READ IT! - Introduction to Luke 7-13

Readings for this week

Monday: Luke 7

Tuesday: Luke 8

Wednesday: Luke 9

Thursday: Luke 10

Friday: Luke 11

Saturday: Luke 12

Sunday: Luke 13

Introduction to Luke 7-13

Chapter 7

Jesus goes to Capernaum and while he is there the servant of a centurion is about to die from sickness. The centurion sends the Jewish elders to Jesus to ask him to come heal his servant. The elders try to convince Jesus to come by telling him about all the wonderful things this centurion has done for the local Jews, including building their synagogue. 

As Jesus is on his way, the centurion sends some of his friends to tell him to not bother coming over because he realizes he doesn’t deserve to have Jesus as a guest. He adds that this was why he sent messengers in the first place – because he did not consider himself worthy of speaking to Jesus himself. 

He tells Jesus to just say the word and the servant will be healed, adding that as one who has great authority he can recognize someone who has even greater authority. 

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 

Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well. 

Soon afterward Jesus went to a town named Nain. And when He arrived a funeral procession was coming out of the gate. A young man had died, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. Jesus told her not to weep and he then raised her son from the dead

The raising of the son of the widow of Zarephath, by the Old Testament prophet Elijah, is the model for this miracle. At the beginning of both stories the prophet meets the woman at the gate of the town, and both stories end with the words “and he gave the boy back to his mother.” 

We then hear about how John the Baptist begins to question whether or not Jesus is The One, and also how the Pharisees rejected the baptism of John and because of this they also rejected the teaching of Jesus.

Jesus is eating dinner at the house of a Pharisee named Simon when a “sinful” woman arrives with an expensive jar of perfume. She stood behind Jesus weeping and letting her tears drip on his feet. She then wipes off the tears with her hair, kisses his feet, and pours the perfume on them. 

Jesus’ host sees this and mutters to himself. Jesus then tells him a parable and says that whoever has been forgiven little loves little.. but that this woman loves much because he has forgiven her sins. And the people are scandalized when they hear this.

Chapter 8

Jesus then tells them the well-known “Parable of the Sower, but before telling Jesus’ Parable of the Sower, Luke tells us about Jesus’ other disciples – his female disciples. 

We also learn that Herod wants Jesus killed because Jesus is proclaiming a kingdom other than Herod’s and that makes Jesus a threat 

But Jesus is able to travel around giving this message because there are a group of women disciples who travel with him and pay his bills, including a woman named Joanna whose husband just happens to be the household manager for… Herod. 

Herod, in other words, ends up indirectly funding the very thing he’s trying to stamp out. 

Another odd little fact about this arrangement is that a lot of the funding being used to support Jesus’ ministry came from money earned by Herod’s monopoly on the aphrodisiac market… but that’s beside the point. 

Jesus then tells another parable about “A Lamp on a Stand,” and we see his mother and brothers show up to try and take him back home because they think he’s lost his mind. And Jesus says that his true family are the ones surrounding him who actually listen to him.

We then see the story of Jesus calming the storm while crossing the lake with his disciples. And on the other side of the lake, Jesus restores a demon-possessed man.

After this, Jesus returns and raises a dead girl and heals a sick woman.

Chapter 9

Jesus then sends out the twelve disciples to go prepare other towns for his arrival and message.

Jesus later feeds the 5000 people with just a couple of fish and some pieces of bread. Soon after which, Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah. But then Jesus starts to predicts his death, and Peter doesn’t like that so much. 

Luke then tells us about how Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain and how Jesus’ appearance was transfigured before them, and then Moses and Elijah suddenly appear and Jesus has a conversation with them about his departure. Peter is in awe, and he starts babbling as usual, and God’s voice speaks and tells him to listen to Jesus.

At the bottom of the mountain, Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy, and he then predicts his death a second time. 

We then come to a section of Luke’s Gospel known as “The Travel Narrative” which does not pay strict attention to the “order” of events, but rather arranges stories and teachings by theme. 

Jesus sends his disciples on ahead of Him to prepare the way. However, when they come to a Samaritan town, and the Samaritans find out that Jesus is on His way to take care of business in Jerusalem, the Samaritans say that He and His disciples are not welcome.

James and John ask Jesus if He would like them to call down fire from Heaven upon these Samaritans. This may be a reference to the famous prophet Elijah. The disciples would have known the story of Elijah calling down fire from Heaven to consume the commander and soldiers when they came from Samaria to arrest him. James and John believed that if Elijah would call down fire to destroy unbelieving Samarians, then Jesus would certainly do no less.

However, Jesus rebuked the two disciples for saying such a thing. Luke uses this event to show that Jesus did not come to destroy life, but to save it. He also shows that Jesus had compassion on the Samaritans, thus indicating that Jesus came not just for the Jews, but for the Gentiles as well.

This is the first reinforcement of Luke’s theme of salvation for all people presented in “The Travel Narrative.” 

Later, three potential disciples all wish to follow Jesus, but they have various things that they would like to do first. 

Jesus tells each of them that if they really want to follow Him, they must give up all of these other things. 

This is a hard teaching, because Jesus is asking them not to do things that were considered good, even important for an individual to do, but Jesus is saying that following Him is more important than even ones family ties. 

There is also another reference to Elijah here. One man states that he would like to go say good-by to his family before following Jesus. This is the same request that Elisha made to Elijah when he received his calling. Elijah allowed Elisha his request, but Jesus says that whoever “puts his hand to the plow and looks back” is not fit for “service in the kingdom of God.” This is also a reference to the same story, for Elisha was plowing when he received his call. 

Chapter 10

Jesus sends out the seventy (or seventy-two) to the towns ahead of Him to prepare them for His arrival. 

Jesus then is recorded as saying that those Jewish towns who reject Him will receive a worse punishment than the wicked pagan nations who did not have a chance to receive Him. 

Jesus indicates that the wicked Gentile cities of Tyre and Sidon, and even Sodom and Gomorrah, will receive a lesser punishment than the Jewish cities that reject Him. 

This would appear to be another attempt by the gospel-writer to show that the Jews are no better than the Gentiles. Jesus even says that if the miracles that had been performed in the Jewish cities had been performed in the wicked Gentile cities they would have repented. 

Throughout Luke, the gospel-writer has a way of turning things on their heads. He portrays Jesus as being one who has no problem with messing with people’s traditions if they interfere with the Kingdom of God. In this way, many role-reversals may be seen presented. 

In verse twenty-one Jesus praises His Father for hiding “these things from the wise and learned” and instead revealing them to “little children.” 

Later, a Torah-Teacher asks Jesus, “What is the greatest commandment?” 

The answer is obvious: The Shema! – or to love God with all of yourself. 

And how do you love God with all of yourself? With the second greatest commandment! Love your neighbor! 

But the man wants to know, “Who is my neighbor?” 

And so Jesus tells him the well-known parable of the Good Samaritan.

But in the parable, why does the priest avoid the man lying for dead on the road? Because he knows the Law that says “Don’t touch dead bodies!” 

The priest believes the laws of cleanliness are more important than the law to love ones neighbor. 

The Levite does the same, walking clear over on the other side of the road (which on this particular road exists only as the edge of a cliff) 

Then Jesus changes the parable by exchanging the third person to happen upon the half-dead man, a Pharisee, for a…Samaritan!!! The Jews didn’t even think Samaritans counted as human! 

And the Samaritan is the only one that knows how to love his neighbor!!! 

So Jesus says: Go love the person who despises you! Go love the person you hate! Be like the Samaritan in the story and love the Samaritans! – Love your enemies! 

Jesus journeys to Bethany and stays at the home of Mary and Martha 

Jesus is also recorded as allowing Mary to sit at his feet like he allowed his disciples to do and listen to his teachings. 

This is another example of Jesus’ overturning the laws of social norms when they interfere with the Kingdom of God. 

Jesus came not only for men, but for women as well. 

When Martha tells Jesus to rebuke her sister Mary for not helping her with the meal preparations, Jesus says that Mary “has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” 

Chapter 11

One of Jesus’ disciples asks him to teach them how to pray like John had taught his disciples. Jesus responds by reciting to them what we call “The Lord’s Prayer,” however this version is shorter than the one in Matthew’s Gospel. 

Jesus then tells a parable about a friend who eventually agrees to help his neighbor who doesn’t have enough food to feed a surprise guest. He helps him due to his persistent demands rather than because they are friends, despite the late hour and the inconvenience of it. 

Jesus later healed a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, so that he could both talk and see. But the Pharisees said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons." 

And Jesus knows what they’re thinking and tells them that the devil must be pretty stupid if he’s driving himself out. How could the devil possibly have a lasting kingdom if that’s how he goes about things?

Jesus then tells a parable about a strong man. The strong man represents Satan, and the attacker represents Jesus. Jesus thus says that he could not perform exorcisms (represented by stealing the strong man's possessions) unless he was opposed to – and had defeated – Satan (represented by tying up the strong man).

Jesus then goes on to say that the people He has been speaking to are wicked, saying that all they want is a sign but the only sign they’ll get is the sign of Jonah. He says that he himself will be a sign to the people just as Jonah was to the Ninevites when he was swallowed up for three days. He emphasizes that the Gentiles are no worse than the Jews by referring to the Ninevites who repented at Jonah’s preaching, and the Queen of the South, who sought out Solomon’s wisdom. He says that they will condemn “this generation” at the judgment for not receiving Him.

He then tells a parable about “The Lamp of the Body.”

Later, Jesus again flips tradition on its head by not washing before the meal at a Pharisee’s house. Jesus uses this as an opportunity to point out that there are more important laws than washing ones hands, and the Pharisees have decided to follow the less important laws while ignoring the most important laws of loving God and loving neighbor. 

Chapter 12

A huge crowd shows up to listen to Jesus and Jesus begins to tell his disciples to watch out for the “yeast of the Pharisees” – which is hypocrisy. He says that every secret and hidden thing will one day be revealed, and what has been whispered will be proclaimed from the rooftops. Jesus also says to not be afraid of those who can kill the body, but instead to dear the God who can destroy both body and soul in hell. 

He adds that God even cares about worthless sparrows, so we shouldn’t be afraid because we’re worth a lot more than sparrows to God – he’s even counted the number of hairs we have on our heads. 

An audience member tries to enlist Jesus' help in a family financial dispute. Jesus is like “Who made me a judge?” He adds, “Watch out for greed! Your life is more than the stuff you own!” 

He then tells the parable of the Rich Fool, and adds that anyone is a fool who has earthly riches but is not rich towards God. 

He then gives teachings on not worrying about life.

Jesus also tells his disciples that believers must keep watch and be prepared for the coming of the Lord. He compares them to servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding feast – they have no idea if he will come in the middle of the night or just before dawn, but they must be ready for him when he comes home. He also compares them to a homeowner who has no idea when a burglar might break into his home, but who must be prepared nonetheless. 

Peter wants to know if this teaching is for them as leaders or for all believers. Jesus says that it will not go well for the servant left in charge who is discovered to be a drunk and beating his fellow servants upon his master’s return. Jesus says that those who don’t know any better won’t be punished as severely, but to those who have been given much, much is expected. 

Jesus says that many of teachings will bring about division instead of the peace they were intended to bring because of people’s stubbornness.

Jesus accuses the people of being more interested in interpreting the weather than interpreting the times. He compares them to people being dragged into court who don’t have the sense to reason or barter with the accuser along the way. That kind of person ends up serving a full sentence and paying every fine.

Chapter 13

Jesus calls all to repentance. In the midst of this call, Luke records a unique teaching of Jesus. 

Jesus goes against popular thought and says that people who had been killed tragically were not being punished by God for sin. They were no more guilty than anybody else. 

This includes the people Pilate had recently killed and used as sacrifice material as well as the eighteen people who had recently died when a tower collapsed on them.

Jesus then points out to the people that since they have such an interest in death and punishment for sins, they ought to examine their own hearts to see if they are ready for death, and they shouldn’t think poorly of other people who have died or have had bad things happen to them, because the people who had been tragically killed were no worse than anyone else. 

Jesus also tells a parable about a man who had a fig tree that never gave him any figs for three years. So he was going to cut it down, but his gardener intervened and convinced him to wait a year while he gave it special attention. Jesus is saying that God isn’t out to cut people down. He’s like the patient gardener who works hard to bring out the good in people. 

In this passage, Luke records the healing of the crippled woman on the Sabbath. In both this story and previous teaching, Luke appears to use Jewish symbolism. He uses the number eighteen to describe both the number of people tragically killed as well as the number of years this woman had been crippled by a spirit. The fact that her infirmity was caused by a spirit is significant. 

The number eighteen is essentially the same as six and six and six, indicating that her infirmity, as well as the tragic deaths of the others, were directly related to Satan. 

It is fitting then that Jesus heals this woman on the Sabbath, the seventh day. 

  

At this point, Jesus also reiterates the fact that the Pharisees have chosen to make certain rules, such as a strict interpretation of keeping the Sabbath, more important than the law of loving ones neighbor. 

Jesus then tells the parables of “The Mustard Seed” and “The Yeast.”

Jesus presses on towards Jerusalem, preaching and teaching as he goes. 

Someone asks him if only a few will be saved. Jesus says to try hard to enter through the “narrow door” because many will try to enter God’s Kingdom and fail. He says when the door finally closes it will be too late and people will be banging on the door begging to be let in. 

Some Pharisees show up and tell Jesus to run and hide because Herod wants to kill him, but Jesus calls Herod a fox and says he will continue on and he hints at his death and resurrection on the third day in Jerusalem.

Jesus then laments the role of Jerusalem as the one who killed the prophets of God. He uses feminine and animal imagery to describe himself as the one who wanted to safely gather up Jerusalem as a hen gathers up her chicks under her wings – but Jerusalem was unwilling. He predicts that some time after his visit, Jerusalem will be destroyed, and that they will never see him again until they once again bless the one that God sends to them. 

Read Luke 7

When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,

    who will prepare your way before you.’

I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

(All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:

“‘We played the pipe for you,

    and you did not dance;

we sang a dirge,

    and you did not cry.’

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”