Jesus is now working in the Judean countryside, Luke 10:1-24. October A.D. 29. We wonder which cities He visited. Did he go to Bethlehem, where he was born? Did he go to such places as Beersheba and Hebron? We are not told the extent of his Judean preaching.
Knowing the cities he planned to visit, he appointed “seventy others” (other than the apostles) to precede him in each city he planned to visit. He is reaching out to new places, preaching the same messages.
Time is now getting close to his crucifixion, and he must reach as many people as possible. The instructions he gives to the seventy are very similar to those given to the twelve earlier, Matthew 10:1-15.
They were sent in pairs, Luke 10:1. He gave them power to heal and to cast out demons, Luke 10:9 / Luke 10:17. Their message was that the kingdom is near, Luke 10:9.
This mission probably only lasted a few days. We are told they returned with joy and excitement, Luke 10:17. Part of this excitement was due to their ability to cast out demons, Luke 10:17.
Jesus said he saw Satan falling from his lofty heights, Luke 10:18. The overthrow of Satan was taking place. Jesus tells them their rejoicing should not be that the demons were disposed but rather that their names were written in heaven, Luke 10:20.
One day, as Jesus was teaching, a lawyer stood up to get his attention, Luke 10:25-37. A lawyer was not what we think of today as a lawyer. He was an expert in the Law of Moses.
He asked the most important question anyone could ask. “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Luke 10:25. It wasn’t that the man was sincerely interested in salvation.
His purpose was to test Jesus, hoping to get him at an unguarded moment when he might catch him in some flaw. Jesus simply turned the question back on the lawyer. “What is written in the law? How do you read?” Luke 10:26. To save face, the lawyer must answer.
He quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, which was the correct answer, Luke 10:27-28. Jesus commends his answer and tells him to do what he has quoted, and he will have eternal life, Luke 10:28.
Things all of a sudden are not going as the lawyer expected. He was caught up in the very trap he had set for Jesus. So he poses a second question to Jesus, no doubt hoping to catch Jesus in yet another trap.
He asked, “And who is my neighbour? Luke 10:29. Jesus responded with the parable of the Good Samaritan, telling of the priest and Levite who ignored an injured man and a Samaritan who helped him, Luke 10:30-35. Jesus asks the lawyer, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to him who fell among the thieves?” Luke 10:36.
It must have been difficult for the lawyer to say the Samaritan, so instead he said, “He who showed mercy on him,” Luke 10:37. Jesus finishes the dialogue by saying, “Go and do likewise,” Luke 10:37.
Remember, just a few months before, Jesus had been rejected by the Samaritans on his way up to Jerusalem from Galilee. The lesson is perfectly clear. My neighbour is anyone, even an enemy, who is in need. This is still a difficult lesson for us to accept today.
The setting for this event is in Bethany, just about two miles east of Jerusalem, on the other side of the Mount of Olives. Jesus is visiting the home of Mary and Martha, Luke 10:38-42.
They also had a brother named Lazarus. Jesus probably already knew this family. He may have visited them earlier when He was at the feast in Jerusalem. Or he may have been too busy to come during the feast, but comes later on.
They have worked to prepare a meal for Jesus and his disciples. This would be a great task to prepare for so many. They must have had a house of some size to do this.
After Jesus arrives, Mary walks out and leaves her sister to do all the work while she sits at the feet of Jesus, listening to him teach, Luke 10:39-40. Culturally, this would have been inappropriate. Meantime, Martha is becoming more and more upset at her sister’s absence.
Finally, she enters the room where Jesus is teaching and vents her frustrations. “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me,” Luke 10:40.
It is interesting to note the different approaches of the women as they seek to honour Jesus. Jesus tells Martha she is making too much out of the situation, Luke 10:41-42.
Actually, what Mary was doing was more important than what Martha was doing. Martha had the privilege of sitting at the feet of Jesus, but she was worried about the meal, Luke 10:41-42.
Jesus will be gone in five short months, and she will miss out on this opportunity to hear him teach. We too often are so involved with trivial matters and miss out on spiritual opportunities.
On one occasion, when Jesus had finished praying, His disciples asked him to teach them how to pray, Luke 11:1-13. Have you ever felt awkward when you prayed? Don’t we all want to know the “how” of praying to an Almighty God?
Jesus repeats essentially the same prayer he had given in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 6:9-13. This is not a prayer that is to be memorised and then repeated over and over. It simply sets forth principles that can guide us when forming the structure of a prayer.
Consideration should be given to addressing and respecting God’s name, Luke 11:2. They were to pray for the coming kingdom, Luke 11:2. We, too, should pray for the kingdom which is now in existence.
Consideration should be given to asking God’s will to be done about our personal wishes. It is proper to ask for those things that are needful for life, Luke 11:3. There is always the need to recognise the sin in our lives and ask for God’s forgiveness, and also to be willing to forgive others, Luke 11:4, (a most difficult thing for most of us).
Satan is active, trying to destroy us, so we need God’s providential help in leading us so we will not enter into situations that bring on difficult temptations, Luke 11:4.
Jesus stresses the importance of persistence. He gives the parable of a host who knocks at the door of a neighbour because he needed bread for a friend who had arrived unexpectedly in the middle of the night, Luke 11:5-8.
Because of the lateness, he is refused, but does not give up. He is persistent, Luke 11:9-10. The lesson is very clear. If a reluctant friend can be persuaded, how much more will a heavenly Father bless us? We should never be half-hearted in our praying.
Earthly fathers do not return evil to the requests of their sons, Luke 11:11-12. Our heavenly Father is greater than our earthly fathers. Jesus specifically says God will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him, Luke 11:13. This had reference to the gift of the Holy Spirit, which soon would be bestowed on all who were baptised in His name, Acts 2:38.
The Jewish leaders can no longer deny that Jesus has done great miracles. They can either admit Jesus’ power is from God and submit to His Lordship, or they can relegate His power to Satan, Luke 11:14-36.
Jesus had cast a demon out of a mute man, Luke 11:14. Everyone is amazed, Luke 11:14, except, of course, the religious leaders who had made the charge previously in Galilee that he was doing this by the power of Beelzebub, Luke 11:15.
So Jesus reminds them that if this were true, then Satan is fighting Satan because every time a demon is cast out of a person, Satan is losing his power, Luke 11:17-18. Some wanted further proof by a sign from heaven, Luke 11:16.
The fact is that, regardless of any sign, they still would not believe. Jesus, without question, was driving out demons and performing other miracles, which revealed that the kingdom of God was eminently coming. There is no excuse for their rejection.
Jesus explains his words further with a parable. Satan is a strong man fully armed with demons guarding his house, Luke 11:21-22. Someone stronger (Jesus) overpowers him.
Jesus overpowers Satan in the fact that he takes away his armour and divides the spoils, Luke 11:22. Jesus is stronger than Satan. He will bind Satan and dispose of him for eternity, Revelation 20:2 / Revelation 20:10.
He further illustrates the danger of being neutral, Luke 11:23. A reformed but complacent person can become an easy target for Satan. Demons need a resting place so they can return to a former dwelling place and bring other demons, Luke 11:24. Personal desires to reform are often short-lived, Luke 11:25-28.
Jesus is asked to dine with another Pharisee, Luke 11:37-54. The first thing this Pharisee notices is that Jesus had not washed before eating, Luke 11:38. This was not for the purpose of cleaning dirt or some other substance from the body.
It was a ceremonial ritual which was one of their many traditions. It is completely ignored by Jesus. Thus, the Pharisees considered Jesus to be ceremonially unclean.
Jesus issues a strong rebuke. The Pharisees cleaned the outside, but inside they were corrupt, Luke 11:39. They were scrupulous about tithing their herbs but ignored justice and love of God, Luke 11:42.
They loved to have the chief seats in the synagogues and wanted to be recognised and greeted in the marketplaces, Luke 11:43. They were like concealed tombs which people walk over without realising what was underneath, Luke 11:44.
The people of that day were in danger as they came into contact with the Pharisees by being contaminated with their traditions rather than the teaching of God’s Word, Luke 11:45-46. This still occurs today. People get distracted by certain traditions and overlook some of the important teachings of God’s word.
We are getting close to the end of the Judean ministry. Large crowds were now following Jesus. Luke tells us thousands were following, “trampling on one another,” Luke 12:1-12. Jesus begins to give a number of warnings.
The first warning concerned the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, Luke 12:1. The Lord had just dined with a Pharisee and knew exactly what he was thinking, seeking an opportunity to find fault with Jesus. He also knows about their death plots, Luke 12:2-3. So, he warns of the “leaven of the Pharisees,” Luke 12:1.
They appear highly religious and devout, but they were very dangerous. The question to His disciples was, will you give in to the Pharisees who can kill only the body or God who can cast into hell? Luke 12:5.
To help them in their decision, He reminds them that God watches over them and knows all their trials, Luke 12:6-7. If He watches over the sparrow, how much more will he watch over his children?
If they choose to deny Jesus on earth, He will deny them in heaven, Luke 12:9-10. He warns that faithfulness to Him will cause them to be brought before the synagogues and places of authority for trial, Luke 12:11.
But do not worry, for the Holy Spirit will instruct them what to say, Luke 12:12. The conclusion is, don’t fear men who hate you. Rather, fear the Father who loves you.
As Jesus is teaching, He is suddenly interrupted by someone in the crowd, Luke 12:13-34. “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me,” Luke 12:13.
Moses had given instructions about this in Deuteronomy 12:15-17. It was common practice for a rabbi to arbitrate disputes such as these. This man considered Jesus to be a rabbi who would help him in this matter.
Jesus rebukes the man, Luke 12:14. The man’s mind was not on the sermon but on inheritance. No doubt the Lord was grieved that His teachings had failed to penetrate the man’s heart as well as the others. He then warns the crowd about greed and trust in wealth, Luke 12:15.
Greed is the desire for more and more in a bad sense. Inordinate desire for more never brings satisfaction. The greedy person is concerned only with self, rather than with any good he might do for others. The Bible calls this “covetousness,” Colossians 3:5.
Jesus gives the parable of the rich fool. His focus was upon the things he possessed, Luke 12:16-19. This parable has been called the mistakes of a rich man. It teaches against materialism.
Maybe more than ever before, we today live in a world that emphasises the material. Many are obsessed with possessions and financial success. The land of a rich man was productive, so much so that he began to reason how he could hoard up more and more grain by building greater barns, Luke 12:16-18.
He envisioned a life of ease, eating, drinking and being merry, Luke 12:19. Yet, that very night, he would die, Luke 12:20. There is nothing wrong with prospering, but what about our attitude toward wealth? What will we do with it? Luke 12:21.
This man obviously did not consider God or his fellow man. He thought he could feed his soul on corn and just live on and on. Life is short and uncertain. James reminds us that it is like a vapour which can disappear quickly and disappear, James 4:14. Jesus gives the theme He expressed earlier of laying up treasure in heaven, Matthew 6:19-21.
He warns against being obsessed with food, drink and clothing (material things). If God takes care of the flowers and sparrows, will He not also take care of us when we put Him first? Luke 12:27-28. He also adds that we should show charity toward the poor, Luke 12:33-34.
The central theme here in Luke 12:35-48 is “Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect,” Luke 12:40. While the disciples did not know it yet, this is a clear reference to the Lord’s second coming. To stress the importance of being ready, Jesus uses several illustrations. Some see four parables here. Peter certainly considered them as parables, Luke 12:41.
There is the parable of the waiting servant, Luke 12:42-48, the parable of the thief coming in the night, Luke 12:35-40, the parable of the wise steward, Luke 12:42-46, and the parable of the knowledgeable and ignorant servants, Luke 12:47-48. These illustrations teach the importance of being prepared for the coming of the Lord. He also stresses that privilege brings with it responsibility.
Jesus will pay the price of the cross, and this will entail hardships for the disciples. Jesus counts the cost for the disciples, Luke 12:49-53. He said, “I have come to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” Luke 12:49.
The fire must refer to the fiery consequences of His ministry. There will be hardships. He will be baptised (immersed) in suffering, concluding with His death on the cross, Luke 12:50. He acknowledges that he lives in distress as he anticipates what will happen.
This gives us an insight into the emotions that were stirring inside our Lord’s heart. Furthermore, it will mean alienation within families, Luke 12:52-53. Because there will be no neutral zone, many will reject Him while others will believe in Him.
It will cause division even among the most intimate families. While Jesus did not bring peace to the earth, Luke 12:51, he did bring inner peace to the Christians. Unbelievers can never have this kind of peace.
Almost anyone in Palestine could discern from certain signs what the weather was going to be like, Luke 12:54-59. Why is it that they were so good at observing weather patterns, yet so poor at understanding the spiritual signs of the times? Luke 12:54-56.
The signs Jesus speaks of concern His coming into the world and their recognising Him as the Messiah. They should make friends with the Lord (believe in Him), who will take them before the Father either for adoption or for judgment. Time is running short.
They needed to reconcile quickly. It would be better to settle out of court than to be brought before the Judge in the end, Luke 12:57-59. This is still true with us today.
We have no specific details about the massacre of certain Galileans except for what Luke records, Luke 13:1-9. We do know that Pilate governed Judea and that he was in constant conflict with the Jews, Luke 13:1.
According to Luke, Pilate had executed some Galileans while they were in Jerusalem offering sacrifices, Luke 13:1. In some way, they had done something that must have been rebellious.
They wanted Jesus to explain why good people have bad things happen to them. Or, since many of them believed that a person suffered because of sin, does this mean these Galileans had sinned? Jesus does not buy into their thinking. These Galileans were not worse than all the Galileans, Luke 13:2.
Rather, judgment is universal, and unless all men repent, they will perish, Luke 13:3. Jesus then mentions an incident of a tower in Siloam falling on eighteen victims, Luke 13:4.
They were not worse than anyone else who lived in Jerusalem, Luke 13:4. They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Those who lived in Jerusalem needed to repent, too, Luke 13:5.
Jesus now gives the parable of the fig tree. A man had planted a fig tree in his vineyard, maybe to supplement his grape crop, Luke 13:6. He waited for it to mature and bear fruit, but it didn’t, Luke 13:6. He waited a second and also a third year, but nothing was produced, Luke 13:7.
It is time to cut it down and replace it with something more productive. The farmer’s hired hand, who has been caring for the tree, does not want to see the tree destroyed. He asks for one more year so he can fertilise it and then it may bear fruit, but if it doesn’t, then cut it down, Luke 13:8-9.
Many who heard Jesus preach were like that tree. They were a bad tree. They had been placed where they could hear Jesus. The Lord nourished them with His word. He also gave them many signs that He was the Messiah, which was like fertilising the tree.
He then waited patiently for them to believe (produce fruit). However, He will not tolerate them remaining unfruitful. So it was time for them to repent or else perish. Judgment is coming to the eighteen who died at the collapse of the tower and the Galilean rebels, and everyone who bears no fruit, Luke 13:3 / Luke 13:5.
Another Sabbath controversy takes place, Luke 13:10-21. Jesus is teaching in a Synagogue and notices a woman who was bent over, Luke 13:10-11. She had suffered this condition for eighteen years, Luke 13:11.
He heals the woman. Immediately, she straightened up and began to glorify God, Luke 13:12-13. The ruler of the synagogue reacts with indignation because this was done on the Sabbath, Luke 13:14. He yells at the crowd, not Jesus.
It is as if he is blaming the woman for coming and being healed. Jesus reacts by calling him a “hypocrite.” Don’t you lead your ox or donkey to water? Luke 13:15.
Shouldn’t this woman, who is a daughter of Abraham who has been bound by Satan (probably demon-possessed) for eighteen years, be loosed from her bond on the Sabbath? Luke 13:16.
If Jewish leaders could work to preserve an animal, certainly Jesus could work to restore the health of a daughter of Abraham. The result was that those who were so opposed to him were actually put to shame, while at the same time the multitude rejoiced for what had been done, Luke 13:17.
Jesus now gives two illustrations of the kingdom. Both refer to something small which grows big. He refers to mustard seed, Luke 13:18-19, and leaven, Luke 13:20-21. Although these things are small, they can multiply and grow tremendously.
The Jews were expecting the Messianic kingdom to come with great power as an army. Instead, it will come by way of dwelling in the hearts of men, quietly and imperceptibly spreading over the Roman Empire.
This feast was celebrated on the 25th of Kislev and roughly would be around December 19th or 20th A.D 30, John 10:22. It was an eight-day memorial celebration of the rededication of the temple in 165 B.C. It was not an official pilgrimage feast, but it did draw a good number of people.
He had been there just two months ago for the Feast of Tabernacles, John 10:22-42. Jesus is walking around the Portico of Solomon, which provided shelter from the cold winter wind and rain, John 10:23. It also provided an opportunity to gather a crowd to speak to, John 10:24.
Surrounded by Jewish leaders, He is asked. “How long do you make us doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly,” John 10:24. The question was designed to get Him to say he was the Messiah, thus they could accuse him of blasphemy.
He had already stated who he was on other occasions. If he does, they will neither listen nor understand. He is the Messiah, but he is not what they conceived a Messiah to be.
Therefore, he chooses to let his miracles declare His identity rather than His words. He says, “The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me,” John 10:25.
He then responds with an allegory about sheep, which is a rebuke. He is the true shepherd of God’s people, John 10:26-27, but they would not believe because they were not His sheep. His true sheep know Him and follow Him.
Furthermore, they are eternally secure in Him. No power on earth can separate us from His love, John 10:28. He knows us personally and leads us to eternal life, John 10:28-29.
This was all they could take. They take up stones to stone him for blasphemy, John 10:31. But they can’t kill Jesus legally since only the Romans could administer death, but they were so mad that they would do it regardless of Roman law.
He points them back to Psalm 82:6, where the judges of Israel were called Elohim, John 10:34. They acted on behalf of God’s authority; thus, they were permitted to wear God’s title Elohim.
If they did not get angry at the judges for being called by God’s title, why should they object if Jesus claims to be the Messiah? John 10:35-38. He, too, was acting on behalf of the authority of God.
After the Feast of Dedication, Jesus begins what is known as the Perean ministry, John 10:40-42. This three-month period has also been referred to as the “period of persecution.” Attempts to take the life of Jesus become widespread.
Much of His time during this period was spent in an area of land east of the Jordan River opposite Jerusalem and Jericho. There are about twenty-four recorded events which take place. Jesus had done very little work in this area previously to this time.
This was the area where John the Baptist had done much of his work, John 10:41. The people there had an enduring affection for John, which was naturally transferred to Jesus.
Here, Jesus is safer among the crowds. It was also under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas. Jerusalem leaders would not legally be able to arrest Him in Perea.
During this preaching tour, someone asks the question: Will few or many be saved? Luke 13:22-30. Jesus admonishes them to make every effort to enter the narrow way, Luke 13:24. He says that many will try but will not be able to do so, Luke 13:24. It is no easy task. It takes extra effort.
It is a gift we do not merit, but it is not a gift that is void of any effort. Many will be disappointed that they did not make the effort. Jesus is the door because He is the only way to the Father, John 14:6.
The Jews would fail greatly in this respect, yet the Gentiles would respond. Such people as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the prophets will be there, Luke 13:28. Many will not be able to attend the great banquet the Lord will provide, Luke 13:29. However, those the least expected to be there will be there, Luke 13:30.
These men of the past were not perfect; some of them were not very good, but they all trusted God for their salvation rather than their own works. We honour visible, tangible works. God honours pure hearts. The Jews reject their own Messiah, but the Gentiles flocked to Him. No wonder there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth,” Luke 13:28. They lacked faith.
Herod Agrippa is the one who had John the Baptist executed, Luke 13:31-35. He was suspicious of Jesus. At one time, he believed Jesus was the “reincarnation” of John, Mark 6:14-16. Some Pharisees said Herod wanted Jesus killed, Luke 13:31. Why would they warn Jesus?
Perhaps they wanted Jesus to move back to Jerusalem, where they could seize Him and kill Him. It could have been some good Pharisees who were concerned about Jesus’ safety. Jesus is not afraid to die. That is why He came to earth. But it must be in Jerusalem and not Perea.
He calls Herod a fox, Luke 13:32. He will continue with God’s plans, and part of the plan was that He die in Jerusalem, where the prophets had died, Luke 13:32-33. He had no fear of any threats from Herod. Jesus begins a lament over Jerusalem, Luke 13:34-35.
How pathetic was their situation. Time and again, God had sent prophets to them, and they stoned them, Luke 13:34. He would have gathered them as a hen gathers her chicks, but they were not willing for this to happen, Luke 13:34.
All the hopes and aspirations of Jerusalem were lost. Their house will be left in a desolate condition, Luke 13:35. This no doubt refers to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 by the Romans. He says they will not see him again until they cry, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” Luke 13:35 / Psalm 118:26.
In about three months, the crowds outside Jerusalem will shout these very words as He makes His triumphal entry into the city, Mark 11:9. However, these words must ultimately refer to the second coming of the Lord when every knee shall bow, and every tongue will confess that He is Lord, Philippians 2:9-11.
On a Sabbath, Jesus is invited to eat with a prominent Pharisee, Luke 14:1-24. This will be the third time He has done this. While there, he was being watched closely by the Pharisees, Luke 14:1.
There in the crowd was a man with dropsy, Luke 14:2. Today, this disease is called oedema, which is the body retaining water. It indicates a heart or liver condition. Likely, he has followed Jesus there, hoping to be healed. It is the Sabbath. What will Jesus do?
Jesus anticipates what their reaction will be. So, He asks them a simple question. “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” Luke 14:3. The answer is obvious. But the Pharisees kept silent, Luke 14:4.
Jesus then healed the man, Luke 14:4. He reminds them that if they had a son or an ox to fall into a well, would they not rescue them? Luke 14:5. Jesus’ logic overpowers them. They know they have been outwitted, Luke 14:6.
Jesus notices how the guests had been placed at the dinner table, Luke 14:7. He uses two parables to teach them that they should not seek the chief places but rather take the lowest place, Luke 14:7-11.
They needed this lesson as they were like children wanting the front seat and to be recognised as being important. Next, Jesus told His host that when giving a dinner, he should not invite just his friends and relatives or a rich neighbour, Luke 14:12-14.
If these are the only kinds of people you will have and associate with, then you have a big problem. Instead, invite the poor, crippled, lame and blind, and you will be blessed, Luke 14:13.
Someone seated at the table exclaims, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” Luke 14:15. It was a good remark. Jesus replies with another parable.
A man who has prepared a great banquet sends his servants to invite a number of guests, but they all have excuses for not attending the banquet, Luke 14:16-20. One has to check out some property, Luke 14:18. Another has to try out some oxen, Luke 14:19, and a third one has just married and wants to spend time with his wife, Luke 14:20.
They really had no excuse; they just did not want to attend the banquet. God is giving a banquet for his Son, Jesus. Invitations are extended, Luke 14:21. The Jews rejected their own Messiah, so salvation only goes out to the Gentiles, Luke 14:23-24.
In the parable, when the invitations to the guests are sent out and refused, the host sends out invitations to the poor, crippled, blind and lame, Luke 14:21. Most of these would have been excluded from participation in Jewish worship because of their physical imperfections.
These (Gentiles) are the ones who accepted the invitation. Today, we are called by God. Just as then, many will be excluded because of their callous rejection.
As Jesus moves along with the crowd following Him, He suddenly turns to them and gives them a stern admonition, Luke 14:25-35. This is in reaction to the shallow admiration of the crowd. They were quick to follow after Him, but they were not true disciples.
Today, it is popular to talk about him and follow Him to a minimal extent. It is quite another thing to be a true disciple. We must love Jesus more than even our families, Luke 14:26.
This may sound harsh, but we are talking about priorities. Who is more important? If anyone besides Jesus tops our list, we are not ready to be His disciples.
Furthermore, a disciple must take up his cross daily and follow Him; he cannot be the Lord’s disciple, Luke 14:27. Jesus gives two parables to illustrate the need for total allegiance.
If a man plans to build a tower, he will sit down and estimate what it will cost, Luke 14:28. He may get as far as the foundation and not have enough to finish, Luke 14:29.
Many just get started in faith and run out of gas. If a king is going to war, he will count how many soldiers he needs before making a final decision, Luke 14:31-32. Many who follow Jesus do not count the cost and fail, Luke 14:33.
Jesus tells three parables, back to back, Luke 15:1-32. These are lost and found stories. They resulted from the grumbling of the Pharisees that Jesus ate and associated with sinners, Luke 15:1-2.
They are insinuating that because of this, He is like them, therefore he is defiled. Jesus may have eaten with sinners, but they did not defile Him; instead, He cleansed them as a result of their association with Him.
The first parable is about a lost sheep, Luke 15:3-7. As he gave this parable, they could probably see sheep in the distance, as sheep were all around the countryside. They knew the joy of finding a sheep. Probably many in His audience had been on a “sheep hunt.” They were like semi-pets.
If it was natural to look for lost sheep, how much more should we expect the Lord to look for lost people? Jesus is doing exactly that. He told them He came “to save that which was lost,” Luke 19:10. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine and goes to search for the one, Luke 15:4. There is always great joy in finding what has been lost, Luke 15:5-7.
Next, Jesus gives the parable of the lost coin, Luke 15:8-10. A woman who has ten silver coins loses one, Luke 15:8. The coin was a drachma, worth about a day’s wage. It was a precious resource to her, as it may have been part of her dowry. She does not hesitate.
She lights a lamp to look for it. When she finds it, she rejoices with her neighbours, Luke 15:8-9. Jesus said, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents,” Luke 15:10. Again, we see the value of one soul.
The third parable is the most familiar, the lost son, Luke 15:11-32. It is also the longest parable Jesus ever told. It has two parts. The first part deals with a son who demanded his inheritance, Luke 15:11-12.
The inheritance was divided according to the number of sons you had. If you had three sons, it was divided into four parts; four sons, five parts; etc. The oldest got the extra part, called the “double portion,” Deuteronomy 21:17.
The father divides it between his two sons, Luke 15:12. One travels to a far country, squanders his money, and hard times come, Luke 15:13-14. He hires himself out to work on a pig farm, Luke 15:15.
He is given the lowest job one could imagine for a Jew. He is so desperate that he ends up eating pods, Luke 15:16. He comes to himself, realising what a terrible mistake he had made, Luke 15:17-18. He returns home desiring to become a hired servant, Luke 15:19-20.
As he approaches home, his father sees him and runs to greet him, Luke 15:20. He openly confesses he has sinned, Luke 15:21. The father throws himself on his son’s neck and, with many kisses, ignores his filth and tattered clothes. The father brings out a robe, a ring and sandals and puts them on him, Luke 15:22.
He calls for a celebration, a banquet, rejoicing that his lost son has returned home. He says, “My son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found,” Luke 15:24.
We come now to part two of the story. The older brother, coming in from the field, hears the music and dancing, Luke 15:25. The brother becomes angry, chiding his father, Luke 15:28-29.
He is not willing to call the prodigal brother, his brother, but “this son of yours,” Luke 15:30. The response of the father is gentle. He assures him he will get his reward, Luke 15:31.
He should rejoice because his lost brother had come home, Luke 15:32. Again, the emphasis is on the restoration of a lost person. These three parables are better appreciated when we consider how the Pharisees detested Jesus and his mixing and mingling with sinners and tax collectors, Luke 15:1-2. They will represent the older brother who despised his sinful brother. The Pharisees despised sinners.
Jesus proceeds to tell his disciples of a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions, Luke 16:1-13. It was his duty to distribute his master’s goods, Luke 16:1-2.
For some unknown reason, he is about to lose his job, Luke 16:3-4. So he calls in two of his master’s debtors, Luke 16:5 / Luke 16:7. He finds out how much they owe and reduces their debt, Luke 16:6 / Luke 16:7. This probably amounted to knocking off the interest they owed.
By reducing their debts, he would make friends with them. The master commended the manager, Luke 16:8. He was not pleased with losing what was owed to him, but he couldn’t help but be impressed with the shrewdness of his servant.
Jesus is not giving this man’s deed as an example to follow, but is showing the skill such people of the world have to work things out for their own benefit, Luke 16:9.
People of the world can be so skilful, whereas Christians can be so naive, lacking in the use of their skills for the kingdom. We should use our resources and abilities to make investments in eternal things, Luke 16:10-12, yet we can be so careless in this respect.
Jesus admonishes us to be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves, Matthew 10:16. But often, we are not very wise. Also, we should win friends (God), who can help us when we are helpless (judgment day).
As Christians, as well as being Americans, we have been entrusted with so much more than most nations. The wisest use of money is not in temporal things but rather in investing in things which are spiritual in nature. If we are wise, we will store up treasure in heaven rather than here on earth, Matthew 6:19-21.
Jesus has already visited the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus according to Luke 10:38-42. Jesus receives a message from Mary and Martha that their brother Lazarus is sick, John 11:1-44.
The close tie between this family and Jesus is indicated by the message itself and the expression “he whom you love is sick,” John 11:1, and “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus,” John 11:5.
These women make no request but must have felt that upon hearing of Lazarus’ sickness, Jesus would surely come, John 11:3. This sickness was to bring about a great thing.
Jesus would now show that even death was under his dominion. After a delay of two days, Jesus proceeds to Judea, John 11:6-7. His disciples had apprehensions about going back to Judea, John 11:8.
They even urged that Lazarus would recover, John 11:12, hoping no doubt that Jesus might decide not to make the trip. Thomas, it seems, felt that all would die if Jesus should go, John 11:16.
He shows a lack of faith in the ability of Christ to cope with death. Jesus will now leave the district of Perea and begin what will end up being His fateful journey to Jerusalem
Upon their arrival in Bethany, it was found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days, John 11:17. The body was usually buried on the same day of death, as in hot climates, decay would set in immediately, and there was no way of embalming the body as we have now.
If so, Lazarus probably died on the same day that Jesus received the message. Having waited two days, Jesus would have departed for Bethany on the third day and arrived on the fourth.
The fact that Jesus wept allows us to see the human nature of our Lord, John 11:35. He was just as human as any other human being. He knew that Lazarus would be raised within the hour, yet when He saw the sorrow of his sisters, He could not restrain His emotions.
It is said that “He groaned in the spirit and was troubled,” John 11:33. Today, as our Great High Priest, He still has great sympathy and compassion for each of us, Hebrews 4:15.
The raising of Lazarus won many over to Jesus from the ranks of His enemies, John 11:45. The miracle’s main purpose was to prove the divinity of Christ. It was one of the most impressive miracles Jesus ever performed.
It would be even more impressive than the raising of Jairus’ daughter, Mark 5:21-43, or the young man at Nain, Luke 7:11-17, as Lazarus had been dead for four days, John 11:39, whereas the others had been dead only a short time.
Many ran and told the Pharisees what had happened, John 11:45-54. A meeting of the Sanhedrin is immediately called to determine what should be done to prevent the Lord from winning the multitudes of people over to Him, John 11:46-47.
It is interesting that no denial is made of the miracle and His power. They felt that Judaism was about to be undermined, and all the people would then turn to Christ.
They feared for their positions of authority given to them by the Romans, John 11:48. Such large followings might upset the Romans, resulting in their being relieved of the positions they held.
It had been their practice to change the High Priests frequently lest he become too entrenched, gaining too much power. Taking the advice of Caiaphas, the Sanhedrin decides to take steps which would bring about Christ’s death, John 11:49-53.