Better understand Gospel text by seeing context of topical sections

Knowledge of context of gospel scripture is necessary to understanding the intended meaning

This provides an example showing how awareness of the context of scripture gives new insights into what the Gospel writers tell us. Sections of the gospels are written each with a specific intended topic. Find the context and you start to really see the meaning. Sections can go from 50 verses to over 100 and often do not start or stop on chapter boundaries.

Luke 13:29 says "and they will come from east and west, and from north and south, and will recline in the kingdom of God.". The context of these surrounding passages indicates these passages are about where we must "come from" to be in the Kingdom of God. You see this context all around the surrounding verses and finally in the concluding verse of the section (35) where it says "blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."

Notice how verses 25 and 27 both say "I don't know you, from where you are". This is important as it occurs two times. I have not found any commentary that attempts to explain the "from where you are" part of this. It appears taken for granted as a part of the "I don't know you" statement. The phrase "from where you are" is very important to the context of this section of scripture.

In using this context about where we come from to enter the kingdom, notice verse 29 says people will come from north/south/east/west to enter the kingdom. From what I find, most everyone assumes this means, from all around the world and not just Israel. This, although being true, does not fit the context of the section.

After pondering this for awhile an unusual interpretation of verse 29 came to mind and fits the context very well. Obviously, I cannot say for sure it's what Luke/God intended when he wrote it, but it makes sense to me . Are you ready for the surprise? Mentally picture north to south and then east to west as if you were writing the letters on a page like you are getting ready to draw a compass. Now, draw two lines, one between the north and south, and the second between the east and west. What do you see....a cross! People come from the cross to enter the Kingdom of God. It very much fits the context.

Note how, in this section, Luke is carefull not to specifically mention that Jesus is the only way to the Kingdom of God. In verse 18 The Kingdom is compared to a mustard seed (Jesus) who grows into a great tree for his people to rest in. In verse 20, the Kingdom is compared to yeast that went all through the flour until it was complate. Verse 22 shows Jesus to be the yeast as he is the one going through the towns and villages making his way to Jerusalem. In 24 Jesus is referred to as the "narrow door". In 25 he's the "owner of the house" and in 35 he's saying we will not see him again until we say "blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (Jesus)".

The references in all these scriptures are about where people come from to enter the kingdom. Verse 23 is really a way of asking, "Lord, who will be saved". Jesus answer, "make every effort to enter through the narrow door". Then Jesus teaches about those that will not enter the Kingdom of God because He does not know them, and they did not come in His Name (from Him). So it is very logical that verse 29 is telling us where those who do come into the Kingdom come from...From east and west and north and south. Awesome!

Why would God hide these meanings in his word? God says "that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes " Luke 10:21. By us just observing these new insights today, God is showing this skeptical age that he is in his word and his word is of God and not of men. Only seeing one of these insights from what I call God's Sermons is nice, but as you see them repeated over and over again, you will become more sure God speaks directly through his word and are better able to confidently share these truths with others.

Knowing the correct context of scripture is very necessary for interpreting it and this example shows this very well. As we can see here, if you look closely enough, God shows us more about the context of verses in the gospels more than we realize. It is there for us all to see if we open our eyes to watch for the common theme in sections of Scripture. I've always found there is really only one theme.

Copyright 2005, Norm Patriquin

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Scripture from Luke chapter 13.... this is from Green's literal translation but also just as well fits what's in the NIV or NASB.

25 From the time the Master of the house shall have risen up, and He shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. And answering, He will say to you, I do not know you, from where you are.

26 Then you will begin to say, We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets. 27 And He will say, I tell you I do not know you, from where you are. "Stand back from Me all workers of unrighteousness!"
...
29 And they will come from east and west, and from north and south, and will recline in the kingdom of God.
...
35 Behold, "your house is left" to you "desolate". And truly I say to you, You shall not at all see Me until it comes when you say, "Blessed is the One coming in the name of the Lord."

Luke 9:27-36 Transformation - The StarTrek passage of Luke

One of my favorite passages in Luke I lightly refer to as the StarTrek passage. This is because one day when studying it, it just simply read to me like a script from the Captain's Log. Why, because it made God and Jesus even more real to my understanding. Here's what Jesus is showing about God's Kingdom...ponder verse 9:30...read and think about what each word is saying...

Luke 9:27 But I tell you most certainly, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God."

9:28 Now about eight days after these sayings, Jesus took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up the mountain to pray.

9:29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became very bright, a brilliant white.

9:30 Then two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with him.

9:31 They appeared in glorious splendor and spoke about his departure that he was about to carry out at Jerusalem.

9:32 Now Peter and those with him were quite sleepy,
but as they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.

9:33 Then as the men were starting to leave, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah"--not knowing what he was saying.

9:34 As he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.

9:35 Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him!"

9:36 After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. So they kept silent and told no one at that time anything of what they had seen.

A Brief Summary...

-- 27 Jesus says some of them will soon see the Kingdom of God (heaven).
-- 28 Eight days later, Jesus took three disciples up on a hill
-- 29 Jesus became brilliant white and his face transformed
-- 30 Two "men", Moses and Elijah, began "talking" with Jesus
-- 31 They also were in splendor and talked about his "departure"
-- 35 A voice came from a cloud, this is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him
-- 36 The cloud and the men gone, Jesus was then alone.

What's the Point...

Of course this is not StarTrek but this is real. Real men were somehow transported to earth, really talked with Jesus like Spock would talk to the captain. They talked about when he would "depart" back to His Kingdom (heaven), then God confirms, this is my Son. Later, the cloud and the men were gone and Jesus was again alone.

These verses will look a bit wierd to a non-christian and that's OK. To us Christians, it should give you a wonderful understanding that Heaven is a real place where there are real "men" that "talk". It is a real place you can "depart" to. A wonderful place to look forward to when this pre-life we live here is over.