In this month’s article, we conclude our study of the parallels between Luke’s readings and the readings from the Former Prophets.
Week 46
Luke’s reading for week 46 is Luke 11:14-54, about the demoniac, Beelzebub, Jonah, the light, and the woes; the Former Prophets reading is II Kings 6:24-8, Elisha, part II.
- 46a. Beelzebub — The reference to Beelzebub by Jesus’ enemies (Lk. 11:15,18,19) comes from the Former Prophets, H Kings 1:2,3,6,16, which would have been read two weeks earlier.
- 46b. Divided kingdoms and houses fall — Jesus’ response, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth” (Lk. 11:17), accurately reflects the consequences of the division of the kingdom into Israel and Judah as described especially in H
- 46c. A stronger man overcomes a strong man — Jesus’ “When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divided his spoils” (Lk. 11:21-22) is likely a reference to Hamel. In Matthew’s record of the Beelzebub episode, Jesus refers to a strong man in his house; here in Luke, the strong man is in his palace, armed; that is, in Luke, Jesus is referring to a strong king and an even stronger man who overcomes him. Hazael is a major character in the Former Prophets reading for the week. He is an example of Jesus’ parable in two ways. First, he kills Benhadad and becomes the King of Syria. Second, Hazael is told what he will do to Israel: in short, he will overcome and spoil it (II Kgs. 8:12; cp. 10:32-33; 12:17,18; 13:7,22; Amos 1:3).
Week 47
Luke’s reading for week 47 is Luke 12:1-13:9, about confession, riches, servants, division, and the exhortation to repent; the Former Prophets reading is II Kings 9-10, Jehu.
- 47a. Blood mingled with sacrifices — A most memorable event occurs in the Former Prophets reading for the week. Jehu calls all the Baal worshipers in Israel to a great sacrifice; they come, offer their sacrifices, then Jehu kills them all (II Kgs. 10:18-28). So, their blood was mingled with the sacrifices. No wonder Luke records, “There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices” (Lk. 13:1). The allusion is clear to anyone who reads the two accounts in the same day.
Week 48
Luke’s reading for week 48 is Luke 13:10-14:24, about the bowed woman, the rejection of Israel, and the Pharisee’s dinner; the Former Prophets reading is II Kings 11-12, Athaliah, Joash. Interestingly, there are no significant allusions to the readings in II Kings but there are three to the parallel account in II Chronicles. Perhaps it was assumed the reader’s mind would include the total scriptural account of the incidents involved.
- 48a. The door of the house — In Matthew, Jesus says, “Enter ye in at the strait gate” (Mt. 7:13), referring to the gate of a city. Here in Luke, Jesus says, “Strive to enter in by the narrow door” (Lk. 13:24 RV), referring to the door of a house. Why the difference? Because, here in Luke, Jesus is referring to the Chronicles parallel to the Former Prophets reading (II Kgs. 11 // II Chr. 23). Jehoiada had said to the congregation, “All the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord. But let none come into the house of the Lord, save the priests…And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the Lord, that none which was unclean in any thing should enter in” (II Chr. 23:5,6,19).
Jesus draws the lesson for us, “Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able (Lk. 13:24 RV).
- 48b. Thrust out — In Chronicles, Jehoiada said of Athaliah, “Thrust her forth outside the house” (II Chr. 23:14 LXX). In Luke, Jesus continues, “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out” (Lk. 13:28).
- 48c. Prophets stoned — The Chronicler adds the following to the history (II Kgs. 12) of Joash’s reign, “Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the Lord; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear…And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the Lord” (II Chr. 24:17-22).
Surely this explains why Luke records in this week Jesus’ warning to Jerusalem, “For it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. 0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee…Behold your house is left unto you desolate” (Lk. 13:33-35).
Week 49
Luke’s reading for week 49 is Luke 14:25-16:13, including the lesson on discipleship; the Former Prophets reading is II Kings 13-14, Jehoash – Amaziah.
- 49a. Money to build — Jesus’ example of counting the cost before undertaking a building project (Lk. 14:28-30) contrasts with Joash’s collection for repairing the temple (II Kgs. 12:4-16), read a week earlier.
- 49b. King with ten thousand — Jesus’ example of a king with 10,000 men (Lk. 14:31) is taken directly from the readings (II Kgs. 13:7).
Week 50
Luke’s reading for week 50 is Luke 16:14-17:19, including the story of the 10 lepers; the Former Prophets reading is II Kings 15-17, which includes the reign of Uzziah, who became a leper.
Week 51
Luke’s reading for week 51 is Luke 17:20-18:14, the day of the Son of Man, the importunate widow, and the Pharisee and publican; the Former Prophets reading is II Kings 18-19, Hezekiah.
Luke has two parallels back to Hezekiah, one good, the other not so good. First, the parable of the importunate widow (Lk. 18:1-8) parallels Hezekiah, who laid his problem before the Lord, and his prayers were answered (II Kgs. 19). Second, the proud Pharisee who fasted and tithed (Lk. 18:11-12) may be patterned after Hezekiah (II Chr. 31:5,6,12) because he “rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up; therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem” (II Chr. 32:25).
And the repentant publican may be patterned after Manasseh, who, “when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God” (II Chr. 33:12-13). “The publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner” (Lk. 18:13).
Week 52
Luke’s reading for week 52 is Luke 18:15-43, the children blessed, the ruler’s question, and blind Bartimaeus; the Former Prophets reading is II Kings 20-21, Hezekiah – Manasseh. I have not found any parallels except the allusions to Manasseh in week 51.
Week 53
Luke’s reading for week 53 is Luke 19:1-40, including the parable of the pounds; the Former Prophets reading is II Kings 22-23, Josiah – Jehoiakim.
In the parable of the pounds, Jesus tells us, “A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return…But his citizens hated him, and sent an ambassage after him, saying, We will not that this man reign over us…Howbeit these mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring them hither, and slay them before me” (Lk. 19:12,14,27 RV).
In the weekly Former Prophets reading we find the following story, “And Pharaoh-nechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoakim…and also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the Lord would not pardon” (II Kgs. 23:34; 24:4). Perhaps Jesus is filling in details for us: it is possible that Jehoakim made a trip to Egypt to be anointed king over Judah, that the righteous in Judah would not have wanted this puppet to rule over them, and that Jehoakim killed them for rebelling against him.
Week 54
Luke’s reading for week 54 is Luke 19:41-20:18, which includes the lament for Jerusalem; the Former Prophets reading is II Kings 24-25, the fall of Judah and Jerusalem. Jesus’ lament is based on the story of the fall of Jerusalem.
“And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it…thine enemies…shall dash thee to the ground, and thy children within thee” (Lk. 19:41,43,44 RV) recalls one of the psalms sung to commemorate the destruction of Jerusalem, “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, and we wept, when we remembered Zion…Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones” (Psa. 137:1,9).
“For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side” (Lk. 19:43) uses words similar to those in “And it came to pass…that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it; and they built forts against it round about” (II Kgs. 25:1 RV).
Lastly, “the time of thy visitation” (Lk. 19:44) is from Jeremiah’s description of the impending destruction (8:12; 10:15; cp. 6:15).
Weeks 1-4 and Passover
Luke’s readings for weeks 1-4 cover Luke 20:19-24:53 which includes the readings for Passover (Lk. 22-23) and Easter Sunday (Lk. 24:1-12). There are several parallels here to the Former Prophets readings in Joshua.
Jesus’ exhortation for escaping the coming destruction of Jerusalem, “When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out” (Lk. 21:20, read in week 2), parallels the spies’ exhortation to Rahab for escaping the coming destruction of Jericho (Josh. 2, the Former Prophets reading for week 2).
Luke’s Passover readings coincide with those in Joshua, although there are no specific parallels. Finally, there is a remarkable prophecy of the resurrection in Joshua 10:16-27.
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