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July 26th, 2025

7/26/2025

The season of Pentecost continues on, and this Sunday is the “Seventh Sunday after Pentecost.” And the Gospel Reading of Luke 11:1-13 brings up the topic of prayer. And Jesus continues to make his way toward Jerusalem.

The current writings of this website are also going through the Gospel according to Luke, taking the entire work into account, and giving it in the order in which it was laid out by the writer. And with this week’s writing we a bit farther than the Gospel Reading.
But the reading below also mentions that Jesus was making his way toward Jerusalem. This has been connected to the living creature of this account, the ox, the one who easily will pull some farm machinery through the rough soil, so that it would eventually bear fruit. And it does help for that ox to go in a straight line, if that is what may be helpful for the one planting the crops.

If you have been reading the previous writings of this website, you would know that the previous two writings both covered an entire chapter of the Gospel according to Luke. They were relatively short chapters, and they essentially covered one topic.

If chapter seventeen were divided into two parts, the first would deal with the troubles that come to the follower of Christ. And the second would deal with the second coming of Christ. Both those topics are important, since the first one will happen until the second. (A hint of this perspective is given below by calling the disciples “apostles” and calling Jesus “Lord”.)

If this is the first experience with the writings of this website, there are a couple of things to mention. First of all, it is good to know that there are a LOT of ways to translate a text. The biblical text below is an EXTREMELY literal translation of the text. It takes into account the word order of the text in the original language of the New Testament. In general, the earlier in the sentence, the more important the word is. There are also some words below that have been chosen to show their close connection to the Greek language. And since the writer of this account is a doctor, it should not be too surprising that the words he has chosen are sometimes very rare ones. An attempt was made to have that characteristic also reflected in the words below.

All of this was attempted within this translation, and all of this can make it a difficult text to follow. Looking at another translation or a study bible is HIGHLY recommended. And here is Luke 17:1-19:

Now  he-said  toward  the  disciples,  his,  “Impossible  it-is,  of  the  scandals,  not  to-come;  now  woe  through  whom  they-come.  It-profits  him  if  a-stone  of-a-mill,  is-put-around,  around  the  trachea  of-him,  and  he-has-been-thrown  into  the  sea,  than  that  he-should-scandalize  the  microns  of-these,  one.  Take-heed  to-yourselves.  If  he-sins,  the  brother  of-you,  rebuke  him,  and  if  he-repents,  release  him.  And  if,  seven-times  of-the  day  he-sins  into  you,  and  seven-times  he-turns  toward  you  saying,  ‘I-repent,’  you-will-release  him.”

And  they-said,  the  apostles,  to-the  Lord,  “Add  to-us  faith.”

Now  he-said,  the  Lord,  “If  you-have  faith  as  a-grain  of-mustard,  you-would-say,  then,  to-the  sycamine-tree,  to this,  ‘Be-uprooted,  and  be-placed  in  the  sea,  and  it-would-obey,  then,  to-you.  Now  who  of  you,  a-slave  having,  plowing  or  herding,  who  on-the-coming-into,  out-of  the  farm,  he-will-say  to-him,  ‘Immediately  coming-up,  recline.’  But-on-the-contrary,  not  he-will-say  to-him,  ‘Prepare  something  I-may-dine,  and  having-girded-yourself,  be-a-deacon  to-me  until  I-eat  and  I-drink,  and  after  these-things,  eat  and  drink,  you?  Not  he-has  grace  to-the  slave  because  he-did  the-things  completely-arranged?  Thus  also  you,  when  you-do  all  the-things  completely-arranged  to-you,  say,  ‘Slaves  unprofitable,  we-are;  what  we-ought  to-do,  we-have-done.’”

And  it-happened  in  the  to-journey  into  Jerusalem,  and  he,  he-was-coming-through,  through  midst  of-Samaria  and  Galilee.  And  coming-into,  he,  into  a-certain  village,  they-encountered,  for-him,  ten  leprous  men,  who  stood  faraway,  and  they,  they-lifted  a-voice,  saying,  “Jesus,  overseer,  pity  us.”

And  having-seen,  he-said  to-them,  “Having-journeyed,  show  yourselves  to-the  priests.”  And  it-happened,  in  the  going-away,  they,  they-had-a-catharsis.  Now  one  from  them,  having-seen  that  he-was-cured,  he-returned  with  a-voice,  a-mega-one,  glorifying  the  God,  and  he-fell  upon  face  next-to  the  feet  of-him,  eucharisting  him;  and  he,  he-was  a-Samaritan.  Now  having-answered,  the  Jesus,  he-said,  “Not  the  ten,  they-had-a-catharsis?  Now  the  nine,  where?  Not  they-were-found,  having-returned  to-give  glory  to-the  God,  if  not  the  other-race-one,  this?”  And  he-said  to-him,  “Having-risen-up,  travel;  the  faith  of-you,  it-has-saved  you.”

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July 19th, 2025

7/19/2025

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The season of Pentecost continues on, with this Sunday being the “Sixth Sunday after Pentecost.” And the Gospel Reading of Luke 10:38-42 continues looking at Jesus as he makes his way toward Jerusalem.

The current writings of this website are also going through the Gospel according to Luke, taking the entire work into account, and giving it in the order in which it was laid out by the writer. And with this week’s writing we are much farther than the Gospel Reading.

Last week’s writing covered the whole of chapter fifteen, and it covered the parables of the lost sheep, coin, and son. This week’s writing will also cover an entire chapter, chapter sixteen. This week’s writing (and chapter) also has to do with money, an important subject. But Jesus, with his carefully picked words, helps keep it from being too important in our lives.

If this is the first experience with the writings of this website, you should know that the biblical text that is below is an EXTREMELY literal translation of the text. It takes into account the word order of the text in the original language of the New Testament. And in general, the earlier in the sentence, the more important the word is. There are also some words below that have been chosen to show their close connection to the Greek language. And since the writer of this account is a doctor, it should not be too surprising that the words he has chosen are sometimes very rare ones. An attempt was made to have that characteristic as well reflected in the words below.

It should also be noted within this chapter that there are two verbs in a different form than the others, and these are in capital letters. A verb that is expected to be in the past tense, but it appears in the present, that is called the historical present. This form of the verb enlivens the action. It also signals a significant move that will be happening in the progression of the story. And in this Gospel account it is special in that it also makes a connection to the great variety of people with whom God works. Such a thing is certainly seen in the book of Acts as well.

All of this was attempted within this translation, and all of this can make it a difficult text to follow. Looking at another translation or a study bible is HIGHLY recommended. And here is Luke 16(:1-31):

Now  he-was-saying  also  toward  the  disciples,  “A-man,  a-certain-one,  was  wealthy,  who  had  a-house-law-man,  and  this-one  was-thrown-through  to-him  as  scattering-thoroughly  the  possessions,  his.  And  having-called  him,  he-said  to-him,  ‘What  this  I-hear  about  you?  Give-back  the  word  of-the  house-law,  your,  for  not  you-are-able  still,  to-house-law.’  Now  he-said  in  himself,  the  house-law-man,  ‘What  will-I-do,  because  the  lord,  my,  he-is-taking-away  the  house-law  from  me?  To-dig,  not  I-am-strong;  to-beg,  I-am-ashamed.  I-know  what  I-will-do,  that,  when  I-am-removed  from  the  house-law,  they-may-receive  me  into  the  houses  of-them.’  And  having-called-toward  one,  each  of-the  debtors  of-the  lord  of-himself,  he-was-saying  to-the-first,  ‘How-much  do-you-owe  to-the  lord,  my?’  Now  the-one  said,  ‘One-hundred  baths  of-oil.’  Now  the-one  said  to-him,  ‘Receive  your,  the  bill,  and  having-sat-down,  quickly  write  fifty.’  Then  to-a-hetero  he-said,  ‘Now  you,  how-much  do-you-owe?’  Now  the-one  said,  ‘One-hundred  cors  of-grain.  HE-SAYS  to-him,  ‘Receive  your,  the  bill,  and  write  eighty.’  And  he-praised,  the  lord,  the  house-law-man,  of-the  unrighteous  that  wisely  he-did,  because  the  sons  of-the  age  of-this,  wiser  than  the  sons  of-the  light,  into  the  generation,  the  their,  they-are.  And  I,  to-you  I-am-saying,  for-yourselves  make  loving-friends  from  the  mammon  of-the  unrighteous,  that  when  it-fails,  they-may-receive  you  into  the  eternal  tents.”
“The  faithful-one  in  the-least-thing,  also  in  much,  faithful  he-is;  and  the-one  in  the-least-thing  unrighteous,  also  in  much,  unrighteous  he-is.  Therefore,  if  in  the  unrighteous  mammon,  faithful  not  you-became;  the  true,  who  to-you  will-he-believe?  And  if  in  the  thing-of-another,  faithful  not  you-became;  the  your-thing,  who  to-you  will-he-give?  Not-any  house-servant,  he-is-able,  two  lords,  to-serve;  for  either  the  one,  he-will-hate,  and  the  hetero  he-will-agape,  or  to-one  he-will-cling,  and  the  hetero  he-will-think-down.  Not  you-are-able  God  to-serve  and  mammon.”

Now  they-were-hearing  these-things  all,  the  Pharisees,  money-loving  existing,  and  they-were-turning-up-nose-at  him.  And  he-said  to-them,  “You,  you-are  the-ones  making-righteous  yourselves,  in-front-of  the  men,  now  the  God  knows  the  hearts,  yours.  Because  the  in  men,  high-thing;  disgusting  in-front-of  the  God.”

“The  Law  and  the  Prophets,  until  John;  from  then,  the  Kingdom  of-the  God  is-evangelized,  and  all  into  it  he-forces-himself.  Now  better-for-toil  it-is  the  heaven  and  the  earth  to-pass-away  than  of-the  Law,  one  horn  to-fall.”

“Every  the-one  releasing  the  wife,  his,  and  marrying  hetero,  he-commits-adultery,  and  the-one  having-been-divorced  from  man,  one-marrying,  he-commits-adultery.”

“Now  a-man,  a-certain-one,  he-was  wealthy,  and  he-would-dress-himself  a-purple-robe  and  fine-linen,  being-merry,  according-to-a-day,  splendidly.  Now  a-poor-man,  a-certain-one, by-name  Lazarus,  had-been-thrown  toward  the  gate  of-him,  being-covered-with-sores,  and  desiring  to-be-satisfied  from  the-things  falling  from  the  table  of-the-wealthy-man,  but-on-the-contrary,  even  the  dogs,  coming,  they-licked  the  sores  of-him.  Now  it-happened,  to-die,  the  poor-man,  and  to-be-carried-away,  he,  by  the  angels,  into  the  bosom  of-Abraham;  now  he-died,  also  the  wealthy-one,  and  he-was-buried.  And  in  the  hades,  having-lifted-up  the  eyes  of-him,  existing  in  torments,  HE-SEES  Abraham  from  afar  and  Lazarus  in  the  bosoms  of-him.  And  he,  having-called,  he-said,  ‘Father  Abraham,  pity  me,  and  send  Lazarus  that  he-may-dip  the  tip  of-the  finger  of-him  of-water  and  it-may-cool  the  tongue  of-me,  because  I-am-suffering  in  the  flame,  this.’  Now  he-said,  Abraham,  ‘Child,  remember  that  you-received  the  good-things  of-you  in  the  life  of-you,  and  Lazarus,  likewise,  the  bad;  now,  at-present,  here  he-is-paracleted,  now  you  are-suffering.  And  in  all  these-things,  between  us  and  you,  a-chasm,  mega,  has-been-firmly-fixed,  so-that  the-ones  wanting  to-pass-through  from-here  toward  you,  not  they-are-able,  neither  from-there  toward  us  they-may-cross-over.’  Now  he-said,  ‘I-ask  you,  therefore,  father,  that  you-may-send  him  into  the  house  of-the  father  of-me,  for  I-have  five  brothers,  so-that  he-may-thoroughly-witness  to-them,  that  not  also  they,  they-may-come  into  the  place,  this,  of-the  torment.’  Now  HE-SAYS,  Abraham,  ‘They-have  Moses  and  the  prophets;  let-them-hear  them.’  Now  the-one  said,  ‘No,  father  Abraham,  but-on-the-contrary,  if  someone  from  dead,  he-should-travel  toward  them,  they-may-repent.’  Now  he-said  to-him,  ‘If  Moses  and  the  prophets,  not  they-do-hear,  neither  if  someone,  out-of  dead  should-rise-again,  they-will-be-persuaded.’”
Another connection between these two chapters is that, in the story of the prodigal son, the father, to the older son, “calls alongside of him”, in other words, “paracletes” him. (You were warned that another translation or study bible would be helpful.) And the very same verb happens to Lazarus. God comes along the side of his people. And that special word and action will definitely come up within the Gospel according to John. (It also happens to be in the Lutheran Service Book.)

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July 12th, 2025

7/12/2025

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The season of Pentecost continues on, and perhaps you already guessed that this Sunday’s title is the “Fifth Sunday after Pentecost.” And the Gospel Reading of Luke 10:25-37 follows quite soon after the Reading of the previous week.

The current writings of this website are also going through the Gospel according to Luke, taking the entire work into account, and giving it in the order in which it was laid out by the writer. No verses will be passed over.

We can see within these verses below, the tension between Jesus and his enemies continues to grow. And in the writing below the two groups will be named. The Tax-collectors and the Sinners are on the side of Jesus. And the Pharisees and the Writers (or Scribes) are on the other side.

Last week’s writing was quite short. This week’s writing is unusual in that it will cover an entire chapter within this Gospel account. This chapter is short enough to do that.
It is thought that these chapter divisions were added to the text in the Middle Ages. It does help to divide the entire account into smaller parts. And this chapter does have an inherent structure in that it deals with a lost sheep, a lost coin, and also a lost son.

Things get lost. More importantly is that, sometimes, people can get lost. Hopefully reading this text will help you “find” someone. And perhaps it would be more appropriate to say that Someone has found us.

If this is the first experience with the writings of this website, the biblical text that is below is an EXTREMELY literal translation of the text, taking into account even the word order of the text in the original language of the New Testament. There are also some words below that have been chosen to show their close connection to the Greek language. And since the writer of this account is a doctor, the words he has chosen are sometimes very rare ones. An attempt was made to have that factor as well reflected in the words below.

All of this was attempted within this translation, and all of this can also cause some confusion as to what the text means. Many different translations of a text are possible. Looking at another translation or a study bible will probably be quite helpful. And here is Luke 15(:1-32):

Now  they-were  to-him  coming-near,  all  the  Tax-collectors  and  the  Sinners,  to-hear  him.  And  they-were-thoroughly-murmuring,  both  the  Pharisees  and  the  Writers,  saying,  “This-man,  sinners,  he-receives,  and  he-eats-with  them.”

Now  he-spoke  toward  them  the  parable,  this,  saying,  “What  man  from  you,  having  a-hundred  sheep,  and  having-lost  from  them,  one,  not  does-he-leave-down  the  ninety  nine  in  the  desert,  and  he-travels  upon  the-one  having-been-lost  until  he-finds  it?  And  having-found,  he-places-upon,  upon  the  shoulders  of-him,  rejoicing,  and  having-come  into  the  house,  he-calls-together  the  loving-friends  and  the  neighbors,  saying  to-them,  ‘Rejoice-with  me,  because  I-found  the  sheep,  my,  the-one  having-been-lost.’  I-am-saying  to-you  that  so  joy  in  the  heaven  it-will-be,  upon  one  sinner  repenting,  than  over  ninety  nine  righteous  who,  no  need  they-have  of-repentance.”

“Or  what  woman,  drachmas  having,  ten,  if  she-loses  a-drachma,  one,  not  does-she-light  a-lamp,  and  she-sweeps  the  house,  and  she-seeks  carefully  until  which  she-finds?  And  having-found,  she-calls-together  the-loving-friends  and  neighbors  saying,  ‘Rejoice-with  me,  because  I-found  the  drachma  which  I-lost.’ So,  I-am-saying  to-you,  it-happens,  joy  in-front-of  the  angels  of-the  God  upon  one  sinner  repenting.”

Now  he-said,  “A-man,  a-certain-one,  he-had  two  sons.  And  he-said,  the  younger  of-them  to-the  father,  ‘Father,  give  to-me  the  falling-upon  part  of-the  substance.’  Now  the-one  divided  to-them  the-living.  And  after  not  many  days,  having-synagogued  all-things,  the  younger  son  traveled-abroad  into  a-country,  macron,  and  there  he-thoroughly-scattered  the  substance  of-him,  living  prodigally.  Now  having-spent,  he,  all-things,  it-happened  a-famine,  a-strong-one,  throughout  the  country,  that;  and  he,  he-began  to-hysterect.  And  having-traveled,  he-was-joined  to-one  of-the  politics  of-the  country,  that;  and  he-sent  him  into  the  fields  of-him  to-feed  pigs;  and  he-was-desiring  to-be-fed  from  the  husks  which  they-were-eating,  the  pigs;  and  no-one  was-giving  to-him.  Now  into  himself  having-come,  he-responded,  ‘How-many  hired-workers  of-the  father,  my,  they-have-an-abundance  of-breads;  now  I,  with-famine  here,  I-am-perishing.  Having-risen-up,  I-will-go  toward  the  father,  my;  and  I-will-say  to-him, “Father,  I-sinned  into  the  heaven  and  in-front-of  you,  no-longer  I-am  worthy  to-be-called  a-son  of-you;  make  me  as  one  of-the  hired-workers  of-you.”’  And  having-risen-up,  he-traveled  toward  the  father  of-him.  Now  yet,  he,  macron  being-away,  he-saw  him,  the  father  of-him,  and  the-intestines-hurt,  and  having-run,  he-fell-upon,  upon  the  neck  of-him,  and  he-fervently-kissed  him.  Now  he-said,  the  son  to-him,  ‘Father,  I-sinned  into  the  heaven  and  in-front-of  you;  no-longer  I-am  worthy  to-be-called  a-son  of-you.’  Now  he-said,  the  father  toward  the  servants  of-him,  ‘Quickly  carry-out  a-robe,  the  proton,  and  clothe  him,  and  give  a-ring  into  the  hand  of-him,  and  sandals  into  the  feet,  and  carry  the  calf,  the  fattened,  slaughter,  and  having-eaten,  let-us-be-merry,  because  this,  the  son  of-me,  dead  he-was,  and  he-lived-again,  he-was  having-been-lost,  and  he-was-found.’  And  they-began  to-be-merry.”

“Now  he-was,  the  son  of-him,  the  presbyter,  in  a-field,  and  as  coming,  he-came-near  to-the  house,  he-heard   a-symphonia  and  dances,  and  having-called-toward  one  of-the  children,  he-was-inquiring  what  might  be  these-things.  Now  the-one  said  to-him,  ‘The  brother  of-you,  he-has-come,  and  he-slaughtered  the  father  of-you  the  calf,  the  fattened,  because  being-healthy,  him,  he-received-back.’  Now  he-was-angry,  and  not  he-was-willing  to-come-into;  now  the  father  of-him,  having-come-out,  he-paracleted  him.  Now  the-one  having-answered,  he-said  to-the  father,  his,  ‘Look,  so-many  years  I-served  you  and  never  a-command  of-you  I-came-past,  and  to-me  never  you-gave  a-goat,  that  with  the  loving-friends  of-me  I-might-be-merry;  now  when  the  son  of-you,  this,  the-one  having-devoured  of-you  the  living  with  porn,  he-came;  you-slaughtered  for-him  the  fattened  calf.’  Now  the-one  said  to-him,  ‘Little-child,  you  always  with  me,  you-are;  and  all-things  the  my,  yours  it-is;  now  to-be-merry  and  to-rejoice,  it-was-necessary;  because  the  brother  of-you,  this,  dead  he-was,  and  he-lives;  and  having-been-lost,  and  he-was-found.’”

Have you ever tried to run in a long robe? Have your intestines ever hurt because of your love for another? Have you ever fallen on someone’s neck? Have you ever fervently kissed? How very different is the love of our Father in heaven!

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July 5th, 2025

7/5/2025

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The season of Pentecost continues on, and this Sunday’s title is the “Fourth Sunday after Pentecost.” And the Gospel Reading of Luke 10:1-20 follows right after the reading of the previous week. And perhaps the holiday of July 4 will also be taken into account.
The current writings of this website are also going through the Gospel according to Luke, taking the whole work into account, in the order in which it was laid out by the writer. The tension between Jesus and his enemies is growing. And the multitudes that are following him are also growing. We are currently looking at what is called the fourteenth chapter of the work, and this happens to be one of the shorter chapters of this account.

If you are unfamiliar with the writings of this website, what is below could be called an EXTREMELY literal translation of the text, taking into account even the word order of the text in the original language of the New Testament. Having such an order can be confusing, and so it is recommended that the reader also look at another translation and/or a study bible to help understand the text.

It should also be mentioned that some of the words in English have been chosen to show their close connection to the Greek language. That can also cause some confusing, since words can change meaning over time. Again, another translation or a study bible will probably be helpful.

With such a gifted writer in this Gospel account, there will be, in all likelihood, some only-doctor-known words that are quite rare. Hopefully they are not too confusing. And here is (hopefully) a helpful translation of a short section this time (and I also hope you do not mind it being so short), Luke 14:25-35:

Now they-were-traveling-with him, crowds, many; and having-turned, he-said toward them, “If anyone comes toward me and not he-hates the father of-him, and the mother, and the wife, and the children, and the brothers, and the sisters, still and also, the psyche of-him, not he-is-able to-be my disciple. Whoever not he-bears the cross of-him, and he-comes after me, not he-is-able to-be my disciple. For which from you, desiring a-tower to-house-build, not proton, having-sat-down, he-calculates the cost, if he-has into completion? That not-perhaps, having-laid, he, a-foundation, and not having-strength to-finish-off all, the-ones beholding, they-begin, him, to-mock, saying, ‘This, the man, he-began to-house-build, and not he-had-strength to-finish-off.’ Or what king, traveling to-a-hetero king, to-throw-together into war, not having-sat-down proton, he-will-deliberate if able he-is, in ten thousands, to-encounter the-one with twenty thousands coming upon him? Now if not, indeed, still he, afar being, an-embassy having-sent-out, he-asks the-things toward peace. Therefore, thus, all from you who not you-separate-from, to-all the his wealth, not he-is-able to-be my disciple. Therefore, good the salt, now if also the salt is-made-tasteless, in what it-will-be-prepared? Neither into soil nor into manure, suitable it-is; outside they-throw it. The-one having ears to-hear, let-him-hear.”

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A Sabbath Day's Journey

July 26th, 2025

July 19th, 2025

July 12th, 2025

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