Luke
Jesus Celebrates the Passover
Nothing is told us in any of the Gospels of Jesus’ character and work from his infancy until the age of thirty, except here. This incident is recorded to teach us about the developing ministry and wisdom of the Lord in his youth. At Passover time every year each Jewish family …
Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar
As Jesus heads into Jericho, He meets a blind man named Bartimaeus. We know that’s his name from Mark’s account of the story. As we try to understand this incredible encounter between Bartimaeus and Jesus, we can see four different stages that Bartimaeus goes through. Hi …
Paying Taxes to Caesar
These religious leaders knew that they were the ones Jesus had just referred to as murderers in the parable He had given (v. 19). Jesus comments were veiled, but the religious leaders had no trouble interpreting them. They immediately wanted to arrest Him. When they had p …
Parable of the Ambitious Guest
Jesus taught two lessons in this passage (vv. 7-14). First He spoke to the guests, telling them not to seek places of honor (vv. 7-11). Service is more important in God’s kingdom than status. Second, he told the host not to be exclusive about whom he invites (vv. 12-14). It i …
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
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 …
The Rich Young Ruler
This story of the rich young ruler reveals how, in spite of the fact that he came to the right Person, asked the right question, and received the right answer, he made the wrong decision. Something always stands in the way of a person coming to Christ. It may be pride, po …
Pilate Hands Jesus Over to be Crucified
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 …
Jesus Rides into Jerusalem on a Donkey
Christ’s entry into Jerusalem in today’s passage (vv. 28-44) is a fulfillment of the prophecies found in Zechariah 9:9 and Psalm 118:25-26. By this time Jesus was extremely well known. When he sent two of His disciples to find a colt all they had to say was “The Lord h …
Jesus Cleansing of the Temple
Every Jewish man coming to Jerusalem for the Passover feast had to pay a temple tax. Many types of currencies were circulating, and, since only special temple coins were acceptable, money changers could charge a fee and make handsome profits at the expense of the people. …
Demons Are Cast Out
Jesus went to Capernaum, which He later made His home since His own hometown, Nazareth, had rejected Him. He sets up His headquarters in Capernaum, the home town of Peter, Andrew, James and John. On the Sabbath Jesus gives a powerful message at the synagogue (v. 31). It is no …