April 5th, 2025

This Sunday, known as The Fifth Sunday in Lent, has for its Gospel Reading Luke 20:9-20. With this text, the progression of Jesus toward the cross becomes much more obvious. The Palm Sunday text has already happened in the previous chapter. And by the very end of the reading, Jesus is very close to being arrested.

Last week’s text had the Pharisees and the Scribes not liking what Jesus had to say. This time the two groups are the Scribes and the Chief Priests, and the addition of the Chief Priests has added some power to the situation. And the very last word of the reading is that of the governor, and that verb, to govern, contains a significant amount of power. And this is clearly seen in the way that it is laid out within the text.

In the writings of this website, we are also going through the Gospel according to Luke, but in the way that was laid out by the writer. Currently we are starting what is known as chapter eight of this account. The tension here is not so obvious. And the power of Jesus is not always obvious. It is the popularity of Jesus that is obvious at this point.
What follows is an extremely literal translation of essentially the first half of chapter eight. You might say that what is increasing is the connection of Jesus is to different people in different ways. And this fits with this Gospel account’s connection to the living creature of the ox, the tame ox, the animal that is okay in working with others. And despite the extreme variety of situations and people, Jesus continues onward toward the cross.

If this is your first encounter with the writings of this website, please note that the hyphens below are designed to give the reader an idea of how many words in English are from the one word in the Greek, the language of the New Testament. And some of the translations of the words are designed to show how similar the Greek language is to the English. The recommendation is to look at this text also in another translation or a study bible. One should keep in mind that there often different ways that the same words can be translated. Now what follows is Luke 8:1-25:

And  it-happened  in  the  according-to-order,  and  he,  he-was-passing-through
according-to  city  and  village,  proclaiming  and  evangelizing  the  kingdom  of-the  God;  and  the  twelve  with him,  and  women,  certain,  who  were  having-been-therapeutic  from  spirits,  evil,  and  weaknesses,  Maria,  the  being-called  Magdalene,  from  whom  demons,  seven,  they-had-come-out,  and  Joanna,  wife  of-Chuzza,  steward  of-Herod,  and  Susanna,  and  others,  many,  who  were-ministering  to-them,  from  the  possessions  of-them.

Now  being-with  a-crowd,  much,   and  of-the  according-to  city,  journeying-upon  toward  him,  he-said  through  a-parable:  “He-came-out,  the-one  sowing  of-the  to-sow  the  seed,  his.  And  in  the  to-sow,  him,  the-one,  on-the-one-hand,  it-fell  along  the  way,  and  it-was-trampled-down,  and  the  birds  of-the  heaven,  it-devoured  it.  And  other,  it-fell-down  upon  the  rock,  and  having-grown,  it-was-withered,  because-of  the  not  to-have  moisture.  And  other,  it-fell  in  midst  of-the  thorns,  and  having-grown-up-with,  the  thorns  choked-off  it.  And  other,  it-fell  into  the  ground,  the  good,  and  having-grown,  it-made  fruit,  a-hundred-fold.”  These-things  saying,  he-was-calling,  “The-one  having  ears  to-hear,  let-him-hear.”

Now  they-were-questioning  him,  the  disciples,  his,  what  this  might-be,  the  parable.  Now  the-one  said,  “To-you  it-has-been-given  to-know  the  mysteries  of-the  kingdom  of-the  God,  now  to-the  rest  in  parables,  that  seeing,  not  they-may-see,  and  hearing,  not  they-may-understand.  Now  is  this,  the  parable:  The  seed  is  the  word  of-the  God.  Now  the-ones  along  the  way,  they-are  the-ones  having-heard,  then  he-comes,  the  diabolical-one  and  he-takes  the  word  from  the  heart  of-them,  that  not  having-believed,  they-may-be-saved.  Now  the-ones  upon  the  rock,  the-ones  when  they-hear  with  joy,  they-receive  the  word;  and  these,  root,  not  they-have,  the-ones  toward  a-time  they-believe,  and  in  time  of-proving,  they-fall-away.  Now  the-one,  into  the  thorns,  having-fallen,  these  are  the-ones  having-heard,  and  by  concerns  and  riches  and  pleasures  of-the  life  going,  they-are-choked,  and  not  they-bear-to-maturity.  Now  the-one  in  the  beautiful  soil,  these  are  those-who,  in  heart,  a-beautiful  and  good,  having-heard  the  word,  they-hold-fast  and  they-bear-fruit  in  patience.”

“Now  no-one  a-lamp  having-lit,  he-covers  it  with-a-vessel  or  underneath  a-couch  he-puts,  but-on-the-contrary,  upon  a-lampstand  he-puts,  in-order-that  the-ones  coming-into,  they-may-see  the  light.  For  not  is  hidden  which  not  manifest,  it-will-become,  nor  secret  which  certainly  not  it-will-be-known,  and  into  manifest  it-will-become,  now-not  hidden-away  which  not  certainly  it-will-be-known,  and  into  manifest  it-will-come.  Therefore  see  how  you-hear;  for  who  ever  has,  it-will-be-given  to-him,  and  who  ever  not  he-has,  even  what  he-thinks  to-have,  it-will-be-taken  from  him.”

Now  she-happened-along  toward  him,  the  mother,  and  the  brothers  of-him,  and  not  they-were-able  to-join-with  him  because-of  the  crowd.  Now  it-was-reported  to-him:  “The  mother  of-you  and  the  brothers  of-you,  they-are-standing  outside,  to-see,  wanting,  you.”

Now  the-one  having-answered,  he-said  toward  them,  “Mother  of-me  and  brothers  of-me,  these  are,  the-ones  the  word  of-the  God,  hearing  and  doing.”

Now  it-happened  in  one  of-the  days,  and  he,  he-stepped-in  into  a-boat  and  the  disciples  of-him,  and  he-said  toward  them,  “Let-us-go-over  into  the  other-side  of-the  lake,”  and  they-led-up.  Now  sailing,  they,  he-fell-asleep. 

And  it-came-down,  a-storm  of-wind  into  the  lake,  and  they-were-being-filled-up,  and  they-were-in-danger.  Now  having-come-toward,  they-awoke  him  saying,  “Overseer,  overseer,  we-are-being-destroyed.”

Now  the-one  having-been-awakened,  he-rebuked  the  wind  and  the  roughness  of-the  water,  and  they-ceased,  and  it-happened  a-calm.  Now  he-said  to-them,  “Where  the  faith  of-you?”
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Now  having-feared,  they-marveled,  saying  toward  one-another,  “Who  then  this-one  is,  that  also  the  winds  he-commands  and  the  water,  and  they-listen-to  him?”