Swartzentrover.com | Fahling - A Harmony of the Gospels - Chapter 29

A Harmony of the Gospels

By Adam Fahling

Chapter 29

Part XXIX. Tuesday Morning of Passion Week

April 4, 30 A.D. or 783 A.U.C.

Table Of Contents Matthew Mark Luke John Other
219. The Fig-Tree Withered Away
 Mt 21:19b-20
 Mk 11:20-21
 
 
 
220. The Great Power of Faith
 Mt 21:21-22
 Mk 11:22-26
 
 
 
221. The Authority of Jesus Challenged
 Mt 21:23-27
 Mk 11:27-33
Lk 20:1-8
 
 
222. The Parable of the Two Unequal Sons
 Mt 21:28-32
 
 
 
 
223. The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen
 Mt 21:33-44
Mk 12:1-11 
Lk 20:9-18
 
 
224. “They Sought to Lay Hands on Him”
Mt 21:45-46
Mk 12:12
 Lk 20:19
 
 
225. The Parable of the Marriage of the King’s Son
 Mt 22:1-14
 
 
 
 
226. The Question of the Pharisees and Herodians Concerning Tribute
Mt 22:15-22
Mk 12:13-17
Lk 20:20-26
 
 
227. The Question of the Sadducees Concerning Resurrection
Mt 22:23-33
Mk 12:18-27
Lk 20:27-40
 
 
228. “Which Is the Great Commandment of the Law ?“
Mt 22:34-40
Mk 12:28-34
 
 
 
229. David’s Son and David’s Lord
Mt 22:41-46
 Mk 12:35-37
Lk 20:41-44
 
 
230. The Pharisees and Scribes Denounced
Mt 23:1-36
Mk 12:38-40
 Lk 20:45-47
 
 
231. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!”
Mt 23:37-39
 
 
 
 
232. The Widow’s Mites
 
Mk 12:41-44
Lk 21:1-4
 
 
233. The Greeks who Would See Jesus
 
 
 
 Jn 12:20-36
 
234. Reflections on the Unbelief of the Jews
 
 
 
 Jn 12:37-50
 

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219. The Fig-Tree Withered Away
(Mt 21:19b-20,  Mk 11:20-21)
Tuesday.
Mt 21:19b-20 a

19Seeing a fig tree by the road, he came to it, and found nothing on it but leaves. He said to it, “Let there be no fruit from you forever!”

Immediately the fig tree withered away. 20When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree immediately wither away?”

 Mk 11:20-21

20As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots. 21Peter, remembering, said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away.”

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220. The Great Power of Faith. b Sayings repeated.
(Mt 21:21-22, Mk 11:22-26)
Tuesday.
Mt 21:21-22

21Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, if you have faith, and don’t doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you told this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it would be done. 22All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Mk 11:22-26

22Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says. 24Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them. 25Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions. 26But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions.” c

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221. The Authority of Jesus Challenged. In the Temple. 
(Mt 21:23-27, Mk 11:27-33, Lk 20:1-8)
Tuesday.
Mt 21:23-27

23When he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?”

24Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, which if you tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?”

They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.” 27They answered Jesus, and said, “We don’t know.”

He also said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Mk 11:27-33

27They came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders came to him, 28and they began saying to him, “By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?”

29Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30The baptism of John—was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me.”

31They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we should say, ‘From heaven;’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32If we should say, ‘From men’”—they feared the people, for all held John to really be a prophet. 33They answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Jesus said to them, “Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Lk 20:1-8

1It happened on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the Good News, that the [1]priests and scribes came to him with the elders. 2They asked him, “Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?”

3He answered them, “I also will ask you one question. Tell me: 4the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?”

5They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” 7They answered that they didn’t know where it was from.

8Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”


[1]20:1 TR adds “chief”

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222. The Parable of the Two Unequal Sons
(Mt 21:28-32)
Tuesday.
Mt 21:28-32

28But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, ‘Son, go work today in my vineyard.’ 29He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind, and went. 30He came to the second, and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but he didn’t go. 31Which of the two did the will of his father?”

They said to him, “The first.”

Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into the Kingdom of God before you. 32For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn’t even repent afterward, that you might believe him.

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223. The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen. The stone which the builders rejected
(Mt 21:33-34, Mk 12:1-11, Lk 20:9-18)
Tuesday.
Mt 21:33-34

33“Hear another parable. There was a man who was a master of a household, who planted a vineyard, set a hedge about it, dug a winepress in it, built a tower, leased it out to farmers, and went into another country. 34When the season for the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the farmers, to receive his fruit.

Mk 12:1-11

1He began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the winepress, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country. 2When it was time, he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard. 3They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty. 4Again, he sent another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. 5Again he sent another; and they killed him; and many others, beating some, and killing some. 6Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7But those farmers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8They took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 9What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others. 10Haven’t you even read this Scripture:

‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner. 11This was from the Lord, it is marvelous in our eyes’?”[1]

[1]12:11 Psalm 118:22-23

Lk 20:9-18

9He began to tell the people this parable. “A [1]man planted a vineyard, and rented it out to some farmers, and went into another country for a long time. 10At the proper season, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him, and sent him away empty. 11He sent yet another servant, and they also beat him, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12He sent yet a third, and they also wounded him, and threw him out. 13The lord of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that seeing him, they will respect him.’

14“But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15They threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them? 16He will come and destroy these farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.”

When they heard it, they said, “May it never be!”

17But he looked at them, and said, “Then what is this that is written,

‘The stone which the builders rejected,

the same was made the chief cornerstone?’[2]

18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces,

but it will crush whomever it falls on to dust.”


[1]20:9 NU (in brackets) and TR add “certain”

[2]20:17 Psalm 118:22

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224. “They Sought to Lay Hands on Him”
(Mt 21:45-46, Mk 12:12, Lk 20:19)
Tuesday.
Mt 21:45-46

45When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke about them. 46When they sought to seize him, they feared the multitudes, because they considered him to be a prophet.

Mk 12:12

12They tried to seize him, but they feared the multitude; for they perceived that he spoke the parable against them. They left him, and went away.

Lk 20:19

19The chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him that very hour, but they feared the people—for they knew he had spoken this parable against them.

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225. The Parable of the Marriage of the King’s Son
(Mt 22:1-14)
Tuesday.
Mt 22:1-14

1Jesus answered and spoke again in parables to them, saying, 2“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son, 3and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast, but they would not come. 4Again he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “Behold, I have made ready my dinner. My cattle and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the marriage feast!”’ 5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise, 6and the rest grabbed his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7When the king heard that, he was angry, and sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.

8“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited weren’t worthy. 9Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the marriage feast.’ 10Those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests. 11But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn’t have on wedding clothing, 12and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless. 13Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness; there is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’ d 14For many are called, but few chosen.” e

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226. The Question of the Pharisees and Herodians Concerning Tribute
(Mt 22:15-22, Mk 12:13-17, Lk 20:20-26)
Tuesday.
Mt 22:15-22

15Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk. 16They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter who you teach, for you aren’t partial to anyone. 17Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites? 19Show me the tax money.”

They brought to him a denarius.

20He asked them, “Whose is this image and inscription?”

21They said to him, “Caesar’s.”

Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

22When they heard it, they marveled, and left him, and went away.

Mk 12:13-17

13They sent some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians to him, that they might trap him with words. 14When they had come, they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don’t defer to anyone; for you aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15Shall we give, or shall we not give?”

But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it.”

16They brought it.

He said to them, “Whose is this image and inscription?”

They said to him, “Caesar’s.”

17Jesus answered them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

They marveled greatly at him.

Lk 20:20-26

20They watched him, and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor. 21They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. 22Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

23But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test me? 24Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”

They answered, “Caesar’s.”

25He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

26They weren’t able to trap him in his words before the people. They marveled at his answer, and were silent.

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227. The Question of the Sadducees Concerning Resurrection
(Mt 22:23-33, Mk 12:18-27, Lk 20:27-40)
Tuesday.
Mt 22:23-33

23On that day Sadducees (those who say that there is no resurrection) came to him. They asked him, 24saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed for his brother.’ 25Now there were with us seven brothers. The first married and died, and having no seed left his wife to his brother. 26In like manner the second also, and the third, to the seventh. 27After them all, the woman died. 28In the resurrection therefore, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had her.”

29But Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. 30For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like God’s angels in heaven. 31But concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, 32‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’[1] God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

33When the multitudes heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.


[1]22:32 Exodus 3:6

Mk 12:18-27

18There came to him Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection. They asked him, saying, 19“Teacher, Moses wrote to us, ‘If a man’s brother dies, and leaves a wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 20There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring. 21The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise; 22and the seven took her and left no children. Last of all the woman also died. 23In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife.”

24Jesus answered them, “Isn’t this because you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God? 25For when they will rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26But about the dead, that they are raised; haven’t you read in the book of Moses, about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’[1]? 27He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are therefore badly mistaken.”


[1]12:26 Exodus 3:6

Lk 20:27-40

27Some of the Sadducees came to him, those who deny that there is a resurrection. 28They asked him, “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up children for his brother. 29There were therefore seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died childless. 30The second took her as wife, and he died childless. 31The third took her, and likewise the seven all left no children, and died. 32Afterward the woman also died. 33Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them will she be? For the seven had her as a wife.”

34Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry, and are given in marriage. 35But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage. 36For they can’t die any more, for they are like the angels, and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord ‘The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’[1] 38Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all are alive to him.”

39Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you speak well.” 40They didn’t dare to ask him any more questions.


[1]20:37 Exodus 3:6

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228. Another question of the Pharisees. “Which is the great Commandment of the Law ?" f
(Mt 22:34-40 , Mk 12:28-34)
Tuesday.
Mt 22:34-40

34But the Pharisees, when they heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, gathered themselves together. 35One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him. 36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?”

37Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’[1] 38This is the first and great commandment. 39A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’[2] 40The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”


[1]22:37 Deuteronomy 6:5

[2]22:39 Leviticus 19:18

Mk 12:28-34

28One of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together. Knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?”

29Jesus answered, “The greatest is, ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one: 30you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’[1] This is the first commandment. 31The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’[2] There is no other commandment greater than these.”

32The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he, 33and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”

No one dared ask him any question after that.


[1]12:30 Deuteronomy 6:4-5

[2]12:31 Leviticus 19:18

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229. David’s Son and David’s Lord
(Mt 22:41-46 , Mk 12:35-37, Lk 20:41-44 )
In Perea.
Mt 22:41-46

41Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42saying, “What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he?”

They said to him, “Of David.”

43He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying,

44‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet?’[1] 45“If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?”

46No one was able to answer him a word, neither did any man dare ask him any more questions from that day forth.


[1]22:44 Psalm 110:1

Mk 12:35-37

35Jesus responded, as he taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36For David himself said in the Holy Spirit,

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.”’[1]

37Therefore David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?”

The common people heard him gladly.


[1]12:36 Psalm 110:1

Lk 20:41-44

41He said to them, “Why do they say that the Christ is David’s son? 42David himself says in the book of Psalms,

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 43until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.”’[1]

44“David therefore calls him Lord, so how is he his son?”


[1]20:43 Psalm 110:1

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230. The Pharisees and Scribes Denounced
(Mt 20:17-19, Mk 10:32-34, Lk 18:31-34)
In Perea.
i. The Scribes and the Pharisees Exalting Themselves
Mt 23:1-12

1Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, 2saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sat on Moses’ seat. 3All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do. 4For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them. 5But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries[1] broad, enlarge the fringes[2] of their garments, 6and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’ by men. 8But don’t you be called ‘Rabbi,’ for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers. 9Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven. 10Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ. 11But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. 12Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.


[1]23:5 phylacteries (tefillin in Hebrew) are small leather pouches that some Jewish men wear on their forehead and arm in prayer. They are used to carry a small scroll with some Scripture in it. See Deuteronomy 6:8.

[2]23:5 or, tassels

Mk 12:38-39

38In his teaching he said to them, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces, 39and the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts:

Lk 20:45-46 g

45In the hearing of all the people, he said to his disciples, 46“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts;

ii. (1) Shutting Up the Kingdom
Mt 23:13

13“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

iii. (2) Devouring Widows' Houses
Mt 23:14

14“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don’t enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter.[1]


[1]23:14 Some Greek manuscripts reverse the order of verses 13 and 14, and some omit verse 13, numbering verse 14 as 13.

Mk 12:40

40those who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

Lk 20:47

47who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these will receive greater condemnation.”

iv. (3) Making Proselytes
Mt 23:15

15Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much of a son of Gehenna[1] as yourselves.


[1]23:15 or, Hell

v. (4) Hairsplitting Trivialities in the Manner of Oaths
Mt 23:16-22

16“Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.’ 17You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 18‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated?’ 19You blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it. 21He who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him who was living in it. 22He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it.

vi. (5) Straining Gnats and Swallowing Camels
Mt 23:23-24

23“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin,[1] and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone. 24You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!


[1]23:23  cumin is an aromatic seed from Cuminum cyminum, resembling caraway in flavor and appearance. It is used as a spice.

vii. (6) Cups Full of Wickedness Washed on the Outside
Mt 23:25-26

25“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness.[1] 26You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also.


[1]23:25 TR reads “self-indulgence” instead of “unrighteousness”

viii. (7) White-washed Sepulchres Filled with Dead Man's Bones
Mt 23:27-28

27“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

ix. (8) Erecting Memorials for Murdered Prophets and Killing Prophets Themselves
Mt 23:29-33

29“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous, 30and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ 31Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are children of those who killed the prophets. 32Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna[1]?


[1]23:33 or, Hell

x. "The Blood of Righteous Abel unto the Blood of Zacharias" h
Mt 23:34-36

34Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city; 35that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar. 36Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.

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231. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!” i
(Mt 23:37-39)
Tuesday.
Mt 23:37-39

37“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not! 38Behold, your house is left to you desolate. 39For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”[1]


[1]23:39 Psalm 118:26

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232. The Widow’s Mites
(Mk 12:41-44 , Lk 21:1-4)
Tuesday.
Mk 12:41-44

41Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much. 42A poor widow came, and she cast in two small brass coins,[1] which equal a quadrans coin.[2] 43He called his disciples to himself, and said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury, 44for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”


[1]12:42 literally, lepta (or widow’s mites). Lepta are very small brass coins worth half a quadrans each, which is a quarter of the copper assarion. Lepta are worth less than 1% of an agricultural worker’s daily wages.

[2]12:42 A quadrans is a coin worth about 1/64 of a denarius. A denarius is about one day’s wages for an agricultural laborer.

Lk 21:1-4

1He looked up, and saw the rich people who were putting their gifts into the treasury. 2He saw a certain poor widow casting in two small brass coins.[1] 3He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them, 4for all these put in gifts for God from their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had to live on.”


[1]21:2 literally, “two lepta.” 2 lepta was about 1% of a day’s wages for an agricultural laborer.

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233. The Greeks who Would See Jesus. The voice from heaven. 
"How sayest thou, the Son of Man must be lifted up?" 
(Jn 12:20-36)
Tuesday.
Jn 12:20-36

20Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast. 21These, therefore, came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” 22Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn, Andrew came with Philip, and they told Jesus. 23Jesus answered them, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. 26If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

27“Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this time?’ But for this cause I came to this time. 28Father, glorify your name!”

Then there came a voice out of the sky, saying, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

29The multitude therefore, who stood by and heard it, said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”

30Jesus answered, “This voice hasn’t come for my sake, but for your sakes. 31Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out. 32And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33But he said this, signifying by what kind of death he should die. 34The multitude answered him, “We have heard out of the law that the Christ remains forever.[1] How do you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up?’ Who is this Son of Man?”

35Jesus therefore said to them, “Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness doesn’t overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn’t know where he is going. 36While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light.” Jesus said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them.


[1]12:34 Isaiah 9:7; Daniel 2:44 (but see also Isaiah 53:8)

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234. Reflections on the Unbelief of the Jews. Additional sayings of Jesus.
(Jn 12:37-50)
Tuesday
Jn 12:37-50

37But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they didn’t believe in him, 38that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke,

“Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”[1] 39For this cause they couldn’t believe, for Isaiah said again, 40“He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and would turn, and I would heal them.”[2]

41Isaiah said these things when he saw his glory, and spoke of him.[3] 42Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they didn’t confess it, so that they wouldn’t be put out of the synagogue, 43for they loved men’s praise more than God’s praise.

44Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me. 45He who sees me sees him who sent me. 46I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness. 47If anyone listens to my sayings, and doesn’t believe, I don’t judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48He who rejects me, and doesn’t receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day. 49For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak.”


[1]12:38 Isaiah 53:1

[2]12:40 Isaiah 6:10

[3]12:41 Isaiah 6:1

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Footnotes

a) See No. 216.

b) See Matt. 17:20; No. 121. Luke 17:6; No. 186. .

c) See Matt. 6:14, 15; No. 72: 12.

d) See Matt. 8:11, 12; 13:42, 50; 24:51. Luke 13: 28, 29. Nos. 73; 82, 11, 14; 240, 3; 171.

e) See Matt. 20:16; No. 204.

f) Compare Luke 10:25-28; No. 148.

g) Compare also Luke 11:37-54; No. 154.

h) Compare Luke 11:49-51; No. 154.

i) Compare Luke 13:34.35; No. 173.

 

 
[ ] Verses marked with brackets indicate that the passage has been taken out of its order.

 

Bible References taken from:
The World English Bible (WEB) is a Public Domain (no copyright) Modern English translation of the Holy Bible, based on the American Standard Version of the Holy Bible first published in 1901, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament.