Luke 23:26–23:43 When Jesus left Pilate’s judgment hall, he was carrying the cross. This was part of a prisoner’s
humiliation that he carry his own cross. However, because of physical exhaustion Jesus was unable
to carry it very far. A man named Simon, from the town of Cyrene in N … Read more
Luke 23:13–23:25 Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but the crowd continued to demand His death; so he sentenced
Him
to die (vv. 13-25). Today we might say that he did what was politically correct. No doubt Pilate did
not want to risk losing his job, and as we have indicated previously, it w … Read more
Luke 23:1–23:12 Pilate was the Roman Governor of Palestine from A.D. 26-36. He seemed to take pleasure in
harassing the Jews and had insulted the Jewish religion by bringing imperial images into
Jerusalem.
Because of this Pilate was already beginning to feel insecure in his position when t … Read more
Luke 22:54–22:71 Jesus was given six different “trials” (three before the Jewish religious leaders and three before the
Roman authorities) before He was condemned to die on a cross. First He was taken to Annas, who
was a retired high priest and a very influential Jew (Jn. 18:12-13 … Read more
Luke 22:39–22:53 At the conclusion of “The Last Supper” in the upper room, Jesus crossed over the brook Kidron to
the Garden of Gethsemane which is located at the foot of the mount of Olives. This was a
customary place of retirement when in Jerusalem (v. 39). Peter, James and … Read more
Luke 22:31–22:38 Jesus explains to Peter how Satan wanted to crush he and the other disciples like grains of wheat
(v. 31). He hoped to find only chaff and blow it away. However, Jesus assured Peter that He had
been praying for him; and his faith, although it would falter, would not be de … Read more
Luke 22:14–22:30 Jesus eats His last meal with His disciples. This was the Passover meal (vv. 14-20). As it was drawing
to a close, He instituted the ordinance that the church calls"Communion” or “The Lord’s Supper.”
The bread and wine represented Christ’s broken b … Read more
Luke 22:1–22:13 The Feast of the Unleavened Bread began the fifteenth day of the first Jewish calendar Month
(our
April) and continued for seven days (Leviticus 23:4-8). This, along with the one-day feast of the
Passover, was sometimes called “the Passover” an … Read more
Luke 21:35–21:38 The fig tree in this parable is thought by many to be a symbol of Israel. Jesus
is teaching that we
can
tell what is coming by watching the signs. As the fig leaves sprout in the
spring, we know that
summer is near. As the budding of the fig tree indicates that summ … Read more
Luke 21:29–21:34 Some day you may visit the interesting and historic
French-Canadian city of Quebec. There you will see the
Plains of Abraham, where the English forces of General
Wolfe won Quebec from the French. When you see the
steep ascent that Wolf’s men had to make up the face of
the great rocky cliffs, you will be amazed that they
succeeded. Mere boys should have been able to hold off a
force of soldiers from scaling such cliffs and gaining the
heights. Yet Wolfe and his men made the ascent and
gained the citadel. Why? Because the overconfident
defenders became careless and pleasure-loving; and one
night, when they were off guard, the enemy saw his
opportunity, scaled the heights, and took the city. Quebec
fell because its defenders failed to keep watch. (Joseph
Harris in Sunday School Times). Read more
Luke 21:20–21:28 Jesus continues to answer the disciples’ original question about when the temple would be
destroyed (vv. 20-24). I do not believe that it was intended as a sign to tell when Christ will come
back, but was simply a foretelling of the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus and t … Read more
Luke 21:5–21:19 When Jesus finished teaching He overheard some people commenting on the beauty of the
Temple
that had been reconstructed (v. 5). But our Lord was not impressed. He told them that the day
would come when this beautiful temple would be destroyed (v. 6). Of course, this was fulfille … Read more
Luke 21:1–21:4 From the offering of this poor widow we learn that what we rightly give for the relief of the poor,
and the support of God’s worship, is given unto God. We learn about a woman who understood the
principle of giving. God doesn’t call us to give for the sake of giving. Givi … Read more
Luke 20:41–20:47 The Pharisees and Sadducees had asked their questions. Then Jesus asked them: “What do you
think about Christ? Whose Son is He” (v. 41)? They knew that the Messiah would be a descendent
of David but did not understand He was God in the flesh. This is a key quest … Read more
Recent commentaries
Jesus is Led Away to be Crucified
Luke 23:26–23:43
When Jesus left Pilate’s judgment hall, he was carrying the cross. This was part of a prisoner’s humiliation that he carry his own cross. However, because of physical exhaustion Jesus was unable to carry it very far. A man named Simon, from the town of Cyrene in N … Read more
Pilate Hands Jesus Over to be Crucified
Luke 23:13–23:25
Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but the crowd continued to demand His death; so he sentenced Him to die (vv. 13-25). Today we might say that he did what was politically correct. No doubt Pilate did not want to risk losing his job, and as we have indicated previously, it w … Read more
Jesus Stands Trial Before Pilate and Herod
Luke 23:1–23:12
Pilate was the Roman Governor of Palestine from A.D. 26-36. He seemed to take pleasure in harassing the Jews and had insulted the Jewish religion by bringing imperial images into Jerusalem. Because of this Pilate was already beginning to feel insecure in his position when t … Read more
Peter Denies Knowing Jesus
Luke 22:54–22:71
Jesus was given six different “trials” (three before the Jewish religious leaders and three before the Roman authorities) before He was condemned to die on a cross. First He was taken to Annas, who was a retired high priest and a very influential Jew (Jn. 18:12-13 … Read more
Jesus Arrested in the Garden
Luke 22:39–22:53
At the conclusion of “The Last Supper” in the upper room, Jesus crossed over the brook Kidron to the Garden of Gethsemane which is located at the foot of the mount of Olives. This was a customary place of retirement when in Jerusalem (v. 39). Peter, James and … Read more
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
Luke 22:31–22:38
Jesus explains to Peter how Satan wanted to crush he and the other disciples like grains of wheat (v. 31). He hoped to find only chaff and blow it away. However, Jesus assured Peter that He had been praying for him; and his faith, although it would falter, would not be de … Read more
The Last Supper
Luke 22:14–22:30
Jesus eats His last meal with His disciples. This was the Passover meal (vv. 14-20). As it was drawing to a close, He instituted the ordinance that the church calls"Communion” or “The Lord’s Supper.” The bread and wine represented Christ’s broken b … Read more
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
Luke 22:1–22:13
The Feast of the Unleavened Bread began the fifteenth day of the first Jewish calendar Month (our April) and continued for seven days (Leviticus 23:4-8). This, along with the one-day feast of the Passover, was sometimes called “the Passover” an … Read more
Jesus Tells them to Remain Watchful
Luke 21:35–21:38
The fig tree in this parable is thought by many to be a symbol of Israel. Jesus is teaching that we can tell what is coming by watching the signs. As the fig leaves sprout in the spring, we know that summer is near. As the budding of the fig tree indicates that summ … Read more
Jesus tells them to Remain watchful
Luke 21:29–21:34
Some day you may visit the interesting and historic French-Canadian city of Quebec. There you will see the Plains of Abraham, where the English forces of General Wolfe won Quebec from the French. When you see the steep ascent that Wolf’s men had to make up the face of the great rocky cliffs, you will be amazed that they succeeded. Mere boys should have been able to hold off a force of soldiers from scaling such cliffs and gaining the heights. Yet Wolfe and his men made the ascent and gained the citadel. Why? Because the overconfident defenders became careless and pleasure-loving; and one night, when they were off guard, the enemy saw his opportunity, scaled the heights, and took the city. Quebec fell because its defenders failed to keep watch. (Joseph Harris in Sunday School Times). Read more
Jesus Tells About His Return
Luke 21:20–21:28
Jesus continues to answer the disciples’ original question about when the temple would be destroyed (vv. 20-24). I do not believe that it was intended as a sign to tell when Christ will come back, but was simply a foretelling of the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus and t … Read more
Signs of the End of the Age
Luke 21:5–21:19
When Jesus finished teaching He overheard some people commenting on the beauty of the Temple that had been reconstructed (v. 5). But our Lord was not impressed. He told them that the day would come when this beautiful temple would be destroyed (v. 6). Of course, this was fulfille … Read more
The Widow’s Offering
Luke 21:1–21:4
From the offering of this poor widow we learn that what we rightly give for the relief of the poor, and the support of God’s worship, is given unto God. We learn about a woman who understood the principle of giving. God doesn’t call us to give for the sake of giving. Givi … Read more
Leaders Didn’t Understand Who Jesus Was
Luke 20:41–20:47
The Pharisees and Sadducees had asked their questions. Then Jesus asked them: “What do you think about Christ? Whose Son is He” (v. 41)? They knew that the Messiah would be a descendent of David but did not understand He was God in the flesh. This is a key quest … Read more