Chapter XXVI: Part XI: The Last Public Ministry in Jerusalem

_Friday before to Tuesday of Passion Week, Spring of A.D. 30 (or A.D. 29).[a] Just before Passover. Sects. 128a-138._

[Footnote a: If the feast of John 5:1 was a Passover, and so his ministry lasted over three years, then his death was pretty certainly in A.D. 30; otherwise in A.D. 29.]

Sect. 128a. JESUS ARRIVES AT BETHANY,[a] NEAR JERUSALEM

Friday afternoon

John 11:55 to 12:1, 9-11

55 Now the passover of the Jews was at hand: and many went up to
Jerusalem out of the country before the passover, to purify
56 themselves. They sought therefore for Jesus, and spake one with
another, as they stood in the temple, What think ye? That he will
57 not come to the feast? Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had
given commandment, that, if any man knew where he was, he should
shew it, that they might take him.
1 Jesus therefore six days before the passover came to Bethany,
where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead.[b]
9 The common people therefore of the Jews learned that he was
there: and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might
10 see Lazarus also, whom he raised from the dead. But the chief
11 priests took counsel that they might put Lazarus also to death;
because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and
believed on Jesus.

[Footnote a: Compare former visits to this Bethany, Sects. 104, 118, and see also below, Sect. 141.]

[Footnote b: John (12:2-8) gives the supper in the house of Simon the leper at this stage, probably because it is the last mention of Bethany in his Gospel. It seems better to follow the order of Mark here in the location of the anointing of Jesus by Mary of Bethany.]

_In Sects. 128b-138 we have the Saviour's movements and teachings on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday--the close of his public ministry, except the little that he said during the Jewish and Roman trial. All of his teaching thereafter will be given to his disciples._

Sect. 128b. HIS TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM AS THE MESSIAH[a]

From Bethany to Jerusalem and back (_Sunday_). A Day of Messianic Demonstration

Mark 11:1-11 |Matt. 21:1-11, |Luke 19:29-44 |John 12:12-19
| 14-17 | |
1 And when | 1 And when |29 And it came |
they draw nigh| they drew nigh| to pass, when |
unto | unto | he drew nigh |
Jerusalem, | Jerusalem, and| unto Bethphage|
unto Bethphage| came unto | and Bethany, |
and Bethany, | Bethphage, | at the mount |
at the mount | unto the mount| that is called|
of Olives, he | of Olives, | _the mount_ of|
sendeth two of| then Jesus | Olives, he |
his disciples,| sent two | sent two of |
2 and saith unto| disciples, | the disciples,|
them, Go your | 2 saying unto | saying, |
way into the | them, Go into |30 Go |
village that | the village | your way into |
is over | that is over | the village |
against you: | against you, | over against |
and | and | _you_; in the |
straightway as| straightway ye| which as ye |
ye enter into | shall find an | enter ye shall|
it, ye shall | ass tied, and | find a colt |
find a colt | a colt with | tied, whereon |
tied, whereon | her: | no man ever |
no man ever | loose | yet sat: loose|
yet sat; loose| _them_, and | him, and bring|
him, and bring| bring _them_ |31 him. And if |
3 him. And if | 3 unto me. And | any one ask |12 On the
any one say | if any one say| you, Why do ye| morrow [9]a
unto you, Why | aught unto | loose him? | great
do ye this? | you, ye shall | thus shall ye | multitude
say ye, The | say, The Lord | say, The Lord | that had
Lord hath need| hath need of | hath need of | come to the
of him; and | them; and | him. | feast, when
straightway | straightway he| | they heard
he [2]will | will send | | that Jesus
send him | them. | | was coming
[3]back | | | to
4 hither. And | 6 And the |32 And they | Jerusalem,
they went | disciples | that were sent|13 took the
away, and | went, and did | went away, and| branches of
found a colt | even as Jesus | found even as | the palm
tied at the | appointed | he had said | trees, and
door without | them, | unto them. | went forth
in the open | | | to meet him,
street; and | |33 And | and cried
they loose | | as they were | out,
5 him. And | | loosing the | Hosanna:
certain of | | | Blessed _is_
them that | | colt, the | he that
stood there | | owners thereof| cometh in
said unto | | said unto | the name of
them, What do | | them, Why | the Lord,
ye, loosing | | loose ye the | even the
6 the colt? And | |34 colt? And they| King of
they said unto| | said, The Lord|14 Israel. And
them even as | | hath need of | Jesus,
Jesus had | | him. | having found
said: and they| | | a young ass,
let them go. | | | sat thereon;
7 And they bring| 7 and |35 And they | as it is
the colt unto | brought the | brought him to| written,
Jesus, and | ass, and the | Jesus: and |15 Fear not,
cast on him | colt, and put | they threw | daughter of
their | on them their | their garments| Zion: behold,
garments; and | garments; and | upon the colt,| thy King
he sat upon | he sat | and set Jesus | cometh,
him. | 4 thereon. Now | thereon. | sitting on
| this is come | | an ass's
| to pass, that | |16 colt. These
| it might be | | things
| fulfilled | | understood
| which was | | not his
| spoken [1]by | | disciples at
| the prophet | | first: but
| [_see Isa. | | when Jesus
| 62:11; Zech. | | was
| 9:9_], saying:| | glorified,
| 5 Tell ye the | | then
| daughter | | remembered
| of Zion, | | they that
| Behold, thy | | these things
| King | | were written
| cometh | | of him, and
| unto thee,| | that they
| Meek, and | | had done
| riding | | these things
| upon an | | unto him.
| ass, | |17 The
| And upon a | | multitude
| colt the | | therefore
| foal of an| | that was
| ass. | | with him
| 8 And the most |36 And | when he
| part of the | as he went, | called
8 And many | multitude | they spread | Lazarus out
spread their | spread their | their garments| of the tomb,
garments upon | garments in | in the way. | and raised
the way; and | the way; and |37 And as he was | him from the
others | others cut | now drawing | dead, bare
[4]branches, | branches from | nigh, _even_ |18 witness. For
which they had| the trees, and| at the descent| this cause
cut from the | spread them in| of the mount | also the
9 fields. And | 9 the way. And | of Olives, the| multitude
they that went| the multitudes| whole | went and met
before, and | that went | multitude of | him, for
they that | before him, | the disciples | that they
followed, | and that | began to | heard that
cried, | followed, | rejoice and | he had done
Hosanna; | cried, saying,| praise God | this sign.
Blessed _is_ | | with a loud |19 The
he that cometh| | voice for all | Pharisees
in the name | | the [5]mighty | therefore
of the Lord | | works which | said among
[_see Ps. | Hosanna to the| they had seen;| themselves,
118:25-26_]: | son of David: |38 saying, | [10]Behold
10 Blessed _is_ | Blessed _is_ | Blessed _is_ | how ye
the kingdom | he that cometh| the King that | prevail
that cometh, | in the name of| cometh in the | nothing: lo,
_the kingdom_ | the Lord; | name of the | the world is
of our father | | Lord: peace in| gone after
David: Hosanna| Hosanna in the| heaven, and | him.
in the | highest. | glory in the |
highest. | | highest. |
| |39 And some of the Pharisees
| | from the multitude said unto
| | him, [6]Master, rebuke thy
| |40 disciples. And he answered and
| | said, I tell you that, if these
| | shall hold their peace, the
| | stones will cry out.
| |41 And when he drew nigh, he saw
| | the city and wept over it,
| |42 saying, [7]If thou hadst known
| | in this day, even thou, the
| | things which belong unto
| | peace! but now they are hid
| |43 from thine eyes. For the days
| | shall come upon thee, when
| | thine enemies shall cast up a
| | [8]bank about thee, and
| | compass thee round, and keep
| |44 thee in on every side, and
| | shall dash thee to the ground,
| | and thy children within thee;
| | and they shall not leave in
| | thee one stone upon another;
| | because thou knewest not the
| | time of thy visitation [_see
| | Ps. 139:9_].

|Matt. 21:1-11, 14-17
11 And he entered into Jerusalem,|10 And when he was come into
| Jerusalem, all the city was
| stirred, saying, Who is this?
|11 And the multitudes said, This
| is the prophet, Jesus, from
|14 Nazareth of Galilee. And
| the blind and lame came to
| him in the temple: and he
|15 healed them. But when the chief
| priests and the scribes saw the
| wonderful things that he did,
| and the children that were
into the temple; | crying in the temple and
| saying, Hosanna to the son of
| David; they were moved with
|16 indignation, and said unto him,
| Hearest thou what these are
| saying? And Jesus saith unto
| them, Yea: did ye never read
| [_see Ps. 8:2_], Out of the
and when | mouths of babes and sucklings
he had looked round about upon |17 thou hast perfected praise? And
all things, it being now | he left them, and went forth
eventide, he went out unto | out of the city to Bethany, and
Bethany with the twelve. | lodged there.

[Footnote 1: Or, _through_.]

[Footnote 2: Gr. _sendeth_.]

[Footnote 3: Or, _again_.]

[Footnote 4: Gr. _layers of leaves_.]

[Footnote 5: Gr. _powers_.]

[Footnote 6: Or, _Teacher_.]

[Footnote 7: Or, _O that thou hadst known_.]

[Footnote 8: Gr. _palisade_.]

[Footnote 9: Some ancient authorities read _the common people_.]

[Footnote 10: Or, _Ye behold_.]

[Footnote a: Jesus now makes a formal challenge to the Jerusalem leaders who have so long opposed his claims. This was a Day of Triumph that seemed to the excited crowds to mean the establishment of a political Messianic Kingdom.]

Sect. 129. THE BARREN FIG TREE CURSED, AND THE SECOND[a] CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE. (COMP. SECT. 31)

Bethany and Jerusalem (_Monday_). A Day of Messianic Power

Mark 11:12-18 |Matt. 21:18, 19, |Luke 19:45-48
| 12, 13 |
12 And on the morrow,|18 Now in the morning|
when they were come | as he returned to |
out from Bethany, he| the city, he |
13 hungered. And seeing|19 hungered. And seeing|
a fig tree afar off | [1]a fig tree by the|
having leaves, he | way side, |
came, if haply he | |
might find anything | |
thereon: and when he| he came to it,|
came to it, he found| and found nothing |
nothing but leaves; | thereon, but leaves |
for it was not the | only; |
14 season of figs. And | |
he answered and said| and he saith |
unto it, No man eat | unto it, Let there |
fruit from thee | be no fruit from |
henceforward for | thee henceforward |
ever. And his | for ever. |
disciples heard it. | |
15 And they come to |12 And Jesus entered |45 And he entered
Jerusalem: and he | into the temple | into the temple,
entered into the | [2]of God, |
temple, and began to| |
cast out them that | and cast | and began to cast
sold and them that | out all them that | out them that
bought in the | sold and bought in | sold,
temple, and | the temple, and |
overthrew the tables| overthrew the tables|
of the | of the |
money-changers, and | money-changers, and |
the seats of them | the seats of them |
that sold the doves;| that sold the doves;|
16 and he would not | |
suffer that any man | |
should carry a | |
vessel through the | |46 saying unto
17 temple. And he | | them, It is
taught, and said | | written [_see Isa.
unto them, Is it not|13 and he saith unto | 56:7; Jer. 7:11_],
written, My house | them, It is written,| And my house shall
shall be called a | My house shall be | be a house of
house of prayer for | called a house of | prayer: but ye
all the nations? but| prayer: | have made it a den
ye have made it a | but ye make | of robbers.
18 den of robbers. And | it a den of robbers.|47 And he was
the chief priests | | teaching daily in
and the scribes | | the temple. But
heard it, and sought| | the chief priests
how they might | | and the scribes
destroy him: for | | and the principal
they feared him, for| | men of the people
all the multitude | | sought to destroy
was astonished at | |48 him: and they
his teaching. | | could not find
| | what they might
| | do; for the people
| | all hung upon him,
| | listening.

[Footnote 1: Or, _a single_.]

[Footnote 2: Many ancient authorities omit _of God_.]

[Footnote a: Once more at the close of the Ministry in Jerusalem, as at the beginning, Jesus asserts his authority over the Temple as the Messiah. In both instances his authority is sharply challenged by the Jewish rulers.]

Sect. 130. THE DESIRE OF SOME GREEKS TO SEE JESUS PUZZLES THE DISCIPLES AND LEADS JESUS IN AGITATION OF SOUL TO INTERPRET LIFE AND DEATH AS SACRIFICE AND TO SHOW HOW BY BEING "LIFTED UP" HE WILL DRAW ALL MEN TO HIM

Jerusalem (_Monday_)

John 12:20-50

20 Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship
21 at the feast: these therefore came to Philip, which was of
Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we would see
22 Jesus. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: Andrew cometh, and
23 Philip, and they tell Jesus. And Jesus answereth them, saying, The
24 hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the
earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it
25 beareth much fruit. He that loveth his [1]life loseth it; and he
that hateth his [1]life in this world shall keep it unto life
26 eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am,
there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the
27 Father honour. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say [_see
Ps. 42:6_]? Father, save me from this [2]hour. But for this cause
28 came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. There came
therefore a voice out of heaven, _saying_, I have both glorified
29 it, and will glorify it again. The multitude therefore, that stood
by, and heard it, said that it had thundered: others said, An
30 angel hath spoken to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice hath
31 not come for my sake, but for your sakes. Now is [3]the judgement
32 of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And
I, if I be lifted up [4]from the earth, will draw all men unto
33 myself. But this he said, signifying by what manner of death he
34 should die. The multitude therefore answered him, We have heard
out of the law that the Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest
thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
35 Jesus therefore said unto them, Yet a little while is the light
[5]among you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness overtake
you not: and he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not whither
36 he goeth. While ye have the light, believe on the light, that ye
may become sons of light.
These things spake Jesus, and he departed and [6]hid himself from
37 them. But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they
38 believed not[a] on him: that the word of Isaiah the prophet might
be fulfilled [_see Isa. 53:1_], which he spake,
Lord, who hath believed our report?
And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
39 For this cause they could not believe, for that Isaiah said again,
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and he hardened their heart;
Lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their
heart,
And should turn,
And I should heal them.
41 These things said Isaiah [_see Isa. 6:1, 10_], because he saw his
42 glory; and he spake of him. Nevertheless even of the rulers many
believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess
43 [7]it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they
loved the glory of men more than the glory of God.
44 And Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not
45 on me, but on him that sent me. And he that beholdeth me beholdeth
46 him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever
47 believeth on me may not abide in the darkness. And if any man hear
my sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not: for I came not to
48 judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and
receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that
49 I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I spake not
from myself; but the Father which sent me, he hath given me a
50 commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I
know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore
which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak.

[Footnote 1: Or, _soul_.]

[Footnote 2: Or, _hour?_]

[Footnote 3: Or, _a judgement_.]

[Footnote 4: Or, _out of_.]

[Footnote 5: Or, _in_.]

[Footnote 6: Or, _was hidden from them_.]

[Footnote 7: Or, _him_.]

[Footnote a: The rejection of Jesus by the Jews is clearly set forth by John's Gospel. The Pharisees made many timid and afraid.]

Sect. 131. THE BARREN FIG TREE FOUND TO HAVE WITHERED

On the way from Bethany to Jerusalem. (_Tuesday_[a])

Mark 11:19-25 |Matt. 21:19-22 |Luke 21:37, 38
| |
19 And [1]every | |37 And every day he
evening [2]he went | | was teaching in
forth out of the | | the temple; and
20 city. And as they |19 And immediately | every night he
passed by in the | the fig tree | went out, and
morning, they saw |20 withered away. And | lodged in the
the fig tree | when the disciples | mount that is
withered away from | saw it, they | called _the mount_
21 the roots. And Peter| marvelled, saying, |38 of Olives. And all
calling to | How did the fig tree| the people came
remembrance saith | immediately wither | early in the
unto him, Rabbi, |21 away? And Jesus | morning to him in
behold, the fig tree| answered and said | the temple, to
which thou cursedst | unto them, Verily I | hear him.
is withered away. | say unto you, If ye |
22 And Jesus answering | have faith, and |
saith unto them, | doubt not, ye shall |
Have faith in God. | not only do what is |
23 Verily I say unto | done to the fig |
you, Whosoever shall| tree, but even if ye|
say unto this | shall say unto this |
mountain, Be thou | mountain, Be thou |
taken up and cast | taken up and cast |
into the sea; and |22 into the sea, it |
shall not doubt in | shall be done. And |
his heart, but shall| all things, |
believe that what he| whatsoever ye shall |
saith cometh to | ask in prayer, |
pass; he shall have | believing, ye shall |
24 it. Therefore I say | receive. |
unto you, All | |
things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye have
25 received them, and ye shall have them. And whensoever ye stand
praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one; that your
Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.[3]

[Footnote 1: Gr. _whenever evening came_.]

[Footnote 2: Some ancient authorities read _they_.]

[Footnote 3: Many ancient authorities add ver. 26 _But if ye do
not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive
your trespasses._]

[Footnote a: The Synoptic Gospels give more details of the teaching of Jesus on this Tuesday in the Temple and on the Mount of Olives than for any other single day. We had another Busy Day in Galilee (Sects. 61-66).]

Sect. 132. THE RULERS (SANHEDRIN) FORMALLY CHALLENGE[a] THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS AS AN ACCREDITED TEACHER (RABBI)

_Jesus bases His human authority on John the Baptist, His Forerunner who baptized him, and demands the Sanhedrin's opinion of the Baptism of John. This pertinent counter-question paralyzes the Jewish leaders and Jesus drives His argument home by three parables. (a) Parable of the Two Sons. (b) Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen. (c) Parable of the Marriage Feast of the King's Son._

In the court of the Temple. (_Tuesday_[b]) A Day of Controversy

Mark 11:27-12:12 |Matt. 21:23-22:14 |Luke 20:1-19
| |
| | 1 And it came to
| | pass, on one of
| | the days, as he
27 And they come |23 And when he was | was teaching the
again to Jerusalem: | come into the | people in the
and as he was | temple, the chief | temple, and
walking in the | priests and the | preaching the
temple, there come | elders of the people| gospel, there came
to him the chief | came unto him as he | upon him the chief
priests, and the | was teaching, and | priests and the
scribes, and the | said, By what | scribes with the
28 elders; and they | authority doest thou| 2 elders; and they
said unto him, By | these things? and | spake, saying unto
what authority doest| who gave thee this | him, Tell us: By
thou these things? |24 authority? And Jesus| what authority
or who gave thee | answered and said | doest thou these
this authority to do| unto them, I also | things? or who is
29 these things? And | will ask you one | he that gave thee
Jesus said unto | [1]question, which | this authority?
them, I will ask of | if ye tell me, I | 3 And he answered
you one [1]question,| likewise will tell | and said unto
and answer me, and I| you by what | them, I also will
will tell you by | authority I do these| ask you a
what authority I do |25 things. The baptism | [1]question; and
30 these things. The | of John, whence was | 4 tell me: The
baptism of John, was| it? from heaven or | baptism of John,
it from heaven, or | from men? And they | was it from
from men? answer me.| reasoned with | heaven, or from
31 And they reasoned | themselves, saying, | 5 men? And they
with themselves, | If we shall say, | reasoned with
saying, If we shall | From heaven; he will| themselves,
say, From heaven; he| say unto us, Why | saying, If we
will say, Why then | then did ye not | shall say, From
did ye not believe |26 believe him? But if | heaven; he will
32 him? [7]But should | we shall say, From | say, Why did ye
we say, From | men; we fear the | not believe him?
men--they feared the| multitude; for all | 6 But if we shall
people: [8]for all | hold John as a | say, From men; all
verily held John to |27 prophet. And they | the people will
33 be a prophet. And | answered Jesus, and | stone us: for they
they answered Jesus | said, We know not. | be persuaded that
and say, We know | He also said unto | John was a
not. And Jesus saith| them, Neither tell | 7 prophet. And they
unto them, Neither | I you by what | answered, that
tell I you by what | authority I do these| they knew not
authority I do these| things. | whence _it was_.
things. | | 8 And Jesus said
| | unto them, Neither
| | tell I you by what
| | authority I do
| | these things.
|28 But what think ye? |
| A man had two sons; |
and he came to the first, and said, [2]Son, go work to-day in the
29 vineyard. And he answered and said, I will not: but afterward he
30 repented himself, and went. And he came to the second, and said
likewise. And he answered and said, I _go_, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of the twain did the will of his father? They say, The
first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the
publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed
him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye,
when ye saw it, did not even repent yourselves afterward, that ye
| might believe him. |
1 And he began to |33 Hear another | 9 And he began to
speak unto them in | parable: There was | speak unto the
parables. A man | a man that was a | people this
planted a vineyard, | householder, which | parable [_see Isa.
and set a hedge | planted a vineyard, | 5:1-2_]: A man
about it, and digged| and set a hedge | planted a
a pit for the | about it, and digged| vineyard, and let
winepress, and built| a winepress in it, | it out to
a tower, and let it | and built a tower, | husbandmen, and
out to husbandmen, | and let it out to | went into another
and went into | husbandmen, and went| country for a long
2 another country. And| into another |10 time. And at the
at the season he |34 country. And when | season he sent
sent to the | the season of the | unto the
husbandmen a | fruits drew near, he| husbandmen a
[9]servant, that he | sent his [3]servants| [9]servant, that
might receive from | to the husbandmen, | they should give
the husbandmen of | to receive [4]his | him of the fruit
the fruits of the |35 fruits. And the | of the vineyard:
3 vineyard. And they | husbandmen took his | but the husbandmen
took him, and beat | [3]servants, and | beat him, and sent
him, and sent him | beat one, and killed| him away empty.
4 away empty. And | another, and stoned |11 And he sent yet
again he sent unto |36 another. Again, he | another
them another | sent other | [9]servant: and
[9]servant; and him | [3]servants more | him also they
they wounded in the | than the first: and | beat, and handled
head, and handled | they did unto him in| him shamefully,
shamefully. | like manner. | and sent him away
| |12 empty. And he sent
5 And he | | yet a third: and
sent another; and | | him also they
him they killed: and| | wounded, and cast
many others; beating| |13 him forth. And the
some, and killing | | Lord of the
some. | | vineyard said,
6 He had yet |37 But | What shall I do? I
one, a beloved son: | afterward he sent | will send my
he sent him last | unto them his son, | beloved son: it
unto them, saying, | saying, They will | may be they will
They will reverence | reverence my son. | reverence him.
my son. |38 But the husbandmen, |14 But when
7 But those | when they saw the | the husbandmen saw
husbandmen said | son, said among | him, they reasoned
among themselves, | themselves, | one with another,
This is the heir; | This is the heir; | saying, This is
come, let us kill | come, let us kill | the heir: let us
him, and the | him, and take his | kill him, that the
inheritance shall be| inheritance. | inheritance may be
8 ours. And they took |39 And |15 ours. And they
him, and killed him,| they took him, and | cast him forth out
and cast him forth | cast him forth out | of the vineyard,
out of the vineyard.| of the vineyard, and| and killed him.
9 What therefore will |40 killed him. When | What therefore
the lord of the | therefore the lord | will the lord of
vineyard do? | of the vineyard | the vineyard do
| shall come, what | unto them?
| will he do unto |
| those husbandmen? |
|41 They say unto him, |
he will | He will miserably |16 He will
come and destroy the| destroy those | come and destroy
husbandmen, and will| miserable men, and | these husbandmen,
give the vineyard | will let out the | and will give the
unto others. | vineyard unto other | vineyard unto
| husbandmen, which | others. And when
| shall render him the| they heard it,
| fruits in their | they said, [10]God
|42 seasons. Jesus saith|17 forbid. But he
10 Have ye | unto them, Did ye | looked upon them,
not read even this | never read in the | and said, What
scripture; | scriptures [_see Ps.| then is this that
| 118:22-23_], | is written [_see
The stone which | The stone which | Ps. 118:22_],
the builders | the builders | The stone which
rejected, | rejected, | the builders
The same was made | The same was made | rejected,
the head of the | the head of the | The same was
corner: | corner: | made the head
11 This was from the | This was from the | of the corner?
Lord, | Lord, |
And it is | And it is |
marvellous in | marvellous in |
our eyes? | our eyes? |
|43 Therefore say I unto|
| you, The kingdom of |
| God shall be taken |
| away from you, and |
| shall be given to a |
| nation bringing |
| forth the fruits |
|44 thereof. [5]And he |18 Every one that
| that falleth on this| falleth on that
| stone shall be | stone shall be
| broken to pieces; | broken to pieces;
| but on whomsoever it| but on whomsoever
| shall fall, it will | it shall fall, it
| scatter him as dust.| will scatter him
|45 And when the chief | as dust [_see Isa.
| and the Pharisees | 8:14-15_].
| heard his parables, |
| they perceived that |19 And the scribes
| he spake of them. | and the chief
12 And they sought to |46 And when they sought| priests sought to
lay hold on him; and| to lay hold on him, | lay hands on him
they feared the | they feared the | in that very hour;
multitude; for they | multitudes, | and they feared
perceived that he | | the people: for
spake the parable | | they perceived
against them: and | because | that he spake this
they left him, and | they took him for a | parable against
went away. | prophet. | them.
| 1 And Jesus answered|
2 and spake again in parables unto them, saying, The kingdom of
heaven is likened unto a certain king, which made a marriage
3 feast for his son, and sent forth his [3]servants to call them
that were bidden to the marriage feast: and they would not come.
4 Again he sent forth other [3]servants, saying, Tell them that are
bidden, Behold, I have made ready my dinner: my oxen and my
fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come to the
5 marriage feast. But they made light of it, and went their ways,
6 one to his own farm, another to his merchandise: and the rest laid
hold on his [3]servants, and entreated them shamefully, and killed
7 them. But the king was wroth; and he sent his armies, and
8 destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then saith he to
his [3]servants, The wedding is ready, but they that were bidden
9 were not worthy. Go ye therefore unto the partings of the
highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage feast.
10 And those [3]servants went out into the highways, and gathered
together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the
11 wedding was filled with guests. But when the king came in to
behold the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a
12 wedding-garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in
13 hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless. Then
the king said to the [6]servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast
him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and
14 gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few chosen.

[Footnote 1: Gr. _word_.]

[Footnote 2: Gr. _Child_.]

[Footnote 3: Gr. _bondservants_.]

[Footnote 4: Or, _the fruits of it_.]

[Footnote 5: Some ancient authorities omit ver. 44.]

[Footnote 6: Or, _ministers_.]

[Footnote 7: Or, _But shall we say, From men?_]

[Footnote 8: Or, _for all held John to be a prophet indeed_.]

[Footnote 9: Gr. _bondservant_.]

[Footnote 10: Gr. _Be it not so._]

[Footnote a: It was very common to test a Rabbi with hard questions. See this continued in the following sections. In like manner the Fourth Gospel gave us much animated dialogue between Jesus and the Jews at Jerusalem in chap. 5, and chap. 7-10. The Sanhedrin were within their rights in challenging the ecclesiastical and scholastic (scribal) standing of Jesus. He did not dodge in his answer.]

[Footnote b: On this last day of Christ's public ministry the Sanhedrin seek to break the power of Jesus with the people whose hero he is since the Triumphal Entry. The first attempt fails miserably, but it is followed by a series of other efforts to entrap Jesus and so turn the crowd against him. The three parables leave the rulers exposed by Jesus and they keenly feel the denunciation of the reply of Jesus.]

Sect. 133. THE PHARISEES AND THE HERODIANS TRY TO ENSNARE JESUS ABOUT PAYING TRIBUTE TO CAESAR

Mark 12:13-17 |Matt. 22:15-22 |Luke 20:20-26
| |
| |20 And they watched
| | him, and sent
| | forth spies, which
| | feigned themselves
| | to be righteous,
13 And they send unto|15 Then went the | that they might
him certain of the | Pharisees, and took | take hold of his
Pharisees and of the| counsel how they | speech, so as to
Herodians, that they| might ensnare him in| deliver him up to
might catch him in |16 _his_ talk. And they| the rule and to
talk. | send to him their | the authority of
14 And when they | disciples,[a] with |21 the governor. And
were come, they say | the Herodians, | they asked him,
unto him, [1]Master,| saying, [1]Master, | saying, [1]Master,
we know that thou | we know that thou | we know that thou
art true, | art true, and | sayest and
| teachest the way of | teachest rightly,
and carest | God in truth, and | and acceptest not
not for any one: for| carest not for any | the person _of
thou regardest not | one: for thou | any_, but of a
the person of men, | regardest not the | truth teachest the
but of a truth |17 person of men. Tell | way of God [_see
teachest the way of | us therefore, What | John 3:2_]:
God: Is it lawful to| |
give tribute unto | thinkest thou? Is it|22 Is it
Caesar, or not? | lawful to give | lawful for us to
15 Shall we give, or | tribute unto Caesar,| give tribute unto
shall we not give? |18 or not? But Jesus |23 Caesar, or not? But
But he, knowing | perceived their | he perceived their
their hypocrisy, | wickedness, and | craftiness, and
said unto them, Why | said, Why tempt ye | said unto them,
tempt ye me? bring | me, ye hypocrites? |24 Shew me a
me a [2]penny, that |19 Shew me the tribute | [2]penny.
16 I may see it. And | money. And they |
they brought it. And| brought unto him a |
he saith unto them, |20 [2]penny. And he | Whose
Whose is this image | saith unto them, | image and
and superscription? | Whose is this image | superscription
And they said unto | and superscription? | hath it? And they
17 him, Caesar's. And |21 They say unto him, |25 said, Caesar's. And
Jesus said unto | Caesar's. Then saith| he said unto them,
them, Render unto | he unto them, Render| Then render unto
Caesar the things | therefore unto | Caesar the things
that are Caesar's, | Caesar the things | that are Caesar's,
and unto God the | that are Caesar's; | and unto God the
things that are | and unto God the | things that are
God's. | things that are |26 God's. And they
| God's. | were not able to
| | take hold of the
|22 And when | saying before the
And they | they heard it, they | people: and they
marvelled greatly | marvelled, and left | marvelled at his
at him. | him, and went their | answer, and held
| way. | their peace.

[Footnote 1: Or, _Teacher_.]

[Footnote 2: See marginal note on Matt. 18:28.]

[Footnote a: The Pharisees send a group of their keenest students to go with the Herodians to catch Jesus with the dilemma about paying tribute to Caesar, a live question in current politics and theology. They offered Jesus the alternative of popular disfavor or of disloyalty to the Roman government.]

Sect. 134. THE SADDUCEES ASK HIM A PUZZLING QUESTION[a] ABOUT THE RESURRECTION

In the Court of the Temple. (_Tuesday_)

Mark 12:18-27 |Matt. 22:23-33 |Luke 20:27-40
| |
| |27 And there came to
|23 On that day there | him certain of the
18 And there come | came to him | Sadducees, they
unto him Sadducees, | Sadducees, [1]which | which say that
which say that there| say that there is no| there is no
is no resurrection; | resurrection: and |28 resurrection; and
and they asked him, | they asked him, | they asked him,
19 saying, [2]Master, |24 saying, [2]Master, | saying, [2]Master,
Moses wrote unto us,| Moses said, | Moses wrote unto
| | us [_see Gen.
| | 38:8; Deut.
| | 25:5-6_], that if
If a man's brother | | a man's brother
die, and leave a | If a man | die, having a
wife behind him, and| die, having no | wife, and he be
leave no child, that| children, his | childless, his
his brother should | brother [3]shall | brother should
take his wife, and | marry his wife, and | take the wife, and
raise up seed unto | raise up seed unto | raise up seed unto
his brother. |25 his brother. Now |29 his brother. There
20 There | there were with us | were therefore
were seven brethren:| seven brethren: and | seven brethren:
and the first took a| the first married | and the first took
wife, and dying left| and deceased, and | a wife, and died
21 no seed; and the | having no seed left |30 childless; and the
second took her, and| his wife unto his |31 second; and the
died, leaving no |26 brother; in like | third took her;
seed behind him; and| manner the second | and likewise the
the third likewise: | also, and the third,| seven also left no
22 and the seven left | unto the [4]seventh.| children, and
no seed. Last of all|27 And after them all |32 died. Afterward
the woman also died.| the woman died. | the woman also
|28 In |33 died. In the
23 In the resurrection | the resurrection | resurrection
whose wife shall she| therefore whose wife| therefore whose
be of them? for the | shall she be of the | wife of them shall
seven had her to | seven? for they all | she be? for the
24 wife. Jesus said |29 had her. But Jesus | seven had her to
unto them, Is it not| answered and said |34 wife. And Jesus
for this cause that | unto them, Ye do | said unto them, The
ye err, that ye know| err, not knowing the| sons of this
not the scriptures, | scriptures, nor the | [6]world marry, and
nor the power of | power of God. | are given in
God? | |35 marriage: but
| | they that are
| | accounted worthy
| | to attain that
| | [6]world, and the
25 For when they |30 For in | resurrection from
shall rise from the | the resurrection | the dead, neither
dead, they neither | they neither marry, | marry, nor are
marry, nor are given| nor are given in | given in marriage:
in marriage; but are| marriage, but are as|36 for neither can
| | they die any more:
| | for they are equal
as angels in heaven.| angels[5] in heaven.| unto the angels;
| | and are sons of
| | God, being sons of
| | the resurrection.
26 But as touching the |31 But as touching the |37 But that the dead
dead, that they are | resurrection of the | are raised, even
raised; have ye not | dead, have ye not | Moses shewed in
read in the book of | read that which was | _the place
Moses, in _the place| spoken unto you by | concerning_ the
concerning_ the | God, saying, | Bush, when he
Bush, how God spake | | calleth the Lord
unto him, saying, I |32 I am | the God of
_am_ the God of | the God of Abraham, | Abraham, and the
Abraham, and the God| and the God of | God of Isaac, and
of Isaac, and the | Isaac, and the God | the God of Jacob
27 God of Jacob? He is | of Jacob? God is not| [_see Ex. 3:6_].
not the God of the | _the God_ of the |38 Now he is not the
dead, but of the | dead, but of the | God of the dead,
living: ye do |33 living. And when the| but of the living:
greatly err. | multitudes heard it,| for all live unto
| they were astonished|39 him. And certain
| at his teaching. | of the scribes
| | answering said,
| | [2]Master, thou
| | hast well said.
| |40 For they durst not
| | any more ask him
| | any question.

[Footnote 1: Gr. _saying_.]

[Footnote 2: Or, _Teacher_.]

[Footnote 3: Gr. _shall perform the duty of a husband's brother to
his wife_. Compare Deut. 25:5.]

[Footnote 4: Gr. _seven_.]

[Footnote 5: Many ancient authorities add _of God_.]

[Footnote 6: Or, _age_.]

[Footnote a: Probably a stock conundrum that the Sadducees had often propounded to the discomfort of the Pharisees.]

Sect. 135. THE PHARISEES REJOICE OVER THE ROUT OF THE SADDUCEES AND A PHARISAIC LAWYER ASKS JESUS A LEGAL QUESTION

In the Court of the Temple. (_Tuesday_)

Mark 12:28-34 |Matt. 22:34-40
|
28 And one of the scribes came, |34 But the Pharisees, when they
and heard them questioning | heard that he had put the
together, and knowing that he | Sadducees to silence, gathered
had answered them well, asked |35 themselves together. And one of
him, | them, a lawyer, asked him a
| question, tempting him,
What commandment is the |36 [1]Master, which is the great
first of all [_see Deut. 6:4_]?|37 commandment in the law? And he
29 Jesus answered, The first is, | said unto him,
Hear, O Israel; [3]The Lord our|
God [_see Deut. 6:4_], the Lord|
30 is one: and thou shalt love the| Thou shalt love
Lord thy God [4]with all thy | the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and [4]with all thy | heart, and with all thy soul,
soul, and [4]with all thy mind,|38 and with all thy mind. This is
and [4]with all thy strength | the great and first
31 [_see Deut. 6:5_]. The second |39 commandment. [2]And a second
is this, Thou shalt love thy | like _unto it_ is this, Thou
neighbor as thyself [_see Lev. | shalt love thy neighbour as
19:18_]. There is none other |40 thyself. On these two
commandment greater than these.| commandments hangeth the whole
32 And the scribe said unto him, | law, and the prophets.
Of a truth, [1]Master, thou |
33 hast well said that he is one; and there is none other but he: and
to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding,
and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is
much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices [_see 1
34 Sam. 15:22_]. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he
said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no
man after that durst ask him any question.

[Footnote 1: Or, _Teacher_.]

[Footnote 2: Or, _And a second is like unto it, Thou shalt love
etc._]

[Footnote 3: Or, _The Lord is our God; the Lord is one._]

[Footnote 4: Gr. _from_.]

Sect. 136. JESUS, TO THE JOY OF THE MULTITUDE, SILENCES HIS ENEMIES BY THE PERTINENT QUESTION OF THE MESSIAH'S DESCENT FROM DAVID AND LORDSHIP OVER DAVID

In the Court of the Temple. (_Tuesday_)

Mark 12:35-37 |Matt. 22:41-46 |Luke 20:41-44
| |
|41 Now while the |
| Pharisees were |
| gathered together, |
35 And Jesus answered| Jesus asked them a |41 And he said unto
and said, as he |42 question, saying, | them, How say they
taught in the | What think ye of the| that the Christ is
temple, How say the | Christ? whose son is| David's son?
scribes that the | he? They say unto |
Christ is the son of| him, _The son_ of |
David? |43 David. He saith unto|
36 David himself | them, How then doth |42 For
said in the Holy | David in the Spirit | David himself
Spirit, [_see Ps. | call him Lord, | saith in the book
110:1_], | saying, | of Psalms,
The Lord said unto|44 The Lord said unto| The Lord said
my Lord, | my Lord, | unto my Lord,
Sit thou on my | Sit thou on my | Sit thou on my
right hand, | right hand, | right hand,
Till I make thine | Till I put thine |43 Till I make
enemies [1]the | enemies | thine enemies
footstool of thy| underneath thy | the footstool
feet. | feet? | of thy feet.
37 David himself |45 If David then |44 David therefore
calleth him Lord; | calleth him Lord, | calleth him Lord,
and whence is he his| how is he his son? | and how is he his
son? |46 And no one was able | son?
And [2]the common | to answer him a |
people heard him | word, neither durst |
gladly. | any man from that |
| day forth ask him |
| any more questions. |

[Footnote 1: Some ancient authorities read _underneath thy
feet_.]

[Footnote 2: Or, _the great multitude_.]

Sect. 137. IN HIS LAST PUBLIC DISCOURSE, JESUS SOLEMNLY DENOUNCES[a] THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES (COMP. SECT. 107)

In the Court of the Temple. (_Tuesday_)

Mark 12:38-40 |Matt. 23:1-39 |Luke 20:45-47
| |
| 1 Then spake Jesus |45 And in the
| to the multitudes | hearing of all the
38 And in his | and to his | people he said unto
teaching he said, | disciples, saying, | his disciples,
Beware of the | 2 The scribes and the |46 Beware of the
scribes, | Pharisees sit on | scribes,
| 3 Moses' seat: all |
| things therefore |
| whatsoever they bid |
| you, _these_ do and |
| observe: but do not |
| ye after their |
| works; for they say,|
| 4 and do not. Yea, |
| they bind heavy |
| burdens [1]and |
| grievous to be |
| borne, and lay them |
| on men's shoulders; |
| but they themselves |
| will not move them |
| with their finger. |
| 5 But all their works |
| they do for to be |
| seen of men [_see |
| Ex. 13:9; Num. |
| 15:38-39; Deut. 6:8;|
| 11:18_]: for they |
| make broad their |
| phylacteries, and |
which | enlarge the borders | which
desire to walk in | _of their garments_,| desire to walk in
long robes, and _to | 6 and love the chief | long robes, and
have_ salutations in| place at feasts, and| love salutations in
the marketplaces, | the chief seats in | the marketplaces,
39 and chief seats in | 7 the synagogues, and | and chief seats in
the synagogues, and | the salutations in | the synagogues, and
chief places at | the marketplaces, | chief places at
feasts: | and to be called of | feasts;
| 8 men, Rabbi. But be |
not ye called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and all ye are
9 brethren. And call no man your father on the earth: for one is your
10 Father, [2]which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for
11 one is your master, _even_ the Christ. But he that is [3]greatest
12 among you shall be your [4]servant. And whosoever shall exalt
himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall
be exalted.
13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye
shut the kingdom of heaven [5]against men: for ye enter not in
yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering in to
enter.[6]
| |
40 they which | |47 which
devour widows' | | devour widows'
houses, [12]and for | | houses, and for a
a pretence make long| | pretence make long
prayers; these shall| | prayers: these
receive greater | | shall receive
condemnation. | | greater
| | condemnation.
| |
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass
sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is become so, ye
make him twofold more a son of [7]hell than yourselves.
16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear
by the [8]temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the
17 gold of the [8]temple, he is [9]a debtor. Ye fools and blind: for
whether is greater, the gold, or the [8]temple that hath
18 sanctified the gold? And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it
is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it,
19 he is [9]a debtor. Ye blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or
20 the altar that sanctifieth the gift? He therefore that sweareth by
21 the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. And he that
sweareth by the [8]temple, sweareth by it, and by him that
22 dwelleth therein. And he that sweareth by the heaven, sweareth by
the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe
mint and [10]anise and cummin [_see Lev. 27:30; Mic. 6:8_], and
have left undone the weightier matters of the law, judgement, and
mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have
24 left the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain out the gnat,
and swallow the camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye cleanse
the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are
26 full from extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first
the inside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside thereof
may become clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like
unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but
inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly
ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye build the
sepulchres of the prophets, and garnish the tombs of the
30 righteous, and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we
should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the
31 prophets. Wherefore ye witness to yourselves, that ye are sons of
32 them that slew the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your
33 fathers. Ye serpents, ye offspring of vipers, how shall ye escape
34 the judgement of [7]hell? Therefore, behold, I send unto you
prophets, and wise men, and scribes: some of them shall ye kill
and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues,
35 and persecute from city to city: that upon you may come all the
righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the
righteous unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye
slew between the sanctuary and the altar [_see Gen. 4:8; 2 Chron.
36 24:20-21_]. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come
upon this generation.
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killeth the prophets, and stoneth
them that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy
children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her
38 wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you
39 [11]desolate [_see Jer. 12:7; 22:5_]. For I say unto you, Ye shall
not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed _is_ he that
cometh in the name of the Lord [_see Ps. 118:26_].

[Footnote 1: Many ancient authorities omit _and grievous to be
borne_.]

[Footnote 2: Gr. _the heavenly_.]

[Footnote 3: Gr. _greater_.]

[Footnote 4: Or, _minister_.]

[Footnote 5: Gr. _before_.]

[Footnote 6: Some authorities insert here, or after ver. 12, ver.
14, _Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye
devour widows' houses, even while for a pretence ye make long
prayers: therefore ye shall receive greater condemnation._ See
Mark 12:40, Luke 20:47, above.]

[Footnote 7: Gr. _Gehenna_.]

[Footnote 8: Or, _sanctuary_: as in ver. 35.]

[Footnote 9: Or, _bound_ by his oath.]

[Footnote 10: Or, _dill_.]

[Footnote 11: Some ancient authorities omit _desolate_.]

[Footnote 12: Or, _even while for a pretence they make_.]

[Footnote a: Jesus has been criticized for lack of self-control in this exposure of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. One must bear in mind the tremendous sins of which the Pharisees are guilty. The very teachers of righteousness are now in the act of rejecting and finally crucifying the Son of God. See my book, _The Pharisees and Jesus_, for full discussion.]

Sect. 138. JESUS CLOSELY OBSERVES[a] THE CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE TEMPLE, AND COMMENDS THE POOR WIDOW'S GIFT

(_Tuesday_)

Mark 12:41-44 |Luke 21:1-4
|
41 And he sat down over against |
the treasury, and beheld how |
the multitude cast [1]money | 1 And he looked up, [3]and saw
into the treasury: and many | the rich men that were casting
that were rich cast in much. | their gifts into the treasury.
42 And there came [2]a poor widow,| 2 And he saw a certain poor widow
and she cast in two mites, | casting in thither two mites.
43 which make a farthing. And he |
called unto him his disciples, |
and said unto them, Verily I | 3 And he said, Of a truth I say
say unto you, This poor widow | unto you, This poor widow cast
cast in more than all they | 4 in more than they all: for all
which are casting into the | these did of their superfluity
44 treasury: for they all did cast| cast in unto the gifts: but she
in of their superfluity; but | of her want did cast in all the
she of her want did cast in all| living that she had.
that she had, _even_ all her |
living. |

[Footnote 1: Gr. _brass_.]

[Footnote 2: Gr. _one_.]

[Footnote 3: Or, _and saw them that ... treasury, and they were
rich._]

[Footnote a: Notice that this was the last occurrence in the Saviour's public ministry, except the trial and the crucifixion. This is the last appearance of Jesus in the Temple. His public teaching is over save the words of defence in his trial and the seven sayings on the Cross. The Pharisees and Sadducees had withdrawn in terror at the explosion of the wrath of Jesus and even the disciples were at some distance as Jesus sat alone by the treasury. It is useless further to plead with his enemies. The task now remains to get the disciples prepared for the Master's death and the time is short and they as yet have completely failed to grasp the fact or the significance of his death and the promise of his resurrection on the third day.]