And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
through.
Luke 4:43,44 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent…
Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Mark 6:6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
journeying.
Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
Mark 10:32-34 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, …
teaching as He made His way
Teaching was central to Jesus' ministry, as He sought to impart the truths of the Kingdom of God. His teaching often included parables, which were stories with spiritual meanings, making profound truths accessible to ordinary people. This method of teaching was consistent with the rabbinic tradition of the time, where teachers would travel and instruct their followers. Jesus' teachings often challenged the religious status quo, emphasizing internal righteousness over external observance, as seen in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).
toward Jerusalem
Jerusalem holds significant theological and historical importance. It was the center of Jewish religious life, home to the Temple, and the place where major Jewish festivals were celebrated. Jesus' journey toward Jerusalem is symbolic of His impending crucifixion and resurrection, fulfilling His role as the sacrificial Lamb of God. This journey is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, such as those found in Isaiah 53, which speak of the suffering servant. Jesus' deliberate movement toward Jerusalem underscores His obedience to the Father's will and His awareness of the purpose of His mission.
• This simple statement highlights the active, purposeful movement of the Lord. Jesus was not stationary; He went where people were (cf. Luke 8:1; Matthew 9:35).
• His travel underscores divine initiative—God comes to us before we ever come to Him (Romans 5:8).
• It also models a life on mission; believers are called to “go” rather than wait for seekers to arrive (Matthew 28:19-20).
• Jesus reached every social layer—bustling towns and quiet villages alike (Mark 6:6). No place was too insignificant.
• This mirrors God’s heart that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9) and anticipates the gospel’s spread “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
• For us, it encourages ministry in both prominent platforms and obscure corners.
• Teaching was central to Jesus’ earthly ministry (Luke 4:43-44). He explained God’s kingdom, corrected error, and called for repentance (Matthew 4:17).
• By prioritizing teaching, He shows that truth precedes transformation (John 8:31-32).
• His example urges today’s disciples to ground their service in sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:2).
• The phrase conveys steady, deliberate progress—every step intentional (Luke 9:51).
• Nothing in Jesus’ itinerary was random. The Father’s timetable directed each move (John 5:19).
• Likewise, believers walk “by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7), trusting God to order their steps (Proverbs 3:5-6).
• Jerusalem was the prophesied destination where Jesus would lay down His life (Luke 18:31-33; Isaiah 53:6).
• His journey therefore carries a note of solemn resolve—He was moving toward the cross for our redemption (1 Peter 2:24).
• It reminds us that genuine ministry often leads through sacrifice (Philippians 2:5-8), yet culminates in resurrection hope (Luke 24:6-7).
Luke 13:22 captures more than a travel log; it paints a portrait of the Savior on mission—moving intentionally, reaching all kinds of people, teaching truth, and pressing toward the climactic sacrifice in Jerusalem. Following His steps means going where He sends, valuing every person, anchoring ministry in Scripture, trusting God’s direction, and embracing sacrificial love that points others to the cross and the empty tomb.
(22) And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying.--Literally, making a journey, as implying a circuit deliberately planned. This is apparently the continuation of the same journey as that of which Luke 9:51 recorded the beginning. There seems reason to believe, as stated in the Note on that passage, that it lay chiefly through the cities and villages of Peraea, the modern Hauran, on the east side of the Jordan. Such a journey, though with comparatively little record of what happened on it, is implied in Matthew 19:1, Mark 10:1, in the retirement "beyond Jordan" of John 10:40. It had led our Lord at first through Samaria (Luke 9:52), then back to Samaria and Galilee again (Luke 17:11), then either from the east, crossing the river, or from the west to Jericho (Luke 18:35). . . . Verse 22. - And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. This note of the evangelist simply calls attention that the last solemn progress in the direction of the capital was still going on. The question has been discussed at length above. St. Luke, by these little notes of time and place, wishes to direct attention to the fact that all this part of the Gospel relates to one great division of the public ministry - to that which immediately preceded the last Passover.