Grace Bible Church
Pastor-Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Thursday
October 15, 2020
Pastor Rick Kabrick
The Gospel of Luke. Part 9. CH 13-14. Pastor Rick Kabrick
To pay for it, he basically took money from the temple treasury that was dedicated to GOD. Naturally this outraged the Jews. So, they protested and Pilate ordered his soldiers to kill the protesters.
It means that we all could die at any time, so repentance must be a top priority. Those who died in both of these instances did not think they would die soon, but they did, and we can suppose that most of them were probably not ready. In terms of belief in the Messiah.
Within a generation (40 years…) those citizens of Jerusalem many of whom had not repented and turned to Jesus, perished in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD.
For 3 years Jesus walked the earth, face to face teaching the people. HE was there, offering them and the world salvation.
GAL 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
First thing we see is that this painful condition was caused by a demon. The circumstances surrounding this are not given.
HE said you’re a hypocrite to pretend you have love for GOD and HIS glory when you don’t.
Jesus also gave a simple reply: If you can help an animal on the Sabbath, why can’t you also help a suffering person on the Sabbath?
The woman was so obviously healed, and the ruler of the synagogue was so obviously wrong that all rejoiced in Jesus’ victory.
Jesus was getting closer HIS appointed work in Jerusalem. In Luke’s description Jesus doesn’t arrive to Jerusalem until chapter 19, but He continues on the way.
Like these who asked Jesus, many people wonder about the salvation of others. But in HIS reply Jesus pointed back to the only person’s salvation we can really know, asking, “Are you yourself saved?”
The point here is that there will come a time when it is too late to enter; that is why one must have an urgency to enter now. That is much of the theme of this chapter, repent before its too late.
In speaking of those excluded from the Kingdom of GOD, Jesus said that they would be in hell (the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth), and that they would see that others enter instead of them.
There are Pastors who never or rarely mention anything about hell and that is a disservice to those under his charge.
This is interesting, it would seem from this exchange that not all the Pharisees opposed Jesus. These wanted to protect HIM from the plotting of Herod. An act worthy of great punishment if caught I’m sure.
To the Jew the fox was a symbol of three things. First it was regarded as the slyest of animals. Second, it was regarded as the most destructive of animals. Third, it was the symbol of a worthless and insignificant man.
When GOD repeats a name twice, it is to display deep emotion. This deep love Jesus had for Jerusalem was with full knowledge of the city’s sins.
Even though Jesus had some of HIS greatest disputes with the Pharisees, HE still associated with them – not to be one of them, but to love them and show them a godly example.
Many teach that the man was invited simply to provoke Jesus into doing something against the Law (healing on the Sabbath) so that they could accuse
Jesus never broke the commandments of GOD, but HE broke mans extended laws to those commandments of GOD. The commandments of GOD are enough, and we should never make the traditions of man – even good traditions – equal to the commandments of GOD.
When we seek to take honor to ourselves, we will always be humbled. Likewise we are not to act meek and humble, so that others may notice how humble we are. This is a subtle form of spiritual pride that is very dangerous.
The master of the feast must have been surprised at the response; he was certainly angry that so many made excuses when given such a wonderful invitation.
If those first invited to the feast refused, there would still be a feast, because the master would not prepare a banquet in vain.
“I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander [the Great], Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and this hour millions of men would die for him.”
Maybe Jesus was saying that the idea of the work of HIS kingdom was like building and battle. Both of those things building and war or battle are usually more costly than originally thought.
All who sacrifice for the LORD will be rewarded, but that is not to be the motivation for serving. We serve because HE loves us, and we love HIM.
And remember GOD’s way of rewarding and GOD’s timing of rewarding may not match up with our way of thinking.
We can never give people the impression that they have to clean up their lives before they come to Jesus.
Likewise we can never give people the impression that Jesus won’t want to clean up their lives if they live inside HIS plan for their life.
Salt loses it flavor usually by absorbing moister thus changing the chemical makup.
Likewise, a believer who through corruption or hard hearted lifestyle away from GOD loses their value as a follower of Jesus.
Salt is only useful when it has the nature of salt. A Christian is only useful when he or she has the nature of Christ.