There is an echo re the above two paragraphs with the repetition of news about Jesus going out amongst all the neighbourhood. Regarding the comment about the 'least in the kingdom of heaven' being greater than John the Baptist. This fits in with the idea that the least person spoken of here is building community or basing their lives from a more balanced base. John the Baptist had to base his position on that of Judaism only. At the same time, like wayward children, the Pharisees are trying to operate from their own sense of reality.

3. Bodily care

4:38-41

House of Simon- mother-in-law . . "rebuked the fever / demons"

7:36-50

House Simon the Pharisee - ointment woman ".. head of me thou didst not anoint"

4:38-41 Rising up from the synagogue he (Jesus) entered into the house of Simon. As it was, Simon's mother-in-law had been seized with a big fever and they ask him about her. Standing over her (He) rebuked the fever and it left her. At once she got up and served them. Then as the sun was setting everyone who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He put his hands on each one of them and healed them. There were many demons who came out crying out and saying “You are the Son of God.” Rebuking them he did not allow them to speak because they knew him to be the Christ.

7:36-50 A certain Pharisee asked (Jesus) if he would eat with him. So on entering into the house of the Pharisee he reclined. Then behold a woman known as a sinner who was in the city and who knew he was reclining in the Pharisee's house brought in an alabaster box of ointment. Standing behind him at his feet she was weeping. With her tears she began to wet his feet and with her hair she was wiping his feet. She fervently kissed his feet and anointed them with ointment. But on seeing this, the Pharisee who invited him thought within himself saying. "If this man were the prophet he would have known who and what sort of woman is touching him because she is a sinner. And anwering him Jesus said "Simon. I have something to say." He replied "Teacher say it." Jesus said "A certain creditor had two debtors. One of them owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty. Now neither could repay and he freely forgave them. Which of them would love him more?" Answering Simon said "I supposed the one to whom he freely forgave more." And he said to him. "You have judged rightly." And turning to the woman and to Simon he said. "Do you see this woman? I came into your house and you did not give me any water for my feet. But this woman with her tears has wet my feet and has wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss. But this woman has not ceased to fervently kiss my feet since I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil. But this woman has anointed my feet with ointment. Because of this, I tell you her many sins have been forgiven her because she has loved much. But the one to whom little is forgiven, he loves little." And He said to her "Your sins are forgiven." So those who reclining with him began to say amongst themselves. "Who is this who even forgives sins." But he said to the woman. "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."

If the incident in Luke about the ointment woman stood on its own as a separate account it would cause minimal problems. But John says later the 'ointment woman' is the sister of the 'disciple whom Jesus loved', that is, Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. It appears there is a story behind the story here. On the one hand Luke promises his Gentile reader that the stories he presents are factual. In this scene one is told the woman comes from the city (that is, Jerusalem) while the reader knows Lazarus and his sisters were supposed to live in Bethany, an outskirts village. Also one must wonder was the sister of Lazarus (whom some suggest was a Jewish priest) a public sinner as Simon reflects? For example did she have a liaison with a non-Jew? Was she even, for example the woman taken in adultery in a story that John later adds to his gospel? Whatever about the background story to this, Luke is showing that 'outsiders' can understand Jesus and what he means and Christianity is not simply confined to the Jews. It appears there is a 'reminder' here about this to Simon (Peter), leader of the Church and his successors.

4. Proclamation everywhere

4:42-44

desert/cities & synagogues preaching - the kingdom of God

8:1-21

every city and village proclaiming & preaching - the kingdom of God

4:42-44 When day came he went out to a desert place and the crowds looked for him. They came to him and detained him so he could not leave them. He said to them. It behooves me to go to other cities to preach the kingdom of God because that was why I was sent. And he was proclaiming in the synagogues of Judea

8:1-21 It came to pass that he afterwards journeyed through every city and village proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve (disciples) were with him. There were also certain women with them who had been healed from evil spirits and from infirmities. There was Mary called Magdalene from whom seven demons had gone out. There was Joanna wife of Chuza the steward of Herod. There was Susanna and many others who ministered to them out of their possessions. And when a great crowd came together and people in each city were going to him, he spoke a parable. "There was a person who went out to sow seed. As he sowed some fell by the wayside and was trodden underfoot. The birds of the air devoured it. Other seed fell on the rock and once it was grown it withered because it did not have moisture. Other seed fell into thorns and on growing up with the thorns it was choked. Other (seed) fell into good soil. It grew up and produced fruit a hundredfold. "On saying these things he called out. "Whoever has ears, let him hear." His disciples questioned him about what this parable may mean. He said. "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. But the rest are given parables so that seeing they may not see and hearing they may not understand. Now this is the parable. The seed is the word of God and the ones by the wayside are those who hear it. Then the devil comes and takes the word from their heart lest believing they may be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who when they hear receive the word with joy. But they do not have roots. They believe for a time but when in a time of trial they withdraw. There are the ones who are like the seed falling into the thorns. These are the ones who hear. But they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life. They do not bear fruit to maturity. And there the ones who are like the good soil. These are those who have a good and worthy heart. On hearing the word they hold fast to it and bear fruit in patience. Now no one on having lit a lamp hides it with a vessel. Nor do they put it under a couch. But they put it on a lamp stand so that those who come in may see the light. There is nothing hidden which will not become manifest. There is nothing secret which will not be known and be manifest in time to come. Take note therefore how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him (her). Whoever does not have, even what he appears to have will be taken away. And it happened his mother and his brothers were unable to come up to him because of the crowd. This was reported to him. Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and wish to see you. But he, answering said to them. The people hearing and doing the word of God are my mother and my brothers.