Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Luke Chapter 22
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 22:1-6
22:1Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. 22:2And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death; for they feared the people.
22:3And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. 22:4And he went away, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might deliver him unto them.22:5And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. 22:6And he consented, and sought opportunity to deliver him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 22:7-13
22:7And the day of unleavened bread came, on which the passover must be sacrificed. 22:8And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and make ready for us the passover, that we may eat. 22:9And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we make ready? 22:10And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house whereinto he goeth. 22:11And ye shall say unto the master of the house, The Teacher saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? 22:12And he will show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. 22:13And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 22:14-23
22:14And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the apostles with him. 22:15And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 22:16for I say unto you, I shall not eat it, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 22:17And he received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:22:18for I say unto you, I shall not drink from henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 22:19And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 22:20And the cup in like manner after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, even that which is poured out for you. 22:21But behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. 22:22For the Son of man indeed goeth, as it hath been determined: but woe unto that man through whom he is betrayed! 22:23And they began to question among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
May 31, 1936: Luke 22:7-23
What is represented by leaven? The law of increase observable throughout the entire creation is represented by leaven.
Does sense consciousness tend to increase in man when given free rein? Yes. “The leaven of malice and wickedness” is another name for the increasing permeation of man's mind and heart by the sense consciousness, when he surrenders himself to its control.
What is meant by the “day of unleavened bread”? The coming of a time when sincerity and truth shall form the mainspring of men's lives.
Why was the Passover sacrificed at the feast of unleavened bread? The Passover is a symbol of man's passing from sense to spiritual consciousness. It is therefore consistent with the giving up of pretense and duplicity by man for the sake of sincerity and truth.
What faculties first become active in man to prepare him for his passing from sense to spirit? Faith and love (Peter and John) prepare man for this transition.
What is the last faculty to be dealt with and cleansed before one is ready to enter fully into spiritual consciousness? The faculty of appropriation or acquisitiveness (represented by Judas) is the last to be lifted up in the regeneration of the whole man.
Explain the symbolism of the “large upper room furnished.” This term is a symbol of the mind with its exhaustless store of ideas. In the mind the I AM collects the faculties and gives them the substance and life of Spirit.
How do we appropriate universal substance? By keeping the word of Truth we appropriate universal substance.
Why do we return thanks before a meal? The purpose of returning thanks for food is to transform eating and drinking from a purely physical to a spiritual act, and thus lift up and nourish the entire man, body, soul, and spirit.
Is abundant life possible to man in all phases of his existence? Only in spiritual consciousness is this abundance possible. In the sense world abundance becomes overindulgence, and brings destruction and death in its train.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 22:24-30
22:24And there arose also a contention among them, which of them was accounted to be greatest. 22:25And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles have lordship over them; and they that have authority over them are called Benefactors. 22:26But ye shall not be so: but he that is the greater among you, let him become as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 22:27For which is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am in the midst of you as he that serveth.
22:28But ye are they that have continued with me in my temptations; 22:29and I appoint unto you a kingdom, even as my Father appointed unto me, 22:30that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and ye shall sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
January 18, 1925: Luke 22:14-25
What is symbolized by the Lord's supper? The Lord's supper symbolizes the appropriation of spiritual life and spiritual substance by the twelve central faculties of man (the twelve disciples).
What did Jesus mean when he said that he had greatly desired to eat the Passover with his disciples, but would not eat it “until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God”? Jesus was aware that the outer symbols used were inadequate to the spiritual appropriation of life and substance, and that he, in his spiritual consciousness, could take no part in the material observance, but that he would soon be raised to a kingdom where he could partake of the real spiritual life and substance which the bread and wine represent. Translated into modern English this Scripture text would read: “I am about to be raised to spiritual consciousness, the kingdom of God where I can partake of the bread and wine when it is spiritually administered.”
Do those who observe the letter of the law in partaking of the Lord's supper receive the essence of spiritual life and substance? No. Spiritual things must be spiritually discerned and spiritually appropriated.
Why were the symbols, the bread and the wine, given to the disciples? The disciples had not yet been raised to spiritual consciousness; therefore, they needed the outer representation to lead men to the inner realization of the substance and life which the bread and the wine symbolize: “This do in remembrance of me.”
What it the meaning of: “But behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table”? The betrayer is sense consciousness, whose hand or power enters into all outer manifestation. Christ, the higher self, knows that sense consciousness cannot be destroyed in the race thought without destroying the body. Judas, personal sense, has not been regenerated. The regeneration of personality with its sensual selfhood is the major part of the “greater works” that Jesus told us to do.
Was it foreordained that Judas should betray Jesus and bring about his crucifixion? The betrayal and the crucifixion were part of the plan for redeeming the race from the sin into which it had plunged itself. The betrayal by sense consciousness of the higher Christ principle, thereby interfering with the law that would have made it possible for Jesus to have remained in his resurrected flesh body, was determined as a necessary adjunct to the fulfillment of the plan. This is plainly taught by Jesus.
In verse 22 we read: “but woe unto that man through whom he is betrayed.” Upon whom do the consequences of the betrayal of Jesus eventually fall? The consequences of the betrayal of Jesus fall upon the natural man. Spiritual consciousness enters into the joy of the heavenly state of mind, while sense consciousness sinks deeper into materiality.
How is the sense consciousness redeemed? Sense consciousness is saved through the purifying fires of regeneration. Allurements of sense are to be expressed spiritually, and finally gathered into the kingdom of Good.
March 16, 1941: Luke 22:14-30
What is prerequisite to the appropriation of spiritual substance by man? Time for meditation on spiritual things is the first essential. Jesus “sat down, and the apostles with him.” We “eat” or appropriate the things of Spirit, when we contemplate them in peace and quietness, giving them our undivided attention.
Why would Jesus Christ have desired [to have] Passover with His disciples before He suffered? Food gives man physical strength for his exertions. In the same way spiritual substance strengthens the inner man so he can go forward to meet the tests of life with confidence.
Why is fulfillment in the kingdom of God instantaneous? Spirit knows no time. An idea is no sooner grasped by the wide-awake mind than its substance is appropriated and made part of man's experience. “I shall eat it until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
Of what is bread a symbol? Of universal substance.
What does the breaking of bread represent? It represents the stirring into action in consciousness of the substance of Spirit and the concentrating of the mind upon it as the real possession.
What fully satisfies the hunger of the soul? Truth or the realization of divine substance alone meets this need completely.
What is meant by “the new covenant in my blood”? Blood represents life. The new covenant therefore is the promise of new life through the appropriation of the principle of the Christ in one's life and daily activities.
“The hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.” In what way can this statement be interpreted so as to apply to man at this time? Unbridled appetite betrays man as often as he indulges in it. The hand represents the executive ability of man. In the betrayal both the desire and the will to execute the desire are involved.
What is the kingdom that the Christ appoints for His disciples and followers? The kingdom of service to others, in which everyone who aspires to follow Jesus must learn to excel.
What did Jesus mean when He promised His disciples that they should “sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel,” although the twelve tribes had been divided nearly a thousand years before His birth, and the ten tribes had disappeared seven hundred years before He spoke? The number twelve represents spiritual fulfillment or perfection. The twelve tribes of Israel symbolize the twelve faculties of man, which man raises to perfection through the I AM.
May 24, 1942: Luke 22:14-30
What does the Last Supper represent? It represents the appropriation of spiritual substance, in which all man’s [faculties] are supposed to share.
What other significance has the Last Supper? It was the celebration of the Passover, which represents the “passing over” or out of one state of consciousness into another, Jesus used it to betoken the freeing of the spiritual man from the dominion of sense.
Is the freeing process gradual or instantaneous? As a rule it is gradual, but it can be instantaneous. “I shall not eat it, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
What do the “vine” and the “fruit of the vine” represent? The vine represents eternal life, the fruit of the vine the universal consciousness.
Why was the bread broken before it was divided among the disciples? Bread signifies the body of Christ or divine substance, and it is broken to indicate that man can appropriate it by degrees. No one can assimilate limitless substance, but each may partake of it according to his understanding or his mental and soul capacity.
What is meant by the “blood of Christ”? The blood of Christ is the spiritual life principle. This principle rests on pure ideas, and it is manifested in mind and body in concrete form when rightly appropriated.
What is it that betrays man's better self to the sense nature? His acquisitive faculty (Judas Iscariot). This faculty tempts man to cling to his temporal gains, whereas the Christ in him prompts him to give of himself without stint wherever a need appears.
What is counted greatest in the kingdom of heaven? He who is most unselfish, most ready to forget himself in service to all. “He that is the greater among you, let him become as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.”
Does the I AM serve man? The I AM is man's chief servant. “I am in the midst of you as he that serveth.” The I AM is at the center of man's being, the principle by which he identifies himself with the divine.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 22:31-34
22:31Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat:22:32but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren. 22:33And he said unto him, Lord, with thee I am ready to go both to prison and to death. 22:34And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, until thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
January 22, 1939: Luke 22:31-34
What does Satan represent? Satan (the adversary) represents fear in the mind of the personal man, causing him to take thought for his own safety regardless of the claims of all others.
What reinforces faith to the point of steadfastness? The concentrated thought of the I AM (Christ) holds faith to the point of steadfastness.
What chiefly causes faith to waver? An unstable faith is largely due to man's failure to identify himself with his spiritual source and draw upon divine strength in meeting temptation and tests that seem too much for him to meet successfully.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 22:35-38
22:35And he said unto them, When I sent you forth without purse, and wallet, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing. 22:36And he said unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise a wallet; and he that hath none, let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword. 22:37For I say unto you, that this which is written must be fulfilled in me, And he was reckoned with transgressors: for that which concerneth me hath fulfilment. 22:38And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
June 7, 1896: Luke 22:24-37
The events of this lesson occurred just before leaving the Passover feast for Gethsemane, which is the place where self and self-will are renounced, and the Divine will is chosen: “not my will but thine be done.”
24. But before we enter into this Gethsemane experience, self being still enthroned, there will be strife as to “who should be accounted greatest.”
25. While worldly things in their vaunted self-importance rule with arbitrary “lordship,” arrogating to self the inappropriate title of “benefactors”; yet
26. “Ye shall not be so” in the kingdom of heaven: but he that would attain to true spiritual greatness, let him be least as to self: for spiritual eminence is attained by the Gethsemane victory over self by self-renunciation.
27. “I am the way”: (following me) “he that humbleth himself shall be exalted,”
28. As disciples ye are to learn my way to true dominion and true greatness, by overcoming self and all claims of the flesh.
29. What I have done in overcoming, ye can do; and, as I have full dominion in my kingdom in the name of the Father, so shall ye have full dominion in your kingdom in the name of the Son.
30. We obtain dominion by overcoming, “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life.” – Rev. 2:7. “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna.” – Rev. 2:17. “He that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations (surrounding thoughts), and he shall rule them with a rod of iron.” – Rev. 2:26. “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcome, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” – Rev.3:21. Power comes by overcoming self; and our kingdom is not separate from the Christ's kingdom or the Father's. “I in them and thou in me ... perfect in one,” “Judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” As the “twelve tribes” is the all-inclusive term denoting all Israel, so is our dominion complete over all thoughts in the whole realm of mind and its manifestations.
31. “Simon, Simon,” if, in the approaching Gethsemane hour, you “watch and pray,” you shall with me be fully able to renounce self and self-will, so entering into your dominion; but if you sleep instead of watch, you will be buffeted by temptation, and you will be yourself overcome; you will reap sorrow until you are “sifted” of the chaff of self, before you find the clean wheat of your true spiritual self.
32. The Christ, always in communion (prayer) with the Father, knows only the true man in every one. The Christ prayer of understanding will ultimately bring to your consciousness the pure “wheat” of True Being. When you reach this state of spiritual understanding, you shall be able to “strengthen the brethren.” Only those who have passed through the great stages of overcoming know how to strengthen the weak, who have not made these demonstrations.
33. Simon has not yet learned the great lesson of self-renunciation: he is self-sufficient; we can never go with Christ “to prison and to death,” until we demonstrate over self and self-will in Gethsemane; although with self exalted we may think we can demonstrate over “death”; self and spirit are antipodal; self must be dethroned.
34. “He that exalteth self shall be abased”; wherever self is exalted the Christ is denied; this is the “darkest hour just before day,” “before the cock crow;” the abasement of self, and the bitter tears of repentance are precursors of the dawn of day, as we catch a glimpse of the smile of the Christ. This “sifting” shall ultimately “work the peaceable fruits of righteousness.”
35. When you are alive to the Christ's voice, “sending you out” in his service, you will “lack nothing”; you will be provided for and defended;
36. But when that voice is not heard within, and you are not alive to the spiritual, you had better carefully procure the things of worldly supply and defense;
37. Because in that state of mind you don't see the Christ as supply and defense, but as “numbered among the transgressors.” Not seeing the Christ all-sufficient is to see him insufficient. In the one case we need “take no thought” for temporalities; in the other case we are exposed as others are.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 22:39-46
22:39And he came out, and went, as his custom was, unto the mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed him. 22:40And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 22:41And he was parted from them about a stone's cast; and he kneeled down and prayed, 22:42saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 22:43And there appeared unto him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 22:44And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground. 22:45And when he rose up from his prayer, he came unto the disciples, and found them sleeping for sorrow, 22:46and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.
March 11, 1923: Luke 22:39-48
What is the great Work in the life of everyone? The great work in the life of everyone is to incorporate the Christ mind in soul and body. The process of eliminating the old consciousness and entering into the new may be compared to the “wine press and oil,” which is the meaning of Gethsemane.
What do the disciples represent? The disciples represent the various faculties of the mind: faith, strength, judgment, love, power, imagination, understanding, will, order, zeal, elimination, and life.
With what phase of consciousness have the disciples been associated? The disciples, or faculties, have been educated in connection with mind and body, but are now in the process to which Jesus referred when he said: “When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself, but as the Father taught me, I speak these things.”
When man, or I AM, is in that high state of consciousness symbolized by the mount of Olives, do his faculties come at once into spiritual realization? No. The faculties are still under the law of sense. Jesus “was parted from them about a stone's cast.”
When a metaphysician enters the silence and is overtaken by sleep, a condition which is symbolized by the sleepy disciples mentioned in this lesson, what should he do? He should follow the advice of Jesus: “Why sleep ye? Rise and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.”
What was the cup of which Jesus was to drink that caused him such agony? It was the cup of new spiritual life, which, in this same chapter Jesus is recorded as having given to his disciples. When man affirms spiritual life he must be prepared to incorporate that life in soul and body. This incorporation is not always an easy task, because of the inertia and indifference of the faculties to spiritual ideas.
What will awaken the faculties to spiritual life? Jesus said: “Rise and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.” Prayer keeps the mind active along spiritual lines; when one’s attention is directed to high ideals, the consciousness becomes so alive with spirituality that error thoughts are cast out and one is not tempted by the sensations of the flesh.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 22:47-53
22:47While he yet spake, behold, a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them; and he drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. 22:48But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? 22:49And when they that were about him saw what would follow, they said, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?22:50And a certain one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his right ear. 22:51But Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye them thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. 22:52And Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and elders, that were come against him, Are ye come out, as against a robber, with swords and staves? 22:53When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched not forth your hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
June 7, 1936: Luke 22:39-53
What does the Mount of Olives represent? The meaning of this name is “high luminous principle.” And it represents the exaltation of divine love and wisdom in consciousness.
Of what is Gethsemane a symbol? Of distress and agony. Gethsemane means “oil press” and it is here that sense consciousness is finally realized.
Why does man experience distress and agony in his transition from sense to spirit? From birth man is identified with sense consciousness, until it becomes ingrained in him. Separation from sense then causes him to suffer.
Has oil a constructive symbolism also? Oil is a symbol of joy. The substitution of “the oil of joy for mourning” takes place when “the Spirit of the Lord Jehovah” takes possession of the conscious mind of man.
Is the prayer of faith, judgment, and love effectual? If these quantities are active in times of testing, the prayer is effectual. Man however is prone to lose faith during tests, and judgment and love also become dormant at such times. Peter, James, and John (faith, judgment, and love) fell asleep in Gethsemane, while Jesus was praying.
Is agonizing prayer effectual? The prayer that springs from overwrought emotion aroused by fear or apprehension does not prove effectual, unless faith in God proves stronger than the fear. Of itself agonizing does not make prayer effectual.
Contrast the prayer of Jesus at the grave of Lazarus with the prayer for himself at Gethsemane. At the grave of Lazarus the faith of Jesus was perfect. “Father, I thank thee that thou heardest me. And I knew that thou hearest me always.” In Gethsemane a degree of uncertainty is apparent. “If thou be willing, remove this cup from me.”
Is Jesus betrayed into the hands of his enemies today? Every time the life and substance of Spirit is used to further sense demands Jesus (the personal man) is betrayed anew into the hands of His enemies.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 22:54-62
22:54And they seized him, and led him away, and brought him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed afar off. 22:55And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the court, and had sat down together, Peter sat in the midst of them. 22:56And a certain maid seeing him as he sat in the light of the fire, and looking stedfastly upon him, said, This man also was with him. 22:57But he denied, saying, Woman, I know him not. 22:58And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou also art one of them. But Peter said, Man, I am not. 22:59And after the space of about one hour another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this man also was with him; for he is a Galilaean. 22:60But Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. 22:61And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said unto him, Before the cock crow this day thou shalt deny me thrice. 22:62And he went out, and wept bitterly.
January 22, 1939: Luke 22:54-62
What form of denial should the man of faith make? Faith that is centered in the Christ man leads man to deny the personal self and its claims, and to affirm that he can do all things through the strength of the Christ within him.
Did Peter practice this form of denial? Peter denied the I AM (the Christ) instead of the limited personal self. Faith that is in the grip of fear is powerless to express itself truly.
Interpret the words “And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter.” When man turns his attention within himself and examines his faith in the light of his I AM power, he sometimes finds it deviating from its rightful center.
Is the man of faith ever sorrowful? Only when he loses faith. He who keeps his faith knows deep and abiding joy.
April 28, 1946: Luke 22:54-57
Do courage and presence of mind play any part in the development and expression of faith? Both are needed to hold faith firm and unwavering. Because both courage and presence of mind failed him at the trial of Jesus, Peter's faith failed and he denied knowing Jesus.
How does faith in spiritual reality react to tests? It denies the personal self instead of the Christ, and boldly affirms its allegiance to the latter.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 22:63-65
22:63And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and beat him. 22:64And they blindfolded him, and asked him, saying, Prophesy: who is he that struck thee? 22:65And many other things spake they against him, reviling him.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 22:66-71
22:66And as soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led him away into their council, saying, 22:67If thou art the Christ, tell us. But he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: 22:68and if I ask you, ye will not answer. 22:69But from henceforth shall the Son of man be seated at the right hand of the power of God. 22:70And they all said, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. 22:71And they said, What further need have we of witness? for we ourselves have heard from his own mouth.
May 1, 1927: Luke 22:61-62
What caused Peter to come to himself and to repent? “And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter.” A true disciple is always open to repentance. He may backslide and seem to be slipping spiritually, but his spiritual nature finally asserts its supremacy. The turning about of the Lord or the revealing of the face of the Lord represents discernment.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 01-28-2014
