Section 113a
Question about salvation and entering the kingdom
Perea → Jerusalem
Luke 13:22-30 |
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22Then Jesus traveled through towns and villages, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem. 23Someone said to him, “Lord, are there only a few who are being saved?” Jesus said to them, 24“Strive to enter through the narrow gate. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able to. 25Once the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will answer you, ‘I do not know you or where you are from.’ 26Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know you or where you are from. Depart from me, all you workers of unrighteousness.’ [*] 28In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves cast out. 29People will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at the banquet table in the kingdom of God. 30And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” |
Notes
Perea
Perea was the term used by the historian Flavius Josephus, and others, for a section of the territory east of The Jordan River, opposite Judea and Samaria. Although the word Perea is not found in the Scriptures, the area was mentioned frequently in the Gospels as the “land beyond the Jordan”. John the Baptist baptized in Perea, and was also martyred there at Herod’s fortress of Machaerus. Jesus Christ often visited Perea during His ministry, and had many followers from there, which at the time had a large Jewish population.
Jesus spent most of his final 3 months before Passion Week traveling around Perea, teaching in its towns and villages. Jesus had been in Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22-39), and the Jews tried to stone him again. He escaped their grasp and went back across the Jordan into Perea for the final months before his crucifixion. During these months he taught his disciples about the cost of following him and he tried to prepare them for his coming death.
Today, most of Perea is in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
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Perea & Jerusalem
Footnotes
Luke 13,27
Psalms 6:8