 |
#866
Sympathy is feeling your pain in my heart.
Luke 1, Verses 1-38
We start to read today a sweet and tender book by
a doctor who shows us these qualities on every
page. Some unbelievers say that it is not
necessary to be inspired to write history. Just
tell the facts, they say. But the historian might
not be correct in some details. But God's Word is
inspired (God-breathed) (2 Tim. 3:16) and so it
is a perfect record of the facts.
This Gospel presents Christ as the "Son of
Man", and so we'll see references to all the
world being blessed. Not only Israel, as so often
in Matthew. For instance only Luke in 2:3l quotes
Ps. 98:2. Also only Luke (in 3:6) quotes Isa. 40:5.
"All flesh" means all nationalities,
and only Luke of all the Gospels has the words
"redeemed" or "redemption" in
it. And unbelievers sometimes say "only men
wrote the Bible, not God".
Lk 1:1-4 Truth is always absolute, unbending. The
Bible is hated by unbelievers because it is so
positive. Read this one sentence for an example
of this. Notice the words "declaration",
"surely", "eyewitnesses",
"the beginning", "the word",
"perfect", "understanding",
"all things", "very first",
"know", "certainty". What
positive words! It lives on and abides forever. 1
Peter 1:23. But not only this Book of Luke is
inspired and perfect, but read the following
verses to see that the whole Bible confirms
itself to be inspired by God. 2 Peter l:21 about
the Old Testament and chapter 3:2 and 16 and Jude
17 for the New Testament.
Lk 1:5-25 The birth of John - the messenger who
was to prepare the way for the Lord Jesus to make
His appearance on this earth.
Lk 1:26-38 When we were reading in the Book of
Daniel, we learned that this mighty angel had
come from God in heaven to tell Daniel the great
secrets of the future. (Dan. 8:15-19 and 9:21).
But today we read of the same Gabriel, who stands
in the presence of God, verse 19 of our chapter,
and suddenly the heavens open and Gabriel comes
to the home of the poor unknown virgin of
Nazareth! We are able to hear the very
conversation Mary had with this heavenly visitor.
Read the words slowly. She believes everything
the angel Gabriel told her. She is to be the
mother of the Son of God. The angel leaves.
#867
Some Christians may do nothing, but no Christian
has nothing to do.
Luke 1, Verses 39-79
Lk 1:39-45 Mary goes to visit her cousin
Elizabeth who is to give birth to John the
Baptist. We can read the wonderful conversation
between these two favored women. But notice that
the subject is of the child to be born to Mary,
not Elizabeth. Notice in this chapter the mention
of God, the Lord, Holy Ghost, Jesus, Son of the
Highest, Lord God, Son of God, and God my Saviour.
What a story!
Lk 1:46-55 Mary takes a very low and humble place.
And her full heart said, "God is my Saviour".
She needed and trusted in a Saviour too!
Lk 1:68-79 The 67th verse had said that Zacharias,
a priest, Elizabeth's husband, began to prophecy,
or say profound things by the power of the Holy
Ghost.
Lk 1:68-75 Amazing words which tie Old Testament
prophecies to their fulfillment in the birth of
the Lord Jesus. Notice in the margin of your
Bible (if you have a King James version), the
many, many references to the Old Testament verses
mentioned. If you have time, turn to them. You'll
see how wonderfully the Bible all fits together.
Lk 1:76-79 The father addresses his son John.
Lk 1:80 John disappears into the deserts for many
years until we read of him in Matt. 3:1.
#868
No garment is more becoming to a child of God
than the cloak of humility.
Luke 2, Verses 1-24
We all love this wonderful story - the birth of
Jesus. In the Old Testament there are 333
prophecies concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Of
these l09 were fulfilled in His first coming,
leaving 224 prophecies to be fulfilled concerning
His future coming(s). 333 reasons to show we can
trust Him! Of the 46 Old Testament prophets, less
than ten of them write of events concerning His
first coming, while over 36 write of His second
coming. Micah 5:2 prophesied that He would be
born in Bethlehem, Isaiah 7:14 tells that He
would be born to a virgin, and Daniel 9:25
foretells us when he would be born (about 450
years later). Yet unbelievers today pay no
attention to these three facts.
Lk 2:1-6 The Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus
orders that everyone has to go to their own home
town to "register". And so it comes to
pass that Joseph and Mary are in Bethlehem when
Jesus is born. Was that something that came by
chance into the mind of Caesar at that time? We
know Who caused him to decide to do this just at
that date!
Lk 2:7 & 13 There was no room for Jesus to be
born at the inn, but all heaven rejoices at His
birth.
Lk 2:14 A grand summary of the work of Christ.
The first Adam, through disobedience, caused the
whole human race to fall into sin, suffering and
death. Through sin, all the violence, misery and
death has come to this poor world. God lost His
satisfaction in man in the garden of Eden. But
now He announces that He is glorified in heaven,
peace shall come on this earth and His good
pleasure in men is re-established through this
One who has just been born, Jesus, His beloved
Son. Glorious verse.
Lk 2:15-18 The shepherds, seeing the angels
disappear into the sky, decide on action.
Immediately, they go to the very stable where the
infant Jesus lay. The wise men had been guided,
so were the shepherds. So will we, if we want to
see Jesus!
Lk 2:19 The others may wonder what all these
great events meant, but Mary had the secret in
her heart.
Lk 2:20-24 It is hard to go quickly over these
wonderful verses. The shepherds understood and
gave God the glory. Jesus is named. Take time to
read Lev. 12:1-4 to see how carefully the Old
Testament order was obeyed in this family. (See
if you can find the 40 days there).
#869
The Bible is the only book whose Author is always
present when it is read.
Luke 2, Verses 25-52
Lk 2:25-32 The Holy Spirit (the Holy Ghost) is
mentioned 11 times in Luke's gospel (more than
other Gospels). Here a godly man is told by the
Holy Ghost that he won't die until he sees "the
Lord's Christ". What a statement! The Holy
Spirit guides him into the temple (not the stable)
on the exact day when the parents bring in the
child Jesus.
Lk 2:28 Simeon takes the Saviour of the world in
his arms and thanks God.
Lk 2:29-32 Ele details the work which God, the
Father has given His Son to do. It stretches into
eternity! (Simeon was a listener too, for that's
what his name means. May we too be listeners!)
Lk 2:33-34 Simeon blesses Joseph and Mary, but
only speaks to Mary. (Joseph is prominent in
Matthew's Gospel, but Mary in Luke).
Lk 2:35 At the cross, the heart of God was
revealed in love - the heart of Satan was
revealed in fierce hate and the heart of man
revealed in rejection. But one heart - the heart
of the thief, was revealed in confessing Jesus as
Lord.
Lk 2:36-38 An old widow named Anna recognizes Him!
Lk 2:41-52 The Lord Jesus surprises His mother by
speaking of "My Father's business" -
for God was His Father, and His business was to
do the will of God His Father. These are the
first recorded words of the Lord Jesus. Notice
how closely they are connected with His last
recorded words (John 19:30).
#870
Grace does not offer freedom to sin; it offers
freedom from sin.
Luke 3
Lk 3:1-2 Notice three things. (1) the whole
political world in motion (v. 1); (2) the
confusion of the Jewish religion (two high
priests); and (3) "the word" coming out
of the wilderness (not the temple).
Lk 3:3 All the prophets of the Old Testament had
tried to lead the disobedient nation back to the
law and to the ordinances given by God. But all
had failed.
Lk 3:7 John knows that their hearts are not right,
and speaks very sternly. This is not Christian
baptism, though performed in the same way. This
was a baptism of repentance, for the Messiah was
coming. The only way He could be received was by
repentance.
Lk 3:16 John makes it very plain that he is glad
to be only the messenger.
Lk 3:22 Of course there was no need of repentance
with the Lord Jesus, but God shows His approval
of what was being done. We see the Trinity here.
Lk 3:23-28 The genealogy of the Lord Jesus goes
back to Adam because Luke's gospel presents
Christ as Son of Man, to the whole world. (Matthew's
to the Jews, goes back only to Abraham).
#871
When God is going to do something wonderful, He'll
often begin with a difficulty.
Luke 4
Lk 4:1 Remember, and remember that the Lord Jesus
is, at the same time, GOD and a Man. He always
was GOD, the Son of God, but He became a Man only
when He came to this earth and was born in a
stable at Bethlehem in Israel. The Bible is the
written Word, He is the Living Word. (Read in
John's Gospel - chapter 1 verse 1) Now, as a Man,
He felt physically everything that any other man
feels... hunger, thirst, tiredness, how people
treated Him, and so on. Our first verse tells us
that He "was led", and "tempted"
of the devil; verse 5 says the devil taking (or
leading) Him; verse 9 says "he" (the
devil) brought Him, and "set Him" etc.
As a Man He depended entirely on God (read Heb. 4:15).
Lk 4:2-13 Adam had been tempted and he failed.
The fruit of the tree in Genesis was said to be
"good for food" (the lust of the flesh)
"pleasant to the eye" (the lust of the
eye) and a "tree to be desired to make one
wise" (the pride of life). This appealed to
Adam and he fell. Now the Lord meets the same
three temptations "make these stones bread"
(the lust of the flesh), "all this power
will I give thee and the glory" (the lust of
the eye), "cast thyself down from this
pinnacle" (the pride of life). But the Lord
Jesus did not fail - nor could He fail, for He
was God manifest in flesh, and He was and ever is,
HOLY. The Lord met each temptation with a
quotation from the Scriptures. Deut. 8:3l, 6:13,
and Psalm 9l:11, l2. We also have the Word of God
to direct and guide us. Use it quickly when you
are tempted, by the same devil! But you need to
be reading it each day in order to be familiar
with it.
Lk 4:16-20 In Isaiah 61, verses 1 & 2, you
will see that the Lord stopped reading in the
middle of the sentence. Because He would bear
that vengeance Himself for us! But if people
reject Him, God's vengeance will surely fall on
them (Rev. 19:11-l3 and John 3:36).
Lk 4:29 He had just begun to preach and His words
were "gracious" (verse 22), yet they
tried to get rid of Him, because He mentions
blessings to Gentiles (verses 25-27).
Lk 4:33-34 He keeps on preaching and healing and
blessing - what a wonderful Saviour!
#872
True faith is not just believing that God can, it
is knowing that God will.
Luke 5
Lk 5:1-7 He asks for the use of the boat, but
afterwards He pays them!
Lk 5:5 We may work very hard, and have nothing to
show for it. But when we obey Him, without
reasoning, what results!
Lk 5:8-11 Peter realizes that he is in the
presence of the Lord, and he confesses that he is
sinful. Jesus knew all this, so He didn't depart!
Lk 5:11 These same men, James and John and Peter,
forsook all and followed Jesus!
Lk 5:12-15 A poor leper who really believed that
the Lord had the power to heal, but didn't know
whether He really cared or not, fell on his face
before Jesus. Are we doing this when we have
problems?
Lk 5:17 Read carefully. The Lord was there to
heal the Pharisees and teachers of the law, but
they didn't realize they needed healing!
Lk 5:18-26 What a contrast! These realized their
condition and had confidence that Jesus could
help them. In this event, we see the faith of the
men carrying the bed toward the house where Jesus
was speaking, more than the faith of the man on
the bed. Crowds and difficulties don't discourage
them, they carry him up onto the roof and break a
hole in it to let down the man!
Lk 5:20 What words to hear!
Lk 5:2l What hard hearts!
Lk 5:22-24 What blessed words come from the lips
of the lowly Lord Jesus!
Lk 5:26 But God was given the glory!
#873
When we worry, we believe more in our problems
than in God's promise.
Luke 6, Verses 1-19
Lk 6:1-12 The "Sabbath", (Saturday) was
the day set apart by God for rest, and specially
given to the Jews. They had really already
rejected Him, so He tells them that He is "Lord
of the Sabbath". He did right to heal on the
Sabbath. This made those religious leaders
terribly angry. The Lord on the cross was dead
all day Saturday, proving that that day of rest
was finished, because they had killed the Lord.
But on the first day of the week, Sunday, the
Lord's day, He rose from the dead, and brought
believers into a new position. So we can
understand that the first day of the week is set
apart for true believers, and it is called "the
Lord's Day". It is not a day of rest, but a
day when we have the special privilege of
worshipping and serving the Lord.
Lk 6:13-16 He chooses 12 of those who followed
Him, whom He calls apostles.
Lk 6:17-19 Many come to be healed, but it does
not say they truly believed on Him.
#874
Christians please God when their walk measures up
to their talk.
Luke 6, Verses 20-44
Lk 6:20-26 The Lord Jesus tells His followers
that they should not expect to be popular, but to
expect suffering. For if the people rejected the
Lord, they would also reject His followers.
Notice the word "blessed" is mentioned
three times, and then "rejoice" and
"joy" and "reward". But the
word "woe" is mentioned four times.
Then "hunger", "mourn" and
"weep".
Lk 6:23-28 These verses are not telling a person
how to get saved, (that is a gift from God,
through the work of Christ). But we believers
should remember we have the power to act as the
Lord Jesus would act, in every circumstance (John
1:12). If we read these verses slowly, we shall
see that He fulfilled them, and so should we - to
please Him. We believers are blessed. These
verses tell us to love, do good to, and pray for
those that reject the truth.
Lk 6:39-42 What a lesson for all believers to
learn. How critical of others we often are!
Lk 6:43-49 We live today in a world where
everything is becoming blurred... nothing is
definite...people aren't sure about anything...
anything goes... there are few "absolutes".
But these seven verses tell us that trees, bushes
and people produce what they are. What is in our
heart will come out in our conversation and our
life.
#875
You cannot kindle a fire in another's heart until
it is burning in your own.
Luke 7
Lk 7:1-10 The Roman officer, the centurion,
believes that Jesus could heal his servant;
taking a humble attitude, he approaches Jesus
through the Jews. The message is beautiful. Like
saying to Jesus, "Servants are at my bidding,
but diseases are at yours." Look at the
result!
Lk 7:11-17 He not only can heal the sick, He can
also raise the dead. Notice verse 15, that the
mother was a lonely widow, the Lord did not raise
the young man so that he would be His servant,
but tenderly turns the raised up young man to his
mother.
Lk 7:19-30 John, that faithful messenger, is in
prison and he hears of the miracles which the
Lord is doing. No doubt he wondered why the Lord
did not open the prison doors and let him out,
and so he sends messengers to find out if the
Lord is truly the One who should come. John had
said "Behold the Lamb of God" (John 1:36)
but being in prison was too much for John. The
Lord sends them back to tell John not to be
offended. (Do you see His answering the prayers
of others, and seeming to forget you? He knows
where you are, and what you may be suffering, and
some day we shall understand.)
Lk 7:36-50 Who received forgiveness and blessing?
A poor sinful woman, who bowed, weeping at His
blessed feet. And who missed it all? The proud
Pharisee who could quickly point out a sinner,
but not point to himself as one. It was not her
love, but her faith which saved her.
#876
Our efficiency without Christ's sufficiency is
only deficiency.
Luke 8, Verses 1-21
Briefly, chapter 8 is the Lord's preaching;
chapter 9 the preaching of the twelve apostles;
chapter 10 the preaching of the seventy.
Lk 8:1-3 He takes men and women with Him who had
been attracted to Him. Did you ever stop and
think how amazing it is that God the Creator has
come to earth to preach the kingdom of God! He
has a plan that will meet every need we believers
could ever have! What a world! A world which is
in total rebellion against God!
Lk 8:4-15 Do you think you have found the secret
of this parable of the Sower? It is to expose
what man is, the seed was always the same, but
the dropping of the seed here and there was to
expose what the soil was like. Every type of
person in the world is seen as the different
soils. The first is the roadway (where the devil
is waiting). The second is the rocks (where the
old nature comes out). The third is the thorny
ground (where the world dominates everything).
The fourth is the good ground (where the Holy
Spirit is working).
Lk 8:16 We who know the Lord Jesus, should not
hide that light. If the light is under a vessel,
or a bed, it surely doesn't light the way.
Perhaps a vessel would remind us of our work -
and we should never let our work keep us from
shining for the Lord. The bed tells us of our
laziness - we ought to be diligent in letting our
light shine.
#877
He who walks with God will be out of step with
the world.
Luke 8, Verses 22-40
Lk 8:22-25 Perhaps we find ourselves in real
trouble, and it seems as though the Lord has
forgotten about us. The storm rages worse and
worse, and at last we despair of any hope. But
always remember, the Lord will never let us be
tried more than we can stand - read 1 Corinthians
10:13.
Lk 8:26-40 What a frightful condition this poor
man is in - but nothing is too hard for the Lord.
The Lord sends him to his own people to tell them
of Jesus. Did he do a faithful work? Verse 40
gives the answer.
#878
Natural life came by God's breath; eternal life
comes by Christ's death.
Luke 9
Lk 9:1-6 How great is the love of our Lord Jesus,
Who not only goes about with the good news (chapter
8) but sends others too to spread it far and wide.
Lk 9:10 The disciples return with the news of
their labors and He takes them away to a desert
place. He knew that they needed rest - though His
own labours never stopped.
Lk 9:11-17 The Lord knew what He would do, but He
tests their faith. The little that you have, He
can use for much blessing.
Lk 9:18-22 Something new! Peter truthfully
confessed the Lord as "the Christ of God".
Then the Lord Jesus tells them of His coming
rejection and death.
Lk 9:23 Notice one important word in this verse,
"daily". Martyrs have died for the
faith, and their reward will be great. You may
not face that, but you can "daily" take
up that cross and follow the Lord.
Lk 9:28-36 We come now to a very different event.
The Lord Jesus takes three of His apostles (notice
who) up into a mountain (notice what to do).
While He was doing it, His whole appearance
changed, His face and His clothing were brilliant
with shining... it was a brief view of what the
Lord Jesus is going to be like in His kingdom
glory which He will set up on this earth during
His l,000 year reign as King. Two other men
suddenly appear. Who are they? They had been
alive about 1,500 years before! There they were,
talking with Jesus about (notice carefully!) His
death. Notice what the three apostles were doing!
(like us?) Peter suggests a dreadful thing. But
hear what God says right out loud from heaven! We
should never put the Lord Jesus on the same level
as people. But godly men have done something like
this when they use men's names for denominations.
#879
The sweetness of a calm is better known when the
storm is raging without.
Luke 10, Verses 1-20
Lk 10:1-16 This time, He sends out seventy (we
don't get this in Matthew. Luke's gospel is more
to the whole human race). The cities that reject
those messengers are terribly guilty, for verse
16 tells us that it is truly the Lord Himself
that they are rejecting. There is still that same
rejection. It is a serious thing in the sight of
God, to refuse a word of warning or of invitation.
Lk 10:20 There are many honoured names on the
earth, but they will all fade away. Let us thank
God that our name (who have received the Lord
Jesus) is written in heaven.
#880
To be a witness to the fact that Christ lives
means to be a witness to the fact that I died.
Luke 10, Verses 21-42
Lk 10:21 What beautiful submission. He had been
rejected, and was on the way to the cross, but He
looked up with thankfulness to the One who had
sent Him. We can say the same thing.
Lk 10:25-37 What a picture of ourselves on the
wrong downward road, and of the Lord Jesus who
came right where we were and brought such
blessing to us, And that poor man was taken to a
place of shelter and nourishment, where he was
cared for until the return of the Samaritan. So
our Lord, who has saved us, would invite us to be
gathered to His own precious name, where in such
an assembly, we can be sheltered and nourished on
the Word of God until the Lord comes for us.
Lk 10:42 Oh to sit at His feet and listen to His
Word!
#881
Believers do not walk in holiness because they
must, but because they wish to do so.
Luke 11, Verses 1-26
Lk 11:1 The Lord, as a dependent Man, prayed much,
and His disciples ask that they also might be
taught how to pray. They did not yet know how to
simply speak with thanks and with requests to
their Father. When we pray to God our Father, we
are showing that we realize how much we need Him.
When Satan sees us kneeling in prayer, he knows
we are talking with God and then we are more able
to resist him. 1 Peter 5:8 & 9.
Lk 11:2-4 Many Christians don't realize that
"the Lord's prayer", was given to His
disciples here on earth before the Lord had died
and was risen. They were praying for the kingdom
of God on earth to come. It hasn't come yet. We
believers today are an heavenly people, our hopes
and future are in heaven. After we're taken to
heaven at the "rapture", the gospel
that Jesus is coming back as King, will be
preached to those people who never heard the
Gospel of the grace of God in our "day of
grace". Then those believers will pray this
prayer - "Thy kingdom come". And He
will return (with us following Him) to reign over
this earth during the l,000 years of the
millennium. What a wonderful future is ours. It's
worth the little, or much, we suffer for Him now.
We are now redeemed and can by the Spirit, speak
to our loving Father in words of our own.
Lk 11:5-13 The Lord compares a man at midnight
asking his friends for three loaves of bread,
with our asking our Father for our needs.
Selfishness kept the man from giving bread, until
the other person's persistence bothered him so
much, he finally produced the bread. Our Father
is always ready... "ask and it shall be
given you".
Lk 11:14-26 The hatred of the heart of man
against the Lord! In verse 21 the devil is the
strong man. His "goods" are the
unbelievers whom he claims. But the Lord is
"stronger than he" and so He has come
to deliver Satan's captives and set them free.
Lk 11:15 Is an illustration of perverted religion
and verse 16 like infidelity.
Lk 11:23 The conflict of the ages is proclaimed...
God or Satan. One or the other, no compromise.
#882
Obedience to known commands, and brotherly love,
are not sufficient to keep us for any length of
time. Conduct, obedience, devotedness and service,
should flow from love, and unless it be in
exercise our activity soon comes to an end.
Luke 11, Verses 27-53
Lk 11:27-28 Laying the emphasis on the wrong
person. This woman was thinking of the mother of
Jesus more than of Him. Read 1:46, 47 to see that
Mary had her values straight. She recognized that
Jesus her Saviour was the most important One.
Lk 11:31-32 Two comparisons... King Solomon was
an example (very feeble) of the great height of
exaltation of Christ, while Jonah was an example
of the depth to which the Lord went, in bearing
our punishment.
Lk 11:33-36 A contrast between a "single"
eye and an "evil" eye. To have a single
eye means that I have just one object before me
and that is to please the Lord Jesus, and obey
His Word. All other motives are relatively "evil".
Lk 11:37-44 The Lord is invited to dinner by a
Pharisee who notices that Jesus doesn't go
through the washing custom before eating. Here
the Lord speaks very sharply to these religious
leaders for their hypocrisy. He doesn't spare
them. Why do you think He spoke like this?
Because a greater than Solomon or Jonas (Jonah)
was there in front of them and they didn't
recognize Him... the blessed, lowly, gracious,
loving and long-promised Christ (the Messiah),
the Son of God. In His perfect life of obedience
to God, they had everything they needed to prove
Who He is, and they despised Him! (Read John 1:10-11).
Lk 11:45-52 The lawyers (the experts in the law)
join in against Him. The Lord exposes their false
life too.
Lk 11:53-54 We can see from these verses that
they are preparing to destroy Him. Before we
close this chapter, please notice five statements
in it. In verse 20, "the finger of God"
and "the kingdom of God", in verse 28,
"the Word of God", in verse 42, "the
love of God", and in verse 49, "the
wisdom of God". Five links in a wonderful
chapter.
#883
The moral glories of Christ are the
manifestations of His character at every turn
here below in His pathway.
Luke 12, Verses 1-30
Lk 12:4-5 The Lord Jesus was going to be put to
death, and so were some of His followers. But He
tells them not to fear men who could kill the
body - but to fear God, who could cast a lost
soul into hell.
Lk 12:6-7 Then He speaks to their hearts and
turns their thoughts away from fear entirely and
speaks of the loving care that God had for them.
Lk 12:8-12 What wonderful promises - confess
their name before His Father if they confessed
the name of Jesus to people (Are we ashamed?)
Lk 12:13-15 Jesus wasn't on earth to settle
someone's inheritance! They need to beware of
being like the rich fool.
Lk 12:16-21 This poor, rich man thought only of
himself.
Lk 12:13-21 The world has rejected the Lord, the
only truly righteous One, and so even to this day,
we see much that is unfair and unjust. Let us not
set our hearts on things that will soon be left
behind.
#884
Never does the Lord allow anything in our lives
but what He has a definite purpose for it.
Luke 12, Verses 31-59
Lk 12:32 See if you notice the three different
groups in one verse (1) A Shepherd with His flock
(2) ? & (3) ?
Lk 12:31-48 We can see in the last verses we were
reading yesterday, and these sixteen verses that
a personal trust in the Lord is needed and not to
be anxious about food and clothing (verses 3l, 32).
Lk 12:34 What a treasure we have in our Lord
Jesus up there in heaven itself. If our treasure
is in heaven, and He is, that's where our heart
is going to be.
Lk 12:35-40 And heaven is where He is coming from.
Don't forget. If we really believe that the Lord
is coming at any moment, our life will show it.
In each of verses 37 and 43 there is a promise of
blessing. But do you see the difference?
Lk 12:49-53 People today discuss religion as if
it were a theory on which they can have several
opinions. These verses tell us that the Person of
the Lord Jesus is the One central Object of life.
For or against HIM... no third way. Read these
verses to see what GOD says. Not only our
Christian friends may turn against us if we are
too much for HIM, but even our own brothers and
sisters. And isn't it so? To follow the Lord,
sometimes brings hate, and fire and division, not
peace. His grace brought out the opposition.
#885
"Go to the church of your choice" is
the root thought of heresy.
Luke 13
Lk 13:1-5 The Lord seems to have Israel as a
nation in mind, its hypocrisy and rebellion, and
God's patience and heart of love toward it. These
were no more wicked than the whole nation.
Lk 13:6-9 The fig tree is another picture of
Israel; it had no fruit for the Lord. For three
years (the time of the Lord's presence and
preaching among them), they had hated Him and not
repented. And so even after the Lord was
crucified, He waited and sent messages of
forgiveness. But they rejected them all, and
stoned Stephen who warned them so faithfully. Now,
as a nation, they have been "cut-off".(Not
the individual Jewish people).
Lk 13:11-13 All this poor woman could see was the
ground around her feet... a picture of Israel.
The Lord touches her, and she stands up straight,
and looks into the face of Jesus! What a picture
of what He will do for Israel in the future.
Lk 13:23 Sounds like a sensible question, but
sometimes such questions are simply an attempt to
get away from the question "am I saved?"
Lk 13:34-35 He loves the people, even though He
knew that they hated Him and would very soon
crucify Him. He looked back on their history and
knew all about those who had been sent in past
years and had been killed.
#886
All sin is against God. It is only in the
presence of the Lord that we learn what sin is.
When you get into His presence you are going to
abhor self.
Luke 14
Lk 14:1-6 In today's chapter nothing satisfies
Him, nothing is according to His mind. If we are
close to Him, we will be thinking the same. The
Lord is invited into a Pharisees' house, and at
once He feels that He is opposed by those there.
The house is surely a picture of man's world. He
notices a poor man suffering from dropsy. He asks
them a question. They wanted to trap Him in His
words so they hypocritically keep silent. He
heals the man, then asks them a question. Some
question! He exposes their wicked hearts - and
ours.
Lk 14:7-11 The Lord notices that the guests chose
the best possible seats! Like our old nature? Yes
indeed. If you could see the world today through
God's eyes, you would see exactly the same sight.
The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and
the pride of life.
Lk 14:12-14 The Lord now looks at the host. But
he is no different! Selfishness in another form!
If the Lord had acted this way toward us,
inviting to heaven the rich and attractive ones,
how many would have accepted the offer?
Lk 14:15-24 The Lord opens up a view of a feast
to be spread in heaven. What a difference! Not
one invited guest turns up! God must force His
guests in! If there was only the work of the Lord
Jesus, there would never have been a single guest.
If there had only been the work of the Holy
Spirit, there would have been no feast! What love
of God in sending both!
Lk 14:25-end A large crowd follows along after
Jesus. They were looking at Him as someone to
follow. But the first contact every sinner needs
to have with Him is as a Saviour. But the Lord
says to them something like this - "If you
want to be like Me, you must give up everything."
#887
Idolatry separates us completely from God.
Idolatry is to allow something else to take over
in my life.
Luke 15
Lk 15:1-2 Happy contrast in this chapter. He
meets Publicans (tax collectors) and sinners.
With them He can communicate as a Saviour! Now He
can open His heart and mouth and tell these
wonderful stories or parables.
Lk 15:3-7 Like the work of the Lord Jesus.
Lk 15:8-10 Like the work of the Holy Spirit.
Lk 15:11-end Like the heart of God the Father.
The Lord Jesus prepares the feast... the Holy
Spirit prepares the guests and the Father is full
of joy to have His house filled with the guests,
rejoicing for eternity. If you are enjoying
communion with your Father, someone once said,
you never get past the l5th of Luke! Enjoy it.
#888
If one does not believe that Jesus Christ is the
eternal Son of God he has no place in the
assembly.
Luke 16
Lk 16:1-12 A most important lesson is to be
learned here, by every believer in the Lord Jesus.
A steward is a person who has been given
responsibility by some rich person to look after
his affairs. The boss calls him in and says that
he hears that he is wasting his money and fires
him.
Lk 16:3-7 He thinks things over, and makes a plan
and carries it out.
Lk 16:8 The boss congratulates him when he hears
what the man did. Why? Because the man thought of
his future and had the right to do what he did.
Lk 16:9-12 The first meaning of this story, is
that Israel was the "steward" and lost
the job, but in applying it to the believer in
Christ today, it teaches us that we first need to
learn that we must live within our income. If we're
faithful in this area, then the Lord may give us
some work to do for Him, so in this He commits to
us the real valuable side of life, "the true
riches" (verses 11-12).
Lk 16:13 "Mammon" means money.
Lk 16:19-31 A rich man who took those things
which were entrusted to him, and used them all
for his own pleasure. Every day this is taking
place around us, but what if we could really see
beyond and hear the awful anguish of a neighbour
who has gone into a lost eternity. But see this
poor man Lazarus - he closes his eyes in death
here and opens them up in eternal happiness. And
there is a great gulf fixed for ever between
these two places.
#889
If you abandon the true God you have no absolute
standard of right and wrong.
Luke 17
Lk 17:1-2 The Lord Jesus loves "these little
ones" and He warns us that we ought to be
very careful that nothing we do or say would ever
offend one of them.
Lk 17:3-4 Suppose someone has done something to
offend me, what shall I do? The Lord says I am to
forgive him - no matter how many times he may
offend me. I am not to offend others, and I am to
forgive, if anyone offends me.
Lk 17:11-19 Each one of these lepers cried out
for mercy, and the Lord heard and healed every
one of them. Just one of them turned back to
thank the Lord. Here is a cleansed leper - a
Samaritan at the feet of Jesus giving Him thanks.
Lk 17:21 In other words the Lord Jesus is saying,
"I the Lord Jesus, represent the kingdom of
God among you". It does not mean that the
kingdom of God was inside each of them, for He
was talking to unbelieving Pharisees.
Lk 17:22-37 The Lord tells of the time when He
will come to reign. It will be a time of judgment
in which some will be taken away in judgment and
others will be left for blessing, the blessings
of the millennium. Try to remember this, because
many confuse this coming of Christ with the
rapture. Here the unbelievers are the ones who
are taken suddenly. (All this will take place
AFTER we believers have been taken to heaven.)
#890
Departure from the table of the Lord is departure
from the power - the place of correction.
Luke 18
Lk 18:1-8 The Lord tells a parable (an earthly
story with a heavenly meaning) so that the
disciples will learn that prayer and patience go
together. We need to be more afraid that we will
not hear the Lord than being afraid that He won't
hear us. It has been said that the quickest way
to get on our feet is to get on our knees. Watch
and pray.
Lk 18:9-14 This lesson on prayer is different. It
shows the spirit in which we should pray. Two men
speak to God in prayer, then the Lord God speaks.
Listen carefully to what He said!
Lk 18:15-17 A third lesson by the Lord. This one
shows the heart of the disciples but then reveals
His heart.
Lk 18:18-23 A fourth lesson. This young man doesn't
learn, because his heart and mind were set on the
wrong things in life, riches, so he went away sad,
even though he still had his riches. They didn't
satisfy him.
Lk 18:24-30 A fifth lesson. What seems impossible
to people is possible with God. The disciples
didn't realize that the Lord Jesus was
introducing something unheard of before. In Old
Testament days when a person was faithful and
obedient to God, he became rich, because God
rewarded him right then and there. They had the
evidence of God's hearing them and rewarding them.
But they didn't realize that, in spite of God's
goodness to them, Israel would turn on God and
crucify His Son. But the Gospel story had the
secret in it that grace and blessing were going
to be a gift of God. That seemed impossible to
people.
Lk 18:31-34 These verses prove the above remarks.
The Lord spoke so plainly. How could anyone not
understand the simple words Jesus was saying to
them. Read verse 25 of chapter 24. He blamed them
after He had risen from the dead for being so
careless and unbelieving. Are we the same?
Lk 18:35-43 If the Pharisee, and then the rich
man missed the blessing, a poor blind beggar
receives it. He followed Jesus!
#891
There is no ministry that is right unless it's by
grace. There is no path that is right unless it's
by grace.
Luke 19
The story of a rich man who did receive the
blessing.
Lk 19:1-10 Zaccheus' riches did not satisfy him.
He wanted Jesus. Nothing would hinder him. The
Lord Jesus stops and calls him by name. Down he
comes to stand at last in the presence of Jesus.
In verse 7, those who saw what happened,
considered Zaccheus a sinner. Of course the Lord
knew all about Zaccheus anyway, but what does He
say? Verse 10, 'I have not come to bless you
Zaccheus, because you are generous and honest,
but because I have come to seek and to save that
which was lost!
Lk 19:11-27 While our Lord Jesus is away, He has
given to each of us something that we can use for
Him, we will give an account of how we used it.
Lk 19:38 The Lord is entering the city of
Jerusalem and this is the cry that is raised.
When He was born, the cry was raised "Peace
on earth". There is really no peace on earth,
because they have rejected the Prince of Peace.
As He enters the city where He is going to be
condemned, the cry is now "peace in heaven".
The Prince of Peace was returning to heaven.
Lk 19:41 The Lord weeps over the very city that
hated Him so much.
#892
When division comes in, no one wins; we're all
losers. God brings it upon us because of our
state.
Luke 20
Lk 20:1-8 Only a divine Person could silence the
unbelief with such an answer. Remember Jesus had
not yet died, so when it says "Gospel"
here it is still referring to the good news of
the kingdom on earth.
Lk 20:9-18 The guilty nation of Israel, was His
"vineyard". After having refused the
message sent by so many of His servants (the Old
Testament prophets), God looks down and says
"I will send my beloved Son". But they
kill that Son. Jews individually are still free
to accept the Lord Jesus, of course.
Lk 20:19-26 The sins of Israel had brought them
under the control of Caesar, the Roman Emperor.
The Lord simply tells them to pay whatever Caesar
demanded, but also to remember their
responsibility to God.
Lk 20:27-38 The Lord tells the Sadducees (they
did not believe in a resurrection) that in heaven,
marriage does not exist at all. The joys of
heaven are far, far greater than the joys on
earth. "Equal unto the angels" means
that angels know nothing of marriage in heaven -
and neither will we. We shall be higher and
nearer to the Lord than the greatest of angels.
#893
Never do we more need the sustaining of God and
obedience to His Word, than in His worship.
Luke 21
Lk 21:1-4 We owe all to the blessed Lord Jesus
Who gave Himself for us. He held back nothing -
and neither should we.
Lk 21:1-7 The Lord must tell the disciples that
this beautiful temple was going to be destroyed.
They want to know when.
Lk 21:8-24 The Lord plainly tells of the terrible
judgments that were coming on that city. In the
year 70 A.D. (about 37 years later), a Roman
General named Titus came and surrounded the city
of Jerusalem (verse 20) and completely destroyed
it, and put great numbers of Jews to death. The
words "till the time of the Gentiles be
fulfilled" is the period of time which still
exists today. The Gentiles are the rulers in the
world; Romans 11:25. After we believers are taken
to glory, then some in Israel shall turn to the
Lord - Romans 11:26. They shall become the whole
nation of Israel; and the land and people of
Israel once again be the Lord's throne on earth
and the "time of the Gentiles" shall
end.
Lk 21:25-28 These verses speak of the time when
the Lord will come forth out of heaven to put
down all His enemies and bring deliverance to the
godly Jews who will be waiting for Him in that
day.
Lk 21:32-33 Those words our Lord spoke will not
pass away!
Lk 21:37 They are plotting to kill Him, but still
He patiently and lovingly works among them. At
night He goes to the mount of Olives! No one took
Him to their home.
#894
The One Body is always spoken of as being here on
earth, not in heaven.
Luke 22
Lk 22:9 A most important question. The Lord still
wishes us to remember Him, and He loves to hear
us ask this same question. He is not pleased if
we look around and "join the church of our
choice". Every believer is in the "church"
for which He gave Himself. It is the desire of
our Lord to see us gathered around Himself, to
His worthy Name, and not the name of an
organization made by men. The place the Lord
chose was an "upper room" - not the
temple - but a place outside of all religious
systems.
Lk 22:19-20 What simplicity! There are many who
still meet the first day of the week to remember
their Lord in the quiet precious simplicity
described here. A loaf, a cup, and the presence
of our Lord Jesus! If we are willing to separate
from what we know is wrong, then, and only then,
the Spirit of God gathers us to the Lord's Name.
To add anything more is to say that He has not
provided enough.
Lk 22:28 He had seen much failure with His
disciples, and yet He says this.
Lk 22:39-46 He prays to His Father about the
cross. Oh how terrible sin is in the sight of the
Lord. How awful the suffering that was necessary
to put away sin.
Lk 22:54-62 Peter, denies that he ever knew the
Lord! He just didn't know how weak he was, and
neither do we.
Lk 22:63-65 How awful our own hearts. The Lord
Jesus was blindfolded, while they slapped and
mocked Him... He who had created them. What a
Saviour!
#895
Language is the only vehicle upon which thought
can travel. John 1:1
Luke 23
Lk 23:1-12 Sad to see that this hatred against
the Lord actually makes people be friends.
Lk 23:25 They chose a murderer, and crucified the
only true and good Man who ever lived. And today
they blame God for their wars and their troubles!
The world today would crucify Him again if they
could do so.
Lk 23:39-43 How could it be that God would show
such love! God is love. This is the darkest hour
in all the history of man. God touched the heart
of that thief, so that he admitted his guilt,
confessed Jesus as Lord. That very day he was in
paradise with the Lord Jesus!
Lk 23:45 God has opened the way so that He can
now come out in blessing to man, and opened the
way so that man can come into the presence of God;
made clean from every stain of sin.
Lk 23:50 No doubt the wicked rulers wanted to
cast the dead body of Jesus into a common grave
with the two thieves, but God had declared "He
was with the rich in His death" (Isaiah 53:9),
and so it was fulfilled.
#896
God has allowed our trials for a purpose, and He
is right there with us. There is not an
unnecessary tear in our lives. It is a time when
the Lord is nearer to us than any other time in
our experience.
Luke 24
What glorious news! The resurrection! Jesus, the
One who died for sinners, has come forth out of
the grave. Now we know that God is completely
satisfied with the work of redemption. He was
"raised again for our justification" -
Romans 4:25.
Lk 24:6-7 A great surprise to those faithful
women who came early on the first day of the week.
Lk 24:11 In spite of the story of resurrection,
the message was not believed. But Peter runs all
the way to the grave, and finds their story to be
true.
Lk 24:13-35 Two discouraged disciples are met by
the Lord, and He warms their heart by speaking of
those things which were really so dear to them.
Lk 24:27 Three things get opened in this
wonderful story. Here is the first... the
Scriptures are opened to them by the Lord. What
an experience it must have been for them as they
walked those six miles of mountainous roads from
Jerusalem to Emmaus. No wonder their heart burned
in them (verse 32).
Lk 24:28 The Lord does not invite Himself to
their home. Their hearts have been so warmed by
His company, that they won't let Him go.
Lk 24:31 Here is the second thing He opened...
their eyes. They recognize Him! The Lord Jesus!
What a moment awaits those of us who know this
same Lord Jesus as our own Saviour, when we hear
His call to come up. (1 Thess. 4:15-18) Probably
today!
Lk 24:33 Notice where they go.
Lk 24:36 The presence of Jesus! What a joy to
their hearts.
Lk 24:45 The third thing gets opened... their
understanding. This didn't happen when the first
two were opened. Why? Because it was only when
they were at the right place. Our understanding
is not opened either until we are obedient. They
had acted and returned to Jerusalem when the
second thing had been opened. No one told them to
return! When we separate then He gathers.
Lk 24:47 The message of repentance and
forgiveness should begin at Jerusalem - the very
city where He had been rejected and hated and
cast out.
Lk 24:49 They were to wait at Jerusalem until the
Holy Spirit came upon them, which we read about
in Acts, chapter 2.
|
|
|
