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Luke (Part 1):
Luke 1:11 - And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
So, Zacharias goes in, and an angel of the Lord had been standing on the right side of the altar of incense. Notice how I read that "had been standing." In the Greek, it is in the Perfect Tense. That means the angel was there.
He didn't just appear suddenly; he had been standing there. It is just that Zacharias didn't know it. But when he revealed himself to Zacharias, and when he saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. Well, that is saying it lightly. Poor guy!
Luke 1:17 - And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the
Lord.
If you are using the King James, it is giving you the literal English translation of the Greek Elias. But he is talking about Elijah.
Luke 1:18 - And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
It sounds very poetical but in the Greek text it's literally "according to what shall I know this" KARATI NOUSOMAI TOUTO. According to what shall I know this? Basically, what he is saying is how do I know you are telling me the truth? Give me a sign.
Luke 1:23 - And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
This is one of those verses we read and it's like what in the world does that mean, "the days of his ministration were accomplished?"
This means that his course (ministry) was finished for the week, and he departed to his own home.
Luke 2:28 - Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
So, Simeon takes Jesus up in his arms, and blessed God. Again, here is the word EULOGEO, for eulogy, speaking well of God, giving God praise and thanks for this baby.
Luke 2:47 - And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
Now the word astonished in the Greek text means to be struck out of your mind, to be mad, to be beside yourself. They were so astonished they were beside themselves. They couldn't contain themselves. They were saying I don't believe this. This is a 12-year-old kid.
And then it says, "Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." The word sorrow in the Greek means to grieve with pain. They were frantic!
Where is their son, 12 years old? And he is wandering all over, and there were millions of people in Jerusalem. Who knows who might have kidnapped Him?
Luke 4:1 - And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
It tells us that Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit when he returned from the Jordan. After He was baptized, He returned from the Jordan, and he was full of the Holy Spirit. This word "full" in Greek doesn't mean full as in opposite of empty, but full as in the influence.
For instance, the Greek word in the book of Acts when the various disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit at various times, it means the Holy Spirit took over their human faculties. He filled their human faculties. There are times when the Holy Spirit is there. He is always in us, and He is always active, but he is not always using our human faculties to minister to others.
Luke 7:23 - And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
The word offended means stumble over!
Luke 7:29 - And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
Again, the word "publicans" just means a tax collector. And they "justified God." And what that means, it is actually a Greek term for a Hebraism that means they declared God right.
Luke 7:41 - There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
So, Jesus says that there was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed him five hundred DENARII, 500 days wages.
That is a lot of money, almost two years' worth. And the other owed fifty, 500 and 50.
Luke 8:1 - And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
And it came to pass afterward, and in the Greek text it literally says in succession. This is the next thing that happened, but not exactly the same day or the next day. Some of these incidents are anywhere from three to six months apart as far as their proximity to each other.
Luke 8:2 - And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
Secondly in Verse 2, it tells us that there were certain women who were also part of this ministry caravan campaigning from city to city. It also gives us their condition, that they were healed of evil spirits and infirmities. Infirmities is usually translated sicknesses in the scripture.
But whenever it says devils or demons and sickness, Luke the physician is linking the two together, some kind of physical condition that has been brought about by demonic activity. Not all physical illness is from demons, or from sin. Well, actually the fallen nature, yes. But not all sickness is because of sin.
But Luke is linking these two together for us to tell us that these are people who were demonically affected, if not possessed, and they were healed of evil spirits and infirmities. The word infirmity literally means to be without strength. It is not the word for disease. It is the word for sickness, and it just means to be without strength.
Luke 8:4 - And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
A parable (PARA BOLE) is a commonly known event, known to man or in the community like farming, and other stories that are common to the everyday person, and taking a spiritual truth and putting it alongside of a common everyday story.
Not everything in the stories pertain to spiritual truth, but the heart of the stories does, and Jesus often used farming terms to express His truths.
Luke 9:60 - Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
I want to point something out here because Luke 9:59 in our English text would lead us to believe that this man's father had died, which is not the case
And then we get to this verse, and Jesus wouldn't even let him bury his father. That is kind of tough! Well, we know from the scriptures, in Deuteronomy 21:23, it tells us that once a person died, they had to be buried before sunset, on the day of the death.
So, if this man's father had already died, he would not be out listening to the teachings of Jesus. He would be attending the funeral and burying his father.
But rather, as Matthew's account tells us, that the phrase itself in the Greek text represents the Hebraism, that basically says "let me go back until my father dies so I get my inheritance."
You see, in those days you stayed around the house. And when the father died, then you took over the business, and you took over the estate.
And what he what he saying is "I'm really not free to leave. I have got some financial interests that I cannot leave. You see if I leave now, I leave all my inheritance, and so I can't do that!"
Do you understand what's happening here? Jesus is fixed towards Jerusalem. He is telling the disciples that you get fixed on Jesus and you follow Him.
But look at all the things that challenge that relationship. You have got conveniences. You've got, "Gee, I have waited my whole life to get the inheritance from my father, and now Jesus is asking me to follow Him, and if I do, I am going to lose all that inheritance." Yup! Let the spiritual dead bury their own dead. You go preach the Kingdom!
Luke 10:4 - Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
This word "purse" is not we understand a purse to be today. Back in those days, this was a small pouch that they carried money in. It was a money bag.
Luke 10:5 - And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
That is a Hebraism that means when you come into a house or into a city, you're asking for SHALOM, is there a son of peace here? Meaning, are you receptive to Messiah?
If they are rejecting the message they have about Jesus Christ as Messiah, then they are told, may your peace return to you, and you leave that house. It has to be a house that is going to be at peace with Christ, and at peace with them, for them to stay.
Luke 10:18 - And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
And Jesus said unto them, notice the literal translation, I was beholding Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
The verb "beheld" is where we get our English word theater from, THEAOMAI. And it's in the Imperfect Tense which means continuous action in the past.
He says I was continuously viewing Satan as lightening falling from heaven. The Lord is basically saying I have started viewing the beginning of the fall Satan.
Luke 10:21 - In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
These are the NAPIOS, the little babies. These are newborn babes. Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Luke 10:33 - But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
So, he says a Samarian comes down where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. This is the SPLUNKNOSE that I had mentioned before, the down deep compassion for people.
Luke 11:38 - And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
This is another place in scripture where our English text doesn't give us the true meaning. This word washed is not like telling our kids to go in and wash your hands before dinner because you've been playing outside and you are all dirty.
This word washed is the word BAPTIDZO. This is a religious ceremony. He didn't go through the "ritual" of baptizing His hands before He sat down to eat so he could be ceremonially clean.
Luke 11:42 - But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Again, the word woe, OUAI in Greek, literally means destruction.
Luke 12:9 - But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
I share this because I've heard this twisted before and some will say that if you don't confess Christ publicly that you are denying Him. That is not what it says!
This is important to understand. The word "deny," ARNEOMAI means to reject. The early church believers were put in a position where they either had to confess that Jesus is Lord or that Caesar is lord.
And by doing that, they would be denying that Jesus is Lord. So, in order for this to be true, one of two things has to happen. You have to confess Jesus or you have to deny Him, reject Him!
Luke 12:11 - And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
In the phrase, "take no thought," the word "thought" is the word MERIMNA. That is Satan's only weapon against a believer. MERIMNA has to do with the occupation of the attention of the mind. Not the occupation of the mind, but the occupation of the attention of the mind.
Luke 14:8 - When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
The Greek word here for "highest room" means the chief reclining places. When the master of the feast, (the one who has made the feast), he sits at the head, at the back of this big reclining table, and the most honorable sit next to him, and working its way down to the end is the lowest seats or reclining places at the table.
Luke 14:10 - But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
Here is the literal translation of this verse:
But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest reclining place; that when he that has invited you, he may say unto you, Friend, go up higher: then you shall have glory, (the word worship is the word glory (DOKSA), in the presence of them that sit at meal with you.
Luke 14:11 - For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The word "abased" is the word humbled. One of the primary teachings in the New Testament and this is where it comes from. This is a quote from Proverbs 3:34 and it is used quite extensively through the entire NT.
Peter has probably the best presentation of this in 1 Peter 5:5. He quotes Proverbs 3:34 "For whosoever exalts themselves shall be humbled, and whosoever should humble themselves shall be exalted."
Luke 14:16 - Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
The word bade is invitation.
Luke 14:23 - And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
The word compel (ANANKASON), is a word of urgency. It means be urgent but don't use physical force.
Luke 16:23 - And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
The word hell here is the word, Hades. There is actually only one place in the Bible that is actually Hell, and that's the lake of fire in the book of Revelation, the final destination. In fact, Hades will be emptied out into the lake of fire. Hades, the word Hades means the place of unseen spirits. No physical body, just spirits.
Luke 17:1 - Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
Literally in the Greek, He's saying that it's impossible not to offend people. But woe unto him, through whom they come!
Even though it's impossible not to offend people, we are still responsible. Now the word offense is the word SCANDALON, where we get our word scandal from.
And it is the name of the trap string that holds up a box. If an animal comes in, you pull the trap string, and the box falls down on the animal and catches the animal. And it's called an offense.
That is to say when we do things to trap people or cause them to go down the wrong road, at least from a spiritual Christian standpoint, that's what He is talking about. It doesn't mean if you hurt my feelings or if you do something to rattle my nerves. That has nothing to do with offenses.
It has to do with allowing people to go down a trail where they will be trapped in, and it will be a road of destruction. For a Christian, it means that you guide people down the wrong road and into a trap, and it is not the road to Christ. It is not the truth.
Luke 18:34 - And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
The word "hid" shows a condition or state in the Greek text. They were constantly in this situation of not understanding what Jesus meant as he said several times now that he must go into Jerusalem and die. But they did not understand it.
Luke 18:35 - And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
So, He was on the outside of Jericho, and there was a certain blind man sitting. Please notice the literal translation, by the side of road begging. That means this is his normal position every day. And he is begging. Now you can't get worse than that. You are blind and you are sitting alongside of the road, and you are begging every day. That is your life.
Luke 18:43 - And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
And immediately he received his sight and followed him. And again, this is an Imperfect Tense meaning he was continually following Jesus, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
Luke 19:13 - And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
He delivered them ten pounds, or literally the Greek word is MNA and is pronounced "Muh-Nah." A MNA is 100 days wages, equivalent to100 denarius. So, he gives unto them 10 MNA and said unto them, Occupy, or do business till I come.
Luke 21:2 - And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
The word mites is actually the Greek word LEPTA. It is equivalent to either 1/5 or 1/8 of one cent. It is not worth very much. It is the least value of the copper coins in their day, and she cast in two of these. Mark tells us that when the rich men gave their money, they gave out of their wealth. They gave abundantly.
Luke 21:4 - For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
Penury actually comes from a Greek word that means lacking. This is another place where the translators could have given us a better English word.
Luke 21:8 - And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived:
The word deceived is where we get our word planet from, PLANAE means led astray, for many shall come in my name, saying, I AM, and notice in the text it says I am Christ. Some English texts say I am He, but all it says is "I AM" in the Greek text.
That is the name of God from the book of Exodus, I AM that I AM, the Yahweh God of the Old Testament. He says people are going to be going around saying I AM; and the time is drawing near: Jesus says go ye not therefore after them.
Luke 21:9 - But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
The Greek word for by-and-by is the word immediate. The end is not immediate, not even close. Got a long way to go! So even the events that are happening now with the increase in earthquakes, and in the increase in pestilences and diseases, this is just the beginning. This gives us an indication that we are moving closer, but the end it is not yet.
Luke 24:39 - Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
It says, "that it is I myself," but literally in the Greek text it is I AM. That's His name. Handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. The Lord was in a special form where He could appear and disappear. He could come though locked doors. He could go anywhere and do anything. And yet He says He is not spirit.
He has flesh and bones, but this would not be His glorified body when he gets to heaven because heaven cannot inherit flesh and blood. He is telling them, look at my hands and my feet. It's the I AM!
Luke 24:45 - Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
The word for understanding is the word NOUS. There are several Greek words that describe the function of the brain and its abilities. And in Greek, NOUS represents the perceptive abilities of the mind, to perceive something, not just know it with knowledge, but to perceive its truth.
At the end of 1 Corinthians Chapter 2, it says those who are saved have the mind of Christ, and the word is NOUS. Under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit, His Spirit ministers the Lord's perceptions to me.
I can know what He perceives and know it to be true in the spirit realm. Not mystically, but as it is in truth. Even here, it tells us that Jesus ministered to them from the scriptures, but they didn't understand it until the Lord opened up their understanding.
We don't realize that it's a privilege to not only be saved, but for the Lord to say you have a heart and a mind and desire for my word, therefore I am going to give you that desire, and I am going to open up your mind, and by my Spirit, I'm going to cause you to perceive my truth from my word. A human being in their natural state cannot do that.
That's all I have for Luke. I will begin posting on John soon, Lord willing!
Luke 24:11 - And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
And their words seemed to them as idle tales. It is a medical term for the description of somebody who is delirious from a fever. You are delirious, idle tales, and they believed them not.
Now that is kind of an unfortunate translation because it doesn't say in the Greek text that they did not believe them. It just says that they were without persuasion. They wouldn't be persuaded.
Luke 24:12 - Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
So, Peter ran to the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves. And in the Greek text it indicates, along with some other phrases from John's gospel, that the grave clothes were still wrapped. They were still in the same shape of the body but there was no body in it.
Luke 24:13 - And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
Threescore would be 60, and the Greek word is the word STADIA where we get our English word stadium from. Now one STADIA is 606 feet and 9 inches. So that was 60 STADIA away, so it was exactly 6.89 miles. The Bible rounds it off to seven, but about 7 miles away, 7 miles northwest of Jerusalem, was this little village called Emmaus.
Luke 24:16 - But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
The word "holden" is the word for grip. The Lord held their eyes, not physically, but so that they could not recognize Him! They had to be made without capacity to recognize Him because He was recognizable. But it is interesting that He kept them from recognizing Him so that he could have this conversation with them as He is walking.
Thanks again brother Jesse for these very worthwhile snippets from the original language that our 17th Century brethren were unable to capture in the English of their day. I join with bro S. Spencer, and I'm sure many others, who appreciate your giving us a better understanding of what we are reading, using both the original language & noting the influence of culture that bore upon it.
From your reference to Luke 24:16 & the meaning of 'holden' (krateo?), I was moved to recall a personal example of this wonderful power & provision of the Lord, that we are often unaware of or even goes unnoticed as the Spirit of the Lord works on the behalf of His children.
This happened back in 1990 while in ministry in Pakistan, as a Christian brother (from the Netherlands) & I were sharing the Gospel to Muslims by tract/book distribution & sales in a particular market-place in Karachi. My young Dutch brother was soon cornered by a particularly aggressive young Muslim cleric, who was spewing out his anger against our presence & in spreading these 'Christian lies'. We stood there hoping that he would calm down & we could then continue on with the work (for we still had a number of shops to visit). Unfortunately, he ordered us out of the area, & with the support of the increasing vocal crowd, we slowly began to leave. I kept checking behind me & observed that we were still being followed by this cleric. I tried to stall this progress by diverting to have a cup of tea at a small tea shop, but he was adamant that we keep going away from the area. As we neared our vehicle on the opposite side of the road, I just asked the Lord that somehow he would not take note of the van & its licence plate (which could then be reported to the police & cause our work to stall). Onto Page 2.
Now here's the application of Luke 24:16: we crossed the road to get into our vehicle, but just thought to turn around to again check on this cleric. We could clearly see him on the other side of the road, but the Lord intervened on our behalf & 'held his eyes' in a special way. Luke 24:13-16, tells us that the two actually saw another man begin walking with them towards Emmaus but their eyes were 'held' so they couldn't perceive who he was.
In our case, this cleric, who was standing not more than 30 feet from us, wasn't able to see us at all. We stood there looking at him, but his head was just swinging from side-to-side searching for us, probably wondering how we could just disappear into thin air. We touched ourselves ensuring that we were still flesh & blood & having ascertained that, we then got into our vehicle & drove off, leaving him there confused wondering how we could just disappear. I wonder whether this encounter would have prompted him to enquire further into this mysterious, maybe Divine, Act to eventually secure his soul. So, I just share this to give a present-day proof of how the Spirit of God can 'hold' the eyes, even withhold the wicked acts of men, to fulfil His Will, showing Himself Sovereign in both our lives & also before the eyes & hearts of those without Christ. Every blessing to you dear brother.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. What a blessing to be put in a situation like yours and be able to witness how the Lord works. Praise the Lord for blinding them long enough for you both to get out of there. Luke's presentation of the trip on the road to Emmaus ( Luke 24:13-35) is a great study.
I like to say that these two men got a "7-mile personal bible study" from Jesus Himself. The entire trip, and they didn't recognize Him. What's interesting is that that all the way through this dialogue, as Jesus is ministering Himself and the scriptures, they still don't believe! It wasn't until after Jesus sat with them and they had a meal together that their eyes were opened to where they recognized who He was, and then He just disappears. In your case, they didn't recognize you at all. We can only hope that the Lord would have used your scenario to His glory to where this cleric and perhaps others in that area would have come to know the Lord.
What a very, very strong message! 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 tells us that it is only by the Spirit of God and the Revelation by the Spirit of God that man can understand. A person cannot understand nor receive the things of Christ unless God's Spirit opens that person's heart. Their eyes were held to not be able to recognize Jesus. But it says, "and their eyes were opened." This is not something they did. This was the Lord's appointed time that He should minister the scriptures to them, that He should have a meal with them, and that He should continually give this bread out.
Again, thank you for sharing that story, and may the Lord continue to bless you abundantly, and may He continue to use you in ministering to and sharing His word with others for His glory!
God Bless!!!
Thanks brother Jesse for your reply. Yes, this is certainly an amazing portion of Scripture, not simply of the sudden appearances & disappearances of Jesus (as some would focus on), but what those two (Peter & Cleopas) & the others later, would have gone through mentally & spiritually as they observed & considered the things that were happening before their eyes. Even when their "hearts burned within them", they sensed something extraordinary was taking place, but their 'held' eyes & mind must have caused them much internal conflict. If walking with the Lord Jesus during His days of ministry wasn't astonishing & breath-taking enough, here they are now fully understanding Him & seeing His Words fulfilled, with His Power & Glory radiating through His Presence.
Indeed, what a great study in Luke 24 as we even allow our hearts to engage with those in that chapter to the wonder of it all. As my heart & mind is so engaged presently, the Lord reminded me of another occasion where His Power was manifested. If I could take a little more time to encourage those who read this & for the praise & Glory of God alone. That whatever situation we find ourselves in, if we are truly His children purchased with His Own Blood, we can rest assured that He is always there, mindful of us, and will perform His Will to the praise of His Name. "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" ( Galatians 5:25), as "obedient children". Onto Page 2.
On this occasion, it wasn't the eyes of an inflamed Muslim cleric being held or blinded, but of my own eyes as well. When the Lord wants to get something done, we must simply lay our plans & our steps wholly upon the One Who makes no mistakes.
During one of our morning market place visits in Karachi, Pakistan, we proceeded to share the Gospel via literature & also verbally with any who could converse in English, and I happened onto a small bookshop. I had shared the Word to other shops before this one, but now this bookshop was the next one in line. I was ignorant of what this bookshop really was - the Lord's Spirit blinded my eyes. I was having a particularly bad morning, as many folk rejected the books, so when I came to this bookshop, the (Muslim) owner was quite impressed with the titles I had about Jesus, of Abraham, Moses, David, etc. So impressed was he, that he bought all the books in my shoulder bag, probably thinking that 'surely these must be great Islamic books to teach Muslims who walked past the shop after a fervent prayer session'. I was thankful to the Lord for such a good response (& of course a lighter empty bag to carry back) & the owner himself was thankful that he had some different types of books to sell, different from the 'same old, same old' ones that were probably no longer selling.
As I mentioned earlier, my eyes were blinded by the Lord. After walking away from the bookshop, I turned to look back, unmindful of that similar error by Mrs. Lot outside Sodom. But turn I did and what I saw almost scared me. It was a mosque, a large one, with its small bookshop attached to its front wall. Earlier I only saw the bookshop part - the Lord hid my eyes from the mosque. Had I seen the mosque, I would have well walked past, believing that I would have no hope in selling Christian books to an Islamic worship place: only the very brave (or, foolish) would venture to do such a thing. Onto Page 3.
I think the Lord was having an interesting time with me & teaching me great lessons, demonstrating His Power & Control over any & every situation; the Lord had me selling Gospel literature to a Mosque bookshop and then had the Mosque owner re-selling Christian books to Muslims!! So my disappointing day turned out well, I would say. What an amazing God we love and serve.
Islamic books, such as the Quran, and unlike the Bible, don't share much at all about Jesus, Abraham, Moses, etc; mainly the names of these 'prophets' & a very brief write-up on them. So, when someone comes along with books giving much more detail, then these books, as at this bookshop, would no doubt sell like hot cakes. And so the Truth went out with the Gospel intertwined within the accounts. Probably, in later days, this bookshop owner, once upon a time overjoyed by his windfall purchase, would have been taken to task by the Islamic clergy/police for what he was selling. And the furore this would have created, was a likely reason leading to my (and our) expulsion out of the country. This of course was very sad for us, yet we had every reason to praise God for once again showing to us His Sovereign Control over every situation - that angry faces & the wicked acts of men, might affect us in some way, but nothing can alter God's Will for men to hear the Gospel that some might be saved.
Even till now, I still smile when I recall that time, as the Muslim faithful finishing their second or third daily prayer for the day, coming out of the Mosque 'refreshed', proceeding to the bookshop to buy a book, & then taking home the Gospel of Jesus that might be read by all his family. Isn't He a marvelous, wonder-working God, and full of surprises? So I just share this as another example of a God Who can both close eyes (mine) & open others to read & understand His saving Gospel. For our mutual encouragement & understanding of our Lord's unfathomable ways. Every blessing.
Thanks for your down the memory lane, and God set you in His field and your service in that part of the continent to which I also have some claim, bring me to make this comment,- I pray that you continue till the very end. God is able and gracious to those who serve Him,Amen
This is encouraging!
Praise God and thanks for that encouraging message.
Blessings.
Whatever situation the Lord puts us in, He will give us the courage to follow through according to His will. If anything, a seed had been planted. The Lord is good!
Off to bed, goodnight my dear brother!
Luke 23:35 - And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
The rulers derided him, which is the Greek word for "to stick up the nose." They scoffed at Him, a smug mocking at Him, saying He saved others; let Him save himself, if He be Christ, the chosen of God.
That is a fulfillment of Psalm 22:6-7, and Psalm 22:16-17.
Luke 23:41 - And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
The Greek word for "nothing amiss" means He's done nothing out of place. He has done everything perfectly!
Luke 23:43 - And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Many people have discussed where paradise is. First of all, it is a Persian word. That is where the word paradise came from. In the New Testament, not only is it here, but it's also found in 2 Corinthians 12:3, where Paul says that he was caught up in the third heaven into paradise. And again, in Revelation 2:7, where it is the reward for those overcomers, those that overcome the evil.
It is also used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament for the Garden of Eden. It is called PARADISO, paradise, same word! But that doesn't answer the question where is it? Well, right before the term "in paradise" you have your answer. You will be with "me" in paradise.
Wherever Jesus is, it is paradise. Where was Jesus that day or that night or the next day? Wherever Jesus was, he was with Him, and that's paradise.
Luke 22:52 - Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?
The word "staves" in the Greek means clubs.
Luke 23:3 - And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
The phrase "Thou sayest it" is actually an idiom that means, "You are saying correctly!"
Luke 23:27 - And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
And there followed Him a great company of people, and the word "followed" is what is called an Imperfect Tense in Greek which means they were continuously following, and of women, which also were mourning, that is what bewailed means, and lamenting.
Those also are Imperfect Tenses. This is a group of women that were loyal to, and following Jesus, and believing in Jesus. They were continually following Him. They even followed Him after they took Him down off the cross, as they wanted to see where He was going to be laid, and they were continually morning and continually lamenting, as they were following.
Luke 23:33 - And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Calvary is the Latin term for the Aramaic Golgotha. Golgotha is the Aramaic, and Calvary is the Latin. The Greek word is CRANION. It is where we get our word cranium from, the skull. That is what all these words mean. Calvary, Golgotha, and CRANION mean the skull. So, all three names are making reference to the same place.
Luke 21:32 - Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
The word "generation" is the word GENEA which means a race or kind of people. It has no association with years. Jesus is making reference to the Jewish people. This generation (this race of people) shall not pass away until all be fulfilled.
Luke 21:34 - And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Some people get very upset because there is no surfing or drunkenness. But this is the word surfeiting, which is a Greek word that has to do with indulging yourself so much that you have a hangover the next day. Indulging, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, again the word cares is the word that I introduced to you a couple times before. It is the word MERIMNA which has to do with the occupation of the attention of the mind. It is when people in their mind, they are so fixed on the things of this earthly life, and so that day come upon you unexpectedly.
Luke 22:31 - And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
The word desired is an Aorist Participle with an adverb that means "has now desired," and it means that Satan has asked one time. He has gotten permission. If this were translated correctly into English it would say, Satan has desired to have you and has been given permission.
Luke 22:44 - And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Medical experts have attempted to give us a detailed account of this, how blood can mix with sweat. The Greek text says that His sweat was so thick that it was as thick as blood. It doesn't say anything about blood, but "as it were" great drops of blood. It doesn't say it was blood falling to the ground. The agony was so great!
Luke 21:15 - For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
For I will give you a mouth, (meaning I'll give you the words), and the wisdom, that's the knowledge and understanding, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay (that is, contradict nor resist). That's quite a promise!
I've heard of some Bible schools that actually promote this verse for people in the ministry. They say that you don't need to study the Bible. The Holy Spirit will tell you what to say when you have to get up and preach. That is not the context by which Jesus is speaking.
Paul even said study to show yourself approved of God, a workman that's not ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Luke 21:18 - But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Basically, it is a Hebraism. It is a Hebraism that basically says they might be able to kill the body but cannot kill the soul. This is God's protection and provision over you. There will not be anything done to you that's done outside of the will of God. It will be all because of the will of God.
Luke 21:19 - In your patience possess ye your souls.
In Matthew 24:13, Matthew said that "he who endures to the end will be saved." They are both saying the same thing. But I like this as an explanation. In your patience you possess your soul. The word for patience is HUPOMENO which means to remain under.
Patience in the King James has to do with remaining under circumstances. Long suffering has to do with patience towards people because long suffering means to be slow in human reaction to other people. But HUPOMENO means to remain under your circumstances.
Luke 19:48 - And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.
In the Greek it literally means they were hanging on every word that Jesus spoke. So of course, the religious leaders, they were trying to destroy Him. Yet all the people are just hanging on to every word that Jesus says. So, they were not able to take Him at this point.
Luke 20:9 - Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.
Husbandman means farmer. It was customary in those times that if you were going to leave your property, your agricultural property, that you would lease it out to other people. And the price for the land would be a percentage of the crops that the land would produce.
Luke 20:24 - Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.
Show me a denarius, and remember that a denarius is one day's wage. Whose image and superscription has it? They answered and said, Caesar's. This is like taking one of our coins out. And He says whose inscription, whose superscription, whose picture is that on the coin? And they said it is Caesar's.
The word image in this text is the same one used in the Septuagint, the Old Testament. In Genesis 1:26-27, it says that man was made in the image of God. So, Jesus has this coin held up and He says whose image is on it? Caesar's!
Luke 20:46 - Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;
Beware of the scribes. You would think that just on the surface that He is saying be careful about them. But literally the Greek word says observe yourselves from the scribes.
Make sure you don't get caught up in what they're getting caught up into. Don't watch out for them, you watch out for yourself. And He's telling the disciples.
Luke 19:20 - And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is your MNA, which I have been keeping. That is the literal translation. So, this whole time he has been keeping it in a napkin:
And I think it's interesting that amongst Jewish tradition, if you hid money in your house, you had to pay taxes on it. But if you hid money in a napkin or a cloth, and buried it in your yard, you didn't have to pay taxes. So, he says I've kept it in a napkin.
Luke 19:21 - For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
For I was fearing you, continuously, because you are an austere man: The Greek word means to be harsh or to be severe. You are a very harsh man, and you take up that you lay not down, and reap that which you do not sow.
Luke 19:42 - Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
Saying, If thou hadst known, even you, at least in this your day. The Greek text has the definite article. This "The Day" that belongs to you, the things which belong unto your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
It is the only place in the Gospels where the words of Jesus are recorded where He actually said the very day that He enters into Jerusalem is the day that they should have known about. It was their day in the entire calendar of prophetic literature. It was their day!
Luke 18:13 - And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
And the publican, notice the publican standing afar off, he doesn't even feel worthy to come close, and he would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but was beating his breast.
And this is an Imperfect Tense verb, meaning he was continually beating upon his breast or his chest saying, God be merciful to me, notice the literal translation, God be merciful to me the sinner, not a sinner, the sinner.
So here you have one saying look how good I am compared to all these sinners. And then you have got a sinner saying I'm not even worthy to look up to heaven, I'm not even worthy to come in the temple, and he was continually beating his chest in lamentation and mourning over his condition and the only thing he could ask for was for mercy, God be merciful to me the sinner.
Luke 18:17 - Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
Truly I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall never, (double negative), enter in.
He's not saying be childish. Again, childlike, totally dependent on the Father of spirits in heaven who gave us our life and has brought us into the family of God.
Luke 18:19 - And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? None is good, save one, that is, God.
And Jesus said unto him, first of all before I answer your question, "Why did you call me AGATHOS?" Why did you call me good? There is none that is good, except one, and that is, God. You just called me God. Why did you call me God?
Luke 18:3 - And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
She is asking the court to come to her aid. The word adversary is a legal term which means the opponent in a court of law.
Luke 18:5 - Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
The word weary in Greek means to give somebody a black eye. He's not worried about the woman attacking him. In fact, the word is a very special word.
In our vocabulary in English, we probably say the jab, the boxer that jabs, continuously throwing the jab, wearing his opponent down so that he can throw the knockout punch.
And he says she is continually coming. She is not going to give up. And she had three things going against her. Number one, she was a woman, and a woman did not have any leverage in court whatsoever.
Secondly, she was a widow. She had no husband to represent her in court. And thirdly she was poor, so she didn't have enough to give a bribe. So, she just came and continued to come and wearied the judge.
Luke 17:20 - And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
This Greek word is used in two different senses. One is observation as an astronomer would observe the stars and the planets in outer space. Secondly, it is a medical term. If someone has been admitted into the hospital for observation, and that is what this word means. It means we are going to watch you, watch your vital signs, and take tests. So, He says the Kingdom of God does not come with observation: Again the outward appearance.
Luke 17:34 - I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed;
The word "men" is not in any manuscripts. It is just two people, because there are people that use this for justification for homosexuality. In that night there shall be two men (two people) in one bed; one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
Luke 18:1 - And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
The premise of this parable is in Verse 1, that men ought always to pray and not to faint. The word "ought" is the word necessary. It comes from the word DEO that means to bind. It is necessary for men always to pray and to not faint.
The word faint in the Greek text means to give in, to give up, or to give in to your circumstances. And as the Lord is explaining the difficulties that God's people will experience, He is now focusing on the main activity that the believer has with his or her Lord, and that is prayer, that when difficulties happen through circumstances, it's necessary for the believer to always pray and never to give in, never to give up.
Luke 17:2 - It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and notice this literal translation: and that he had been cast into the sea, "had been." In other words, before he even offended anybody, it would have been better had he been cast into the sea before he even got there to offend people.
Where it says "these little ones," He is not talking about children here. He is talking about people who just recently turned to Christ as Messiah.
Luke 17:10 - So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
He says we are unprofitable servants. The Greek word for unprofitable is useless. Useless! At our best, in our human we are useless. But when God gives us the faith, He does great things. But it's not to our credit. It is what God does through us, and if God works through us all day and all night, that is all to His credit. If we did it, we'd just be unprofitable servants only doing the minimum.
Luke 17:19 - And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
Interesting, the word whole is the word SOUDZO for salvation. But isn't that interesting that Jesus said go and be cleansed and they left. Only one of them got saved. The one that turned, realized the working of God in his life, and came back and fell at Jesus' feet and gave thanks.
He says your faith has saved you. So not only are you cleansed from your leprosy, but you are saved. That should also give us a warning. Many seek the Lord for healing because they only want for themselves. If God should ever grant that request, and with some people, that is all they do is look for the physical things in life to be fixed, never falling at Jesus' feet and giving Him thanks and giving Him glory.
Luke 16:14 - And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
Where it says, "and they derided him," literally they scoffed at him. The Greek word means they turned up their nose at Him. That is a pretty good religious indignation, is it not? They were covetous and they heard the Lord say this and they were all upset because most of what they did was for money.
Luke 16:17 - And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
Again, this is something we don't catch from out English text. The word "tittle" is a little horn. If you have ever seen Hebrew script, they put little art objects, little horns on the letters, and He is saying not one of these little end pieces are going to break off. Everything is going to happen of the law. It will not fail.
Luke 16:19 - There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and the term "clothed" is what is called the Imperfect Tense. He was continuously clothed in purple and fine linen.
Purple represented the most expensive clothing and fine linen. And he fared sumptuously every day: Literally "he partied according to the daytime." This went on all day long, everyday one big party.
Luke 16:20 - And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, a real person that actually lived. He was a beggar, in the lowest of human conditions. You have the rich man who is in the highest of conditions; and you have the beggar named Lazarus who is in the worst of conditions, which was laid at his gate.
The tense shows that this is a continuous habit every day, and he was full of sores. These are ulcerated sores or boils all over his body. So, he was laid at the gate of the rich man. He is full of sores.
Luke 15:15 - And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
And he went and joined himself. Now the term "himself" is a reflexive pronoun and that is not in the Greek text. It's literally a passive voice. He was joined up with.
In other words, he was the victim. He didn't do any joining, the world took him in. And the word for "joined" is the word for glue. Just to show you the bond that has been made between him and the world.
He went out and the world bonded itself to him to be a citizen of that country; What made it worse is that he went away to a faraway country to be a citizen of another country. This would be a Gentile.
Picture yourself as a Jewish person, a Jewish boy run away in rebellion, finding yourself in this condition, so some people take you in.
Now you are working for a Gentile, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. These are the worst of the unclean animals. Jewish people don't even like to touch pigs or hogs. He's been sent in to feed the swine.
Luke 16:9 - And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
Mammon is from an Aramaic word, MAMMONA. Most translate it as having to do with money. But it literally has to do with everything in the physical world, including aspirations for what the physical world has to offer.
That includes if you have got dreams of a career, and you're putting that ahead of the things of the Lord. You are not seeking His will. Anything that has to do with this physical world is MAMMONA, and it is the MAMMONA of unrighteousness. Every single thing in this physical world is unrighteous.
Luke 15:4 - What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
The term "which is lost" is one word in the Greek text. It is a Perfect Participle that shows a condition the sheep is in. This is a lost sheep that is lost. He is always going astray. He is known as a lost sheep.
We have the same thing at the end of Verse 6, "which was lost," one Perfect Participle describing the condition of the sheep. Whether he's with the 99 or not he's called a lost sheep. Very interesting!
Luke 15:8 - Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, and that is what's called the DRACHMA. The DRACHMA is the Greek coin that is parallel to the Roman denarius, and it represents one day's wage. And according to tradition, Jewish women would wear a necklace of 10 DRACHMA.
That was their dowry, and they would wear it around their neck. This woman had 10 pieces of silver which parallels the dowry that a woman would wear around her neck.
And here is the Condition:
If she loses one piece, One DRACHMA! And keep in mind, this is in a house with dirt floors. This is in a house with no windows, very difficult to find her coin that fell. So, her Care over that, she lights a candle, and as I have mentioned already, there is no word candle all through the King James text. It is the word lamp.
She lights a lamp and sweeps the house. Now the word sweep is in the Present Tense, continually sweeping. She doesn't do it once. She just keeps going until she finds it. And she seeks diligently till she finds it. And again, just like the shepherd, she's not going to stop until she finds the coin.
Yes that is Very interesting Brother Jesse!
In the English you view Jesus going in the wilderness looking for him as if he left the sheep fold.
Thanks and God bless.
Luke 14:33 - So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Here's how this verse is broken down in the Greek text:
Whosoever he be of you that does not forsake, and that is a Present Tense verb, continuously forsake all that he has. The word "forsakes" APOSTAIA, that is where we get our term apostasy from. It means to separate yourself, to abandon, to standoff from.
Whosoever is not continually forsaking all that he has. The term "all that he has" has a Reflexive Pronoun in there, meaning all of the possessions that belong to him, he cannot be my disciple.
He is not telling people to take everything that you have and get rid of it. This is the relationship that the believer must have because those things will interfere with following Jesus Christ.
Remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians Chapter 7, purchase but don't possess it, because no matter whether it is during your lifetime or afterwards, whatever you purchase today is going to be gone tomorrow.
Jesus is saying that whosoever does not continually standoff, separate, abandon all that he has, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 15:2 - And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
The word "receive" in the Greek means to welcome. Jesus did more than receive sinners. He welcomed them. And Jesus welcomed eating with them.
Luke 14:26 - If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
The word "hate" in this verse is the word MISEO. It is not the word for hostile. It is a word of comparison. When MISEO is used with any of the words that have to do with love, it is showing comparison.
What Jesus is saying here is that you must love Him so much that the comparison between Him and anyone else, or anything else makes it look like you hate them.
Luke 14:27 - And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
And whosoever doth not bear. That's called a Present Tense verb. It shows continuous action. Whosoever does not continuously bear his cross, and come after me, again the word "come" is a Present Tense verb, continually carrying his cross and continually coming after me.
Here is the word I have mentioned before. It is the word "after" OPEISO. It means behind. The proper position to follow Christ is behind Him.
Luke 14:32 - Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
An ambassage is an ambassador. In fact, it is the word PRESBAYA for elder. He sends out an ambassador (an elder), and desires conditions of peace.
It would be foolish to go out there being outnumbered two to one, as we see in Luke 14:31. Somebody would say, what are you thinking? Putting all your men in jeopardy and count the cost.