• PER285 Healing of blind and lame people

    After the cleansing of the Temple, Jesus heals the blind and the lame in the courtyard on Monday, March 28, AD 33. Only Matthew reports this episode. The crowd and the children acclaim him as Son of David, while the chief priests and the scribes, increasingly hostile, are indignant at these messianic demonstrations. This episode illustrates the contrast between the faith of the common people and the rejection by the religious authorities.

    John 11.47-53 (King James Version) :
    Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  • PER289 The authority of the Messiah Jesus challenged

    In the Temple of Jerusalem, the religious leaders publicly challenge Jesus’ authority. With a clever counter-question about the baptism of John, he reduces them to silence and exposes their bad faith. This synoptic episode (Matt 21.23-27; Mark 11.27-33; Luke 20.1-8) illustrates the growing opposition of the authorities to the Messiah during his last week before the arrest.

    John 7.46 (King James Version) :
    The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  • PER294 The questions of the Pharisees and the Herodians

    The Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Jesus by asking him whether one should pay the tax to Caesar. His answer — “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” — foils the trap and establishes the fundamental distinction between civil authority and divine sovereignty, reminding us that man, who bears the image of God, belongs wholly to him.

    Luke 20.20-26 (King James Version) :
    And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Cæsar, or no?But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Cæsar’s.And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which be Cæsar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  • PER295 The questions of the Pharisees and the Herodians

    In the Temple of Jerusalem, the Sadducees try to trap Jesus with a question about the resurrection involving a woman who had seven husbands. Jesus answers by revealing their ignorance of the Scriptures and of the power of God: in the life to come, people no longer marry. He proves the resurrection from the Torah by quoting Exodus 3.6: God is the God of the living, not of the dead. His adversaries are reduced to silence.

    Matthew 22.23-33 (King James Version) :
    The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.And last of all the woman died also.Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  • PER296 The questions of the teachers of the law

    During the last week before his Passion, Jesus is questioned by teachers of the Law about the greatest commandment. He sums up the whole Law in two principles: loving God and loving one’s neighbor. A sincere scribe acknowledges the rightness of this answer, and Jesus tells him that he is not far from the Kingdom. The article nuances the view of Pharisaism and invites a faith lived in love rather than in legalism.

    Matthew 22.35 (King James Version) :
    Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  • PER297 The Messiahship of Jesus

    At the Temple court in Jerusalem, on the Tuesday before his Passion, Jesus questions the Pharisees about the identity of the Messiah. Citing Psalm 110, he reveals that the Messiah is both Son of David according to the flesh and eternal Lord according to his divinity, confounding his opponents, who are left without an answer. A fundamental Christological statement about the dual nature of Jesus.

    John 8.58 (King James Version) :
    Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  • PER298 Indictment Against the Religious Leaders

    In the courtyard of the Temple in Jerusalem, on the Wednesday before his Passion, Jesus delivers a severe indictment against the scribes and the Pharisees. Through eight proclamations of ‘Woe to you!’, he denounces their hypocrisy, their pride and their outward show of religion, while expressing deep sorrow over Jerusalem. He calls his disciples to a genuine, humble faith that serves others.

    Matthew 23.23 (King James Version) :
    Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  • PER299 The Widow’s Offering

    In the Temple of Jerusalem, Jesus watches a poor widow put two small coins into the treasury, all that she has. Unlike the rich, who give ostentatiously out of their surplus, she offers her entire livelihood. Jesus declares that she has given more than all the others, overturning human standards of value. This account, reported by Mark (12.41-44) and Luke (21.1-4), teaches that true generosity is measured not by the amount given, but by the disposition of the heart and the sacrifice made.

    Matthew 6.3-4 (King James Version) :
    But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  • PER300 The unbelief of the Jews

    Pericope 300 deals with the unbelief of the Jews in the face of the signs performed by Jesus, an episode reported only by John (Jn 12,37-50), set in the Temple of Jerusalem on Wednesday, 30 March AD 33. In contrast, the poor widow's gift illustrates genuine faith. Jesus overturns human criteria: true generosity is measured not by the quantity given but by the disposition of the heart, offering to God all that one is.

    John 12.37-50 (King James Version) :
    But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate