Luke 18 "Lord, Be Merciful To Me"

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ (vv.9-13) 

A story is told of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, who visited a prison and talked with each of the inmates. As the story goes, there were endless tales of innocence, of misunderstood motives, and of exploitation. Finally the king stopped at the cell of a convict who remained silent. “Well,” remarked Frederick, “I suppose you are an innocent victim too?” “No, sir, I’m not,” replied the man. “I’m guilty and deserve my punishment.” Turning to the warden, the king said, “Here, release this rascal before he corrupts all these fine innocent people in here!”

This is also true about salvation. As long as the sinner claims innocence and refuses to acknowledge his transgressions before the Lord, he does not receive the blessings of redemption. But when he pleads guilty and cries out, “Lord, be merciful to me a sinner,” as the tax collector here in our passage, he is forgiven.

May we check our attitudes at the door of humility, that we may be exalted by the LORD and not abased (v.14). May we bow before the LORD in repentance, beating our chests, saying “be merciful to me, a sinner” and not thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought” (vv.12-13).

The Truth: ""God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." (Proverbs 3:34)

Luke 17 "Dealing With A Sinning Brother"

Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. So watch yourselves." (v.1-3)

It appears that Jesus was directing this warning at the religious leaders who taught their converts their own hypocritical ways. Human nature being what it is, there will always be occasions that can cause us to stumble. However, Jesus makes it plain that it is a serious thing to cause a fellow believer to stumble or to tempt them to sin.

The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 8 to be sensitive to others, as our actions may inadvertently cause a weaker brother to stumble when we are taking our own liberty. He warns us to beware lest someone see our liberty and it becomes a stumbling block to them. Therefore, we should lovingly watch over each other, learn to understand each other's weaknesses and do all that we can to keep one another from stumbling into sin.

Jesus goes on to say in verse 4, if someone stumbles you, deal with it and forgive them. Meaning, when someone sins against you, you should not pretend that it never happened. You need to rebuke that brother or sister in love. Love is the rule here; we obviously can’t walk around keeping a record of every little offense committed against us. One aspect of the fruit of the Spirit is longsuffering (Galatians 5:22), and we need to be able to suffer long with the slights and petty offences that come our way in daily living. Ephesians 4:2 says that we should love with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love. Don’t be too sensitive; bear with one another.

But in love, when we are sinned against in a significant way, we must follow Ephesians 4:15 as the pattern: we need to speak the truth in love. Love isn’t going to other people about it; love isn’t bottling it up inside of you. Love is getting it straight with the person who sinned against you. Then, if he/she repents, forgive him: This is the challenge from Jesus. There is no other option given. When the person who offended you repents, you must forgive them.

Now the question is, What do we do with the person who has never repented? Do we forgive them? Even if relationship cannot be restored because no common mind is arrived at, we can still choose to forgive them on our part, and wait for a work of God in their life for the restoration of relationship. 

Jesus went on to say, "And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, “I repent,” you shall forgive him." This indicates that we are not permitted to judge another’s repentance. If someone had sinned against me seven times in a day, and kept asking me to forgive them, I might think that they were not really sincere. Yet Jesus commands me to still forgive them and restore them.

Clearly Jesus commands us to forgive and not to hold grudges. This is not a simple task, and it may take time depending on the depth of the wound but, we must seek peace in our hearts and ask the Spirit to help us forgive. 

The Truth: Then Peter came to Him and said, ”LORD, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seventy times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you up to seventy times, but up to seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22)

Luke 16 “Life After Death”

“So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” (vv.22-23)

This parable of “Lazarus and the Rich Man” is a shockingly clear picture of life after death in Old Testament times. Before the time of Jesus’ death and resurrection those who died beliving in God were comforted, while those who did not believe in God were tormented.  After His resurrection all believers are, as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:8, “absent from the body and . . . present with the Lord.” Jesus wanted those listening to His parable to understand the serious consequences of living life apart from God.

The rich man and the poor man (Lazarus) lived very different lives on earth, and even when they died, they no doubt received very different types of burials. But neither man was able to escape death, because that great equalizer is no respecter of persons. It doesn’t matter whether you are rich or poor, young or old, black or white, American, European, Asian, or African—death comes to all. It will happen to you and it will happen to me.

However, for those who have trusted in and surrendered to Jesus Christ, there is a wonder-filled promise of being instantly present with the Lord after our death. The only questions are, in what do you place your trust? And, would you bet your eternal life on it? 

The Truth:  When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And He will place the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Then He will say to those on His left, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. . . .  And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46)

Luke 15 "Rejoicing In Heaven"

"Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (vv.8-10)

Here in chapter 15, Jesus is demonstrating to the Pharisees (through three different parables) that it was not only right for Him to seek the lost, but their restoration pleased God. Seeking the lost, and restoring them to God was not only a major theme throughout the book of Luke, but of His (Jesus) ministry as well. What a contrast to the Pharisees' attitude of completely avoiding sinners, and caring little to nothing about their spiritual resotation.

In the parable here in our text of "finding a lost coin," the women when the coin was finally found, was naturally happy. In the same way, God is happy when sinners repent, in contrast to the religious leaders who complained when the tax collectors and sinners drew near to Jesus to hear Him. 

We don’t often think of God as rejoicing, but this passage tells us that, "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Elsewhere in scripture we read, "As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you (Isaiah 62:5). The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).

May our hearts be aligned with our Lord’s in compassion and love for those who need Jesus. May we see that, “the harvest is truly plentiful” and never grow weary of sharing the good news, so that angles in heaven may rejoice.

The Truth: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)

Luke 14 "Take A Back Seat"

'When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.” (vv.8-9)

Here in chapter 14 Jesus is teaching on Pride and Humility. While at the home of the Pharisee, Jesus noticed how people strategically placed themselves so as to be in the best places; that is, the places of most honor. In Jesus’ day, the seating arrangement at a dinner showed a definite order of prestige or honor. The most honored person sat in a particular seat, the next most honored person in another place, and so on down the line. 

So He told a parable concering a wedding feast, (which was the most important social occasion in Jewish life at that time) saying, "When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place." Why? Because if one takes the most honored place for himself, he may be asked to be removed if the host would rather have someone else sit there. Jesus reminded them of the shame that often comes with self-exaltation. When we allow others (especially God) to promote and lift us up, then we don’t have the same danger of being exposed as someone who exalted himself.

How then should we proceed? "When you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (vv.10-11) 

Jesus wasn’t merely teaching good manners, but a lifestyle that in lowliness of mind esteems others better than himself. (Philippians 2:3)

The Truth: "For exaltation comes neither from the east Nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another." (Psalm 75:6-7)

Luke 13 “The Mustard Seed”

“What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.” (vv.18-19)

This simile,"As small as a grain of mustard seed" was well known in the Jewish world and a proverb among the people in those days. It was a common sight to see a mustard plant (raised from one of these minute grains) grow to the height of a fruit tree, putting forth branches on which birds build their nests.

It was with sorrowful irony that Jesus compared the kingdom of God in those days to this small grain. But, at that time, it was composed of Jesus and his few wavering followers. It seemed impossible that this little movement could ever stir the world, or could ever become a society of mighty dimensions.

However, it grew outwardly into a great tree in which we now see; the spread of the Gospel world wide and the growth of grace in the hearts of millions of believers everywhere. Yet the fulness of the gentiles has yet to come to harvest. Therefore, the tree continues to grow.

Jesus and His twelve disciples, over two thousand years ago,  planted the seed of the kingdom of God and despite great opposition to its truth down throughout the ages, the seed continues to grow today.

Luke 12 “Do Not Worry”

“Then He said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.” (v.22)

This was a pretty radical statement to make in light of the time period in which it was spoken. Jesus was speaking to a people who were use to farming and fishing for their daily food. And when it came to clothing, they had to shear the sheep, spin the wool into thread, weave the thread into cloth, and then finally sew it together. Having clothes to wear wasn’t as simple as going to the local department store. So it was perhaps more significant to them (than it is to us) when Jesus said, “Do not worry” about what you’ll eat or wear.

Contentment is not the result of acquiring more, but of being thankful for what we already have. Authentic, genuine contentment, springs from a thankful heart. It is a choice we make, a choice to be thankful. Godly contentment is ours for the “thanking.” It happens when we lift up our voice to Father God, who is the Giver of all that is good, thanking Him for the blessings in our lives. Then instead of desiring more, our contentment grows.

Therefore do not worry be content, praise God for what you have, share your bounty with others, and watch Him bless your way.

The Truth: "Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)

Luke 11 “Your Eye”

“Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.” (v.34)

What we choose to look at matters, but equally important is how we choose to look, or more specifically, the attitude of our heart behind the look. Although sin is often expressed through our actions, it is also rooted in attitude and thoughts of the heart. 

Because sin begins in the heart, a lustful look offends God as much as the actons that will eventually follow. Many people today hold the attitude that, “I can look, but I can not touch.” Not so. What we look at enters our minds, penetrates our soul, and creates a desire for more. This can also effect how we look at others. 

The prophet Jeremiah said, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer.17:9). The answer to that question is God. And the only way out from the dark pit of pornography lies in His forgiveness through Christ. He and He alone can trun your eyes from the darkness of sin, into the marvelous light of Christ. 

Living in these bodies of flesh, we will always struggle with their desires. But, with God’s help, we can learn to discipline them, by keeping our eyes, our thoughts, and our minds, on what is good and acceptable in His sight.

The Truth: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:16-17)