Hello.
Welcome to my Bible readings.
In this sleep series,
I will be looking at the gospel according to Luke.
In much of the classic literature I read,
There are references to the Bible and religious teachings.
If we wish to educate ourselves fully in a literary capacity,
It makes sense that we should dive into this for reference.
And so here we are.
It is time for sleep.
Close your eyes and take a deep breath in through your nose.
That's it.
Then let it out on a long sigh.
This is your time and your space.
A time where you can relax,
Safe in the knowledge there is nothing to do and nowhere to go.
Happy listening.
Chapter Six.
The Two House Builders.
Why do you call me Lord,
Lord,
And yet don't do what I tell you?
Anyone who comes to me and listens to my words and obeys them,
I will show you what he is like.
He is like a man who,
In building his house,
Dug deep and laid the foundation on rock.
The river overflowed and hit that house but could not shake it because it was well built.
But anyone who hears my words and does not obey them is like a man who built his house without laying a foundation.
When the flood hit that house,
It fell at once.
And what a terrible crash that was.
Jesus heals a Roman officer's servant.
When Jesus had finished saying all these things to the people,
He went to Capernaum.
A Roman officer there had a servant who was very dear to him but the man was sick and about to die.
When the officer heard about Jesus,
He sent some Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his servant.
They came to Jesus and begged him earnestly.
This man really deserves your help,
They said.
He loves our people and he himself built a synagogue for us.
So Jesus went with them.
And he was not far from the house when the officer sent friends to tell him,
Sir,
Don't trouble yourself.
I do not deserve to have you come to my house.
Neither do I consider myself worthy to come to you in person.
Just give the order and my servant will get well.
I too am a man placed under the authority of superior officers.
And I have soldiers under me.
I order this one go and he goes.
I order that one come and he comes.
And I order my slave do this and he does it.
Jesus was surprised when he heard this.
He turned round and said to the crowd following,
I tell you,
I have never found faith like this,
Not even in Israel.
The messengers went back to the officer's house and they found his servant well.
Jesus raises a widow's son.
Soon afterwards,
Jesus went to a town called Nain,
Accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd.
Just as he arrived at the gate of the town,
A funeral procession was coming out.
The dead man was the only son of a woman who was a widow and a large crowd from the town was with her.
When the Lord saw her,
His heart was filled with pity and he said,
Don't cry.
Then he walked over and touched the coffin.
The men carrying it stopped.
Young man,
Get up,
I tell you,
Said Jesus.
And the dead man sat up and began to talk.
Jesus gave him back to his mother.
They were all filled with fear and praised God.
A great prophet has appeared among us,
They said.
God has come to save his people.
This news about Jesus went out through all the country and the surrounding territory.
The Messengers from John the Baptist When John's disciples told him about these things,
He called two of them up and said to them,
I will send you to the Lord and ask him,
Are you the one John said was going to come or should we expect someone else?
When they got to Jesus,
They said,
John the Baptist sent us to ask if you're the one he said was going to come or if we should expect somebody else.
At that very time,
Jesus cured many people of their sicknesses,
Diseases and evil spirits.
And he gave sight to many blind people.
He answered John's messengers by saying,
Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard.
The blind can see,
The lame can walk.
Those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases are made clean.
The deaf can hear,
The dead are raised to life and the good news is preached to the poor.
How happy are those who have no doubts about me.
After John's messengers had left,
Jesus began to speak about him to the crowds.
When you went out to John in the desert,
What did you expect?
A blade of grass bending in the wind?
Or did you go out to see a man dressed up in fancy clothes?
People who dress like that and live in luxury are found in palaces.
Tell me,
What did you go out to see?
A prophet?
Yes,
Indeed.
But you saw much more than a prophet.
For John is one of whom the scripture says,
God said I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way.
I tell you,
Added Jesus,
John is greater than anyone who has ever lived.
But the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than John.
All the people heard him.
They and especially the tax collectors were the ones who had obeyed God's righteous demands and been baptised by John.
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law rejected God's purpose for themselves and refused to be baptised by John.
Now to what can I compare the people of this day?
What are they like?
Jesus continued.
They are like children sitting in the marketplace.
One group shouts to the other,
We played wedding music for you but you wouldn't dance.
We sang funeral songs but you wouldn't cry.
John the Baptist came and he fasted and drank no wine and you said,
He has a demon in him.
The son of man came and he ate and drank and you said,
Look at this man,
He is a glutton and a drinker,
A friend of tax collectors and other outcasts.
God's wisdom,
However,
Is shown to be true by all who accept it.
Jesus at the home of Simon the Pharisee A Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him and Jesus went to his house and sat down to eat.
In that town was a woman who lived a sinful life.
She heard that Jesus was eating in the Pharisee's house so she bought an alabaster jar full of perfume and stood beside Jesus by his feet,
Crying and wetting him with her tears.
Then she dried his feet with her hair,
Kissed them and poured the perfume on them.
When the Pharisee saw this he said to himself,
If this man really were a prophet he would know who this woman is,
He would know what kind of sinful life she leads.
Jesus spoke up and said to him,
Simon,
I have something to tell you.
Yes,
Teacher,
He said,
Tell me.
There were two men who owned money to a moneylender,
Jesus began.
One owed him 500 silver coins and the other owed him 50.
Neither of them could pay him back so he cancelled the debts of both.
Which one then will love him more?
I suppose,
Answered Simon,
It would be the one who was forgiven more.
You are right,
Said Jesus.
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon,
Do you see this woman?
I came into your home and you gave me no water for my feet but she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.
You did not welcome me with a kiss but she has not stopped kissing my feet since I came.
You provided no olive oil for my head but she has covered my feet with perfume.
I tell you then the great love she has shown proves her many sins have been forgiven.
But whoever has been forgiven little shows little love.
Jesus then said to the woman,
Your sins are forgiven.
The other sitting at the table began to say to themselves,
Who is this who even forgives sins?
Then Jesus said to the woman,
Your faith has saved you.
Now go in peace.
