love
for God. Christ teaches that sin is not breaking rules and rituals, but the rejection of the perfect divine love of God himself. Only
Jesus Christ could have perfectly explained, fulfilled and lived according to the Law.

 What is the role of Mary in the redemption of Christ for the sins of mankind?

God’s love sent Jesus Christ into the world to teach his people the spirit of the law as well as to perfectly atone for the
forgiveness of sin. Jesus tells us, "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends
if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have
called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father (John 15:13-15)." He laid his life down, "to
serve and to give his life as ransom for many (Mk 10:45)." Indeed, Jesus Christ, true man and true God, willingly accepted the
crucifixion at the hands of the Jewish Sanhedrin and Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Those who feared and hated him had
him crucified for false charges of inciting discord among the Jews and uttering what seemed to the Jewish leaders to be
blasphemous words, "Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM (John 8:58)." Thus Jesus testifies that he is
God, and that "he who sees me sees the Father also. Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? (John
14:8-11)" Christ reveals to the Jews that he not only is the human messiah but also God himself, for "I and the Father are one
(John 10:30)." The Jewish leaders, who expected a political messiah, could not accept Jesus' divine words of truth and had him
crucified.

The four dogmas about Mary.

 The perpetual virginity of Mary:  The perpetual virginity of Mary of Nazareth is expressed in 3 parts: in her virginal
conception of Christ; in giving birth to Christ, and her continuing virginity after His birth.
 Mary the Mother of God:  That Mary was the mother of Jesus who is God was defined as dogma at the very city where
Mary had lived for several years'at the Council of Ephesus in 431AD. CCC# 495: Called in the Gospels "the mother of
Jesus," Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the prompting of the Spirit and even before the birth of her son, as "the mother
of my Lord,"  In fact, the One whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became her Son according to the
flesh, was none other than the Father's eternal Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity,  Hence the Church confesses
that Mary is truly "Mother of God (Theotokos).
 Immaculate Conception of Mary: That Mary of Nazareth was conceived without original sin was defined as dogma by Pope
Pius IX in 1854. CCC# 508: From among the descendants of Eve, God chose the Virgin Mary to be the mother of his
Son.  "Full of grace," Mary is "the most excellent fruit of redemptions" (SC 103): from the first instant of her conception,
she was totally preserved from the stain of original sin and she remained pure from all personal sin throughout her life.
 Assumption of Mary into heaven:  That Mary's body did not experience corruption but was assumed into heaven was
defined as dogma by Pope Pius XII in 1950. CCC# 974: The Most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her earthly life
was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she already shares in the glory of her Son's
Resurrection, anticipating the resurrection of all members of his Body.
 What are the chief sufferings of Christ?
The chief suffe
 The Gospel According to Luke

Birth of Jesus, ca. 7-6 B.C.

1. Reign of Herod the Great.
2. Died 4 B.C.
3. Governorship of Quirinius (Luke 2:2; spelled Cyrenius in KJV)
4. Appointed military overseer of Province of Syria by Augustus (12 B.C. – A.D.
17; actual governor A.D. 6-7)
5. After census ordered
6. Roman censuses every 14 years; last one 22 B.C.; later one in A.D. 6-7 (referred
to in Acts 5:37 and Josephus Ant. 17:13:5 and 18:1:1); thus census between in 8
B.C.
7. Possible correlation with star conjunction of 7 B.C. (Jupiter and Saturn in Pices)

 Birth, Infancy, and Childhood of Jesus

The NT says little about these years of Jesus’ life; the gospels concentrate on his adult
years—his ministry, Passion, and resurrection. However, what it does say is important as it
provides background for his adult life.

 Genealogies of Jesus
There are two genealogies of Jesus in the NT. They are quite different from each other at
various points. Two major interpretations reconcile these differences.
Traditional interpretation.—Both are genealogies of Jesus through his adopted
father Joseph. The differences are due to following different branches of his family,
branching at legal adoptions or levirate marriages. The earliest extant writer to suggest
this was Julius Africanus (ca. A.D. 230, quoted in Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 1:7).
It is the view of J. Gresham Machen in The Virgin Birth .
Mary interpretation.—Matthew uses the genealogy of Joseph, while Luke uses
the genealogy of Mary. This suggestion is offered by several modern conservative
scholars.
Either interpretation can harmonize the differences in the genealogies. The point is that Jesus is
not only fully human, but that he can rightfully claim the line of Abraham and the throne of
rings of Christ were His bitter agony of soul, His bloody sweat, His cruel scourging, His crowning with thorns, His crucifixion, and
His death on the cross.

Christ had often foretold His Passion. "For he was teaching his disciples, and saying to them 'The Son of Man is to be betrayed
into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and having been killed, he will rise again on the third day"' (Mark 9:30). Again:
"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the Scribes; and they will
condemn him to death, and will deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and put
him to death; and on the third day he will rise again" (Mark 10:33-34).

From the Last Supper, Christ went with His Apostles to the Garden of Olives to pray. There He was overwhelmed with sorrow
and agony, so that He sweated blood.

Our Lord looked forward to His agony, saying to His Apostles, "That the, world may know that I love the Father, and that I do as
the Father has commanded me. Arise, let us go from here" (John 14:31) . In the Garden, Jesus felt so sad at the sins of men
and at what would befall Him that He said, "My soul is sad even unto death" (Matt. 26:38). To His Father, He cried out in pain,
"Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42). In agony, "his sweat
became as drops of blood, running down upon the ground" (Luke 22:44).

Jesus Christ was betrayed by Judas, seized by soldiers, led before the high priest, and condemned to death. The Sanhedrin, the
council of the Jews, headed by Caiphas the high priest, condemned Jesus to death for the crime of blasphemy, because He
claimed to be Christ the Son of God.

"Then the high priest, standing up, said to him, 'Dost thou make no answer to the things that these men prefer against thee?' But
Jesus kept silence. And the high priest said to him, 'I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us whether thou art the Christ,
the Son of God.' Jesus said to him, 'Thou hast said it.' ... Then the high priest tore his garment, saying, 'He has blasphemed;
what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?' And they answered
and said, 'He is liable to death'" (Matt. 26:62-66)

Jesus Christ was led to Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judea, to have His sentence confirmed. At the time the Jews
were forbidden by their Roman masters from putting anyone to death without the confirmation of the Governor. Pilate questioned
Christ time and again, but had to say to His accusers: "I find no guilt in Him."

The Jewish Priests and Pharisees hated and persecuted Jesus because they expected the Messias to be an earthly king. They
were so wicked that in spite of the proofs of Christ's divinity, they would not believe a poor man could be the Messias. They
hated Jesus; He had rebuked them for their sins.
But Pilate wished to please the Jews, and had Jesus scourged, Jesus was bound to a pillar, His clothes torn off; strong men with
whips, cords, and straps with iron spikes scourged Him, and the whole body of Our Lord was one great wound.

"And the soldiers, plaiting a crown of thorns, put it upon his head, and arrayed him in a purple cloak. And they kept coming to
him and saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' and striking him. Pilate therefore again went outside and said to them, 'Behold, I bring
him out to you, that you may know that I find no guilt in him.' Jesus therefore came forth, wearing the crown of thorns and the
purple cloak. And he said to them, 'Behold the man!'"

At last, fearing that if he did not permit Jesus to be put to death the Jews would accuse him before Caesar, Pilate gave in to the
insistence of the Jews and delivered Him to them to be crucified.

Christ was made to carry His cross through the streets of Jerusalem to Mount Calvary. He was nailed to the cross about noon,
dying three hours afterwards, crucified between two thieves.

 What are the different appearances of Jesus after his resurrection?

1. Jesus first appears to Mary Magdalene, shortly after his resurrection.

2. Jesus appears to the women returning from the empty tomb.

3. Jesus appears to two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

4. He appears to Peter.

5. He appears to his disciples, in Jerusalem, while Thomas is absent.

6. Jesus again appears to his disciples, in Jerusalem. This time Thomas is present.

7. Jesus appears to his disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

8. Jesus is seen by 500 believers at one time.

9. He appears to James.

10. He appears to his disciples on a mountain in Galilee.

11. He appears to his disciples, blesses them, and ascends into heaven.
 12. He also appears to Paul, on the road to Damascus.

 What was last command of Jesus to his apostles before ascension?

When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands
and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up
into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.