Luke 13:10

Luke 13:10 says, And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.  Jesus was often found teaching in a synagogue, or place to worship, on the Sabbath, and I believe we need to be gathered in the church on Sundays today to learn more about God and to fellowship with other Christians.  Verse eleven adds, And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.  There was  woman there who had an infirmity for eighteen years that caused her to be unable to stand up straight, but she was there to hear Jesus.  We shouldn't allow physical conditions to come between Jesus and us.  Verse twelve continues, And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.  When Jesus saw the woman, He called her to Him and told her that she was healed of her infirmity.  Jesus calls us to Him when we are still sinners and tells us if we put our faith in Him that we will be healed spiritually, which is so much greater than any physical healing can ever be.  Verse thirteen concludes, And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.  When the woman came to Jesus, He laid His hands on her and she was immediately healed, just as we will be immediately healed of our sinful condition once we come to Jesus by faith.  Like the woman, we need to give God the glory for all the good things He does for us.  Verse fourteen states, And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.  The ruler of the synagogue was angry because Jesus healed the woman on the Sabbath and didn't wait until another day to do so, because in his legalistic thinking this was work.  We need to be careful that we don't get just as legalistic today, where we are more concerned with rules and regulations than we are with actually doing good things for others under God'sauthority.  Verse fifteen adds, The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?  Jesus called the leader of the synagogue a hypocrite, asking if each of those there did not loose his ox or ass from the stall on the Sabbath so it could get water.  This would also constitute work.  We may at times criticize others for doing something that is no worse than what we do, or something that is maybe even better than what we do.  Verse sixteen continues, And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?  Jesus asked the synagogue ruler if the woman, a descendant of Abraham, should not likewise be loosened, or freed, from her infirmity after eighteen years of being bound by it.  We should always rejoice and never complain when something good happens in church today.  Verse seventeen says, And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.  After Jesus said this, all His adversaries were ashamed and the people rejoiced.  If we begin to question the work of God in the world today, and He points out our error, we should be ashamed.  Verse eighteen asks, Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?  Jesus then asked those there what the kingdom of God was like.  We sometimes spend time as followers of Christ wondering about what Heaven, God's everlasting kingdom, will be like. Verse nineteen adds, It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.  Jesus said that the kingdom of God was like a mustard seed, which was small when planted but grew very large.  God's kingdom starts with the seed of the gospel, and when we accept it, it should grow into something very big.   Verse twenty asks, And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?  Jesus again asked them what the kingdom of God was like.  Verse twenty-one adds, It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. Jesus then compared the kingdom of heaven to a little leaven which can have an effect on a whole lot of meal.  The gospel should affect many people when it is shared by faith.  Verse twenty-two concludes, And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.  Jesus continued to move around the country, teaching as He was headed for Jerusalem, His ultimate destination.  As long as we are here on this earth, we need to continue as followers of Christ to teach the world about Him as we head toward our heavenly home.

Luke 13:1

Luke 13:1 says, There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  Some of those around Him told Jesus that Pilate had been killing Galilaeans as a sacrifice to false god's.  There has always been discrimination against God's people, even to the point that many have been killed.  Verse two adds, And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?  Jesus asked those who told Him and the others around Him if they thought those Galilaeans who had been slain were bigger sinners than other Galilaeans.  We too often want to think that Christians who are suffering must be guilty of some sin, and one that is greater than ours.  Verse three continues, I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  Jesus told them that no, they weren't more guilty. Jesus then told those there that unless they repented of their sins they would perish spiritually.  We don't need to attempt to judge others, but we simply need to repent of our sins.  Verse four states, Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?  Jesus then askedcthem if they thought the eighteen people who had died when the tower in Saloam fell on them, which would have been a natural disaster, were more guilty of sin than others were.  We sometimes want to declare a natural disaster as God's punishment of sin, but when God destroys something to punish someone, I believe He will always let us know.  Verse five adds, I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  Jesus once again said that wasn't true and called for the people to repent unless they wanted to perish.  We still must make that choice today.  Verse six says, He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.  Jesus once again used a parable to teach, this time about an unproductive fig tree.  A man had planted it, but it had no fruit when he came to check on it. We are called on to plant the gospel, but we cannot make it bear fruit.  Of course, once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are called on to bear fruit for Him, and He will be the one to determine whether we are productive or not.  Verse seven adds, Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?  The man told the keeper of the vineyard that after three years the tree still hadn't borne fruit, so cut it down.  It was just taking up space that could be better used.  If we are not bearing fruit for God, then we are just taking up space that could be better used.  Verse eight continues, And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:  The keeper of the vineyard said give it one more year, fertilize it, and see if it bore fruit.  We should be glad that God gives us more than one chance to be productive, and that the Holy Spirit will provide us with all that we need to do so.  Verse nine concludes, And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.  The keeper of the vineyard said that after a year the fig tree produced fruit, that would be good, and if not it would be cut down.  God is not going to wait forever for us to bear fruit for His kingdom, but when we do it will be very good.

Like 12:49

Luke 12:49 says, I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?  Matthew Henry says this is understood by some to be the persecution the followers of Christ by the carnal Jews, which Jesus did not commission, but that He allowed to continue.  We may go through the fire of persecution, but it is not because God causes it.  Verse fifty adds, But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!  Jesus said He had a baptism to be baptized with, His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, and He could not accomplish His mission until this happened.  We must also die to self and suffer the persecution of the world when necessary if we are to accomplish our purpose as Christians.  Verse forty-one continues, Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:  Jesus said He did not come to bring peace to the world, but division between His followers and the rest of the world.  Though we should be at peace with God as followers of Christ, we will never really be at peace with the world.  Verse fifty-two states, For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.  Jesus said that households would be divided because of those within either believing in Him or not, so we shouldn't be surprised when this happens.   Verse fifty-three adds, The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  This is simply an expansion on how families will be divided because of Jesus.  Though we want all our family to be saved, it often does not happen, but that doesn't mean that we give up on praying for them.  Verse fifty-four says, And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.  Jesus then began to teach once again using everyday terms or knowledge.  When people saw a cloud in the west, they knew rain was coming.  They could read the signs, and they and we should be able to read the signs that God is at work in the world.  Verse fifty-five adds, And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.  Again, the heat following a south wind was just an ability to understand the signs of nature.  Verse fifty-six declares, Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?  Jesus called them hypocrites, because they could read the signs of nature, but not the signs that the Messiah, Jesus Himself, had come to them.  We don't have a weatherman to show us that Jesus Christ is the Savior and that He will return, but we can only come to that knowledge by faith.  Verse fifty-seven continues, Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?  Jesus asked those around Him, who were supposed to be God's people, why they couldn't judge what is right.  We need to pray that God does not ask us as followers of Christ today the same question.  Verse fifty-eight says, When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.  Jesus then warned against going to the magistrate for deliverance if the person himself was guilty of some offense.  We are all guilty of sin and we cannot be set free from the penalty by God's law. Verse fifty-nine adds, I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.  Just as those who were put in prison because of a debt would not be set free until it was all paid, we can never be set free from the penalty of sin by our own ability.  We will be forever imprisoned by it if we do not accept salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. 

Luke 12:37

Luke 12:37 says, Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.  Jesus said that we will be blessed if He finds us watching for His return.  We should live every day as if it is the day that Jesus will return, but we should be busy doing what He has called us to do at the same time.  Verse thirty-eight adds, And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.  Whatever time of the day Jesus may return, we as Christians should be alert and ready for His return.  Verse thirty-nine continues, And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.  Jesus compared His return to a man not allowing a thief to break into his house if he knew when the thief was coming.  Therefore, to prevent a break in, since he didn't know for sure when a thief might come, the man had to always be alert for it to happen.  We cannot know when Jesus Christ is going to return, so we must live prepared for it to happen at any moment.  Verse forty concludes, Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.  It seems that many Christians are convinced that the return of Christ will be at any moment, but He tells us He will return when He is least expected.  We are not to spend our time trying to pinpoint the time of Christ's return, but are simply to be working and ready at all times.  Verse forty-eight states, Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?  Peter wanted to know if the parable was only for the disciples, or for everyone.  The word of Jesus Christ will always apply to all who put their faith in Him, and never just to a select few.  Verse forty-two adds, And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?  Jesus answered Peter with a question of His own.  The parable applied to all Christians was the answer to the question. Verse forty-three continues, Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.  Not just a few, but all servants who were doing their duty would be blessed when the master returned, and so shall it be with followers of Christ when the Master, Jesus Christ Himself, returns.  Verse forty-four continues, Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.  Jesus said that those who are found faithful would be rewarded for their faithfulness. Verse forty-five says, But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;  Verse forty-six adds, The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.  Jesus warned those who had professed to be faithful servants but who failed to continue to be faithful when the Master's return was delayed that they would be counted with the unbelievers.  This does not mean that they lost their salvation, but that they never had it to start with.  Verse forty-seven continues, And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.  Verse forty-eight concludes, But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.  Those who knowingly commit sins after they become Christians will be held to a higher standard than those who unknowingly commit them.  One day, even though we are forgiven of our sins, we will answer for our actions as followers of Christ.  The more that God blesses us with as His followers, the more accountable we will be for how we have used it.

Luke 12:24

Luke 12:24 says, Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?  Jesus told his disciples to consider the ravens, which do not reap or sow, nor did they have store houses to keep things in if they had.  Still, God provides for them, and He will provide for us also if we put our faith in Him.  Verse twenty-five adds, And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?  Jesus asked the disciples which one of them could grow taller simply because they decided to, and the answer was they couldn't.  How tall we are is one of those things that God determines, and we are not going to change it.  We might stunt our growth, but we cannot increase our height, so it is something we don't need to be concerned with, and we likewise don't need to be concerned with our everyday needs being met as followers of Christ.  Verse twenty-six continues, If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?  Jesus asked them if they couldn't do the least of things, why were they worried about the rest.  God does not expect His people to be worried or obsessed about things they cannot change, but to simply put their faith in Him.  Verse twenty-seven states, Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Jesus told the disciples, and that includes us today as followers of Christ, to consider the lilies.  They do not toil nor spin beautiful cloth to array themselves in, but Jesus said Solomon with all his riches was not arrayed more beautifully.  We are to look to God to meet our needs, and we will never be able to do better on our own.  Verse twenty-eight continues, If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?  Jesus said that if God clothed the grass which was very temporary, how much more would He do for His people.  Jesus said they had little faith, and if we worry about the things of this world believing that God won't provide for us, the we also have little faith in Him.  Verse twenty-nine declares, And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.  Jesus told them and tells us today to not be concerned about what we will eat of drink and not to be of a doubtful mind about God providing for us as His people.  Verse thirty adds, For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.  Jesus said that all nations sought after these material things, but that God knows the needs of His people and will provide for them, so we are not to be like those who do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse thirty-one continues, But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Jesus said we are to put seeking the kingdom of God first and our needs will be met. Verse thirty-two states, Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  Jesus told His disciples not to live in fear or worry, because God would provide for all their needs, and He still will for us today if we live by faith in Him.  Verse thirty-three adds, Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.  Jesus tells us that we are to help others instead of putting our faith in our own riches and abilities.  Verse thirty-four continues, For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  We as Christians must lay up treasures in heaven and not here in this life if we want them to have real meaning.  Verse thirty-five says, Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;  Verse thirty-six adds And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.  Jesus told the disciples to live everyday ready for the coming judgment day, and so must we today.  We need to be ready for the return of Jesus Christ, but we don't need to be obsessed with it.

Luke 12:13

Luke 12:13 says, And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.  Someone came to Jesus asking Him to have his brother divide an inheritance with him.  He was looking to Jesus for material, earthly reasons.  Some people are still doing the same thing today.  Verse fourteen adds, And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?  Jesus asked the man who made Him a judge and divider over these things.  Jesus is the judge of spiritual matters, and we shouldn't expect Him to make everything fair materially in our eyes.  Verse fifteen continues, And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.  Jesus then warned them and us against covetousness.  He warned us that life does not consist of the abundance of things that we own.  We may see having an abundance of riches as a sign that we are living under God's leadership, but Jesus tells us this isn't necessarily so.  Verse sixteen states, And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:  Jesus then began to teach them with a parable about a rich man with an abundant harvest. This could indeed be a blessing from God, but if it was, then the question is what would the man do with it.  If God richly blesses us today, that is the same question we must ask.  Verse seventeen adds, And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?  The man faced a dilemma, and we may face a similar one at times today.  The man had no room to store his crops.  Sometimes, God may bless us so abundantly that we have much more than we need or know what to do with.  Verse eighteen continues, And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  The man decided the answer was to tear down his existing barns and build bigger ones.  We sometimes want something bigger and better for ourselves when God abundantly blesses us instead of asking God how we should us what He has blessed us with.  Verse nineteen concludes, And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.  The man decided to use his abundance for His own pleasure.  As followers of Christ, I believe that we need to be careful that we don't begin to believe that everything God blesses us with should be used simply for our own ease and pleasure.   Verse twenty declares, But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  Jesus referred to the man as a fool, I believe because he had not acknowledged God in all his planning, and then Jesus told the man that he was going to die that night, and then asked him who would own all these things. We need to be concerned with spiritual and not material riches, because one day all the material riches will be left behind.  Verse twenty-one adds, So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.  Jesus said that if anyone is like this man, laying up material treasure for himself or herself, instead of being rich before God, then we like this man are a fool.  Verse twenty-two continues,  And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.  Jesus told His disciples, and as followers of Christ that would be us today, that they should not give any thought to the things of this world.  That is a far cry from God wants me to be happy and in order for that to happen I must have what I have decided I want.  Verse twenty-three concludes, The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.  Jesus said that life is more than the physical things.  Life really is about our spiritual relationship with God and not the material things of this world.  

Luke 12:1

Luke 12:1 says, In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.  As more people crowded around Jesus, He warned them to beware of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.  They were to preach God's word without error, unlike the scribes and Pharisees, and so must we as Christians.  Verse two adds, For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.  Jesus warns us that we cannot hide our actions, or even our thoughts, from God.  Verse three continues, Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.  Jesus further stated that those things said when we think no one will hear us, those things spoken in the dark when we think God will not hear, will one day be shouted from the rooftops.  Verse four states, And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.  Jesus also tells us to not be afraid of those who can only kill the body, because they cannot destroy our soul.  Yet, we spend so much time worrying about earthly things.  Verse five adds, But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.  Jesus said that we are only to fear, or have regard for God, Who has the power to cast us into hell.  Verse six asks,  Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?  Jesus said that sparrows were cheap in earthly terms, but not one was forgotten b God.  This means that God provides for them here, and not that they will go to heaven when they die. Verse seven adds, But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.  Jesus then said that God knows the number of hairs on the head of each person, and that we are of much more value than a sparrow.  God has an intimate relationship with His followers, and we can trust Him with our soul.  Verse eight declares, Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:  Jesus said if we confess Him to the world as our Savior and Lord that He will confess to the angels of God that we are His.  If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we must profess it to the world.  Verse nine warns, But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.  The reverse is true also.  If we deny Jesus Christ here in this life, He will deny us before the angels.  We can only accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord in this lifetime.  Verse ten continues, And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.  Jesus said that we could be forgiven for blasphemy against Him, but not for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.  Jesus had said One greater than He would be sent, and that is the Holy Spirit.  We must never be guilty of attributing the works of the Holy Spirit to anyone or anything else.  Verse eleven declares, And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:  Jesus did not say if the disciples were brought before the magistrates, but when they were, that they were not to worry about what to answer, as long as they relied on the Holy Spirit to tell them what to say.  We need to be just as reliant on the Holy Spirit today.  Verse twelve adds, For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.  If we are followers of Christ and obedient to the Holy Spirit, we never have to worry about what to say in any situation.