NUMBER 153

NUMBER 153

I. The number 153 stands for sons of God. The expression "sons of God" (Hebrew,

"Beni Ha-Elohim") has the numerical value of 153. It is interesting to note

that exactly 153 people received a direct blessing from Jesus the Christ.

1. The leper, Matt. 8:2

2. Centurion and servant, Matt. 8:5

3. The mother of Peter's wife, Matt. 8:14

4. Two possessed with devils, Matt. 8:18

5. Palsied man and bearers, Matt, 9:2; Mark 2:3

6. Jairus and his daughter, Matt. 9:18

7. Woman with issue of blood, Matt. 9:21

8. Blind man, Matt. 9:27

9. Dumb man, Matt. 9:32

10. Eleven apostles, Matt. 10:2

11. Man with withered hand, Matt. 12:10

12. Blind and dumb devil, Matt. 12:22

13. Brethren of the Lord, Matt. 13:55

14. Syrophoenician woman and daughter, Matt. 15:22

15. Lunatic child and father, Matt. 17:14

16. Blind men leaving Jericho, Matt. 20:30

17. Simon the leper, Matt. 26:6

18. Mary the sister of Lazarus, Matt. 26:7

19. Centurion, Matt. 27:54

20. Salome, mother of Zebedee's children, Matt. 27:56

21. Mary, mother of James and wife of Cleopas, Matt. 27:56

22. Mary Magdalene, Matt. 27:56

23. Joseph of Arimathea, Matt. 27:57

24. Man with an unclean spirit, Mark 1:23

25. Man deaf and dumb, Matt. 7:32

26. Blind man, Matt. 8:22

27. Son of the widow of Nain, Luke 7:12

28. A woman, a sinner, Luke 7:37

29. Joanna and Susanna, Luke 8:3-6

30. A disciple "follow me" Luke 9:59

31. The seventy disciples, Luke 10:1

32. Martha, Luke 10:38

33. Woman with infirmity, Luke 13:11

34. Man with dropsy, Luke 14:21

35. The ten lepers, Luke 17:12

36. The blind man (approaching Jericho) Luke 18:35

37. Zaccheus, Luke 19:2

38. Malchus (John 18:10), Luke 22:51

39. Penitent thief, Luke 23:43

40. Two disciples at Emmaus, Luke 24:13

41. Nicodemus, John 3:1

42. Woman of Samaria, John 4:4

43. Nobleman and sick son, John 4:46

44. Impotent man (Bethesda) John 5:1

45. Woman taken in adultery, John 8:11

46. Man born blind, John 9

47. Lazarus, John 11

48. Mary, mother of Jesus, John 19:25

TOTAL OF 153 PERSONS!

II. This is the great lesson of the 153 fishes (sons of God) caught in the gospel

net.

-47-