Luke 17:11

Luke  17:11 says, And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.  While on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus passed through Samaria and Galilee.  Jews mostly would not travel through Samaria, but Jesus did not allow this fact to stop Him from doing so.  We cannot allow who people are to keep us from reaching out to them with the gospel.  Verse twelve adds, And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:  On His way, Jesus saw ten lepers standing far-off, which they were required by law to do.  Verse thirteen continues, And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.  Though they were prohibited by law from getting close to Him, they cried out to Jesus, calling Him Master and asking Him to have mercy on them.  This is what we must do in order to be saved.  Verse fourteen states, And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.  Jesus did not go to them and physically touch them.  He did not even tell them that they were healed.  He simply told them to go and show themselves to the priest, who could acknowledge that they were cured of leprosy.  As they went, they were healed.  If we want the blessings of God today, we must first come to Him by faith in Jesus Christ, and then go where and when He sends us.  Verse fifteen adds, And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,  After they were healed, one of the ten turned back and with a loud voice glorified God.  Ten were healed,  but only one came back praising God.  After we receive salvation from God  and anytime that He does something for us after that, we need to loudly praise Him.  Verse sixteen concludes, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.  The man who returned fell at the feet of Jesus and gave Him thanks, and he was a Samaritan.  The Samaritans were people that the Jews didn't want to have anything to do with, but this didn't matter to Jesus.  We don't know if the other nine were Samaritans or Jews, since they never returned to thank Jesus.  We should never allow how the world may feel about certain people to keep us from reaching out to them with the gospel of Christ.  We also should never neglect giving God the praise when He does something miraculous for us.  Verse ten asks, And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?  Jesus asked if there were not ten who were cleansed and where the other nine were.  After we claim to be saved, Jesus should never have to ask where we are spiritually.  Verse eighteen adds, There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.  From this statement, the indication would be that the other nine were Jews, since Jesus said that the only one to return was a stranger.  We can never take God for granted because of who we are or where we were born.   Until we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord we will always be a stranger to God, even if He has done something good for us.  Verse nineteen continues, And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.  Just as Jesus told the leper, once we have been made whole by putting our faith in Him, we are to go on our way, giving Him the praise and witnessing for Him.

Luke 17:1

Luke 17:1 says, Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!  Jesus said that offenses were coming against the disciples, but He also said woe unto those who committed them.  As followers of Christ, we need to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and if we do, we will not be guilty of doing this.  Verse two adds, It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.  Jesus said a person would be better off drowned than offending one of God's people, those who had put their faith in the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  As we look at the world today, there are a lot of people who would be better off drowned in God's eyes, but that doesn't mean that we are to drown them.  We are still to reach out with the love of God even if they offend us, or even try to harm us.  Verse three states, Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.  Jesus tells us if our brother trespasses against us, we are to rebuke him for what he did, and if he repents, we are to forgive him.  We are not to just ignore the situation, but we are to deal with it looking for restoration to our brothers and sisters if they do something wrong to us.  Verse four adds, And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.  Jesus basically said if those who trespass against us do so over and over, then repent and ask forgiveness, we are to forgive them.  Yet, too often we are of a three strikes and you are out mentality.  After forgiving someone twice, especially in the same-day, we too often say that we no longer believe they are sorry and we are no longer willing to forgive them.  Verse five says, And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.  The apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith.  We may sometimes ask the same thing of God.  Verse six adds, And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey.  Jesus said it was not really a matter of increasing their faith, but of exercising it no matter if you feel that your faith is very small.  If we are not willing to act when we feel that our faith is small, we will probably always feel that it is too small to act.  Verse seven asks, But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?  Jesus asked which of them if they had a servant who had been out working in the field all day would start to serve that servant when he came in.  We are servants of Christ as Christians, and we should never expect Him to be our servant instead.  Verse eight adds, And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?  Jesus said the lord of that servant would expect him to serve his meal first instead, then the servant could eat and drink.  The fact that the servant had been doing what he had supposed to do all day did not change his status when he came in from the fields.  He was still there to meet the needs of His lord.  No matter how hard we may be working for God, we cannot expect to change our status as His servants, but we can also expect our needs to be met.  Verse nine continues, Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.  Jesus asked if the disciples thought that the lord of the servant would thank him for simply doing his duty.  We cannot expect God to reward us or even praise us for doing what He has called us to do, but too often Christians seem to expect to be praised and rewarded for simply doing what God has called them to do.  Verse ten concludes, So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.  Jesus said that instead of expecting a reward, that when we do what is required of us by God that we should still feel like we are unprofitable servants.  We are to do all for the glory of God, and there does not come a time when we sit back and expect God to wait on us.

Luke 16:19

Luke 16:19 says, There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:  Jesus said was a rich man who was finely clothed and who ate fine food and had more than enough of it.  There are people, even Christians today who have more than they really need, and yet they use it all for themselves,  Verse twenty adds, And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,  Jesus then contrasted the rich man with Lazarus, a beggar full of sores laying at the gate.  There are plenty of people today who are in need, but too often they are either ignored or looked down on.  Verse twenty-one continues, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  Lazarus ate from the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table while dogs licked his sores.  The dogs may have had more compassion on Lazarus than the rich man did, because at least they acknowledged him and may have brought him some relief.  Today, people in need are too often ignored.   Verse twenty-two states, And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;  One may have been rich and the other a beggar,  but both faced the same ultimate end.  They died, and Lazarus was carried by the angels to heaven while the rich man was buried.  One thing we can be certain of is that we will all die if Jesus Christ does not return first.  Verse twenty-three adds, And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  Though the last verse said the rich man was buried, his soul, like all souls, lived on, but he was in hell.  These are our two choices.  The rich man looked up and saw Abraham and Lazarus in heaven.  He may not have acknowledged Lazarus before, but he did now.  Their status had reversed.  One day, everyone will be judged by their relationship to Jesus Christ and not by their earthly riches.  Verse twenty-four continues, And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.  The rich man now called Abraham father, and asked that Lazarus be permitted to just dip his finger in water and touch it to his tongue.  This is the torment that awaits those who reject Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Of course, I don't believe that Abraham was the one who had the power to grant the rich man’s wish, even had he wanted to.  We must make our prayers to God alone.  Verse twenty-five declares, But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.  Abraham called on the rich man to remember how different Lazarus and he had been in this lifetime.  Those who reject Jesus Christ will have a lifetime to remember how they had allowed the riches of this world to be more important than a relationship with Him.  Verse twenty-six adds, And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.  Abraham said there was no way to pass from heaven to hell or from hell to heaven.  Once we die, our everlasting fate is sealed.  Verse twenty-seven says, Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:  The rich man then asked that Lazarus be allowed to go to his father's house and witness there.  If a person realizes in hell the need to accept Jesus Christ to avoid being there, they cannot help others avoid that fate.  Verse twenty-eight adds, For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.  The rich man had five brothers who evidently lived as he had, concerned only with themselves and the riches of this world.  Those in hell may suddenly have concern for their families being able to avoid ending up there themselves, but it will be too late to do anything about it.  Verse twenty-nine states, Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.  Abraham told the rich man that his brothers would have to listen to Moses and the prophets, who proclaimed God's law and the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Himself.  Verse thirty adds, And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.  The rich man said that if someone who had been dead went to his brothers, they would listen.  Verse thirty-one continues, And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.  Abraham said if they would not hear Moses and the prophets that they would not hear One Who had risen from the dead, which Jesus would do.  We can only come to God by putting our faith in Jesus Christ, but we should also live by what God's word teaches us.  There is really only one question that matters in life, and that is whether we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. 

Luke 16:9

Luke 16:9 says, And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.  I believe that this means that we are to use the things of this world wisely and to help others so that God may be glorified.  This will be noted in our everlasting habitation. Verse ten adds, He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.  God expects us to be faithful in the smallest things, and if we are, this will lead us to be faithful when we are blessed with much, and the opposite is also true.  Verse eleven continues, If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?  Jesus asked the people then and we today if we cannot be faithful to God with the unrighteous things of this world, how can we expect God to trust us with His true riches.  We may sometimes believe that once we pay our tithes that everything else is ours to use however we see fit, but we are still to use it all for God's glory and to advance His kingdom.  Verse twelve states, And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?  Jesus said if we cannot be faithful with what belongs to another, then who would give us something of our own to be trusted with.  God expects us to be honest in our dealings with others so that He will know that He can trust us to use the things that He blesses us with wisely.  I believe this applies even to the work that we do for others.  We are to work diligently for them, and not look for reasons why we shouldn't.  Verse thirteen adds, No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.  Jesus tells us that we as followers of Christ cannot serve two masters.  We cannot serve mammon or the things of this world and serve God at the same time.  If the riches of this world are more important to us than God is, then they and not God become our master.  Verse fourteen declares, And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.  When the Pharisees, who coveted the things of the world heard Jesus, they derided Him.  Some people today profess that as Christians we can covet the things of this world and God will bless us with them, but I don't believe that is what the Bible teaches us.  Verse fifteen adds, And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.  Jesus told the Pharisee that He knew what was in their hearts, and that they would try to justify themselves before men by seeking things that were highly esteemed among men, even though they were an abomination in God.  We cannot attempt to use earthly riches themself as a sign of God's blessings on us.  Verse sixteen continues, The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.  Jesus said that the law and prophets had been th guiding forces of the people of Isreal, God's chosen people, until John the Baptist came, and then he pointed them to Jesus, who would be the fulfillment of all that the law and prophets had pointed to.  We live in God's kingdom and should tell the world about it once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse seventeen says, And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.  Jesus also said that it would be easier for the heavens and the earth to pass away then for the smallest part of God's law to pass away.  Though we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ alone, we still need to obey God's law.  Verse eighteen adds, Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.  Jesus then gave the example of a man divorcing his wife, I believe without Biblical grounds, and marrying another being guilty of adultery.  Even if by the grace of God and our faith in Jesus Christ we can be forgiven for this, it is still wrong under God's law and we should not do it.

Luke 16:1

Luke 16:1 says, And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.  Jesus told His disciples about a rich man who had accused his steward of wasting his goods.  When we are entrusted with things from God, we need to use them wisely so that He will never accuse us of wasting them, but one day we will be held accountable.  Verse two adds, And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.  The man told the steward that he was to give an accounting, and that he would no longer be a steward.  If we fail to use the things of God wisely, He may no longer entrust us with anything to use.  Verse three states, Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.  The steward said he didn't know what he would do, because he couldn't dig and was ashamed to beg.  Matthew Henry says it was more that he was unwilling to dig and he wasn't humble enough to beg, even though he had a greater reason foe shame because he had been cheating his master.  If we have been being blessed by God and He quits blessing us because we have been squandering what He blessed us with, what would we do, especially if self pride and an unwillingness to work got in the way.  Verse four adds, I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.  The steward had a plan to indebt those who he had been a steward over to him.  Though this might be good for the steward, he was further cheating his master.  I don't believe this is our best plan.  We should humble ourselves before God, accept responsibility, and ask for His forgiveness.  Verse five continues, So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?  His plan included all those who were debtor's to his master.  We are all debtor's to God, and no one else can really reduce that debt, except Jesus Christ.  Verse six says, And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.  The first man said a hundred measures of oil when askedwhat he owed, and the steward told him to write down fifty instead.  The man had to be willing to go along with the steward's plan.  What we need to realize is that we cannot get away with cheating God, so we should never go along with a plan that would cause us to try to do so.  Verse seven adds, Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.  The next man said he owed the master a hundred measures of wheat, and he was told to put down eighty.  They were both still cheating their master.  Verse eight continues, And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.  The master commended his former steward for being wise in working for a way to provide for himself.  He then said that the people of this world in their generation, or life, are wiser in the eyes of the world than are the children of light.  We may find that those who do not put their faith in God but use their own cunning and understanding to attain the riches of this world are more successful in this lifetime than those who follow Jesus Christ.  This will only last for this lifetime though.

Luke 15:21

Luke 15:21 says, And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.  When the father got to the son, the son confessed his sin. When the heavenly Father comes to us today, either calling us to salvation or calling us back to Him after we have strayed away, all we can do is confess our sins and ask for His forgiveness. Verse twenty-two adds, But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:  The son felt unworthy, but his father put great value on Him, just as our heavenly Father puts great value on us, even though we are unworty.  Verse twenty-three continues, And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:  After telling his servants to get his son dressed properly, the father then told them to get things ready for a celebration, and we are told that the angels celebrate in heaven when a sinner comes to the heavenly Father through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-four concludes, For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.  The father said his son who had been dead to him was alive again, and he had been lost but now was found.  That describes us perfectly today until we come to God by faith, or until we return to Him if we have strayed away.  Verse twenty-five states, Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.  When the elder son, who had not left to go his own way, came home from the field where he had been working, he heard music and dancing.  If we have been faithfully working for God and return home to hear a celebration going on, we might be curious why we didn't know what the celebration was about.  Verse twenty-six adds, And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.  He called the servants to ask what was going on, but a better course of action would have been to go to his father and ask.  That is also our best course of action with our heavenly Father if we have questions about anything.  Verse twenty-seven continues, And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.  The servant told him that his brother had come home and his father had prepared a feast in celebration.  This should have been good news to the older brother, just as it should be good news to us today when a sinner comes home to God.  Verse twenty-eight says, And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.  Instead of being happy for his brothers safe return, he was angry.  Sometimes, it seems that Christians are more upset than being in the mood to celebrate when a sinner comes home, especialif they somehow feel that the one being that the celebration is for is unworthy.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:  The elder son did go to his father to complain, saying he had been mistreated.  If we are basing salvation on our worthiness instead of on God's abounding grace, we may feel the same way, but salvation and even restoration to God is not based on our works or worthiness.  Verse thirty continues, But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.  The older son then gave the reason he felt that the younger son did not deserve a celebration held in his honor.  Sometimes, we can almost feel the same way, more deserving of salvation and forgiveness than someone we feel is a greater sinner.  Verse thirty-one states, And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.  The father told his oldest son that he had always been with him, and all that he had was the older son's.  As long as we remain true to God, all that He has is ours when we need it.  Someone else coming to salvation does not decrease what God has blessed us with.  Verse thirty-two adds, It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.  The father said the celebration was warranted, because the son and brother who had been dead and lost to them had come home.  We really aren't told how the older brother responded, but we can only hope that he began to celebrate with them, and this is what we should do anytime someone who is separated from God for whatever reason comes home to Him.

Luke 15:11

Luke 15:11 says, And he said, A certain man had two sons: Jesus started with one in a hundred, then one in ten, and now it was one in two.  Verse twelve adds, And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.  The younger of the two sons went to his father and demanded his inheritance, which he really wasn't entitled to it until his father died.  Sometimes, people go to God making demands, but we are really not entitled to anything that God doesn't want to give us.  Verse thirteen continues,  And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.  If God does bless us materially, we need to make sure we aren't like the young man and move away from Him and waste it all on riotous living.  Verse fourteen states, And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. After the younger son wasted all his money, there was a famine in the land.  If we are away from our heavenly Father, we can expect a spiritual famine.  Verse fifteen adds, And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.  The young man was reduced to hiring himself out to feed swine, which would have been very very demeaning for a man who had once considered himself wealthy.  Verse sixteen continues, And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.  The young man was hungry enough to eat the husks that the swine at, and anyone who may have claimed to be his friend when he had money was no longer there to help him.  When we move a long way from God, we are totally on our own.  There is no one, friend or former friend, who can help us even if they would.  Verse seventeen says, And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  The young man finally came to his senses and realized that he would be better off as a servant in his father's house than he was where he currently was.  If we come to our senses, we will realize that we are better off as servants of God than we are as the richest person in the world, much less as the poorest.  Verse eighteen adds, I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,  The young man decided to put pride aside and return to his father's house.  If we are a Christian and have strayed away from God, hopefully we will came back to Him.  If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and become a child of God, the hopefully you will come to your senses and come to Him.  Verse nineteen continues, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.  The young man felt that he was no longer worthy to be called a son and would request to just be a servant in his fatherr's house.  We likewise are not worthy to be children of God, but He gives us that right.  Still, we are better off simply as servants of God than being the most powerful person in the world without Him.  Verse twenty declares, And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.  When the young man returned to his father, his father saw him a long way off, had compassion on him, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.  He freely and gladly welcomed his son back, and God will always have compassion on us and welcome us back if we have strayed away.  Of course, He also has compassion on us to welcome us to come to Him the first time by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.