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  Section 9: Last Judean Ministry (Nov 29 - Dec 29)
Leaving Jerusalem to make a brief missionary journey through Judea (Nov 29), Jesus cures two blind men and casts out a daemon from a mute man. This causes the slanders from the pharisees, and Jesus defends himself ("How can Satan cast out Satan?") and speaks about the unforgivable sin against the Spirit. He notes who is to be truly blessed and why and he announces the sign of Jonah. After the discourse about the spiritual light it follows another severe recrimination against the scribes and pharisees ("you took away the key...") Jesus then teaches the disciples how to endure the persecutions. After then he speaks against the covetousness, teaching the parable of the foolish rich man. He exhorts to preparedness and faithfulness and expresses his eagerness of his baptism of fire. He requests attention to watch the signs of the times and he teaches the parable of the sterile fig. On the Sabbath day, the heals he woman who had a spirit of infirmity and he answers to the question whether are they few who are saved?.
Warned about the persecution of Herod (Dec 29), he states that a prophet must die in Jerusalem, and returns there for the feast of Dedication. Approaching the city, he weeps over Jerusalem
 

 Healings. Slanders from the pharisees. The unforgivable sin
 Two blind men cured


9:27  As Jesus passed by from there, two blind men followed him, calling out and saying, "Have mercy on us, son of David!"
9:28  When he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They told him, "Yes, Lord."
9:29  Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you."
9:30  Their eyes were opened. Jesus strictly charged them, saying, "See that no one knows about this."
9:31  But they went out and spread abroad his fame in all that land.
     
 Daemon casted out from a mute man

9:32  As they went out, behold, a mute man who was demon possessed was brought to him.
9:33  When the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke. The multitudes marveled, saying, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!"
9:34  But the Pharisees said, "By the prince of the demons, he casts out demons."
     
 Slanders from the pharisees

12:22  Then one possessed by a demon, blind and mute, was brought to him and he healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
12:23  All the multitudes were amazed, and said, "Can this be the son of David?"
12:24  But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons."
3:22  The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul," and, "By the prince of the demons he casts out the demons."
11:14  He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. It happened, when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the multitudes marveled.
11:15  But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons."
11:16  Others, testing him, sought from him a sign from heaven.
 
 Jesus' defence: "How can Satan cast out Satan?"

12:25  Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
12:26  If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
12:27  If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
12:28  But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
12:29  Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man, and plunder his goods, unless he first bind the strong man? Then he will plunder his house.
12:30  "He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn't gather with me, scatters.
3:23  He summoned them, and said to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan?
3:24  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
3:25  If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
3:26  If Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he can't stand, but has an end.
3:27  But no one can enter into the house of the strong man to plunder, unless he first binds the strong man; and then he will plunder his house.
11:17  But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. A house divided against itself falls.
11:18  If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.
11:19  But if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore will they be your judges.
11:20  But if I by the finger of God cast out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come to you.
11:21  "When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own dwelling, his goods are safe.
11:22  But when someone stronger attacks him and overcomes him, he takes from him his whole armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.
11:23  "He that is not with me is against me. He who doesn't gather with me scatters.
 
 The unforgivable sin

12:31  Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.
12:32  Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.
12:33  "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit.
12:34  You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
12:35  The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things.
12:36  I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
12:37  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
3:28  Most assuredly I tell you, all of the children of men's sins will be forgiven them, including their blasphemies with which they may blaspheme;
3:29  but whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"
3:30  -- because they said, "He has an unclean spirit."
12:10  Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
 
 Relapsing into sin

12:43  But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and doesn't find it.
12:44  Then he says, 'I will return into my house from which I came out,' and when he has come back, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.
12:45  Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than he is, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. Even so will it be also to this evil generation."
  11:24  The unclean spirit, when he has gone out of the man, passes through dry places, seeking rest, and finding none, he says, 'I will turn back to my house from which I came out.'
11:25  When he returns, he finds it swept and put in order.
11:26  Then he goes, and takes seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first."
 
 Who and why is to be blessed

    11:27  It came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which nursed you!"
11:28  But he said, "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it."
 
 The sign of Jonah


12:38  Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."
12:39  But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.
12:40  For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
12:41  The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here.
12:42  The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, someone greater than Solomon is here.
  11:29  When the multitudes were gathering together to him, he began to say, "This is an evil generation. It seeks after a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah, the prophet.
11:30  For even as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will also the Son of Man be to this generation.
11:31  The Queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and will condemn them: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, one greater than Solomon is here.
11:32  The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, one greater than Jonah is here.
 
 The spiritual light "The lamp of the body is the eye"

    11:33  "No man, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a cellar, nor under a basket, but on a stand, that those who enter in may see the light.
11:34  The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness.
11:35  Therefore see whether the light that is in you isn't darkness.
11:36  If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light."
 
 Serious recrimination against the scribes and pharisees: "You took away the key..."


    11:37  Now as he spoke, a certain Pharisee asked him to dine with him. He went in, and sat at the table.
11:38  When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that he had not first washed himself before dinner.
11:39  The Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.
11:40  You foolish ones, didn't he who made the outside make the inside also?
11:41  But give for gifts to the needy those things which are within, and behold, all things will be clean to you.
11:42  But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, but you bypass justice and the love of God. You ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.
11:43  Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces.
11:44  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like hidden graves, and the men who walk over them don't know it."
11:45  One of the lawyers answered him, "Teacher, in saying this you insult us also."
11:46  He said, "Woe to you lawyers also! For you load men with burdens that are difficult to carry, and you yourselves won't even lift one finger to help carry those burdens.
11:47  Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
11:48  So you testify and consent to the works of your fathers. For they killed them, and you build their tombs.
11:49  Therefore also the wisdom of God said, 'I will send to them prophets and apostles; and some of them they will kill and persecute,
11:50  that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
11:51  from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.' Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation.
11:52  Woe to you lawyers! For you took away the key of knowledge. You didn't enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in, you hindered."
 
 The enemity of the pharisees grows

    11:53  As he said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly angry, and to draw many things out of him;
11:54  lying in wait for him, and seeking to catch him in something he might say, that they might accuse him.
 
 Teachings regarding the persecutions
 "Don't be afraid of those who kill the body"


10:24  "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord.
10:25  It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!
10:26  Therefore don't be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; and hidden that will not be known.
10:27  What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.
10:28  Don't be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
10:29  "Aren't two sparrows sold for an assarion? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father's will,
10:30  but the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
10:31  Therefore don't be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
10:32  Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven.
10:33  But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.
  12:1  Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his disciples first of all, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
12:2  But there is nothing covered up, that will not be revealed, nor hidden, that will not be known.
12:3  Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers will be proclaimed on the housetops.
12:4  "I tell you, my friends, don't be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
12:5  But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him, who after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
12:6  "Aren't five sparrows sold for two assaria coins? Not one of them is forgotten by God.
12:7  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore don't be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
12:8  "I tell you, everyone who confesses me before men, him will the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God;
12:9  but he who denies me in the presence of men will be denied in the presence of the angels of God.
 
 "When they bring you before the rules..."

    12:11  When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don't be anxious how or what you will answer, or what you will say;
12:12  for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say."
 
 Discourses against covetousness
 Parable of the foolish rich man


    12:13  One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
12:14  But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?"
12:15  He said to them, "Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man's life doesn't consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses."
12:16  He spoke a parable to them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth abundantly.
12:17  He reasoned within himself, saying, 'What will I do, because I don't have room to store my crops?'
12:18  He said, 'This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
12:19  I will tell my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry."'
12:20  "But God said to him, 'You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared--whose will they be?'
12:21  So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
 
 Warning against worldly solicitude: The lilies and the ravens

    12:22  He said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear.
12:23  Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.
12:24  Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds!
12:25  Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height?
12:26  If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest?
12:27  Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
12:28  But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?
12:29  Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious.
12:30  For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things.
12:31  But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.
 
 "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also"

    12:32  Don't be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.
12:33  Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don't grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn't fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys.
12:34  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
 
 Preparedness and faithfulness


24:42  Watch therefore, for you don't know in what hour your Lord comes.
24:43  But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
24:44  Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don't expect, the Son of Man will come.
13:33  Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don't know when the time is.
13:34  "It is like a man, traveling to another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch.
13:35  Watch therefore, for you don't know when the lord of the house is coming, whether at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning;
13:36  lest coming suddenly he might find you sleeping.
13:37  What I tell you, I tell all: Watch."
12:35  "Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning.
12:36  Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him.
12:37  Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most assuredly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them.
12:38  They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch, and finds them so.
12:39  But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into.
12:40  Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don't expect him."
 
 The lord and the steward

24:45  "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
24:46  Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes.
24:47  Most assuredly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has.
24:48  But if that evil servant should say in his heart, 'My lord is delaying his coming,'
24:49  and begins to beat his fellow-servants, and eat and drink with the drunken,
24:50  the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn't expect it, and in an hour when he doesn't know it,
24:51  and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites; there is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.
  12:41  Peter said to him, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?"
12:42  The Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times?
12:43  Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes.
12:44  Truly I tell you, that he will set him over all that he has.
12:45  But if that servant says in his heart, 'My lord delays his coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken,
12:46  then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn't expecting him, and in an hour that he doesn't know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful.
 
 God's payment

    12:47  That servant, who knew his lord's will, and didn't prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes,
12:48  but he who didn't know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whoever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.
 
 The baptism of fire

    12:49  "I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled.
12:50  But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!
 
 "I didn't come to send peace, but a sword"

10:34  "Don't think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn't come to send peace, but a sword.
10:35  For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
10:36  A man's foes will be those of his own household.
  12:51  Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division.
12:52  For from now on, there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
12:53  They will be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
 
 The signs of the times

    12:54  He said to the multitudes also, "When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming,' and so it happens.
12:55  When a south wind blows, you say, 'There will be a scorching heat,' and it happens.
12:56  You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you don't interpret this time?
12:57  Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?
12:58  For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.
12:59  I tell you, you will by no means get out of there, until you have paid the very last penny."
 
 Repentance and penitence


    13:1  Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
13:2  Jesus answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things?
13:3  I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.
13:4  Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them; do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem?
13:5  I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way."
 
 The infertile fig

    13:6  He spoke this parable. "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none.
13:7  He said to the vine dresser, 'Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down. Why does it waste the soil?'
13:8  He answered, 'Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it, and fertilize it.
13:9  If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.'"
 
 Healing of the woman who had a spirit of infirmity


    13:10  He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day.
13:11  Behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and she was bent over, and could in no way straighten herself up.
13:12  When Jesus saw her, he called her, and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity."
13:13  He laid his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight, and glorified God.
13:14  The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the multitude, "There are six days in which men ought to work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!"
13:15  Therefore the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each one of you free his ox or his donkey from the stall on the Sabbath, and lead him away to water?
13:16  Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound eighteen long years, be freed from this bondage on the Sabbath day?"
13:17  As he said these things, all his adversaries were disappointed, and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
 
 Are they few who are saved?

    13:22  He went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and traveling on to Jerusalem.
13:23  One said to him, "Lord, are they few who are saved?" He said to them,
13:24  "Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in, and will not be able.
13:25  When once the master of the house has risen up, and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside, and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' then he will answer and tell you, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'
13:26  Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drink in your presence, and you taught in our streets.'
13:27  He will say, 'I tell you, I don't know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.'
13:28  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets, in the Kingdom of God, and yourselves being thrown outside.
13:29  They will come from the east, west, north, and south, and will sit down in the Kingdom of God.
13:30  Behold, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last."
 
 Herod seeks Jesus


    13:31  On that same day, some Pharisees came, saying to him, "Get out of here, and go away, for Herod wants to kill you."
13:32  He said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I complete my mission.
13:33  Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, for it can't be that a prophet perish outside of Jerusalem.'
 
 Jesus weeps over Jesusalem

    13:34  "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused!
13:35  Behold, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'"
 

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  Hernán J. González
http://hjg.com.ar
Buenos Aires, Argentina - March 2001
Last revision: 08/09/2001