Selected Passages

This page includes selected passages from the Gospel According to Luke. The selections focus on the teachings of Jesus which emphasize forgiveness and compassion. Understanding how Jesus meant us to live our lives is a basis for comprehending all of the New Testament.

And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
When the men were come unto him, they said, John the Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying Art thou he that should come, or look we for another?
And in the same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

(Luke 7:19-23)

At that time, many were calling Jesus the Messiah. John hoped for confirmation directly from Jesus. Here, Jesus asks the followers of John, and thus John himself, to judge Jesus not by what is said of him, but by Jesus' acts of kindness. This lesson may well apply to all of us in that it depends little on whether we say we believe, but more on how we act. Those that act with the same compassion that Jesus showed to the sick and disabled are revealing the true nature of their hearts.

And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbade him, because he followeth not with us.
And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us, is for us.

(Luke 9:49-50)

There are some that will say that people must be of a particular church to truly follow in the ways of Jesus. They would go as far to say that those that are not of a certain church cannot be saved. This rather limited viewpoint disregards what Jesus himself says above. There are many paths that follow Jesus' teachings and none should be forbidden.

And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.

(Luke 9:54-56)

The above clearly states the true purpose of Jesus. He was not born on this earth to destroy, to bring fire and death to the sinful. Instead, Jesus knew all along that he was here to save us. The Holy Spirit that filled Jesus was not meant to bring forth pain and suffering, but to heal and comfort, to fill us and save us, to allow us to enter the kingdom of Heaven.

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every on that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Or if he shall ask for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

(Luke 11:9-13)

Jesus states that God will give the Holy Spirit to any that ask. He does not say that God will give us everything we want. We must have faith that God knows what is best for us. If we are meant to have it, God will provide it to us. If we do not receive what we ask for, we must trust His judgment. However, the most important treasure, the Holy Spirit, will not be denied to those that ask.

And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

(Luke 16:15)

Two men went up into the temple to pray; one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

(Luke 18:10-14)

This section is under continuous construction.

Passages on this site refer to the King James Version of the Holy Bible