Luke 7:11

Luke 7:11 says, And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.  The day after Jesus healed the centurion's son, He went to a city called Nain, and many people followed Him.  We need to follow Jesus where He leads us today, even if we now just follow spiritually and not physically.  Verse twelve adds, Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.  When Jesus came into the city, a dead man was being carried out.  The man had been the only son of his widowed mother, who would have been dependent on him to provide for her.  We could think that it turned out fortunate that Jesus was there that day, but I believe He was there because His heavenly Father sent Him there.  When we are in need today, and that need is met, we as Christians cannot think that it was anything less that God providing for our need.  Verse thirteen continues, And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.  When Jesus saw the mother in her sorrow, He had compassion on her and told her not to weep.  We need to realize that Jesus has compassion on everyone today, especially those who are suffering from a great loss, and He still calls them to hear Him and weep no more.  Of course, for this to happen, we must accept Jesus for Who He is, the spiritual Redeemer of all who accept Him as their Savior and Lord.  Verse fourteen declares, And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.  Jesus went and touched the funeral bier, and those that carried stopped.  Then, Jesus said, 'Young man, I say unto thee, Arise,'  Jesus didn't even touch the young man physically, just as He doesn't have to touch us physically today to accomplish His will in our life.  Verse fifteen adds, And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.  The young man who was dead sat up and began to speak and was delivered to his mother.  When we who were spiritually dead are resurrected to everlasting spiritual life through faith in Jesus Christ, we need to begin speaking to others about what has happened, beginning with our family.  Verse sixteen states, And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.  The people there were in fear, believing that Jesus was a great prophet sent by God.  They still did not recognize Who Jesus really was.  Until we recognize Jesus Christ for Who He really is, we may be afraid when we see Him bring about something miraculous.  Verse seventeen adds, And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.  Jesus's fame spread throughout all Judea and the region around it, though it is said that it was a rumor and not the truth.  Until we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, everything we hear about Him will be no more than a rumor. 

Luke 7:1'

Luke 7:1 says, Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.  After Jesus had finished teaching these people, he went into Capernaum.  Once we have finished gathering to teach or to learn about God today, we need to move on out into the community to share the gospel of Christ with them.  Verse two adds, And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.  The servant of a centurion, a military leader, who was dear to him was so sick he was about to die.  Even though he was a man of power, he still cared about at least one of his servants.  We may be people of power today, but we need to sincerely care for those around us, even those who may be serving us in some capacity.  Verse three states, And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.  The centurion heard about Jesus and sent the elders of the Jews to beseech Jesus to come and heal his servant.  The Jewish elders were under the centurion"s authority, but what he asked them to do was not against God's law.  We need to obey those in power in the world today, as long as what they ask us to do is not against God's law.  Verse four adds, And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:  The Jewish elders told Jesus that the centurion was worthy of Jesus doing what he was asking Jesus to do.  Though none of us is worthy of salvation by our position in the world, we are all worthy of salvation because of the mercy of God.  Verse five continues, For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.  These Jewish elders then told Jesus that the centurion loved the nation of Israel and had even had a synagogue built for them.  We should not judge people as being worthy of God's mercy because of what they have done for us materially, but if they are kind and merciful to us when they don't have to be, it may make us more inclined to reach out to God for them.  Still, it really shouldn't.  Verses six says, Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:  Jesus went with them, and while He was near the house, He met the friends of the centurion, who told Jesus that the centurion said for Jesus not to trouble Himself and that he was unworthy for Jesus to enter his house.  Though a man of some power, he did not demand that Jesus come to him.  No matter how powerful we may be in the eyes of the world, we can never command Jesus to do anything, and we are all unworthy of His salvation that He offers us freely.  Verse seven adds,  Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.  The centurion then said that he did not feel that he was worthy to come to Jesus, and no one is.  Still, the centurion had faith that Jesus could heal his servant with just a word. We need that same faith today.  Verse eight continues, For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.  The centurion said that he was a man set under the authority of Rome, and whatever he told those under him to do, they did.  He recognized that Jesus had this same power under the authority of God, His heavenly Father.  Verse nine declares, When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.  Jesus marvelled at what the man said, and then said He had not found so great a faith in the people of Israel, God's chosen people.  As followers of Christ, this is the kind of faith that we need in Jesus Christ today.  Verse ten adds, And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.  The ones who were sent to Jesus returned to the house and found the servant whole, or well.  We no longer have Jesus physically present with us, nor do we need Him to be.  We have the Holy Spirit with us at all times as Christians, and we simply need put our faith in Him at all times.

Luke 6;27

Luke 6:27 says, But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,  Jesus said that to those who heard Him, that they were to love their enemies and do good to those who hate them.  This applies to us today as followers of Christ.  Verse twenty-eight adds, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.  We are to bless those who curse us and to do good to those who despitefully use us.  Yet, we too often treat them as badly as they treat us.  Verse twenty-nine continues,  And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.  Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek if someone hits us on the one cheek, but we usually say this is not to be taken literally, and the same is believed about given even more to those who take something from us.  Still, Jesus presented this not as a moral concept, but as a truth to be followed when living our life every day.  Verse thirty states, Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.  Jesus expects us to help those who ask for help, without being concerned with whether they ever repay us or not.  Verse thirty-one adds, And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.  Jesus tells us that we are to treat others as we want to be treated. This applies to all others, and not just to people that we like.  Verse thirty-two declares, For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.  Jesus asked if we love only those who love us, how does that make us any better than the lost people of the world.  Sinners in this case would be those who had not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord and started to live under the direction of the Holy Spirit.  Verse thirty-three adds, And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.  Jesus adds that if we only do good to those who do good to us, then we are no better than the sinners of the world.  As followers of Christ, we are called to a higher standard.  Verse thirty-four continues,  And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.  Jesus tells us that if we only lend to those that we hope to receive something more back from, again we are no better than the rest of the people of the world who are not Christians.  Verse thirty-five concludes, But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.  Jesus sums this up by saying that as followers of Christ we are to be like our heavenly Father.  If we are, our reward in heaven will be great.  God is kind to the unthankful and to the evil people of the world, reaching out to them with His unmerited grace, just as He did to us while we were yet sinners.  Verse thirty-six says, Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.  Jesus said just as our heavenly Father is merciful, we as Christians are to be merciful.  Verse thirty-seven adds, Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:  We are not to judge or condemn other people so that we will not be judged and condemned by God, and we are to forgive others because God forgave us when we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse thirty-eight continues, Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.  I believe this is another way of saying that we cannot outgive God.  If we give to others in need, God will more than provide for our needs.  If God gives to us when we give to others, then the opposite must be true, and that is that He withholds His blessings from us when we refuse to help others when we can.  Of course, I believe the Holy Spirit will guide us in all situations if we let Him.

Luke 6:20

Luke 6:20 says, And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.  Jesus began to preach to His disciples, not just the twelve, but all who were following Him, and that includes us today if we are followers of Christ.  Jesus first said the poor were blessed,  though we may not always feel that way if we are.  Verse twenty-one adds, Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.  Jesus tells us that we are blessed if we hunger now, or in this lifetime, because we will one day be filled.  He also said we are blessed if we weep, because there is coming a day when we will no longer weep in sorrow but laugh in joy.  Jesus did not promise us that everything was going to be wonderful in this lifetime.  Verse twenty-two continues, Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.  Jesus also tells us that we are blessed if we are hated and reproached by the people of the world for His name’s sake, even if they go so far as to cast us out of their midst.  Verse twenty-three concludes, Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.  Jesus said thar we are to rejoice if these things happen to us for His name’s sake, because we will have great joy in heaven because we have put our faith in Him.  I believe that too often people expect to be materially blessed in this lifetime because they have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, but the opposite seems to be more of what is actually promised.  Verse twenty-four states, But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.  Jesus then pronounced woe on the rich, saying that they had received their consolation.  I don't believe that this means that all rich people are condemned, but that those who put their riches above a relationship with and obedience to Jesus Christ are.  Verse twenty-five adds, Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.  Again, I believe this is a warning to those who put their own desires above the needs of others.  If we are only concerned with being filled ourselves as we laugh and enjoy life and are not concerned about the less fortunate around us, we are not following God's teachings, and until we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we never will be truly concerned about those around us.  Verse twenty-six continues, Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.  Jesus tells us that we should feel woe, or sadness, if all people speak well of us, because they did the same thing with the false prophets.  If we are truly following Jesus Christ, then we are going to be at war with the world.  

Luke 6:12

Luke 6:12 says, And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.  Jesus went into the mountains to pray during this time, and He continued to pray to God all night.  This should tell us something about what our prayer life should be like.  We need to make sure that we are ready to put in whatever time is necessary to seek God's will.  Verse thirteen adds, And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;  The next morning, Jesus called all His disciples to Him, and chose twelve whom He called apostles.  As Christians, we are all disciples of Christ, but we do not all have the same calling.  Verse fourteen states, Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,  This verse and the next two name the apostles, those twelve who were closest to Jesus.   Verse fifteen adds, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,  Verse sixteen continues, And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.  There were several brothers,  including one named Judas, and also another Judas, Iscariot, who would betray Jesus.  Not everyone who claims to be the closest to Jesus really is.  Some, like Judas Iscariot are simply claiming to follow Jesus to see how they can benefit in earthly ways and not to advance God's kingdom.  Verse seventeen says, And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;  After praying all night and calling the apostles, Jesus came down the mountain with them to be met by a great multitude.  It would be wonderful if we had great multitudes waiting to hear God's word today, and maybe if we spent more time in sincere prayer to God we would.  Verse eighteen adds, And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.  Jesus healed the sick and those vexed with unclean spirits.  Still, this was not His real purpose in coming, and many of these people were there to see Jesus for the wrong reasons.  We need to come to Jesus for forgiveness of our sins and spiritual healing, whether we are ever healed of physical problems or not. Verse nineteen continues,  And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.  Everyone wanted to touch Jesus, because they were healed by His touch.  We today are healed spiritually by the spiritual touch of Jesus, and this is the only way to spiritual healing. 

Luke 6:1

Luke 6:1 says, And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.  Jesus and His disciples were going through a field of corn on a Sunday.   They were hungry and took some ears of corn to eat.  This was not stealing but was acceptable at that time, but it would have been considered working on the Sabbath.  We don't need to get so caught up in religious rules and regulations that we forget to meet basic human needs.  Verse two adds, And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?  The Pharisees questioned why Jesus and His disciples were doing something unlawful, which was working, on a Sunday.  Again, they were more concerned with religious laws than they were with the physical needs of Jesus and His disciples.  Verse three states, And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;  Jesus answered them with a scriptural reference to David and a time when those with him and he were hungry.  Whenever we answer questions about our behavior, especially concerning spiritual things, as followers of Christ we must base our answers on Scripture.  Verse four adds, How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?  Jesus said that David went into the temple at that time and took the shewbread to eat and gave to those with him as well.  This definitely was against religious law, and yet David felt it was okay to do what he did.  This doesn't mean that we can just arbitrarily ignore God's law, but that we should always put works of mercy above following rigid rules and regulations.  Verse five declares, And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.  Jesus told them that the Son of man, which was Jesus Himself, was the Lord of the Sabbath.  As long as we know that the Holy Spirit is behind what we do on Sunday, or any other day, we should be okay in what we do.  Verse six says, And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.  On another Sabbath,  Jesus was teaching in the synagogue and a man with a withered hand was there.  Just as Jesus was in the synagogue on the Sabbath day, we should be in church on Sunday if at all possible.  Verse seven adds, And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.  As usual, the scribes and Pharisees were watching Jesus, not to learn from Him, but to find an accusation against Him.  Some people, even other Christians, watch Christians not to learn from them, but to try to discredit them.  Verse eight continues, But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.  Jesus knew what the scribes and Pharisees were thinking, and He told the man with the withered hand to stand up.  So far, Jesus had done nothing they could fault Him for.  As long as we follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, there should never be anything any one else who professes to believe in Jesus Christ should be able to fault with us for doing it.  Verse nine declares, Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?   Jesus put the decision back on the scribes and Pharisees with a simple question.  Was it lawful to do good or to do to do evil on the Sabbath.  For Jesus not to heal the man when could would be doing evil.  We must never do evil, even on Sunday, by neglecting to do what is good.  Verse ten adds, And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.  Since the scribes and Pharisees didn't answer Jesus's question, He healed the man when he obeyed Jesus instructions.  Jesus didn't have to have the man to stretch out His hand in order to be healed, but it was a test of the man's faith and obedience for him to be required to.  God can do things today without our help, but it is a sign of obedience for us to do what He calls us to do.  Verse eleven continues, And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.  The scribes and Pharisees were consumed with anger because they could not condemn Jesus for doing good instead of evil on the Sabbath.  They then began to plot what they could do to Jesus.  Jesus was a threat to their position and power.  Jesus is still a threat to the position and power of many people today, and ultimately each individual much decide what he or she is going to do with Jesus. 

Luke 5:27

Luke 5:27 says, And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.  After calling Peter, James and John, who were fishermen, Jesus next called Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him.  Fishermen were of low estate in the eyes of people, but tax collectors were held in even lower esteem.  Matthew Henry says that since there was no miracle associated with Jesus calling this tax collector that this was simply a showing of God's grace.  There may be no earthly miracle in our life associated with Jesus calling us to salvation, but there will always be the miracle of God's grace.  Verse twenty-eight adds, And he left all, rose up, and followed him. There was no hesitation on the part of Levi.  He immediately left everything and followed Jesus.  There should be no hesitation on our part today to leave everything and follow Jesus.  Verse twenty-nine continues, And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.  Levi not only left his job as a tax collector, but he then made a great feast at His house,  in the presence of other publicans.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we should want to celebrate this fact with everyone.  We cannot reach the lost people of the world if we suddenly think we are too morally superior to associate with them.  Verse thirty states, But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?  The scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders, murmured against the disciples of Jesus, asking how they could eat with publicans and sinners.  They felt that they were morally superior to these people because of their own actions.  We may grow up in the church and try to follow all of God's commandments, but until we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we are but sinners in need of His salvation, and once we do accept Him, we are simply sinners saved by grace.  We cannot look down on anyone as unworthy of salvation.  Verse thirty-one declares, And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.  Jesus said people who are well don't need a physician, but those who are sick do.  We who are made spiritually whole by faith in Jesus Christ need to reach out to those who are sick in sin today.  Verse thirty-two adds, I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.  Jesus said He didn't come to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance.  Of course, we are all sinners in need of salvation until we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, even as the scribes and Pharisees were in that day.  Verse thirty-three asks, And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?  The religious leaders then asked why Jesus and His disciples couldn't be more like the disciples of John and the Pharisees who fasted often, whereas the disciples of Jesus ate and drank.  We cannot be made righteous with God by any earthly ritual, but only by faith in Jesus Christ.   Verse thirty-four answers, And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?  Jesus asked if they would expect the children in the bride chamber to fast while the bridegroom was near.  Jesus is the bridegroom of all who follow Him, and there was no call to fast while He was with them.  If we fast today as Christians, it is not for salvation or because we are morally superior to others, but it is simply to get spiritually closer to Jesus as we await His return.  Verse thirty-five adds, But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.  Jesus said the day was coming when the bridegroom, Jesus Himself, would be taken away from them and then they could fast.  Ever since Jesus's death, burial and resurrection, this applies to everyone who has lived or ever will live until Jesus returns.  Verse thirty-six says, And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.  Jesus compared true worship to a new piece of cloth being put on an old garment and the fact that it wouldn't work well.   Jesus did not come to be applied to the old covenant, but to establish a new covenant.  The two cannot exist together.  We cannot be saved by trying to follow all of God's laws and never failing, which would be self-righteousness, but must come to Jesus in simple faith that He is the only way to salvation.  Verse thirty-seven adds, And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.  Jesus then spoke of putting new wine in bottles with old wine in them and both the old and new being destroyed.  If we attempt to combine following God's law and faith in Jesus as the way to salvation, it will not work.  Verse thirty-eight continues, But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.  Jesus came to bring a new covenant, and just like new wine it needed to be put in a new bottle.  We cannot force salvation by grace to fit into salvation by the law.  Verse thirty-nine concludes, No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.  Jesus said that just as people preferred old wine to new, many people would prefer the old covenant with God that came through keeping the law to the new covenant of grace.  Again, in order to accept salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, the only way to salvation, we must give up all thoughts that we can make ourselves righteous by following the law of God.