Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible



And it happened when the time came for Jesus to be taken up [to heaven] that He firmly determined to go to Jerusalem. So, He sent messengers on ahead of Him, who went and entered a Samaritan village to prepare for Him [i.e., for His food and lodging]. And these Samaritans did not welcome Him because He was heading for Jerusalem. [Note: They perceived He was a Jew and Samaritans did not associate with Jews]. read more.
And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said [to Him], "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to burn them up?" But He turned to them and spoke sternly. {{Some manuscripts add "You do not know what kind of a spirit you represent, for the Son of man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them"}} So, they went to another village.

So, He sent messengers on ahead of Him, who went and entered a Samaritan village to prepare for Him [i.e., for His food and lodging]. And these Samaritans did not welcome Him because He was heading for Jerusalem. [Note: They perceived He was a Jew and Samaritans did not associate with Jews].

And it happened when the time came for Jesus to be taken up [to heaven] that He firmly determined to go to Jerusalem. So, He sent messengers on ahead of Him, who went and entered a Samaritan village to prepare for Him [i.e., for His food and lodging]. And these Samaritans did not welcome Him because He was heading for Jerusalem. [Note: They perceived He was a Jew and Samaritans did not associate with Jews]. read more.
And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said [to Him], "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to burn them up?" But He turned to them and spoke sternly. {{Some manuscripts add "You do not know what kind of a spirit you represent, for the Son of man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them"}} So, they went to another village. And as they were going along the road, a certain man [i.e., an expert in the law of Moses. See Matt. 8:19] said to Him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied to him, "The foxes have dens [in which to live] and the birds of the sky have nests [in which to roost], but the Son of man does not have anywhere to lay His head." And [then] He said to another person, "Become my follower." But he replied, "Lord, allow me to go and bury my father first." But Jesus replied to him, "Let the [spiritually] dead bury their own dead [i.e., let them care for their family members until they die], but you go and proclaim the [coming] kingdom of God." Then another person said [to Jesus], "Lord, I will become your follower, but first let me say goodbye to my family." [Note: There was the likelihood that family members might try to dissuade him from his commitment to follow the Lord]. But Jesus said to him, "Nobody who begins plowing [a field] and then looks back [i.e., in regret for beginning such an arduous task] is suited for [serving in] the kingdom of God."

Now it was almost time for the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles [Note: This was also called "Festival of Shelters," and was one of three principal, annual Jewish festivals and commemorated the occasion of the Israelites living in tents or shelters during their forty year wandering in the desert]. Then Jesus' [half-] brothers said to Him, "You should leave here and go to Judea so your disciples [there] can see the [supernatural] deeds you are performing. For no one does things secretly if he wants to become known publicly. Since you are doing such things, show yourself to the world." read more.
For even Jesus' [half-] brothers did not believe in Him [i.e., at that time]. So, Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come [i.e., to be revealed to the world as its Savior], but it is always your time [i.e., they could go to the festival anytime without rousing opposition]. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about its deeds, that they are evil. You men go [on] up to the festival, but I am not going up yet [Note: Although "yet" appears in only a few manuscripts, it seems to be the proper idea here], because my time has not yet come. [See verse 6]. Then after saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee [i.e., for awhile longer. See next verse]. But after His [half-] brothers had gone up to the Festival, Jesus also went up, but secretly instead of openly. So, the Jews [i.e., their authorities] began searching for Him at the Festival, and were saying, "Where is he?"

Jesus sent these twelve apostles out and ordered them saying, "Do not go on any road leading to Gentile territory or enter any town of the Samaritans. Verse ConceptsExclusivenessSolemn ChargesEntering CitiesAvoiding ForeignersFirst Among The GentilesTwelve DisciplesChrist SendingChrist's OrdersMissionariesGentilesChristmas Treeevangelizing

So, He sent messengers on ahead of Him, who went and entered a Samaritan village to prepare for Him [i.e., for His food and lodging]. Verse ConceptsPeople Going BeforeA Place Prepared

So, He sent messengers on ahead of Him, who went and entered a Samaritan village to prepare for Him [i.e., for His food and lodging]. And these Samaritans did not welcome Him because He was heading for Jerusalem. [Note: They perceived He was a Jew and Samaritans did not associate with Jews].


Then many Samaritans from Sychar believed in Jesus because of the testimony of the woman, who said, "He told me everything that I ever did." Verse ConceptsExamples Of Faithevangelism, kinds ofRevival, CorporateReligious AwakeningsContemporary Witness To ChristChrist Knowing About PeopleThose Who Believed In ChristHard Work

Therefore, the Samaritan woman asked Him, "Why is it that you, being a Jew, would ask a Samaritan woman [like me] for a drink?" (For Jews do not have any fellowship with Samaritans). [Note: The reason for this stemmed from longstanding religious, cultural and ethnic prejudices]. Verse ConceptsExclusivenessAskingJews, TheRacial PrejudiceLonelinessOutsidersSamaritansDisfellowshipDiscourtesyOutcastsMan Providing WaterJews Separate From GentilesNo Dealings


Jesus sent these twelve apostles out and ordered them saying, "Do not go on any road leading to Gentile territory or enter any town of the Samaritans. Verse ConceptsExclusivenessSolemn ChargesEntering CitiesAvoiding ForeignersFirst Among The GentilesTwelve DisciplesChrist SendingChrist's OrdersMissionariesGentilesChristmas Treeevangelizing

But [then] a certain Samaritan [Note: This was a person despised by the Jews and regarded by them as a 'half-breed'], as he traveled along, came to where the [injured] man was [lying], and upon seeing him [lying there], felt deep pity [for him]. Verse ConceptsOpportunities, In LifeOutsidersTravelPeople Showing Mercy

The Jews answered and said to Jesus, "Were we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan [See note on 4:9], and are dominated by an evil spirit?" Verse ConceptsAccused Of Being DemonisedDemonic Influence


When Peter and John had testified [regarding the truth] and had proclaimed the message of God [to the people] they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the good news [about Jesus] in many Samaritan villages [on their way back]. Verse Conceptsevangelists, identity ofLordship, Human And DivineVillagesThe Gospel PreachedIndividuals going homeevangelizing

So, He sent messengers on ahead of Him, who went and entered a Samaritan village to prepare for Him [i.e., for His food and lodging]. Verse ConceptsPeople Going BeforeA Place Prepared

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And he fell on his face at Jesus' feet and thanked Him. And he was a Samaritan. [Note: Samaritans were despised by the Jews and regarded as a 'half-breeds']. Verse ConceptsBowingOutsidersPrejudiceBowing Before MessiahThanking God For BenefitsThanks For Christ

When He was spoken to with harsh insults, He did not reply in the same way. When He was made to suffer, He did not threaten [His tormentors], but instead entrusted Himself to God, [whom He knew] would make a righteous judgment [in the matter]. Verse ConceptsFaith, Nature OfInsultsPunishment, By GodRevenge, Examples OfSuffering, Of The InnocentViolenceJesus Christ, Meekness OfForbearance Of GodBelief In GodAbuse


When Jesus perceived what they were doing He withdrew from that place. Many people followed Him and He healed all of them. Then He urged them not to reveal His [true] identity, so what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled when he said, read more.
[Isa. 13:1ff] "Look, see my [i.e., God's] servant whom I have chosen; my dear One [i.e., Jesus] with whom my soul is very pleased: I will put my Holy Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim judgment to the [unconverted] Gentiles. He will not be contentious nor shout out [loudly]. Neither will anyone hear His voice [raised] in the streets.

So, He sent messengers on ahead of Him, who went and entered a Samaritan village to prepare for Him [i.e., for His food and lodging]. And these Samaritans did not welcome Him because He was heading for Jerusalem. [Note: They perceived He was a Jew and Samaritans did not associate with Jews]. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said [to Him], "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to burn them up?" read more.
But He turned to them and spoke sternly. {{Some manuscripts add "You do not know what kind of a spirit you represent, for the Son of man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them"}} So, they went to another village.