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Luke Chapter
Twenty-two
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Days before the Suffering of the Son of
Man the Savior
I. Men planed to kill Him (v.1-6).
II. The preparation of the Passover (v.7-13).
III. The last supper (v.14-23).
IV. There was also a dispute among the disciples,
as to which of them should be considered the greatest (v.24-30).
V. He predicted that Peter would deny Him three
times (v.31-34).
VI. He told the disciples that they should learn to
protect themselves (v.35-38).
VII. The prayer in the
VIII. His being betrayed and arrested (v.47-53).
IX. Peter denied Him three times (v.54-62).
X. His being mocked and judged (v.63-71).
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Luke. 22:1 “Now the Feast of
Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.”
YLT: “And the feast of
the unleavened food was coming nigh, that is called Passover,”
The
Background: “the Passover”, one of the
three great feasts of the Jews every year, was purposed to remember that God
delivered their patriarchs out of
Literal Meaning: “Now the Feast of
Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.” In the time of the Lord
Jesus, the common Jews had confused the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened
Bread. And they called the Passover the Feast of Unleavened Bread and they also
called the Feast of Unleavened Bread the Passover.
Enlightenment in the Word:
the Lord Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (See
John. 1:29) and was killed on the Passover.
Luke. 22:2 “And the chief priests and
the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.”
YLT: “and the chief
priests and the scribes were seeking how they may take him up, for they were
afraid of the people.”
Literal Meaning: “And the chief priests and
the scribes sought how they might kill Him” “The chief priests” were the Sadducees and most
of “the scribes” were the Pharisees. The two religious parties were hostile to
each other, however, they joined together to resist the Lord Jesus unexpectedly.
“For they feared the people” During the
period of the Passover every year, thousands upon thousands Jews in all parts
went to
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The chief priests and the elders of the people
were actually utilized by Satan that they wanted to kill the Lord Jesus. Satan
utilized not only sinners in the world but also clergymen. It shows that the
whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one (1John. 5:19).
2) Without the participation of men, the type of
the lamb of the Passover could not be fulfilled in the Lord. Those who rejected
the Lord were actually used by God to help Him to accomplish His plan.
Luke. 22:3 “Then Satan entered Judas,
surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.”
YLT: “And the Adversary
entered into Judas, who is surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the
twelve,”
Literal Meaning: “Then Satan entered Judas,
surnamed Iscariot” Judas had a wrong
thought and opened his heart to wickedness and therefore he let Satan get a
chance to step in.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Though it was of the work of Satan that Judas
betrayed the Lord, Judas himself was responsible for this because he did not
resist the devil from his heart (See 1Pet. 5:9) and let it come to his heart
easily.
2) Barclay said that the reason why Satan entered
Judas is that Judas had opened the door of his heart. Whether men’s hearts are
opened does not depend on the outward force but one the innermost motive.
Luke. 22:4 “So he went his way and
conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.”
YLT: “and he, having gone
away, spake with the chief priests and the magistrates, how he might deliver
him up to them,”
Literal Meaning: “captains” were
those who were selected from the tribe of Levi and took charge of the order of
the temple.
“How he might betray Him to them.” It
indicates that he wanted to find a chance that the multitudes were not at
present to inform them to take Jesus, lest there would
be an uproar among the people.
Luke. 22:5 “And they were glad, and
agreed to give him money.”
YLT: “and they rejoiced,
and covenanted to give him money,”
Literal Meaning: “And they were glad”
The chief priests and others were thinking hard to take Jesus and not to make
an uproar from the people (See v.2). The advice of Judas certainly made them
glad.
“And agreed to give him money” “Thirty pieces of silver” is clearly recorded in another scripture
(See Matt. 26:15). Every piece of silver weighs one shekel and the whole is
thirty shekel which is equal to an evaluation of a slave (See Exod. 21:32).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Mary did not stint the fragrant oil which costs
thirty denari because she loved the Lord. Judas betrayed the Lord for thirty
pieces of sliver because he loved money. Whether one acts as Mary or Judas
depends on whether he “loves the Lord” or “money” (See John. 12:4-6).
2) In the eyes of Judas and the chief priests the
Lord Jesus was only like a slave who was worthy of thirty pieces of silver. If
our evaluation towards the Lord is the same with them and we regard the Lord as
usual, we may sell Him out in some circumstances (for example: someone denies
the Lord in order to save his own life and someone sells truth and witness for
status, fame, gain and etc).
3) Apparently, Judas sold the Lord out for thirty
pieces of silver. But actually, he sold out his own soul for thirty pieces of
silver (See Matt. 27:3-5; Acts. 1:18).
4) Judas sold himself out to the devil for thirty
pieces of silver; Mary dedicated herself to the Lord in the fragrant oil which
is worthy of thirty denarii.
5) Judas made merchandise of Christ. He whoever
supposes that gain is godliness (1Tim. 6:5) and barters Christ’s grace for his
own gain falls in the principle of Judas.
Luke. 22:6 “So he promised and sought
opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.”
YLT: “and he agreed, and
was seeking a favourable season to deliver him up to them without tumult.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Mary “seized an opportunity” to give herself to
the Lord. Judas “sought opportunity” to deliver the Lord to the power of
darkness.
2) “Seize the opportunity” is to cherish the time
(See Eph. 5:16). However, “sought opportunity” is to waste time.
Luke. 22:7 “Then came the Day of
Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.”
YLT: “And the day of the
unleavened food came, in which it was behoving the passover to be sacrificed,”
The
Background: there
were seven days in “the Day of the Unleavened Bread”
which starts
from the sunset of the fourteenth day of the first month according to the
Jewish calendar (the month Nisan) to the sunset of the twenty-first day (See Exod. 12:15-20). “When the Passover must be killed” The Passover
must be killed in the afternoon of the fourteenth day of the first month (See
Exod. 12:6).
According to the informal way of counting among the Jews, the fourteenth day of
the first month was also counted in the Feast of the Unleavened Bread.
Therefore, the whole feast turned into eight days.
Spiritual Meaning: “the Unleavened Bread” typifies that Christ is
the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth and He makes those who believe in
Him be a new lump and live a holy life (See
1Cor. 5:7-8).
Luke. 22:8 “And He sent Peter and
John, saying, ‘Go and prepare the Passover
for us, that we may eat.’”
YLT: “and he sent Peter
and John, saying, ‘Having gone on, prepare to us the passover, that we may
eat;’”
The
Background: “the Passover” Every
household of the
Jews, in the afternoon of the fourteenth day of the first
month, ate the Feast of the
Passover together at nightfall.
Spiritual Meaning: “The Passover” typifies that Christ is
our enjoyment of life who gives us strength to walk in the
heavenly way (See Ex. 12:8-11).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) On one hand, we must cleanse ourselves (“the Day
of the Unleavened Bread” See v.7) and then we are able to come to the Lord (See
Heb. 12:14) and enjoy Him as the provision of our life.
2) On
the other hand, we must enjoy the Lord as the provision of our life (“the
Passover”) in order to live a holy life before God (“the Unleavened Bread”
lasts seven days).
Luke. 22:9 “So they said to Him, ‘Where do You want us to prepare?’”
YLT: “and they said to
him, ‘Where wilt thou that we might prepare?’”
Meaning of Words: “prepare”: make
ready, provide.
Luke. 22:10 “And He said to them, ‘Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet
you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.”
YLT: “And he said to
them, ‘Lo, in your entering into the city, there shall meet you a man, bearing
a pitcher of water, follow him to the house where he doth go in,”
Literal
Meaning: “a man will meet you
carrying a pitcher of water” According
to the Jewish custom, only women could carry the pitcher of water (See Gen. 24:14-15). Therefore, if it was a man carrying the pitcher of water, it would be
easy to distinguish him.
Spiritual Meaning: “a man…carrying a
pitcher of water” It symbolizes that the Holy Spirit that provides the water of
life will lead the hearts that seek the Lord to the place where they could have
communion with the Lord.
Luke. 22:11 “Then you shall say to the
master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, ‘Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with
My disciples?’”
YLT: “and ye shall say to
the master of the house, The Teacher saith to thee, Where is the guest-chamber
where the passover with my disciples I may eat?”
Literal
Meaning: “the master of the
house” according
to the research of the Bible scholars, “the master
of the house” might be the father or mother of the author of the Gospel of Mark. However, the Bible did not directly
show us who it was, indicating that we had to know that everything was arranged
by God and God Himself had prepared the Passover.
“Where is the guest room” Please note that
“the guest room” here and “the inn” in the time of the birth of the Lord Jesus
(See 2:7) are the same word in the original. The world does not have a room for
the Lord. However, in the hearts of those who believe in Him and love Him,
there is a
large, furnished upper room (See v.12).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord, the lord of all, can dominate
everything to work for Him (See 19:30-35; Matt. 17:27).
2) The Lord had prepared for Himself many people
who loved and served Him (See Rom. 11:4) in secret, so we should not see the outward
appearance of things but trust the Lord absolutely------He Himself must have
prepared everything.
3) The master of the house prepared “the Passover”
for the Lord. Today, the leading brothers also prepare the “feast of the Lord”
for the Lord. The owner of the feast is the Lord Jesus, so we do not have the
right to refuse to allow believers to be assembled to break bread (i.e. the
so-called Holy Communion).
Luke. 22:12 “Then he will show you a
large, furnished upper room; there make ready.’”
YLT: “and he shall show
you a large upper room furnished, there make ready;’”
Literal
Meaning: “a large, furnished
upper room” it
might be the upper chamber where the disciples, about a hundred and twenty,
were gathered to pray before the day of Pentecost (See
Acts. 1:13-15). It was called “the house of Mark” afterwards.
Luke. 22:13 “So they went and found it
just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.”
YLT: “and they, having
gone away, found as he hath said to them, and they made ready the passover.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “So they went and found it just as He had said
to them.” The Lord’s word is faithful and is not Yes and No (See 2Cor.
1:19-20).
2) “So they went and found it just as He had said
to them.” The Lord certainly has secretly prepared everything that He has
clearly instructed to men. This is the confidence by which we serve the Lord.
3) As long as we
obey the Lord’s “commandments”, we can enjoy Him as “the Passover”------the
spiritual provision of life.
Luke. 22:14 “When the hour had come,
He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.”
YLT: “And when the hour
come, he reclined (at meat), and the twelve apostles with him,”
Spiritual
Meaning: the
Lord “sat down” with the disciples, symbolizing that the Lord had fellowship
with the disciples and shared Himself with them (See
1Cor. 10:16-22).
Luke. 22:15 “Then He said to them, ‘With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover
with you before I suffer;”
YLT: “and he said unto
them, ‘With desire I did desire to eat this passover with you before my
suffering,”
Literal Meaning: “With fervent
desire” The original text shows the strong and fervent desire. The Lord Jesus
expressed that how urgent He was to have fellowship with those who are of Him.
Spiritual Meaning: the Lord Jesus
connected His suffering with the Feast of the Passover, implying that the
crucified Christ was the Lamb of the Passover (See 1Cor. 5:7) who had been
sacrificed for us so as to take away the sin of the world (See John. 1:29).
Enlightenment in the Word:
the Lamb of the Passover typifies Christ, in like manner, all the ceremonies of
the Old Testament are the shadow of Christ (See Col. 2:16-17). Christ is the
reality and meaning of all sacred things.
Luke. 22:16 “for I say to you, I will
no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the
YLT: “for I say to you,
that no more may I eat of it till it may be fulfilled in the reign of God.’”
Literal
Meaning: “until it is
fulfilled in the
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Though the Lord
no longer drinks with us in the flesh, He will share the unlimited and abundant
blessings with us in the eternal age. Therefore we break the bread, drink the
cup today, and they are only a foretaste of the feast of “the
2) The hope of our
breaking the bread and drinking the cup is to drink new with the Lord in the
Luke. 22:17 “Then He took the cup, and
gave thanks, and said, ‘Take this and divide it
among yourselves;”
YLT: “And having taken a
cup, having given thanks, he said, ‘Take this and divide to yourselves,”
The
Background: according
to the Jewish customs of the Passover,
they took the cup for four times. They ate bitter herbs before the unleavened bread and also
passed the cup to each other to drink the wine and this cup symbolized “the cup
of pain”. When they ate the unleavened bread and mutton, they passed the cup to
each other again and this cup symbolized “the cup of blessing”.
Spiritual Meaning: “cup” symbolizes the
“portion” that we deserve before God. In Adam, what a sinner deserves is “the
cup of God’s wrath” (See Rev. 14:10). However,
the Lord Jesus had drunk that cup on the cross for us (See
John. 18:11). Therefore the nature of the cup had changed from “the cup of
pain” to “the cup of blessing” (See 1Cor. 10:16; Ps. 23:5).
The blood of the Lord shed on the cross made the sins of those who believe in
Him be remitted. All blessing of God and even Himself become the portion of our
cup (See Ps. 16:5). Therefore it
is called “the cup of salvation” (See Ps. 116:13).
Believers share the cup of salvation,
showing that it is the communion of the blood of Christ (See 1Cor. 10:16), i.e. partaking in the fellowship of the
blood of Christ.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “The curse endured He, the blessing enjoy we.”
He bore the punishment of sins for us and made us enjoy the good blessing.
2) “He
took the cup and gave thanks.” The Lord received the cross with thanksgiving,
which was different from our usual complaints in similar situations.
Luke. 22:18 “for I say to you, I will
not drink of the fruit of the vine until the
YLT: “for I say to you
that I may not drink of the produce of the vine till the reign of God may
come.’”
Luke. 22:19 “And He took bread, gave
thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This
is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’”
YLT: “And having taken
bread, having given thanks, he brake and gave to them, saying, ‘This is my
body, that for you is being given, this do ye to remembrance of me.’”
The
Background: in
the Feast of the Passover, it was customary for the householder to break
the bread. When breaking the bread, the householder took the bread in his hand
and said, “This is the bread of affliction that our ancestors had eaten in
Literal Meaning: “And He took bread,
gave thanks” V.19 and v.20 should be another paragraph. The Lord here
transformed the Feast into the Supper of the Lord (See 1Cor. 11:23-27).
“This is My body” Here “this is” refers to “this
represents” or
“this means”.
“Which is given for you” The Lord
predicted that He would be sacrificed for all believers.
Spiritual Meaning: “bread” symbolizes
the body of the Lord Jesus. “Broke it” symbolizes that His body was broken for
us on the cross.
Concerning the spiritual meaning of the
bread and the cup, there are following several different kinds of opinions in
Christianity in the two thousand years:
1) The “Transubstantiation” of the Roman
Catholic Church: they held that after thanks the bread and the cup change into
the body and blood of Christ.
2) The “Consubstantiation” of Luther,
Martin: he held that after thanks Christ hides and exists in the constitution
of the bread and the cup.
3) The “Dynamic Presence” of Calvin: he
held that after thanks, there are spiritual power and blessing in the bread and
the cup and men could obtain them only through eating the bread and drinking
the cup.
4) The “Symbolic” of Zwingli: he held
that after thanks, the bread and the cup are only the symbolic signs. The
faith, love and hope in believers are stirred up through eating the bread,
drinking the cup and remembering the Lord.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Christ was “broken” for us and delivered His
holy life to us so that we are able to share His life by this, thus becoming a
mysterious body of Christ (See 1Cor. 12:17, 27).
2) The
Lord gives Himself to us and what do we give to Him?
3) Since it is the communion of the blood of Christ
and the body of Christ (See 1Cor. 10:16-17), we should be bound up with each
other and take care of each other (See 1Cor. 12:12-27).
Luke. 22:20 “Likewise He also took the
cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new
covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”
YLT: “In like manner,
also, the cup after the supping, saying, ‘This cup [is] the new covenant in my
blood, that for you is being poured forth.”
Literal Meaning: “This cup is the new
covenant in My blood” “Covenant” refers to contract or will. The Lord meant
that His blood which is shed for us is the proof to set up the New Testament
(See Heb. 9:14-15).
“Which is shed for you” The word “you”
represent “all believers of the New Testament”.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The body of the
Lord which is broken for us and His blood which is shed for us become the proof
of the new covenant------the crucified Christ is the foundation of all blessing
of the New Testament.
2) Believers break the bread and drink the cup to
announce the death of the Lord. We do so in remembrance of Him (See 1Cor.
11:24-26).
Luke. 22:21 “But behold, the hand of
My betrayer is with Me on the table.”
YLT: “`But, lo, the hand
of him delivering me up [is] with me on the table,”
The
Background:
According to customs at that time, when someone had dinner with others, it
indicated that he was stating, “you are my friend and I will never do anything
that hurts you.”
Literal
Meaning: “the hand of My betrayer is
with Me on the table.” The Lord said so for the purpose of expecting that Judas could pull back before it was too late and He
did not want to see him perish. Actually, the council could also take Jesus without the help of Judas and
they merely wanted to find an “opportunity” when the multitudes were absent.
Please note that according to the Gospel of
John, Judas who betrayed the Lord had left the room and gone out (See John.
13:30) after the Lord dipped the morsel to him in the Feast (v.15-18) and it
took place before the Lord set the Supper in v.19-20. Here Luke went back and
recorded the dialogue of the Feast and he did not record it according to the
order of time.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord obviously knew that Judas was about to
betray Him. But He still sat and ate with him, showing that how tolerant and
merciful He was.
2) Today in the church, those with whom we have the
closest fellowship may become drastic opponents.
Luke. 22:22 “And truly the Son of Man
goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!’”
YLT: “and indeed the Son
of Man doth go according to what hath been determined; but wo to that man
through whom he is being delivered up.’”
Literal
Meaning: “And
truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined” “It has been determined”
refers to the plan that God has determined in the eternal age, i.e. the way of
redemption. The prophecies
in the book of Psalm chapter 22 and the book of Isaiah chapter 53 may possibly rise in the mind of the Lord Jesus at
that time.
“But woe to that man by whom He is betrayed”
Though the death of the Lord Jesus has been determined by God, Judas could not
shirk his own responsibility because he was utilized by the devil willingly.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) God can use
positive man to fulfill His will and He can also use negative man (Judas) to
facilitate His will. However, we would rather be “vessels” made by firewood
than the firewood which were used to make vessels.
2) What the Lord is concerned about is not His own
safety but the soul of the one who betrayed Him.
3) The significance of men’s life lies in Christ.
If we do not love Christ wholeheartedly, or even betray Christ for the sake of
benefits------no matter it is worldly or earthly, or spiritual or heavenly. How
meaningless such life is and how miserable and vain the end is! It is truly
that “woe to that man”.
Luke. 22:23 “Then they began to
question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.”
YLT: “And they began to
reason among themselves, who then of them it may be, who is about to do this
thing.”
Luke. 22:24 “Now there was also a
dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.”
YLT: “And there happened
also a strife among them who of them is accounted to be greater.”
Literal Meaning: “now there was also
a dispute among them” is translated as “there happened also a strife among them”
in the original. The “also” shows that their dispute was caused by their
argument about the order of seats.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Not only the world dispute which of them should
be the greatest but also this trouble happened among Believers in the church.
2) The inclination to be the greatest is of the
life of the old Adam. Only when men live in the spiritual life of the new man
could they solve this problem.
Luke. 22:25 “And He said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them,
and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.'”
YLT: “And he said to
them, ‘The kings of the nations do exercise lordship over them, and those
exercising authority upon them are called benefactors;”
The
Background: “benefactors” are
used by the rulers in the Middle East or
Literal Meaning: “those who exercise authority over them are called
‘benefactors’” The kings of the Gentiles are imperious and brutal. However,
they still hope that the people call them “benefactors”.
Enlightenment in the Word: in the earthly kingdom, all positions are set so as
to exercise authority over others. The spirit of the world loves to be the
greatest and reign and dominate others.
Luke. 22:26 “But not so among you; on
the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he
who governs as he who serves.”
YLT: “but ye [are] not
so, but he who is greater among you let him be as the younger; and he who is
leading, as he who is ministering;”
Literal Meaning: “But not so among
you” It does not mean that believers should not respect the authority on the
earth, but that believers should have different view towards the spiritual
authority.
“On the contrary, he who is greatest
among you, let him be as the younger” “Who is greatest” refers to being
honorable than the common people. “The younger” should be inferior to the elder
according to the convention.
“And he who governs as he who serves”
“He who governs” refers to leaders. According to the convention, leaders should
be served by others.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “But not so among you” Men in the world lust for
high status to exercise authority over others. This spirit should never be
infiltrated into the church.
2) The way to “be greatest” in the church is
totally different from that in the world. “He who governs” in the church does
not exercise authority over others (v.25) but serves others.
3) In the heavenly kingdom, all the positions are
set to serve, look after, perfect and shepherd others (1Pet. 5:1-3, Acts.
20:28, Eph. 4:11).
4) Seriously speaking, in the kingdom (church),
there is not difference in positions, but differences in gifts, administrations
and operations (Rom. 12:4, 1Cor. 12:4-6).
5) In the kingdom, the one who is greater may have
less freedom. On the contrary, the more one humbles himself and suffers, the less
the free will he has, the greater he will be manifested.
Luke. 22:27 “For who is greater, he
who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table?
Yet I am among you as the One who serves.”
YLT: “for who is greater?
he who is reclining (at meat), or he who is ministering? is it not he who is
reclining (at meat)? and I I am in your midst as he who is ministering.”
Literal Meaning: “he who sits at the
table” It shows the insight and view of the common people.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Yet I am among you as the One who serves.” it
showed that the Lord did not just say it in vain------in demanding so He did
not exclude Himself. The Lord set a good
example with His conduct. The spiritual leaders in the church have to match their
words with deeds.
2) “Yet I am among you as the One who serves.”
Today the Lord, who is in us, still serves us day by day so that we could walk
in the spiritual way.
3) The Lord is the greatest, but He did not come to
be served, but to serve and even gave His life to others (Pill. 2:8) so that
many would be redeemed.
4) The greater one is, the easier it is for him to
serve others. The younger one is, the more difficult it is for him to serve
others. The youngest one may be unable to serve one person. The Lord is the
infinite and therefore He could serve men without any limitation.
5) We may think that we serve the Lord. But
actually, it is the Lord that serves us. He whoever cannot enjoy the service of
the Lord is unable to serve the Lord well.
6) The Lord wanted us to learn from His example: do
not mind status and serve men with whole heart. And our highest and greatest
service is to let our “selves” be crucified.
Luke. 22:28 “‘But
you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.”
YLT: “`And ye ye are
those who have remained with me in my temptations,”
Literal Meaning: “in My trials” It
refers to His hard life and being detested and rejected by men that He had
experienced from the time when the Lord Jesus was tempted by the devil to the
time when He was crucified on the cross.
Luke. 22:29 “And I bestow upon you a
kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me,”
YLT: “and I appoint to
you, as my Father did appoint to me, a kingdom,”
Meaning of Words: “bestow”: appoint,
dispose by compact.
Literal Meaning: “And it bestow upon
you a kingdom” “Kingdom” here specially indicates that during the kingdom of a
thousand years, the overcoming saints partake in the reward of the kingdom (See
Rev. 20:4-6).
Enlightenment in the Word: if indeed we suffer with Him (See v.28), that we
may also be glorified together (Rom. 8:17).
Luke. 22:30 “that you may eat and
drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes
of
YLT: “that ye may eat and
may drink at my table, in my kingdom, and may sit on thrones, judging the
twelve tribes of
Literal Meaning: “that you may eat
and drink at My table in My kingdom” “Eating and drinking at the table” is the
sign of rejoice and blessing. It refers to partaking in the enjoyment of the
reward and preparation of God’s kingdom.
“And sit on thrones judging the twelve
tribes of
When the Lord comes back, He brings in the
kingdom of a thousand years. At that time, the Lord shall reign on the throne
(Rev. 11:15) and thrones shall be given to the overcomers who have followed
Him, including the twelve apostles who will judge
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Since God is righteous, He will never disregard
our intention and deeds to leave all things to follow Him and we will gain
reward assuredly.
2) We are saved by God’s grace (Eph. 2:8) and we
gain the reward of the kingdom by men’s deeds (Rev. 22:12).
Luke. 22:31 “And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he
may sift you as wheat.”
YLT: “And the Lord said,
`Simon, Simon, lo, the Adversary did ask you for himself to sift as the wheat,”
The
Background: “a sifter” is a kind
of tool which is used to separate the wheat and other things. One puts the
wheat which has not been sifted (including chaff and sand) in the sifter and
holds the two edges of the sifter with two hands. And he sifts the sifter up
and down and all around so that the chaff and sand would leak from the apertures
of the sifter and the wheat still stays in the sifter.
Literal Meaning: “Satan has asked for
you” means that “Satan has asked to gain you”. It is allowed to tempt those who
are of God (See Job. 1:12; 2:6).
“That he may sift you as wheat.” The “sift”
here does not refer to the positive function of sifting away the useless
things. The procedure of the upheaval of sifting the wheat is used to describe
how Satan uses violent ways to lure and tempt disciples by gain or threaten and
attack disciples by threats and disasters in order to make their faith fail. In
sum, the sifting denotes the great test.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Obviously the Lord did not ask God to remove the
temptation because temptations are the inevitable phenomenon in the world and
He did not cease the sifting of the wheat. Though the temptations are
unavoidable, there will be the merciful hand of the Mighty God.
2) There is no doubt that all that we encounter is
arranged by God. However, many attacks are from Satan.
3) The Lord Jesus wants to remove the chaff with
fan (See 3:17) and Satan wants to sift away the wheat.
Luke. 22:32 “But I have prayed for
you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me,
strengthen your brethren.’”
YLT: “and I besought for
thee, that thy faith may not fail; and thou, when thou didst turn, strengthen
thy brethren.’”
Literal Meaning: “and when you have
returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” “Have returned” does not mean being
saved, but standing up again after falling.
The Lord predicted that Peter would
become the leader of all disciples again after Peter had fallen (See John
21:15-17; Acts. 2:14).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The aim that the Lord “prayed” for us is not to
let us be delivered from the test but that “our faith should not fail” in the
test.
2) The reason why believers could hold fast faith
is that the Lord makes intercession for us (See Heb. 7:25). If we feel that we
are weak in faith, please remember that the Lord is praying for us.
3) It is the Lord that has “prayed” for us to
strengthen us and “make our faith not fail” so that we could “return…strengthen
brethren”. When Satan is sifting us, we do need the intercession of the Lord.
4) Many times, God allows us to experience some
dreadful and urgent things in order to see whether our faith weakens in the
test. The true faith won’t be weakened at all.
5) Christians, you should pay attention to your
faith because only faith could make you receive the blessing from above. One
could not make one gain something from the throne of God through prayer unless
he prays by faith. Faith is the wire which connects the heaven and the earth.
By faith we could convey our request to God and God could communicate His
answer of love with us.
6) Will you be defeated by Satan today? We could
hide us behind the back of the Lord by faith. Without faith, we cannot call
upon God. Faith is the only way to reach unto the heaven and if this way is
blocked up, how could we have communion with God? Faith enables us to contact with
the heaven.
7) Faith enables us to put on the power of Jehovah.
Faith enables “God to be for us” (Rom. 8:31). Faith enables us to consume the
power of the Hades and bruise the head of the serpent and the dragon. Oh, how
miserable our states would be without faith! And therefore, Christians, we
should pay attention to our faith. “If you can believe, all things are possible
to him who believes” (Mark. 9:23).
8) Tests try our characters and make us be exposed
before others. It’s better for us to find out our weakness today than to regret
before the judgment-seat that day. Since He has not held back the tests, He
must pray for us and He asks that our faith should not fail at least.
Luke. 22:33 “But he said to Him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to
death.’”
YLT: “And he said to him,
`Sir, with thee I am ready both to prison and to death to go;’”
Literal Meaning: Peter did have the
willingness to die with the Lord together, however, he did not know his
weakness and he said the irresponsible words.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The self-confidence is the root of the failure
of believers (See v.34) because self-confidence makes us be neglectful in
taking precautions.
2) Many times, the spirit indeed is willing, but
the flesh is weak. Therefore we should watch and pray (See Mark. 14:38).
3) “One is unable to do what he wants very much to
do.”------one still cannot do something if he only has willingness and does not
have power; believers should never work by the flesh.
Luke. 22:34 “Then He said, I tell you,
Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times
that you know Me.’”
YLT: “and he said, ‘I say
to thee, Peter, a cock shall not crow to-day, before thrice thou mayest disown
knowing me.’”
Literal Meaning: “I tell you, Peter”
“Peter” means “stone”. The Lord called him with this meaning name with the
purpose of reminding him that the reason why one could stand does not lie in
that he is stronger than others but the Lord Himself.
“The rooster shall not crow this day”
means before the depth of tonight (See Mark. 13:35).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Environment is the best tool of God to manifest
our “selves”; sometimes the Lord arranges for us some dark environment (“the
rooster shall not crow this day”) and permits us to experience frustrations and
stumble (“you will deny three times that you know Me”) in order to make us know
ourselves.
2) The experience of failure is still advantageous
to us------it makes us no longer trust in ourselves but fully in Him (See 2Cor.
1:9).
Luke. 22:35 “And He said to them, ‘When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals,
did you lack anything?’ So they said, ‘Nothing.’”
YLT: “And he said to
them, `When I sent you without bag, and scrip, and sandals, did ye lack
anything?’ and they said, ‘Nothing.’”
Meaning of Words: “knapsack”: it is
used to keep foods.
Literal Meaning: “without money bag,
knapsack” “Money bag” denotes the preparation of money and “bag” refers to the
preparation of bread. The Lord has ordained to those that announce to the glad
tidings to live of the glad tidings (1Cor. 9:14). Therefore workers of the
Lord, being sent out by the Lord to work among God’s people, should not
superfluously prepare for the daily necessities.
“Without sandals” It does not indicate
that they do not have sandals but that they do not have the extra sandals.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord’s sending and presence ensure the need
of the workers of the Lord.
2) The principle of the life of the Lord’s workers
is neither to prepare, nor to plan, nor to consider for themselves, but to
prove in him that God is able to feed us and He takes the responsibility for us
all.
3) Workers of the Lord should have faith towards
God and should not trust on the uncertainty of riches, but in the God who
affords us all things richly for enjoyment (1Tim. 6:17).
4) Those who serve the Lord should not be
distracted by material enjoyment on earth. Having sustenance and covering, we
will be content with these (1Tim. 6:8).
Luke. 22:36 “Then He said to them, ‘But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and
likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy
one.”
YLT: “Then said he to
them, ‘But, now, he who is having a bag, let him take [it] up, and in like
manner also a scrip; and he who is not having, let him sell his garment, and
buy a sword,”
The
Background: “and he who has no
sword, let him sell his garment and buy one” At that time, men have the sword
on the journey just as they have the money bag and knapsack.
Literal Meaning: “But now, he who has a money
bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack” “Now” shows that the times are different: 1) The
conditions of the disciples are different------they have experienced the
provision of the Lord; 2) the environments are different------the attitudes of
men who they would contact have changed; 3) the tasks are different------the
disciples will preach the glad tidings to the Gentiles.
“And he who has no sword, let him sell
his garment and buy one.” The Lord Jesus
did not encourage His disciples to resort to violence. He used the metaphor to
show the hardships and dangers of the current situation and encouraged them to
learn to defend themselves.
Spiritual Meaning: “the money bag and the knapsack” shows their
determination of self-supporting. Those who go forth for the sake of the Lord’s
name take nothing from the Gentiles (3John. 7).
“And he who has no sword, let him sell
his garment and buy one.” This sentence
includes the following hidden meanings:
a. The sword symbolizes the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:17). Selling the garment and buying
the sword means that one does not rely on his works but the word of the Lord.
b. The sword symbolizes the power of the
authority (See
c. The sword symbolizes the power of
self-defense. Selling the garment and buying the sword means that one should
learn to not maintain men’s face and should know how to beware of men (See
Matt. 10:16-17).
d. According to the literal meaning, the
sword is used to defend the wild animals on the road.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) After believers have learnt how to live a
faithful life by relying on the Lord (See v.35), they could still live a
faithful life with the money bag and knapsack.
2) When dealing with the world, believers should
see through all devices of Satan (2Cor. 2:11) and the silly loses do not have
any spiritual value. However, if we know that it is the will of God, we should
not withdraw even though we clearly know that it is a trap.
3) Believers should not suffer the useless loses or
be hurt by others. However, we should not make others suffer loses to hurt
them.
Luke. 22:37 “For I say to you that
this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For the
things concerning Me have an end.’”
YLT: “for I say to you,
that yet this that hath been written it behoveth to be fulfilled in me: And
with lawless ones he was reckoned, for also the things concerning me have an
end.’”
Literal Meaning: “And He was numbered
with the transgressors” This sentence is quoted from Is. 53:12.
Luke. 22:38 “So they said, ‘Lord, look, here are two swords.’
And He said to them, ‘It is enough.’”
YLT: “And they said,
`Sir, lo, here [are] two swords;’ and he said to them, `It is sufficient.’”
Literal Meaning: “Look, here are two
swords” The disciples misunderstood the Lord and they thought that they could
defend themselves and the Lord with “two swords”.
“And He said to them, ‘It is enough’” It
does not mean that the two swords are enough and it means that the Lord was
misunderstood by them and therefore the talk was ceased and the Lord did not
speak any more (See Deut. 3:26).
Luke. 22:39 “Coming out, He went to
the
YLT: “And having gone
forth, he went on, according to custom, to the mount of the Olives, and his
disciples also followed him,”
The
Background: “He went to the
Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed” There was a garden of olive on the
hillside of the
Spiritual
Meaning: the prayer of the Lord
Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane typified that He was pressed and tortured
alone there (the meaning of
Gethsemane in the original) and
spread the oil (which typifies the Holy Spirit) to be our
Comforter (See John. 7:39; 16:7).
Luke. 22:40 “When He came to the
place, He said to them, ‘Pray that you may not enter
into temptation.’”
YLT: “and having come to
the place, he said to them, `Pray ye not to enter into temptation.’”
Literal Meaning: “When He came to the
place”: they came to the
“You may not enter into temptation”
Temptation refers to the serious test which may lead to the failure of faith.
Please note that this sentence does not indicate that prayer enables us to
overcome temptation but that prayer keeps us away from falling into temptation.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The only way to avoid the temptation of Satan is
to “pray”.
2) We deal with the attacks of the enemy by praying
instead of “two swords” (v.38).
Luke. 22:41 “And He was withdrawn from
them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed,”
YLT: “And he was
withdrawn from them, as it were a stone’s cast, and having fallen on the knees
he was praying,”
Enlightenment in the Word: The Lord’s disciples were unable to watch with Him
and share the suffering because of their weakness. However, the Lord did not
force them to pray with Him and He departed from them and prayed alone. This
shows that though the corporate prayer is important, sometimes the individual
prayer, on the contrary, touches the feeling of God more.
Luke. 22:42 “saying, ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me;
nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’”
YLT: “saying, ‘Father, if
Thou be counselling to make this cup pass from me ; but, not my will, but Thine
be done.’”
Spiritual Meaning: “take this cup away
from Me” “cup” means suffering and death (See 10:38). “This cup” is the cup of
God’s wrath (See Rev. 14:10) and originally it is the portion that we deserve.
However, God sent the Lord Jesus to the earth so as to let Him replace us to
drink this cup, i.e. letting Him bear sins and die on the cross. Therefore the
cup also denotes the death of the cross.
The Lord there touched the heart of God
the Father in order to make sure whether there is another way besides “the
death of the cross” to fulfill God’s will.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Father” The Lord’s cry shows that all our
environments and misfortune are measured to us by God the Father and He never
treats us badly without reason.
2) “Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” The key for the Lord to overcome is to
fully obey the will of the Father.
3) Without the obedience in the
4) God’s will to believers is to let us deny
ourselves, take up our crosses and follow the Lord (See 9:23).
Luke. 22:43 “Then an angel appeared to
Him from heaven, strengthening Him.”
YLT: “And there appeared
to him a messenger from heaven strengthening him;”
Literal Meaning: here the angel
ministered to Him (See Mark. 1:13) because Jesus was still restrained and
limited by the flesh in His humanity and He needed the service of the angel
(See Heb. 1:14).
Luke. 22:44 “And being in agony, He
prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling
down to the ground.”
YLT: “and having been in
agony, he was more earnestly praying, and his sweat became, as it were, great
drops of blood falling upon the ground.”
Literal Meaning: “And being in agony”
The Lord Jesus is both God and man. In His humanity, He was a man subject to
like passions as we are (See James. 5:17) and therefore He would weep and be
troubled (See John. 11:33, 35). However, the reason why the Lord was distressed
is not the fear of death but that He feared to be forsaken by God because of
bearing our sins (See Mark. 15:34).
“Then His sweat became like great drops
of blood” It may describe that the Lord Jesus was extremely painful and He sweated
painfully as if He shed blood. It may also indicate that He shed the sweat and
blood. When men are under extreme pain and pressure, the blood capillaries
would burst and the blood would seep through the skin and shed with sweat.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The true experience of the cross is to make
one’s soul suffer agony in order to obey the will of God.
2) The Lord Jesus still obeyed the will of the
Father when He was in agony. It shows the principle of the cross: one does not
face the difficulty firmly by the fleshly bravery when he is strong; one still
chooses the will of God the Father when he is extremely weak and hard and it
seems that it has been beyond his ability. And therefore we should not lose our
faithfulness towards the Lord on the excuse of “our weakness”.
3) The Lord Himself has suffered being tempted and
therefore He is able to be touched with the feeling of our infirmities (See
Heb. 2:18; 4:15).
Luke. 22:45 “When He rose up from
prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.”
YLT: “And having risen up
from the prayer, having come unto the disciples, he found them sleeping from
the sorrow,”
Literal Meaning: “He found them
sleeping from sorrow” The reason why they slept was sorrow and the lack of prayer
and therefore the Lord asked them to rise and pray (See v.46).
Enlightenment in the Word: after the Lord has prayed, He came to “His
disciples”. At that moment, He suffered the greatest pain, however, He was
still concerned about the disciples. What His bowels!
Luke. 22:46 “Then He said to them, ‘Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into
temptation.’”
YLT: “and he said to
them, ‘Why do ye sleep? having risen, pray that ye may not enter into temptation.’”
Luke. 22:47 “And while He was still
speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve,
went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.”
YLT: “And while he is
speaking, lo, a multitude, and he who is called Judas, one of the twelve, was
coming before them, and he came nigh to Jesus to kiss him,”
Literal Meaning: “behold, a
multitude” These men include soldiers and officers (See John. 18:3), besides the chief priests, captains
of the temple, and the elders (See v.52).
“And he who was called Judas, one of the twelve” Judas was usually called “one of the
twelve” in the Bible (See v.3).
“To kiss Him” In the Jewish society,
“kiss” is the common way for the disciples to greet their teacher (rabbi).
Luke. 22:48 “But Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?’”
YLT: “and Jesus said to
him, `Judas, with a kiss the Son of Man dost thou deliver up?’”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) According to the customs of the Jews, “kiss” was
an expression of intimacy and honor. Unexpectedly, it was used as a secret sign
of betraying the Lord. Many intimate expressions and sweat words are horrible
and may even “betray” us.
2) Some leaders of the church like to be flattered
by praise of his followers, however, they will be harmed seriously by flatterers
sooner or later.
Luke. 22:49 “When those around Him saw
what was going to happen, they said to Him, ‘Lord,
shall we strike with the sword?’”
YLT: “And those about
him, having seen what was about to be, said to him, `Sir, shall we smite with a
sword?’”
Luke. 22:50 “And one of them struck
the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.”
YLT: “And a certain one
of them smote the servant of the chief priest, and took off his right ear,”
Literal Meaning: “one of them” This
man was Peter (See John. 18:10).
“The servant of the high priest” The
name of this man was Malchus (See John. 18:10).
Spiritual Meaning: “sword” symbolizes
the fleshly weapon (See 2Cor. 10:4).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Those who do not know the meaning of the cross
always use the fleshly hand and the fleshly “sword” to attempt to protect the
Lord and the things of the Lord. It is not only useless but also harmful.
2) The fleshly weapons could cut off one’s “ear” at
most and contrarily make men not hear the word of God.
Luke. 22:51 “But Jesus answered and
said, ‘Permit even this.’ And He touched his ear and healed him.”
YLT: “and Jesus answering
said, `Suffer ye thus far,’ and having touched his ear, he healed him.”
Literal Meaning: “permit even this”
means that “permit them to take Me”.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Permit even this” The Lord was not “unable” to
save Himself but that He was unwilling to disobey the will of God and force God
to protect Him.
2) The Lord would rather not use any way to protect
Himself for the accomplishment of the will of God the Father. It shows that
what matters is not the peace and smoothness of things but whether things could
be accomplished according to the will of God.
Luke. 22:52 “Then Jesus said to the
chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, ‘Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and
clubs?”
YLT: “And Jesus said to
those having come upon him chief priests, and magistrates of the temple, and
elders `As upon a robber have ye come forth, with swords and sticks?”
Literal Meaning: “Have you come out,
as against a robber with swords and clubs?” The words of the Lord exposed the
unrighteousness of religious believers on one hand, on the other He also
pointed out that He will be crucified with “robbers” (See Matt. 27:38). The
word that “He was numbered with the transgressors” is fulfilled (See Is.
53:12).
Enlightenment in the Word: the way of the word is “with swords and clubs”.
However, our wrestle is not against the flesh and blood (See Eph. 6:12). And
therefore he whoever wants to use the fleshly weapons has fallen in the worldly
principle. Others probably think that they win but actually they suffer a
crushing defeat.
Luke. 22:53 “When I was with you daily
in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the
power of darkness.’”
YLT: “while daily I was
with you in the temple, ye did stretch forth no hands against me; but this is
your hour and the power of the darkness.’”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) When men are presumptuous, it is the time of
“the power of darkness”.
2) When the Lord was taken, “the darkness” was “in
power”. When the Lord was released, the darkness is cleared up. Therefore if we
want to clear up the power of the darkness and be filled with the light of God,
we have to let the Lord have all the positions and let Him be freely released.
Otherwise, the darkness must be in power wherever Christ is restrained and
detained.
Luke. 22:54 “Having arrested Him, they
led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed at a
distance.”
YLT: “And having taken
him, they led and brought him to the house of the chief priest. And Peter was
following afar off,”
Literal Meaning: “they led Him and
brought Him into the high priest’s house” The one was Caiaphas the high priest
(See Matt. 26:57-58).
Spiritual
Meaning: “they led Him and
brought Him into the high priest’s house” It
fulfills that the Lord Himself is the Lamb of the Passover and before He was sacrificed, He must be sent to the priests to be looked on and identified that whether He is the one without blemish and then He
can be sacrificed unto God (See Exod. 12:5; Deut. 17:1).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord Jesus did not know sin and was made be sin for
us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (See 2Cor. 5:21).
2) He whoever
follows the Lord by natural strength all “follow Him at a distance” and finally
his real condition will be manifested when being forced by the environment.
3) Today many believers seem to follow the Lord
apparently. However, they actually “follow Jesus at a distance”, keep a
distance, look on the situation and get ready to abandon the Lord and flee at
any moment.
Luke. 22:55 “Now when they had kindled
a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among
them.”
YLT: “and they having
kindled a fire in the midst of the court, and having sat down together, Peter
was sitting in the midst of them,”
Literal
Meaning: “now when they had
kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard” “They” refers to the servants of
the high priest, and
there might be security guarders who kept the order of the
Luke. 22:56 “And a certain servant
girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, ‘This man was also with Him.’”
YLT: “and a certain maid
having seen him sitting at the light, and having earnestly looked at him, she
said, ‘And this one was with him!’”
Literal Meaning: “a certain servant
girl” indicates one of the maids in the house of the high priest (See John.
18:17).
Spiritual
Meaning: “as he sat by the
fire” it
symbolizes that Peter could not bear
the darkness and chillness of both the environment and the mental state, and therefore he came to seek the warmness of men
and the world. However, neither the earthly fire warmed
his spirit, nor the flame enlightened his conscience (See v.57-60).
Luke. 22:57 “But he denied Him,
saying, ‘Woman, I do not know Him.’”
YLT: “and he disowned
him, saying, `Woman, I have not known him.’”
Enlightenment
in the Word: Peter, who thought he was strong and loved the Lord (See v.33), could not even bear a sentence of a
weak servant girl. Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he
fall (See 1Cor. 10:12).
Luke. 22:58 “And after a little while
another saw him and said, ‘You also are of them.’ But Peter said, ‘Man,
I am not!’”
YLT: “And after a little,
another having seen him, said, `And thou art of them!` and Peter said, `Man, I
am not.’”
Luke. 22:59 “Then after about an hour
had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, ‘Surely
this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.’”
YLT: “And one hour, as it
were, having intervened, a certain other was confidently affirming, saying, ‘Of
a truth this one also was with him, for he is also a Galilean;’”
The
Background: “for he is a
Galilean” The
Galileans spoke Aramaic and they had a strong accent of Galilean, which was
notably different from that of men in the
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) When the Lord
Jesus was questioned that “whether He is the Son of God Christ”, He answered
openly that He “is” (See v.70). When Peter was questioned “surely this fellow
also was with Him”, he denied the fact three times for the sake of his own
gain. What a strong comparison! Shall we bear strong witness of Christ like the
Lord who is willing to sacrifice his own gain?
2) The Lord did not
debate for Himself, though He is true. However, Peter debated again and again,
for he was false. Concerning true things, it is clear even though there is no
debate. As regards false things, the more they are debated, the more obviously
the Galilean “speech” is shown.
3) When men accused
the Lord, He did not defend Himself at all. The truth shall be manifested
naturally. However, the more Peter defended himself, the sooner he was exposed.
When men misunderstand us, the best way is not defending ourselves but prayer.
4) One’s habitual
practices, words and deeds throughout many years will naturally show the true
state in him. And it is hard for him to disguise himself.
5) God
arranges our environment and makes us be tried again and again. The trial
becomes hasher and harsher until we fully realize our weakness and no longer
rely on ourselves.
Luke. 22:60 “But Peter said, ‘Man, I do not know what you are
saying!’ Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.”
YLT: “and Peter said,
`Man, I have not known what thou sayest;’ and presently, while he is speaking,
a cock crew.”
Luke. 22:61 “And the Lord turned and
looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to
him, ‘Before the rooster crows,
you will deny Me three times.’”
YLT: “And the Lord having
turned did look on Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he
said to him ‘Before a cock shall crow, thou mayest disown me thrice;’”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord, through the crows of the rooster,
reminded Peter that he owed Him. We should notice that whether the Lord has
spoken to us to remind us that we owe Him or we are unfaithful to Him through
our experience or environment around.
2) The Lord’s words are the tool of Him to purify
and renew us. As long as we have His words and let them work in us, though we
may fail, we shall not be in darkness long without awareness.
Luke. 22:62 “So Peter went out and
wept bitterly.”
YLT: “and Peter having
gone without, wept bitterly.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
Believers may unavoidably fail or be offended. What’s the most important is that
we should learn to know the word of the Lord (“remembered the word of the Lord, how
He had said to him”) in the failing
experience or environment (“crows of the rooster”) and be touched by the word
of the Lord and feel broken and contrite from heart (“he went out and wept
bitterly”). In this way, we can continue to go forth in the Lord.
Luke. 22:63 “Now the men who held
Jesus mocked Him and beat Him.”
YLT: “And the men who
were holding Jesus were mocking him, beating [him];”
Luke. 22:64 “And having blindfolded
Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, ‘Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?’”
YLT: “and having
blindfolded him, they were striking him on the face, and were questioning him,
saying, `Prophesy who he is who smote thee?’”
Literal Meaning: “they struck Him on the face
and asked Him, saying, ‘Prophesy!’” means “you tell us who is the one who
struck You?”
Enlightenment in the Word: these words and deeds of religious believers
completely expose their base, low, unreasonable and evil nature. At the same
time, we could see that the Lord was willing to be humiliated in order to save
us. Should not we be moved and go forth
therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach (See Heb. 13:13).
Luke. 22:65 “And many other things
they blasphemously spoke against Him.”
YLT: “and many other
things, speaking evilly, they spake in regard to him.”
Luke. 22:66 “As soon as it was day,
the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led
Him into their council, saying,”
YLT: “And when it became
day there was gathered together the eldership of the people, chief priests
also, and scribes, and they led him up to their own sanhedrim,”
The
Background: “council” The Jewish Sanhedrin was the
supreme governing office of the Jews and the high priest was the chairman. In
the age of Jesus, the Sanhedrin was the council of seventy-one members which
was comprised of the high priest, the elders and scribes. The number of
twenty-three is the effective and legal number of people.
Literal Meaning: “As soon as it was
day…and led Him into their council” According to the regulations, the council
did not have the legal position to judge at night. The official condemnation
could only be made when the council judged in the day.
Luke. 22:67 “‘If
You are the Christ, tell us.’ But He said to them, ‘If I tell you, you will by no means believe.”
YLT: “saying, `If thou be
the Christ, tell us.’ And he said to them, `If I may tell you, ye will not
believe;”
Literal Meaning: “If You are the
Christ, tell us.” “Christ” is Greek and it is the Hebrew word “the
Messiah”.
Luke. 22:68 “And if I also ask you,
you will by no means answer Me or let Me go.”
YLT: “and if I also
question [you], ye will not answer me or send me away;”
Luke. 22:69 “Hereafter the Son of Man
will sit on the right hand of the power of God.’”
YLT: “henceforth, there
shall be the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power of God.’”
Literal
Meaning: “hereafter the Son
of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God” “The Son of Man” is the position and
identity of the incarnated Lord. The Lord presented Himself as the Son of Man
in His answer because He suffered pain in Humanity, and He also overcame in the
position of man, arose from the dead, was carried up into heaven and will come
again.
Luke. 22:70 “Then they all said, ‘Are You then the Son of God?’
So He said to them, ‘You rightly say that I am.’”
YLT: “And they all said,
`Thou, then, art the Son of God?’ and he said unto them, `Ye say [it], because
I am;’”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) When men brought false charge against Him, He
kept silent. Only when He was asked whether He is the Son of God, He had to
declare His identity because He came into the world with the aim of bearing
witness to the Son of Man.
2) Christ is “the Son of God”. This is the most
fundamental witness of Christians and we should hold fast this witness. If we
only make a concession, all truth will become in vain.
3) To other things, we should hold the tolerant and
yielding attitude. However, we should never make a concession on the witness of
Jesus Christ and contrarily we should be strong and of a good courage and we
should not make a compromise at all.
4) We should learn from the apostle Paul who
determined not to know any thing, except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified (1Cor.
2:2).
Luke. 22:71 “And they said, ‘What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it
ourselves from His own mouth.’”
YLT: “and they said,
`What need yet have we of testimony? for we ourselves did hear [it] from his
mouth.’”
The
Background: “What further
testimony do we need?” In the Judaic judicial procedure, the witness is in
charge of accusation.
Literal Meaning: Note that that the high priest and others
condemned the Lord Jesus was not for the reason that He “is” the Son of God but
that He “testified” that He is the Son of God. They did not want to prove
whether He is the Son of God at all. They only desired to find an excuse for
condemnation.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Religionists dispute the words and names with
others (See Acts. 18:15; 2Tim. 2:14) and yet neglect the spiritual reality,
that the Son of God was condemned to death by them.
2) The members of the council purposed to take away
Jesus. It was not because they cared about the things of God but the words and
deeds of Jesus strictly threatened the rights and interests of the council.
Today, if any person or group puts their own interest in a place higher than
that of the will of God, they will play the role of those who kill the Lord.
3) Who first condemns the Lord to death was not the
political power of the Gentiles but men of Judaism-----the elect of God. If
believers do not have God’s revelation, even those who are fervent in serving
the Lord may do things that hurt the Lord seriously.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
Men’s Different Reactions to Christ Who Was
about to Be Crucified
I. The
chief priests and the scribes------they sought
how they might kill Him (v.1-2).
II. Judas------he conferred with the chief priests and others, how he might betray Jesus to
them (v.3-6).
III. A anonymous owner of the house------he prepared the Feast of the Passover for the Lord (v.7-13).
The Signs of the Suffering of the Son of Man
the Savior
I. The Lamb of the Passover------the Son of Man the
Savior was killed for men (v.7).
II. The Feast of the Passover------He was killed
and became the enjoyment of those who believe in Him (v.15).
III. The bread------it symbolizes that His body was
given for us (v.19).
IV. The cup------it symbolizes the new covenant in
His blood, which is shed for us (v.20).
The Lord’s Desk (i.e. the So-called
Eucharist)
I. Its typification in the narrow sense:
A. The bread------the body of the Lord was given for us (v.19).
B. The cup------the blood of the Lord was shed for us (v.20).
II. Its typification in the broad sense (See
1Cor. 10:16-17):
A. The bread------all believers partake in the body of Christ through
“eating” the bread.
B. The cup------all believers partake in the blessing of Christ through
“drinking” the cup.
The Knowledge that One should Have to Enjoy
the Supper of the Lord
II. The Lord sits with those who believe in Him
(v.14-15).
III. It is the typification of the feast in the
IV. The Lord becomes our enjoyment in His body and
blood (v.19-20).
V. It is fulfilled by God’s predestinated plan and
man’s (Judas) sin (v.21-23).
VI. Those who sit down should be humble to each
other and serve each other (v.24-27).
VII. Those who sit down should hope in the reward
in the
The Knowledge and Attitude that Believers
Should Have When Facing Dangerous Environment
I. The root of difficulties------Satan has asked
for us, that it may sift us as wheat (v.31).
II. The support in the difficulties------the Lord
has prayed for us (v.32a).
III. The strength in the difficulties------the
holding fast of faith (v.32b).
IV. The experience in the difficulties------it
could be helpful to strength our brothers in the future (v.32c).
V. Lessons in difficulties:
A. One
knows that the natural self is unworthy to be relied on (v.33-34).
B. One
knows that the Lord is responsible for all our provisions (v.35).
VI. The preparations one should have in facing the
difficulties:
A. One should make preparations for life
and work------have the money bag and knapsack (v.36a).
B. One
should learn to defend himself------sell the garment and buy the sword (v.36b).
C. One
should have the heavenly wisdom------know the will of God through rhema and the
Lord’s words in season (v.37-38).
D. One
should pray that he may not enter into temptation (v.39-40).
E. One
should put down his own will and only seek the accomplishment of the will of
God (v.41-42).
F. One
should pray earnestly and then he could receive the heavenly help (v.43-44).
G. One
should watch in prayer that he may not sleep (v.45-46).
Lessons Learnt from Peter
I. The failure of Peter:
A. He
did not know himself and thought that he was strong (v.33).
B. He
cannot watch and pray with the Lord and slept (v.45; See Mark. 14:37).
C. He
used the fleshly weapon to cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant (v.50;
See John. 18:10).
D. He
followed at a distance (v.54b)------keep the distance.
E. He
sat by the fire (v.56b)------rely on the warmness of the world and men.
F. He
was unable to undergo the question of a certain servant girl (v.56-57)------he
cannot undergo a little test.
G. He
exposed the Galilean speech (v.59; See Matt. 26:73)------he exposed himself.
II. The return of Peter:
A. The
Lord has prayed for him that his faith should not fail (v.32).
B. The
Lord predicted his failure (v.34).
C. The
Lord encouraged him to rise and pray, that he may not enter into temptation
(v.40, 46).
D. The
Lord picked up the pieces------healed the ear of the servant (v.51).
E. The
Lord used the environment to remind him------the crow of the rooster (v.60).
F. The
gaze of the Lord------the Lord turned and looked at Peter (v.61).
G. He
completely confessed his weakness and failure------he went out and wept
bitterly (v.62).
The Prayer of the Lord in the
I. The Lord Jesus was sorrowful
alone------the disciples did not understand the suffering of the cross (the
cup).
II. The Lord Jesus prayed alone------the
disciples were unable to watch and pray with Him because of their weakness.
III. The Lord Jesus asked the relation
between the cup and the will of God------He only sought the fulfillment of the
will of God the Father.
IV. The Lord Jesus prayed three
times------until He clearly understood the will of God the Father.
V. The Lord Jesus faced what was going to
happen calmly and composedly------because He clearly knew the will of God the
Father.
The Tribulations of the Lord Jesus before
the Suffering
I. He was betrayed by the disciple who was with Him
on the table (v.3-6, 21-22).
II. The disciples who sat with Him disputed that
which of them would be the greatest (v.24).
III. Peter did not know himself (v.33).
IV. The disciples could not understand what He had
said (v.38).
V. He suffered agony in the
VI. The disciples could not watch and pray with Him
(v.45-46).
VII. He was arrested by the leaders of Judaism as
against a robber (v.47-53).
VIII. He was denied before men by Peter three times
(v.54-62).
IX. He was mocked and beaten by those who held Him
(v.63-65).
X. He was judged and condemned by the council
(v.66-71).
The Comparison between the Lord Jesus and
Peter
II. The council said, "Are You then the Son of
God?" So He said to them, "You rightly say that I am” (v.70).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Sharon Ren