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Luke UBN

Chapter 1

1 # Luke 1 ### 1-4 What did Luke write about in verses 1-4? #q In verses 1-4, Luke greeted Theophilus and explained why he wrote this book to him. #v1-4 ### 1 Why did Luke write this book? #q Luke wrote this book in order to tell about many things that Jesus did during his lifetime. #v1 #dg-gospel ### 2 ;[eyewitnesses and servants of the word] How did Luke learn the things that he wrote in this book? #q Luke wrote in his book things that he heard from people who saw what Jesus did, heard him teach, and saw what happened to him. Luke also wrote down things that they themselves had written about Jesus. These were people who were "servants of the word," that is, they served God by preaching and teaching his word. #v2 #xr-act1:1-2 ### 3 ;[Theophilus] Who was Theophilus? #q Luke wrote this book to a person named Theophilus. Luke called Theophilus "most excellent," so Theophilus may have been an important government official. #v3 #xr-act 1:1 ;[an orderly account] What did Luke mean by saying he wanted to write an orderly account? #q Luke wrote down the things that Jesus did when he was living on earth. Also, he generally wrote down these things in the order that they happened. #v3 ### 4 ;[the things you were taught] What things had someone taught Theophilus? #q Someone had probably taught Theophilus enough for him to believe in Jesus. Luke is writing so that Theophilus can be even more certain that those things are true. However, perhaps Theophilus was not a believer but only a Jew who wanted to learn about Jesus. #v4 ### 5-25 What did Luke write about in verses 5-25? #q In verses 5-25 Luke wrote about the miracles that God did just before before John was born. The other gospel writers did not write about these things. #v5 #da-synoptic_gospels ### 5 ;[priest] ;(no note) #v5 #dg-priest ;[the division of Abijah] What was "the division of Abijah"? #q The "division of Abijah" was one of the twenty-four groups of priests in the tribe of Levi. The name of each group was the name of the first father of that family. Each group of priests worked in the temple for two weeks every year. #v5 #xr-1ch23-24 #xr-1ch24:10 #da-priest ### 6-7 ;[childless] Why did Zechariah and Elizabeth have no child? #q Luke did not tell why Elizabeth could not have children. Jews at that time usually thought that women could not have children because God was punishing them for sinning. However, we know that God was not punishing Elizabeth, because Luke wrote that she and Zechariah were both righteous. #v6-7 ### 9 What was casting lots? #q Lots were things such as very small stones or nut shells that people threw onto the ground. They did this in order to find out God's will. People often did this in Bible times in order to decide what to do. #v9 #dg-cast_lots ;[burn incense] Why did the priests burn incense? #q The priests burned incense to produce a pleasant-smelling smoke. They burned the incense in the temple in front of the curtain that divided the holy place from the most holy place. #v9 #xr-exo30:7-8 #dg-incense ### 10 ;[praying outside] Why were people praying outside the temple? #q Only the priests were allowed to enter the sanctuary. Other people who wanted to participate in the worship remained outside the temple and prayed there. #v10 #dg-temple ### 11 ;[angel] ;(no note) #v11 #dg-angel #da-angel ### 15 ;[not drink wine or strong drink] Why did the angel say that John would drink neither wine nor strong drink? #q The angel said that John would live without drinking alcohol. This showed that John would be separate from the rest of the people so that he could work for God. He would not want to do anything else. In this way, John would be like the Nazirites in the Old Testament. #v15 #xr-lev10:9 #xr-num6:2-4 #xr-luk7:33 ;[filled with the Holy Spirit] What happened when the Holy Spirit filled John? #q In the Old Testament, the Spirit sometimes "came on" or "filled" an individual at a particular time to enable him to serve God in a powerful way. John was different, because the Holy Spirit filled him before he was born. #v15 #adv #dg-holy_spirit #da-holy_spirit ### 17 ;[spirit and power of Elijah] What was the spirit and power of Elijah? #q Elijah was one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament. John was going to be like him. #v17 #xr-mal4:5-6 ;[make ready for the Lord a people prepared] What does the angel mean by making a people ready for the Lord? #q John was going to call the people of Israel to get ready for the Messiah to come to them. He would tell them to repent of their sins, to act so that God would accept them, and do what God wanted them to do. #v17 #xr-mal4:5 ### 18-20 ;[How can I be sure of this?] Why was it difficult for Zechariah to believe what the angel said? #q Zechariah had difficulty believing the angel because he and Elizabeth, his wife, were too old to have a child. #v18 #xr-gen15:8 #dg-angel #da-angel ### 19 ;[I am Gabriel] Why did Gabriel tell his name to Zechariah? #q Angels in the Bible are not normally named. However, Gabriel introduced himself to Zechariah so that Zechariah would know that he was an important angel. #v19 ;[I am Gabriel] Gabriel introduced himself to Zechariah as messengers coming from kings used to introduce themselves. He did this so that Zechariah would know who he was, who had sent him, and why he came. Gabriel also said these things in order to correct Zechariah for doubting that his message was true. #v19 #adv #xr-dan9:21 ### 23 ;[he returned home] What did Luke mean about Zecharias returning to his home after finished serving in the temple? #q Zechariah lived in a small town in Judea. He traveled back there after he had finished serving in the temple. #v23 #xr-luk1:39-40 ### 25 ;[took away my disgrace] What did Elizabeth mean when she said God away her disgrace? #q Israelites in that day thought that if a woman could not have children, this showed that God was not pleased with her. Because Elizabeth had no children, she was disgraced. However, now God took away her shame by making her able to become pregnant. #v25 ### 26-38 What did Luke write about in verses 26-38? #q In verses 26-38, the angel Gabriel visited Mary to tell her that she would be the mother of Jesus, the Messiah. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v26-38 ### 26 ;[Galilee] Where is Galilee? #q Galilee is the region in Palestine that extends approximately from the northern part of the Jordan River to the Sea of Galilee, west to the Mediterranean Sea, and north to Mount Carmel. #v26 #dm-israel ;[Galilee] What else happened in Galilee? #q Jesus spent most of his life in the region of Galilee. It was there that he taught most, and that he did most of his miracles. Most of his disciples were men of Galilee. Also, most of the women who helped Jesus and his disciples were women of Galilee. #v26 #xr-luk8:3 ;[Nazareth] Where is Nazareth? #q Nazareth is in a valley about thirty-three kilometers west of the Sea of Galilee and about eighty-three kilometers north of Jerusalem. #v26 #dm-nazareth #dm-palestine ### 27 ;[a descendant of David] ;(no note) #v27 #xda-messianic_line ### 32 ;[Son of the Most High] Why did Gabriel say that people would call Jesus "the Son of the Most High"? #q Gabriel said that people would call Jesus "the Son of the Most High." This means that they would know that Jesus was the Son of God, because God the Father was called "the Most High." Because Jesus is the Son of God, he is God just as much as is God the Father. #v32 #da-trinity ### 34 ;[How can this be?] Why did Mary ask this question? #q Mary asked this question, because she had not had sexual relations with any man. She knew that she could not have a child without sleeping with a man. #v34 ### 35 ;[come on you] What did it mean that the Holy Spirit would "come on" Mary? #q God would make Mary pregnant through the Holy Spirit, so Mary would have a baby even though she was still a virgin. #v35 #da-holy_spirit ### 38 "Why did Mary reply to Gabriel as she did?" #q Mary replied as she did because she believed that God would do what Gabriel said that God would do. #v38 ### 39-45 What did Luke write about in verses 39-45? #q In verses 39-45, Mary visited her relative Elizabeth because God had enabled both women to conceive in miraculous ways. The other gospel writers did not write about this visit. #v39-45 ### 39 ;[hill country of Judea] Where is the hill country of Judea? The hill country of Judah is a large area of hills and mountains located south of Jerusalem. #v39 #dm-judea ### 41-43 ;[Elizabeth was filled with the Spirit] What happened because Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit? #q The Holy Spirit enabled Elizabeth to know what Mary would do as the mother of Jesus. #v41-43 ### 41 ;[the baby leaped] Why did Elizabeth's child jump in her womb? #q When the baby jumped or moved suddenly in Elizabeth's womb, it showed that he was rejoicing because the baby Jesus was in Mary's womb. #v41 #xr-luk1:44 #dg-john_the_baptist ### 46-56 What did Luke write about in verses 46-56? #q In verses 46-56, Mary thanked God for honoring her. She did so by praising him with a song that is called "The Magnificat." The other gospel writers do not write about this. #v46-56 ### 46-47 ;[My soul … my spirit] Why did Mary talk about her soul and her spirit as she praised God? #q Mary talked about her soul and her spirit. These were two ways to say that her entire being praised and worshiped God, that she praised and worshiped him with all her heart. #v46-47 #xr-psa103:1 #dg-soul #dg-spirit ;[glorifies the Lord] What does "glorify the Lord" mean? #q To glorify the Lord means to honor him. #v46-47 #xdg-glorify ### 47 ;[God my Savior] Why did Mary call God her Savior? #q God called Mary to do a very great task, to be the mother of Jesus. However, she knew that she still sinned and that she needed for God to save her. #v47-48 #xr-luk1:30 #dg-grace #dg-save #da-save ### 48 ;[humble state] What does Mary mean when she talks about her "humble state"? #q Mary did not feel that she deserved for God to honor her. She was not rich, and did not belong to an important family. #v48 ### 49 ;[Mighty One] Who is the "Mighty One"? #q "The Mighty One" is a name for God that occurs in many passages in the Old Testament. This name shows that God is powerful. #v49 #xr-jos22:22 #xr-psa50:1 #xr-isa1:24 ;[holy is his name] What does "holy is his name" mean"? #q Here "his name" refers to what kind of person God is like. He is completely holy. #v49 #tbd #dg-holy ;Here "God is holy" mostly means that he is completely apart from mankind and our world. He is not like: he can do anything, he never sins, we cannot understand him, and we cannot be completely like him. ### 51 ;[his arm] What does "arm" signify here? #q God's "arm" is not a literal body part. Here it is a metaphor; "arm" represents God's power to act. #v51 #tbd ;This note may not be relevant for versions of Luke that translate "arm" as "power," etc. ### 54 ;[his servant Israel] Who was "Israel"? #q Here "Israel" represents all of the descendants of Jacob. #v54 #tbd #dg-israel ;This note may not be relevant for versions of Luke that translate "his servant Israel" along the lines of "us Israelites, his servants." ### 55 ;[Abraham] ;(no note) #v55 #xg-abraham ### 57-66 What did Luke write about in verses 57-66? #q In verses 57-66, Luke wrote about what happened when John the Baptist was born. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v57-66 ### 59 ;[circumcise] What is circumcision? #q The Jews circumcised their male babies when they were eight days old. They did this by removing the foreskin of the penis with a sharp knife. It was also at this time that they named the baby. #v59 #dg-circumcise ;[circumcise] What did God command the Israelites to do to their males? #q God commanded the Israelites to circumcise their males to show that they were the people whom he had chosen to belong to himself. Other people also circumcised their male children. The Israelites were not the only people group to do this. However, God commanded the Israelites to do this as an act of obedience. #v59 #adv #xr-gen17:10 ### 60 ;[John] Why did Elizabeth say the baby's name should be John? #q Elizabeth remembered that the angel had said to name the baby John. #v60 #xr-luk1:13 ### 62 ;[made signs to his father] Why did people make signs with their hands to Zechariah? #q Evidently the people thought Zechariah was not only mute but deaf as well. They used hand signals to ask him the question. #v62 ### 63 ;[writing tablet] What was a writing tablet? #q In ancient times, people wrote messages by using a small stick to make marks on a wooden board covered with wax. #v63 #tbd ### 64 What does "his tongue was loosed" mean? #q God punished Zechariah for not fully believing the angel's message (#luk1:20). This expression means that God now allowed him to be able to speak again. #v64 #tbd #xr-luk1:19-20 ### 66 ;[the hand of the Lord was with him] What does "the hand of the Lord was with him" mean? #q Here "the hand of the Lord" means God's power. "The hand of the Lord was with him" means that God was helping John with his power. #v66 #tbd #xr-2ki3:15 #xr-1ki18:46 #xr-act11:21 ### 67-80 What did Luke write about in verses 67-80? #q In verses 67-80, Zacharias prophesied about John the Baptist. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v67-80 ### 69 ;[horn of salvation] What does "horn of salvation" mean? #q The Greek text has the expression "horn of salvation," i.e., "a horn that rescues." This means a powerful savior, one who is able to rescue the people of Israel. #v69 #xr-2sa22:3 #xr-psa18:2 ### 72-75 ;[holy covenant] When did God make a covenant with Abraham? #q God promised to make Abraham's descendants into a great nation. He also promised that he would help the other nations in the world through this nation. #v72-75 #xr-gen22:16-18 #dg-covenant #da-covenant ### 76 ;[Most High] What does "Most High" mean? #q "Most High" is a name for God. He rules all things and is more powerful than them. It is for this reason that the Scriptures say that he is "above" all things, that he is "most high." #v76 #tbd ### 77 ;[knowledge of salvation] What does the "knowledge of salvation" mean? #q The word "[knowledge](#g1108)" in the phrase "knowledge of salvation" means that we know something because we have seen it for ourselves. #v77 #adv #tbd #dg-save #da-save ### 78 ;[the sunrise from heaven] To whom does the "sunrise" or "morning light" refer? #q The "sunrise from heaven" means the Messiah. Perhaps it should make us think of #mal4:2 and #isa9:2. The Messiah will enable people to know the truth about God, just as the sun shines and enables them to see the world. #v78 #da-ot_use_in_nt ### 79 ;[guide our feet into path of peace] What does this metaphor mean? #q The metaphor "to guide our feet into the path of peace" means the Messiah will enable us to live in peace with God and each other. #v79 #tbd #xr-luk2:14 #xa-isa9:6 #da-ot_use_in_nt ### 80 ;[strong in spirit] What does "strong in spirit" mean here? #q "Strong in spirit" may mean that John allowed the Holy Spirit to guide him and give him power. Or it may mean that John's mind became very strong as he grew up. #v80 #tbd #xr-1ki17:1-7 #xr-1ki19:4-9 ;[the wilderness] Where was the wilderness? #q This wilderness was a barren area west of the Jordan River. #v80 #luk3:2 #luk4:1

Chapter 2

1 # Luke 2 ### 1-7 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 1-7? #q Luke wanted his readers to know what happened to cause Jesus to be born in Bethlehem. He also wanted his readers to know that Mary had given birth to Jesus in a very poor place, a place for animals. In #mat1:24-25, Matthew also told his readers that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but he did not tell them why he was born there. #v1-7 ### 1 ;A census happens when the government counts all the people in its country. It often does this in order to know how much money it can expect to receive in taxes. ;[a census] Why did Caesar order the census? #q Caesar Augustus ordered the census in order to count all the people in the lands that he ruled. He wanted the government officials to know how much money in taxes they should expect to receive. He also wanted to know what city or town each person belonged to. #v1 ### 2 ;[Quirinius was governor of Syria] When was Quirinius governor over Syria? #q Quirinius was governor of Syria around 5 B.C. #v2 #dm-syria ### 4 ;[Nazareth] How far was Bethlehem from Nazareth? #q The distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem was about 110 kilometers. A man and a pregnant woman would need to walk for several days to travel this distance. #v4 #xr-luk1:26 #dm-israel ;[Bethlehem] Why did Luke want his readers to know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem? #q Luke wanted his readers to know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, because God promised that this was where the Messiah would be born. King David lived in Bethlehem. #v4 #xr-1sa17:12 #xr-mic5:2 #xr-1sa16:1 ;[family of David] Why did Luke want his readers to know that both Mary and Joseph were descendants of King David? #q Luke told his readers that both Mary and Joseph were descendants of King David. He did this because God had promised that Messiah would be in David's family. #v4 #xr-jhn7:42 #xr-jer23:5 ;"Engaged" means that a man and woman have promised to marry each other. ;[engaged to him] Why did Luke say Mary was engaged to Joseph? #q Luke said that Mary had promised to marry Joseph, but #mat1:24 says they were already married. This can make someone think that they were already married, but that they had not completed the marriage by sleeping together. Luke wanted his readers to know that when Mary gave birth to Jesus, she was still a virgin; she had never slept with a man. #v5 #adv #xr-mat1:24 #xr-luk1:27 ### 7 ;[wrapped him in strips of cloth] Why did Mary wrap the baby Jesus in strips of cloth? #q At that time, mothers wrapped their babies tightly in blankets to keep them warm and to comfort them. #v7 ;[a manger] What was a manger? #q A manger was a box or stone container where people put food for animals. #v7 #tbd ;[no room for them in the inn] Why was there no place for Joseph and Mary to sleep in a room for people? #q Many people traveled to Bethlehem for the officials to count them. They filled all the rooms that were there for travelers to sleep in. Perhaps the word "inn" meant a hotel or guesthouse, or perhaps it meant any room in a house that travelers could stay in. However, Joseph and Mary did not find room in either one. That is why they stayed in a place where people kept their animals. #v7 ### 8-14 What did Luke tell his readers in verses 8-14? #q In verses 8-14, Luke said that an angel announced to shepherds that Jesus had just been born. This happened very close to Bethlehem. Luke is the only person to write about this in the Bible. #v8-14 ### 9 ;[they were terrified] Why were the shepherds very afraid? #q The shepherds were terrified because they had never seen anything like the angel before, and because they saw the very bright light from heaven. #v9 ### 10 ;[good news] What does "good news" mean? #q The term "good news" is the same as the word "gospel." #v10 #dg-gospel #tbd ;[great joy] How often does Luke write about "joy"? #q Luke often wrote about people rejoicing. People often rejoice because God has saved them. #v10 #xr-luk10:17 #xr-luk15:10 #xr-act13:52 #xr-act15:3 ;[the people] What does "the people" mean? #q When Luke wrote about "the people" as a single group of people, he always meant the Jewish people. The angel announced that the Messiah had come to the people of Israel. When Luke wanted to write about both the Jews and the Gentiles, he wrote about many groups of people. He did this in #luk2:31. #v10 #adv ### 11 ;[a Savior, who is Christ the Lord] What were the three names that the angel gave for the baby? #q The angel gave three names to the baby Jesus. "Savior" means that Jesus would save people. "Christ" means that he was the Messiah for whom the Jews were waiting. "Lord" means that he was God. #v11 #da-messiah ### 12 ;A "sign" was something that God would show someone. ;[this will be a sign] Why is a baby in an animal trough a sign? #q The baby lying in an animal feed trough were a sign to the shepherds. Women did not usually put babies into animal troughs, so when the shepherds saw this, they would know that this was the baby the angel told them about. #v12 #dg-sign ### 15-20 What did Luke tell his readers in verses 15-20? #q In verses 15-20, Luke wrote that the shepherds went to see the baby Jesus. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v15-20 ### 18 ;[amazed] What did the people say when the shepherds told them that they had seen the baby? #q The people who heard what the shepherds say were amazed. In the book of Luke, people were often amazed when they saw God do miracles. The people had heard for a long time that the Messiah would come to them. But they were amazed by the things the shepherds said about the baby Jesus. #v18 #xr-luk1:21 #xr-luk1:63 #xr-luk2:33 #xr-luk8:25 ### 19 ;[Mary treasured up all these things] What does it mean to treasure something? #q To treasure something means a person values it highly. #v19 #tbd ### 20 Why were the shepherds praising God? #q The shepherds praised God when they saw the baby Jesus because they realized that the things the angel told them were true. #v20 ### 21 ;[On the eighth day] Why did they circumcise Jesus on the eighth day after his birth? #q In the Old Testament law, God commanded the Jews to circumcise their male babies when they were eight days old. Joseph and Mary did this because they were good Jews; they obeyed the law. It was also on the eighth day that the Jews usually named their babies. #v21 #xr-lev12:2 #sr-luk1:59 ### 22-24 What did Luke tell his readers in verses 21-24? #q In verses 22-24, Luke wrote that Joseph and Mary presented Jesus to the priests at the temple. The other gospel writers did not tell about this. #v22-24 ### 22 ;Here a "pure" woman means a woman whom God will accept. ;[their purification] What did the Law of Moses say that a Jewish woman had to do to be purified? #q After every Jewish woman gave birth, she had to sacrifice an animal to God. She did this in order to become pure again after she lost blood while she gave birth. Usually she had to sacrifice a lamb. However, if she was poor, she could sacrifice two small birds. #v22 #xr-lev12:6-8 ;[Every firstborn male is to be set apart to the Lord] Why were the Jews told to set apart their firstborn male children to the Lord? #q When God killed all of the firstborn sons of the Egyptians, he did not kill the firstborn sons of the Jews. Therefore, God considered the firstborn sons to belong to him. He commanded the Jews to sacrifice an animal to him in order to pay him for their firstborn sons. #v22 #xr-exo13:2 #xr-exo13:12-15 #xr-num18:15-16 #dg-redeem ### 25-35 What did Luke write about in verses 25-35? #q In verses 25-35, Luke told his readers about Simeon. Simeon prophesied about what Jesus would do in his life. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v25-35 ### 25 ;[the consolation of Israel] What did Simeon mean when he said the "consolation of Israel"? #q Simeon was waiting for the time when God would comfort the Jewish people by freeing them from their enemies who ruled over them. #v25 ;[the Holy Spirit was on him] What does it mean for the Holy Spirit to be on someone? #q In the Old Testament, the Spirit sometimes "came on" or "filled" a person for a short time. This enabled that person to serve God in powerful ways. In the same way, the Holy Spirit helped Simeon prophesy about Jesus and his mother. #v25 #dg-holy_spirit #da-holy_spirit ### 26 ;[Christ] ;(no note) #v26 #xr-mat16:16 #da-messiah ### 27 ;[he came in the Spirit] What did Luke mean when he wrote that Simeon came "in the Spirit"? #q When Luke wrote that Simeon was "in the Spirit," he meant that the Holy Spirit directed Simeon to go to the temple. #v27 #xr-luk4:1 #xr-luk4:14 #tbd ### 29 ;[send away your servant in peace] What did Simeon mean when he asked God to send him away in peace? #q When Simeon asked God to send him away in peace, he meant that he was ready to die. He was happy that God has kept his promise to allow Simeon to see the Messiah. #v29 ### 30-32 What did Simeon say the baby Jesus would do? #q Simeon said that Jesus was the person God sent to save both the Jews and the Gentiles. Jesus would show God to the Gentiles, and cause the people of the world to honor the Jews. #v30-32 #dg-gentile ### 34 ;[the falling and rising of many in Israel] What did Simeon mean when he said that many in Israel would fall, and that many would rise? #q The Jews who were going to fall were the ones who refused to believe in Jesus. God would judge them. The Jews who were going to rise were the ones who believe in Jesus. God would save them. #v34 #xr-luk1:51-53 ;[a sign that is spoken against] How will Jesus be a sign that people speak against? #q Jesus is a "sign" because he shows people who God is and what he is doing. However, many people will oppose Jesus and speak against him and his message. #v34 ### 35 ;[a sword will pierce your own soul] What did Simeon mean when he said that a sword would pierce Mary's soul? #q Mary would suffer greatly when she saw how the Jewish people would make Jesus suffer and kill him. #v35 #xr-luk23:25 ### 36-38 What did Luke tell his readers about in verses 36-38? #q In verses 36-38, Anna told the people in the temple about Jesus. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v36-38 ### 38 ;[the redemption of Jerusalem] What did Luke mean when he wrote about the "redemption of Jerusalem"? #q Jerusalem was the most important city for the Jewish people. At that time, the Romans ruled Jerusalem. The Jews who honored God believed that he would free Jerusalem from the Romans and once again rule there. #v38 #xr-isa52:9-10 #tbd ### 39-40 What did Luke tell his readers about in verses 39-40? #q In verses 39-40, Luke said that Joseph and Mary took Jesus back to Nazareth and raised him there. Luke did not say that they went to Egypt first, before they returned to Nazareth. However, Matthew told about their trip to Egypt in #mat2:19-23. #v39-40 ### 39 ;[Nazareth] Where is Nazareth? #q Nazareth is a town in the southern part of Galilee. #v39 #dm-israel ### 41-52 What did Luke tell his readers about in verses 41-52? #q In verses 41-52, Luke said that Jesus went to Jerusalem when he was twelve years old. There Jesus talked in the temple to the men who taught about God and the law of Moses. The other gospel writers did not tell about this. #v41-52 ### 41 Why did Mary and Joseph go to Jerusalem for Passover? #q God commanded the Jews to go to Jerusalem each year to celebrate the Passover. #v41 #xr-exo12:14 #dg-passover ### 43-44 How could Mary and Joseph travel for a day and not notice that Jesus was missing? #q The Jews often traveled to and from the Passover in Jerusalem in large groups. Joseph and Mary thought Jesus was with other friends or family members who were traveling with them. #v43-44 ### 48 ;[your father] Why did Mary say Joseph was "Jesus' father?" #q Most people thought that Joseph was the father of Jesus. However, he had not caused Jesus to be born. It was the Holy Spirit who had done that, so that God was his father. #v48 #xr-mat1:20-25 #xr-luk3:23 ### 49 ;[my Father's house] Why did Jesus call the temple his Father's house? #q Jesus called the temple "my Father's house" because he is the Son of God. Luke said this, but he did not say what this meant. This is something that the apostles of Jesus and his other followers would find out many years later. #v49 #xr-jhn2:16

Chapter 3

1 # Luke 3 ### 1-20 What did Luke tell his readers in verses 1-20? #q In verses 1-20, Luke wrote that John the Baptist preached in the wilderness. The other gospels writers also wrote about John's preaching. #v1-20 #xr-mat3:1-12 #xr-mrk1:2-8 #xr-jhn1:19-31 ### 1 ;[the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar] When was the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar? #q Tiberius Caesar was the emperor of Rome from A.D. 14 to 37. In A.D. 27, he had been emperor for fifteen years. #v1 Why did Luke tell his readers about all these people? #q Luke told his readers the names of seven Roman and Jewish rulers in order to tell the exact year when John the Baptist began to preach. #v1 #xr-jhn18:13 #xr-luk3:20 #xr-luk20:24 #xr-mat27:2 Who were the people that Luke told his readers about in verse 1? #q Tiberius Caesar was the emperor of Rome and Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor over Judea. Herod and Philip were Jewish officials whom the Romans made to be rulers in Palestine. The Romans also made Lysanias to be the ruler of another region in Palestine, but he was a Gentile. Annas and Caiaphas were Jewish high priests. #v1 #adv ;[tetrarch] What was a tetrarch? #q A "tetrarch" was a person who ruled or governed a portion of a region. Herod Antipas, Philip, and Lysanias each ruled a portion of Israel or Syria. #v1 ### 2 ;[the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas] Why were there two high priests? #q Annas was the Jewish high priest from A.D. 6 to 15. The Romans chose Caiaphas, Annas' son-in-law, to be high priest instead of Annas, but the Jewish people continued to listen to Annas and to honor him as much as the real high priest. #v2 #adv ;[John son of Zechariah] ;(no note) #v2 #xr-luk1:57-66 ;[Zechariah] ;(no note) #v2 #xr-luk1:5-6 #dg-john_the_baptist ;(note about "wilderness" inserted from Luke 1:80) ### 3 ;[the Jordan] What was the Jordan River? #q The Jordan River flowed out of the Sea of Galilee in the north and into the Dead Sea in the south. #v3 #tbd #dm-israel ;[baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins] What did Luke mean by "a baptism of repentance"? #q John told the people to repent and to ask God to forgive them. He then baptized those people to show that they had asked God to forgive for sinning, and to show that they did not want to sin anymore. #v3 #adv #dg-baptize #da-baptize ### 4-6 ;[Isaiah the prophet] Why did Luke repeat the words of the prophet Isaiah? #q In verses 4-6, Luke repeated the words of #isa40:3-5 because John the Baptist made this prophecy come true. Isaiah lived and prophesied during the eighth century B.C. At that time, he wrote that a certain man would preach in the wilderness and tell people to get ready to receive the Messiah. #v4-6 #xr-isa40:3-5 #da-ot_use_in_nt ### 5 What did Isaiah mean when he said they should make the roads straight and smooth? #q In ancient times, people repaired the roads when they expected a king to travel on them. Isaiah talked about repairing the roads. He said this as a metaphor to say the people should wait for the Messiah to come and should get ready for him. #v5 #xr-isa 40:3-5 ### 6 ;[all people] Who did Isaiah mean when he talked about "all people"? #q Here "all people" means every person, both Jews and Gentiles. #v6 ;[God's salvation] What is "God's salvation" that the people will see? #q Perhaps "God's salvation" means that God will save people. Or perhaps it is a name for the Messiah, the one whom God will send to save them. #v6 #adv #xr-isa40:3-5 #xr-isa42:16 #xr-isa52:10 ### 7-8 ;[you offspring of vipers] What did John mean when he said the people were offspring of vipers? #q The people John was speaking to thought that God would accept them because they were descendants of Abraham. But John called them children of vipers, that is, children of poisonous snakes. This was a metaphor that John spoke. He meant that God would not accept these people, but would instead judge them. #v7-8 #adv #xr-luk5:32 #xr-luk13:1-5 #xr-luk24:47 ### 7 ;[the crowds] Who did John say were children of vipers? #q There were many different Jewish people in the crowds that were coming to John. Perhaps he was saying they were all like poisonous snakes. But #mat3:7 says that John said this to the Pharisees and Sadducees who were in the crowd. #v7 #adv #xr-mat3:7 ;[the wrath to come] What is the "wrath" that John said was coming? #q When John spoke about the "wrath that is coming," he was perhaps talking about the time when God will judge everyone. Or perhaps he was speaking about the time when the Romans would destroy Jerusalem in A.D. 70. #v7 #xr-luk21:5-6 #xr-mat24:1-2 #xr-rev6:16-17 #xr-rev11:18 ### 8-10 ;[fruit] Why did John tell the people to produce fruit? #q John spoke about trees producing fruit as a metaphor for people doing things that honor God. If they truly repent, they will stop doing sinful things and do things that please God. #v8-10 #adv #dg-fruit #dg-repent ### 9 Who is using the ax to cut down the trees? #q John spoke about someone cutting down a tree that was not bearing fruit. This is a metaphor that wants to say that God will judge the people who do not honor him. When John said the ax is already against the root, he meant that God would judge people very soon. #v9 ### 12-13 Who were the tax collectors? #q The Roman Empire ruled Israel and hired some Jews to collect taxes there from the people. The other Jews hated these men because they did not want to pay taxes to Rome. These tax collectors often became rich by forcing people to pay more taxes than they really owed. Zacchaeus was one of these tax collectors. When he believed in Jesus, he stopped cheating people. #v12-13 #adv #xr-luk19:1-10 ### 14 Who were the soldiers? #q Perhaps the soldiers were Roman soldiers, or perhaps they were Jewish guards who protected the temple. Soldiers often took money from people by force. #v14 ### 15 Why did people think that John might be the Christ? #q John spoke powerfully about God and told the people what they must do differently in order to please God. The Jews expected the Messiah to speak in this way. Therefore, many of the people thought John might be the Messiah. #v15 #xr-isa4:2-6 ### 16 ;[baptize you with the Holy Spirit] How will the Messiah baptize people with the Holy Spirit? #q God the Father gave Jesus the power to give the Holy Spirit to the believers (see #act2:32-33). In the book of Acts, Luke said that the believers were first baptized with the Holy Spirit when the Holy Spirit came on them at Pentecost. #v16 #xr-jhn20:22 #xr-act1:5 #xr-act 2:1-4 #xr-act2:32-33 #xr-act11:16 ;[fire] Why did John tell the people that the Messiah would baptize them with fire? #q In the Bible, writers often write a metaphor about fire. They meant that God would judge people. Therefore, if God baptizes someone with fire, he judges him. John continued to talk about God judging people in verses 17-18. #v16 #xr-deu32:22 #xr-psa21:9 #xr-psa89:16 #xr-isa4:4 #xr-isa66:15 ### 17 ;[winnowing fork] What is a winnowing fork? #q A winnowing fork is a tool that farmers use to move straw away from the wheat seeds. #v17 What were the wheat and the chaff that John was talking about? #q John spoke about wheat, which was a metaphor for people who believe in God and whom God saves. He spoke about chaff, which was a metaphor for people who do not believe and whom God judges. #v17 #xr-mat3:12 ### 18 ;(note about "good news" inserted from Luk 2:10) ### 19 Why was Herod wrong to marry Herodias? #q Herod Antipas wanted to marry Herodias, who was the wife of his brother, Herod Philip. Therefore, Herod Antipas divorced his own wife, and Herodias divorced her husband so she could marry Herod Antipas. The Old Testament Law said this was adultery. #v19 #xr-lev18:16 #xr-mat14:1-12 #xr-mrk6:14-29 #dg-adultery ### 21-22 What did Luke tell his readers about in verses 21-22? #q In verses 21-22, Jesus came to John so that John would baptize him. This happened right before Jesus began his ministry. God also spoke to Jesus from heaven. All four of the gospel writers wrote about this. #v21-22 #xr-mat3:13-17 #xr-mrk1:9-11 #xr-jhn1:32-34 #dg-baptize #da-baptize ### 21 ;[heaven was opened] Why did Luke say, "heaven was opened?" #q At the time when Luke wrote this book, people thought that heaven was located above the sky. When Luke said heaven was opened, he wanted to say that God spoke from heaven. #v21 #xr-isa42:1 #xr-ezk1:1 #xr-act7:56 ### 23-38 Why did Luke write the list of names in verses 23-38? #q Luke wanted his readers to know that Jesus is human as well as God. For this reason, Luke named the ancestors of Jesus through his mother, Mary. #v23-38 #xr-mat1:1-17 #da-nt_genealogy ### 23 ;[thirty years old] Why did Luke want his readers to know that Jesus was thirty years old at this time? #q Jewish men did not serve as religious leaders until they were 30 years old. #v23 #xr-num4:3 #xr-num4:35 ;[as was supposed] Why did Luke not say that Joseph was the father of Jesus? #q People at that time thought Joseph was the father of Jesus, but Luke wanted his readers to know that Jesus was actually the Son of God. #v23 #xr-luk3:22 ### 31 ;[son of David] Why did Luke name David as one of the ancestors of Jesus? #q The Messiah would be a descendant of King David. Luke wanted his readers to know that Jesus could be the Messiah because he was a descendant of David. #v31 #xr-luk1:31-32 #xr-luk18:38 #xr-rom1:3-4 ### 34 ;[son of Abraham] Why did Luke name Abraham among the ancestors of Jesus? #q Abraham was the ancestor of all the Jews. Luke wanted his readers to know that Jesus was completely Jewish because he was a descendant of Abraham. #v34 ### 38 ;[Adam] Why did Luke name Adam as one of the ancestors of Jesus? #q Adam was the first human. Luke wanted his readers to know that Jesus was fully human because he was a descendant of Adam. #v38 ;[the son of God] Why did Luke say that Adam was the "son of God"? #q Luke said that Adam was the "son of God" because God created Adam. Because Adam was Jesus' ancestor, Jesus is fully human, as Adam was human. Also, Jesus is the "Son of God" in a different way than Adam is the "son of God." He is God himself. #v38 #adv #dg-son_of_god #da-son_of_god

Chapter 4

1 # Luke 4 ### 1-13 What did Luke want his readers to know about Jesus in verses 1-13? #q In verses 1-13, Luke wanted his readers to know that Satan had tried to get Jesus to sin, but that Jesus did not sin. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v1-13 #xr-mat4:1-11 #xr-mrk1:12-13 ### 1-2 ;[full of the Spirit] Why did Luke want his readers to know that Jesus was full of the Spirit? #q Luke told his readers that Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit when he left the Jordan River. John wanted to say that it was the Holy Spirit who guided Jesus into the wilderness. #v1-2 #xr-gal5:16 #dg-holy_spirit #da-holy_spirit ;(note about "wilderness" inserted from Luke 1:80) ;[forty days] For how many days did the devil try to get Jesus to sin? #q The devil spent forty days trying to get Jesus to sin. The devil also tempted Jesus three more times in verses 3-12. #v1-2 ;[the devil] Who is the devil? #q The devil is the enemy of God and of all people. He is also called Satan, Lucifer, and the Adversary. #v1-2 #xr-mat4:3 #dg-satan ### 3 ;[If you are the Son of God] Did the devil know that Jesus was the Son of God? #q The devil knew Jesus was the Son of God. He also knew that Jesus had the power to make food for himself when he was hungry. #v3 #xr-mat8:28-29 #xr-luk8:26-28 ;[If you are the Son of God] Did the devil know that Jesus was the Son of God? #q The Greek word "[If](#g1487)" says different things. In this sentence, it shows that the devil agreed that Jesus was the Son of God. It can be translated as, "Because." #v3 #adv ### 4 Jesus did not change the stone into bread. Why? #q The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness so that he would be hungry when the devil tried to get him to sin. Jesus did not change the stone into bread because it would have been wrong for him to eat before the devil had finished trying to get him to sin. It was more important to obey God than to eat food (see #deu8:3). #v4 #xr-deu8:3 #xr-mat4:4 #xr-mrk1:12-13 #da-ot_use_in_nt ### 5-7 Was this the second time that Satan tried to get Jesus to sin? #q Luke wrote that Satan tried to make Jesus bow down to him, before he told Jesus to jump off the temple peak. However, Matthew wrote that Satan told Jesus to jump off the temple peak first. #v5-7 #xr-mat4:5-10 Why did Satan try to give Jesus permission to rule over all mankind? #q Jesus will rule over all mankind because he is the Son of God. Jesus died to save people, because they were guilty for having sinned. So God will honor Jesus by making him ruler. However, Satan said that he could make Jesus ruler over the world right away. If Jesus agreed to do what Satan said, he would not have to die for mankind before becoming ruler. The only thing Jesus would have to do would be to worship Satan by bowing before him. #v5-7 #xr-mat16.21-24 #xr-jhn 10:10 #xr-phi2:6-8 #dg-worship #da-worship ### 6 Could the devil choose anyone to rule the world? #q God gave the devil great power in this world, but the devil can do only the things that God allows him to do. Therefore, the devil cannot permit anyone to rule over the nations if God does not allow them to do this. When Satan speaks, he tells lies. When he spoke to Jesus, he did not say that it was God who allowed him to do powerful things in the world. Neither did Satan say why he had this power. #v6 #adv #xr-job1:12 #xr-job2:6 #xr-jhn8.44 #xr-eph6:12 #xr-col1:15-16 ### 9-11 Why did Satan tell Jesus to jump off the top of the temple? #q Satan asked Jesus to show that God could protect him if he jumped off the highest part of the temple. It was ninety meters high. If Jesus had jumped, he would have been doing what Satan asked him to do instead of obeying God. God did not put Jesus on the roof of the temple. Satan put Jesus there to try to make him accept him as his ruler. #v9-11 #xr-mat4:6 ### 11 What verse did Satan repeat to Jesus? #q Satan repeated part of #psa91:11-12 to Jesus. He did not say the words, "in all your ways." When God said those words, he promised to take care of the Messiah when he was doing the things God wanted him to do. #v11 #xr-psa91:11-12 #da-ot_use_in_nt ### 12 Jesus did not jump off the temple. Why? #q Jesus did not do what the devil asked. Jesus repeated #deu6:16 to show that jumping off the temple would not be the right thing to do. If he had jumped, he would have been making it necessary to God to protect him. He would in truth be jumping in order to see whether God would keep his promise to protect those who trust in him. He would be trying to compel God to keep him safe, when he himself was sinning. #v12 #xr-exo17:1-7 #xr-deu6:16 #da-ot_use_in_nt ### 13 ;[an opportune time] When did Satan come to tempt Jesus again? #q Luke did not say when Satan would try again to get Jesus to sin. Many scholars think Luke was talking about when Jesus would pray in the Garden of Gethsemane in #luk22:41-44. He also may have been speaking about the times when Satan tried to get Jesus to sin through what Peter and Judas would say (see #mrk8:31-33, #luk22:31, and #luk22:3). #v13 #adv #xr-mrk8:31-33 #xr-luk22:41-44 #xr-heb2:18 #xr-heb4:15 ### 14-15 What did Luke want his readers to know in verses 14-15? #q In verses 14-15, Luke wanted his readers to know that the Holy Spirit helped Jesus do powerful things in all of Galilee. All the people were praising Jesus when they saw what he did, and when they heard him teach. The other gospel writers also wrote about his power and teaching. #v14-15 #xr-mat4:12 #xr-mrk1:14 #dg-holy_spirit #da-holy_spirit ### 16-30 What did Luke want his readers to know about Jesus' visit to Nazareth? #q Nazareth was where Jesus had grown up. However, Luke wanted his readers to know that the people living in Nazareth rejected Jesus. The other gospel writers did not write about this visit. #v16-30 ### 16 ;[synagogue] ;(no note) #v16 #dg-synagogue ;[Nazareth] ;{no note} #v16 #dm-nazareth ### 17 ;This note may be necessary depending on how "scroll" is translated. ;[scroll] ;(no note) #v17 #tbd #dg-scroll ### 18-19 ;[anointed] ;(no note) #v18-19 #dg-anoint Why did Jesus stop reading in the middle of #isa61:2? #q Jesus stopped reading in the middle of #isa61:2 because he came to save people who did not know him, those who were suffering. The rest of #isa61:2 talks about Jesus coming to earth again to judge sinners. Jesus read #isa61:1-2, and a part of #isa58:6. #v18-19 #adv #xr-isa40:9-11 #xa-isa58:6 #xr-isa61:1-2 #da-ot_use_in_nt ### 18 ;(note about "good news" inserted from Luk 2:10) ### 20-22 Why were the people in this synagogue amazed at what Jesus said? #q The Jews knew that Isaiah had spoken about the Messiah in #isa61:1-2. When Jesus said that these verses were fulfilled, he was saying that he was the Messiah. The people of Nazareth were amazed to hear what Jesus said. They remembered him as the son of Joseph when he lived in there in Nazareth. #v20-22 #xr-mat1:18-35 #xr-luk3:23 ### 23 ;[Physician, heal yourself] What did the proverb about the doctor want to say? #q The proverb about the doctor wants to say that the people of Nazareth would not believe what Jesus said unless he did miracles for them. They had heard about the miracles he did in Capernaum, so they wanted to see Jesus do miracles in Nazareth. #v23 ;[Capernaum] Where was the town of Capernaum that Luke spoke about? #q Capernaum was a town on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. Most of the people who lived in Capernaum were fishermen or farmers. #v23 #luk4:31 #luk7:1 #luk10:15 #xr-luk7:1-8 #dm-galilee ### 24-27 Why did Jesus tell the people about Elijah and Elisha? #q Jesus wanted to help the people of Nazareth. When the Jews in the Old Testament did not accept what Elijah and Elisha told them, God sent Elijah and Elisha to help the Gentiles. Jesus told the people of Nazareth about this to warn them that they must accept what he himself said. If they did not, God would help the Gentiles instead of them. #v24-27 #xr-1ki17:8-16 #xr-2ki5:1-19 #xr-act13:44-46 #xr-act18:5-6 ### 28-29 The people in the synagogue were so angry that they tried to kill Jesus. Why were they so angry? #q The Jewish people believed that God would help only the Jews. They also believed that God would not accept the Gentiles. They became very angry when Jesus said that God would have sent Elijah and Elisha to help the Gentiles instead of the Jews. #v28-29 #xr-1ki17:8-16 #xr-2ki5:1-19 #xr-act22:21-22 ### 30 Jesus walked through the crowd that was trying to kill him. How was he able to walk through them? #q God made it possible for Jesus to walk through the crowd that was trying to kill him. Luke does not say how God did this miracle. #v30 #xr-gen19:11 #xr-2ki6:18 ### 31-37 What did Luke want his readers to know in verses 31-37? #q In verses 31-37, Luke told his readers that Jesus spoke with great authority. Jesus did not repeat what the Jewish teachers said about God. Jesus even told the demons what to do and they obeyed him. Mark also wrote about this. #v31-37 #xr-mrk1:21-28 ### 31 ;(note about "Capernaum" inserted from Luke 4:23) ### 32 How did Jesus teach differently than other religious teachers? #q Jesus did not teach like other religious teachers. Other men spoke about God, but Jesus spoke as God with the same authority of God. #v32 #xr-mat7:28-29 ### 33-34 ;[demon] ;(no note) #v33-34 #dg-demon Why did the man with the demon cry out in a loud voice to Jesus? #q The demon made the man cry out in a loud voice. The demon was afraid of Jesus. The demon knew Jesus was God and had the power to destroy demons. #v33-34 #xr-mat8:28-29 #xr-mrk1:23-24 #xr-luk4:41 ### 35 ;[Be quiet!] Why did Jesus tell the demon to stop speaking? #q Jesus told the demon to stop speaking so that the demon would not tell people who Jesus was. The people did not know that Jesus was the Son of God. The religious leaders later killed Jesus because he told them that he was God. Jesus was not ready to die at this time. #v35 #xr-mat26:63-66 #xr-mrk1:25 #xr-mrk3:11-12 #xr-jhn19:7 ### 38-41 What did Luke want his readers to know about Jesus in verses 38-41? #q In verses 38-41, Luke told his readers that Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law and many other people. Luke wanted his readers to know that Jesus had power over sickness and demons. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v38-41 #xr-mat8:14-17 #xr-mrk1:29-34 ### 38 ;[Simon] ;(no note) #v38 #dg-simon_peter ;[Simon's mother-in-law] Was Simon married? #q Simon Peter was married and had a mother-in-law. Luke does not name Simon's wife. #v38 ### 39 ;[rebuked the fever] Why did Luke write that Jesus commanded the fever to leave the mother of Simon's wife? #q Luke wrote that Jesus commanded the fever to leave the mother of Simon's wife. He wrote this to show that Jesus had authority and power over sickness. A demon may have caused her to have the high fever. Matthew and Mark said that Jesus touched her hand and the fever left. #v39 #xr-mat8:14-15 #xr-mrk1:30-31 ### 40 ;[laid his hands on each one] Why did Jesus place his hands on the sick people when he healed them? #q Jesus touched each person he healed with his hands. He did this to show that he cared about every person. He was not afraid that they would make him sick. He had the power to heal them through his body. #v40 #xr-mat8:2-3 ### 42-44 Why did Jesus leave Capernaum? #q After praying to his Father, Jesus told the people that he needed to leave Capernaum to preach the good news in other towns. #v42-44 ### 42 ;[a solitary place] Why did Jesus go to a private place? #q Crowds of people came to Capernaum so that Jesus would heal them. The crowds made it hard for Jesus to be alone to pray with his Father. That is why Jesus went to a private place very early in the morning. #v42 #xr-mrk1:35 Why did the people want Jesus to stay with them? #q The people of Capernaum wanted Jesus to continue to heal them and to free them from demons. #v42 ### 43 ;[the kingdom of God] ;(no note) #v43 #dg-kingdom_of_god #da-kingdom_of_god ### 44 ;[Judea] Luke said Jesus kept preaching in Judea. Why did he say that? #q When Luke said that Jesus kept on preaching in "Judea" he probably wanted to say "the land of the Jews" which would include both Galilee and Judea. Some old copies say "Galilee" instead of "Judea." #v44

Chapter 5

1 # Luke 5 ### 1-11 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 1-11? #q Luke told his readers about what happened when Jesus called some fishermen to become his first disciples. He did a miracle for them by causing them to catch a very large number of fish. After he showed them his power in this way, they left their family and possessions and followed him. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v1-11 ### 1 ;[word of God] ;(no note) #v1 #dg-word_of_god ;[Lake of Gennesaret] Where is the Lake of Gennesaret? #q The Lake of Gennesaret is another name for the Sea of Galilee. It is in the northern part of the land of Israel. #v1 #dm-sea_of_galilee ### 2 ;This note may not be needed depending on the way this phase is translated. ;[washing their nets] Why were the fishermen washing their nets? #q The fishermen were removing trash and weeds that became tangled in their nets while they were fishing the previous night. #v2 #tbd ### 3 ;[Simon] ;(no note) #v3 #dg-simon_peter Why did Jesus get into the boat to teach the people? #q Jesus got into a boat because the crowd was pressing too tightly around him. Jesus wanted all the people could see and hear him, so he asked Simon to move the boat out a little way into the water. Jesus sat down because it was the custom for teachers to sit when they taught. #v3 ### 5 ;[Master] Why did Simon call Jesus, "Master"? #q Simon called Jesus, "Master" to show that he respected Jesus because Jesus had great power. #v5 ;[worked hard all night] Why did the fishermen work at night? #q The fishermen knew that the fish in the Sea of Galilee came near the surface during the night when the water was cool. That was the best time to catch fish in their nets. They would not normally fish during the heat of the day. Simon agreed to fish during the day only because he did not want to refuse Jesus' request. #v5 ### 7 ;[their partners] Who were Simon's "partners"? #q James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were Simon's partners in the fishing business. James and John also became disciples of Jesus because they saw the miracle that Jesus did. #v7 #xr-luk5:10 ### 8 What did Simon Peter do when he saw all of the fish that they had caught? #q Peter was amazed that they had caught so many fish. He knew that they had done this because God had given Jesus great power. That is why Peter knelt in front of Jesus and called Jesus "[Lord](g2962)." Peter knew he was not worthy to be in the presence of Jesus. #v8 #adv ### 10 ;[catch men] What did Jesus mean when he said that Simon would "catch men"? #q Jesus said that Simon would gather people to follow Jesus in the same way that Simon used to gather fish. Simon would spend the rest of his life preaching the Gospel instead of fishing. #v10 #xr-act15:7 #xr-gal2:7 ### 11 ;[left everything] What did the disciples leave in order to follow Jesus? #q Simon, James and John left their family, their boats, their business, their homes, and all the fish they had caught in order to follow Jesus and be his disciples. #v11 #xr-mat4:22 #xr-mrk1:20 ### 12-16 What did Luke want his readers to know about Jesus in verses 12-16? #q In verses 12-16, Luke told his readers that Jesus could heal a man who was sick with leprosy, and that he wanted to do so. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v12-16 #xr-mat8:2-4 #xr-mrk1:40-45 ### 12 ;[leprosy] ;(no note) #v12 #xr-lev13-14 #dg-leprosy ;[you can make me clean] What did the man mean when he asked Jesus to make him "clean"? #q According to the Jewish law, a person who had leprosy was not only sick. He was also someone whom God did not allow to worship him or to be with the other Israelites. Jews were not allowed to have any contact with lepers. If Jesus healed the man, the man would also become clean so that God and the Israelites would accept him. #v12 #adv #xr-lev14:2-32 #da-ritual_cleansing ### 13 Why were the people surprised when Jesus touched the man? #q Jewish people never touched lepers. The Jewish law said that if they did that, they would become unclean. Also, people were afraid that they would become sick with leprosy. However, Jesus touched the man to show that he had the power to heal him, and to show him that he cared for him. #v13 #adv ### 14 ;[Do not tell anyone] Why did Jesus tell the man not to tell anyone that he was healed? #q Jesus did not want anyone to know that he had healed the man. He did not want people to come to him only so that he could heal him. He wanted people to come to him to learn how they could please God. #v14 #xr-mrk7:36 #xr-luk4:43 ;[show yourself to the priest] Why did Jesus send the man he had healed to a priest? #q The Jewish law commanded that a person who was healed from leprosy must go to a priest and offer a sacrifice. Jesus told the man to obey the command. The man should show the priest that Jesus had truly healed the man from leprosy. #v14 #xr-lev14:1-32 #xr-luk17:14 ### 16 Why did Jesus go to isolated places to pray? #q Large crowds of people were coming to hear Jesus and to be healed by him, so it was difficult for Jesus to be alone with his Father and to pray. Therefore, Jesus often went to isolated places to pray. #v16 #adv #xr-mat14:23 #xr-mrk1:35 ### 17-26 What did Luke want his readers to know about Jesus in verses 17-26? #q In verses 17-26, Luke showed his readers that Jesus had the power to forgive people for having sinned. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v17-26 #xr-mat9:1-8 #xr-mrk2:1-12 ### 17 ;[Pharisees and the teachers of the law] ;(no note) #v17 #dg-pharisee #dg-teacher_of_the_law How was the Lord's power on Jesus to heal? #q The Holy Spirit was enabling Jesus to heal people on that day. While Jesus was on the earth, he decided to do miracles only when the Holy Spirit was working through him. #v17 #adv #xr-php2:5-7 #da-kenosis ### 19 How could people lower a man through the roof of a house? #q Many houses in Israel had flat roofs made of dried mud and covered with tiles. The men lifted the tiles and dug a hole in the mud roof so they could lower the sick man through it. #v19 #xr-mat9:2-8 #xr-mrk2:4 ### 20 ;[your sins are forgiven] How could Jesus forgive this man's sins? #q Jesus was announcing that he had the power to forgive sins. #v20 #xr-mat9:2 #xr-mrk2:5 ### 21 Why did the Pharisees and teachers of the law say that Jesus was insulting God? #q The Pharisees and teachers of the law knew that only God could forgive sins. Because they did not understand that Jesus was God, they did not know that he could forgive sins. They thought that Jesus was insulting God when he said he could forgive sins. #v21 #xr-lev24:16 #xr-isa43:25 #xr-luk7:48-49 #dg-blaspheme ### 22-25 How did Jesus show that he was able to forgive sins? #q Jesus healed the paralyzed man to show that he could do things that only God does. The people saw Jesus do this miracle, so they should also understand that he could forgive sins. Jesus' followers would learn in the future that he could forgive sins because he himself is God. #v22-25 #xr-luk7:48 #xr-1jn1:9 ### 23 ;[Son of Man] ;(no note) #v23 #xr-dan7:13 #xr-mat8:20 #dg-son_of_man ### 24 ;This note may not be needed, depending on how "mat" is translated. ;[his mat] What was a mat? #q A mat was a thick woven rug upon which people slept. The friends of the paralyzed man carried him on his mat from his house to where Jesus was teaching. #v24 #tbd #xr-jhn5:8 ### 25 ;[praising God] Why did the man praise God? #q The man praised God because he understood that Jesus healed him by means of God's power. Luke often wrote that people praised God because of what Jesus did for them. #v25 #xr-luk1:64 #xr-luk2:20 #xr-luk2:28 ### 27-32 What did Luke want his readers to know about Jesus in verses 27-32? #q In verses 27-32, Luke told his readers that Jesus called Matthew to be his disciple. Luke wanted his readers to know that Jesus helped sinners to stop sinning and to honor God. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v27-32 #xr-mat9:9-13 #xr-mrk2:13-17 ### 27 ;[tax collector] ;(no note) #v27 #xr-mat9:9 #xr-mrk2:15 #dg-tax_collector ;[Levi] Who was Levi the tax collector? #q Levi the tax collector changed his name to Matthew when he became a disciple of Jesus. #v27 #xr-mat9:9-10 #xr-mat10:3 #dg-matthew ### 28 ;[left everything] What did Matthew leave behind in order to follow Jesus? #q In order to follow Jesus, Matthew stopped working; he stopped gaining money by collecting taxes. #v28 #xr-luk9:23-24 ### 30 Why were the Pharisees and teachers of the law angry that Jesus ate with the tax collectors and other people? #q In Israel, people often ate meals together with their friends. The Pharisees and teachers of the law thought that they could honor God if they stayed away from people who sinned. Therefore, they did not eat with tax collectors and other people who did not obey God's law. They accused Jesus of being a friend of worthless people instead of a friend of God. #v30 #xr-mat11:19 #xr-mrk2:16 #xr-luk7:34 #xr-luk15:2 ### 31-32 Why did Jesus say he was eating with the tax collectors and sinners? #q Jesus told a parable to tell the Pharisees and teachers of the law why he ate with tax collectors and sinners. Sick people need a doctor to heal them. In the same way, sinners need Jesus to help them stop sinning and start honoring God. #v31-32 #xr-mat9:12-13 #xr-mrk2:17 ### 33-39 What did Luke want his readers to know about Jesus in verses 33-39? #q In verses 33-39, Jesus told the Pharisees why his disciples did not fast. Luke wanted his readers to know that the disciples of Jesus would obey his new commands, rather than follow the law that God gave in the Old Testament. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v33-39 #xr-mat9:14-15 #xr-mrk2:18-20 ### 33 Why did someone complain to Jesus that his disciples were not fasting? #q Luke did not say who asked Jesus about fasting. Jews fasted in order to show that they wanted to honor God. They did not understand why the disciples of Jesus did not do the same thing. #v33 #xr-mat9:14 #xr-mrk2:18 #dg-fasting ### 34-35 ;[the bridegroom] Why did Jesus talk about a bridegroom? #q The bridegroom is a metaphor for Jesus. Jesus was still with the disciples. Therefore, they should eat and drink with him. Later on, Jesus would die and then his disciples would fast. #v34-35 #xr-mat9:15 #xr-mrk2:20 ### 36 Why did Jesus say that no one would patch an old garment with a new piece of cloth? #q Jesus spoke a metaphor when he talked about patching garments. No one would sew a piece of new cloth into an old garment. Jesus wanted to teach his followers how to honor God in new ways. He said that they would not honor God any longer by keep the laws in the Old Testament and by sacrificing animals and other things to him, even though the Israelites had done this for hundreds of years. Disciples of Jesus must stop doing the old things that the Pharisees taught in order to do the new things that Jesus was teaching. #v36 ### 37-39 Why did Jesus talk about putting old wine in new wineskins? #q The wine is a metaphor for the things people knew about God. The wineskins are a metaphor for the ways that people try to honor God. The disciples of Jesus had to listen to the new things that he was teaching about God. Then they must do these new things in order to honor God. ways. #v37-39 How does new wine burst old wineskins? #q New wine produces gas that can stretch a wineskin. But the leather of an wineskin would be stiff and dry; it would not stretch. It would burst because the gas pushes very hard against it. #v37 ### 39 Why did Jesus say people would like the old wine more than the new wine? #q Usually people prefer the things that they already know. Even though Jesus taught things about God that were better than what the scribes and Pharisees taught, most people would prefer the old things. #v39 #xr-mat7:28-29

Chapter 6

1 # Luke 6 ### 1-5 What did Luke want to tell his readers about the Sabbath in verses 1-5? #q In verses 1-5, Luke wanted his readers to know that God had given Jesus permission to decide what people may do on the Sabbath. Matthew and Mark also write about this. #v1-5 #xr-mat12:1-8 #xr-mrk2:23-28 ### 1 ;[ Sabbath] ;(no note) #v1 #xr-exo20:8-11 #xr-exo34:21 #dg-sabbath Why were the disciples picking grain? #q The disciples were picking grain because they were hungry. They picked only a small amount of grain to eat as they walked past the grainfields. The Jewish law permitted them to do this. #v1 #xr-deu23:24-25 ### 2 ;[the Pharisees] ;(no note) #v2 #dg-pharisee Why did the Pharisees say it was against the law to pick grain to eat on the Sabbath? #q The Old Testament law did not allow the Jews to do any work on the Sabbath day. The Pharisees said that it was against the law even to pick and eat a few heads of grain. #v2 #xr-exo34:21 ### 3-4 When did David eat the bread in the house of God? #q Jesus wanted the Pharisees to think about the time that David ate the bread that priests had offered to God. David was hungry because he was running away from King Saul, who wanted to kill him. #v3-4 #xa-1sa21:1-9 ### 3 ;[have you never read] Why did Jesus ask the Pharisees if they had read about David eating the bread in the house of God? #q The Pharisees thought they understood the Old Testament better than anyone else. When Jesus asked them if they had ever read about David, Jesus wanted them to know that they did not well understand what they had read. #v3 ;[David] ;(no note) #v3 #xr-1sa21:1-6 #dg-david ### 4 ;[house of God] What was the house of God at the time of David? #q The 'house of God' at the time of David was a tent where the Jews worshiped God. This was before Solomon built the temple. #v4 #dg-tabernacle #dg-temple ;This note may not be necessary, depending on how "consecrated bread" is translated. ;[consecrated bread] What was the consecrated bread? #q Consecrated bread was bread that the priests had placed on the table before God in the tent of worship as an offering to him. #v4 #tbd #xr-lev24:5-9 Why did David and his followers eat the bread that the priests had offered to God? #q David and his followers ate the bread that the priests had offered to God because they were very hungry. David did not think that God wanted the law of Moses to make people suffer when they had done nothing wrong. If the Pharisees said that Jesus' disciples had done wrong in picking grain on the Sabbath, then they would also have to say that David had done wrong. But the Pharisees did not want to say that. #v4 #xr-mrk2:27 ### 5 ;[Son of Man] Why did Jesus call himself the "Son of Man" as he talked about the Sabbath? #q "Son of Man" is what Jesus called himself. He called himself that because this is what the prophet Daniel called the person whom God told to rule over all the nations. Because Jesus will rule over everyone, he can also say what the law of Moses means. He can decide what people should do and should not do on the Sabbath. #v5 #xr-dan7:13 #xr-mat12:8 #xr-mrk2:27-28 #dg-son_of_man #da-son_of_man ### 6-11 What did Luke want his readers to know about the Sabbath when he wrote verses 6-11? #q In verses 6-11, Luke wanted his readers to know that God had given Jesus power to heal people on the Sabbath. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v6-11 #xr-mat12:9-14 #xr-mrk3:1-6 ### 6 ;[synagogue] ;(no note) #v6 #dg-synagogue ### 7 Why did the Pharisees and teachers of the law think that it would be wrong for Jesus to heal someone on the Sabbath? #q The Pharisees and the teachers of the law thought that if Jesus healed anyone on the Sabbath, he would be doing work that the law of Moses did not allow anyone to do on the Sabbath. They wanted Jesus to heal the man so they could say to Jesus that he was doing wrong. #v7 #xr-mat12:2 #dg-pharisee #dg-teacher_of_the_law ### 8 Why did Jesus ask the man to stand up in front of everyone? #q Jesus did not allow the Pharisees or the teachers of the law to stop him from healing the man. Instead, he told the man to stand so everyone in the synagogue could watch as he healed the man. #v8 ### 9 Why did Jesus ask the Pharisees and teachers of the law a question before he healed the man? #q Jesus wanted to show everyone in the synagogue that the Pharisees and teachers of the law were wrong to tell Jesus not to heal anyone on the sabbath. It was good to heal a person. The law of Moses allowed the Jews to help other people on the Sabbath. #v8 #xr-mrk3:4 #xr-luk13:14 ### 10 How did Jesus heal the man? #q Jesus and the man did not do any work. Jesus only spoke to the man. The man only stretched out his hand. There was nothing wrong with doing these things on the Sabbath. #v10 ### 11 Why were the Pharisees and teachers of the law so angry at Jesus? #q Jesus showed that he understood the Sabbath better than the Pharisees and teachers of the law did. This caused them to be jealous of Jesus and very angry at him. #v11 ### 12-16 What did Luke want his readers to know about the apostles in verses 12-16? #q Luke wanted his readers to know about what happened when Jesus selected his twelve apostles. Mark also wrote about this. #v12-16 #xr-mrk3:13-19 ### 12 Why did Jesus pray all night? #q Jesus often prayed all night before he made difficult decisions. #v12 #xr-luk3:21 #xr-luk9:18 #xr-luk22:39-46 #dg-pray ### 13 ;[apostle] ;(no note) #v13 #xr-mat10:1-4 #xr-mrk3:16-19 #xr-mrk6:30 #dg-apostle ### 14 ;[Bartholomew] Who was Bartholomew? #q Many scholars think Bartholomew was the same person that the Apostle John called Nathanael in his gospel. #v14 #adv #xr-jhn1:45-49 #xr-jhn21:2 ### 17-19 What did Luke want his readers to know about Jesus healing the people in verses 17-19? #q In verses 17-19, Luke told his readers what happened when Jesus healed many people. #v17-19 ### 17 ;[Tyre and Sidon] Where were Tyre and Sidon? #q Tyre and Sidon were Gentile cities in Phoenicia. Phoenicia was north of Israel on the Mediterranean coast. Some scholars think the people from from Tyre and Sidon who came to hear Jesus were Jews who lived in that area. #v17 #dm-phoenicia ### 18 ;[unclean spirits] What are "unclean spirits?" #q Demons can cause people to be sick in their minds or their bodies. Luke called these demons "unclean spirits." Some of the people who came to Jesus were sick because of these demons. Jesus commanded the demons to leave those people so they would be healed. #v18 #dg-demon ### 20-49 Who were the disciples that Jesus spoke to in verses 20-49? #q In verses 20-49, Luke said that Jesus spoke to his disciples. In other words, Jesus spoke to all of his followers, not only to the twelve apostles. Matthew also wrote about this. #v20-49 #xr-mat5-7 #dg-disciple #dg-apostle ### 20-23 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 20-26? #q Luke wanted his readers to know that God has promised to take care of the disciples of Jesus, his followers. They often suffer because they serve Jesus. But God will reward them in heaven because they suffered. #v20-23 #xr-mat5:1-12 ### 20 ;[poor] Who are the poor people that Jesus spoke about? #q Most scholars think Jesus was talking about disciples who did not have money to buy food, clothing, and shelter. Matthew wrote about disciples who were "poor in spirit" (see: #mat5:3). Disciples who do not have food and clothing would also be discouraged. #v20 #adv #xr-mat5:3 ### 22 Why would people hate, insult, and reject the disciples of Jesus? #q Because some people hate Jesus, they will also hate the disciples of Jesus. Jesus promised that God will take care of disciples who suffer because they serve Jesus. #v22 #xr-jhn9:22 #xr-jhn15:20-25 #xr-jhn16:2 #xr-1pe2:20 #xr-1pe3:14-17 #xr-1pe4:15-19 ### 23 ;[in that day] When should disciples of Jesus rejoice? #q The disciples of Jesus should rejoice even while they are suffering. They can do this because they believe that God will reward them for that suffering. #v23 #xr-rom5:3-5 #xr-rom8:17-18 #xr-2co1:5 #xr-1pe1:5-9 ### 24-26 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 24-26? #q In verses 24-26, Luke wanted his readers to know that God will judge people who do not give up riches and comfort in order to follow Jesus. #v24-26 #xr-luk1:53 #xr-jam5:1-6 ### 24 ;[woe] ;(no note) #v24 #dg-woe ### 26 ;[the false prophets] Who were the false prophets that Jesus talked about? #q The false prophets in the Old Testament spoke the things that the people wanted to hear. For that reason, the people said good things about these prophets. But God promised to judge those false prophets because they did not speak the messages that he wanted them to speak. #v26 #xr-1ki22:11-23 #xr-jer29:30-32 ### 27-36 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 27-36? #q In verses 27-36, Jesus told his disciples that they should love and help even their enemies, those who hate them (see #luk6:22). God loves everyone, and will reward the disciples if they also love other people. Matthew also wrote about this. #v27-36 #xr-mat5:39-48 #xr-luk6:22 ### 27 ;[you who are listening] Who were the people who were listening to Jesus? #q Jesus again spoke directly to his disciples who were with him and listening to him. #v27 #xr-mat5:44 ### 28 ;This note may not be necessary, depending on how "bless" is translated. ;[bless] ;(no note) #v28 #dg-bless #tbd ### 29 Who would hit the disciples on their cheek or take their coat? #q If people hate Jesus, they may treat his disciples badly. People slap someone on the cheek to insult them. When they do this, the disciples should love their enemies and be generous to them. #v29 #xr-pro25:21-22 #xr-rom12:17-19 ### 30 How should believers act when people ask them for help? #q Believers should have mercy and help any person who needs it, even if that person is not their friend. Furthermore, they should not demand that the person repay what they have borrowed. #v30 ### 31 Why did Jesus say the message in this verse? #q People often call this verse the "Golden Rule" because in it, Jesus teaches his disciples how to treat other people. Everyone wants other people to treat them well. Therefore, they should also treat other people well. #v31 #xr-mat7:12 #xr-mat22:39 ### 32-34 In what way should believers act differently than unbelievers? #q Jesus asked his disciples three questions about whether God would reward them for treating their friends well. The answer to each question was, "No." Even people who do not honor God usually treat their friends well. #v32-34 ### 35-36 Whom will God reward? #q God will reward the disciples who do more good things than the people who sin do. If they help only their friends, they are not better than people who do not honor God. God will reward believers if they treat even their enemies well. When they do that, they act like God acts. This will show others that they are God's children. #v35-36 ### 37-42 What did Jesus want his disciples to know in verses 37-42? #q In verses 37-42, Jesus told his disciples that believers should treat everyone well, including both their enemies and other believers. #v37-42 ### 37-38 How does the "Golden Rule" of verse 31 help people obey the commands in verses 37-38 ? #q Jesus told the disciples that God would treat them in the same way that they treat other people. If they judge other people, God will judge them. If they condemn other people, God will condemn them. If they forgive other people, God will forgive them. Therefore, the disciples should treat other people as the disciples want God to treat the disciples, because that is what God will do (see #luk6:31). #v37-38 #xr-mat7:1-5 #xr-luk6:31 ### 38 What will God pour into a disciple's lap? #q God will give a large reward to the disciples who treat other people well. Jesus spoke a metaphor to explain this reward. It will be as if a person were sitting and holding a cloth in their lap as God poured grain into the cloth. God will give that person so much reward that it will fill up the cloth and run over and spill out onto the person's lap. #v38 #xr-mat7:2 #xr-mrk4:24 ### 39-40 What did Jesus want the disciples to learn when he spoke to them the parable of the blind leading the blind? #q Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples to teach them that a person who does not know his own problems cannot help other people to correct their problems. The blind man is a metaphor for a person who does not see his own faults. A person like that cannot teach someone the way to live any more than a blind man can lead another person along a dangerous path. #v39-40 #xr-mat7:3-5 #xr-mat7:16-18 #xr-mat23:23-24 ### 41-42 Why did Jesus speak the metaphor of the speck and the plank? #q Jesus spoke about a speck in a person's eye as a metaphor for a small problem, and about a plank in a person's eye as a metaphor for a serious problem. To have a plank of wood in someone's eye is not possible. Jesus was exaggerating. It would be foolish for someone with such a serious problem to criticize someone else for having a speck of sawdust in their eye. In the same way, it is foolish for a person with a serious problem to criticize someone with a minor problem. #v41-42 ### 42 Should a believer ever tell another Christian that that person has a problem? #q Believers should not point out problems in other Christians if they ignore the same problem in themselves. If a believer does this, he is a hypocrite. However, if a believer corrects his own problem, then he can help other Christians to correct that same problem in themselves. #v42 ### 43-45 Why did Jesus tell the disciples about the good and bad trees? #q Jesus wanted the disciples to know that what a person does shows what kind of person he truly is. When someone does and says things that are against what God says, the disciples will know that they do not honor God in their heart. When someone does and says things that do honor God, the disciples will know that they honor God in their heart. #v43-45 #xr-pro4:23 #xr-mat15:19 ### 43-44 Who was Jesus speaking about in the metaphor of the good and bad trees? #q The good trees are a metaphor for good people. Good people normally do good things, just as good trees produce good fruit. The bad trees are a metaphor for bad people. Bad people normally do bad things, just as bad trees produce bad fruit. The fruit of a tree shows whether it is a good tree or not. Also, what a person says and does shows whether they are a good person or not. #v43-44 ### 46-49 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 46-49? #q In verses 46-49, Luke wanted his readers to know that they must not only listen to Jesus, but they must also do what he told them to do. God will protect people who obey Jesus, but he will destroy people who do not obey him. Matthew also wrote about this. #v46-49 #xr-mat7:21-27 ### 46 Who are the people who call Jesus, "Lord, Lord"? #q The people who call Jesus, "Lord, Lord" speak well about him, but do not really believe that he is God. They do not obey what he tells them to do. #v46 #xr-mal1:6 #xr-mat7:21 ### 47-48 In what way are Jesus' disciples like a man building a house on a rock? #q The man who builds his house on a rock is a metaphor for disciples who obey Jesus in all they do. The rock holds the house firmly so it will not collapse in a flood. In the same way, disciples who keep obeying what Jesus taught will be able to endure the troubles and difficult things that happen in this life, and God will announce that they are innocent at the time when he judges everyone. #v47-48 #xr-jas1:22-25 ### 49 In what way are people who do not obey Jesus like a man building a house on sand? #q The man who builds his house on sand is a metaphor for people who do not obey Jesus, but do what other people tell them to do. Sand cannot hold a house firmly, so it will collapse in a flood. In the same way, those who reject what Jesus taught, who instead obey what other people teach, will not be able to endure the troubles and difficult things that happen in this life. God will announce that they are guilty at the time when he judges everyone. #v49 #xr-jas1:22-25

Chapter 7

1 # Luke 7 ### 1-10 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 1-10? #q In verses 10-10, Luke wanted his readers to know that a Roman soldier believed that Jesus could heal his servant by only speaking a command. Matthew also wrote about this. #v1-10 #xr-mat8:5-13 Did the centurion come to Jesus? #q Matthew said the centurion came to Jesus, but Luke said he stayed in his house and sent the Jewish elders to Jesus. Luke told what the centurion actually did. The Jewish elders came and spoke to Jesus for the centurion as his messengers. Matthew speaks of the message of the elders as if the centurion had come and spoken to Jesus himself. #v1-10 #adv #xr-mat8:5-13 ### 1 ;(note about "Capernaum" inserted from Luke 4:23) ### 2 ;[centurion] What was a centurion? #q A centurion was an officer in the Roman army who commanded about 100 soldiers. #v2 #dg-centurion ;[servant] Why did the centurion have a servant? #q Officials in the first century normally had servants to cook for them and do other tasks. The centurion's servant was not one of his soldiers. #v2 #adv #da-roman_culture #da-servant_slave ### 3 ;[Jewish elders] Who were the Jewish elders? #q These Jewish elders were the leaders of the city of Capernaum. They were greater than the elders who led the synagogue. #v3 #dg-elder Why did the centurion send the elders to Jesus and not go himself? #q The centurion did not know Jesus. Therefore, he thought that Jesus might refuse his request for help, but that Jesus would agree to a request from Jewish leaders. #v3 ### 5 ;[synagogue] How did the centurion build the synagogue? #q The centurion gave money to the Jews so they could build their synagogue. This was the same synagogue where Jesus taught the people and healed a man who was possessed by a demon in #luk4:33. #v5 #xr-luk4:33 #da-jewish_worship #dg-synagogue ### 6-8 Why did the centurion believe Jesus could heal his servant without coming to his house? #q The centurion believed that Jesus had the power over sickness in the same way that the centurion had power over his soldiers. The soldiers did whatever the centurion told them to do. He believed that the sickness would end if Jesus told it to stop. It was not necessary for Jesus to see or touch the servant. #v7 ### 9-10 Why was Jesus amazed at the centurion's answer? #q Not many Jews at that time believed that Jesus could heal sick people. The centurion was a Gentile, but he did believe that Jesus had the power to heal his servant. Also, he believed that Jesus was able to heal by simply commanding the sickness to leave his servant. This is what amazed Jesus. #v9-10 ### 11-17 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 11-17? #q In verses 11-17, Luke wrote about the widow's son because he wanted his readers to know that Jesus not only had the power to heal sick people, but also to make dead people alive again. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v11-17 ### 11 ;[a town called Nain] Where is Nain? #q The town of Nain is about 40 km southwest of Capernaum. The Hebrew word "Nain" means "green pastures" or "something that is lovely." #v11 #dm-israel ### 12 Why were the people carrying the dead body out of the town? #q The friends of the widow were carrying the dead body of the man to the burial place outside the town. #v12 #da-jewish_burial Why was Jesus very sad for this woman? #q The woman's husband and only son were dead, and she did not have any man to provide for her. This is why Jesus was sad for her. #v12 ### 13 ;[Do not cry] Why did Jesus tell the woman not to cry? #q Jesus did not tell the woman that she was doing wrong by crying. But he wanted her to know that she did not need to cry any longer. He would make her son alive again. She would no longer be sad, but would be happy again. #v13 #xr-luk8:52 ### 14-15 How did Jesus make the dead man alive again? #q Jesus touched the stretcher on which the dead body was lying, but he did not touch the dead man. Jesus only spoke to the man, and he immediately became alive again. This was the first time that Luke said Jesus made someone alive again. #v14-15 #da-resurrect ### 18-23 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 18-23? #q In verses 18-23, Jesus showed John the Baptist that Jesus was the Messiah by doing the miracles that Isaiah said the Messiah would do. Matthew also wrote about this. #v18-23 #xr-mat11:2-6 ### 18-20 Why did John think Jesus was the Messiah? #q When John first started preaching, he told the people that the Messiah would come after John. John heard that Jesus was doing miracles and wondered if Jesus was the Messiah. John was in prison, so he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if Jesus was the Messiah. #v18-20 #xr-luk3:15-20 #dg-messiah ### 21-22 What answer did Jesus give to John's disciples? #q Jesus did not openly tell John's disciples that he was the Messiah. Instead, he did the things that the scripture said the Messiah would do. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and spoke the good news to the poor. In this way, John would know Jesus was the Messiah because of what Jesus did, and not only because of what he said. #v21-22 #xr-isa29:18-19 #xr-isa35:5-6 #xr-isa61:1-2 ### 22 ;(note about "good news" inserted from Luk 2:10) ### 23 ;[stumble on account of me] How could someone stumble on account of Jesus? #q The Jews expected the Messiah to be a powerful king. However, Jesus was a poor and humble carpenter and teacher. For that reason, many Jews did not believe Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus spoke the metaphor about stumbling over something in order to talk about these people who did not believe in him. God will be pleased with people who do let the simple life of Jesus prevent them from believing in him. #v23 #xr-mat11:6 #xa-isa8:13-15 ### 24-30 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 24-30? #q Luke wanted his readers to know that John the Baptist was a great prophet who told people to prepare to receive the Messiah. The people who accepted what John taught accepted Jesus. Those who did not accept what John taught rejected Jesus. Matthew also wrote about this. #v24-30 #xr-mat11:7-15 ### 24 What is "a reed shaken by the wind"? #q A reed is a tall thin plant that the wind can easily bend back and forth. This is a metaphor for a person who quickly changes his convictions. John was not like that. #v24 What kind of clothing did John wear? #q John wore inexpensive clothes made of rough hair from camels and ate locusts and honey. #v24 #xr-mat3:4 ### 25-27 ;[more than a prophet] In what ways was John the Baptist more than a prophet? #q John the Baptist was the greatest prophet because God honored him more than the other prophets. God gave him the task of announcing to the Jews that the Messiah was coming to them. #v25-27 #xq-mal3:1-2 #xr-mat3:1-3 ### 28 How could it be that John was the greatest man, but those in heaven are greater than him? #q John the Baptist was greater than any other person who had lived until that time. However, any person who is in the kingdom of God is in God's presence forever. This is a better gift from God than to be a prophet of God. #v28 #xr-mat11:11 #xr-mat:13:43 #xr-mat25:34 #xr-col1:12 #dg-kingdom_of_god #da-kingdom_of_god ### 31-35 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 31-35? #q Luke wanted his readers to know that many of the Jews rejected both John the Baptist and Jesus. Matthew also wrote about this. #v31-35 #xr-mat11:16-19 ### 31-32 In what way were the Jews who rejected Jesus like unwise children? #q Jesus said that the Jews who rejected him acted like unwise children who were never satisfied. They continually complained that Jesus and John did not do what the Jews wanted them to do. #v31-32 ### 33-34 How did the Jews reject Jesus and John? #q John the Baptist did not eat expensive food or drink wine, and the Jews rejected him. Jesus did the opposite thing. He ate good food and drank wine, but the Jews also rejected him. This showed that they had no wisdom. They did not want anyone from God to make them happy or satisfy them. #v32-34 #adv #xr-mat11:17 #dg-son_of_man ### 35 ;[wisdom is proved right by her children] What did Jesus say about wisdom? #q Jesus uses a proverb that means people who are truly wise do wise things. The people who rejected Jesus and John were not wise. #v35 #adv ### 36-50 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 36-50? #q Luke wanted his readers to know that Jesus accepted and forgave people who sinned, and they loved him because he did that. The other gospel writers do not write about this. #v36-50 ### 36 ;[the Pharisees] ;(no note) #v36 #dg-pharisee ;[reclined at the table] Why did they recline at the meal? #q During that time, guests at a formal meal lay on their side around low tables. They stretched out their feet away from the table. #v36 #luk7:36 #luk11:37 #luk12:37 #luk22:14 #da-jewish_customs ### 37 Who was the woman? #q Luke did not say in what way the woman sinned. She may have been a prostitute. #v37 ;[alabaster jar of perfume] Why did Luke talk about what the jar of perfume was made of? #q An alabaster jar was very expensive. The perfume that it contained was certainly very expensive. #v37 #xr-mrk14:3-5 #xr-jhn12:3 ### 38 Why did the woman do this to Jesus' feet? #q Luke told his readers that the woman loved Jesus because he forgave her sins (see #luk7:47). She showed that she loved Jesus by cleaning the dust from his feet with her tears and hair, and by pouring the perfume on them. #v38 #xr-luk7:47 When did God forgive the woman for sinning? #q Some scholars think the woman honored Jesus because she wanted him to forgive her for sinning. However, the story talks about men who were loved the moneylender because they were already forgiven. Therefore, other scholars think Jesus forgave the woman at an earlier time, and that she came to Simon's house after that in order to thank Jesus. #v38 #adv ### 39 Why did the Pharisee decide that Jesus was not really a prophet? #q The Pharisees separated themselves from people who sinned and expected Jesus to do the same. The Pharisee assumed that Jesus did not separate himself from the woman because he did not know that she had sinned. If Jesus did not know that, he must not be a prophet. #v39 ### 40-47 Jesus knew what the Pharisee was thinking. How did Jesus respond to him? #q Jesus responded to what Simon the Pharisee was thinking by telling him a story. Jesus often told stories and parables to teach people about God. This story showed that people respond with love when someone forgives them. #v40-47 ### 41 ;The content of this note may not be needed if the glossary entry is created. The link may be sufficient. ;[denarii] What is a denarius? #q A denarius was a small coin. It was the amount of money that a laborer would earn in one day at that time. #v41 #tbd #dg-denarius ### 44-46 How should Simon the Pharisee have greeted Jesus when Jesus arrived at his house to eat? #q In that day, a good host would greet his guests by providing for their needs. He would give them water to wash the dust from their feet, and greet them by kissing them on their cheek. He would also give them oil to clean and arrange their hair. Simon did not do any of these things for Jesus. The woman, however, treated Jesus even better than a good host would do. #v44-46 #da-jewish_customs ### 47 Why did the woman treat Jesus so well? #q The woman treated Jesus so well because she had learned from Jesus that God forgave her and loved her. Therefore, she loved him. However, Simon did not think he had sinned and did not want Jesus to forgive him. Therefore, Simon did not love Jesus or treat him well. #v47 ### 48-49 Why were the other guests surprised that Jesus forgave the woman for sinning? #q The other guests knew that only God can forgive people for sinning. Jesus told the woman that she was forgiven because he wanted them to know that he had the power to forgive sins. The guests understood that he could not do this unless he was God. #v48-49 #adv #xr-luk5:20-21 ### 50 Why did Jesus forgive the woman? #q Jesus said that he forgave the woman because she believed in him. God saved her because she believed that Jesus had the power to forgive her for sinning. #v50

Chapter 8

1 # Luke 8 ### 1-3 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 1-3? #q In verses 1-3, Luke wanted his readers to know that women also believed in Jesus, as well as men. Some of them traveled with Jesus and the disciples, and they helped them. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v1-3 ### 1 ;[good news] What does "good news" mean? #q The term "good news" is the same as the word "gospel." #v1 #dg-gospel #tbd ;[the Twelve] ;(no note) #v1 #xr-luk6:13 #dg-apostle ### 2 ;[Mary, called Magdalene] Who was Mary "called Magdalene"?#q There are several women named "Mary" in the Bible. This Mary was probably called "Magdalene" because she came from the town called Magdala. Magdala is on the west coast of the Sea of Galilee. #v2 #xr-mat27:56-61 #xr-mat28:1-10 #xr-mrk15:40-47 #xr-mrk16:1-9 #xr-luk24:1-12 #xr-jhn19:25 #xr-jhn20:1-18 ### 3 How did the women show that they were faithful to Jesus?#q These women gave their own money to pay for what Jesus and his disciples needed. #v3 #xr-mat27:55 ### 4-15 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 4-15? #q In verses 4-15, Jesus told his disciples that people who heard the things he was teaching were like four different kinds of soil. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v4-15 #xr-mat13:1-23 #xr-mrk4:1-20 ### 4 ;[parable] ;(no note) #v4 #dg-parable ### 5-8 Why did Jesus speak this parable to the crowd? #q A large crowd of people came to listen to Jesus, but they did not all believe what he said. For this reason, he spoke this parable to show the different ways in which these people acted after they heard the things that he taught. #v5-8 #xr-mat13:1-23 #xr-mrk4:1-20 ### 8 ;[Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear] Why did Jesus say, "He who has ears, let him hear"? #q Perhaps this was a common saying of that time. The Greek word "[hear] (#g191)" can also mean "understand." Jesus wanted the people to hear the parable so they could understand that he was speaking about whether they accepted or rejected what he taught. #v8 #adv #xr-luk14:35 ### 10 Why did Jesus say that he spoke this parable? #q Jesus told the disciples that he spoke in parables so that the disciples could understand, but so other people would not understand. Many years before this, God told the prophet Isaiah to speak in such a way that people would not understand his message (see #isa6:9). #v10 #xr-jer5:21 #xr-ezk12:2 #xa-isa6:9 ### 11-15 What did Jesus tell his disciples in verses 11-15? #q In verses 9-15, Jesus told his disciples that the people were like the different kinds of soil in the parable. #v11-15 ;[the seed] What does the seed represent? #q The seed represents the word of God. Each person who hears it can believe it if he wants to. #v11-15 #dg-word_of_god Who do the different kinds of soil represent? #q The different kinds of soil represent the different kinds of people who hear the word of God. Only one kind of person produces fruit for God, that is, obeys God. That is the person who believes God's word. That person will continue to obey God's word and produce fruit for him. This fruit represents the good works that person does for God. #v11-15 ### 16-18 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 16-18? #q In verses 16-18, Jesus told his disciples that everyone should listen very carefully to the things that he was saying, because God knows what the disciples are thinking. Matthew also wrote about this. #v16-18 #xr-mrk4:21-25 ### 16-17 What did Jesus want to say when he talked about lighting a lamp? #q Jesus talked about a lamp and putting it where everyone can see its light. The lamp is a metaphor for the things he taught. What he taught shows everyone that they sin, and also it shows the way to God. #v16-17 #xr-mrk4:21-25 #xr-heb4:12 #dg-gospel #dg-word_of_god ### 18 What does Jesus want to say in this verse? #q People who listen to the word of God and obey what it says will learn even more about God. However, when people who hear the word of God but ignore it, they will forget the things that they had already heard about God (see #luk8:12-14). #v18 ### 19-21 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 19-21? #q In verses 19-21, Jesus said that the people who believe the word of God and obey what God says are his true family. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v19-21 #xr-mat12:46-50 #xr-mrk3:31-35 ### 19-20 ;[Jesus' mother and brothers] The mother and brothers of Jesus came to see him. Who were these brothers? #q Many scholars think that Mary and Joseph gave birth to other children after Jesus was born. #mat13:55-56 says the brothers of Jesus were James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. Some of these brothers came with Mary to see Jesus. #v19-20 #xr-mat13:55-56 #xr-mrk6:3 ;[brothers] Who are Jesus' "brothers"? #q These "brothers" of Jesus were actually his half-brothers. Mary was the mother of Jesus and of his half-brothers, but Jesus and his half-brothers did not have the same father. God was the father of Jesus. Joseph was the father of the half-brothers. #v19-20 #adv #xr-luk3:23 ### 21 What did Jesus say about his family? #q Jesus' mother and brothers were his small family on earth, but he has another family. This family is much larger. All the people who believe God's word and do what God wants them to do will be part of Jesus' family. #v21 ### 22-25 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 22-25? #q In verses 22-25, Luke wanted to show that Jesus had the power to quiet a storm on the Sea of Galilee. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v22-25 #xr-mat8:23-27 #xr-mrk4:35-41 ### 22 ;[the lake] What lake did Jesus and the disciples cross? #q This lake is the Sea of Galilee. #v22 #dm-sea_of_galilee Why did Jesus and the disciples cross the lake in a boat? #q Traveling by boat was easier and faster than walking around the large lake on the shore. #v22 #xr-mat8:23-27 #xr-mrk4:35-41 ### 25 ;[Where is your faith?] Why did Jesus tell the disciples that they should not have been afraid? #q Jesus told the disciples that they should not have been afraid of the waves. They were afraid because they still did not understand that he was the Messiah, even though he had already done many miracles. #v25 #xr-mat8:26 #xr-mat14:31 #xr-mat16:8 #xr-mat17:20 Why were the disciples amazed at what Jesus had done? #q The disciples were amazed at what Jesus had done because a normal person cannot control the wind and waves. They realized that Jesus had much more power than they had previously thought. #v25 ### 26-39 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 26-39? #q In verses 26-39, Jesus showed that he had power over demons by sending them out of a man who was possessed by them. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v26-39 #xr-mat8:28-34 #xr-mrk5:1-20 #dg-demon_possession ### 26 Where was the region of the Gerasenes? #q The region of the Gerasenes was on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. #v26 #dm-sea_of_galilee #xr-mat8:28-34 #xr-mrk5:1-20 ### 27 Why did Luke say there was one man, but Matthew said there were two men? #q Matthew said there were two men who were possessed by demons, but Luke only wrote about one man. Perhaps the man that Luke wrote was the only man who spoke to Jesus. #v27 #adv #xr-mat8:28 ### 28 Why did the man kneel down at Jesus' feet? #q The man knelt down at Jesus' feet in order to beg him for mercy. The demons inside the man knew who Jesus was. They thought he was going to judge and punish them at that time. #v28 Who spoke to Jesus? #q The man spoke to Jesus, but he said the things that the demons inside him wanted him to say. The demons spoke to Jesus through the man's voice. #v28 #dg-demon ;[Son of the Most High] What did the demons want to say when they called Jesus, " Son of the Most High God"? #q The demons called Jesus, "Son of the Most High God" because they knew that Jesus was the Son of God, and God the Father was called "the Most High." Because Jesus is the Son of God, he is God just as much as is God the Father. #v28 #xr-luk1:32 #da-trinity ### 29 What power had the demons given the man? #q The demons had given the man his extraordinary strength to break chains. #v29 ### 30 ;[Legion] What does the name "Legion" want to say? #q "Legion" was the name of a Roman military unit with about 6,000 men. Perhaps this means that there were 6000 demons in the man. Or perhaps "legion" was a general name that meant there were many demons in him. #v30 ### 31 ;[Abyss] What is the Abyss? #q The word [Abyss](#g0012) means "bottomless pit." In the Bible, the Abyss is the place where God will punish Satan and his evil spirits. The demons did not want Jesus to sent them there. #v31 #adv #xr-rev9:1-11 #xr-rev20:1-3 #bt-hell #dg-hell ### 32 ;[a large herd of pigs] Why was there a large herd of pigs in this region? #q The people who lived in this region were probably Gentiles, because the Law of Moses did not allow Jews to raise of eat pigs. #v32 Why did Jesus allow the demons to go into the pigs? #q Jesus did not tell the demons to go into the pigs. He ordered them to leave the man. He did allow them to go into the pigs as they wanted to do. Jesus healed many people who were possessed by demons, but he did not stop the demons from doing evil things in other places. It was not yet the time for him to judge Satan and the demons. He will do that in the future. #v32 #adv ### 37 Why were the people afraid of Jesus? #q The people were afraid of Jesus because they saw that he had great power and could command the demons. They did not know who he was, and did not want to find out. They were afraid of anyone who could rule over the demons. So instead of learning more about him, they asked him to go away from them. #v37 ### 38-39 Why did Jesus tell the man that he had healed to go home? #q The people of the town did not want Jesus to stay and teach them. So instead, Jesus sent to them the man he had healed. That man told them what God had done for him. #v38-39 ### 40-48 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 40-48? #q In verses 40-48, Jesus showed his power by healing a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v40-48 #xr-mat9:18-22 #xr-mrk5:21-34 ### 40 Where did Jesus go when he came from the region of the Gerasenes? #q Jesus returned to Capernaum in Galilee. #v40 ### 41-42 Why did Jairus think Jesus could heal his daughter? #q Jesus had already healed a man in the synagogue at Capernaum. Jairus would have known about that because he was a leader in the synagogue. Jairus may have thought that if Jesus could heal that man, he could also heal Jairus' daughter. #v41-42 #xr-mat9:18-22 #xr-mrk5:21-34 #xr-luk4:33-37 ### 43 ;"Unclean" here means unacceptable to God and to the people of Israel. What problems did the woman have because she was bleeding? #q The woman suffered from bleeding, but she was also unclean according to the law of Moses. While she was bleeding, she was not allowed to touch other people or to worship in the synagogue. #v43 #xr-lev15:25-27 ### 44 What did the woman do in order to be healed? #q The woman went into the crowd of people and secretly touched the edge of Jesus' robe so that she could be healed. This action showed that she believed Jesus had the power to heal her. That is why Jesus immediately healed her. #v44 ### 45-46 ;[Who touched me?] Why did Jesus ask who touched him? #q Jesus knew that someone had touched him because he felt his power go out of himself to heal the woman. But he asked who touched him so that the woman would come and talk with him, and so that the people around him would know what had happened. #v45-47 ### 48 ;[Daughter] Why did Jesus call the woman, "Daughter"? #q The woman was not a daughter of Jesus. He called the woman, "Daughter" to show that he loved her. He was not angry at her. Instead, he praised her for believing in him. #v48 ;[your faith has healed you] Why was the woman healed? #q Jesus told the woman that she was healed because she believed in Jesus. The power was not in Jesus' robe—the power came from Jesus. She was not healed because she touched him—she was healed because she believed he had the power to heal her. #v48 ;[Go in peace] What did Jesus want to say when he told the woman to go in peace? #q The woman could now have peace with God. Perhaps this means that God had saved her from her sins. Jesus said the same thing to the woman who came to honor him at Simon's house (see #luk7:50). #v48 #xr-luk7:50 ### 49-56 What did Luke want his readers to know when he wrote verses 49-56? #q In verses 49-56, Luke told his readers that Jesus had the power to make a dead girl alive again. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v49-56 #xr-mat9:23-26 #xr-mrk5:35-43 ### 49 Why did the person from Jairus' house tell Jairus not to bother Jesus anymore? #q The person who came from Jairus' house did not believe that Jesus could help Jairus' daughter after she had died. #v49 ### 50 What did Jesus tell Jairus to do? #q Jesus did not agree with the person from Jairus' house who told Jairus not to bother Jesus anymore. Instead, Jesus told Jairus to continue to believe in him, because Jesus was able to heal the girl even after she died. #v50 ### 52 ;[asleep] What did Jesus want to say when he said the girl was "asleep"? #q Jesus said that the girl was asleep. He knew she was dead, but he wanted to tell the people that she would not stay dead. Jesus knew he would make her alive again. #v52 #xr-jhn11:11-15 ### 55 ;[her spirit returned] Why did the girl's spirit return to her? #q The spirit of a person leaves their body when they die. When Jesus made this girl alive again, he spirit returned to her body. #v55 #xr-jas2:26 Why did Jesus tell the parents to feed their child? #q Jesus wanted to show Jairus and his wife that that their daughter was really alive, and not a spirit. The people of that time believed spirits could not eat food. Therefore, Jesus told the parents to give her something to eat so they would know that she was alive in her body. #v55 ### 56 Why did Jesus tell the parents not to tell anyone that he had healed their daughter? #q The Jewish leaders were beginning to oppose the things that Jesus taught. He did not yet want them to know that he had the power to make a dead person alive again. If they knew he could do that, they would attack him more severely, because they did not believe that he was the Messiah and the Son of God. #v56

Chapter 9

1 # Luke 9 ### 1-9 What did Luke write about in verses 1-9? #q In verses 1-9 Jesus gave his twelve apostles power to heal sick people. He sent them to preach about the kingdom of God. Until this time, only Jesus was healing people and preaching. But at this time, he sent his disciples to do the same thing. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v1-9 #xr-mat10:1-14 #xr-mat14:1-14 #xr-mrk6:7-16 #xr-mrk6:30-34 ### 1 ;[the Twelve] ;(no note) #v1 #xr-luk6:13 #dg-apostle ;[demons] ;(no note) #v1 #dg-demon ### 2 What is the difference between sickness that demons cause and sickness that happens because something is wrong in a person's body? #q Luke was a medical doctor, but he does not say if there was a difference between people who were possessed by demons and people who were sick with diseases. Jesus sent the disciples to heal all of those people. #v2 ;[the kingdom of God] ;(no note) #v2 #da-kingdom_of_god ### 3 Why did Jesus tell the apostles not to take any food when they traveled? #q Perhaps Jesus wanted to teach the apostles to trust him for what they needed, as they began to travel to the villages without any money or food. #v3 ### 4 ;[whatever house you enter] Whose house would the apostles enter? #q Jesus thought that people would invite the apostles into their own homes. He thought that those people would give the apostles what they needed while they were in their villages. People at that time usually provided food and shelter for visitors. #v4 ### 5 Why were the apostles to shake off the dust from their feet when people did not welcome them? #q People shook the dust of a town from their feet as a symbol that they would not agree to have anything more to do with the people in that town. #v5 #xr-luk10:11 #xr-act13:51 ### 6 ;[good news] ;(no note) #v6 #xr-1co15:1-6 #dg-gospel #da-gospel ### 7 Who was Herod the tetrarch? #q Herod the tetrarch was another name for Herod Antipas. He was a son of King Herod the Great. The word "tetrarch" meant he ruled over one fourth of the region that his father had ruled. #v7 #da-herod_the_great ;[John] Who was John? #q Some people thought that Jesus was John the Baptist. #v7 #dg-john_the_baptist ### 8 ;[Elijah] Who was Elijah? #q Elijah was a prophet of the Old Testament. Elijah did not die. Instead, God took him directly to heaven. #v8 #xr-2ki2:11 #xr-mal4:5 ### 9 ;[I beheaded John] Why did Herod kill John? #q Matthew and Mark wrote about why Herod killed John. #v9 #xr-mat14:6-12 #xr-mrk6:21-29 ### 10-17 What did Luke write about in verses 10-17? #q In verses 10-17, Jesus showed the people that he had great power. He changed a small amount of food into enough to feed of thousands of people. Matthew, Mark and John also wrote about this. #v10-17 #xr-mat14:15-21 #xr-mrk6:35-44 #xr-jhn6:1-14 ### 10 ;[Bethsaida] Where was Bethsaida? #q Bethsaida was a town on the northeast coast of the Sea of Galilee. #v10 #dm-bethsaida ### 11 ;[kingdom of God] ;(no note) #v11 #da-kingdom_of_god ### 12 ;[the Twelve] ;(no note) #v12 #xr-luk6:13 #dg-apostle ### 13 Why did Jesus tell the apostles to feed the people? #q Jesus wanted the apostles to see that they could not feed all the people with the small amount of food that they had. John also wrote about this (see #jhn6:5-9). #v13 ### 14 ;[about five thousand men] How many people were there? #q In that culture, people only counted the adult males. Women and children were also in the crowd. The crowd was much more than just the five thousand men. #v14 #xr-mat14:21 #xr-mrk6:44 #xr-jhn6:1-13 ### 15 ;[groups of fifty] Why were fifty people in each group? #q With the people in groups of fifty, the disciples would have had room to walk between the groups and serve the food. #v15 ### 17 ;[twelve baskets] How large were these baskets? #q Scholars to not agree about how big these baskets were. Even though scholars do not know how how large these baskets were, they know that there was much food left over. #v17 What was the significance of the 12 baskets of pieces left over? #q Many scholars think there was one basket for each of the apostles. If this was true, perhaps Jesus was showing them that he could provide everything that the apostles needed. #v17 ### 18-20 What did Luke write about in verses 18-20? #q In verses 18-20 Jesus asked his disciples who they thought he was. He asked this so that Peter would say that Jesus was the Messiah. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v18-20 #xr-mat16:13-19 #xr-mrk8:27-29 ### 19 Why did the crowd think Jesus was one of these people? #q The crowd of people thought Jesus was John, Elijah, or a prophet because these people all spoke boldly for God. Herod also thought Jesus was one of these same people. #v19 #xr-luk9:7-9 ### 20 ;[the Christ of God] Who did Peter say that Jesus was? #q Peter answered Jesus by saying that Jesus was the [Christ](#g5547), that is, the Messiah. The Messiah was much greater than John and the prophets. Luke often wrote about who Jesus was. #v20 #adv #xr-psa2:2 #da-messiah ### 21-27 What did Luke write about in verses 21-27? #q In verses 21-27 Jesus told his disciples that he would die. He also said they should also be willing to die in order to honor him. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v21-27 #xr-mat16:20-28 #xr-mrk8:30-38 ### 21 Why did Jesus tell the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah? #q Jesus knew that the Jewish leaders would kill him. However, he did not yet want to tell them that he was the Messiah because it was not yet time for him to die. #v21 ### 22 ;[Son of Man] ;(no note) #v22 #xr-dan7:13-14 #dg-son_of_man #da-son_of_man Was Jesus surprised when the Jewish leaders killed him? #q Jesus knew in advance that the Jewish leaders would reject Jesus and ask the Romans to kill him. #v22 #xr-luk23:13-25 Why did Jesus tell his disciples that he would be killed? #q Luke wrote about six times when Jesus told his disciples that he would be killed. Jesus wanted his disciples to be prepared for the time when he would be arrested and killed. #v22 xr-luk9:44 xr-luk17:25 xr-luk18:31-33 xr-luk24:46-47 #dg-son_of_man #da-son_of_man ### 23 ;[deny themselves] What did Jesus mean when he said his disciples must deny themselves? #q When Jesus told his disciples to deny themselves, he wanted to say that they should not do the things that they want to do. Instead, they should do the things that God wants them to do. #v23 ;[take up their cross daily] What did Jesus mean when he said his disciples must take up their cross every day? #q Jesus obeyed the Romans and carried his cross to the place where he died. Before that happened, Jesus spoke about his disciples carrying their cross. This was a metaphor for obeying Jesus even if they would die. His disciples must obey him every day—not just for a single time. #v23 #da-cross ;[follow me] What did Jesus mean when he said his disciples must follow him? #q When Jesus told his disciples to follow him, he wanted to say that they should live the way he lived, and do the things that he did. #v23 ### 24-25 Why did Jesus say that a person who wants to save his life will lose it, and a person who loses his life for Jesus sake will save it? #q Jesus wanted to say that if a person tries to save their life on earth instead of following Jesus, God will punish that person and they will not live with Jesus in heaven. But if a disciple obeys Jesus instead of trying to save his own life, God will allow that person to live with Jesus in heaven. #v24-25 ### 26 ;[Son of man] ;(no note) #luk9:26 #luk9:22 #da-son_of_man #dg-son_of_man ;[when he comes in his glory] When will the Son of Man come in his glory? #q Jesus was speaking about the time in the future when he will come to judge the all the people. #v26 #da-second_coming ;[the holy angels] ;(no notes) #v26 #xr-heb1:13-14 #dg-angel ### 27 What did Jesus mean when he said that some disciples would not die before they saw the kingdom of God? #q This would come true eight days later, when Jesus would take Peter, James, and John up a mountain. There, he would show them what he looks like when he is in heaven. #v27 #adv #da-kingdom_of_god ### 28-36 ;Transfiguration happened when Jesus showed some disciples what he looked like in heaven. What did Luke write about in verses 28-36? #q In verses 28-36, Luke wrote about the transfiguration of Jesus. Matthew, Mark and Peter also wrote about this. #v28-36 #xr-mat16:28-17:9 #xr-mrk9:1-9 #xr-2pe1:17-18 ### 28 ;[Peter, John, and James] Why did Jesus take the three disciples with him when he went to pray? #q Peter, John, and James were Jesus' closest disciples. He showed them things that he did not allow the other apostles to see. #v28 #xr-mrk14:33 #xr-luk8:51 #xr-gal2:9 ### 29 ;[as bright as lightning] In what way did Jesus' clothes look different than before? #q Jesus' clothes became "[brilliant white](g1823)". This means the clothes were the source of the light, and that they were as bright as a flashing of lightning. #v29 #adv ### 30 ;[Moses and Elijah] Why did Moses and Elijah appear at this time? #q Moses wrote the Old Testament law. Elijah was the greatest prophet in the Old Testament. Because Jesus was talking to these two men, the disciples understood that Jesus was at least as great as Moses and Elijah. #v30 #xr-exo14:1-30 #xr-2ki2:11 ### 31 ;This note may not be necessary depending on how "departure" is translated. ;[his departure] What was the "departure" that they were talking about? #q Jesus, Moses, and Elijah were talking about how Jesus would soon leave this world. He would die, come to life again, and return to heaven. #v31 ;[his departure] What was the "departure" that they were talking about? #q The word "[departure](g 1841)" is the same as the name of the book of Exodus in the Bible. This word would have caused the disciples to think of how God freed the Jewish people from being slaves in Egypt. #v31 #adv ### 33 ;[three shelters] Why did Peter want to make three tents for Jesus, Elijah and Moses? #q Peter may have wanted to make tents so that Jesus, Moses, and Elijah could stay longer on the mountain. Or, Peter may have wanted to make tents to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles, which was a time when the Jews lived in tents in order to remember the exodus from Egypt. Luke said that Peter did not know what he was saying, which means that Peter was wrong to want to make the tents. #v33 #dg-festival_of_tabernacles #dg-exodus ### 35 ;[a voice] Who was it who spoke from the cloud? #q God the Father spoke from the cloud. #v35 ;[This is My Son] What did the voice mean when it said, "This is My Son"? #q God the Father also spoke from heaven when John baptized Jesus (see #luk3:22). Jesus has the name, "Son of God," so this means that Jesus is God, because his Father is God. The Father spoke this name in order to tell the disciples that they should listen to Jesus because Jesus was greater than Moses and Elijah. #v35 #xr-psa2:7 #xr-luk3:22 #dg-son_of_god ### 37-43 What did Luke write about in verses 37-43? #q In verses 37-43, Jesus showed his power by forcing a demon to leave a boy. This demon had so much power that the disciples could not do this. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v37-43 #xr-mat17:14-18 #xr-mrk9:14-27 ### 39 ;[spirit] ;(no note) #v39 #dg-demon ### 40-41 ;[You unbelieving and perverse generation] Why did Jesus say the people were unbelieving and perverse? #q Jesus said the people were "unbelieving and perverse" because they still were not sure that Jesus had enough power to drive out demons. Even after they had seen Jesus do many miracles, they still did not trust him to do everything that was necessary. Jesus was probably speaking to his disciples as well as to the crowd when he said this. They could not heal the sick boy because they did not trust in Jesus. Therefore, they were like the Jews in the Old Testament who did not trust God. Moses also called those people "unbelieving and perverse" (see #deu32:4-5). #v40-41 #adv #xr-deu32:20 ### 42 ;[unclean spirit] ;(no note) #v42 #da-demon #da-unclean #dg-demon ### 44-45 What did Luke write about in verses 44-45? #q In verses 44-45, Jesus again told his disciples that he was going to die soon. His disciples, however, still did not understand what he was saying to them. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v44-45 #xr-mat17:22-23 #xr-mrk9:30-32 ### 44 ;[Son of Man] ;(no note) #da-son_of_man #dg-son_of_man ### 44 ;This note may not be necessary depending on how "into the hands of men" is translated. ;[into the hands of men] What did Jesus mean when he said he would be given "into the hands of men"? #q When Jesus said he would be given "into the hands of men," he wanted to say that God would allow the Jews and the Romans to have power over Jesus and to kill him. #v44 #xr-luk22-3-5 #xr-luk23:1 #xr-act2:22-23 ### 46-50 What did Luke write about in verses 46-50? #q In verses 46-50, the disciples want to be the greatest in the kingdom of God. But Jesus tells them to desire to be the least instead. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v46-50 #xr-mat18:1-5 #xr-mrk9:33-40 ### 48 Why did Jesus tell the disciples to welcome a child? #q Children did not have any power, and people did not honor them. The disciples should be willing to accept and care for children and other people who do not have any power. If they helped these people, the disciples would become the least important in this world. But as a result, God will honor these disciples the most in his kingdom. #v48 #xr-mrk9:35-37 ### 49-50 ;[he is not one of us] Who was the person who was driving out demons in Jesus' name? #q Perhaps the person who was driving out demons in the name of Jesus was one of his other disciples who was not one of the twelve apostles. Or, perhaps he was an unbeliever who was speaking in the name of Jesus. When the sons of Sceva did this, it caused people to honor Jesus even though they did not know Jesus (see #act19:13-17). #v49-50 #adv ### 51-56 What did Luke write about in verses 51-56? #q In verses 51-56, the disciples wanted to destroy the people in a Samaritan village who rejected Jesus. However, Jesus told them that they should not want to do that. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v51-56 ### 51 ;[Jesus firmly decided to go to Jerusalem] Why did Luke say that Jesus firmly decided to go to Jerusalem? #q Until this verse, Luke was telling his readers who Jesus was. From this verse on, Luke wrote that how Jesus went to Jerusalem in order to die and to come to life again. Jesus knew that he would die, but he firmly decided to go anyway. He came to earth in order to do this. #v51 ### 52 ;[Samaritans] ;(no note) #v51 #dg-samaritan #dm-samaria ### 53 ;[he was heading for Jerusalem] Why did the Samaritans reject Jesus? #q The Samaritans did not agree with the Jews about how to honor God. The Samaritans had their own place where they worshiped and their own ways to worship. They did not go to Jerusalem for the Passover feast, and they rejected Jesus because he was going there to celebrate the Passover. #v53 #xr-jhn4:20 #dg-samaritan ### 54 Why did James and John want fire to come down from heaven? #q James and John probably remembered how Elijah called for fire to come down from heaven to kill the soldiers who wanted to arrest him. #v54 #xa-2ki1:10-14 ### 55 Why did Jesus not want to destroy the Samaritan village? #q Jesus did not want to destroy the Samaritan village because he came to save people from their sin. He will come at another time to judge people who do not believe in him. James and John probably remembered the time that Elijah called fire down from heaven. However, when Jesus came the first time, he did not want to judge anyone. #v55 #xr-joh3:17 ### 57-62 What did Luke write about in verses 57-62? #q In verses 57-62, Jesus told his disciples that they must leave behind the other things in their lives in order to follow him. Matthew also wrote about this. #v57-62 #xr-mat8:18-22 ### 58 What did Jesus want to say when he spoke about the foxes and birds? #q The dens of foxes and the nests of birds are their homes where they live. Jesus did not have a home. He traveled from place to place. His follower must also be willing to leave their homes. #v58 ### 59 ;[bury my father] Why did the man want to bury his father? #q Jews were expected to bury their parents. It took up to a year to do this. Jesus did not want the man to delay that long. He wanted the man to be willing to let other people bury his father, so that he could go with Jesus right away. #v59 ### 60 How can the dead bury their own dead? #q When Jesus said "the dead" could bury the man's father, he was speaking about the other members of the man's family who did not believe in Jesus. The Bible speaks about unbelievers as people who are "dead" to God. #v60 #xr-luk9:59 #xr-eph2:1 #xr-col2:13 ### 62 Why do people not look back when they are plowing? #q A man who is plowing must keep looking toward the place where he wants the plow to go. Then he can guide the animal that is pulling the plow. If he does look back, the animal may turn and pull the plow in the wrong direction. Jesus wanted to say that the disciple should not look back at his family, but should look at Jesus in order to go in the right direction. #v62

Chapter 10

1 # Luke 10 ### 1-16 What did Luke write about in verses 1-16? #q In verses 1-16, Jesus sent seventy-two of his disciples to preach the gospel and to heal sick people in the towns that Jesus was going to visit. The other gospel writers do not record this event. #v1-16 #xr-mat9:37-38 #xr-mat10:7-16 ### 1 ;This note is speculative, but is often included in notes. It might be helpful. ;[seventy] Why did Jesus sent out seventy disciples? #q Some scholars think Jesus may have sent out seventy disciples because there were seventy nations in Genesis 10, or because Moses chose seventy men to help him lead Israel. #v1 #tbd #xa-gen10 #xa-num11:16-17 How many disciples did Jesus send out? #q Some of the oldest copies of Luke say Jesus sent out seventy disciples, and other old copies say he sent out seventy-two. Either number might be correct. #v1 #adv ;This note is speculative, but is often included in notes. It might be helpful. ;[two by two] Why did Jesus send out the disciples in pairs? #q Some scholars think Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs because the Old Testament said people could believe something was true if two or more people said it. #v1 #xa-deu17:6 #xa-deu19:22 ### 2 What was Jesus talking about when he spoke about the harvest? #q Jesus spoke about the harvest. This was a metaphor for the people would hear the gospel and believe in Jesus. The workers were a metaphor for the believers who would tell people the message about Jesus. #v2 ;[the Lord of the Harvest] Who is the Lord of the Harvest? #q God is the "Lord of the Harvest." He is the one who causes people to hear and believe the gospel. #v2 ### 3 ;[lambs among wolves] Why did Jesus say the disciples were like lambs among wolves? #q Jesus spoke about his disciples as if they were sheep. He also spoke about the people who might attack them as if they were wolves. Wolves kill and eat sheep. Sheep cannot defeat wolves. Jesus wanted to say that his disciples should not force people to believe the gospel. Instead, they should be gentle, like sheep, as they spoke. However, people might attack them because they were speaking about Jesus. #v3 #xa-jhn10:11-16 ;[lambs among wolves] How could sheep go among wolves and not die? #q God promised to protect his people as a good shepherd protects his sheep (see #psa23:1). Jesus said he was the shepherd of the sheep (see #jhn10:11). #v3 #adv ### 4 Why did Jesus tell the disciples not to carry extra money or clothes? #q Jesus wanted the disciples to trust God to provide what they needed to live as they went out to the villages. #v4 Why did Jesus tell the disciples not to greet people when they were traveling? #q The disciples had to do their work right away. They must not waste time by talking to people on the way to the villages. #v4 ### 5 ;[Peace to this house] What did the greeting, "Peace to this house" mean? #q When the disciples said, "Peace to this house," they were asking God to be at peace with the people who lived in the house. #v5 ### 6 ;This note may need to be adjusted for translations that use the literal, "son of peace." ;[man of peace] Who was the "man of peace"? #q A "man of peace" was a person who wanted to be at peace with God, and was willing to listen to the message of Jesus. John the Baptist preached in order to prepare people like this to receive the Messiah. When the disciples found a man of peace, they would stay with him. If the owner of the house was not a man of peace, they would go on to another house. #v6 ### 7 Why did Jesus tell the disciples to stay with the first person who received them? #q Jesus wanted the disciples to be satisfied with what the man of peace provided for them to eat and drink. They were not to look for a better place to stay in the village. #v7 ### 9 ;[kingdom of God] ;(no note) #v9 #dg-kingdom_of_god ### 10-11 Why would the disciples wipe the dust of the city from their feet? #q The disciples would wipe the dust of the town from their feet to show that they were completely separating themselves from the people of the town. They would do this because the people would have rejected the message of the kingdom of God. By rejecting the message of the kingdom, the people were rejecting the disciples, and also rejecting Jesus who sent the disciples. #v10-11 #xr-luk9:5 ### 12 ;[Sodom] What was Sodom? #q The people of Sodom were the most evil people in the Old Testament. God destroyed Sodom by causing fire from heaven to fall on the city. #v12 #xr-gen18:20-33 #xr-gen19:1-29 #dm-sodom Why would God judge the city that rejected the disciples more severely than he would judge Sodom? #q The people of Sodom were very evil, but they did not hear the message of the kingdom of God. The people to whom the disciples preached heard the message of the kingdom, but rejected it. Therefore, they were more evil than the people of Sodom. #v12 #xr-gen18:20-33 #xr-gen19:1-29 #dm-sodom ### 13-15 Where were Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum? #q Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum in Galilee on the northwest side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus visited all of these cities. The people of these cities had heard Jesus teach and saw him do many miracles. #v13-15 #dm-israel ### 13-14 ;[Tyre and Sidon] Where were Tyre and Sidon? #q Tyre and Sidon were Gentile cities that were north of Galilee. Jesus did not visit or teach in these cities. #v13-14 ### 13 ;[sackcloth and ashes] What did Jesus mean when he spoke about sackcloth and ashes? #q In those days, people wore sackcloth to show that they were very sad. If they were extremely sad, they would also sit in ashes. #v13 #xr-est4:1-3 #xr-jer 6:26 #xr-dan9:3 #dg-sackcloth ### 15 ;(note about "Capernaum" inserted from Luke 4:23) Why did Jesus say that the people Capernaum would go to hades? #q After the people in Nazareth rejected Jesus, he went to Capernaum and lived there. He spent more time in Capernaum than in any other city after he began to preach. He taught about the kingdom of God and did many miracles there. Jesus clearly showed the people of Capernaum who he was, but they rejected him. Therefore, God would judge the people of Capernaum very severely. #v15 #xr-mat4:13 #xr-luk4:23 #xa-isa14:13-15 ;[hades] ;(no note) #v15 #dg-hades ### 16 ;[him who sent me] Who is the one who sent Jesus? #q God the Father sent Jesus into the world. #v16 #xr-jhn3:17 #xr-jhn17:3 ### 17-24 What did Luke write about in verses 17-24? #q In verses, 17-24, Jesus talked with the seventy disciples when they returned to him. He then prayed to his Father for them. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v17-24 ### 17 ;[demons] ;(no note) #v17 #xr-luk10:20 #dg-demon ### 18 Why did Jesus say Satan fell like lightning from heaven? #q When Jesus said that he saw Satan fall from heaven, he wanted to say that Satan lost his power to fight against God, and God removed him from heaven. Satan's fall was like lightning because it happened very quickly. These words would remind the disciples of #isa14:12. #v18 #xa-isa14:12 #xa-ezk28:14-19 #xa-rev12:7-12 ### 19 Did God protect the disciples from snakes and scorpions? #q Many scholars think that Jesus only promised to protect the seventy disciples from snakes and scorpions. However, God also protected the apostle Paul from a snake (see #act28:3-6). A similar promise in #mrk16:18 is not included in the earliest copies of the Bible. #v19 ### 20 Why did Jesus say that the disciples names' were written in heaven? #q When Jesus said the disciples names were written in heaven, he wanted to say that God had written their names in the book of life. The people whose names are in this book will live forever with God. Jesus told the disciples to rejoice because they would live with God in heaven. This was better for them than to have power over things that could hurt them on the earth. #v20 #xr-exo32:33 #xr-psa69:28 #xr-rev20:15 #dg-book_of_life ### 21 ;[Holy Spirit] ;(no note) #v21 #xr-gen1:2 #xr-mic3:8 #dg-holy_spirit Who are the little children that Jesus was speaking about? #q Little children do not yet understand very much. Jesus called the disciples "little children" because after they believed in Jesus, God began to teach them about himself. Other people thought that they themselves were wise because they knew a lot about the world. But God did not teach those people about himself because they did not believe in Jesus. #v21 #xr-1co1:20-27 #xr-1co3:18-20 ### 22 Why did Jesus say that only he knew the Father, and that only the Father knew him? #q Jesus said that he and God the Father fully know each other because they are God. No human is able to understand everything about Jesus or God the Father. However, Jesus can reveal to those who believe in him many things about his Father. #v22 #xr-jhn1:1-2 #xr-jhn1:14 #xr-heb1:1-4 #dg-trinity #da-trinity ### 23-24 What did the kings and prophets not see? #q The kings and prophets of the Old Testament were not able to see Jesus come as the Messiah. #v23-24 #xr-dan12:4-9 #xr1pe1:10-12 ### 25-37 What did Luke write about in verses 25-37? #q In verses 25-37, Jesus told a parable about a Samaritan man who helped an injured man. Jesus spoke this parable to show an expert in the law that the expert should also help people who were needy. The other gospel writers do not write about this. #v25-37 ### 25 ;[expert in the law] What kind of law did this man know well? #q This man studied the entire Old Testament law and knew it very well. #v25 ;This note may not be necessary depending on how "test" is translated. ;[to test Jesus] Why did the expert in the law ask Jesus a question? #q The expert in the law did not believe in Jesus, but he wanted to see how Jesus would answer his question. He was not trying to trick Jesus. #v25 #tbd ### 27 Jesus answered the man by speaking verses from the Old Testament. Which verses did he speak? #q Jesus answered the man by speaking verses from #deu6:5 and #lev19:18. #v27 ### 30 Why would robbers attack people on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho? #q The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was a steep road that went through barren hills. The road was about thirty kilometers long. Robbers often hid in these hills and attacked travelers. #v30 ### 31 ;[priest] ;(no note) #v31 #xg-priest ### 32 ;[Levite] ;(no note) #v32 #xr-gen49:28 #xr-num1:4-49 #xr-num18:1-30 #dg-levite ### 33 ;[a Samaritan] Would the expert in the law expect a Samaritan to help an injured man? #q The Jews hated the Samaritans and thought they were bad people. The expert in the law would have been surprised to hear about a Samaritan helping an injured stranger. #v33 #dg-samaritan #da-samaritan ### 34 Why did the Samaritan pour oil and wine on the man? #q The people of that day often used oil and wine to heal injuries. The wine kills germs that can cause infection. The oil makes wounds hurt less, and can help to heal them. Also, a traveler might carry oil and wine. #v34 ### 35 ;[denarii] ;(no note) #v35 #dg-denarius #da-money ### 36-37 What did Jesus tell the expert in the law to do? #q Jesus told the expert in the law to help other people as the Samaritan had done. It would be hard for the expert to hear what Jesus said. He believed he was better than the Samaritan. He even avoided saying the Samaritan's name. The expert called the Samaritan, "the one who had mercy on him." But the expert was forced to say that the Samaritan was a good neighbor to the injured man. Therefore, the Samaritan was an example of how people should help other people. #v36 ### 38-42 What did Luke write about in verses 38-42? #q In verses 38-42, Luke wrote that Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha. Jesus told Martha that she should not worry about her work, but that she should listen to him, as Mary did. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v38-42 ### 40 Why did Martha worry about her work? #q Martha was preparing a large meal for Jesus and his disciples—more than a dozen men. She would have been very busy. Luke wrote that she was "[greatly troubled](#g4049)" by all the work that she had to do for her guests. This is why she wanted Mary to help her with the work. #v40 #adv ### 41-42 Was Martha wrong to prepare the meal for Jesus and his disciples? #q Jesus did not say that Martha was wrong to prepare the meal for her guests. However, Jesus told her that only one thing was necessary. Listening to Jesus was necessary. That is what Mary did. Martha should have spent more time listening to Jesus than she did cooking food for him. #v41-42 ### 42 What was the good thing that Mary had chosen to do? #q Mary chose to sit and listen to Jesus. Jesus said that this was the best thing that Mary could do. #v42

Chapter 11

1 # Luke 11 ### 1-4 What did Luke write about in verses 1-4? #q In verses 1-4, Jesus told his disciples how they should pray. People often call the prayer he gave them the "Lord's Prayer." Matthew also wrote about this. #v1-4 #xr-mat6:9-13 ### 1 ;[teach us to pray] Why did the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray? #q Jewish teachers often told their disciples what to say to God when they prayed. John the Baptist probably did this for his disciples, also. Jesus' disciples saw that Jesus often prayed, so they asked him to tell them how to pray. #v1 #dg-john_the_baptist ### 2-4 How should Christians pray the prayer that Jesus gave them? #q It was Jesus' disciples that he told to pray this prayer, but Christians everywhere have continued to pray it. Some Christians pray these exact words to God. However, the words of the prayer in these verses are not quite the same as the words of the prayer in #mat6:9-13. Therefore, many scholars think the prayer is actually a list of things that Christians should ask God for, rather than the exact words that they should speak. #v2-4 ### 2 ;[Father] Why did Jesus tell the disciples to call God their "Father"? #q Jesus had already shown the disciples that he was the Son of God, and that God was his Father. When Jesus told his disciples to pray this prayer, he wanted them to know that God is also their Father, and that they may call him, "Father." Until that time, the Jews thought that it was wrong to call God their Father. #v2 #da-trinity #da-god_the_father ;This note may not be needed depending on how "hallowed" is translated. ;[hallowed be your name] What does it mean for God's name to be hallowed? #q When they pray, the disciples should first ask God to cause people to honor him. #v2 #tbd ;[your kingdom come] Why should the disciples ask that God's kingdom would come? #q Jesus told his disciples to pray that everyone will honor God. Then he told them that everyone will do this when God rules everyone completely on the earth. Matthew said that this would be the time when everyone will do what God wants them to do in heaven and on earth (see #mat6:10). #v2 #dg-kingdom_of_god #da-kingdom_of_god ### 3 ;This note may not be necessary depending on how this phrase is translated. ;[our daily bread] What is "daily bread"? #q Jesus told the disciples to ask God to give them enough food to eat each day, when they need it. #v3 #tbd ### 4 ;This note may not be necessary depending on how "indebted to us" is translated. ;[indebted to us] Why does Jesus talk about people who owe a debt to the disciples? #q Jesus speak about people sinning against the disciples as if they "owed a debt)(g3784)" to the disciples. Some versions translate "debt" in this verse as "sin." #v4 #adv #tbd #xr-mat6:12 #xr-luk7:41-49 ### 5-8 What did Luke write about in verses 5-8? #q In verses 5-8, Jesus told his disciples that if a person keeps praying to God, God will give them the things that they need. The other gospel writers do not write about this. #v5-8 ### 5-8 Who were the men in this parable? #q Jesus spoke this parable to teach his disciples why they should pray. The man who needed food for a visitor represents Christians who are praying. His friend who gave him food represents God the Father. The man's friend finally opened his door because the other man continued to ask for food. God the Father is more kind than the man's friend. Jesus wanted to tell his disciples that God will give many things to believers who ask him for what they need. #v5-8 ### 9-13 What did Luke write about in verses 9-13? #q In verses 9-13, Jesus told his disciples that God would give many things to the disciples, if they ask him for what they need. Matthew also wrote about this. #v9-13 #xr-mat7:7-11 ### 14-28 What did Luke write about in verses 14-28? #q In verses 14-28, Jesus answered the people who said that he had power over the demons because Satan had given him that power. Jesus told them that God, not Satan, gave him this power. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v14-28 #xr-mat12:24-30 #xr-mat12:43-45 #xr-mrk3:20-30 #xr-mrk3:22-27 ### 14 ;This note may not be necessary depending on how "mute" is translated. ;[mute] What did Luke mean when he said the demon was "mute"? #q This demon caused a man to be unable to speak. #v14 #tbd #xr-mat9:32-33 ### 15-16 How did the people respond when Jesus made the demon leave the man? #q Many of the people were amazed when Jesus made the demon leave the man, but some of them refused to believe in him. Some of them said Satan gave Jesus that power. Others of them would not believe this miracle and asked Jesus to do another miracle. #v15-16 #da-sign ### 15 ;[Beelzebul] Who was Beelzebul? #q Beelzebul was another name for Satan. Satan was the leader of the demons, so some of the people said Satan gave Jesus power over the demons. #v15-16 #xr-mat10:25 #dg-beelzebul ### 17-18 Why did Jesus speak about a kingdom that was divided, and a house that was divided? #q Jesus was saying that if Satan was casting his own servants out of people, they would all be like the people in a house or a kingdom that were fighting against each other. That kind of house or kingdom would not last. Satan would be very stupid if he destroyed his own kingdom. #v17-18 ### 19 Why would the followers of the Jewish leaders judge the Pharisees? #q Some of the followers of the Jewish leaders were perhaps able to make demons leave people. These followers certainly knew that Satan did not want them to make his demons leave people. #v19 ### 20 ;[finger of God] What did Jesus mean when he spoke of the "finger of God"? #q When Jesus spoke of the "finger of God," he was speaking about God's power to perform miracles. #v20 #xr-exo8:19 #xr-exo31:18 #xr-deu9:10 ;[kingdom of God has come upon you] Why did Jesus tell the people that the kingdom of God had come upon them? #q When Jesus told the people that the kingdom of God had come upon them, he wanted to say that he was among them, and he was the Messiah. The Messiah will rule as the king in the kingdom of God. When the people saw Jesus cast out demons, they saw his power as the Messiah. #v20 ### 21-22 Who is the strong man? Who is stronger? #q Jesus spoke about a strong man guarding his possessions, and a stronger man taking that man's possessions away from him. This is a metaphor. Satan is the strong man. He wants to keep the people who honor him. However, Jesus is stronger than Satan. He attacks Satan and defeats him. Then Jesus takes people away from Satan so they can honor God instead. #v21-22 ### 24-26 What is the house in which the unclean spirit lives? #q Jesus spoke about a house in which a demon lived. This house is a metaphor. It represents the person whom the demon possesses. It is good for that person if the demon leaves. However, the demon still wants to be in someone. So that demon might return to that same person and bring other demons with it. If this happens, that person will be in a worse condition than before, when there was only one demon. #v24-26 What does Jesus mean when he said that the house was swept clean? #q The house that was swept clean and put in order is a metaphor. It represents a person whom a demon has left. Jesus wanted people to know that it is not enough to make the demons leave a person. If the demons do leave, that person will be like a house where no is living, and which has been cleaned. However, the demon might return. To keep the demon from returning, that person must ask the Holy Spirit to come and live in him. If the Holy Spirit does, the person will not be like an empty house any longer. Instead, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. #v24-26 #adv #xr-act11:24 #xr-1co16:19 #xr-2ti1:14 ### 29-32 What did Luke write about in verses 29-32? #q In verses 29-32, Jesus told the crowds that they were thinking in the wrong way. They wanted to see a sign from Jesus. That is, they wanted to see Jesus do a miracle to prove that he was speaking God's messages. But they did not believe what Jesus taught them. Matthew also wrote about this. #v29-32 #xr-mat12:39-42 ### 29-30 ;[the sign of Jonah] What was the sign about Jonah? #q A large fish swallowed Jonah, and he was inside the fish for three days. After that, the fish vomited Jonah up onto dry land again. This was a metaphor. It represented the fact that Jesus would be in the grave for three days, and would then become alive again. #v29-30 #xa-jon1:17 #xa-luk24:46 ### 29 Who asked Jesus for a sign, that is, to do a miracle for the people? #q In #v16, Luke wrote that some of the people in the crowd wanted Jesus to do a miracle with God's power, so they would know he came from God. Jesus called these people "a wicked generation." They were not willing to believe what Jesus said. Instead, they demanded that Jesus do more miracles. #v29 ### 31-32 Who did Jesus want to say was greater than Solomon or Jonah? #q Jesus wanted to say that he was greater than Solomon or Jonah. Therefore, the people in the crowd should have listened to what Jesus said instead of asking him for a sign. #v31-32 ### 31 ;[Queen of the South] Who was the Queen of the South? #q The Queen of the South is another name for the Queen of Sheba. #v31 #xr-1ki10:1-13 #dg-queen_of_sheba ### 32 Who were the men of Nineveh? #q The men of Nineveh were the people of the ancient city of Nineveh. God sent the prophet Jonah to speak to these men. After Jonah spoke, the men of Nineveh asked God to forgive them for sinning. #v32 #xr-jon3:1-10 #xr-mat12:39-42 ### 33-36 What did Luke write about in verses 33-36? #q In verses 33-36, Luke wrote that Jesus told the parable about the lit lamp. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v33-36 ### 33 What does the light represent? #q Jesus spoke about the light as a metaphor. It represents the things that he taught. When a person lights a lamp in a house, he wants the lamp to give light so he can see. In the same way, people should listen to what Jesus taught in order to do what he said. #v33 #xr-mat5:15 ### 34-36 ;[Your eye] What did Jesus say the eye should do? #q Jesus said that the eye should let light come into a person. He spoke this as a metaphor. The light was the things Jesus taught. These things should change the way people think and act. Light is a metaphor for goodness, and darkness is a metaphor for evil. When Jesus said a person should be full of light, he wanted to say that the person should obey what he told him to do. A person who does not obey Jesus is full of darkness, that is, evil. #v34-36 #xr-luk8:16 ### 37-44 What did Luke write about in verses 37-44? #q In verses 37-44, Jesus said the Pharisees were acting badly. Therefore, God would judge them and punish them. Matthew also wrote about this. #v37-44 #xr-mat23:23-25 ### 37 [Pharisee] ;(no note) #v37 #dg-pharisee #da-pharisee ;(note about "reclined at table" inserted from Luke 7:36) ### 38 Why was the Pharisee surprised that Jesus did not wash before eating? #q Pharisees washed their hands before they ate in order, but they did not do this to keep from getting sick. Rather, they washed their hands to show that they were sorry for touching anyone who had sinned. The Pharisee was surprised that Jesus did not wash his hands before eating. #v38 ### 39-41 Why did Jesus speak about washing the outside of a dish? #q Jesus spoke about the cup and the dish. These were a metaphors for the Pharisees. The Pharisees did not think that they sinned. In that way, they thought they were like cups and dishes that were clean inside. But they believed that other people sinned. Therefore, they washed the outside part of their bodies to wash away from themselves the sins of other people. However, Jesus spoke this metaphor to tell them that they did sin, and that they sinned because of what was inside themselves. Their own thoughts and desires caused them to sin. They should have cleaned themselves by doing things that honor God. #v39-41 ### 42 ;[Woe] ;(no note) #v42 #dg-woe Why did Jesus speak about garden herbs? #q Jesus spoke about garden herbs. These were a metaphor for things that did not make a big difference to anyone, and that were easy for the Pharisees to do. The Pharisees gave God a portion of these herbs, but they did not do the more difficult things that God wanted them to do. #v42 ### 44 Why did Jesus say the Pharisees were like unmarked graves? #q The law of Moses did not allow Jews to touch a dead body or a grave. If they did that, they were unclean. That is, God would not accept them. Therefore, the Jews marked their graves so they would not touch them. However, graves that were unmarked were a problem for the Jews. They could accidentally touch one and become unclean without knowing they had done that. #v44 #xr-num5:2 What did Luke write about in verses 45-54? #q In verses 45-54, Jesus says the experts in the law were acting badly. Therefore, God would judge them. Matthew also wrote about this. #v45-54 #xr-mat23:29-31 ### 45 Why did the expert in the law think that Jesus insulted the experts as well as the Pharisees? #q The experts in the law did many of the same bad things that the Pharisees did. #v45 ### 46 Why did Jesus say the experts in the law put heavy loads on people? #q Jesus said the experts in the law put heavy loads on people. This was a metaphor. Jesus was saying that the experts in the law told the people to obey too many rules. The experts did not only tell the people about the law of Moses. They added many other rules. The experts added so many of their rules that no one was able to obey them all. When the experts saw this, they did not help the people. Instead, they added even more rules. #v46 #xr-mat15:2 #xr-mat23:4 ### 47-51 Why did Jesus say God would judge the people? #q Jesus said that God would judge the experts in the law as if they themselves had killed the Old Testament prophets. The experts made beautiful tombs for the prophets. This showed that they knew God sent the prophets. But they did not listen to what the prophets said about the Messiah. Instead they rejected Jesus. Therefore, God would judge them as he would judge their ancestors who killed the prophets. #v47-51 ### 49 Where in the Old Testament did God say that he would send prophets and apostles? #q When Jesus told the expert what God said, he was not speaking about a verse in the Old Testament. Rather, he was telling them what God had decided to do in the future. #v49 #xr-mat23:34-36 ### 50-51 Why did Jesus speak about Abel and Zechariah? #q Abel was the son of Adam and Eve. He honored God, but he was the first person that anyone killed in Genesis—the first book of the Old Testament. Also someone killed Zechariah the priest in #2ch24:20-21. 2 Chronicles is the last book in the Hebrew Old Testament. Therefore, Abel and Zechariah were the first and last good people to be killed in the Bible that the Jews read. #v50-51 #xa-gen4:8 #xa-2ch24:20-21 ### 52 ;This note may not be necessary depending on how this phrase is translated. ;[key to knowledge] What is the "key to knowledge"? #q Jesus spoke about the experts in the law taking away the "key to knowledge." He was speaking a metaphor. The experts of the law studied the scriptures to learn what God had said. However, they did not teach the people what God had said. It was as if they had put a lock on God's message and would not give the key to anyone else. They did not let people study the scriptures and learn about God on their own. #v52 #tbd #xr-mat23:13

Chapter 12

1 # Luke 12 ### 1-12 What did Luke tell his readers in verses 1-12? #q In verses 1-12, Jesus told his followers not to listen to what the Pharisees taught, and not to be afraid of enemies who would treat them badly. God would see everything that would happen, and the Holy Spirit would help them. Matthew also wrote about this. #v1-12 #mat10:26-33 ### 1 ;[yeast of the Pharisees] What is the yeast of the Pharisees? #q The Pharisees did not themselves do the things that they told other people to do. Jesus said that this was their yeast. This was a metaphor that he spoke. It represents their bad behavior. Yeast spreads to everything it is in, and people would act in the same way that the Pharisees acted. But the disciples should not follow their example, that is, they should not act in the same way. #v1 #xr-mat16:12 #dg-yeast ### 2-3 Who will make people know the things that were hidden? #q God knows and sees everything that happens. He knows when the Pharisees or other people do not do the things they tell other people to do. In the future, he will cause everyone to know how they have behaved badly. #v2-3 ### 4-5 ;[fear God] Whom should the disciples fear? #q The disciples will only suffer a short time if people kill them. After that, they will be with God. However, when God judges people, they will suffer forever in hell. People should be more afraid of being punished in hell than they should be of dying. #v4-5 #dg-hell ### 6-7 How much did Jesus say that God cares about the disciples? #q Jesus said that God even cares for the small birds. Because this is true, he also cares for the disciples much more. In fact, God knows about every hair on their heads. #v6-7 ### 8-9 ;[before the angels] What did Jesus mean when he said "before the angels"? #q When Jesus said "before the angels" he was speaking about the time when God finally judges all people. He will judge them in the presence of the angels. #v8-9 #dg-angel ### 8 ;[Son of Man] ;(no note) #v8 #dg-son_of_man ### 10 ;[blasphemes against the Holy Spirit] Why is it worse when someone insults the Holy Spirit than when they speak against Jesus? #q When someone speaks against Jesus, the Holy Spirit may correct them and cause them to honor Jesus. But if they refuse to listen to the Holy Spirit and speak badly about him, no one will be able to help them. God will punish them because they rejected Jesus and the Holy Spirit. #v10 #xr-mrk3:29 #xr-jhn16:8-11 ### 13-21 What did Luke tell his readers in verses 13-21? #q In verses 13-21, Jesus spoke a parable to tell people that they should honor God instead of trying to become rich. The other gospel writers did not write about this parable. #v13-21 ### 13-15 How did Jesus answer the man who asked Jesus to help him receive his inheritance? #q Jesus came to die so that people could live with God forever. This man was not interested in that. Instead, he wanted Jesus to help him collect his share of his inheritance from his brother. The man was only thinking about his possessions, and not about honoring God. #v13-15 #xr-1ti6:6-10 ### 16-21 ;[You fool!] Why did God call the man a fool? #q God called the rich man a "fool" because the man spent all of his time gaining more possessions. However, when the man died, his possessions did him no good. He should have spent his time honoring God. If he had done that, God would have been pleased to welcome him. #v16-21 ### 21 ;Advice to translators: be sure to make this question and paragraph fit with how your local version of this verse has been translated. How does someone become rich toward God? #q Jesus was speaking here about people who honor God and do what he wants them to do. He said they are "rich toward God." That is, they do what pleases God, so he will reward them. #v21 #xr-mat16:27 #xr-1co3:8-14 #xr-heb11:6 #xr-rev22:12 ### 22-34 What did Luke tell his readers in verses 22-34? #q In verses 22-34, Jesus told his disciples not to worry about food, clothing, and other needs. God knows they need these things and will take care of the disciples. Matthew also wrote about this. #v22-34 #xr-mat6:25-33 ### 22-26 ;[ravens] Why did Jesus speak about God taking care of the ravens? #q The law of Moses said that ravens were unclean birds (see #lev11:13-15). That is, Israelites could not honor God if they ate the meat of a raven, because God would not accept them. However, God still takes care of ravens. If he takes care of ravens, he will take care even more of Jesus' disciples. #v22-26 #xr-job38:41 #xr-psa147:9 ### 27-31 ;[the grass of the field] What is the grass of the field? #q Jesus speaks of the wild flowers as "grass of the field." They are of little value, but God makes them beautiful. He will take even better care of the disciples. #v27-31 #dg-kingdom_of_god ### 32 ;[little flock] Who is the little flock? #q Jesus speaks about his disciples as if they were a flock of God's sheep. Jesus spoke this metaphor to say that God will care for the disciples as a shepherd cares for his sheep. #v32 ### 33 Why should the disciples sell their possessions? #q Jesus told his disciples not to save up money here on earth. Instead, they should give generously to poor people. If they do that, God will give them great wealth when he comes to rule over everyone. That wealth will last forever. #v33 #xr-act2:45-47 #xr-act4:32-35 ### 34 What did Jesus want to say when he spoke this proverb? #q When Jesus spoke this proverb, he wanted to say that where people store their wealth shows what they love. If people store their wealth on earth, they love the things of this earth. But if they store their wealth in heaven, they love God. #v34 #xr-mat6:24 #xr-luk16:13 ### 35-48 What did Luke tell his readers in verses 35-48? #q In verses 35-48, Jesus spoke in parables to tell his disciples to be ready when he comes back to rule over his kingdom. When he returns, he wants them to be doing the things that he told them to do. Matthew also wrote about these parables. #v35-48 #xr-mat24:42-44 #mat24:45-51 ### 35-40 Why did Jesus tell this parable to his disciples? #q Jesus told this parable about servants waiting for their master. Jesus is like the master, and his disciples are like the servants in the parable. Jesus will go to heaven when he dies, but he will return again to earth. During the time he is in heaven, Jesus wants his disciples to do all the things that he told them to do. They should continue to obey him until he returns. He will be very pleased if they do that, and will treat them well. #v35-40 ### 37 ;(note about "reclined at table" inserted from Luke 7:36) ### 39-40 ;[the thief] Why did Jesus speak about a thief? #q Jesus speaks about a thief who breaks into a house when the owner of the house does not expect that to happen. The thief is a metaphor that speaks about something unexpected that happens without warning. Jesus will return to earth at a time when people do not expect him to come. The disciples, however, should keep watching for Jesus so they are not surprised when he comes. #v39-40 #xr-1th5:2-4 #xr-2pe3:10 #xr-rev3:3 #xr-rev16:15 ### 41 Why did Peter ask this question? #q Luke said in #luk12:22 that Jesus was speaking only to his disciples. But Peter did not know this. He wanted to know if Jesus was still speaking only to them. However, Jesus did not directly answer Peter's question. #v41 ### 42-46 ;Advice to translators: a manager works for someone else. He gives commands to those who work for his master. Who is the manager whom Jesus speaks about? #q Jesus spoke a parable about managers. These managers are believers who lead other believers. While Jesus is gone, they should take care of these other believers. If they do this, Jesus will reward the managers when he returns. But if they stop taking care of the other believers and only take care of themselves, Jesus will judge them when he returns. #v42-46 #xr-act20:28 #xr-1pe5:2 ### 49-53 What did Luke tell his readers in verses 49-53? #q In verses 49-53, Jesus said he came to earth so that people would decide whether or not to believe in him. Even within a family, some family members would believe in Jesus and others would not. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v49-53 ### 49 ;[fire] Why did Jesus talk about fire? #q Jesus spoke about fire. This was a metaphor for the time when God will judge everyone. God will punish everyone who sins and does not believe in Jesus. #v49 ### 50 ;[a baptism] What baptism was Jesus speaking about? #q Jesus said that he was going to be baptized, but he was speaking a metaphor. He wanted to say that he would suffer and die. When he suffered, it would be as if suffering had covered him up, as water might cover a person in baptism. #v50 #xr-mrk10:38 #da-baptize ### 51 Why did Jesus say he would not bring peace, but would instead divide people, that is, cause people to oppose each other? #q Jesus came to earth so people could choose to trust him or not to trust him. God would save people who trust Jesus, but judge people who reject him. Everyone must decide whether to believe in him. This is the most important thing they must do. It is more important than to live peacefully with other people. #v51 ### 54-59 What did Luke tell his readers in verses 54-59? #q In verses 54-59, Jesus said people understood the weather, but did not understand that God was working among them. It was time for people to decide whether to believe in him. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v54-59 ### 54-56 Why did Jesus speak about the weather? #q The Jews could observe the sky and tell in advance what the weather would be like. However, they did not observe Jesus carefully enough to understand what God was doing among them. #v54-56 #xr-mat16:2-3 ### 54 ;[a cloud rising in the west] Why would a cloud rising in the west cause rain to fall? #q The Mediterranean Sea was west of Israel. When the wind blew clouds over Israel from the sea, they brought rain. #v54 #dm-mediterranean_sea ### 55 ;[a south wind] Why would a south wind cause the weather to be hot? #q The land south of Israel is a hot desert. When the winds blew from the south, they were hot winds. #v55 ### 57-59 What did Jesus speak this metaphor to the crowd? #q Most of the people in the crowd did not believe in Jesus. Jesus spoke about a man who was going to court where the judge would rule against him. That man should try to please his enemy before he arrived at the court. That way, he would not be judged. Jesus spoke this metaphor to tell the unbelievers that they should try to please God so that he would not judge them. #v57-59 #xr-mat5:25-26

Chapter 13

1 # Luke 13 ### 1-9 What did Luke write about in verses 1-9? #q In verses 1-9, Jesus speaks to people in the crowd. Scholars think that the people thought that some people had died because they sinned more than other people. Jesus told them that they were thinking in the wrong way. God will judge and punish everyone who does not honor him. #v1-9 ### 1 ;This note can be deleted if the glossary entry is created. ;[Pilate] Who was Pilate? #q Pontius Pilate was the fifth ruler of the Roman area of Judea. He ruled from A.D. 26 to 36. #v1 #tbd #xr-luk3:1 #dg-pontius_pilate Who were the people whom Pilate killed? #q Scholars do not know why Pilate killed these people. They think that Pilate's soldiers killed them while they were offering sacrifices. That is why their blood ran upon the animals they sacrificed. #v1 ### 2 Why did the people think the Galileans sinned more than other people? #q The people at that time believed that people suffered because they sinned. The more they sinned, the worse they suffered. Therefore, they thought these Galileans sinned a lot since they suffered a lot. #v2 #xr-jhn9:1-2 ### 3 What did Jesus want the people to think? #q Jesus said the people were thinking in the wrong way about why the Galileans died. Everyone sins, including the people who were listening to Jesus. Therefore, everyone must repent and ask God to forgive them. #v3 ### 4 Where was Siloam? #q There was a pool of water in Jerusalem called the pool of Siloam. Scholars think that there was a tower near that pool. It was joined to the wall of Jerusalem. However, they do not know why the tower fell or who were the people who died. #v4 #xr-jhn9:7 #dm-jerusalem ### 6-9 Why did Jesus speak this parable? #q Jesus spoke this parable because he wanted the Jews to know that God would judge and punish them if they did not repent. In the Old Testament, both the fig tree and the vineyard often represented the nation of Israel. The owner of the vineyard perhaps represents God. The man who took care of the vineyard perhaps represents Jesus. #v6-9 #xa-isa5:7 #xr-mat21:18-22 #xr-mrk11:12-25 ### 7 Why did the vineyard owner plan to cut down the fig tree? #q The owner of the vineyard planted the fig tree in order to harvest figs. But if the tree did not produce fruit, he would not want to keep it. The tree represents the Jews. God placed them in Israel in order to obey and honor him, but they did not do that. Therefore, God was going to punish them. #v7 ;[three years] Why did the owner of the fig tree look for figs for three years? #q A new fig tree must grow for three years before it produces figs for the first time. Some scholars think this represents the three years that Jesus had been telling the people of Israel about the kingdom of God and asking them to repent. #v7 ### 8-9 Why did the man wait to cut down the fig tree? #q The man waited one more year for the fig tree to grow figs. Perhaps this man represents Jesus. Jesus wanted to wait longer so that the Jews would repent for having sinned, and that they would believe in him. If they would not repent, God would punish them. #v8-9 ### 10-17 What did Luke write about in verses 10-17? #q In verses 10-17, Luke wrote that the Jewish religious leaders became angry when Jesus healed a woman on the Sabbath. #v10-17 ### 14 Why was the synagogue leader angry with Jesus? #q The synagogue leader was angry that Jesus healed the woman on the Sabbath. He believed that if Jesus healed the woman, he would be working. The Old Testament law did not allow the Jews to work on the Sabbath. #v14 #xr-exo20:8-11 #xr-deu5:12-15 ### 15-16 ;[you hypocrites] Why did Jesus say the synagogue leader and his supporters were hypocrites? #q The synagogue leader and his supporters untied their animals on the Sabbath and took them to water so they could drink. But they did not want Jesus to help the woman who was suffering. Jesus called them hypocrites because they said one thing but did something else. They said it was wrong to help the woman on the Sabbath, but they cared for their own animals on the Sabbath. #v15-16 #adv #xr-exo20:8-11 #xr-deu5:12-15 #xr-mat12:9-14 #dg-hypocrite #dg-sabbath ### 18-21 ;Advice to translators: Translate "the kingdom of God" in the same way that appears in your version of Luke. What did Luke write about in verses 18-21? #q In verses 18-21, Jesus spoke two parables to say that the kingdom of God will grow very large. Matthew and Mark also wrote about these parables. #v18-21 #xr-mat13:31-33 #xr-mrk4:30-32 ;[mustard seed] How is the mustard seed like the kingdom of God? #q The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds. However, it grows into a bush that is as big as a small tree, about three meters high. Jesus wanted to say that although the kingdom of God started with just a few people, it would grow to include very many believers. #v18-19 #adv #xr-mat13:31-32 #xr-mrk4:30-32 ### 20 ;[yeast] How is yeast like the kingdom of God? #q A very small amount of yeast will spread throughout a large amount of bread dough and cause it all to rise. Perhaps Jesus wanted to say that although the kingdom of God started in one place, it will spread throughout the world. This is what many scholars think. #v20-21 #xr-mat13:33-35 ### 22-30 What did Luke write about in verses 22-30? #q In verses 22-30, Jesus spoke about a narrow door. This was a metaphor. It represents the way for people to go into the kingdom of God. Jesus wanted to say that this door is the only way into the kingdom. Many people want to go into the kingdom by other ways, but they cannot do this. God will punish these people instead. #v22-30 ### 23 How many people did Jesus say that God would save? #q When someone asked Jesus if God would save only a few people, Jesus did not answer this question. Instead, he told the people that the door into the kingdom of God is very narrow, so many people will not find it. #v23 ### 24-25 ;[the narrow door] What is the narrow door? #q Jesus spoke about the narrow door. This is a metaphor. The owner of the house represents God. The house represents the kingdom of God. The door represents the way to enter the kingdom of God. It is Jesus, because people can only enter the kingdom by means of him. That is, God will save and accept only the people who believe in Jesus. #v24-25 #xr-mat7:13-14 #xr-jhn10:1-9 #xr-jhn14:6 ### 24 ;[strive to enter] Why must people work hard to enter the narrow door? #q Jesus invited everyone to enter the kingdom through the narrow door. However, many people say they cannot believe that Jesus is the only way to enter the kingdom. Jesus wanted them to make sure they believe in him and enter through him. If they try to enter another way, they will not be able to come to God. #v24 ### 25-27 What will happen when the owner of the house closes the door? #q After God closes the door, it will be too late for people to enter into his kingdom. When he closes the door, this represents the time when God will judge everyone. He will punish everyone who has not believed in Jesus. It will not be enough for them to eat and drink with Jesus, and to listen to him teach. They must believe in him. #v25-27 #xr-mat7:21-23 #xr-jhn5:22-27 #xr-act17:31 #xr-rev20:12-13 ### 28 Why will the unbelievers weep and gnash their teeth when the Messiah begins to rule? #q People weep and grind their teeth when they are in pain and agony. This is what the Jews who do not believe in Jesus will do. They will do this when God rejects them and punishes them. He will not allow them to enter the kingdom. They will not be able to join the people in the Old Testament who believed in God. #v28 ### 29 Who are the people who will come from every direction? #q Most scholars think the Gentile believers are the people who will come into the kingdom from every direction. #v29 ### 30 Why did Jesus say the first will be the last, and the last will be the first? #q When Jesus said the first will be last, he was perhaps speaking about the Jews. Jesus came to the Jews first and invited them into his kingdom. However, they did not believe in Jesus. Therefore, they will not be able to enter. The Gentiles were the last to hear about Jesus. When they did hear, however, many of them believed. Therefore, they will be the first to enter into the kingdom. #v30 ### 31-35 What did Luke write about in verses 31-35? #q In verses 31-35, Jesus continued to travel to Jerusalem, even though he knew he would die there. #v31-35 ### 31 Why did the Pharisees warn Jesus? #q Perhaps these Pharisees thought they could stop Jesus from teaching, if he left that place. Or perhaps they believed in Jesus and did not want Herod to kill him. #v31 ;[Herod] ;(no note) #v31 #dg-herod_antipas ### 32 ;[that fox] Why did Jesus call Herod a fox? #q Jesus called Herod a fox. This was a metaphor. Many people today say that a fox is a sly, clever animal. However, the ancient Jews said that a fox was a weak animal that was not worth anything. Perhaps Jesus wanted to say that Herod would not be able to kill him before Jesus finished his work in Jerusalem. Many scholars think this. #v32 #xr-jhn10:17-18 ; Advice to translators: Translate the expression "reach his goal" as the local version of this verse translates it. Why did Jesus say he would reach his goal on the third day? #q Some scholars think Jesus was speaking a metaphor about his resurrection when he spoke about reaching his goal on the third day. Jesus rose from the dead after three days in the grave. Other scholars think Jesus wanted to say that he would continue to travel toward Jerusalem and would arrive there when he chose to do so. #v32 #xr-luk9:22 #xr-luk24:21 ### 33 Why did Jesus say that no prophet could die outside Jerusalem? #q When Jesus said no prophet could die outside Jerusalem, he was trying to shock the Jewish people to whom he was speaking. The Jews in Jerusalem thought they honored God more than anyone. However, their ancestors had often killed the Old Testament prophets. Jesus wanted the people to know that they were soon going to kill himself, the greatest prophet. This was something that should never have happened. #v33 #adv #xr-exo19:10 #xr-luk9:51 ### 34 Why did Jesus speak about a hen gathering her chicks? #q Jesus spoke about a hen gathering her chicks. Hens cover their young with their wings to protect them so that nothing can harm them. In the same way, Jesus wanted to protect the people of Jerusalem so that God would not punish them. However, they were not willing to listen Jesus. #v34 ### 35 ;[your house is forsaken] Why did Jesus say their house would have no people living in it? #q Jesus said that their house would have no more people living in it. This was a metaphor. The house represents the city of Jerusalem. Jesus wanted to say that God would punish the Jews by removing them from Jerusalem. #v35 ;[you will not see me] Why would the people of Jerusalem not see Jesus? #q Jesus would die on the cross and then come alive again. After that, Jesus would return to heaven to be with his Father. The people of Jerusalem will not see him again until he returns to earth to rule over the kingdom of God. At that time, they will finally understand that God had sent him. #v35 #xq-psa118:26 #xr-mat23:39 #xr-php2:11 #xr-rev1:7

Chapter 14

1 # Luke 14 ### 1-6 What did Luke write about in verses 1-6? #q In verses 1-6, Jesus healed a sick man on the Sabbath. He did this even though the Pharisees and experts in the law were watching to see if he would do something wrong. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v1-6 ### 1 ;The Greek word for "watch" should be translated to show that they were observing Jesus very intently. ;[watching him closely] Why were the Pharisees watching Jesus? #q The Pharisees and experts in the law were closely watching Jesus to see if he did anything that was against the Jewish law. #v1 ### 2 ;This note may not be needed depending on how "dropsy" is translated. ;[dropsy] In what way was the man sick? #q The man had a serious sickness that caused his body to swell. #v2 #tbd ### 3-6 ;[Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?] Why did Jesus ask if the law allowed him to heal someone on the Sabbath? #q The Law of Moses did not allow people to work on the Sabbath. The Pharisees and the experts in the law thought a person was working if he healed someone. That is why they believed that Jesus broke the law when he healed people on the Sabbath. Jesus asked them the question about healing to make them think about whether it was really wrong to heal on the Sabbath. He reminded them that they would help their own child or animal on the Sabbath. Therefore, it must be right to heal a sick person on the Sabbath. This is the third time Luke wrote about Jesus healing a person on the Sabbath. #v3-6 #xr-luk6:6-11 #xr-luk13:10-17 ### 7-14 What did Luke write about in verses 7-14? #q In verses 7-14, Jesus went to a feast. He saw that the guests tried to sit in the best places. Jesus wanted them to know that they were acting badly, so he told them a parable. In the parable, he told them they should help other people, in order to honor them instead of themselves. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v7-14 ### 7 ;[places of honor] What were the places of honor at the banquet? #q The places of honor were the best seats at the feast, near the man of the house. All the guests wanted to sit in the place of honor so people would think they were more important than the other people at the feast. #v7 #xr-mrk12:38-39 ### 8-11 What did Jesus want to say to the people when he spoke this parable? #q Jesus wanted to say that it was better for the person to let the owner of the house honor them, than for them to honor themselves. If they honor themselves by taking the best seat, the man of the house may ask them to move. This would shame them in front of the other guests. #v8-11 #xr-pro25:6-7 #xr-luk13:30 ### 12-14 ;[his host] To whom did Jesus speak to about inviting people to the feast? #q Jesus spoke to the important Pharisee who invited him to the feast. Jesus told the Pharisee not to invite friends and rich people, because they would later invite him to their houses. Instead, he should invite people who could not pay him back. God will reward the person who helps people who cannot pay him back. #v12-14 ### 15-24 What did Luke write about in verses 15-24? #q In verses 15-24, Jesus told a parable about a great feast. He told this parable to teach that not everyone will enter heaven. The other gospel writers did not write about this teaching. #v15-24 ### 15 ;[eat at the feast in the kingdom of God] What is the feast in the kingdom of God? #q The man was speaking about a great feast that God will prepare at the time Jesus comes to rule over the earth. All believers will eat with Jesus at this feast. #v15 #xr-isa25:6 #xr-luk12:36 #xr-rev19:6-9 #dg-kingdom_of_god ### 16-17 Why did the host send his servant a second time to those who had been invited? #q People in those days a guest to a great feast by sending two invitations. First, they invited the guest many days before the feast so he would have the time to get ready. When the feast was ready, they sent the guest another invitation by the servants, telling him it was time to come. #v16-17 ### 16 Whom did the host of the feast represent? #q In this parable, the man who gave the feast represents God. God will prepare a great feast for his Son in heaven (see #v15). #v16 The host invited many people to the feast. Who did the people represent? Most scholars think that the people whom the man of the house invited represented the people of Israel. #v16 ### 21 Why was the owner of the house angry with the guests who did not come to his feast? #q The guests were rude to the owner of the house. They had accepted his invitation and had enough time to get ready to come to his feast. He had spent much time and effort to prepare the feast. When the guests refused to come, they showed no respect to the host. That was why the host was angry with them. These rude guests represent the Jews who refused to believe in Jesus. #v21 Who did the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame represent? #q The poor, crippled, blind, and lame represented people in Israel whom no one honored. The Pharisees and experts in the law did not think God would accept these people. But God invited these people to come to him when the Pharisees and experts in the law refused to believe in Jesus. #v21 ### 23 Who did the people from the roads and paths represent? #q The people from the roads and paths lived farther away from the man who gave the feast. Many scholars think they represented the Gentiles. God would accept them in place of the many Jews who refused to believe in Jesus. #v23 ### 25-35 What did Luke write about in verses 25-35? #q In verses 25-35, Jesus told the people in the crowd that it was not easy to be his disciple. His disciples must be willing to leave behind many other things in order to follow Jesus. He warned them to think carefully about whether they could do this. #v25-35 ### 25-26 Why did Jesus say a disciple must hate his own family? #q Jesus told the people that a disciple must hate his own family. Jesus wanted to say that his followers must love him much more than they loved their own families or anyone else. #v25-26 #xr-mat10:37 #xr-rev19:9 #dg-disciple ### 27 ;(note about "carry their cross" inserted from Luke 9:23) ;(note about "follow me" inserted from Luke 9:23) ### 28-32 Why did Jesus tell the parables about a man building a tower and a king going to war? #q Jesus told the crowd two parables about a man building a tower and a king going to war. These two men should not rush to start something that they may not be able to finish. Jesus wanted the people in the crowd to know that they should think carefully about whether they were truly willing to be his disciples. If not, they should not become his disciples. #v28-32 #xr-num30:2 #xr-deu23:21 #xr-pro20:25 #xr-ecc5:4-6 ### 33 ;[give up everything] When Jesus said that his disciples must give up everything, what did he want to say? #q Many of Jesus' disciples had already left their jobs, homes, and families to follow him. Others would die because they followed him. Jesus left heaven to come to earth and would die on a cross to obey God. Jesus wanted the people in the crowd to know that he would not accept them as his disciples unless they were willing to give everything, including their lives. #v33 #xr-mat19:27 #xr-luk5:11 #xr-php2:5-8 #xr-php3:7-8 ### 34-35 ;Advice to translators: Salt that is no longer salty is salt that no one can taste any longer. Translate this idea, however, as your local version of Luke has translated it. Why did Jesus speak about salt that is no longer salty? #q Jesus spoke a metaphor about salt that is no longer salty, so it is good for nothing. This salt represents people who say they are disciples, but who do not follow Jesus or do what he does. These people are not really his disciples. They are worthless just like salt that is not salty is worthless. #v34-35 #xr-mat5:13 #xr-mrk9:50 How can salt no longer be salty? #q Salt is always salty. When Jesus spoke about salt no longer being salty, perhaps he was talking about salt that had other things mixed with it to make it taste less salty. That kind of salt would be of no value. In the same way, people who want to follow Jesus, but also want to obey their family members, would be of no value to Jesus. #v34-35 #adv ### 35 ;(note about "ears to hear" inserted from Luke 8:8)

Chapter 15

1 # Luke 15 ### 1-7 What did Luke write about in verses 1-7? #q In verses 1-7, Jesus spoke a parable about a man who lost one of his sheep. Jesus wanted the people to know that God cares about every person who sins. God wants to receive every person who sins back to himself. #v1-7 ### 1 ;[tax collectors] ;(no note) #v1 #dg-tax_collector ### 2 Why were the Pharisees angry with Jesus? #q The Pharisees thought that any Jew who honored God should not be friends with people who did not obey the Law of Moses. Jesus talked and ate with the tax collectors and other people like this. Therefore, the Pharisees thought that Jesus did not try to honor God, either. #v2 #xr-mat7:34 ### 3-7 Why did Jesus tell the parable about the lost sheep? #q In the parable, the man represents God. The lost sheep represents a person who does not believe in Jesus. The man is very sad when he loses one of his sheep. In the same way, God is very sad when people do not believe in him. The man rejoices when he finds the lost sheep. In the same way, God and the angels rejoice when anyone changes his thinking about God and believes in Jesus. #v3-9 ### 3 ;[parable] ;(no note) #v3 #dg-parable ### 4 ;[Suppose one of you] Why would people listen to a story about a lost sheep? #q Many people in Israel owned sheep, perhaps even some of the people who were listening to Jesus. They could easily understand why a man would search for a lost sheep, and be happy when he found it. #v4 ;[leave the ninety-nine in the open field] Why would the man leave the ninety-nine sheep? #q The large group of sheep can help protect each other. However, a single sheep can die if another animal attacks it. The man would be more worried about the single lost sheep than he would about the large group that was not in danger. #v4 ### 7 Who will rejoice in heaven? #q God and the angels in heaven rejoice when anyone repents and believes in Jesus. Jesus wanted to say that the Pharisees and teachers of the law should also rejoice. Instead, they were not happy when people they hated repented. #v7 Who are the people who do not need to repent? #q Everyone sins against God and needs to repent. When Jesus spoke about the ninety-nine people who did not need to repent, he was not saying that God had accepted them. Rather, he wanted to say that the Pharisees and teachers of the law did not believe they needed to repent. They wrongly thought they were good enough that God would accept them. #v7 #dg-repent #da-repent ### 8-10 What did Luke write about in verses 8-10? #q Jesus spoke another parable. This parable was about a woman who lost one of her coins. Jesus wanted the people to know that God cares about everyone. He wants to receive everyone back to himself. #v8-10 ### 8-10 Why did Jesus tell the parable about the lost coin? #q In this parable, the woman represents God. The lost coin represents a person who does not believe in Jesus. The woman is very sad when she loses one of her coins. In the same way, God is very sad when people do not believe in him. The woman rejoices when she finds the lost coin. In the same way, God and the angels rejoice when anyone changes what he thinks about God and believes in Jesus. #v8-10 ### 8 ;[suppose a woman] Why would people listen to a story about lost coin? #q The people who were listening to Jesus could easily understand why a woman would search for a lost coin, and be happy when she found it. Each coin was equal to what a man would earn in a day. #v8 ### 10 Who rejoices in the presence of the angels? #q The angels are with God in heaven. Jesus wanted to say that God rejoices when anyone repents and believes in him. This is what the Pharisees and teachers of the law should have done. Instead, they complained that the people they hated were coming to Jesus. #v10 ### 11-32 What did Luke write about in verses 11-32? #q In verses 11-32, Jesus told a parable about two young men who were brothers. People have called this, "The Parable of the Prodigal Son." This means, "The Parable about the boy who spent all he had." Some people call it, "The Parable about the father's lost son." Jesus wanted to say that God loves people who sin, and accepts them when they repent. The other gospel writers did not write about this parable. #v11-32 ### 11-16 ;[a man had two sons] What foolish thing did the man's younger son do? #q This parable is about a man and his two sons. Verses 11-16 are the first part of the parable. In this part of the story, the younger boy did not honor his father. Instead, he talked to his father about all the things he would receive when his father died. He asked his father to give him all those things right away. Then the boy took those things and left his father. He went to another country far away. There he spent everything he had and wasted it. After he had lost everything, he had not even enough food to eat. Then he began to regret what he had done. #v11-16 ### 12 ;[my share of the estate] How many things did the man give to his younger son? ?#q When men were about to die, they usually gave their possessions to their sons. They always gave their oldest son twice the amount of possessions as they gave his brothers. In this parable, the man's younger son did not want to wait for him to die. Instead, he demanded that his father give him all his things right away. By doing this, he dishonored his father. Nevertheless, his father shared out his possessions to both of his sons. He gave his younger son one-third of his possessions. #v12 #adv #xr-deu21:17 ### 15 Why would it be difficult for a Jewish man to feed pigs? #q The Old Testament law says that pigs are unclean animals. That is, God will not accept people who touch or eat them. The younger son represented a person that did everything God told him not to do. He dishonored his father, sinned very much, and took care of pigs. #v15 #xr-lev11:7 #xr-deu14:8 ### 17-24 ;[came to his senses] What did the younger brother do when he "came to his senses"? #q Verses 17-24 are the second part of the parable. In this part of the story, the man's younger son realized that he was living in more poverty than his father's servants. He thought that if he went home, perhaps he could be a servant and work for his father. He was greatly surprised when he found out that his father still loved him because he was his son. #v17-24 ### 18-19 What did the man's younger son decide to ask him? #q The boy decided to ask his father if he could be a servant and work for him. He thought he would tell his father that he was sorry for dishonoring him and God. He did not think that his father still loved him because he was his son. #v18-19 ### 20 ;[ran to his son] Why did the father run to his son? #q Among the Jews, old men whom everyone respected only walked; they never ran. However, this man was so happy to see his son that he ran to him. #v20 ### 21 ;[I have sinned against heaven] Why did the man's younger son say he had sinned against heaven? #q At the time of Jesus, the Jews did not like to say the name "Yahweh" or even their word for God. They were afraid that they might sin if they did so. Instead, they talked about heaven when they wanted to talk about God. #v21 ### 22-23 Why did the man not wait for his son to finish speaking? #q The father was so happy that his son had returned that he did not allow him to finish speaking. This is why the boy was unable to ask his father if he could be a servant and work for him. #v22-23 How did the man show that he accepted his son? #q The man ordered his servants bring the things that would show everyone that he honored his son, because the boy was still his son, still in his family. His servants brought the best robe, a ring, and sandals. The man also told his servants to prepare a feast so they could celebrate. #v22-23 ### 24 Why did the man say his son was dead, but was alive again? #q The man said his youngest son had been dead. This is a metaphor. He wanted to say that his son was so far away that it was as if he had died. His son represents people who sin and do not believe in Jesus, so they are far away from God. The man also said his son had become alive again. This is also a metaphor. He wanted to say that his son had finally returned to him and was able to live with him. When his son did this, he represented people who repent and believe in Jesus. They will live forever with God. #v24 ### 25-32 ;[The older brother] What did the man's older son do when he learned that his brother had returned? ?#q Verses 25-32 are the third part of the parable. In this final part of the story, the man's older son was angry with his father. He did not want his father to receive back his brother, because his brother had sinned so much. However, the man also loved his older son, so he asked him to come and celebrate with the other guests at the banquet, because his brother had come home. #v25-32 ### 28-30 Why was the boy's older brother so angry with his father? #q Perhaps the boy's older brother wanted his father to love only him. Or perhaps he was afraid his father would take back some of his estate and give it to his younger brother. The man's older son represents the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. These men were angry because Jesus accepted the tax collectors and other people who did not try to keep all the rules of the law. The Pharisees and teacher of the law wanted God to accept only themselves. #v28-30 ### 29 Why did the man's older son say his father had never given him a goat to celebrate? #q The man's older son said that his father had never given him even a young goat to celebrate with his friends. When he was saying this, he was very angry. He was not thinking right. His father had given him two-thirds of all his possessions. But he was still very angry at his father. #v29 ### 31-32 How did the man answer his older son? #q The man reminded his older son that he had already given him everything that he owned. He also told his son that they would be together forever. In the same way, God will share everything he has with the people who believe in him and do things that please him. They will always be with him. The man also asked his son to be happy that his brother had returned. In the same way, people who say they believe in God should be willing to accept sinners who repent. #v31-32

Chapter 16

1 # Luke 16 ### 1-15 What did Luke write about in verses 1-15? #q In verses 1-15, Luke wrote about another parable that Jesus told to his disciples. Jesus wanted them to know that they should honor God by what they buy with their money, and by whom they give money to. Many people today call this parable the "Parable of the Clever Manager." The other gospel writers did not write about this parable. #v1-15 ### 1-8 Who do the rich man and manager represent in the parable? #q The rich man in the parable represents God. The manager represents anyone who receives possessions from God with which he should honor God. Jesus' disciples, for example, would become managers for God because he provided all they needed in order to do what he wanted them to do. #v1-8 ### 1-2 What did the manager do that was wrong? #q The rich man wanted his manager to be honest. He wanted him to be careful with his possessions. But someone said that the manager was wasting the master's possessions. The manager did not deny that he had done this. Therefore, the master told the manager that he could no longer work for him. #v1-2 ### 1 ;[his disciples] To whom did Jesus tell this parable? #q Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples. However, some of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were also listening to him (see #luk15:1 and #v14). #v1 ;[manager] What work did the manager do? #q The manager took care of business matters for the rich man. #v1 #xr-luk12:42 ### 5-7 The manager spoke to the people who had borrowed money money his master. Why did he tell them to pay less money than what they really owed? #q The manager wanted those who had borrowed money from his master to take care of him when he no longer worked for the master. Therefore, he spoke to the people who owed his master money. He told them that they could pay less money. He did this so they would be kind to him when he no longer worked for his master. #v5-7 Why was the manager able to tell the borrowers to pay his master less money? #q Some scholars think the manager gave away what belonged to his master when he told the borrowers that they could pay his master less money. That is, he was dishonest. However, other scholars think that the manager had charged too much money from those who had borrowed from his master. Now the manager told them to pay his master less money. If this was the case, then the manager had not been honest with the debtors at first. #v5-7 ### 8-9 ; Advice to translators: Translate "the people who belong to the light" in the same way that your local version of Luke does. What did Jesus say the people who belong to the light should do? #q When Jesus spoke about the people who belong to the light, he was talking about the believers. He was saying that believers do not do things with their possessions in ways that are as clever as when unbelievers do. Unbelievers often make friends with other people because they help them with their money. Jesus wanted to say that believers should help people with their money. If they do this, these people will be their friends. And God will welcome believers into heaven. #v8 #xr-eph5:8 #xr-1th5:5 ### 8 Why did the master say good things about the dishonest manager? #q The master did not say that everything the manager did was good. The manager was a bad person and a thief. Rather, the master said the manager did one thing that was very clever. The manager took his master's money and helped his borrowers with it. These people then became his friends, who would help him in the future. #v8 ### 10-12 What did Jesus want to say in verses 10-12? #q In verses 10-12, Jesus wanted to say that God owns everything in the world. All the things that people have, it is God who has given these things to them so that they can do good things. If they honor God and help other people with these things, God will give them many more things in heaven. But it they do not honor God and help other people here on earth, God will not give them anything in heaven. #v10-12 #xr-mat25:21 ### 13 What did Jesus say about serving two masters? #q Jesus wanted to say that a person who loves money will work to get money instead of working for God. #v13 #xr-mat6:24 #xr-1ti6:10 ### 14-15 Why did the Pharisees mock Jesus? #q The Pharisees believed that people had a lot of money because God loved them. They thought that if a man had much wealth, this showed that God loved him. However, Jesus told the Pharisees that they were not thinking in the right way. God does not love money or care about it. God does not love people because they are rich. Instead, God knows when people love money. He does not accept such people. #v14-15 ### 16-18 What did Luke write about in verses 16-18? #q In verses 16-18, Jesus wanted the Pharisees to know that the things that were written in the Old Testament would not change. The Pharisees should not make rules that did not agree with the Old Testament. #v14-18 ### 16 ;[the law and the prophets] What were "the law and the prophets"? #q The phrase "the law and the prophets" was a common way for Jews to refer to their scriptures. These are the same books that Christians call "the Old Testament" or "the old covenant." #v16 #xr-mat5:17 #xr-act13:15 #xr-act28:23 Why did Jesus say that people had always preached the "law and the prophets" up to the time that John came? #q Before John the Baptist started preaching, the people learned about God through the law of Moses and the writings of the Old Testament prophets. #v16 ;(note about "good news" inserted from Luk 2:10) Why did Jesus say that since John some people are preaching the good news about the kingdom of God? #q When John started preaching and baptizing people, people heard a new message about God. Jesus called this new message the good news or the gospel. This good news was that God would save his people and that his Messiah would rule over them. This new message is in what Christians call "the New Testament" or "the new covenant." #v16 #xr-jer31:31-34 #xr-mat11:12-13 #xr-heb8:6-12 ### 17 Why did Jesus say the smallest part of the law would not go away? #q Jesus wanted to say that law had not changed even though people were now preaching the good news. The Pharisees thought the gospel did not agree with the Old Testament. They were wrong. The gospel was the next part of the story of how God was going to save people who believed in him. #v17 #xr-mat5:17-18 #xr-mat5:31-32 #xr-luk21:33 ### 18 Why did Jesus speak here about men who divorce their wives? #q The Pharisees made many rules for the Jewish people to obey. Some of these rules did not agree with the Old Testament. Jesus spoke about men who divorce their wives, and men who commit adultery. The Pharisees allowed men to divorce their wives. But Jesus said that a man who does this commits adultery. The Pharisees should not make rules that change what God said in the Old Testament. God said that he hated it when men divorced their wives. #v17-18 #xr-mal2:16 #xr-mrk10:2-12 ### 19-31 What did Luke write about in verses 19-31? #q In verses 19-31, Luke wrote about another parable that Jesus told. The parable is often called the "Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus." The other gospel writers did not write about this parable. #v19-31 ### 19-31 What did Jesus want his hearers to learn from this parable? #q In this parable, Jesus wanted his hearers to know that God may not accept people who are rich and comfortable now. If they do not believe in him, he will punish them after they die. But God will accept many people who are poor and suffer now. If they believe in him, he will accept them, and he will care for them in his kingdom, when he rules over them. #v19-31 ### 20-21 Who was Lazarus? #q Lazarus was a poor, sick beggar. Because this was a parable, perhaps Lazarus was not a real person. This was not the same Lazarus that Jesus raised from the dead in #jhn11:1-44. #v20-21 ### 22 ;[Abraham's side] What was Abraham's side? #q Abraham's side was a place of great honor and joy. The Jews believed that Abraham welcomed people into paradise. He was the host of a great feast. When a good person died, his soul went to paradise. To sit at Abraham's side at the feast was the highest honor. #v22 #xr-mat8:11 #xr-luk13:29 #xr-luk22:30 #xr-luk23:43 #xr-jhn13:23 ### 23 ;[Hades] ;(no note) #v23 #xr-mat11:23 #dg-hades #da-hades ### 24 ;[Father Abraham] Why did the rich man call Abraham, "Father Abraham"? #q The rich man called Abraham, "Father Abraham" because the rich man was a Jew, a descendant of Abraham. The Pharisees believed that God would accept every rich Jew. But they were thinking the wrong way. Jesus told them this parable because he wanted them to know that God would not accept rich Jews who do not believe in him. Instead, they would suffer in hades. #v24 What changed when Lazarus and the rich man died? #q On earth, Lazarus was so hungry that he begged for a crumb of bread from the rich man (see #v20). After they both died, the rich rich man in hades was so thirsty that he begged for a drop of water from Lazarus. #v24 ### 25-26 Why could Lazarus not help the rich man? #q God was paying the rich man back because on earth he did not give bread to Lazarus. God would not allow anyone to go from paradise to hades, or from hades to paradise. Therefore, Lazarus cannot give water to the rich man. #v25-26 ### 29 ;[Moses and the prophets] What did Abraham means when he said "they have Moses and the prophets"? #q When Abraham said the man's brothers had Moses and the Prophets, he wanted to say that they had the writings of Moses and the prophets. Moses and the prophets wrote many things about the Messiah. The brothers should read those things. The phrase "Moses and the prophets" was a common way that Jews referred to their scriptures. It is the same as what Christians call "the Old Testament." #v29 #xr-mat5:17 #xr-luk16:16 #xr-act13:15 #xr-act28:23 ### 30-31 ;[someone from the dead] Who was the person from the dead? #q The rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to talk to his brothers. But Abraham told him that they would not believe Lazarus if they did not believe what Moses and the prophets wrote. Many scholars think Jesus was also talking about himself. Jesus would rise from the dead. But people who would not believe the Old Testament would also not believe in Jesus. #v30-31

Chapter 17

1 # Luke 17 ### 1-10 What did Luke write about in verses 1-10? #q In verses 1-10, Jesus told his disciples that they should help other people, forgive them, and always try to do what God wants. #v1-10 ### 1 ;[stumble] What does it mean to cause someone to "stumble"? #q Jesus said that no one should cause people to stumble. Jesus was speaking a metaphor. He was talking about people who stopped other people from obeying God. Perhaps he was talking about people who stopped others from believing in him. Or perhaps he was talking about people who caused believers to sin. #v1 #xr-rom14:20 #xr-1co10:32 #xr-jas2:10 ### 2 ;[millstone What is a millstone? #q The Jews ground grain into flour with millstones. These were large, flat, round stones with a hole in the middle. Their millstones were very heavy. #v2 ;[these little ones] Who were the "little ones"? #q When Jesus talked about "little ones," most scholars think he was talking about people who had believed in him for only a short time. These people did not yet know a lot about God. Someone could easily teach them to do something wrong and to sin against God. #v2 #xr-mat18:1-6 ### 3 What should the disciples do if other believers sin against them? #q Jesus told the disciples what to do if one believer sins against another. The second believer should talk to the first believer and show him that he had sinned. If he repents, the second believer should forgive him. There is no reason why the second believer should tell others about what happened. #v3 #xr-lev19:17 #xr-mat18:15 ### 4 ;[seven times in a day] How many times should a believer forgive another believer who sins against him? #q The Jews said that people should forgive each other three times. However, Jesus wanted his disciples to know that three times were not enough. Instead, he told them to forgive believers who sinned against them and repented seven times each day. Many scholars think "seven times" is a way to say "a great number" or "without limit." #v4 #xr-mat8:22 ### 5 :[Increase our faith!] ;Advice to translators: Translate "to increase their faith" the way your local version translates it. Why did the disciples to ask Jesus to increase their faith? #q The disciples knew that it would be difficult for them to forgive people who sinned against them many times. Therefore, they asked Jesus to help them believe in God even more so they could do what Jesus told them to do. #v5 ### 6 What did Jesus say to answer his disciples? #q Jesus did not answer his disciples the way they thought he would. Instead, Jesus spoke about a mustard seed. This was a parable that represented something very small and weak. The disciples were thinking that they trusted Jesus very little. However, Jesus wanted them to think about the great things that God does when someone trusts him even a little bit. #v6 #xr-mat13:31-32 #xr-mat17:20 #xr-heb11:32-34 ### 7-10 Why did Jesus tell his disciples about a servant who came in from the field? #q Jesus told his disciples that a servant who comes in from working in the field should not think that his master will serve him. Instead, the servant should continue to do what his master tells him to do. Jesus spoke about this as a metaphor. He wanted the disciples to know that they should not be proud about how much they had worked for God. They should not think that God will reward them now for the things they would do for him. Instead, they should continue to look for more things to do for him. #v7-10 ### 11-19 What did Luke write about in verses 11-19? #q In verses 11-19, Jesus healed ten people of their leprosy, and then sent them to a priest. However, only one person came back to thank him. This man was a Samaritan. The nine Jews did not thank Jesus. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v11-19 ### 11 ;[Samaria] ;(no note) #v11 #xr-jhn4:1-30 #dg-samaritan #dm-israel_and_samaria ### 12 ;Advice to translators: Translate "unclean" the way your local version of Luke does. Why did the lepers stand at a distance? #q The lepers stood at a distance from Jesus because they were unclean from their disease, that is, they could not worship God because they had leprosy, and they could not be with healthy people. The law of Moses said that God would not accept these people unless they were cleansed, that is, healed. Therefore, the Jews could not touch these people or come close to them. If they did that, they would also become unclean. #v12 #xr-num5:2-3 #xr-lev14:45-46 #dg-unclean ### 13 ;[Master] Why did the lepers call Jesus, "Master"? #q The lepers called Jesus, "[Master](g1988)." This was a title for a person with power over other people. It was not the same as the word "[Lord](g2962)" which is often translated as "Master." The lepers were not saying that Jesus was God. #v13 #adv #xr-luk5:5 ### 14 Why did Jesus tell the lepers to show themselves to the priests? #q Jesus told the lepers to show themselves to the priests so the priests could see that they were no longer sick, that they were well. Then they could live among the other Jews again. This would also show the priests that Jesus had the power to heal people. #v14 ### 17-18 Why was Jesus surprised that only the Samaritan returned and thanked him? #q Jesus asked why the other nine lepers did not return and thank him for healing them. He asked this so the people would think about this. The Jews said that the Samaritans did not honor God. However, only the Samaritan returned to honor Jesus. This should cause the Jews to change what they thought. They should realize that if anyone does not honor Jesus, he does not honor God either. #v17-18 ### 19 ;Advice to translators: Pay attention to how your local version translates "your faith has made you well." What did Jesus want to say when he told the Samaritan that his faith had made him well? #q The Greek word, "[make well](#g4982)" can also be translated as "save." Perhaps Jesus wanted to say that God had saved the man from his sins, as well as healing his disease. #v19 #adv #dg-samaritan ### 20-37 What did Luke write about in verses 20-37? #q In verses 20-37, Jesus wanted the Pharisees to know that he was already among them as the Messiah who would rule over everyone and everything. Jesus also told his disciples that when he returned again to rule, everyone would see him, and that would be a time when God would judge everyone who did not believe in him. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v20-37 ### 20-21 When did the Pharisees think God would come to rule over everyone and everything? #q The Pharisees thought God would send the Messiah to defeat the Roman army and rule over everything and everyone. They asked Jesus when that would happen. Jesus answered them by saying that God was already ruling among them. He wanted to say that he was the Messiah and was already among them. But they did not understand what he was saying. #v20-21 #dg-kingdom_of_god ### 22 ;[the days of the Son of Man] What are "the days of the Son of Man"? #q Jesus talked about the "days of the Son of Man." Jesus was talking about himself as the Son of Man. Some scholars think the days he was talking about were the days when he was on earth. Other scholars think the days will be the time when he will return to earth to rule over everything. #v22 #xr-dan7:13-14 #dg-son_of_man ### 23-24 Why will people say the Son of Man is here? #q While Jesus is in heaven, many people will falsely say that he has already returned to earth. The disciples should not believe these people when they say that. When Jesus returns, everyone will see him. Light will flash across the entire sky so that everyone will know that he has returned. #v23-24 #xr-luk21:8 ### 24 ;[in his day] What does "in his day" refer to? #q When Jesus talked about "in his day," he was speaking about the time when he would return in power as the Messiah. #v24 ### 26-30 Why did Jesus talk about the days of Noah and Lot? #q God punished the world in the days of Noah, and punished Sodom and Gomorrah in the days of Lot (see #gen6:5-8 and #gen19:23-29). The people in those times were not aware that God was ready to judge them. They were doing the normal things that people do every day. It will be the same way when Jesus returns to judge the world. People will not be expecting him to come. They will be doing the normal things instead of preparing for Jesus to punish them. #v26-30 #da-return_of_christ ### 31-33 Why did Jesus say people should not go back into their houses? #q When Jesus returns again, he will judge people so swiftly that they will not have time to prepare. It will be too late for them to do anything to help themselves. #v31-35 #xr-gen19-26 #xr-mat24:40-41 ### 34-35 ;[one will be taken and the other left] What did Jesus want to say when he talked about God taking some people away? #q Perhaps Jesus simply wanted to say that God will separate the believers from the unbelievers. #v34-35 Where will the people be taken? #q Some scholars think someone will take some people away in order bring them to Jesus. The people who are left will be punished. Other scholars think someone will take people away in order to punish them. The people who are left remain on the earth when Jesus comes here to rule. #v34-35 #adv Who will take the people away? #q Some scholars think God will take some the people away. Other people think God will tell his angels to take they away. #v34-35 #adv ### 37 ;[Where] What did the disciples want to know when they asked Jesus, "Where"? #q The disciples asked Jesus, "Where"? Perhaps they wanted to know where God would take the people. Or perhaps they wanted to know where these things would take place. #v37 Why did Jesus speak about vultures gathering together? #q Jesus answered his disciples by speaking a proverb about vultures. Vultures gather where people or animals die and fly above them until they are sure they are dead. People can see the vultures circling in the air from a great distance away. Perhaps Jesus wanted to say that when he comes to judge the world, everyone will see him. They will know that the people who did not believe in him have died. #v37 #xr-mat24:28

Chapter 18

1 # Luke 18 ### 1-8 What did Luke write about in verses 1-8? #q In verses 1-8, Jesus told the disciples a parable about a woman and a judge who did not judge justly. He wanted them to know that they should keep praying and not give up. God would hear their prayers and help them. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v1-8 ### 2-8 ;[a judge] Who does the judge represent in the parable? #q The judge in the parable was a bad judge. He did not care about the widow. He helped the widow because he was tired of listening to her. He does not represent God. Instead, Jesus says God will quickly do what is right when believers pray and ask him for help. #v2-5 #xr-gen18:25 #xr-deu27:19 ### 3 ;[a widow] Who does the widow in the parable represent? #q The widow in the parable represents believers. She continued to ask the judge for help. In the same way, Jesus wants believers to keep praying to God and to not become discouraged. #v3 ### 6 ;[his chosen ones] Who are the ones whom God has chosen? #q Jesus talked about the people whom God chose, those who cry out day and night for him to help them. These are the people whom God chose to believe in him. #v6 #dg-elect ### 8 ;Advice to translators: Translate this passage the way your local version has done. ;[will he find faith on the earth?] Why did Jesus ask if the Son of Man will find faith on earth? #q Jesus already said that believers can trust God to answer their prayers and to care for them. Jesus then asked whether God could trust the people on earth to believe in him when he returns. Probably some will trust in him, but many more will not believe. #v8 #dg-son_of_man ### 9-14 What did Luke write about in verses 9-14? #q In verses 9-14, Jesus told a parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector. God accepted the tax collector because he asked God to be merciful to him. But God did not accept the Pharisee because he thought that he was good enough. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v9-14 ### 10 ;[tax collector] ;(no note) #v10 #dg-tax_collector ### 11-12 Why did the Pharisee thank God? #q The Pharisee thanked God that he did not sin like the tax collector and other people. The Pharisee thought that he was good enough that God would accept him, but he was wrong. He fasted twice a week, which was more than the law of Moses required. But he did not understand that he had also sinned, just as everyone else also does. #v11-12 ### 13 ;[beat his breast] How did the tax collector show that he was very sad? #q The tax collector looked down and beat his chest with his fists and in order to show God that he was very sad that he had sinned. He knew that because he had sinned, God should not accept him. But he asked God to be merciful to him anyway. #v13 ### 14 Why did God accept the tax collector? #q God accepted the tax collector because he repented and asked God to forgive him. Every person sins. Therefore, God will not accept anyone who is not sorry he has sinned, and who does not ask God to forgive him. #v14 #xr-isa2:11-12 #xr-luk14:11:5-6 #xr-1pe5:5-6 ### 15-17 What did Luke write about in verses 15-17? #q In verses 15-17, Jesus told the disciples that they were thinking in the wrong way when they did not allow people to bring their babies to Jesus. He told them that everyone most come to God as a little child. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v15-17 #xr-mat19:13-15 #xr-mrk10:13-16 ### 15 Why did the disciples try to stop people from bringing their babies to Jesus? #q The Jewish leaders of that time did not want anyone to bother them with babies. Perhaps that was why the disciples did not think Jesus would want people to bring their babies to him. #v15 #xr-mat18:3 #xr-mat19:14 #xr-mrk10:14-15 ### 15-16 Who did Jesus say should come to him? #q In verse 15, the people were bringing their "[babies](g1025)" to Jesus. Babies were not able to come by themselves. In verse 16, Jesus used a different word to talk about children who were older than babies. He said the disciples should let the "[children](g3813)" come to him. This word means children younger than about age 13. #v15-16 #adv ### 16-17 ;Advice to translators: Translate "the kingdom of God belongs to people like children" in the same way that your local version has done. Jesus said the kingdom of God belongs to people like children, and that people who are not like children will not enter it. Why did he say this? #q Jesus said the kingdom of God belongs to people like children, and that people who are not like children will not enter it. When he said this, he did not want to say that only children will enter the kingdom. He wanted to say that everyone must be like children in order to enter it. Most scholars think Jesus was talking about how children are able to believe that what their parents tell them is true. In the same way, the only way for people to enter God's kingdom is to believe that Jesus is able to save everyone who believes in him. #v16-17 #adv #xr-jhn3:16-18 #xr-jhn3:36 #xr-rom1:16 #xr-1jn5:13 ### 18-30 What did Luke write about in verses 18-30? #q In verses 18-27, Luke wrote about a rich ruler who came to talk to Jesus. But the man did not want to give up his money in order to follow Jesus. Therefore, Jesus told his disciples that God would give many things to them because they had left everything in order to follow him. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v18-30 #xr-mat19:16-29 #xr-mrk10:17-30 ### 18-19 Why did Jesus tell the ruler that only God is "good"? #q The ruler called Jesus, "Good Teacher" because he thought Jesus did good things. He wanted Jesus to tell him what good things he could do so that he would live with God forever. Jesus wanted him to know that he was not thinking in the right way. God does not accept people because they do good things. He accepts them because they believe in Jesus. Therefore, Jesus asked him what he wanted to say when he called Jesus, "good." Jesus wanted to know if the man wanted to say that Jesus was good because he was God, and not only because he did good things. #v18-19 ### 18 ;[A ruler] Who was the ruler? #q Most scholars think this man was a ruler in a Jewish synagogue or of the Sanhedrin. They do not think he was a government official. #v18 #dg-synagogue #dg-sanhedrin ### 20-21 Why did Jesus ask the ruler about five of the commandments? #q Jesus spoke to the ruler about five of the ten commandments. These commandments tell how people should treat each other. The ruler told Jesus that he had always obeyed these commandments by treating other people well. He thought that he had done enough good things so that God would accept him, but he was wrong. #v20-21 #xr-exo20:13-17 #xr-deu5:16-21 #xr-mat5:17 ### 22-23 Why did Jesus tell the ruler to sell everything and then follow Jesus? #q The man thought he had done enough good things to please God, but he was wrong. Jesus wanted to show him that he was thinking in the wrong way. Therefore, Jesus told him to do two things, to give away his money, and to follow Jesus. The man did not love other people enough to give up his money in order to help them. And he did not believe in Jesus enough to follow him. God would not accept him until he changed what he thought about people and God. #v22-23 #xr-pro11:28 #xr-mat19:26 #xr-1ti6:17-19 ### 24-27 ;Advice to translators: Translate "the eye of a needle" in the same way that your local version translated it. Why did Jesus talk about a camel going through the eye of a needle? #q The Jews thought that people became rich because God loved them. They were not thinking in the right way about this. Therefore, Jesus said that God would accept very few rich people. Jesus then told them about a camel going through the eye of a needle. This was a metaphor. Jesus wanted to say that it was more difficult for a wealthy person to believe in him. However, God can cause anyone to believe in Jesus. #v24-25 #xr-luk19:1-10 ### 28 Why did Peter speak to Jesus? #q The disciples were not like the rich ruler. They had already left everything and followed Jesus. They had done what the rich ruler refused to do. Matthew says that Peter wanted to know what God would do for them (see #mat19:27). #v28 #xr-mat19:27-29 #xr-mrk10:28-30 ### 29-30 What will God give to people who follow him? #q Jesus told Peter that God would reward people who left everything in order to follow Jesus. He said that God would give them many times as much as they left. Jesus was not saying that God would make them rich in this life. God did not make Peter and the apostles rich. Instead, Jesus wanted to say that God would give his disciples everything they would need in order to follow him. Perhaps he wanted to say that other believers would take the place of family members that they had left behind. And even more than this, God will receive them so they can live with him forever. #v28-30 #xr-luk8:21 ### 29 ;Advice to translators: Here "disciple" means any follower of Jesus, not only one of the twelve disciples. How would someone leave his family for the sake of the kingdom of God? #q When Jesus talked about disciples who left their families, he did not want to say that people should stop helping their families and leave them. Instead, Jesus wanted to say that his followers should obey him first, instead of helping their families first. Sometimes his followers must leave their families for a short time in order to do something for God. Also some disciples may choose not to marry or have children in order to be able to do more things for God. God will reward these disciples for what they gave up. #v29 ### 31-34 What did Luke write about in verses 31-34? #q In verses 31-34, Jesus told his apostles that he would suffer and die in Jerusalem, but would become alive again. The Old Testament prophets had written that this would happen. However, the apostles did not understand what he was saying. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v31-34 #xr-mat20:17-19 #xr-mrk10:32-34 ### 31-33 Why did Jesus tell his disciples that he would die? #q This was at least the third time Jesus told his disciples that he would die. He wanted them to know that the Old Testament prophets had written that this would happen. God planned for Jesus to die, and told the prophets about it many years before it happened. #v31-33 #xr-psa22 #xr-isa52:13-53:12 ### 32-33 ;[the Gentiles] Why would the Jews hand Jesus over to the Gentiles? #q The Romans ruled the Jews and did not allow the Jews to execute prisoners. The only way the Jews could kill Jesus was to ask the Romans, who were Gentiles, to execute Jesus for them. This is what they would do. #v32-33 #xr-mat27:1-2 #xr-luk23:20-25 #xr-jhn18:31 ### 34 Why did the apostles not understand what Jesus was saying? #q This was at least the third time Jesus had told the apostles that he would die. However, the apostles thought the Messiah would defeat the Romans and set the Jews free from them. They could not understand why the Messiah would die. Also, God perhaps stopped them from understanding at this time. Later, when they would receive the Holy Spirit, they would understand. #v34 ### 35-43 What did Luke write about in verses 35-43? #q In verses 35-43, Luke wrote about Jesus healing a blind beggar. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. Mark wrote that the name of the beggar was Bartimaeus. #v35-43 #xr-mat20:29-34 #xr-mrk10:46-52 ### 38-39 ;[Son of David] Why did the blind beggar call Jesus, "Son of David"? #q God had said that a son of King David would become the Messiah. Therefore, "Son of David" was another name for the Messiah. When the blind beggar called Jesus, "Son of David," he was saying that he believed Jesus was the Messiah. #v35-39 ### 42 ;[your faith has made you well] Why did Jesus say the man's faith had made him well? #q Jesus healed the blind man because he believed that Jesus was the Messiah. Luke wrote about several times when Jesus said that he healed or forgave people because they believed. #v42 #xr-luk5:20 #xr-luk7:50 #xr-luk8:48 #xr-luk17:19 ### 43 Why did Luke say that the people praised God? #q Luke wrote many times in this book that people praised God when they saw the things that Jesus did. These people knew that God was doing these things through Jesus. #v43 #xr-luk5:25-26 #xr-luk7:16 #xr-luk13:13 #xr-luk17:15 #xr-luk23:47 #xr-luk24:47

Chapter 19

1 # Luke 19 ### 1-10 What did Luke write about in verses 1-10? #q In verses 1-10, Luke wrote about a tax collector named Zaccheus. This man came to see Jesus. He was rich, but he believed in Jesus. He said that he would pay back all the money he had stolen from other people. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v1-10 ### 1 ;[Jericho] Where is Jericho? #q Jericho is a city near the west bank of the Jordan River. It is about ten kilometers north of the Dead Sea. People have destroyed and rebuilt the city more than twenty times. #v1 #xr-jos6:20 #xr-luk18:35 #dm-jericho ### 2 Who was Zacchaeus? #q Zacchaeus was a Jew who was collecting taxes for Rome from other Jews. He was a chief tax collector, which meant that other tax collectors worked for him. Zacchaeus had become rich, perhaps by collecting more taxes from people than they owed. #v2 ### 3-4 What did Zacchaeus do in order to see Jesus? #q Important people did not climb trees because others would respect them less. But Zacchaeus wanted so much to see Jesus that he climbed the tree anyway. #v3-4 ### 5 Why did Jesus say that he must stay at Zacchaeus' house? #q Jesus saw that Zaccheus so much wanted to see him that he climbed a tree. Therefore, Jesus told him that he would come to his house for a meal. This is the only time in the Bible that Jesus invited himself to someone's home. Every other time, people invited Jesus. #v5 ### 7 Why were some people not happy that Jesus went to Zacchaeus' home? #q Many of the Jews thought that it was wrong to be friends with anyone who did not obey the law of Moses. They thought that Zacchaeus did not obey the law. Perhaps they also hated Zacchaeus because he collected taxes for the Romans, and perhaps they hated him because he collected more money than people owed in taxes. They did not think Jesus should be friends with that man. #v7 #xr-luk5:30 #xr-luk15:2 ### 8 How did Zacchaeus show that he wanted to live in a way that would honor God? #q Zaccheus did not do what the rich man in #luk18:2-23 did. That man would not give up his money. But Zacchaeus decided to give half of his money to poor people, and to pay back all the money he had stolen from people. Jesus did not have to ask him to do that. #v8 #xr-exo22:1 #xr-2sa12:6 #xr-luk18:22-23 ### 9 ;[son of Abraham] Why did Jesus call Zacchaeus a "son of Abraham"? #q Jesus called Zacchaeus a "son of Abraham" because he was not only a Jew, but he also honored God as Abraham did. Zaccheus gave away most of his money in order to please God. This showed that he believed in Jesus and wanted to honor him. #v9 #xr-rom4:12 #xr-gal3:7 ### 10 ;[Son of Man] ;(no note) #v10 #dg-son_of_man ### 11-27 What did Luke write about in verses 11-27? #q Jesus told this parable to show that his follower should do things that honor him during the time that he would be in heaven with his father. When he returns, he will reward those who did that, and punish those who did not honor him. Matthew also wrote about this. #v11-27 #xr-mat25:14-30 ### 11 Why did Jesus tell this parable? #q Jesus told this parable because some people wrongly thought that he would begin to rule as soon as he entered Jerusalem. However, Jesus would not do that. He was going to go to heaven to be with his father for a time. While he was there, he wanted his followers to know that they should be busy doing what he told them to do. That is why he told them this parable. #v11 #xr-luk17:20-21 ### 12 Why did the man go to a distant country to become king, and then return? #q The man went to a distant country to become king. In the distant country was a more powerful king who ruled over many lands, including the one where the man lived. That king would make the man king over a the man's own land, and he would rule it for the more powerful king. This is a metaphor. The man represents Jesus, who would go to his Father after he would die and rise again. His Father would give him the power to rule over the earth. One day he will return to rule. Perhaps this parable would have caused the Jews to think about how the Herods became rulers in Israel. They went to Rome, where Caesar made them kings over Israel. Then they returned to rule over Israel. #v12 #adv ### 13 ;[mina] How many minas did the man give to each servant? #q The man took ten minas and gave one mina to each of his ten servants. Each mina was a half of a kilogram of silver. #v13 ### 14 Who was the delegation that did not want the man to rule over them? #q The people in the parable who did not want the man to rule over them represent people who do not believe in Jesus. They do not want him to return from heaven and rule over them. Jesus was perhaps talking about something that happened in Israel. The Jews did not want Archelaus to become king. They sent a delegation to Rome to ask Caesar not to make him king. #v14 ### 15 ;[he returned home] What did Jesus mean when he said the man returned home? #q The man became king and returned to his home. This man represents Jesus. He will return to earth to rule as the Messiah. When he returns, he will judge his followers to see if they did what he told them to do while he was in heaven. #v15 ### 20-21 What did the third servant do that was wrong? #q The servant who hid his mina was afraid of his master and did not believe he would reward him if he worked hard. He even said his master was greedy and stole crops from other people. Perhaps the servant was also lazy. Therefore, he did not do anything with the mina to earn money for his master. #v20-21 ### 23 Why did the man say that his servant should have put the mina in a bank? #q Money that people put in a bank did not earn very much. But the money the man's servant put in his handkerchief did not earn any money at all. If he did not want to work to earn more money, it would have been better for him to put the mina in a bank. But he did not do even that. #v23 ### 24-26 Why did the master give the mina to the servant who had earned the most money? #q The man thought that his servant who had earned ten minas had worked harder than his other servants. Therefore, he rewarded that servant by giving him even more money. The man's servants represent people who believe in Jesus. If they do what Jesus wants them to do, he will reward them when he returns to earth. But if they do not do what he wants them to do, he will take away the reward that they thought they had earned. #v24-26 ### 27 ;[these enemies of mine] Who do the man's enemies represent? #q The man's enemies were not his servants. His enemies represent people who do not want Jesus to rule over them. They do not believe in him. When Jesus returns to rule on earth, he will punish these people because they did not accept him. #v27 #xr-rev11:18 #xr-rev20:11-15 ### 28-40 What did Luke write about in verses 28-40? #q In verses 28-40, Jesus entered Jerusalem on a young donkey. As he entered, a large crowd of people welcomed him as the Messiah. All four of the gospel writers wrote about this. #v28-40 #xr-mat21:1-11 #xr-mrk11:1-10 #xr-jhn12:12-19 ### 28 ;[up to Jerusalem] Why did Luke write that Jesus went "up" to Jerusalem? #q Jesus traveled to Jerusalem from Jericho (see #luk18:35). Jerusalem is on a hill that is higher than Jericho. That is why Luke wrote that Jesus went up to Jerusalem. #v28 ### 29 Where were Bethany, Bethphage and the Mount of Olives? #q Bethany was a village about three kilometers southeast of Jerusalem. Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived there. Bethphage was a village about one kilometer east of Jerusalem. The Mount of Olives is a ridge about two kilometers long. It is near the east side of Jerusalem. #v29 #xr-jhn11:1 #dm-judea ### 30-34 ;[a colt] Where did the disciples find the colt? #q Jesus sent two of his disciples to a nearby village to borrow a colt for him to ride. Matthew wrote that the colt was tied beside its mother, and that the disciples brought them both to Jesus. Luke wrote only about the colt. He did not write about the colt's mother, because Jesus rode the colt. #v30-34 #adv #xr-mat21:2-7 ### 35 Why did Jesus ride the colt? #q The prophet Zechariah had said many years before that the Messiah would ride a colt into Jerusalem (see #zec9:9). #v35 ### 36 Why did the people spread their cloaks onto the road? #q The people honored Jesus by spreading their cloaks on the road. They did that so that he would not have to walk on the dust and dirt in the road. This was a way that people in the Old Testament honored their kings. #v36 #xr-2ki9:13 ### 37 Who was praising Jesus? #q A large group of Jesus' followers, not just his twelve disciples, were with Jesus. They praised God because of the miracles that Jesus had performed. #v37 #xr-luk9:51-19:27 #xr-jhn12:17 ### 38 What did the people shout out to Jesus? #q The people shouted words from #psa118:26. The Jews who were traveling to Jerusalem for the Passover feast often greeted each other with the words, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." #v38 #xq-psa118:26 Why did the people shout, "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"? #q The words the disciples shouted here were similar to the words the angels said when Jesus was born. The angels said, "peace on earth." The disciples here shouted, "peace in heaven." #v38 #adv #xa-luk2:14 ### 39-40 Why did the Pharisees want Jesus to stop his disciples from praising him? #q The Pharisees did not want Jesus' disciples to speak as if Jesus was the Messiah. Therefore, they asked Jesus to tell them to stop what they were doing. They did not understand that Jesus was the Messiah. For that reason, Jesus told them that it was right for the disciples to speak about him as if he was the Messiah. God wanted everyone to know that Jesus was the Messiah. If the disciples did not tell them that, God would cause the rocks to tell people about Jesus! #v39-40 #adv #xr-hab2:11 ### 41-44 What did Luke write about in verses 41-44? #q In verses 41-44, Jesus was very sad that enemies would destroy Jerusalem. God would allow them to do this because the people there would not accept Jesus. They would not believe that he was the Messiah. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v41-44 ### 41-42 Why did Jesus weep for Jerusalem? #q Jesus wept for Jerusalem because he was very sad that the people of the city did not receive him. #v41-42 ### 42 What things were hidden from the people of Jerusalem? #q The people of Jerusalem did not understand that Jesus was the Messiah, and that he came so they could live in peace with God. #v42 #xr-jhn12:37-40 #xr-jhn14:27 ### 43-44 What days were Jesus talking about? #q The Roman army destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70. They completely destroyed the temple, and no one has ever rebuilt it. Most scholars think Jesus was talking about this when he said that enemies would surround the city and tear it down. #v43-44 #xr-isa29:3 #xr-mat24:2 #xr-luk21:5-6 ### 44 Why would God punish the people of Jerusalem? #q God would punish the people of Jerusalem because they did not understand that Jesus was the Messiah. Therefore, they did not receive him and honor him as their king. #v44 #xr-luk20:13-17 #xr-jhn1:10-11 ### 45-48 What did Luke write about in verses 45-48? #q In verses 45-48, Luke wrote that Jesus drove out people who were selling things inside the temple. He then began to teach the people in the temple every day. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #jhn2:13-17 is about a different time when Jesus was in the temple. #v45-48 #xr-mat21:12-13 #xr-mrk11:15-17 ### 45-46 Why did Jesus chase away people who were selling things in the temple? #q Jesus chased away the people who were selling in the temple. The temple was not supposed to be a place for business, but a place where people could pray. Also, many scholars believe that the people Jesus chased away were being dishonest. They charge people too much money for the animals that the people needed to sacrifice in the temple. The did this so they could become rich by cheating the people. #v45-46 #adv #xr-isa56:7 #xr-jer7:11 #xr-mat21:12-13 #xr-mrk11:15-17 #da-sacrificial_system ### 47-48 The chief priests and powerful Jews in Jerusalem wanted to kill Jesus. Why could they not do that? #q The chief priests and powerful Jews in Jerusalem wanted to kill Jesus, but they could not find a reason to do that. Jesus did not say anything wrong. Also, there were too many people who liked what Jesus was saying. #v47-48 #xr-mat12:14 #xr-mrk14:55

Chapter 20

1 # Luke 20 ### 1-8 What did Luke write about in verses 1-8? #q In verses 1-8, some Jewish leaders asked Jesus to tell them who allowed him to teach people about God. But they did not really want him to answer them. They only wanted Jesus to stop teaching the people. Therefore, Jesus asked them a question about John the Baptist. He knew that they did not want to know about God's work. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v1-8 #xr-mat21:23-27 #xr-mrk11:27-33 ### 1 ;[the temple] Why did Jesus teach in the temple courts? #q Jesus was teaching the people in the courtyard of the temple. Only priests could enter the temple, but all of the Jews were allowed to enter the temple courtyard. This was a good place for Jesus to teach the Jews who had come there to worship God. #v1 #xr-luk18:1 #dg-temple_court ### 2 The Jewish leaders asked Jesus who allowed him to teach. Why did they ask him this? #q The Jewish leaders did not agree with the things that Jesus was teaching the people. They wanted him to stop. Therefore, they asked him who allowed him to teach. They wanted to say that they had not allowed him to teach, and that he should stop. #v2 #xr-jhn2:18-22 ### 3-4 When Jesus answered the Jewish leaders, why did he ask them a different question? #q Jesus taught by God's own authority. In other words, God sent Jesus to teach the people. However, Jesus knew that the Jewish leaders would not accept him if he said this. Therefore, Jesus did not want to answer their question. Instead, he asked them a question about John the Baptist that he knew they would refuse to answer. Jesus did this in order to show that they were not willing to accept anyone whom God had sent to them. #v3-4 #xr-mat21:23-27 #dg-john_the_baptist ### 5-6 Why did the Jewish leaders not want to say who sent John? #q The Jewish leaders did not believe God sent John. Therefore, they did not obey John and repent. Because they did not receive John, they did not want to answer Jesus' question about who sent him. If they answered that God sent John, it would show the crowd that they were wrong when they did not receive John. #v5-6 ### 6 Why were the Jewish leaders afraid the people would stone them? #q The law of Moses told the Jews to kill any Jews who refused to obey God. They threw stones at these people until they died. The Jewish leaders were afraid to say that God did not send John the Baptist because the people believed that God did send John. The crowd might stone them if they said God did not send John. #v6 #dg-stoning #xr-lev24:14-16 ### 7-8 Why did Jesus not tell the Jewish leaders who sent him to teach? #q The Jewish leaders were not willing to believe that John came from God, even though the other people knew that God sent John. Because they were not willing to accept John, Jesus knew they would not accept him. Therefore, he did not answer them. #v7-8 #xr-luk20:19 ### 9-18 What did Luke write about in verses 9-18? #q In verses 9-19, Jesus told a parable about a man who rented his vineyard to other people. But they did not pay him for the vineyard. Instead, they killed the servants he sent. Therefore, he will destroy them. In this parable, Jesus wanted to say how God would treat the people of Jerusalem who did not believe in Jesus. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v9-18 #xr-mat21:33-44 #xr-mrk12:1-11 ### 9 Who did the people in the parable represent? #q The man who rented out his vineyard represents God. The people who rented the vineyard represent the Jews. This was a metaphor. God allowed the Jews to live in Jerusalem and Judah. In exchange for that, they were supposed to worship him. #v9 ### 10-16 The man in the parable sent some servants. Who do they represent? #q The man first sent his servants to the people who rented his vineyard. These servants represent the Old Testament prophets whom God sent to Israel. The man's son represents Jesus, God's Son. The people in the vineyard rejected everyone the man sent, just as the Jews rejected the prophets and Jesus. Therefore, God would destroy the Jews and remove them from the land. This perhaps refers to when the Romans removed the Jews from Jerusalem in A.D. 70. #v10-19 #xa-isa5:1-5 #xr-luk13:33-35 ### 17-18 Who were the builders in this parable? #q Jesus spoke the words from #psa118:22. The builders represent the Jewish leaders. These leaders decided what the people of Israel should do, in the same way builders decide how to place stones in a building. These leaders did not believe in Jesus. Therefore, they were leading the people of Israel in the wrong way. Jesus will punish them because they did not believe in him. #v17-18 #xr-luk5:21 #xq-psa118:22 ;[chief corner stone] What is a chief corner stone? #q A corner stone was a stone that builders used to make a building's walls straight. Builders placed all the other stones in line with the corner stone. The chief corner stone was the most important corner stone. They placed it at the first corner and placed the other corner stones in line with it.. #v17-18 ### 19-26 What did Luke write about in verses 19-26? #q In verses 19-26, the teachers of the law and the chief priests were angry at Jesus. They sent spies to try to trick Jesus into saying something wrong so they could kill him. But Jesus answered them in such a wise way that they could not accuse him of doing anything wrong. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v19-26 #xr-mat21:45-46 #xr-mat22:15-22 #xr-mrk12:12-17 ### 20-22 How did the spies try to trap Jesus? #q The spies tried to trick Jesus so that he would say something wrong. They wanted the Jews or the Romans to become angry at him. If he told the Jews to pay taxes to the Romans, the Jews would be angry. They hated the Romans who ruled over them. But if he told the Jews not to pay taxes, the Romans would be angry. In this way, the spies thought either the Jews or the Romans would kill Jesus. #v20-22 ### 24 ;[denarius] ;(no note) #v24 #dg-denarius ### 25 What are the things that are Caesar's and the things that are God's? #q When Jesus spoke about the "things that are Caesar's" he was talking about Roman money. The Jews used Roman coins to buy and sell things. Jesus said this is why they should pay taxes to Rome. When he spoke about the "things that are God's," he wanted to say that the Jews themselves belong to God. God made them his own people, so they should obey God and honor him. #v25 ### 27-40 What did Luke write about in verses 27-40? #q In verses 27-40, a group of Jewish leaders spoke to Jesus. These people were some of the Sadducees. They did not believe that anyone would rise from the dead. But they knew Jesus often said he would rise from the dead. So they told him a story to try to show that no one would rise from the dead. Jesus told them they were wrong to think that no one would become alive again. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v27-40 #xr-mat22:23-32 #xr-mrk12:18-27 ### 27 ;[Sadducees] ;(no note) #v27 #dg-sadducees ### 28 What part of the law of Moses did the Sadducees speak to Jesus about? #q Moses commanded the Jews that when a man died, his brother should marry his widow (see #deu25:5-10). If the woman gave birth to any children, people would say that they were children of the dead man. In other words, they would give the dead man's name to his children. #v28 ### 23 ;[which one's wife will she be?] Why did the Sadducees think their story showed that people could not rise from the dead? #q In ancient times, God sometimes allowed men to have more than one wife. But he never allowed a woman to have more than one husband. Therefore, the Sadducees thought that God would not allow the woman and her husbands to become alive again. If that happened, the woman would have seven husbands, which they knew God would not accept. #v33 ### 34-36 How did Jesus answer the Sadducees? #q The Sadducees did not think that a woman could have more than one husband when she became alive again in heaven. Jesus told them that they were not thinking about heaven in the right way. Believers will become alive again in heaven. But they will not marry there. They will live in a very different way than when they were on earth. #v34-36 ### 37-38 What words from the Old Testament did Jesus speak to the Sadducees? #q Jesus spoke words from #exo3:1-4:17. In those verses, Moses said that God was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Those men all died before Moses was born. However, Jesus wanted to say that they were alive again in heaven. They were with God and worshiping God at the same time that Moses was speaking. Jesus spoke these words to show the Sadducees that God does cause believers to come to life again and to live with him. #v37-38 ### 39 ;[Teacher, you have spoken well] Why did some of the teachers of the law like the way that Jesus answered the Sadducees? #q The Pharisees and many of the other Jewish leaders did not agree with the Sadducees that no one would become alive again. When Jesus said the Sadducees were wrong about that, these other leaders were happy. #v39 #xr-act23:6-9 ### 41-47 What did Luke write about in verses 41-47? #q In verses 41-47, Jesus spoke to the teachers of the law. They were happy that Jesus said the Sadducees were wrong when they said no one would become alive again. But now Jesus spoke about the Messiah to show the teachers of the law that they were wrong about who the Messiah would be. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v41-47 #xr-mat22:41-23:14 #xr-mrk12:35-40 ### 41-43 What did Jesus want to say when he spoke the words from the Psalm? #q Jesus spoke the words that King David wrote in #psa110:1. In these verses, David spoke about the Messiah. Jesus wanted to say that the Messiah must be greater than David because David called him "Lord." Because Jesus was the Messiah, he was therefore greater than King David. #v41-43 What name did King David call the Messiah? #q In #psa110:1, David calls both God and the Messiah by the same name, "[Lord](h2962)." When David called God, "the Lord" he was saying that God was greater than himself. And when he called the Messiah, "my Lord" he was also saying that the Messiah was greater than himself. Because David called them both, "[Lord](h2962)," perhaps he also wanted to say that the Messiah was God. #v41-47 #adv #xq-psa110:1 ### 45-47 Why did Jesus say that God would punish the teachers of the law more than other people? #q The teachers of the law should have known more about God than other people did. Therefore, they should have honored God more than other people honored him. But they did not do this. Instead, they did things so that others would honor them instead of God. Therefore, God would punish them more than he would punish people who did not know what he wanted them to do. Jesus did not want his disciples to be like the teachers of the law. #v45-47 ### 47 ;Advice to translators: Translate "devour widows' houses" the way your local version has done. :[devour widows' houses] How did the teachers of the law devour widows' houses? #q The teachers of the law required the people to give a lot of money and other things to God. It was very difficult for poor widows to have enough money to honor God in the way the teachers of the law told them to honor him. Perhaps this is what Jesus wanted to say when he spoke about devouring widows' houses. This was a metaphor. Perhaps Jesus wanted to say that such widows lost all their possessions when they obeyed the teachers of the law and gave everything to God. #v47

Chapter 21

1 # Luke 21 ### 1-4 What did Luke write about in verses 1-4? #q In verses 1-4, Jesus spoke about a poor widow who gave a small amount of money to the temple. He said she gave more than anyone else because she gave all the money she had. Mark also wrote about this. #v1-4 #xr-mrk12:41-44 ### 1 ;[treasury] What was the temple treasury? #q The priests placed thirteen boxes in the courtyard of the temple. Each box had small opening through which people could put their money. The priests collected the money from the boxes when they were full. They used the money to pay themselves, to buy things for the temple, and to repair the temple. #v1 #xr-mrk12:41 #dm-temple ### 2 ;[two small copper coins] What were the two copper coins? #q The small copper coins were Greek coins called lepta. These were the smallest coins that the Jews had. They were worth only a very small amount of money. Perhaps one of these coins was enough to buy a small piece of bread. #v2 #xr-mrk12:42 ### 3-4 Why was the widow better than the teachers of the law? #q In #luk20:45-47, Jesus told his disciples not to be like the teachers of the law. Those teachers wanted other people to honor them. They made it difficult for widows to live (see #luk20:47). Perhaps Jesus is here saying that this widow is much better than those teachers of the law. The teachers did not honor God, but the widow did honor him. #v3-4 #xr-mrk12:43-44 #xr-2co8:12 ### 5-6 What did Luke write about in verses 5-6? #q In verses 5-6, Jesus told his disciples that the temple would be destroyed one day, though it was very beautiful. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v5-6 #xr-mat24:1-2 #xr-mrk13:1-2 ### 6 How big were the temple stones? #q Some of the stones of the temple were as big as twelve meters long and three meters high and wide. They were very heavy and difficult to move. #v6 #xr-mat24:2 #xr-mrk13:2 #da-temple Who would tear down the temple? #q When Jesus said someone would tear down the temple, he was perhaps talking about the Roman army. They later destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. They did this in A.D. 70. #v6 ### 7-28 What did Luke write about in verses 7-28? #q In verses 7-28, the disciples asked Jesus when the temple would be destroyed. Jesus answered them and said that many things will happen before he returns to earth from heaven. People will hate his disciples and kill them. Many terrible things will happen. Jesus will not return until all these things have happened. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v7-28 #xr-mat24:4-13 #xr-mrk13:5-13 ### 7 Who asked Jesus when these things would happen? #q Mark wrote that Peter, James, John and Andrew asked this question (see #mrk13:3). Luke wrote as if they were speaking for all twelve of the apostles. #v7 #xr-mat24:3 What did the disciples ask Jesus? #q Some scholars think the disciples asked Jesus the same thing in two different questions. Other scholars think they asked two different things. They think that the first question was, "What things will happen before the end?" and that Jesus answered them in #8-19. They think the second question was, "What will be the sign when you are ready to come back?" and that Jesus answered that in #20-28. #v7 #dg-sign ### 8 ;[I am He] Who will some people say they are? #q Some people will lie and say that they are the Messiah. The disciples of Jesus should not believe them. #v8 #xr-mat24:4-5 #xr-mrk13:5-6 ### 12-17 Who would persecute the disciples? #q Jesus did not say who would persecute the believers. Most scholars think that both the Jews and the Gentiles would persecute the disciples. Even members of their own families will hate and kill them. #v12-13 #xr-mat24:6-8 #xr-mrk13:9-130 ### 14-15 How would the disciples know what to say when others persecuted them? #q God would help the believers know what to say when others persecuted them. Matthew and Mark wrote that Jesus said the Holy Spirit would speak through the believers at those times. #v14-15 #xr-mat10:19-20 #xr-mrk13:11 #xr-act6:8-10 ### 18-19 Why did Jesus say even the hair of the believers would not perish? #q Jesus did not want to say that no one would harm the believers. People who persecuted the believers would kill many of them. What Jesus wanted to say was that they would not perish even if they died. Rather, God would make them become alive and well again in heaven. They would continue to live with him there forever. #v18-19 #xr-mat24:13 #xr-mrk13:13 ### 20-24 When would these things happen to Jerusalem? #q Most scholars think verses 20-24 are talking about the time when the Roman army would destroy Jerusalem in A.D. 70. However, other armies will also attack Jerusalem before Jesus returns again. Some scholars think perhaps Jesus was also talking about that. #v20-24 #xr-mat24:15-21 #xr-mrk13:14-19 ### 24 ;[the times of the Gentiles] What are the "times of the Gentiles"? #q After the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the Jews scattered across the earth. Different groups of Gentiles controlled Jerusalem for almost two thousand years. Most scholars think this is what Jesus was talking about when he said the Gentiles would trample Jerusalem under their feet. When Jesus returns, he will bring the Jewish believers back to Jerusalem. #v24 #adv ### 25-28 ;Advice to translators: Translate "signs" the way your local version has translated it. Why will there be signs in the in heavens? #q In verses 25-28, Jesus told his disciples about the miraculous signs that will happen immediately before he returns to earth. God will cause things to happen both on earth and in the heavens. People will understand that only God could do these things, and they will be very afraid. #v25-28 #xr-isa13:10 #xr-isa34:4 #xr-mat24:29-31 #xr-mrk13:24-27 ### 27 ;[Son of Man] ;(no note) #v27 #xr-dan7:13 #xr-mat24:30 #xr-mrk13:26 #dg-son_of_man Why will people see the Son of Man? #q When Jesus returns to earth, he will come in a cloud in the sky so that everyone will be able to see him. This is what is called the "second coming" of Christ. #v27 #da-second_coming ### 28 ;Advice to translators: Pay attention to how your local version translates "your redemption is drawing near." ;[you redemption is drawing near] What did Jesus mean when he said their redemption would be drawing near? #q Jesus wanted his disciples to know that when he returns, people will no longer persecute them. At that time, God will rescue them from their persecutors. Most scholars think Jesus was also talking about how God will change the bodies of the believers so that they will never again be sick or die. #v28 #xr-rom8:23 #xr-1co15:53 ### 29-33 What did Luke write about in verses 29-33? #q In verses 29-33, Jesus told his disciples a parable about a fig tree. He wanted them to know that the when God causes signs to appear in heaven, Jesus will soon return to earth. The disciples could trust that what Jesus said would happen. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v29-33 #xr-mat24:32-35 #xr-mrk13:28-31 ### 29-31 Why did Jesus speak a parable about the trees? #q People know that summer is near when they see leaves begin to grow on fig trees and other trees. In the same way, when the disciples see the signs in #v25-26 begin to happen, they should know that Jesus will soon return to rule on earth. #v29-31 #xr-mat24:32-33 #xr-mrk13:28-29 ### 32 What did Jesus mean when he said that "this generation will not pass away?" #q Scholars do not agree about who Jesus was talking about when he spoke about "this generation." Some scholars think Jesus wanted to say that the apostles would see the Romans destroy Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Other scholars think Jesus was talking about the people who would be alive just before Jesus returns to earth, when God begins to make these signs happen. Other scholars think Jesus was perhaps talking about the Jewish people who did not believe in him and who would still be alive on earth when he returns. #v32 ### 33 ;[my words will not pass away] What did Jesus mean when he said that his words would not pass away? #q When Jesus said his words would not pass away, he wanted to say that everything he had told the disciples would happen exactly as he had said it would. Perhaps he meant that he would rule every after heaven and earth would be destroyed. #v33 #xr-mat24:35 #xr-mrk13:31 #xr-luk16:17 #xr-rev21:1 ### 34-36 What did Luke write about in verses 34-36? #q In verses 34-36, Jesus told his disciples to be ready when he comes again. They should be doing everything he told them to do when he comes. However, many people across the whole earth will not be ready when he returns. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v34-36 #xr-mat24:36-44 #xr-mrk13:32-37 ### 34-36 What did Jesus tell the disciples to not do? #q Jesus told his disciples what they should not do as they waited for him to return. They should not worry about things of this world such as food and drink, and other things they need. Instead, they should always do the things that Jesus told them to do. In this way, they will be ready when he returns. #v34-36 #xr-mat24:36-44 #xr-mrk13:32-37 ### 37-38 What did Luke write about in verses 37-38? #q In verses 37-38, Luke wrote what Jesus did during the last week before he died. He taught in the temple each day, and he went out of the city to a place near Olivet to stay each night. #v37-38 ### 37 ;[the mount that is called Olivet] Where is Olivet? #q The Mount of Olives is a long hill about two kilometers long. It is near the east side of Jerusalem. The towns of Bethpage and Bethany were near Olivet. Perhaps Jesus stayed in one of those towns. #v37 #xr-luk19:29

Chapter 22

1 # Luke 22 ### 1-6 What did Luke write about in verses 1-6? #q In verses 1-6, Luke wrote about Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' twelve apostles. Judas said he would tell the Jewish leaders when Jesus was alone so they could arrest come and arrest him. Judas did this because the leaders promised to pay him money. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v1-6 #xr-mat26:1-5 #xr-mat26:14-16 #xr-mrk14:1-2 #xr-mrk14:10-11 ### 1 ;[Festival of Unleavened Bread] ;(no note) #v1 #xr-exo12:1-28 #xr-exo12:43-51 #da-festical_of_unleavened_bread What is unleavened bread? #q Unleavened bread is bread that people make without yeast. Since it has no yeast, it does not rise, but stays flat as people bake it. #v1 #dg-yeast ### 2 ;[chief priests] ;(no note) #v2 #dg-chief_priest Why were the chief priests and the teachers of the law afraid of the people? #q The chief priests were afraid that the people would follow Jesus and turn away from them. #v2 #xr-mrk14:1-2 #xr-jhn11:56-57 ### 3 ;[Satan] ;(no note) #v3 #da-satan #dg-satan Why did Luke write that Satan 'entered' Judas? #q Luke wrote that Satan entered into Judas. John wrote that Satan gave Judas the idea to help the leaders arrest Jesus when he was alone. Many scholars think Satan cannot enter into a Christian. Therefore, they think this shows that Judas did not really believe in Jesus. #v3 #xr-jhn13:2 #dg-demon_possession ### 4 ;[the temple guard] ;(no note) #v4 #xr-luk22:52 #xr-act4:1 #xr-act5:24 #dg-temple_guard ### 5 ;[give him money] How much money did the Jewish leaders give Judas? #q Matthew wrote that they gave Judas thirty pieces of silver (see #mat26:15). This was the price of a slave in the Old Testament. #v5 #xa-zec11:12 #xr-exo21:32 ### 7-13 What did Luke write about in verses 7-13? #q In verses 7-13, Luke wrote about how Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare a place where Jesus and his disciples could eat the Passover meal. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v7-13 #xr-mat26:17-20 #xr-mrk14:12-16 ### 7 ;[Passover lamb] ;(no note) #v7 #xr-exo12:3-11 #da-passover_lamb When did the Jews celebrate Passover? #q The Jews ate the Passover feast with the meat of lambs. They killed those lambs on Thursday afternoon. That evening, they ate the Passover meal. During the next six days after the Passover, they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The Jews sometimes called this entire time "Passover" (see #luk22:1), or "the Festival of Unleavened Bread." #v7 #adv #xr-mar14:12 #xr-deu16:2-7 #da-passover ### 8-13 Why did Jesus tell Peter and John to follow a man carrying a water jar? #q Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare the Passover meal. He told them to follow the man with the pitcher of water and to talk to the owner of the house that he entered. It was unusual for a man to carry water. Normally, women did that. Some scholars think Jesus had already asked the owner of the house to let them use his room. Other scholars think the Holy Spirit enabled Jesus to know that the owner of the house had a large room for guests, and that his servant would be carrying a pitcher of water when the disciples came to him. #v8-13 #adv #xr-mat26:18 ### 14-23 What did Luke write about in verses 14-23? #q In verses 14-23, Jesus ate the Passover meal with his disciples. Many people call this meal the "last supper" because it was the last meal that Jesus ate before he died. People also call it "the Lord's Supper." During this meal, Jesus said that the bread was his body, and that the wine was his blood. Jesus wanted to say that he would die in order to save everyone who believed in him. Christians continue to eat and drink bread and wine to remember this meal, and to remember that Jesus died for them. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v14-23 #xr-mat26:21-28 #xr-mrk14:17-24 ### 14 ;[This note may not be necessary depending on how "hour" is translated.] ;[the hour] What was the hour that came? #q The hour that Luke wrote about was the time to eat the Passover meal. The Jews did this after sundown on Thursday evening. Some scholars think "hour" here also refers to the time when Jesus would suffer and die. #v14 #tbd #xr-mat26:20 #xr-mrk14:17 #xr-lev23:5 ;(note about "reclined at table" inserted from Luke 7:36) ### 15-18 Why did Jesus say he wanted very much to eat this Passover meal with his disciples? #q Jesus wanted very much to eat this Passover meal with his disciples because it was the last time he would eat it until he returns from heaven. Perhaps when he said this he was also thinking about how he would die the next day in the same way as the Jews killed their lambs for the Passover feast.. #v15-18 #xr-luk14:15 #xr-jhn13:1 #xr-rev19:9 #xr-luk22:18 ### 17 ;[given thanks] What did Luke mean when he wrote that Jesus gave thanks? #q The Greek word "[give thanks](g2168)" is written as "eucharisteo." For this reason, the Christian celebration of the Lord's Supper is also called the "Eucharist." #v17 #adv ### 19-20 How should Christians remember the time when Jesus gave the bread and the cup of wine to his disciples? #q Paul told the Christians in Corinth that when they come together, they should eat the Lord's Supper in order to remember that Jesus died for them (see #1co11:20-34). He told them eat the bread and drink the cup of wine in the right manner, that is, they should think about Jesus as they ate the bread and drank from the cup. They should not eat the Lord's Supper because they are hungry. #v19-20 ### 19 ;[he broke it] Why did Jesus break the bread? #q Jesus broke the bread before he gave it to the disciples. It was normal at that time to break bread into smaller pieces for each person at a meal. However, many scholars think perhaps Jesus also broke the bread because it represented his body that would be broken on the cross the next day. #v19 #xr-1co11:23-24 ;[This is my body] What did Jesus mean when he said the bread was his body? #q Jesus said the bread was his body. Many scholars think Jesus was speaking a metaphor. They think he wanted to say that the bread represents his body. Most Protestant scholars think this way. Other scholars think Jesus was speaking plainly and wanted to say that the bread became his actual body. Most Catholic scholars think this way. #v19 ### 20 ;[new covenant] ;(no note) #v20 #xr-jer31:31-34 #dg-new_covenant ### 22 Why will the God punish the one who betrays Jesus? #q Jesus wanted to say that he would die because God decided that this was necessary. However, God would still judge the one who would betray Jesus. It would be wrong to betray Jesus, even though God would cause something good to happen as a result. God sometimes allows people to do bad things so that other good things can happen. #v22 #adv #xr-mat26:21-28 #xr-mrk14:18-23 #xr-act2:23 ### 23 Why did the disciples not know that Judas would betray Jesus? #q Judas did the same things as the other disciples. None of them thought that Judas was the one who would betray Jesus. John wrote that Jesus said he would give a piece of bread to the one who would betray him, and he then gave it to Judas. Even then, they still did not think Judas would betray Jesus (see #jhn13:21-30). #v23 ### 24-30 What did Luke write about in verses 24-30? #q In verses 24-30, Luke wrote that each of Jesus' disciples wanted people to honor themselves more than the others. Jesus told them that they should not think this way, as the Gentiles did. Instead, they should serve others as Jesus served them. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v24-30 ### 27 Why did Jesus talk about serving people at a table? #q John wrote that Jesus got up from the Passover meal and washed the feet of the disciples (see #jhn13:2-16). Perhaps this is what Jesus was talking about when he said that he when he was with the disciples, he was their servant. #v27 #xr-mat20:25-28 ### 28-30 Why will Jesus allow the disciples to be with him when he rules on earth, and to judge Israel? #q Jesus will allow the disciples to feast with him when he returns to rule over the earth. They will also judge the people of Israel. He will allow them to do this because they served him. They had stayed with him as he traveled through Israel telling people about God. #v28-30 ### 31-34 What did Luke write about in verses 31-34? #q In verses 31-34, Jesus spoke directly to Simon Peter. Peter was Jesus' closest follower, but the next day, Satan would cause Peter to say that he did not even know Jesus. Matthew, Mark and John also wrote about this. #v31-34 #xr-mat26:31-35 #xr-mrk14:27-31 #xr-jhn13:36-38 ### 31 ;[Simon, Simon] Why did Jesus call Peter his old name, "Simon"? #q Simon was Peter's old name. Jesus changed his name to Peter when he began to follow Jesus. Here, Jesus called Peter by his old name, "Simon." Some scholars think Jesus wanted to say that Peter would act as he did before he believed in Jesus. #v31 #xr-luk6:14 #xr-act9:4 ;[sift you like wheat] Why did Satan ask God for permission to sift Peter like wheat? #q People sift wheat to separate the good grain from the bad husks. Jesus was speaking a metaphor. Satan wanted to test the disciples to see how good they were. That is, he wanted to see if they really believed in Jesus. However, Satan could not do this unless God allowed him to do it. #v31 #xr-job1:6-12 ;[sift you] Who did Satan want to sift? #q Satan wanted to sift all the disciples like wheat. The Greek word "[you](g4771)" is plural. Jesus was speaking to Peter, but was talking about all the disciples. #v31 #adv ### 32 What did Jesus tell Peter to do when he would follow Jesus again? #q Jesus knew that Peter would say he did not know Jesus. But he also know that Peter would repent after that and want to follow Jesus again. Therefore, Jesus told Peter that after he returned to follow Jesus again, he should encourage other believers. #v32 #xr-jhn21:15-17 ### 34 Jesus said that Peter would tell people three times that he did not know him. Did he really do this? #q Jesus told Peter that Peter would certainly say he did not know Jesus. Jesus knew that Peter would do this that same night before the rooster crowed in the morning. Later that night, Peter did say three times that he did not know Jesus (see #v54-62). #v34 #xr-mat26:34 #xr-mrk14:30 #xr-jhn13:38 ### 35-38 What did Luke write about in verses 35-38? #q In verses 35-38, Jesus spoke to his disciples about what they should do after he was gone from them, back into heaven. He spoke to them about that time, as if they were going on a long journey when others could attack them. He told them to get some things that they would need, because they must be able to care of themselves. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v35-38 ### 35-36 Why did Jesus tell his disciples to take food, money, clothes, and swords as they traveled? #q While Jesus was on earth, he sent his disciples out on short trips to preach. He told them that God would give them their food and places to sleep. God would make other people give them these things. However, Jesus was soon going to go back to heaven. After that, people would try to stop others from doing what God wanted and from helping the disciples. So the disciples would often need to take with them anything they needed. #v35-36 #xr-luk9:3 #xr-luk22:38 ### 36-38 ;[sword] What did Jesus want to say when he talked about a sword? #q Jesus told the disciples to buy swords to take with them. A few scholars think Jesus was speaking a metaphor. They think that the sword represented the word of God (see #eph6:17). However, more scholars think Jesus was talking about a real sword that people of that day used to protect themselves. They think this because the other things Jesus told them to take were not metaphors. Also, Peter had a sword with which he later cut off a man's ear (see #49-50). #v36-38 ### 37 ; Advice to translators: Translate "numbered with the transgressors" in the same way as your local version of Luke does. Why did Jesus speak about being "numbered with the transgressors"? #q Jesus spoke words from #isa53:12. This verse speaks about the servant of the Lord who would suffer. Jesus was telling the disciples that those words were about himself. Jesus was the servant of God who would suffer so that God would forgive people for sinning. Jesus would suffer and die as a criminal would. The Jews would arrest him, and the Romans would put him on trial and then kill him. God had already said that this would happen. He said this hundreds of years beforehand through the prophet Isaiah. #v37 #xq-isa53:12 #xr-luk23:32 ### 38 ;[It is enough] Why did Jesus say, "It is enough"? #q When the disciples told Jesus that they had two swords, he said, "It is enough." Some scholars think Jesus wanted to say that two swords were enough swords for the disciples to protect themselves. Other scholars think Jesus wanted to say that they had talked enough about swords, and they should now talk about something else. #v38 ### 39-46 What did Luke write about in verses 39-46? #q In verses 39-46, Jesus and his disciples went to a quiet place on the Mount of Olives so that Jesus could pray. Jesus was very sad that he would die that day, and he talked to God about that. However, while Jesus was praying, his disciples were sleeping instead of watching with him. Matthew, Mark and John also wrote about this. #v39-46 #xr-mat26:36-46 #xr-mrk14:32-42 #xr-jhn18:1 ### 39 ;[Mount of Olives] ;(no note) #v39 #dm-jerusalem ### 40 ;[the place] What place did Jesus and the disciples go to? #q Matthew and Mark wrote that the place where they went to was on the Mount of Olives. This place was a grove of olive trees. The place was called Gethsemane. The name "Gethsemane" is about place where people squeezed oil from the olives. #v40 #xr-mat26:36 #xr-mrk14:32 ;Advice to translators: Translate "enter into temptation" the way your local version of Luke does. ;[enter into temptation] What temptation was Jesus speaking about? #q Jesus told his disciples to pray that they would not enter into temptation. Most scholars think Jesus was speaking about the temptation to fall asleep instead of watching with Jesus. However, Jesus was perhaps also speaking about the difficult things that would happen to them later and day, including the temptation to run away and leave Jesus alone. #v40 #xr-luk22:45-46 ### 42 ;[this cup] What is the "cup" that Jesus prayed about to his Father? #q Jesus asked his Father to take away a "cup." Jesus was speaking a metaphor. The cup represented God's anger at people who sin. He must punish them. Jesus would suffer on the cross. At that time, God would punish Jesus, just as if he were the one who had sinned. God would punish Jesus in the place of the other people who had sinned. Jesus did not want God to punish him, but he was willing to suffer so that God could forgive other people. #v42 #xa-isa51:17 #xr-mat20:22-23 #xr-mrk14:36 #xr-heb12:2 ### 44 ;[like drops of blood] What did Luke mean when he wrote that Jesus' sweat became like drops of blood? #q Luke wrote that Jesus' sweat became like drops of blood. Some scholars think Luke was writing a metaphor. They think he wanted to say that he was praying so hard that he was sweating, and that he was sweating so hard that it was as if he was bleeding. Other scholars think Jesus was praying so hard and was so sad that he actually started to bleed. #v44 #xr-mat26:38 #xr-mrk14:34 #xr-heb5:7 ### 47-53 What did Luke write about in verses 47-53? #q In verses 47-53, Judas helped the Jewish leaders find and arrest Jesus. One of Jesus' disciples tried to stop them with a sword, but Jesus told him not to fight them. He was ready for them to arrest and kill him. Matthew, Mark and John also wrote about this. #v47-53 #xr-mat26:47-56 #xr-mrk14:43-50 #xr-jhn18:2-11 ### 47 ;[one of the twelve] ;(no note) #v47 #dg-apostle Why did Judas kiss Jesus? #q At that time, it was normal for a student to kiss his teacher's hand when he greeted him. The crowd was waiting for Judas to do this, so they would know who to arrest. Perhaps Judas thought Jesus would not know what Judas was doing, and would not understand that Judas had helped the crowd arrest Jesus. #v47 #xr-mrk14:44 ### 49-50 Who cut off the man's ear? #q All of the disciples were ready to fight the men who came to arrest Jesus. However, only one of them cut off the man's ear. John wrote that Peter did that, and that the man was named Malchus. #v49-50 #xr-mat26:51-52 #xr-mrk14:47 #xr-jhn18:10 ### 52-53 Why did the Jewish leaders wait until night to arrest Jesus? #q The Jewish leaders knew that the people wanted Jesus to teach them. Therefore, the leaders were afraid to arrest him in the temple courtyard during the day. Instead, they arrested him at night when no one was there to help him. #v52-53 ### 53 ;[the power of darkness] What did Jesus want to say when he spoke about the power of darkness? #q Many scholars think that when Jesus spoke about the power of darkness, he was speaking about Satan. Satan had entered into Judas and caused him to help the Jewish leaders arrest Jesus at this time (see #3-6). #v53 #xr-eph6:12 #xr-col1:13 ### 54-62 What did Luke write about in verses 54-62? #q In verses 31-34, the Jewish leaders took Jesus to the house of the high priest. Peter followed them and sat in the courtyard to see what would happen to Jesus. But while Peter was there, he said three times that he did not know Jesus. This is what Jesus had said he would do. Matthew, Mark, and John also wrote about this. #v54-62 #xr-mat26:57-58 #xr-mat26:69-75 #xr-mrk14:53-54 #xr-mrk14:66-72 #xr-jhn18:15-18 #xr-jhn18:25-27 ### 54 Who was the high priest? #q Matthew and John wrote that the high priest was named Caiaphas. The Jewish leaders took Jesus to Caiaphas' house. Peter followed them to that house. John wrote that they took Jesus to see Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas first. Then they took him to see Caiaphas. #v54 #xr-mat26:57 #xr-jhn18:12-14 ### 55 ;[made a fire] Why did they make a fire in the courtyard? #q The Jews celebrated Passover in the spring when it was still cool in Israel at night. They made a fire to keep warm. #v55 ### 61 How was Jesus able to see Peter? #q Peter was in the courtyard of Caiaphas' house and Jesus was in the house. Some scholars think perhaps Jesus looked at Peter through an open door or window. #v61 ### 61-62 Why did Peter weep after Jesus looked at him? #q When Jesus looked at Peter, Peter realized that he had said that he did not know Jesus. He also realized that Jesus had said he would do this (#31-34). This caused Peter to be very sad. He still believed in Jesus, but he had been afraid to say so to the people in the courtyard. Peter was ashamed of what he had just done. #v60-62 #xr-mat26:75 ### 63-65 What did Luke write about in verses 63-65? #q In verses 63-65, people mocked and beat Jesus. They also covered his eyes and told him to say who had hit them. They did this because they did not believe in him. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v63-65 #xr-mat26:67-68 #xr-mrk14:65 ### 63-65 Why did these men mock Jesus? #q These men did not believe in Jesus. Therefore, they treated him badly, just as Jesus and the prophet Isaiah had said that they would do (see #isa50:6 and #luk18:32-33). #v63-65 ### 63 Who were the men who were holding Jesus? #q Most scholars think the men who were holding Jesus were some of the soldiers who guarded the temple. They came to the garden with the chief priests and the elders to arrest Jesus. #v63 #dg-temple_guard ### 66-71 What did Luke write about in verses 66-71? #q In verses 66-71, the Jewish elders asked Jesus if he was the Messiah. When Jesus said that he was the Son of Man and the Son of God, they decided to kill him. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v66-71 #xr-mat27:1 #xr-mrk15:1 ### 66 Why did the trial start at dawn? #q According to Jewish law, criminal trials could only be held during the day. The elders waited until daybreak to vote to kill Jesus. The council of elders was another name for the Sanhedrin. #v66 #dg-sanhedrin ### 67-68 Why did Jesus not tell the council that he was the Messiah? #q Jesus knew the Jewish leaders refused to believe that he was the Messiah. Therefore, he did not answer them when they asked him about this. #v67-68 ### 69 What words from the Old Testament did Jesus speak to the Jewish leaders? #q Jesus answered the Jewish leaders by speaking words from Daniel and Psalms. The verses in Psalms speak about the Messiah, who is the son of David (see #psa110:1-2). Jesus spoke these words because he wanted to say that he is the Messiah. The verses in Daniel speak about the Son of Man who sits with God in heaven (see #dan7:13-14). Jesus spoke these words because he wanted to say that he is also the Son of Man. #v69 #dg-son_of_man ### 70-71 Why did the Jewish leaders ask Jesus if he was the Son of God? #q Perhaps the Jewish leaders thought that when Jesus called himself the Son of Man, he wanted to say that he was the Messiah. If this is what they thought, then they next asked whether he was the Son of God because they thought that Jesus wanted to say that God had adopted him as his own Son. Or perhaps the leaders thought that when Jesus called himself the Son of Man, he wanted to say that he was God himself. If this is what they thought, then they next asked whether he was the Son of God because they thought he wanted to say that he was God himself. Whatever the leaders thought Jesus wanted to say, they were sure that he was insulting God. This is why they wanted to kill him. #v69-70 #adv #xr-dan7:13-14 #dg-son_of_god

Chapter 23

1 # Luke 23 ### 1-7 What did Luke write about in verses 1-7? #q In verses 1-7, the members of the Sanhedrin took Jesus to Pilate and asked him to kill Jesus. But Pilate did not know why he should kill Jesus. However, the Jewish leaders told Pilate that Jesus was from Galilee, so Pilate sent him to Herod. He hope that Herod would decide what to do to Jesus. Matthew, Mark, and John also wrote about this. #v1-7 #xr-mat27:2 #xr-mat27:11-14 #xr-mrk15:1-5 #xr-jhn18:28-38 ### 1 ;[the whole body of them] Who took Jesus to Pilate? #q The members of the Sanhedrin took Jesus to Pilate. #v1 #xr-luk22:66 #xr-luk23:10 #dg-sanhedrin ;[Pilate] ;(no note) #v1 #xr-mat27:2 #xr-luk3:1 #xr-luk13:1 #dg-pontius_pilate ;[brought him before Pilate] Why did the Jewish leaders take Jesus to Pilate? #q At that time, the Romans ruled Israel. The Romans did not allow the Jews to execute anyone. The Romans themselves wanted to decide whom to execute. Pilate was the chief Roman official in Jerusalem. So when the Jews wanted Jesus to die, they took him to Pilate and asked him to kill Jesus. #v1 #xr-mat27:1-2 #xr-mrk15:1 #xr-jhn18:28-31 #xr-jhn19:7 ### 2 The Jewish leaders asked Pilate to kill Jesus. Why should he kill Jesus? #q The Jewish leaders said that Jesus was tricking the Jews. They said that he taught that no one should pay taxes to Caesar, and that he was the king of Israel. They wanted to say that Jesus was was not willing to obey the Romans. The Jewish leaders hope that Pilate would kill Jesus because Jesus had said these things.. #v2 #xr-luk20:20-22 #xr-luk23:13-14 #xr-jhn19:12-15 ### 3-4 Jesus said he was a king, but Pilate still said that Jesus had done nothing wrong. Why did Pilate say that? #q Pilate asked Jesus if he was the king of the Jews, and Jesus answered that Pilate was correct. Perhaps Pilate thought that Jesus would never make trouble for the Romans. Perhaps that is why he told the Jewish leaders that Jesus had done nothing wrong. #v3-4 #xr-luk17:20-21 #xr-jhn:18:33-37 ### 5 What other wrong things did the Jewish leaders say that Jesus did? #q The Jewish leaders wanted Pilate to kill Jesus. They did not agree that Jesus was innocent. Therefore, they continued to tell Pilate that Jesus had caused trouble among the people all over Judea and Galilee. #v5 ### 6-7 Why did Pilate send Jesus to Herod? #q Pilate did not think Jesus had done anything wrong, but the Jewish leaders did not want him to release Jesus. Pilate did not want the Jewish leaders to become angry with him, but he did not want to kill Jesus, either. When they told him that Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate said he would send Jesus to Herod, because Herod ruled over Galilee. So Pilate sent Jesus to Herod instead of releasing him. Perhaps Pilate thought that would make Herod and the Jewish leaders happy. #v6-7 #dg-herod_antipas ### 8-12 What did Luke write about in verses 8-12? #q In verses 8-12, Herod was happy to see Jesus because he wanted Jesus to perform a miracle for him. However, Jesus did not answer any of Herod's questions. Therefore, Herod and his soldiers treated Jesus badly and sent him back to Pilate. The other gospel writers did not write about this. #v8-12 ### 8-9 Why was Herod happy to see Jesus? #q At one time Herod had said he would kill Jesus. At this time, however, Herod only wanted to see Jesus do a miracle. #v8-9 #xr-mat14:1-2 #xr-luk9:7-9 #xr-luk13:31 ### 10-11 Why did Herod send Jesus back to Pilate? #q Perhaps Herod thought that Jesus had done nothing wrong. Pilate later said that Herod thought this (see #15). If this is true, perhaps Herod refused to kill Jesus because he did want to kill an innocent man. #v10-11 ### 12 Why did Herod and Pilate become friends at that time #q Perhaps Herod was happy that Pilate allowed him to see Jesus as he had been wanting to do. Or perhaps Pilate and Herod became friends because neither of them wanted to kill Jesus. #v12 ### 13-25 What did Luke write about in verses 13-25? #q In verses 13-25, Pilate wanted the Jewish leaders to agree with him to release Jesus, but the Jewish leaders did not agree. They demanded that Pilate release a criminal instead, and kill Jesus. Pilate thought Jesus had not done anything wrong, but he still ordered his soldiers to kill Jesus. Matthew and Mark also wrote about this. #v13-25 #xr-mat27:15-26 #xr-mrk15:6-15 #xr-jhn18:39-19:16 ### 16 ;[I will punish him] Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent, so why did he punish him? #q Pilate did not want to kill Jesus. Instead, he punished Jesus. Perhaps he thought that the crowd would be satisfied with that and not continue to ask him to kill Jesus. #v16 #xr-mat27:26 #xr-mrk15:15 #xr-jhn19:1 ### 17-19 Why did Pilate have to release a prisoner at that time? #q Luke wrote that there was a custom at that time that the Romans would release a prisoner during the Passover. They did this to please the Jews. Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but the Jewish leaders and the crowd demanded that he release Barabbas instead. #v17-19 #xr-mat27:15-22 #xr-mrk15:6-15 ### 18-19 Who was Barabbas? #q Barabbas was a thief and murderer. He caused people to rebel against the Roman government. Therefore, the Romans arrested him and planned to execute him. However, the Jews hated the Romans, and were happy that Barabbas rebelled against them. Therefore, they wanted Pilate to release Barabbas. #v18-19 #xr-mat27:16 #xr-mar15:7 #xr-jhn18:40 ### 26-32 What did Luke write about in verses 26-32? #q In verses 26-32, the Romans led Jesus away to kill him. As they went, Jesus spoke to the women who were weeping for him. He told them that they should weep for themselves as well. Matthew, Mark, and John also wrote about this. #v26-32 #xr-mat27:32 #xr-mrk15:20-21 #xr-jhn19:16 ### 26 Why did the soldiers force Simon to carry Jesus' cross? #q Usually the Roman soldiers made prisoners carry their own cross to the place where they would die. But the Roman soldiers had severely whipped and beaten Jesus. Perhaps Jesus was too weak to carry the heavy wooden beam of the cross. Therefore, the soldiers looked for someone else to carry it. They found a man named Simon. They made him carry it. #v26 #xr-mat27:32 #xr-mrk15:21 #xr-jhn19:17 Who was Simon? #q Simon was from Cyrene, a city in Libya, west of Egypt. Perhaps he lived in Jerusalem. Or perhaps he was a Jew who came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. #v26 #xr-mat27:32 #xr-mrk15:21 #xr-act6:9 ### 28-30 Why did Jesus tell the women not to mourn for him? #q Jesus told them not to mourn for him, but rather to mourn for themselves because they would suffer. Perhaps Jesus was talking about when the Romans would destroy Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Or, perhaps he was also talking about how people would suffer greatly immediately before he would return from heaven. #v28-30 #xr-isa2:19-21 #xr-hos10:8 #xr-zec12:10 #xr-mat24:1-2 #xr-rev6:15-17 ### 29 Why would it be better for women not to have children at the time when Jerusalem would be destroyed? #q It would be better for women not have any children than to see them suffer. Also, it would be easier for them to escape from Jerusalem if they did not have to take children with them. #v29 #xr-mat24:19-21 #xr-luk21:20-24 ### 31 Why did Jesus speak about a green tree and a dry tree? #q Jesus spoke about a green tree and a dry tree. This was a metaphor. The green tree represented Jesus. He was good and pleased God, but the Romans were going to kill him. The dry tree represented the people of Jerusalem who did not believe in Jesus. The Romans would completely destroy them in A.D. 70. #v31 #xr-luk19:41-44 ### 33-49 What did Luke write about in verses 33-49? #q In verses 33-49, Luke told his readers what happened when the Romans crucified Jesus. He also explained what different people did as they watched Jesus die. Matthew, Mark, and John also wrote about this. #v33-49 #xr-mat27:33-56 #xr-mrk15:22-41 #xr-jhn19:17-30 ### 33-39 What words in the Old Testament were about how Jesus would die? #q The Old Testament prophets wrote about how the Messiah would suffer and die. The things Luke wrote in #v33-39 are very similar to what the prophets wrote in #psa22:1-24, #isa52:13-15, and #isa53:1-12. #v33-39 ### 33 ;[the place called The Skull] What was the place called The Skull? #q The soldiers killed Jesus on a hill near Jerusalem. Luke wrote the Greek name for the hill, which was the "[Skull](g2898)." Perhaps the hill was called "Skull" because people died there. Or perhaps the hill was shaped like a skull. Matthew wrote its Aramaic name, "[Golgotha](g1115)," with Greek letters. Many scholars also wrote the Latin name, "Calvariae," or the English form, "Calvary." #v33 #adv ### 34 ;[Father, forgive them] Who did Jesus ask his Father to forgive? #q Luke was writing about the Roman soldiers when he said Jesus asked his father to forgive them. However, most scholars think Jesus was asking his Father to forgive all the people who were executing him, both Jews and Romans. Jesus had told his disciples that they should forgive people who hate them. #v34 #xr-luk6:27-35 #xr-act7:59-60 ### 35-39 Who mocked Jesus? #q Three groups of people mocked Jesus because he did not save himself from the cross. The people mocked him, then the soldiers mocked him, and finally one of the criminals on a cross beside him mocked him. However, Jesus stayed on the cross even though he had the power to rescue himself. He knew that his Father wanted him to die. Because Jesus died, his Father would forgive people who sinned. #v35-39 #xr-mat27:39-44 #xr-luk22:42 ### 36 Why did a soldier offer sour wine to Jesus? #q The Roman soldiers of that day often drank sour wine, which was like vinegar. Most scholars think the soldier offered Jesus a drink so that he would not faint from thirst. They think the soldier wanted Jesus stay awake and continue to suffer. #v36 #xr-psa69:21 #xr-mat27:48 #xr-jhn19:28-30 ### 37-38 The soldiers put a sign above Jesus' head with the words, "This is the king of the Jews." Why did they do that? #q When the Romans executed a criminal, they normally wrote on a sign something to explain why they were killing that person. The Jewish leaders said Jesus should die because he said he was king of the Jews. Therefore, the Romans wrote that on the sign on his cross. #v37-38 #xr-mat27:37 #xr-mrk15:26 #xr-jhn19:19-21 ### 41-42 Why did one of the thieves ask Jesus to remember him when he returned to rule over the earth? #q One of the two thieves asked Jesus to remember him when he returned to rule over the earth. He did that because he believed that Jesus was the Messiah who would rule over the earth. He knew that Jesus had not done anything wrong. He also believed that Jesus would become alive again. #v41-42 ### 42-43 When did the thief want to be with Jesus? #q The thief wanted to be with Jesus when Jesus would come back to earth to rule. However, Jesus told the man that he would be with Jesus in Paradise that very day. #v42-43 ### 43 ;[Paradise] Where is Paradise? #q Paradise is the place where God is, and where the believers go when they die. It is also called heaven. #v43 #xr-2co12:4 #xr-rev2:7 #dg-paradise ### 44-45 ;Advice to translators: Translate "darkness covered the land" the way your local version of Luke does. What hour was it when darkness covered the land? #q Something covered the sun and the land became dark. This started at the sixth hour as the Romans counted time. This was noon in modern time. The darkness continued until the ninth hour, which was 3 p.m. #v44-45 #xr-mat27:45-46 #xr-mrk15:33-37 ;[the curtain of the temple was torn in two] Why was the curtain of the temple torn? #q There were two curtains in the temple. One separated the temple from the courtyard. The other separated the inner room of the temple from the main room of the temple. Most scholars think the curtain that tore was the one inside the temple. God was present in the inner room, which was called the "holy of holies." No one was allowed pass through the curtain to enter the inner room except the high priest. He entered that room one time each year to offer a sacrifice. Therefore, the curtain showed that God was apart from mankind. When Jesus died, he caused the curtain to tear open from the top to the bottom. This opened a way for people to enter the inner room where God was. When the curtain tore, it showed that Jesus made a way for people to come to God. Jesus did this when he died. #v44-45 #adv #xr-mat27:51 #xr-mrk15:38 #dg-holy_of_holies #dg-temple ### 46 ;[into your hands I commit my spirit] Why did Jesus commit his spirit into his Father's hands? #q When Jesus committed his spirit into his Father's hands, he spoke words from #psa31:5. Most scholars think he did this because he had the power to give up his life. People often lived more than a full day on a cross. But Jesus chose to die at that time. When he died, his spirit returned to his Father. #v46 #xr-psa31:5 #xr-ecc12:7 #xr-jhn10:18 #xr-jhn19:30 ### 47 ;Advice to translators: this note may need to be adapted depending on whether "innocent" is translated as "righteous." ;[Certainly this man was innocent!] Why did the Roman officer praise God and say that Jesus was innocent? #q The Roman officer heard what Jesus said on the cross, and saw all the things that happened, including the darkness that covered the land in the middle of the day. He realized that Jesus did not deserve to die. He also praised God for what he had seen. Matthew and Mark wrote that he understood that Jesus was the Son of God. #v47 #xr-mat27:54 #xr-mrk15:39 ;Advice to translators: this note may need to be adapted depending on whether "innocent" is translated as "righteous." ;[Certainly this man was innocent!] What did the Roman officer say about Jesus? #q The Roman officer said that Jesus was "[innocent](g1342)." This word can also be translated as "right with God." The officer praised God. Therefore, he may have wanted to say Jesus was right before God. #v47 #adv #xr-mat27:54 #xr-mrk15:39 ### 48-49 ;[beating their breasts] Why did people beat their chests? #q In that day, the Jews beat their chest with their fists as a way to show that they were very sad or upset. Most scholars think some people in the crowd believed in Jesus and were sad because he died. But many of the people did not believe in Jesus, and instead were frightened by the darkness and the other things that happened when Jesus died. #v48-49 #xr-mat27:55 #xr-mrk15:40 ### 50-56 What did Luke write about in verses 50-56? #q In verses 50-56, Joseph took the body of Jesus and placed it in a tomb. The women who followed Jesus saw where he placed his body and began to prepare spices to place on the body. Matthew, Mark, and John also wrote about this. #v50-56 #xr-mat27:57-61 #xr-mrk15:42-47 #xr-jhn19:38-42 ### 50-53 Why did Joseph place Jesus' body in a tomb? #q Joseph believed in Jesus, and did not agree with the others members of the Sanhedrin who wanted to kill Jesus. Matthew wrote that Joseph placed Jesus' body in a tomb that he had carved out of rock for himself (see #mat27:60). At that time, people normally buried criminals in the ground. Joseph placed Jesus' body in a tomb as a way to honor Jesus. #v50-53 #xr-mat27:57 #xr-mrk15:43 #xr-jhn3:1-2 #xr-jhn19:38-39 ### 51 Where was Arimathea? #q The location of Arimathea is uncertain. Some scholars think it was a village in Ephraim about 30 kilometers northwest of Jerusalem. #v51 #dm-arimathea ### 52-54 Why did the women not prepare Jesus' body for burial at that time.? #q The sabbath began at 6 p.m. The Jewish law did not allow them to touch a dead body on the sabbath. Therefore, they quickly put Jesus' body in the tomb, and then waited to finish preparing his body after the sabbath. #v52-54 #xr-mat27:57 #xr-mrk15:42 #xr-jhn19:31 ### 55-56 Who were the women who watched while men placed Jesus' body in the tomb? #q The other gospel writers wrote the names of some of the women who watched as Joseph placed Jesus' body in the tomb. Those women were Mary Magdalene, the "other Mary" (the mother of James the son of Alpheus, and whose husband was probably Cleopas), Salome (wife of Zebedee and mother of James and John), and perhaps a few others. #v55-56 #xr-mat27:61 #xr-mrk15:40 #xr-jhn19:25

Chapter 24

1 # Luke 24 ### 1-12 What did Luke write about in verses 1-12? #q In verses 1-12, the women found that Jesus' body was not in its tomb. Two angels told them that he had become alive again. When the women told the apostles about this, Peter ran to the tomb and saw that Jesus' body was not there. All the gospel writers wrote about this. #v1-12 #xr-mat28:1-8 #xr-mrk16:1-8 #xr-jhn20:1-10 ### 1 Why did the women come to Jesus' tomb on the first day of the week? #q Joseph buried Jesus on Friday. The women then did no work Saturday, the sabbath. They stayed home. Then on Sunday morning, the first day of the week, the women came to the tomb. They wanted to put spices on Jesus' body. This is what the Jews usually did for the people who died. #v1 #xr-mat28:1 #xr-mrk16:1-2 #xr-jhn20:1 ### 4 Who were the two men in bright clothes who met the women at the tomb? #q Matthew and John wrote that these two men were angels (see #mat28:2 and #jhn20:12). #v4 #xr-mrk16:5 ### 6-8 When did Jesus say that he would die and become alive again? #q The angels reminded the women that Jesus had told his disciples that he would die and become alive again on the third day (see #luk9:22 and #luk18:32-33). #v6-8 ### 9-10 Who were the women who told the disciples about the tomb and what the angels said? #q Matthew and Luke wrote that after the angel spoke, all the women ran to tell the disciples what he said (see #mat28:8 and #luk24:9-10). However, Mark and John wrote that it was Mary Magdalene who went to tell the disciples (see #mrk16:8-10 and #jhn20:1-2). Perhaps Mary Magdalene went to tell the disciples first, and the other woman went to tell them later. #v9-10 #adv ### 9 Who were the "eleven"? #q The apostles were also called the "twelve." But after Judas Iscariot died, there were only eleven apostles left. Luke was writing about those eleven apostles. #v9 #xr-mat27:3-5 #xr-jhn20:24 #da-apostle #luk24:33 ### 11-12 What did the disciples do when the women told them what the angels said? #q Most of the disciples did not believe the women. They did not think it was possible for Jesus to become alive again. #v11-12 #xr-mrk16:10-11 ### 11-12 Who went to the tomb? #q Luke wrote that Peter ran to the tomb to see if Jesus' body was still there. John wrote that he also ran to the tomb with Peter (see #xr-jhn20:1-9). Peter and John saw that the tomb was empty, just as the women had said that it would be. #v11-12 #xr-mat28:8 #xr-mrk16:8-11 ### 13-27 What did Luke write about in verses 13-27? #q In verses 13-27, Jesus appeared to two of his disciples as they were walking to the village of Emmaus. They did not know that it was Jesus who was speaking to them. Mark also wrote about this. #v13-27 #xr-mrk16:12 ### 13 ;[two of them] Who were the two people who were going to Emmaus? #q The two people who were going to Emmaus were disciples of Jesus, but not they were not apostles. One of them was named Cleopas (see #18), but Luke did not give the name of the other disciple, and he did not say if that second disciple was a man or a woman. #v13 ;[that very day] Which day was this? #q This happened on Sunday, the same day that Jesus became alive again. #v13 ;[Emmaus] Where was Emmaus? #q Scholars do not know where Emmaus was. Luke wrote only that it was about ten kilometers from Jerusalem. #v13 #dm-israel ### 16 Why did the two disciples not know that it was Jesus who was with them? #q The two people were disciples of Jesus and knew him. However, God kept them from recognizing Jesus until later (see #31). #v16 ### 18 Why did Cleopas speak to Jesus the way that he did? #q Cleopas was amazed that this man did not appear to know what had happened to Jesus in Jerusalem. Large crowds saw the Romans punish and kill Jesus. Cleopas thought that everyone in Jerusalem would have heard about all those things. They happened where everyone could see them. #v18 ### 19 ;[a prophet] Who did these two disciples think Jesus was? #q These disciples said that Jesus was a prophet. It is not clear whether they understood that he was more than a prophet, that he was the Son of God. #v19 #dg-prophet #dg-son_of_god ### 21 What had these disciples hoped that Jesus would do? #q These two disciples had hoped that Jesus would redeem Israel. They thought that Jesus was the Messiah, and that he would fight against the Romans and free the Jews from them. But when Jesus died, they decided that he was not the Messiah, because they did not believe the Messiah would die. #v21 #dg-messiah ### 22-24 Why did these disciples not believe that Jesus was alive again? #q These disciples knew that the angels told the women that Jesus was alive again. They also knew that his body was no longer in his tomb. But they did not understand that Jesus had become alive again. #v22-24 ### 25-27 ;[You foolish people!] How did Jesus say to the two disciples? #q Jesus called the disciples foolish because they did not believe that he would become alive again. He also said their hearts were slow. That is, they were not thinking clearly about what had happened to Jesus. They should have known this because the Old Testament prophets had clearly written beforehand that people would do these things to the Messiah. He then began to tell them the Old Testament writings about him himself. #v25-27 ### 27 ;[beginning with Moses and the prophets] When Jesus talked about what happened to him, why did he speak first about what Moses and the other prophets wrote? #q When the Jews spoke about Moses and the prophets, they were speaking about the entire Old Testament. At that time, the Old Testament was the only scripture that the Jews had. Therefore, Jesus used the Old Testament to teach the disciples. He showed them that the things that happened to him were the same things that Moses and the prophets said would happen to the Messiah. And he told them that those things were about himself. #v27 ### 28-35 What did Luke write about in verses 28-35? #q In verses 28-35, the two disciples recognized Jesus when he broke bread with them while they are eating a meal. They then quickly returned to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples that Jesus was alive. Mark also wrote about this. #v28-35 #xr-mrk16:13 ### 28-29 At what village did they arrive? #q Jesus and the disciples arrived at Emmaus just before evening (see #13). Luke wrote that Jesus acted as if he were going farther. Perhaps Jesus wanted the disciples to ask him to stay. This would have been a normal custom of that time. Or, perhaps Jesus would have continued on if the disciples had not asked him to stay with them. #v28-29 ### 30-31 When did the disciples recognize the man with them was Jesus? #q The disciples recognized that the man with them was Jesus when he broke the bread. Perhaps when he did this, they remembered how he had broken the bread when he fed five thousand people (see #luk9:16) or at the last supper (#luk22:19). #v30-31 ### 33 ;[that very hour] When did the disciples return to Jerusalem? #q The disciples quickly returned to Jerusalem as soon as Jesus disappeared. It was already evening, and they had already walked all the way to Emmaus that day (see #13). However, they were so excited about seeing Jesus that they immediately went all the way back to Jerusalem late at night in the dark. #v33 ;(note about "the eleven" inserted from Luke 24:9) ### 34 When did Jesus appear to Peter? #q The disciples said that Jesus had appeared to Simon Peter. None of the other gospel writers wrote about that. However, Paul wrote that Jesus appeared to Peter alone before he appeared to the rest of the disciples (see 1co15:5). Perhaps Jesus spoke to Peter first to forgive him for saying that he did not know Jesus (see #luk22:60-61). #v33-35 ### 36-43 What did Luke write about in verses 36-43? #q In verses 36-43, Jesus appeared to the disciples in Jerusalem. At first, they were afraid and thought that he was a spirit. However, after they touched him and he ate some food, they believed that he was really alive again. Mark and John also wrote about this. #v36-43 #xr-mrk16:14 #xr-jhn20:19-20 #xr-1co15:5 ### 36 Why did Jesus say "Peace be to you"? #q "Peace be with you" was traditional greeting of the Jews. Jesus wanted to say that God would be at peace with the disciples. #v36 #xr-jhn20:19 #dg-shalom ### 37-40 Why was it difficult for the disciples to believe that Jesus was alive again? #q The disciples believed that the spirit of a person existed after that person died. However, they found it difficult to believe that Jesus body was made alive again. Therefore, they thought they were seeing a spirit instead of Jesus in his body. But Jesus showed them that he was alive in his body. His tomb was empty. God raised his body as well as his spirit. #v37-40 #xr-jhn20:20 #da-resurrect ### 40 Why did Jesus show the disciples his hands and feet? #q Jesus showed the disciples his hands and feet so they could see that he had a real body. Perhaps he also wanted them to see the holes from the nails that held him to the cross. #v40 #xr-jhn20:24-27 ### 44-49 What did Luke write about in verses 44-49? #q In verses 44-49, Jesus enabled the disciples to understand the things the prophets wrote about him in the Old Testament. He told them to wait in Jerusalem until he gave them power from heaven. After that, they would tell people everywhere that Jesus would forgive them for sinning. Mark and John also wrote about this. #v44-49 #xr-mrk16:15 #xr-jhn20:21-23 ### 44 Why did Jesus speak about the law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms?#q When the Jews spoke about the law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms, they were talking about the entire Old Testament. Jesus wanted to say that everything written about himself in the Old Testament would happen exactly as the Old Testament writers said it would happen. #v44 ### 45 ;[opened their minds] Why did Jesus need to open their minds to understand the scriptures? #q Jesus enabled the disciples to understand everything about himself in the Old Testament. People cannot fully understand the scriptures unless God enables them to do that. Satan blinds them so they cannot understand. However, the Holy Spirit helps believers to know everything that God wants them to know. #v45 #xr-luk9:45 #xr-luk18:34 #xr-jhn16:12-15 #xr-1co2:14 #xr-2co4:4 ### 46 ;[the Christ] Who was Jesus talking about when he spoke about the Christ? #q Jesus was speaking about himself when he talked about the Christ. Jesus is the Messiah. #v46 #dg-messiah ### 47 ;Advice to translators: A people group is a group of people who all speak the same language and live the same way. ;[to all nations] Why did Jesus speak about all nations? #q When Jesus spoke about all nations, he wanted to speak about every people group. He was talking about the Gentiles as well as the Jews. #v47 ;[beginning in Jerusalem] Why did Jesus say the disciples would preach about him beginning in Jerusalem? #q The disciples would preach about Jesus first in Jerusalem. But then they would go out to preach to the people of every nation. Jesus spoke very similar words in #act1:8 and #mat28:19-20. #v47 ### 49 What is "The promise of my Father"?#q When Jesus spoke about the promise from his Father, he was talking about the Holy Spirit. Jesus would sent the Holy Spirit to the disciples. The Holy Spirit would give the disciples power to tell everyone about Jesus. #v49 #xr-jol2:28-32 #xr-luk3:13-17 #xr-luk11:13 #xr-act2:33 ### 50-53 What did Luke write about in verses 50-53? #q In verses 50-53, Jesus blessed his disciples and went up into heaven. The disciples returned to Jerusalem and praised God every day as they waited for the Holy Spirit to come. Mark also wrote about this. #v50-53 #xr-mrk16:19 #xr-act1:9 ### 50-51 ;[carried up into heaven] How did Jesus leave his disciples?#q Jesus did not disappear as he did at other times. Instead, he rose up in the air and went into heaven as the disciples watched. Luke wrote in #act1:9-11 that Jesus would later return to earth in the same way as he rose. #v50-51 ### 50 ;[Bethany] Where was Bethany? #q Bethany was a village about three kilometers southeast of Jerusalem. Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived there. Bethany was on the slopes of the Mount of Olives (see #luk19:29). Most scholars think Jesus went up to heaven from the Mount of Olives near Bethany rather than from the village itself (see #act1:12). #v50 #xr-jhn11:1 #dm-judea ### 52-53 What did his disciples do after Jesus went into heaven?#q The disciples worshiped Jesus on the Mount of Olives and then returned to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, they praised God each day in the temple courtyard as they waited for Jesus to sent the Holy Spirit onto them. #v52-53 #xr-act1:12 #xr-act2:46 #xr-act5:42