that you may have a distinct view of those things about which you have been inform'd.

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and he will not drink any wine or intoxicating drinks [Note: This restriction suggests that John may have taken the special vow of consecration making him a "Nazarite"]. And he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the time he is born.

This was according to what is written in the book containing the words of Isaiah, the prophet [Isa. 40:3ff], "The voice of a man who speaks out in the desert [urging people] to make the road for the Lord ready [for Him to travel]; to make a straight pathway for Him [to walk on].

The book [i.e., actually a scroll] of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. He opened the book and found the passage where it was written [Isa. 61:1f],

he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled, as you've heard it read aloud."

Then He said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me: ‘Doctor, heal yourself. So all we’ve heard that took place in Capernaum, do here in Your hometown also.’”

“Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your word, I’ll let down the nets.”

Then He ordered the man not to tell anyone [about the healing], saying, "Go on your way and show yourself to the priest and offer the proper sacrifice for your healing that Moses required [Lev. 13:49; 14:2ff] as evidence to people [that you were healed]."

For this reason, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she has loved much. [Note: This suggests that her forgiveness was the result of her loving, but the point Jesus makes better fits the idea that her forgiveness produced love]. But the person who is forgiven of little [i.e., of only a few sins], loves [only] a little bit."

For nothing is put out of view which will not be made clear, and nothing is secret of which the knowledge will not come to light.

As the days before his being taken up to Heaven were growing few, Jesus set his face resolutely in the direction of Jerusalem; and he sent on messengers in advance.

Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

“You’ve answered correctly,” He told him. “Do this and you will live.”

The Master answered, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and anxious about many things, but our wants are few,

but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part [that which is to her advantage], which will not be taken away from her.”

The queen of the South [Note: This queen was from Sheba, which was probably in Arabia. See I Kings 10:1] will stand up on the judgment day, along with the people of this generation, and will condemn them because she came from a great distance to hear [and see] Solomon's wisdom [I Kings 10:1ff] and [now] Someone greater than Solomon is here [i.e., Jesus].

Then I'll say to myself, "You've stored up plenty of good things for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself."'

But God told him, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you. Now who will get the things you've accumulated?'

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

"I've come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already ablaze!

So he told the gardener, "Look here! For three years I've been coming to look for fruit on this tree but I haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it waste the soil?'

Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

For I say to you, that none of those men who were invited will taste of my supper. For many are called, but few chosen.

Then he goes home, calls his friends and neighbors together, and says to them, "Rejoice with me, because I've found my lost sheep!'

A few days later, the younger son gathered everything he owned and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted it all on wild living.

But he answered his father, "Listen! All these years I've worked like a slave for you. I've never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you've never given me so much as a young goat for a festival so I could celebrate with my friends.

So he told them, "You are the people who get men to think you are good, but God knows what your hearts are! What is lofty in the view of man is loathsome in the eyes of God.

In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are good-for-nothing slaves; we’ve only done our duty.’”

And as He entered a certain village, He was met by ten men with infectious skin diseases, who were standing some distance away [Note: Restrictions in the Jewish law prevented contact with persons having infectious diseases. See Lev. 13:45ff],

And when Jesus saw them, He said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." [See Lev. 13:49; 14:2ff]. And it happened, as they went [along], that they were healed.

I tell you, he will speedily avenge them. however, when the son of man comes, how few of the faithful will he find in the land?

Made an attempt to get a view of Jesus, and was not able to do so, because of the people, for he was a small man.

so he ran before, and climb'd up a mulberry-tree to view him; for he was to pass that way.

He went on to tell a parable in their hearing, as he was approaching Jerusalem and as they imagined God's Reign would instantly come into view.

"Then the other servant came and said, "Sir, look! Here's your coin. I've kept it in a cloth for safekeeping

When He came into full view of the city, He wept aloud over it, and exclaimed,

the time is coming, said he, when these buildings, which you now view, shall be all thrown down and lost in ruins.

“Listen,” He said to them, “when you’ve entered the city, a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters.

“Why do we need any more testimony,” they said, “since we’ve heard it ourselves from His mouth?”

And these words appeared in their view as idle talk; and they were disbelieving them.

The one whose name was Cleopas answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn't know what happened there in the past few days?"

And then their eyes were open, and they had knowledge of him, but he went from their view.

and that repentance [necessary] for forgiveness of sins would be preached in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

And He brought them out to within view of Bethany, and then lifted up His hands and blessed them.