About this Bible Study........The King James Version of the Bible is written in a beautiful form of the English language. It can be hard for modern English readers to understand. In this study, you will find notes and summaries in brown just above the the verses from the Bible. We recommend that you read the notes and summaries first, and then read the verses in their KJV form.
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The Gospel of Luke
Luke was not one of the 12 disciples. Years after Jesus was
crucified, Luke traveled with the apostle Paul. Luke had been a
doctor before he started traveling with Paul. Luke wrote this book of
the Bible based on what Paul and others told him.
Luke also wrote the Book of Acts.
The Gospel of Luke was probably written in 85 - 90 AD.
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This chapter begins with a couple of short stories. The first story is about Pilate. He was the Roman governor in charge of the part of Israel around Jerusalem. This short story is about an event between Pilate and some people who lived near the Sea of Galilee. Some people in Galilee were making sacrifices. Pilate had them killed, and then he put some of their blood on the altar with the sacrifices they were making. The second story is about the Tower in Siloam. Siloam is a place in the city of Jerusalem. There was a tower there that fell down. It fell on 18 people who were killed. |
Parable about a fig tree
Jesus told this parable: A man planted a fig tree
in with his grape vines. He came to see if it had any fruit on it, but
there was none.
[6] He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his
vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
So the man said to the man who took care of the farm,
"Look at these trees. I planted them 3 years ago. I came to look for fruit, but
there is none. Cut it down. Why should it take up space in the ground?"
[7] Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I
come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth
it the ground?
The man answered, "Master, leave it this year. I will
dig around it and put manure down for fertilizer. If it makes fruit, that will
be good. If it doesn't make fruit, then you can cut it down."
[8] And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I
shall dig about it, and dung it:
[9] And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it
down.
Jesus heals a disabled woman on the sabbath.
On the sabbath, Jesus was teaching in a synagogue.
[10] And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
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Picture from LaVista Church of Christ |
There was a woman who had been sick for 18 years. She
was bent over and couldn't stand up.
[11] And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen
years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
Jesus saw her. He told her to come to Him. He
said, "Woman, you are now loose from your disability." He laid His hands on her.
Immediately, she stood up straight and glorified God.
[12] And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman,
thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
[13] And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and
glorified God.
The leader of the synagogue was disgusted because
Jesus healed someone on the sabbath day. The synagogue leader said to the
people, "There are 6 days when men should work. You should come to be healed on
those 6 days, but not on the sabbath day."
[14] And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that
Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six
days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not
on the sabbath day.
Jesus answered him. He said, "You are a hypocrite.
Don't each of you take your donkeys and oxen out of their stalls and lead them
to water on the sabbath day?
[15] The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of
you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to
watering?
Shouldn't this woman be loosened on the sabbath day? She is a descendant of
Abraham. Satan had kept her tied up with her illness for 18 years."
[16] And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath
bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
After Jesus finished talking, His enemies were ashamed.
All of the people were happy because of the wonderful things Jesus had done.
[17] And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and
all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
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A mustard seed is tiny. It is much smaller than a penny. Picture from SusanNorris.org |
Jesus compares the kingdom of God to yeast and a
mustard seed.
Then Jesus said, "What is the kingdom of God like? What
can I compare it to? It is like a tiny mustard seed. The man took the tiny seed
and threw it into his garden. It grew into a big tree. The birds of the air
lived in its branches."
[18] Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I
resemble it?
[19] It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his
garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in
the branches of it.
Jesus said again, "What is the kingdom of God like? It
is like yeast. A woman put the yeast in 3 containers of flour so that all
of the dough would rise."
[20] And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
[21] It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal,
till the whole was leavened.
People should repent before it is too late.
Then Jesus went through the cities and towns. He taught
as he traveled toward Jerusalem.
[22] And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying
toward Jerusalem.
One person said to Jesus, "Lord, are only a few people
going to be saved?" Jesus answered, "Try to enter the narrow gate. I tell you
that many will try to get in, but they won't be able to. [23] Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto
them,
[24] Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek
to enter in, and shall not be able.
Once the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will be outside.
You will knock on the door and say, 'Lord, Lord, open the door for us.' The
master will say, 'I don't know who you are. Then will you start to say, 'We have
eaten and drank with you. You have taught in our streets.' Then the master
will say, 'I am telling you that I don't know you. Go away. You do bad things.'"
[25] When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door,
and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord,
open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye
are:
[26] Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and
thou hast taught in our streets.
[27] But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me,
all ye workers of iniquity.
Jesus continued, "People outside will cry hard and
grind their teeth. You will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all of the prophets
in the kingdom of God, but you have been thrown out. People will come from the
east, west, north, and south. They will sit down in the kingdom of God. See, the
people who were last (least important) will be first. The people who were
first (most important) will be last."
[28] There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham,
and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you
yourselves thrust out.
[29] And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north,
and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
[30] And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which
shall be last.
Jesus tells that He will be killed in
Jerusalem.
The same day, some Pharisees came to Jesus. They
said, "Leave, because Herod will kill You."
[31] The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee
out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
Jesus said to them, "You go tell that fox that I am
putting out devils. I am healing people today and tomorrow. On the 3rd day,
I will be finished. Even so, I will walk today, tomorrow, and the day after.
It can't happen that prophet is killed outside of Jerusalem."
[32] And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils,
and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
[33] Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for
it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
Jesus continued, "Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you kill the
prophets and stone the ones who are sent to you. Many times, I wanted to gather
my children together like a hen gathers her baby chicks under her wings. But you
would not do that. You will see that your house will be empty. I am truly saying
to you that you will not see me until the time that you say, 'He who comes in the
name of the Lord is blessed.' "
[34] O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that
are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a
hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
[35] Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye
shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that
cometh in the name of the Lord.
Jesus talks about the cost to follow Him.
There were big crowds with Him. He turned and said to
them, "If any man wants to follow Me, he must love Me more than his father,
mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and even his own life. If he doesn't
love Me the most, he cannot be My disciple.
[25] And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto
them,
[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 people who do not carry their own crosses and follow Me cannot be My
disciples.
[27] And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my
disciple.
If you were going to build a tower, wouldn't you sit down first and figure out
how much it would cost? You would need to know if you had enough money to finish
it or not. If you didn't do that first, you might start building it and then see
that you didn't have enough money to keep building it. Everyone would make
fun of you. They would make fun and say that you started to build,
but couldn't finish.
[28] For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and
counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
[29] Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish
it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
[30] Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
If a king is going to fight another king in a war,
wouldn't he sit down first with his advisors? They would figure out if they
could win with 10,000 soldiers if the other king has 20,000 soldiers. If they
see they can't win, they will send someone to the other king and try to make
peace. They will contact the other king before he gets too close.
[31] Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down
first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that
cometh against him with twenty thousand?
[32] Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage,
and desireth conditions of peace.
In the same way, if you don't give up all you have, you
cannot be My disciple.
[33] So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he
cannot be my disciple.
Jesus talks about salt.
Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its salty
flavor, how can it become salty again? It is not good for anything, but should
be thrown away. Anyone who has ears should hear what I'm saying."
[34] Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be
seasoned?
[35] It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it
out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Jesus told them this parable: If you had 100 sheep and
lost one of them, wouldn't you leave the 99 and go look for the one who was
lost? You would keep looking until you found it.
[3] And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
[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?
When you find it, you would lay it on your shoulders
and rejoice. When you got home, you would call your friends and neighbors and
tell them, "Be happy with me because I have found my sheep that was lost."
[5] And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
[6] And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours,
saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
I tell you that it will be the same in heaven.
There will be more happiness over the one sinner that repented than over the 99
people who did not need to repent.
[7] I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that
repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no
repentance.
In the same way, if a woman loses one of her 10 pieces
of silver, doesn't she light a candle and sweep the house until she finds it?
Then she calls her friends and neighbors and says, "Be happy for me because I
found the piece of silver that I lost." In the same way, the angels of God
in heaven are more happy when one sinner repents.
[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?
[9] And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours
together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
[10] Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God
over one sinner that repenteth.
The parable of the prodigal son
Jesus told this story about a man and his two sons. The younger son asked his
father for his part of his inheritance. So, his father gave him his part. A few
days later, the younger son left and traveled far away. He was very sinful and
wasted all of his money.
[11] And he said, A certain man had two sons:
[12] And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of
goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
[13] And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his
journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
Picture from LaVista Church of Christ |
After he spent all of his money, there was a famine. He
didn't have anything to eat. He got a job with a farmer. His job was to feed the
pigs. He was very hungry, and no one gave him food. So, he ate the food that the
pigs didn't eat.
[14] And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he
began to be in want.
[15] And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent
him into his fields to feed swine.
[16] And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did
eat: and no man gave unto him.
He began to think about his father's workers. They
always had enough food to eat. But, he was starving. So, he decided to go home.
He would tell his father what he had done. He would tell him that he sinned
against him and sinned against God. He would tell him that he was not worthy
enough to be called his son, so he wanted to work as one of the workers.
[17] And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my
father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
[18] I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have
sinned against heaven, and before thee,
[19] And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired
servants.
He got up and went back home. While he was still a
long way from the house, his father saw him. He felt great love and pity and ran
to his son. He hugged and kissed him.
[20] And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off,
his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and
kissed him.
The son told his father that he had sinned against him
and God. He said he was not good enough to be called his son.
[21] And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy
sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
But, the father told his workers to bring the best robe
and put it on his son. He told them to put a ring on his hand and shoes on his
feet. He told them to go kill the special fat calf so they could eat it and
have a party.
[22] But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it
on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
[23] And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be
merry:
He told them that his son was dead, but he is alive
again. His son was lost, but now he is found. Everyone began to celebrate.
[24] For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.
And they began to be merry./
The man's older son was out working in the fields. When
he came back to the house, he heard music and dancing. He asked one of the
servants what was going on.
[25] Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the
house, he heard musick and dancing.
[26] And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
The servant said that his brother had come home safely,
and his father killed the special calf to celebrate.
[27] And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the
fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
The older brother was mad and would not go in. So, his father came out and
begged him to come in.
[28] And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and
intreated him.
The older brother said, "All of these years I have
worked for him and obeyed all of your rules. But you never even gave me a young
goat so I could have a party with my friends. But as soon as your other son came
back, you killed the special calf. He did bad things and spent all of his money
on prostitutes.
[29] And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee,
neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me
a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
[30] But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with
harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
The father said, "Son, you are always with me.
Everything I have is yours. But it is right for us to celebrate because
your brother was dead and now he is alive again. He was lost, but now he is
found."
[31] And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is
thine.
[32] It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother
was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.