The Glory of His First Judean Tour

The Teachings of Christ · AD 29

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

Christ was the greatest teacher who ever lived, speaking as one with authority because He spoke only what the Father gave Him. On His first Judean tour, in late November AD 29, He turned His focus to instructing His disciples: teaching them how to pray, exposing the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, and calling them not to fear man, not to be anxious, but to seek the kingdom of God and be ready for His return.

Read: Luke 11:1–13; Luke 11:37–54; Luke 12:1–34; Matthew 6:5–34

Teaches Us How to Pray

From Bethany Christ traveled through Judea, and though crowds followed Him, He fixed His teaching on His disciples. His whole life was a life of prayer; often He prayed through the night. When one of His disciples asked, “Lord, teach us to pray,” He gave four things to remember whenever we pray.

First, do not pray to be seen by others, like the hypocrites who love to pray on the street corners; instead go into your room and shut the door. Second, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Third, pray reverently for God's kingdom and your daily needs.

Fourth, pray in faith without ceasing. As the persistent neighbor kept knocking until he was given bread, and as the Syrophoenician woman kept pleading, so we are to keep knocking at the door of heaven. If earthly fathers give good gifts to their children, how much more will our heavenly Father.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Matthew 6:9–13

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Luke 11:9

The Finger of God

As Christ journeyed on, a demon-possessed man who could not speak was brought to Him. Christ cast out the mute spirit, and the man spoke, to the amazement of the crowd. But some accused Him of casting out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons.

Christ answered that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand — Satan would not war against his own dominion. Only one power is willing and able to assault the kingdom of darkness: the power of the kingdom of heaven. A stronger man had come to bind the strong man and plunder his house.

He warned of the unclean spirit that returns to a swept and empty house with seven others worse than itself, so that the last state is worse than the first — a picture of the crowds who showed interest but would soon cry, “Crucify him!” When a woman blessed His mother, Christ redirected her, and He gave that evil generation no sign but the sign of Jonah.

But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Luke 11:20

Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!

Luke 11:28

Woe to the Pharisees and Lawyers

A Pharisee invited Christ to dine and was astonished that He did not first ceremonially wash His hands. Christ rebuked the hypocrisy that runs so deep among the Pharisees: they cleansed the outside of the cup while inside they were full of greed and wickedness.

He pronounced woes upon them: they tithed mint and rue but neglected justice and the love of God, and they loved the best seats and greetings in the marketplaces. Their scrupulous attention to small details only masked hearts that would not humble themselves or love.

When a lawyer objected that this insulted them too, Christ turned to the lawyers: they loaded people with burdens too heavy to bear while lifting not a finger themselves, and they had taken away the key of knowledge, neither entering the kingdom nor letting others in. They left the dinner all the more determined to entrap Him in His words.

Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

Luke 11:39

Do Not Fear, Do Not Be Anxious, Be Ready

As the crowds grew so large they trampled one another, Christ warned His disciples against the leaven of the Pharisees — hypocrisy — for nothing hidden will fail to be revealed. He told them not to fear those who kill the body, but to fear God alone; yet not one sparrow is forgotten before God, and they were worth more than many sparrows.

When a man asked Him to settle an inheritance dispute, Christ warned against covetousness with the parable of the rich fool, who tore down his barns to build bigger ones but died that very night. Then He told His disciples not to be anxious about food or clothing: consider the ravens and the lilies, and seek instead the kingdom of God.

Finally He called them to be ready for His return — to stay dressed for action and keep their lamps burning, for the Son of Man comes at an hour they do not expect. He rebuked the crowds for knowing how to read the weather but failing to interpret the times, and called them to repent.

Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:31

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Luke 12:34

Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Luke 13:3

For Reflection

Down, down, down our Lord continued through everything He did and everything He taught. His teaching was full of grace and truth. He taught with humility and love, seeking not His own glory but the glory of the One who had sent Him. His teaching is transformational and life-giving; it has changed the world, for He is the greatest teacher who has ever lived.