Categories
5c

The Narrow Door

Week 100 | Section 112-113a


Podcast: Coming Soon


Section 112 | From Jerusalem to Perea

John 10:40-42
40 He went away again beyond the Jordan1 into the place where John was baptizing at first, and he stayed there. 41 Many came to him. They said, “John indeed did no sign,2 but everything that John said3 about this man is true.” 42 Many believed in him there.

Section 113a | Question about Salvation and Entering the Kingdom

Luke 13:22-30
22 He went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and traveling on to Jerusalem. 23 One4 said to him, “Lord, are they few who are saved?”5 He said to them,6 24 “Strive7 to enter in by the narrow door,8 for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in and will not be able.9 25 When once the master of the house has risen up,10 and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ then he will answer and tell you, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 He will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.11 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,12 and all the prophets in God’s Kingdom, and yourselves being thrown outside. 29 They13 will come from the east, west, north, and south, and will sit down in God’s Kingdom. 30 Behold, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last.”14  


Group Dialog:

  1. Locate the regions on Harmony’s map.
  2. Will you be among the saved? Why?
  3. Does God accept everyone who tries to do his best or everyone who believes that Jesus gave himself for the betterment and salvation of the world?
  4. How is it that some are first and others last?
  5. Will there be a time that its too late to be saved?
  6. How can our “striving” influence the affect and effect of our salvation?

Learning Objectives: salvation, grace, devotion, evangelism.


Study Notes:

Categories
5c

They Shall Never Perish

Perhaps no other passage in the Bible offers more hope and assurance to the souls of humanity than this one. Woven into today’s reading is the story of betrayal and faithfulness, captivity and freedom, suffering and hope, despair and mercy, darkness and light. The beloved John captures our imaginations while recounting the events of Jesus’ last Hanukkah celebration and offers to us a lesson we must never forget.

Podcast: Scheduled for 10/21/16


Section 111 | Another Attempt to Stone or Arrest Jesus for Blasphemy at the Feast of Dedication

John 10:22-39
22 It was the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem.1  23 It was winter,2 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.3  24 The Jews therefore4 came around him and said to him, “How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you don’t believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me. 26 But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you.5 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give eternal life to them.6 They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.7  29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” 31 Therefore Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy: because you, being a man, make yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods?’ 35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken), 36 do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God?’ 37 If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me. 38 But if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works; that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39 They sought again to seize him, and he went out of their hand.


Group Dialog:

  1. What experiences of shame, failure, rejection, captivity have haunted your soul and troubled your mind?
  2. There are some who feel they should not be embraced by the Love of God and the security of the finished work of Christ. Do you feel yourself to be one of His his sheep or more similar to those faithfully religious people gathered there at the Porch of Solomon?
  3. How can someone whose salvation does not depend in the slightest upon human effort or merit, but entirely on the power of God and the merits of Christ, be lost by some human act, either by the mind or by the body?

Learning Objectives: Grace, I am my beloved’s, eternal security, redemption, Messiah.


Notes:

Categories
5c

Freed from Infirmity

Week 98, Section 110 in the Harmony of the Gospels

As Jesus healed some on the Sabbath, some Pharisees accused Him of breaking the Sabbath. In today’s study we’ll explore further Jesus the Healer and His Miracles,1 and also the rabbinical tradition called the Halakah (preserved in the Mishnah) that lay behind the Sabbath-breaking charges leveled against Jesus and His disciples.

Podcast: scheduled for October 14, 2016


Section 110 | Opposition from a Synagogue Ruler for Healing a Woman on the Sabbath

Luke 13:10-21
10 He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day. 11 Behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years. She was bent over, and could in no way straighten herself up. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her, and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” 13 He laid his hands on her,2 and immediately she stood up straight and glorified God. 14 The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath,3 said to the multitude, “There are six days in which men ought to work. Therefore come on those days4 and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!” 15 Therefore the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites!5Doesn’t each one of you free his ox or his donkey from the stall on the Sabbath, and lead him away to water? 16 Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham whom Satan had bound eighteen long years, be freed from this bondage on the Sabbath day?”6 17 As he said these things, all his adversaries were disappointed and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.7 18 He said, “What is God’s Kingdom like? To what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and put in his own garden. It grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the sky live in its branches.” 20 Again he said, “To what shall I compare God’s Kingdom? 21 It is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

Group Dialogue: 

  1. Why do you think that Luke might have been motivated to include this story when none of the other Gospel writers did so?
  2. What are the words of the Fourth Commandment and the reasoning behind it (Exodus 20:8; 9-11)?
  3. Was Jesus breaking the law, tradition or justifying his behavior by the guilt of the Pharisees?
  4. How is it especially appropriate that the woman be healed on the Sabbath? (Luke 13:16)
  5. If he had made mud to heal her rather than praying might it have been a violation of the law?
  6. What do you know about the other healing stories, and any similarities?
  7. Jesus referred to the woman as “a daughter of Abraham”.  As a “child of God” do you have any physical, emotional, spiritual need, illness, or oppression from which you’d like to be freed? Write it down and if you feel comfortable, share it with you group at the end of the study so that others may pray for your healing.

Notes:

Categories
Uncategorized

Jesus the Healer and his Miracles

There are 20 specific stories of Jesus healing people and in several of these instances we also read that Jesus went on and healed “all those who came” “many others” and “everyone”.  

This table is designed to help you jump to each passage in the Harmony of the Gospels so that you can study each healing and miracle in harmony, context, and chronological order.

Healing

Section

Phase

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Healing the official’s son at Capernaum

38

2

John 4:46-54

Healing a possessed man

42

3

Mark 1:23-26

Healing Peter’s mother-in-law

43

3

Matt. 8:14-15

Mark 1:30-31

Luke 4:38-39

Healing a paralyzed man

46

3

Matt. 9:2-7

Mark 2:3-12

Luke 5:18-25

Healing the man at the pool of Bethesda

49a

4

John 5:1-9

Healing a man with a withered hand

51

4

Matt. 12:10-13

Mark 3:1-5

Luke 6:6-10

Healing the centurion’s servant

55

5a

Matt. 8:5-13

Luke 7:1-10

Raising the widow of Nain’s son from the dead

56

5a

Luke 7:11-15

Healing a blind and dumb man

61

5a

Matt. 12:22

Luke 11:14

Healing a leper

65

5a

Matt. 8:2-3

Mark 1:40-42

Luke 5:12-13

Healing the one/two Gadarenes

66

5a

Matt. 8:28-34

Mark 5:1-13

Luke 8:27-33

Healing a woman with a hemorrhage

67

5a

Matt. 9:20-22

Mark 5:25-29

Luke 8:43-48

Healing two blind men

68

5a

Matt. 9:27-31

Healing a dumb man

68

5a

Matt. 9:32-33

Healing the Canaanite woman’s daughter

78

5b

Matt. 15:21-28

Mark 7:24-30

Healing a deaf and dumb man

79a

5b

Mark 7:31-37

Healing the blind man at Bethsaid

81b

5b

Mark 8:22-26

Healing a boy with epilepsy

87

5b

Matt. 17:14-18

Mark 9:17-29

Luke 9:38-43

Healing the man born blind

100a

5b

John 9:1-7

Healing the woman bent double

110

5c

Luke 13:11-13

Healing a man with dropsy

114

5c

Luke 14:1-4

Healing the ten lepers

120a

5c

Luke 17:11-19

Healing of Bartimaeus

126

5c

Matt. 20:29-34

Mark 10:46-52

Luke 18:35-43

Healing Malchus’ ear

153

5d

Luke 22:50-51

We’ve listed each resurrection miracle in the list of the following miracles performed by Christ:

Miracles

Section

Phase

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Turning water to wine

29

2

John 2:1-11

The catch of fish

41

3

Luke 5:1-11

Calming the storm

65

5a

Matt. 8:23-27

Mark 4:37-41

Luke 8:22-25

Raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead *

67

5a

Matt. 9:18-25

Mark 5:22-42

Luke 8:41-56

Feeding the 5,000

72c

5b

Matt. 14:15-21

Mark 6:35-44

Luke 9:12-17

John 6:5-13

Walking on the water

74

5b

Matt. 14:25

Mark 6:48-51

John 6:19-21

The boat immediately reaching shore

74

5b

John 6:21

Feeding the 4,000

79b

5b

Matt. 15:32-38

Mark 8:1-9

Finding of the coin in the fish’s mouth

89

5b

Matt. 17:24-27

Raising Lazarus from the dead

118b

5c

John 11:17-44

The withered fig tree

129a

5d

Matt. 21:18-22

Mark 11:20-26

A catch of fish

180

5d

John 21:1-11

Jesus’ Resurrection *

170-171

5d

Matt. 28:2-8

Mark 16:2-6

Luke 24:1-8

John 20:1

* Jesus’ resurrection is a miracle attributed to the Trinity and so to himself. This is integral to the Gospel, his identity, and our own victory and worship (Sursum corda).  See these two articles (Bible.org / CARM) for more thoughts and passages about the activity of the Trinity.

We suppose that the post-Resurrection appearances  could also be considered miraculous. These can be found in phase 5d – Post Resurrection Appearances.

To these miracles could be added four post-Ascension appearances including: Jesus’ Appearance to Saul Acts 9:1-9; and three other occurrences as told by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8: Jesus appeared to over 500 men; Jesus appeared to James, Jesus’ brother; Jesus’ appearance to ‘all the apostles’.

Healings: 5% (1 instance is in Phase 2; 15% (3 instances in Phase 3); 10% (2 instances in Phase 4); 40% (8 instances in Phase 5a); and 25% (5 instances in Phase 5b);  5% (1 instance in Phase 5c); and the final 15% (3 instances in Phase 5d)  

Categories
5c

The Way of the Fig Tree

Intro

Section 109 | Two Alternatives: Repent or Perish

Luke 13:1-9
1 Now there were some present at the same time some who told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.1 2 Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things?2 3 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.3 4 Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them; do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem?4 5 I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.” 6 He spoke this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none. 7 He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down. Why does it waste the soil?’ 8 He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’ ”5

Categories
5c

People Get Ready

This is the third time in which Jesus provides certain clarity as to his imminent crucifixion, the resurrection and the eternal order of things.  Amidst a crowd of well over 10,000 people Jesus urges his disciples, followers, and all the hearers including Jews, Pharisees and most likely a few Romans to prepare themselves by opening their hearts and minds to place their faith and trust in Him.


Section 108c | Warning against being Unprepared for the Son of Man’s Coming

Luke 12:35-48
35 “Let your waist be dressed1 and your lamps burning.2 36 Be like men watching for their lord,3 when he returns from the marriage feast; that when he comes and knocks,4 they may immediately open to him. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you that he will dress himself, make them recline, and will come and serve them.5 38 They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch,6 and finds them so. 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming,7 he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40 Therefore be ready8 also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect him.” 41 Peter said to him, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?” 9 42 The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes.10 44 Truly I tell you, that he will set him over all that he has. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My lord delays his coming,’11 and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken, 46 then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn’t expecting him, and in an hour that he doesn’t know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful. 47 That servant, who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes, 48 but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.

Section 108d | Warning about the Coming Division

Luke 12:49-53
49 “I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled. 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division. 52 For from now on, there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Section 108e| Warning against Failing to Discern the Present Time

Luke 12:54-59
54 He said to the multitudes also, “When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens. 55 When a south wind blows, you say, ‘There will be a scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you don’t interpret this time? 57 Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will by no means get out of there, until you have paid the very last penny.”


Group Dialog:


Media: “People Get Ready” by Curtis Mayfield (Lyrics+tab) sung by many my favorite version is sung by Eva Cassidy (Youtube).


Notes:

Categories
5c

Contentment and the Kingdom

In today’s lesson Jesus continues his warning the multitudes and his disciples about hypocrisy and how to counter it through a life devoted to the Kingdom purpose. Covetousness has no place in the mind of disciples. Instead we should cultivate contentment, charity and invest to further the God’s Kingdom purpose.


Audio: coming soon


Section 108b | Warning about Greed and Trust in Wealth

Luke 12:13-34
13 One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 He said to them, “Beware!1 Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.” 16 He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly. 17 He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’ 18 He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’ 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” 22 He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they don’t sow, they don’t reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! 25 Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height? 26 If then you aren’t able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies,2 how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? 29 Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. 30 For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek God’s Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you. 32 Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. 33 Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.


Group Dialog:

  1. Having more money could solve a whole lot of problems, but what problems might it create? What problems can be created by fantasizing or planning about having more money?
  2.  Why would Jesus who accepted the gifts of others warn his disciples about the love of money?
  3. Share your thoughts, experience and wisdom about: abundance, fear, contentment, priorities, money, charity, responsibility, faith.

Notes:

Categories
5c

Disciples Beware

Last week Jesus confronted the Pharisees with their hypocrisy. As He approaches His death in Jerusalem, Jesus is concerned that His disciples may fall prey to the same type of hypocrisy. Therefore, He urgently warns them to “be on their guard” against two potential traps that have ensnared the Pharisees – hypocrisy and greed.


Audio: Coming soon


Section 108a | Warning the Disciples about Hypocrisy

Luke 12:1-12
1 Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his disciples first of all, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees,1 which is hypocrisy.2 2 But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed,3 nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. 4 “I tell you, my friends,4 don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.5 5 But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him6  who after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna.7 Yes, I tell you, fear him.8 6 “Aren’t five sparrows sold for two assaria coins?9  Not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all counted. Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows. 8 “I tell you, everyone who confesses me before men, the Son of Man will also confess before the angels of God; 9 but he who denies me in the presence of men will be denied in the presence of God’s angels. 10 Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man10 will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 When they bring you11 before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don’t be anxious12 how or what you will answer, or what you will say; 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say.”13


Group Dialog:

  1. Where are they, and how would there be an opportunity to address them all? Was there something from the previous periscope(s) that explains why such a large gathering of people came to this spot?
  2. How does Jesus relate to this action of trampling each other? Does Jesus use the crowd and trampling to inform his decision to pronounce the following “Beware..”?
  3. Read: Matthew 7:5; Luke 6:42; Luke 13:15; 1 Timothy 5:24-25 and Galatians 2:11-14. How would you define hypocrisy?
  4. How can hypocrisy affect us? How does it affect our friendships? Our testimony?
  5. Do you fear what others might think about you? How might that be affecting your lifestyle and witness?
  6. How have trials and difficult times in your life revealed your own failure of faith, hypocrisy, and the depth of your relationship with God?
  7. What affect has your disbelief in Christs’ grace and approval had upon you?

Notes:

Categories
5c

Inside Out

Jesus openly opposed legalism and yet opened himself to those ensnared in hypocrisy to help them see the reality of God’s intent and anointing of grace. In today’s reading we have the story of an awkward dinner conversation, perhaps fodder for the old admonition against speaking of politics or religion at the table. Hypocrisy and legalism are serious obstacles to our Christian living. May we humbly abandon such foolishness and at the foot of the cross learn to live and serve in the power of the Holy Spirit.


Audio: Coming soon.


Section 107 | Woes against the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law while Eating with a Pharisee

Luke 11:37-54
37 Now as he spoke, a certain Pharisee asked him to dine with him. He went in, and sat at the table. 38 When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that he had not first washed himself before dinner. 39 The Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness. 40 You foolish ones, didn’t he who made the outside make the inside also?1 41 But give for gifts to the needy those things which are within, and behold, all things will be clean to you. 42 But woe2 to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, but you bypass justice and God’s love. You ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces. 44 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like hidden graves, and the men who walk over them don’t know it.” 45 One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying this you insult us also.” 46 He said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load men with burdens that are difficult to carry, and you yourselves won’t even lift one finger to help carry those burdens. 47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 So you testify and consent to the works of your fathers. For they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles; and some of them they will kill and persecute, 50 that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.’ Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. 52 Woe to you lawyers! For you took away the key of knowledge. You didn’t enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in, you hindered.” 53 As he said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly angry, and to draw many things out of him; 54 lying in wait for him, and seeking to catch him in something he might say, that they might accuse him.


Group Dialog:

  1. What are the three woes Jesus expressed of each group?
  2. How can we ensure that we ‘do justice’ and ‘love God’, rather than any lists of religious activity?
  3. How have hypocrisy and legalism in your own life diminished your faith in Christ and witness of God’s grace?

Learning objectives: Relationship with Jesus, personal obedience that enlivens our faith, personal and corporate faith, legalism, hypocrisy,  grace, the law of Moses, the Mishnah.


Notes:

Categories
5c

Sight and Singleness of Heart

Week 92 | Section 106

In our reading today we learn many things including the nature and uniqueness of Christ, kingdom dynamics, and how the posture of our mind and soul can shape our fate. We need sight and singleness of heart, we need faith and courage to follow and act as his disciples.


Scripture:

Section 106 | A Third Blasphemous Accusation and a Second Debate

Luke 11:14-36
14 He was casting out a demon, and it was mute.1 When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the multitudes marveled.2 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.” 16 Others, testing him, sought from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. A house divided against itself falls. 18 If Satan3  If there is  also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 But if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if I by God’s finger cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come to you. 21 “When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own dwelling, his goods are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks him and overcomes him, he takes from him his whole armor in which he trusted, and divides his plunder. 23 “He that is not with me is against me. He who doesn’t gather with me scatters. 24 The unclean spirit, when he has gone out of the man, passes through dry places, seeking rest, and finding none, he says, ‘I will turn back to my house from which I came out.’ 25 When he returns, he finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then he goes, and takes seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first.” 27 It came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which nursed you!” 28 But he said,“On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.” 29 When the multitudes were gathering together to him, he began to say, “This is an evil generation.4 It seeks after a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah, the prophet. 30 For even as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will also be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South5 will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and will condemn them: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, one greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, one greater than Jonah is here. 33 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, that those who come in may see the light. 34 The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Therefore see whether the light that is in you isn’t darkness. 36 If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light.”


Group Dialog:


Learning Objectives: Sight and Singleness of Heart


Study Notes: