Chapter 9

Luke 7:11-17

11And it came to pass1soon afterwards, that he went to a city called Nain; and his disciples went with him, and a great multitude.12Now when he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, there was carried out one that was dead, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.13And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.14And he came nigh and touched the bier: and the bearers stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.15And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother.16And fear took hold on all: and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet is arisen among us: and, God hath visited his people.17And this report went forth concerning him in the whole of Judea, and the region round about.

1Many ancient authorities readon the next day.

Galilee

1Or,the gospel.

2Many ancient authorities readBut what went ye out to see? a prophet?

3Gr.lesser.

4Or, him.

5Some ancient authorities omitto hear.

6Gr.beat the breast.

7Gr.demon.

8Or,was.

9Many ancient authorities readchildren:as in Luke 7:35.

10Gr.certain two.

11Gr.scourges.

12Or,having been.

13Or,not having been.

aObserve that his fame as having raised the dead, and as being "a great prophet," spread widely, and reaching John, led to his message of inquiry (connectLuke 7:17and 18).

bJohn's prison was at Machærus, east of the Dead Sea. Jesus was somewhere in Galilee, probably near Nain, which was in the southern part of Galilee.

cParable of the Children Playing in the Market Place.

GalileeMatt. 11:20-30

20Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his1mighty works were done, because they repented not.21Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the1mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.22Howbeit I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgement, than for you [see Isa. 14:13-15].23And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? thou shalt2go down unto Hades: for if the1mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in thee, it would have remained until this day.24Howbeit I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgement, than for thee [see Gen. 19:24].

25At that season Jesus answered and said, I3thank thee, O Father [seeJohn 3:35;17:2], Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes:26yea, Father,4for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight.27All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth the Son, save the Father; neither doth any know the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to revealhim.28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29Take my yokeaupon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light [see Jer. 6:16; Sirach 51:23].

1Gr.powers.

2Many ancient authorities readbe brought down.

3Or,praise.

4Or,that.

aRabbinical figure for going to school. Jesus thus definitely pictures himself as the expert on God in a Johannean passage (cf.Luke 10:21-24). He conceives himself as the Teacher who alone is able to interpret the Father.

GalileeLuke 7:36-50

36And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he entered into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.37And behold, a woman which was in the city, a sinner; and when she knew that he was sitting at meat in the Pharisee's house, she brought1an alabaster cruse of ointment,38and standing behind at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and2kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were3a prophet, would have perceived who and what manner of woman this is which toucheth him, that she is a sinner.40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith,4Master, say on.41A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred5pence, and the other fifty.42When they had notwherewithto pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?43Simon answered and said, He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.44And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath wetted my feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair.45Thou gavest me no kiss: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to6kiss my feet.46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she hath anointed my feet with ointment.47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven,the sameloveth little.48And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.49And they that sat at meat with him began to say7within themselves, Who is this that even forgiveth sins?50And he said unto the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

1Or,a flask.

2Gr.kissed much.

3Some ancient authorities readthe prophet. SeeJohn 1:21, 25.

4Or,Teacher.

5The word in the Greek denotes a coin worth about seventeen cents.

6Gr.kiss much.

7Or,among.

aThis anointing in Galilee must be distinct from the anointing at Bethany, near Jerusalem, more than a year later. This sinful and penitent woman is represented by a very late tradition as being Mary Magdalene, and hence all the popular uses of the term Magdalen. But that notion has no historical support whatever, and it becomes violently improbable when we find that in the very next paragraph Luke introduces Mary Magdalene as a new figure in the history. Some men even identify Mary of Bethany with this woman that was a sinner and also with Mary Magdalene, a medley of medieval mysticism.

In sections 60 to 63 Jesus makes a second (three in all) tour of Galilee, this time with all the Twelve. Intense hostility of the Pharisees is aroused by the work. They make the blasphemous accusation that Jesus is in league with Satan. Even the kindred of Jesus fear that he is beside himself because of the excitement and the charges.

Luke 8:1-3

1And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the1good tidings of the kingdom of God, and with him the twelve,2and certain women which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary that was called Magdalene, from whom seven2devils had gone out,3and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto3them of their substance.

1Or,gospel.

2Gr.demons.

3Many ancient authorities readhim.

Notice that the events of §§ 61-66 all occurred on the same day, called the Busy Day.a

aThis "Busy Day" is just one of many such days in the Master's Ministry. See, for instance, the last day of his public ministry in the temple in Jerusalem. Observe Jesus in theforenoonteaching a crowded audience (Mark 3:19), some of whom insult and blaspheme him, and others demand a sign, and at length his mother and brethren try to carry him off as insane (comp.Mark 3:21); in theafternoongiving a group of most remarkable parables, several of which he interprets; towards night crossing the Lake in a boat, so tired and worn that he sleeps soundly amid the alarming storm; then healing the Gadarene demoniacs, and returning by boat, apparently the same evening. What a day of toil and trial.

Galilee

1Or,a demoniac.

2Gr.demons.

3Or,in.

4Some ancient authorities readunto you men.

5Or,age.

aLuke (11:14-36) gives another blasphemous accusation later in Judea. Matthew (9:27-34) also has another blasphemous accusation. Note Christ's use of parables in replying to the accusations.

Same day. GalileeMatt. 12:38-45

38Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying,1Master, we would see a sign from thee.39But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet:40for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the2whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth [see Jonah 1:17; 2:1-2; 3:5; 4:3; 1 Kings 10:1-10].41The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgement with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold,3a greater than Jonah is here.42The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgement with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold,3a greater than Solomon is here.43But the unclean spirit, when4he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not.44Then4he saith, I will return into my house whence I came out; and when4he is come,4he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.45Then goeth4he, and taketh with5himself seven other spirits more evil than5himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation.

1Or,Teacher.

2Gr.sea-monster.

3Gr.more than.

4Or,it.

5Or,itself.

Same day. Galilee

1Some ancient authorities omit ver. 47.

In §§ 64 to 69 we have the first great group of Parables with the visit to Gerasa and the return to Nazareth.

Same day. Beside the Sea of Galilee. Introduction to the Group

aWe have met variousseparateparables heretofore, but here is agroupof at least ten. Two other great groups will occur hereafter, one group given in Luke only, and the last group during the last week of our Lord's public ministry.

1. To the Crowds by the Sea(a) Parable of the Sower

1Some ancient authorities add here, and in ver. 43,to hear:as in Mark 4:9; Luke 8:8.

2Or,age.

3Or,seemeth to have.

aObserve that Jesus spoke these words just after the blasphemous accusation and on the same day (Matt. 13:1).

bNote here another brief parable of the lamp to enforce the lesson of the parable of the Sower. Preachers to-day sometimes tell one story to illustrate another.

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