Jesus’ phrases, ‘where your treasure is, there will your heart be also’, cuts both ways. The disciple’s heart should be in heaven and Jesus assure them of the Father’s care for them. Jesus then tells two parables about being ready.

On the journey to Jerusalem the focus of Jesus’ preaching is what it means to be a disciple. In a passage which stretches into the next chapter Jesus talks to the crowd. It is a varied speech, sometimes it is directed just to the disciples, some to everyone; sometimes he is interrupted. The whole passage gives us a flavour of the dynamics of his preaching.

At the heart of this chapter is Jesus’ saying ‘Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’ It can be seen as dividing the chapter between those who do and those who don’t.

The formation of the disciples by Jesus continues. First three potential followers learn the cost of discipleship. Then Jesus sends out 72 disciples to prepare the way for him. Their task is to announce the kingdom in word and deed. Their greeting of ‘Peace be to this house!’ echoes the angels who announce the Messiah’s birth.

In Luke’s Gospel Jesus prays before significant events. Mountains carry the resonance of Moses’ climbing Mount Sinai to speak with God where is appearance will be altered and glow. Through various small details, not only is Jesus’ appearance altered his clothes are dazzling, Luke shows that Jesus is greater than Moses and Elijah, that he is the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets, that is the scriptures.

These passages are part of the conclusion of Jesus’ Galilean ministry before he sets off on the road to Jerusalem. The themes of proclaiming the kingdom and healing the sick are passed on to the twelve apostles. At the end of this section the themes of suffering death and resurrection have been introduced.

Having calmed the storm in the last passage and showed his power over nature. Jesus now shows his power over evil, sickness and death. He and the disciples have crossed to gentile territory at the beginning of this section, hence they keep pigs. The demons, who are many, recognise Jesus and call him the ‘Son of the Most High God’.

Jesus’ family are those who hear the word of God and do it. They are like the seed which falls into good soil and grows and yields a hundredfold. But there are also those who do not act, who wither away, who hide their light. Those who listen will be rewarded — they will be given more than they have.

Jesus tells a parable about the forgiveness of debt which Simon understands but as is often the case does not recognise as applying to the current situation. Here a woman, a sinner, anoints Jesus’ feet and receives forgiveness.

In the stories of the Centurion and of the Widow Jesus lives out his commands to love your enemies and to be compassionate. Giving these stories together Luke is not only following his pattern of pairing stories about men and women he is also picking up on something Jesus said in the synagogue at Nazareth (Luke 4:25–27) where he mentioned Elijah and the widow and Elisha and Naaman, a foreign leader.