61.10 The Transfiguration.
Jesus Casts a Deaf and Dumb Spirit out of a Child.
MT 17:1-21
1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his
brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was
transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes
became as white as the light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them
Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord,
it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make here three
tabernacles-one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he
was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and a
voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well
pleased. Listen to him!" 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on
their faces, and were filled with awe. 7 But Jesus came and touched
them and said, "Rise. Don't be afraid." 8 And when they lifted up their
eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded
them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the
dead." 10 And the disciples asked him, "Why then do the scribes say
that Elijah must come first?" 11 Jesus replied, "Elijah is coming first
and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has come
already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished.
So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands." 13 Then the
disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and
kneeling before him said, 15 "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an
epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire,
and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, but
they could not heal him." 17 Then Jesus answered, "O faithless and
perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I
bear with you? Bring him here to me." 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon,
and it came out of him, and the boy was cured from that moment. 19 Then
the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast
it out?" 20 So he said to them, "Because of your little faith. For
truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you
will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move;
and nothing will be impossible to you."
MK 9:2-29
2 After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John,
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was
transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling,
exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth could bleach them. 4 And
there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with
Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here.
And let us make three tabernacles-one for you, one for Moses, and one
for Elijah." 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were greatly
afraid. 7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out
of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!" 8 Suddenly, when
they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to
tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the
dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what the
rising from the dead meant. 11 And they asked him, "Why do the scribes
say that Elijah must come first?" 12 Then he said to them, "Elijah does
come first and restores all things. And how is it written of the Son of
Man, that he must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13
But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they
wished, as it is written of him."
14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd
around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 Immediately, when they
saw him, all the people were greatly amazed, and ran to him and greeted
him. 16 And he asked them, "What are you discussing with them?" 17 And
one of the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, who
has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down;
he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked
your disciples to cast out the spirit, but they could not." 19 He
answered him, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you?
How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me." 20 And they brought
the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed
the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the
mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he been like this?"
And he said, "From childhood. 22 And it has often thrown him both into
the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if you can do anything,
have pity on us and help us." 23 Jesus said to him, "If you can, all
things are possible to him who believes." 24 Immediately the father of
the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" 25 And
when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the
unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you,
come out of him, and never enter him
again." 26 And the spirit cried out, convulsed him terribly, and came
out. And the boy was like a corpse; so that many of them said, "He is
dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he
arose. 28 And when he had come into the house, his disciples asked him
privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" 29 And he said to them,
"This kind can only come out by prayer."
LK 9:28-43a
28 Now about eight days after these sayings, he took with him
Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And
as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his robe
became white and glistening. 30 And behold, two men talked with him,
Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure,
which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 But Peter and those
with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they
saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 As the men were
parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be
here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for you, one for Moses,
and one for Elijah"-not knowing what he said. 34 While he was saying
this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they
entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This
is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" 36 When the voice had spoken,
Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those
days any of the things they had seen.
37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a
great crowd met him. 38 And behold, a man from the crowd cried out,
"Teacher, I beg you to look upon my son, for he is my only child. 39
And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it
convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and will hardly leave him,
bruising him. 40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could
not." 41 Then Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how
long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here." 42
While he was coming, the demon threw him and convulsed him. But Jesus
rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to
his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the majesty of God.
62.10 Jesus a Second Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection
MT 17:22-23
22 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them,
"The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and
they will
kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were
greatly distressed.
MK 9:30-32
30 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and
he did not want anyone to know it. 31 For he was teaching his disciples
and said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the
hands of men. They will kill him, and when he is killed, after three
days he will rise." 32 But they did not understand the saying, and they
were afraid to ask him.
LK 9:43b-45
43 But while everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he
said to his disciples, 44 "Let these words sink into your ears, for the
Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men." 45 But they
did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that
they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this
saying.
63.10 Jesus Pays the Tribute Money
MT 17:24-27
24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel
tax went up to Peter and said, "Does not your teacher pay the temple
tax?" 25 He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke
to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings
of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from others?" 26
And when Peter said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons
are free. 27 Nevertheless, so that we may not offend them, go to the
sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when
you open its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give
it to them for me and you."
63.20 Jesus Teaches Humility
MT 18:1-5
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 He called to him a little child,
and put him in the midst of them, 3 and he said, "Truly, I say to you,
unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter
the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this
child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one
little child like this in my name receives me.
MK 9:33-37
33 And they came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked
them, "What were you discussing on the road?" 34 But they kept silent;
for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the
greatest. 35 And he sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If
anyone desires to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."
36 And he took a little child, and put him in the midst of them. And
taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever receives one of
these little children in my name receives me; and whoever receives me,
receives not me but him who sent me."
LK 9:46-48
46 And an argument arose among them as to which of them would be
the greatest. 47 Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a
little child and set him by him, 48 and said to them, "Whoever receives
this little child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me
receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one
who is great."
63.30 Jesus Warns His Disciples against Spiritual Exclusiveness
MK 9:38-41
38 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in
your name and we forbade him, because he was not one of us." 39 But
Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who does a miracle in my
name can soon afterward speak evil of me. 40 For he who is not against
us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of
water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, will by no
means lose his reward.
LK 9:49-50
49 Now John answered, "Master, we saw a man casting out demons in
your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us." 50
But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him, for he that is not against
you is for you."
63.30 Temptation to Sin
MT 18:6-20
6 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me
to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung
around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the
world because of temptations to sin! For temptations must come, but woe
to the man by whom the temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your
foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for
you to enter life maimed or lame than with two hands or two feet to be
thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin,
pluck it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with
one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I
tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father
who is in heaven. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep,
and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and
go to the mountains in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he
finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than
over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 So it is not the will
of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should
perish.
15 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault,
between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your
brother. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along
with
you, so that 'every matter may be established by the word of two or
three witnesses.' 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the
church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to
you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
18 "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound
in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19
Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything
they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where
two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst
of them."
MK 9:42-50
42 "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to
sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round
his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to
sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with
two hands to go into hell, to the fire that shall never be quenched. 45
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to
enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if
your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter
the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown
into hell, 48 where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not
quenched.' 49 For every one will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good,
but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in
yourselves, and be at peace with one another."
63.40 Exhortation to Forgiveness
MT 18:21-35
21 Then Peter came to him and said, "Lord, how often shall my
brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus
said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to
settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began the settlement, one
was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And as he was
not able to pay, his master ordered that he be sold, with his wife and
children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant
fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I
will pay you everything.' 27 The master of that servant took pity on
him, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But that servant went
out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred
denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying,
'Pay me what you owe.' 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet
and begged him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.' 30
But he refused, and went and threw him into prison till he should pay
the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they
were greatly distressed, and went and told their master all that had
happened. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him,
'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
33 Should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had
mercy on you?' 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers
to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 So also my
heavenly Father will do to each of you, if you do not forgive your
brother from your heart."
64.10 The Samaritans Refuse to Receive Jesus.
James and John are angry concerning this and Jesus RebukesThem.
MT 19:1
1 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from
Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.
MK 10:1a
1 Then he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond
the Jordan.
LK 9:51-55
51 When the time drew near for him to be received up, he set his
face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went
and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him; 53 but
the people did not receive him, because his face was set for Jerusalem.
54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do
you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"
55 But he turned and rebuked them, 56 and they went on to another
village.
64.20 Crowds Follow Jesus
MT 19:2
2 And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
MK 10:1b
1 And crowds gathered to him again; and again, as his custom
was, he taught them.
LK 9:56-62
56 and they went on to another village.
57 As they were going along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow
you wherever you go." 58 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds
of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." 59
To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and
bury my father." 60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead,
but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." 61 Still another said, "I will
follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say farewell to those at
my home." 62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow
and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."