Day 304: Luke 22-24

(The previous post covered the confrontations between Jesus and the religious leaders that immediately preceded Jesus' crucifixion.)

Luke 22
¹ Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
² And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death; for they feared the people.
³ And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

(Satan entered into Judas Iscariot. Satan is not omnipresent, he cannot be in more than one place at a time.)

⁴ And he went away, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might deliver him unto them.

(Satan was in Judas before Judas went to strike the deal for thirty pieces of silver with the chief priests.)

⁵ And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.
⁶ And he consented, and sought opportunity to deliver him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
⁷ And the day of unleavened bread came, on which the passover must be sacrificed.

(The Passover lamb was sacrificed and presented in the temple a day before the Passover meal.)

⁸ And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and make ready for us the passover, that we may eat.
⁹ And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we make ready?
¹⁰ And 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.
¹¹ And 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?
¹² And he will show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

(Jesus had Peter and John go to a man who would provide a place for the Passover meal, also known as the Seder.)

¹³ And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
¹⁴ And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the apostles with him.

(The Last Supper occurred a day before the Passover meal.)

¹⁵ And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

(Jesus wanted to have this meal with His Disciples before He suffered.)

¹⁶ for I say unto you, I shall not eat it, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
¹⁷ And he received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
¹⁸ for I say unto you, I shall not drink from henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

(During the Passover meal, there were four cups of wine. Two were drunk before the meal and two after. The fourth cup represented Praise for the Completion of Everything. Jesus would not drink of this fourth cup until everything was completed in His Father's Kingdom after Final Judgment.)

(Verses 19-20: the Lord's Supper.)

¹⁹ And 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.
²⁰ And 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.

(The third cup was drunk with the desert bread (Afikomen), and became our communion. The third cup represented Redemption, which was provided for us by Jesus' Blood.)

²¹ But behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.
²² For the Son of man indeed goeth, as it hath been determined: but woe unto that man through whom he is betrayed!
²³ And they began to question among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
²⁴ And there arose also a contention among them, which of them was accounted to be greatest.

(The Disciples were still arguing over who was the greatest.)

²⁵ And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles have lordship over them; and they that have authority over them are called Benefactors.
²⁶ But 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.
²⁷ For 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.
²⁸ But ye are they that have continued with me in my temptations;
²⁹ and I appoint unto you a kingdom, even as my Father appointed unto me,
³⁰ that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and ye shall sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

(Those who serve the most will be the greatest in the Kingdom of God.)

³¹ Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat:

(Peter was to be sifted as wheat by Satan.)

³² but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren.

(The "sifting" was for Peter's long term growth, to get the "chaff" out of him. When Peter converted, he would be able to strengthen the brethren.)

³³ And he said unto him, Lord, with thee I am ready to go both to prison and to death.
³⁴ And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, until thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

(Jesus predicted Peter's denial of Him. Jesus knew the causes within Peter that would lead to Peter betraying Jesus.)

³⁵ And he said unto them, When I sent you forth without purse, and wallet, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing.
³⁶ And 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.
³⁷ For 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.

(Jesus referenced Isaiah 53:12.)

³⁸ And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

(Jesus said "It is enough," not because two swords were enough. Jesus was saying that the discussion was concluded and it was time to go to the mount of Olives...)

³⁹ And he came out, and went, as his custom was, unto the mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed him.
⁴⁰ And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
⁴¹ And he was parted from them about a stone's cast; and he kneeled down and prayed,
⁴² saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

(Jesus was honest with His desire but prayed for God's Will to be done. These events were not predestined. Jesus had to choose to go through with His death.)

⁴³ And there appeared unto him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.

(An angel from heaven strengthened Jesus because this choice was difficult.)

⁴⁴ And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.

(This choice was so difficult that Jesus was sweating blood. It may be the most difficult part was knowing He would be separated from God the Father. Jesus had never experienced separation from God and every instance He had seen throughout history showed that it was painful.)

⁴⁵ And when he rose up from his prayer, he came unto the disciples, and found them sleeping for sorrow,
⁴⁶ and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.
⁴⁷ While 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.
⁴⁸ But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
⁴⁹ And when they that were about him saw what would follow, they said, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
⁵⁰ And a certain one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his right ear.

(Peter was the "certain one" who cut off the servant of the high priest's ear according to John 18:10.)

⁵¹ But Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye them thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

(Jesus healed the man's ear!)

⁵² And 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?
⁵³ When 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.
⁵⁴ And they seized him, and led him away, and brought him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed afar off.

(The men took Jesus while Peter followed from far off.)

⁵⁵ And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the court, and had sat down together, Peter sat in the midst of them.
⁵⁶ And 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.
⁵⁷ But he denied, saying, Woman, I know him not.

(Peter's first denial.)

⁵⁸ And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou also art one of them. But Peter said, Man, I am not.

(Peter's second denial.)

⁵⁹ And 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.
⁶⁰ But Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

(Peter's third denial. While Peter was denying Jesus the third time, the rooster crowed.)

⁶¹ And 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.

(Peter was close enough to Jesus that Jesus could see him. Jesus looked at Peter after he denied the third time and Peter remembered Jesus' words.)

⁶² And he went out, and wept bitterly.

(Peter felt such conviction that he wept bitterly.)

⁶³ And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and beat him.
⁶⁴ And they blindfolded him, and asked him, saying, Prophesy: who is he that struck thee?
⁶⁵ And many other things spake they against him, reviling him.

(The men that held Jesus struck Him, mocked Him, and blasphemously spoke against Him.)

⁶⁶ And 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,
⁶⁷ If thou art the Christ, tell us. But he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:
⁶⁸ and if I ask you, ye will not answer.
⁶⁹ But from henceforth shall the Son of man be seated at the right hand of the power of God.

(Jesus prophesied that after this He would sit on "the right hand of the power of God.")

⁷⁰ And they all said, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.
⁷¹ And they said, What further need have we of witness? for we ourselves have heard from his own mouth.

(The Jewish day went from sundown to sundown. Even though it was the next day according to our calendar, it was still the day before the Passover meal which would begin at sundown.)




Luke 23
¹ And the whole company of them rose up, and brought him before Pilate.
² And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king.

(Jesus was charged with treason against the government.)

³ And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest.
⁴ And Pilate said unto the chief priests and the multitudes, I find no fault in this man.

(Pilate found no fault in Jesus.)

⁵ But they were the more urgent, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judaea, and beginning from Galilee even unto this place.
⁶ But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
⁷ And when he knew that he was of Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him unto Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in these days.

(Pilate tried to avoid condemning Jesus. When Pilate heard Jesus was from a town outside his jurisdiction, Jesus was then sent to Herod.)

⁸ Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was of a long time desirous to see him, because he had heard concerning him; and he hoped to see some miracle done by him.
⁹ And he questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

(Herod asked Jesus many questions but Jesus did not answer.)

¹⁰ And the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him.
¹¹ And Herod with his soldiers set him at nought, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate.

(Jesus was sent back to Pilate.)

¹² And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
¹³ And Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
¹⁴ and said unto them, Ye brought unto me this man, as one that perverteth the people: and behold, I having examined him before you, found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:
¹⁵ no, nor yet Herod: for he sent him back unto us; and behold, nothing worthy of death hath been done by him.
¹⁶ I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

(Pilate, again trying to avoid condemning Jesus, said Jesus did nothing to deserve death and that Jesus would be chastised and then released!)

¹⁷ Now he must needs release unto them at the feast one prisoner.
¹⁸ But they cried out all together, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: --

(The people asked for Barabbas (a murderer) to be released instead of Jesus.)

¹⁹ one who for a certain insurrection made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.
²⁰ And Pilate spake unto them again, desiring to release Jesus;
²¹ but they shouted, saying, Crucify, crucify him.

(Verse 20 stated Pilate wanted to release Jesus. However, the people were adamant about Jesus being crucified.)

²² And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath this man done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and release him.

(A third time Pilate said Jesus was innocent in an attempt to avoid crucifying Jesus.)

²³ But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. And their voices prevailed.
²⁴ And Pilate gave sentence that what they asked for should be done.

(The people continued yelling so that Pilate gave them what they wanted.)

²⁵ And he released him that for insurrection and murder had been cast into prison, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will.

(Pilate delivered Jesus "to their will".)

²⁶ And when they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to bear it after Jesus.
²⁷ And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him.
²⁸ But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
²⁹ For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck.
³⁰ Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
³¹ For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

(Even during Jesus' persecution, He still taught and led the people.)

³² And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
³³ And when they came unto the place which is called The skull, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left.

(Jesus was crucified in the place called "The skull.")

³⁴ And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And parting his garments among them, they cast lots.

(Jesus removed all doubt that He did not sin, even when He was being crucified.)

³⁵ And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also scoffed at him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen.
³⁶ And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, offering him vinegar,
³⁷ and saying, If thou art the King of the Jews, save thyself.
³⁸ And there was also a superscription over him, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

(An inscription above Jesus' head was written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. It said:
THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.)

³⁹ And one of the malefactors that were hanged railed on him, saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us.
⁴⁰ But the other answered, and rebuking him said, Dost thou not even fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
⁴¹ And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
⁴² And he said, Jesus, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom.

(One thief on the cross humbled himself: he confessed and repented.)

⁴³ And he said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.

(Jesus told him that that day he would be with Jesus in Paradise. The word "Paradise" described the part of Hades which was the abode of the righteous souls prior to the resurrection. Also known as: Abraham's Bosom - Luke 16:22.)

⁴⁴ And it was now about the sixth hour, and a darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour,

(There were three hours of darkness.)

⁴⁵ the sun's light failing: and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

(Sundown: It was now Passover.)

⁴⁶ And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost.

(Jesus died on Passover in order to be the Passover Lamb for all and have the Torah point the Jews to Jesus. Notice, Jesus "gave up the ghost"...Jesus was intentional until the end. Even when He died, it was His choice to die.)

⁴⁷ And when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

(A centurion saw Jesus give up the ghost and the centurion knew that Jesus was a Righteous man.)

⁴⁸ And all the multitudes that came together to this sight, when they beheld the things that were done, returned smiting their breasts.
⁴⁹ And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed with him from Galilee, stood afar off, seeing these things.
⁵⁰ And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a councillor, a good and righteous man
⁵¹ (he had not consented to their counsel and deed), a man of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was looking for the kingdom of God:
⁵² this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.
⁵³ And he took it down, and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was hewn in stone, where never man had yet lain.
⁵⁴ And it was the day of the Preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

(This referenced a high Sabbath, not the weekly Sabbath.)

⁵⁵ And the women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and beheld the tomb, and how his body was laid.
⁵⁶ And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. And on the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

(Then the women rested on the weekly Sabbath day. This meant that Jesus was crucified on our Thursday evening, which would be the beginning of their Friday. Our Thursday evening would be the beginning of their Friday, which was a high Sabbath. Our Friday evening would be the beginning of the weekly Sabbath. This meant, the women would not be able to prepare Jesus' body for burial until Sunday during the day, our Sunday morning, which would have been three nights ( our Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights). Jesus was in the belly of the earth for three days and three nights, just like Jonah was in the belly of the great fish.)




Luke 24
¹ But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came unto the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.
² And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.
³ And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

(Jesus' body was gone!)

⁴ And it came to pass, while they were perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel:
⁵ and as they were affrighted and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
⁶ He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

(Jesus had risen.)

⁷ saying that the Son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
⁸ And they remembered his words,
⁹ and returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest.
¹⁰ Now they were Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James: and the other women with them told these things unto the apostles.
¹¹ And these words appeared in their sight as idle talk; and they disbelieved them.

(The Disciples did not believe the women.)

¹² But Peter arose, and ran unto the tomb; and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths by themselves; and he departed to his home, wondering at that which was come to pass.
¹³ And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was threescore furlongs from Jerusalem.
¹⁴ And they communed with each other of all these things which had happened.
¹⁵ And it came to pass, while they communed and questioned together, that Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
¹⁶ But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

(Jesus appeared to two followers but they did not know it was Him.)

¹⁷ And he said unto them, What communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk? And they stood still, looking sad.
¹⁸ And one of them, named Cleopas, answering said unto him, Dost thou alone sojourn in Jerusalem and not know the things which are come to pass there in these days?
¹⁹ And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
²⁰ and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.
²¹ But we hoped that it was he who should redeem Israel. Yea and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things came to pass.
²² Moreover certain women of our company amazed us, having been early at the tomb;
²³ and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.
²⁴ And certain of them that were with us went to the tomb, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
²⁵ And he said unto them, O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
²⁶ Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory?
²⁷ And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

(Jesus began with Moses, then all the prophets, and instructed them in all the scriptures, the things concerning Himself!)

²⁸ And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they were going: and he made as though he would go further.

(Jesus acted like He was going to continue walking to see what they would do.)

²⁹ And they constrained him, saying, Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent. And he went in to abide with them.
³⁰ And it came to pass, when he had sat down with them to meat, he took the bread and blessed; and breaking it he gave to them.

(Jesus ate food. He had definitely resurrected more than just spiritually. Jesus had a physical body.)

³¹ And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

(The men finally recognized Jesus and then He vanished out of their sight. Jesus went from the physical realm to the spiritual realm.)

³² And they said one to another, Was not our heart burning within us, while he spake to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures?

(The word "opened" meant "to completely empty like the womb from a firstborn child." Jesus explained everything connected to His time on earth.)

³³ And they rose up that very hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
³⁴ saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

(After they realized it was Jesus, they remembered they felt a burning in their heart while they talked with Him. These two believers found the eleven Disciples and told them about seeing Jesus.)

³⁵ And they rehearsed the things that happened in the way, and how he was known of them in the breaking of the bread.
³⁶ And as they spake these things, he himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

(Jesus went from the spiritual realm to the physical realm while the Disciples were discussing how Jesus went from the physical realm to the spiritual realm.)

³⁷ But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a spirit.
³⁸ And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and wherefore do questionings arise in your heart?
³⁹ See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold me having.

(Jesus told them to handle Him so that they see that He had flesh and bone, He was physical.)

⁴⁰ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
⁴¹ And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here anything to eat?
⁴² And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish.
⁴³ And he took it, and ate before them.

(Jesus ate in front of them, which also confirmed He was physical.)

⁴⁴ And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me.

(Jesus taught the Disciples about Himself from the Torah, the prophets, and the Book of Psalms. There is prophecy in the Book of Psalms.)

⁴⁵ Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures;

(Jesus opened their understanding.)

⁴⁶ and he said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day;
⁴⁷ and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
⁴⁸ Ye are witnesses of these things.
⁴⁹ And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high.

(Jesus told the disciples to wait until they received power from on high, the Holy Spirit coming on all flesh at Pentecost.)

⁵⁰ And he led them out until they were over against Bethany: and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
⁵¹ And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.

(The Book of Acts, which was also written by Luke, began up its narrative from the events in this verse.)

⁵² And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
⁵³ and were continually in the temple, blessing God.

(The New Testament began with four accounts of Jesus' time on earth. The third of these Gospel Accounts was written by St. Luke. Luke was also known as the beloved physician. It was believed this account was written about thirty years after Christ's death. Luke, like Mark, was not one of the twelve Disciples. His account was a result of research done during that time, which resulted in a more comprehensive and logic based Gospel than the first two accounts. Consequently, we focused on the historical and logical perspectives.)

Day 305

Day 303: Luke 19-21

(The previous post covered complex Reward Doctrine from Jesus concerning how believers ought to confront each other.)

Luke 19
¹ And he entered and was passing through Jericho.
² And behold, a man called by name Zacchaeus; and he was a chief publican, and he was rich.

(A rich man named Zacchaeus was introduced. He was a publican (tax collector), which the religious leaders saw as a sinner. Zacchaeus handled the Roman money, which had an engraving of Caesar on it. Merely touching that money was considered idolatry by the religious leaders and therefore Zacchaeus was considered an idolater and unclean.)

³ And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the crowd, because he was little of stature.
⁴ And he ran on before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

(Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus but because he was so short he went up into a tree so he could see Jesus pass by. In addition to being short, the fact that the people saw Zacchaeus as unclean would mean they wouldn't want to touch him. Going up in the tree was also about not being touched by the people in the crowd.)

⁵ And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house.

(Jesus told Zacchaeus to get down because Jesus was going to abide at his house that day.)

⁶ And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
⁷ And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, He is gone in to lodge with a man that is a sinner.
⁸ And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wrongfully exacted aught of any man, I restore fourfold.

(The people murmured against Jesus but Zacchaeus told Jesus about the good things he did.)

⁹ And Jesus said unto him, To-day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
¹⁰ For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.

(Jesus came to seek and save those who were lost (Ezekiel 34:11-12). Remember, the goal of the Dispensation of the Law was to reach everyone through the Law. The Dispensation prior to that was Abraham's Dispensation where the goal was to reach everyone through Abraham's seed. After Zacchaeus stated he kept the Law, Jesus stated Salvation came to his house because Zacchaeus was a son of Abraham. Jesus covered both dispensations.)

¹¹ And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was immediately to appear.

(Verses 12-27: the Parable of the Pounds (This parable was similar to the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25:14-31.).)

¹² He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
¹³ And he called ten servants of his, and gave them ten pounds, and said unto them, Trade ye herewith till I come.

(In this parable, the source of the wealth specifically told his servants to trade in order to gain more, to interact with others in uniqueness in order to become profitable.)

¹⁴ But his citizens hated him, and sent an ambassage after him, saying, We will not that this man reign over us.
¹⁵ And it came to pass, when he was come back again, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these servants, unto whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading.
¹⁶ And the first came before him, saying, Lord, thy pound hath made ten pounds more.
¹⁷ And he said unto him, Well done, thou good servant: because thou wast found faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

(This man was given authority over ten cities.)

¹⁸ And the second came, saying, Thy pound, Lord, hath made five pounds.
¹⁹ And he said unto him also, Be thou also over five cities.

(Likewise, this man was given authority over five cities.)

²⁰ And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I kept laid up in a napkin:
²¹ for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that which thou layedst not down, and reapest that which thou didst not sow.
²² He saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up that which I laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow;

(The servant who hid his pounds stated that he thought the nobleman was a austere man and reaped where he did not sow. This was not true. The pounds came from the nobleman. He did sow. However, the nobleman judged the servant by the servant's own words.)

²³ then wherefore gavest thou not my money into the bank, and I at my coming should have required it with interest?

(Like the Parable of the Talents, this servant did not interact with anyone. The source of the wealth, the nobleman, stated he ought to have interacted with just one person, the banker. Why?)

²⁴ And he said unto them that stood by, Take away from him the pound, and give it unto him that hath the ten pounds.
²⁵ And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.
²⁶ I say unto you, that unto every one that hath shall be given; but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him.
²⁷ But these mine enemies, that would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

(The man was slain! God's ultimate measure is profitability.

The new Jerusalem will be 1500 miles wide, 1500 miles deep, and 1500 miles high (Revelation 21:16). It will be cities on top of cities. Did this parable show us how everyone's place in the new Jerusalem will be determined? People who have more Reward will be higher in the new Jerusalem with others under them? We know Jesus will be at the top of the new Jerusalem.)

²⁸ And when he had thus spoken, he went on before, going up to Jerusalem.
²⁹ And it came to pass, when he drew nigh unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples,
³⁰ saying, Go your way into the village over against you; in which as ye enter ye shall find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat: loose him, and bring him.
³¹ And if any one ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say, The Lord hath need of him.

(Jesus sent two Disciples to get a colt. This was prophesied in Zechariah 9:9. These events took place the week Jesus was crucified.)

³² And they that were sent went away, and found even as he had said unto them.
³³ And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
³⁴ And they said, The Lord hath need of him.
³⁵ And they brought him to Jesus: and they threw their garments upon the colt, and set Jesus thereon.
³⁶ And as he went, they spread their garments in the way.
³⁷ And as he was now drawing nigh, even at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen;
³⁸ saying, Blessed is the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

(The people were proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah.)

³⁹ And some of the Pharisees from the multitude said unto him, Teacher, rebuke thy disciples.
⁴⁰ And he answered and said, I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.
⁴¹ And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it,
⁴² saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
⁴³ For the days shall come upon thee, when thine enemies shall cast up a bank about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
⁴⁴ and shall dash thee to the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

(The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD was foretold by Jesus.)

⁴⁵ And he entered into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold,
⁴⁶ saying unto them, It is written, And my house shall be a house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of robbers.

(Jesus referenced Isaiah 56:7. Prayer is a spiritual exchange with God. The moneychangers were focused on physical exchange with people, which Jesus described as "a den of robbers." Jesus stated God's house ought to be for spiritual exchange with God, not physical exchange with people.)

⁴⁷ And he was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him:
⁴⁸ and they could not find what they might do; for the people all hung upon him, listening.

(Jesus taught daily in the temple during the week of His crucifixion. The chief priests and the scribes sought to destroy Jesus but could not because all the people wanted to hear Him.)




Luke 20
¹ And it came to pass, on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, there came upon him the chief priests and the scribes with the elders;
² and they spake, saying unto him, Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

(One of the days Jesus was teaching, the scribes and chief priests asked Him where His authority (Semikah) came from. Remember, the two Semikah's that Jesus received His authority from were John the Baptist and God the Father.)

³ And he answered and said unto them, I also will ask you a question; and tell me:
⁴ The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?

(In response, Jesus asked them where they believed John the Baptist's authority came from. If they did not recognize John the Baptist's authority, they would not recognize one of Jesus' Semikahs. If they did not recognize the source of John the Baptist's authority, they would not recognize Jesus' other Semikah: God.)

⁵ And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why did ye not believe him?
⁶ But if we shall say, From men; all the people will stone us: for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.
⁷ And they answered, that they knew not whence it was.
⁸ And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

(The chief priests and elders weighed both possible responses and decided not to answer, so neither did Jesus. This was Just.)

(Verses 9-16: the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen.)

⁹ And he began to speak unto the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country for a long time.
¹⁰ And at the season he sent unto the husbandmen a servant, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.
¹¹ And he sent yet another servant: and him also they beat, and handled him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
¹² And he sent yet a third: and him also they wounded, and cast him forth.
¹³ And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; it may be they will reverence him.
¹⁴ But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned one with another, saying, This is the heir; let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
¹⁵ And they cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do unto them?
¹⁶ He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

(In this parable, the lord of the vineyard was God the Father, the husbandmen were the Israelites, the servants that were beat/persecuted were the prophets sent by God the Father, and the lord of the vineyard's son was Jesus Christ. The husbandmen (Israel) would be cut off (the times of the Gentile). The Pharisees said "God forbid.")

¹⁷ But he looked upon them, and said, What then is this that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner?
¹⁸ Every one that falleth on that stone shall be broken to pieces; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.

(Jesus referenced Psalm 118:22 in response to the Pharisees. Jesus basically showed the Pharisees they were in disagreement with God's Word and Will.)

¹⁹ And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that very hour; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he spake this parable against them.

(The chief priests and scribes sought more to lay their hands on Jesus because they knew He was stating the religious leaders were violating God's Word and doing their own will instead of God's Will.)

²⁰ And they watched him, and sent forth spies, who feigned themselves to be righteous, that they might take hold of his speech, so as to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor.

(Spies were sent out to catch Jesus in His words.)

²¹ And they asked him, saying, Teacher, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest not the person of any, but of a truth teachest the way of God:
²² Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
²³ But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them,

(The spies tempted Jesus with a question meant to get the government involved.)

²⁴ Show me a denarius. Whose image and superscription hath it? And they said, Caesar's.
²⁵ And he said unto them, Then render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's.
²⁶ And they were not able to take hold of the saying before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

(Jesus answered the tempting by bringing resolution to the difference between the physical and the spiritual. The government rules the physical, while God ought to rule the spiritual.)

²⁷ And there came to him certain of the Sadducees, they that say that there is no resurrection;
²⁸ and they asked him, saying, Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, that if a man's brother die, having a wife, and he be childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

(Certain Sadducees (who denied the resurrection) tempted Jesus by asking questions about Marriage in the resurrection.)

²⁹ There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died childless;
³⁰ and the second:
³¹ and the third took her; and likewise the seven also left no children, and died.
³² Afterward the woman also died.
³³ In the resurrection therefore whose wife of them shall she be? for the seven had her to wife.
³⁴ And Jesus said unto them, The sons of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
³⁵ but they that are accounted worthy to attain to that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
³⁶ for neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

(Doctrine: Individuals will not be married in eternity.)

³⁷ But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the place concerning the Bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
³⁸ Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

(Jesus showed the religious leaders they did not know God's Word. Jesus supported His answer with God's Word.)

³⁹ And certain of the scribes answering said, Teacher, thou hast well said.
⁴⁰ For they durst not any more ask him any question.

(After this interaction, they stopped asking Jesus questions because they did not want to dwell on how they had been wrong about God's Word. However, Jesus wanted to continue to show them they did not know God's Word.)

⁴¹ And he said unto them, How say they that the Christ is David's son?
⁴² For David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
⁴³ Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet.
⁴⁴ David therefore calleth him Lord, and how is he his son?

(Jesus referenced Psalm 110:1. Jesus asked for the definition of "Lord.")

⁴⁵ And in the hearing of all the people he said unto his disciples,
⁴⁶ Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and love salutations in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at feasts;

(Jesus openly criticized the religious leaders of His time because they did not know God's Word and instead focused on appearance.)

⁴⁷ who devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater condemnation.

(Jesus even stated they would have greater condemnation, the greater their injustices. That is Just.)




Luke 21
¹ And he looked up, and saw the rich men that were casting their gifts into the treasury.
² And he saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
³ And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than they all:
⁴ for all these did of their superfluity cast in unto the gifts; but she of her want did cast in all the living that she had.

(Jesus commended the woman to the Disciples who gave all that she had, all of her possessions.)

⁵ And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and offerings, he said,
⁶ As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

(Jesus foretold the destruction of the temple that would occur in 70 AD at the hands of the Romans. They took apart all the stones to get to the gold.)

⁷ And they asked him, saying, Teacher, when therefore shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when these things are about to come to pass?

(They wanted to know when these things would be fulfilled. In this Gospel account, the only answer that was presented was in response to: "What will be the sign of Thy coming?")

⁸ And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them.
⁹ And when ye shall hear of wars and tumults, be not terrified: for these things must needs come to pass first; but the end is not immediately.
¹⁰ Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;
¹¹ and there shall be great earthquakes, and in divers places famines and pestilences; and there shall be terrors and great signs from heaven.

(Jesus gave signs for the end times.)

¹² But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name's sake.

(…but before all the signs, there will be persecution first.)

¹³ It shall turn out unto you for a testimony.

(The persecution will be a testimony.)

¹⁴ Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand how to answer:
¹⁵ for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay.

(During the times of persecution, God will give believers words ("a mouth") and actions ("wisdom") that will lead to their adversaries not being able to withstand or speak against those believers.)

¹⁶ But ye shall be delivered up even by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
¹⁷ And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
¹⁸ And not a hair of your head shall perish.
¹⁹ In your patience ye shall win your souls.
²⁰ But when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand.

(Jesus referenced Daniel 9:27: the abomination of desolation which will occur halfway (3 1/2 years) into the Tribulation. The first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation will be peaceful. The Antichrist will attack and torment Israel for the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation. Jesus warned Israel's inhabitants to immediately flee when the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation began.)

²¹ Then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains; and let them that are in the midst of her depart out; and let not them that are in the country enter therein.
²² For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
²³ Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! for there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people.
²⁴ And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive into all the nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

(Verses 25-28: signs that come before the return of Christ.)

²⁵ And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows;
²⁶ men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
²⁷ And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
²⁸ But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.

(Verses 29-33: the Parable of the Fig Tree.)

²⁹ And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig tree, and all the trees:
³⁰ when they now shoot forth, ye see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now nigh.
³¹ Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh.

(Jesus used a physical example to illustrate a spiritual principle.)

³² Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished.
³³ Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
³⁴ But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare:
³⁵ for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth.
³⁶ But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

(Watch and pray so that you are counted worthy to escape these things.)

³⁷ And every day he was teaching in the temple; and every night he went out, and lodged in the mount that is called Olivet.
³⁸ And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, to hear him.

(During the week prior to Jesus' crucifixion, Jesus taught in the temple and people intentionally came to hear Him.)

(This post covered the confrontations between Jesus and the religious leaders that immediately preceded Jesus' crucifixion.)

Day 304

Day 302: Luke 16-18

(The previous post covered several parables from Jesus as His fame increased while He continued to heal people on the Sabbath. This post began with Pharisees wondering why Jesus healed sinners on the Sabbath and ended with Jesus telling a parable that proved the Pharisees were unbelievers because they didn't rejoice over sinners repenting.)

Luke 16

(Verses 1-13: the Parable of the Unjust Steward.)

¹ And he said also unto the disciples, There was a certain rich man, who had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he was wasting his goods.
² And he called him, and said unto him, What is this that I hear of thee? render the account of thy stewardship; for thou canst be no longer steward.

(It seemed the steward was not a good "steward" of his responsibilities.)

³ And the steward said within himself, What shall I do, seeing that my lord taketh away the stewardship from me? I have not strength to dig; to beg I am ashamed.
⁴ I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
⁵ And calling to him each one of his lord's debtors, he said to the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?
⁶ And he said, A hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bond, and sit down quickly and write fifty.
⁷ Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, A hundred measures of wheat. He saith unto him, Take thy bond, and write fourscore.

(The steward used his position to forgive debts of others so that those people would give to him once he lost his job.)

⁸ And his lord commended the unrighteous steward because he had done wisely: for the sons of this world are for their own generation wiser than the sons of the light.

(The lord commended the steward because he understood Justice well enough to benefit from it in the long term. This parable also could have been directed at the Pharisees that were present who should have realized they were going to be removed by God and should have been "forgiving" Jesus' followers so that these followers would include these Pharisees in this new move of God.)

⁹ And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles.
¹⁰ He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much.

(The wise people are those who recognize the physical ought to be used to build spiritual value. Those who are faithful with little will be faithful with much. Those who are unjust with little will be unjust with much.)

¹¹ If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
¹² And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?
¹³ No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

(Jesus used the principle of non-contradiction to show us that you cannot serve God and mammon (money). We ought to serve God; money ought to serve us.)

¹⁴ And the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things; and they scoffed at him.

(The Pharisees heard Jesus and scoffed (derided; turn up your nose) at Him. They equated God with money. Clearly Jesus' words were bringing conviction to the Pharisees.)

¹⁵ And he said unto them, Ye are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

(The Pharisees were justifying themselves and not God, and they believed that justifying themselves did justify God.)

¹⁶ The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it.

(John the Baptist was the beginning of the widening of God's Doctrine beyond the Law.)

¹⁷ But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one tittle of the law to fall.

(Jesus was fulfilling the Law and widening it. Jesus did not believe doing the Law resulted in sin.)

¹⁸ Every one that putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth one that is put away from a husband committeth adultery.

(Doctrine: Putting away is the ending of the Marriage Covenant and the removal of one of the spouses from the greater community because of unbelief. Divorce, according to the Law, was the ending of the Marriage Covenant between believing spouses with both spouses remaining in community and able to remarry. If Jesus used the word "divorce" instead of "putting away," then Jesus would have been stating that doing the Law (divorce in Deuteronomy 24) resulted in sin, which would have contradicted Jesus' statement in verse 17. If believing spouses do not divorce, but instead put each other away, God still considers them to be married and any sexual intercourse after that to be adultery.

*Putting Away and Divorce are two separate Doctrine.*)

¹⁹ Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day:
²⁰ and a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores,
²¹ and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table; yea, even the dogs come and licked his sores.

(Jesus was telling a historical fact. He gave specific names and did not begin this story with a metaphorical introduction such as: "...it is like a man sitting..." Instead, Jesus began this teaching with the line: There was a certain rich man...and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus. This really happened.)

²² And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried.

("Abraham's Bosom" was the "holding place" in hell for the Righteous men and women before Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus first descended and led captivity captive (those in Abraham's Bosom) before He ascended (Ephesians 4:8-10). There are two more compartments in hell. One is called Hades and is where those who face eternal damnation are held. The other is called Tartarus and is for fallen angels according to Jude 1:6.)

²³ And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
²⁴ And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.

(Notice, these people still had physical attributes and felt physical sensations.)

²⁵ But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted and thou art in anguish.
²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they that would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us.

(There was a great gulf that prevented people from leaving their compartment.)

²⁷ And he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house;
²⁸ for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
²⁹ But Abraham saith, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

(Moses (Torah) and the prophets (major and minor) ought to motivate us to avoid ending up in torment.)

³⁰ And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.
³¹ And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead.

(A great miracle (someone raised from the dead) would have no effect on those who are determined not to believe, on those who resist everything written by Moses and the prophets. Belief leading to repentance is founded in a humble heart from a humble thought process. Someone in pride cannot be persuaded of anything other than what they already believe.)




Luke 17
¹ And he said unto his disciples, It is impossible but that occasions of stumbling should come; but woe unto him, through whom they come!

(Occasions of stumbling (trap, snare) will come but woe to him through whom they come. We ought not to be a stumblingblock to others.)

² It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.

(It would be better (more profitable) to be cast into the sea than to "cause one of these little ones to stumble." Dying would make the person not unprofitable. Leading others to stumble makes the person unprofitable.)

³ Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother sin, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

(Matthew 18:15-17 and this verse are intended to result in more agreement. These verses are intended to be a benefit to the church! Here's how:

-If your brother (another believer) trespasses against you, rebuke (confront) him for his benefit.
-If he repents, forgive him.

This means that if he hears you and does not repent you ought to extend him mercy because he is a fellow believer and believers are all part of the same body (all connected).

Notice, Jesus said we must confront a believer that sins against us. When unbelievers sin against us, we are supposed to instantly forgive so they are judged and we get Rewarded. Notice, we only forgive a believer who hears us if the believer repents. Forgiving the believer who does not repent will result in the believer getting judged, and since we are in community with them, it would result in the community being negatively affected. We ought to be mercy to the believer and let God sort out the situation at Final Judgment with Reward through Justice.

Confronting the person is actually trying to facilitate their repentance now, physically, so they do not lose value to us at Final Judgment, spiritually. From Matthew 18:17, this person could only forfeit their Salvation if they did not hear even when they were confronted in front of the church. These verses were intended to help believers who were falling away as well as resolve misunderstandings that could potentially turn into division.)

⁴ And if he sin against thee seven times in the day, and seven times turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

(Notice, again, we forgive each time as long as the sinning believer repents, not just confesses.)

⁵ And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

(The Disciples asked for their faith to be increased. They wanted more understanding and experience from Christ because they had just heard a complex Doctrine. How many believers do you know who realize we do not forgive believers unless they repent?)

⁶ And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye would say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou planted in the sea; and it would obey you.
⁷ But who is there of you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say unto him, when he is come in from the field, Come straightway and sit down to meat;
⁸ and will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
⁹ Doth he thank the servant because he did the things that were commanded?
¹⁰ Even so ye also, when ye shall have done all the things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do.

(There is no Reward for doing what is expected. There is Reward from doing more than what is expected, like Cain and Abel. Abel got a Reward for giving more. Cain gave what was expected and got angry because he wanted something more from God.

Side-note: If God "expected" something from Cain and his offering, did this mean, even for that moment, that God was not "loving" Cain? (Remember, Jesus' definition of love was "to give a value and expect nothing in return from the person you gave to." - Luke 6:35) If this is the case, wouldn't this prove that defining God as "love" is contradictory?)

¹¹ And it came to pass, as they were on their way to Jerusalem, that he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee.
¹² And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off:
¹³ and they lifted up their voices, saying, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
¹⁴ And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go and show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were cleansed.

(Notice, the healing occurred while they went to the priests. This was a sign of their faith. They were not healed when they began to go to the priests, but as they went. This proof of their faith resulted in their healing.)

¹⁵ And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, with a loud voice glorifying God;
¹⁶ and he fell upon his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

(One of the ten immediately went back and thanked God and Jesus. The man was a Samaritan, the people the Jews considered to be an enemy. Jesus was near the border of Judaea and Samaria on His last missionary trip before returning to Jerusalem to be crucified.)

¹⁷ And Jesus answering said, Were not the ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
¹⁸ Were there none found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger?
¹⁹ And he said unto him, Arise, and go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

(Jesus healed ten lepers and only one worshipped Him and gave thanks. Jesus stated his faith had made him whole. It looked like Jesus may have also been speaking of being whole spiritually.)

²⁰ And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
²¹ neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you.

(Today, the Kingdom of God is within those who have the Holy Spirit within them. It is a spiritual kingdom. The Pharisees (and others) were looking for a physical kingdom that would put the Jews as conquerors over every other nation, like the Old Testament.)

(Verses 22-37: Jesus foretold His second coming.)

²² And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
²³ And they shall say to you, Lo, there! Lo, here! go not away, nor follow after them:
²⁴ for as the lightning, when it lighteneth out of the one part under the heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall the Son of man be in his day.
²⁵ But first must he suffer many things and be rejected of this generation.
²⁶ And as it came to pass in the days of Noah, even so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

(It will be as in the days of Noah - Genesis 6:5 "And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.")

²⁷ They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

(Only eight people out of everyone on earth were saved.)

²⁸ Likewise even as it came to pass in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
²⁹ but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all:
³⁰ after the same manner shall it be in the day that the Son of man is revealed.

(We know there were not ten righteous people in all of Sodom otherwise judgment would not have come: Genesis 18:32. We only know of three people who survived the destruction of Sodom: Lot and his two daughters. Both examples Jesus gave had eight or less people being saved among tens (or hundreds?) of thousands of people.)

³¹ In that day, he that shall be on the housetop, and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away: and let him that is in the field likewise not return back.
³² Remember Lot's wife.

(In the other Gospels, Jesus stated verse 31 after mentioning the abomination that causes desolation being put in the temple which occurs in the middle of the Tribulation. Around 3 1/2 years before Jesus physical return to earth. Verse 32 was the second shortest verse in the Bible. The shortest verse was John 11:35 - "Jesus wept.")

³³ Whosoever shall seek to gain his life shall lose it: but whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
³⁴ I say unto you, In that night there shall be two men on one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
³⁵ There shall be two women grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
³⁶ There shall be two men in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
³⁷ And they answering say unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Where the body is, thither will the eagles also be gathered together.

(Many people interpret this passage as referencing the Rapture of the Church. However, the timing would make this Rapture mid-Tribulation.

Doctrine: There were passages in the Bible supporting a pre-Tribulation Rapture, a mid-Tribulation Rapture, and a post-Tribulation Rapture (a Rapture just before Jesus' physical return to earth at the battle of Armageddon). People have been arguing this point because they believe there is only one Rapture associated with the Tribulation. Actually, all three are right: there are three Raptures during the seven year Tribulation. Where in the Bible does it say there is only one Rapture associated with the Tribulation?)




Luke 18

(Verses 1-8: the Parable of the Unjust Judge.)

¹ And he spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint;

(The purpose of this parable was to encourage believers to always pray and to not faint.)

² saying, There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, and regarded not man:
³ and there was a widow in that city; and she came oft unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
⁴ And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
⁵ yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her continual coming.

(The judge would eventually fulfill the request because the widow was "troubling" him.)

⁶ And the Lord said, Hear what the unrighteous judge saith.
⁷ And shall not God avenge his elect, that cry to him day and night, and yet he is longsuffering over them?
⁸ I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

(Even this judge who "feared not God" avenged the woman so we ought to believe that God will avenge His own elect.)

(Verses 9-14: the Parable of the Pharisee and Publican.)

⁹ And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought:

(The purpose of this parable was to confront those who trusted in themselves for their righteousness, yet condemned others.)

¹⁰ Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
¹² I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get.
¹³ But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner.
¹⁴ I say unto you, This man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

(We ought to be humble. The Pharisee in this parable felt good about himself at the expense of the other man. In fact, the Pharisee believed he did not need God for anything. The humble man focused on his own inabilities/needs and God's abilities.)

¹⁵ And they were bringing unto him also their babes, that he should touch them: but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
¹⁶ But Jesus called them unto him, saying, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for to such belongeth the kingdom of God.
¹⁷ Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein.

(We ought to receive the Kingdom of God as little children (babies) do: humbly.)

¹⁸ And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
¹⁹ And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, even God.

(Jesus said only God is good. Only God is Holy: Right and Just. Only God creates in the long term. This may have been another example of Jesus indirectly stating He was the Son of God.)

²⁰ Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and mother.
²¹ And he said, All these things have I observed from my youth up.

(Salvation was according to the Law. This ruler had done all of that.)

²² And when Jesus heard it, he said unto him, One thing thou lackest yet: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

(Jesus said the man lacked one thing from being the maximum profitability (perfect). He already had Salvation, so Jesus was focused on Reward. Jesus told the man to sell everything and give to the poor so he would have Reward ("treasure in heaven"). Many preachers and believers quote this verse without "...and thou shalt have treasure in heaven." Jesus always gave more in return than what He requested. Then Jesus told him to "follow me," which would be Salvation and the opportunity to have even more Reward.)

²³ But when he heard these things, he became exceeding sorrowful; for he was very rich.
²⁴ And Jesus seeing him said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
²⁵ For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
²⁶ And they that heard it said, Then who can be saved?
²⁷ But he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

(This verse was in the context of who will and will not make it into the Kingdom of God. Jesus explained that it was hard for a rich man to enter heaven. Most rich people live comfortable lives and have to learn by experience, which can take longer if they use their money to solve problems. But, impossible things for men are possible for God.

This statement is often abused. Remember, God is always completely Right and always completely Just…He cannot be wrong or unjust. The context of the statement "things which are impossible with men are possible with God" was concerning rich men entering the Kingdom of God. Essentially, Jesus was saying, "yes, it is hard for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God, and impossible for men to get there themselves, but it is definitely still possible with God's help.")

²⁸ And Peter said, Lo, we have left our own, and followed thee.
²⁹ And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or wife, or brethren, or parents, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,
³⁰ who shall not receive manifold more in this time, and in the world to come eternal life.

(Jesus assured Peter and the Disciples that they would have much Reward. Again, notice Luke put wife (and children) in this list of people believers would be rewarded (now and in eternity) for leaving for the Kingdom of God's sake.)

³¹ And he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets shall be accomplished unto the Son of man.
³² For he shall be delivered up unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and shamefully treated, and spit upon:
³³ and they shall scourge and kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.
³⁴ And they understood none of these things; and this saying was hid from them, and they perceived not the things that were said.

(Jesus foretold His death and resurrection (with details). The Disciples did not understand what He spoke of.)

³⁵ And it came to pass, as he drew nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
³⁶ and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant.
³⁷ And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
³⁸ And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

(Calling Jesus the "son of David" was a confession of Jesus as Messiah.)

³⁹ And they that went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
⁴⁰ And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
⁴¹ What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
⁴² And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight; thy faith hath made thee whole.
⁴³ And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

(Jesus asked the blind man what he wanted. The man stated his will. Jesus healed the blind beggar.)

(This post covered complex Reward Doctrine from Jesus concerning how believers ought to confront each other.)

Day 303

Day 301: Luke 13-15

(The previous post covered the Pharisees' frustration with Jesus to the point they began to actively look for a way to destroy Him.)

Luke 13
¹ Now there were some present at that very season who told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
² And he answered and said unto them, Think ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they have suffered these things?
³ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish.
⁴ Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, think ye that they were offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem?
⁵ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

(All men are sinners. Unless you repent, you will perish.)

(Verses 6-9: the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree.)

⁶ And he spake this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none.
⁷ And he said unto the vinedresser, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why doth it also cumber the ground?

("Why doth it also cumber the ground?" was like saying, "why does it use up the ground?")

⁸ And he answering saith unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
⁹ and if it bear fruit thenceforth, well; but if not, thou shalt cut it down.

(The vinedresser represented Christ, our intercessor in verse 8. When we are made aware of our sin, our response to our sin determines our eternity.)

¹⁰ And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath day.

(As custom, Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath. Synagogues were used specifically for teachings.)

¹¹ And behold, a woman that had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years; and she was bowed together, and could in no wise lift herself up.
¹² And when Jesus saw her, he called her, and said to her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
¹³ And he laid his hands upon her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

(Jesus healed the woman with the infirmity.)

¹⁴ And the ruler of the synagogue, being moved with indignation because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, answered and said to the multitude, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the day of the sabbath.

(It was not the healing that bothered the ruler of the synagogue, it was that Jesus healed on the Sabbath.)

¹⁵ But the Lord answered him, and said, Ye hypocrites, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
¹⁶ And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound, lo, these eighteen years, to have been loosed from this bond on the day of the sabbath?
¹⁷ And as he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame: and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

(Jesus was focused on the causes. During the Dispensation of the Law, for six days, people were allowed to do whatever they wanted as long as it did not violate the Law. On the seventh day (Sabbath), people could only do what the Law told them to do. Jesus gave an example of something even the rulers of the synagogue would do on the Sabbath, and then contrasted it with how these representatives of God valued an animal over a person. Jesus' answer put them to shame.)

(Verses 18-19: the Parable of the Mustard Seed.)

¹⁸ He said therefore, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I liken it?
¹⁹ It is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his own garden; and it grew, and became a tree; and the birds of the heaven lodged in the branches thereof.

(The Kingdom of God will be eternally mighty.)

(Verses 20-21: the Parable of the Leaven.)

²⁰ And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
²¹ It is like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.

(Normally, leaven represented sin. In this parable, the lesson (like the mustard seed) was that the Kingdom of God was something that would begin small and then grow until it was all that existed. Did this mean that everyone would be in the Kingdom of God or just a few?)

²² And he went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and journeying on unto Jerusalem.
²³ And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that are saved? And he said unto them,
²⁴ Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
²⁵ When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence ye are;
²⁶ then shall ye begin to say, We did eat and drink in thy presence, and thou didst teach in our streets;
²⁷ and he shall say, I tell you, I know not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
²⁸ There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and yourselves cast forth without.
²⁹ And they shall come from the east and west, and from the north and south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
³⁰ And behold, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last.

(Luke showed the contrastive side to the parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven: the Kingdom of God would contain all the righteous, which would be a minority of the people that ever lived. Narrow is the path that leads to Righteousness meant it had to be found and followed intentionally.)

³¹ In that very hour there came certain Pharisees, saying to him, Get thee out, and go hence: for Herod would fain kill thee.
³² And he said unto them, Go and say to that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I am perfected.

(The Pharisees did not like Jesus' conclusion that few made it to the Kingdom of God. The Pharisees threatened/warned Jesus. Jesus called Herod a fox.)

³³ Nevertheless I must go on my way to-day and to-morrow and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
³⁴ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her own brood under her wings, and ye would not!
³⁵ Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

(The word brood in verse 34 meant "to watch over and protect." There were many passages throughout the Old Testament that Jesus could have been referencing, even the first verses of the Bible where the Spirit of God "moved" upon the face of the earth. In that verse, moved meant "to brood over like a bird.")




Luke 14
¹ And it came to pass, when he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a sabbath to eat bread, that they were watching him.
² And behold, there was before him a certain man that had the dropsy.
³ And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath, or not?

(We have seen that Jesus had healed a couple of times on the Sabbath, so everyone knew Jesus believed it was lawful. Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath day.)

⁴ But they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go.

(The lawyers and Pharisees did not respond, and Jesus healed him. However, this allowed Jesus to teach.)

⁵ And he said unto them, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a well, and will not straightway draw him up on a sabbath day?
⁶ And they could not answer again unto these things.

(Jesus reiterated a point documented in the last chapter: why do you think it is right (which it is) to help an animal on the Sabbath but it is not right to help a person?)

(The rest of this chapter documented consecutive parables not recorded in the other Gospels. Not only was each individual parable important, but the order was also important. Pay close attention to the amount of Doctrine in this single chapter.)

⁷ And he spake a parable unto those that were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief seats; saying unto them,
⁸ When thou art bidden of any man to a marriage feast, sit not down in the chief seat; lest haply a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him,

(Doctrine: A wedding is a marriage feast. Nowhere in the Bible was there a record of a wedding ceremony as we have in our culture today. According to the Bible, the wedding was a feast for all while the bride and groom consummated their Marriage Covenant. The best man stood outside the huppah preventing others from interrupting the completion of the Marriage Covenant. When the groom called to the best man that the covenant was complete, the bedsheet was presented to the gathering to prove the bride had not been married to anyone else. The crowd then celebrated this blood-stained sheet because it meant the bride was excellent and the community and culture of the gathered guests would be able to continue.)

⁹ and he that bade thee and him shall come and say to thee, Give this man place; and then thou shalt begin with shame to take the lowest place.
¹⁰ But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that hath bidden thee cometh, he may say to thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have glory in the presence of all that sit at meat with thee.
¹¹ For everyone that exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

(Doctrine: Justice. Everything will be equaled out at Final Judgment, not while we are here on earth. In fact, since it will not be equaled out here, we ought to humble ourselves so that we will get a Reward at Final Judgment. Humility is the ability to consider any perspective, including that you could be wrong.)

¹² And he said to him also that had bidden him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest haply they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee.
¹³ But when thou makest a feast, bid the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
¹⁴ and thou shalt be blessed; because they have not wherewith to recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed in the resurrection of the just.

(Doctrine: Reward. If we give to those who are able to give back, nothing is gained eternally. However, if we give to those who cannot pay us back, we will gain Reward "at the resurrection of the just." The resurrection of the Just is the Final Judgment.)

¹⁵ And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

(In response to Jesus' teaching, a man agreed with Jesus by stating those who will be at the wedding feast in the Kingdom of God will be blessed. Jesus' response was documented in Verses 16-24 which covered the Parable of the Great Supper.)

¹⁶ But he said unto him, A certain man made a great supper; and he bade many:
¹⁷ and he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

(Doctrine: God the Father is the one who will make a great supper for Jesus' Marriage to the Bride after Final Judgment.)

¹⁸ And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a field, and I must needs go out and see it; I pray thee have me excused.
¹⁹ And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused.
²⁰ And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

(Doctrine: God invited the Jews throughout the Old Testament, but they (as a community) rejected this invitation.)

²¹ And the servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and maimed and blind and lame.

(Doctrine: God invited people outside of the Jewish Community.)

²² And the servant said, Lord, what thou didst command is done, and yet there is room.
²³ And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and constrain them to come in, that my house may be filled.

(Doctrine: There is a necessary number to fill God's Supper. God will not have the supper until He knows that His House is filled. His House is the new Jerusalem.)

²⁴ For I say unto you, that none of those men that were bidden shall taste of my supper.

(Doctrine: God's call reaches everyone. It is our responsibility to answer. It is possible to reject God's drawing on the individual.)

²⁵ Now there went with him great multitudes: and he turned, and said unto them,
²⁶ If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

(Doctrine: The word hate meant "to love less." This meant we must love Christ more than our father, mother, wife, children, etc. in order to be His disciple. This was one of the few verses that included wife in the list.)

²⁷ Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
²⁸ For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doth not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have wherewith to complete it?

(Doctrine: God does not move until He knows all of the resources are in place. When we do not hear direction from God, it can be due to the necessary resources/circumstances not being in place, either because of ourselves or others. Also, in conjunction with the previous comments from Jesus: God is not going to have His "supper" until His "house is full." Finally, we ought to look long term and not begin an objective until we know that the objective is in our control and we have the means to finish it.)

²⁹ Lest haply, when he hath laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all that behold begin to mock him,
³⁰ saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
³¹ Or what king, as he goeth to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
³² Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and asketh conditions of peace.
³³ So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

(Doctrine: We ought to make new converts aware that following Christ means they have to be willing to give up everything. In order to be a disciple of Christ, we have to forsake all that we have.)

³⁴ Salt therefore is good: but if even the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
³⁵ It is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill: men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.




Luke 15
¹ Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him to hear him.

(Jesus' fame had grown to the point all the publicans and sinners drew near to Jesus to hear Him. Jesus had a tremendous following from the sinners instead of the religious leaders.)

² And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

(The Pharisees and Torah teachers thought they were speaking against Jesus by saying to each other in private (murmured) that Jesus ate with sinners.)

³ And he spake unto them this parable, saying,
⁴ What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
⁵ And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
⁶ And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.
⁷ I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons, who need no repentance.

(Jesus told these religious leaders they did not understand what truly caused joy in heaven. There is joy in heaven when a lost soul is found.)

(Verses 8-10: the Parable of the Lost Coin.)

⁸ Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it?
⁹ And when she hath found it, she calleth together her friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost.
¹⁰ Even so, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

(Jesus continued to use natural examples for God's spiritual perspective.)

(Verses 11-32: the Parable of the Prodigal Son.)

¹¹ And he said, A certain man had two sons:
¹² and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of thy substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

(The younger son took his inheritance.)

¹³ And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living.

(He wasted his inheritance "with riotous living"...focusing on the physical.)

¹⁴ And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want.
¹⁵ And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
¹⁶ And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

(Remember, the Jews considered swine to be an unclean animal. This was as low as a person could get: wanting the food intended for an unclean animal, and not being able to have it.)

¹⁷ But when he came to himself he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger!

(The younger son realized he would be better off as one of his father's servants than to die with hunger. He believed he deserved this role because he was his father's son, a spiritual reason.)

¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight:
¹⁹ I am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

(He realized he had to deal with a spiritual issue in order to obtain this role as servant. Verse 18 was his confession. Verse 19 was his repentance, what he would do to make up for his sin.)

²⁰ And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

(The younger son went to his father but when he was still far away, his father saw him. His father must have been watching for him. Also, the father must have been able to see the youngest son's humble attitude from a distance because the father had compassion before the son spoke. Notice, the youngest son was not coming back proud as if he was better off. The youngest son was so humble it showed in how he came back.)

²¹ And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son.

(The father first showed compassion. The younger son could have acted like everything was fine. However, the younger son chose to continue to humble himself, confess his sin, and repent. The younger son truly had a change of heart.)

²² But the father said to his servants, Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
²³ and bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and make merry:
²⁴ for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

(The father had a feast because his younger son was lost (physical focus with a hard heart) and now was found (spiritual focus with a humble heart). The father restored the youngest son to the status of being a son and not a servant. Notice, at the beginning of this story, the younger son proved he was not a believer and the father confirmed this was his belief because he said the son was lost but was now found, now a believer.

Doctrine: Forgive unbelievers immediately; do not argue with them. At the beginning of the story, the father did not argue with the younger son; he immediately let him go, he let the son be more destructive so the son would realize the error of his ways more quickly. He didn't go out to find him.)

²⁵ Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.
²⁶ And he called to him one of the servants, and inquired what these things might be.
²⁷ And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

(The elder son wanted to know what was going on while he was working in the field. He heard the feast and was unaware of why the festivities were taking place.)

²⁸ But he was angry, and would not go in: and his father came out, and entreated him.

(The elder son became angry to the point that he would not receive his repentant brother. The father had to go out to the eldest son. Notice, the father did initiate reaching out the "believer.")

²⁹ But he answered and said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, and I never transgressed a commandment of thine; and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
³⁰ but when this thy son came, who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou killedst for him the fatted calf.

(The eldest son's response to his father coming out to him was to accuse his father! Notice, the youngest son was not accusing his brother, the subject of his statements of judgment were the father and himself. The elder son is in danger of becoming an "unbeliever.")

³¹ And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine.

(The father's response to being accused was to state an encouraging fact: it is all yours. He also was teaching the eldest son a point that he missed: you could have this feast anytime you want if you had pursued me, if you had asked.

Doctrine: The father confronted the older son because the older son was a believer. In the next set of chapters, we will see Jesus said in Luke 17:3 we must confront the believer with their sin and if they repent we must forgive. The younger son repented and the older son was now sinning because he did not forgive. Notice, this also means God through the Holy Spirit will confront believers about their sin.)

³² But it was meet to make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

(Then the father taught the eldest son the point he had overlooked: your brother has improved from his former condition. The father was aware that the younger son had sinned. However, he was a forgiving father when his sons made progress. So how much more would this father give to the eldest son if he continued to make progress? This story was a lot like Cain and Abel. We ought to focus on our individual fellowship with God rather than focus on others and their fellowship with God. However, notice this parable finished with the elder son becoming an unbeliever because he didn't rejoice over the repentance of his unbelieving brother. Just like the Pharisees had become unbelievers because they weren't rejoicing over the sinners that were repenting to God because of Jesus.)

(This post covered several parables from Jesus as His fame increased while He continued to heal people on the Sabbath. This post began with Pharisees wondering why Jesus healed sinners on the Sabbath and ended with Jesus telling a parable that proved the Pharisees were unbelievers because they didn't rejoice over sinners repenting.)

Day 302