Bible in one year 1/29/2022 Luke 19-20 By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Bible in one year 1/29/2022 Luke 19-20

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; pastoral ministry & counseling

 

Chapter 19 Saving Zaccheus- Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. (Luke19:1-10)

A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.(Luke19:1-6)

All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zaccaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my

possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke19: 7-10)

 

Tax collector (v.2) as a collector for the Romans, he therefore had a bad reputation, since the system was open to abuse and extortion was common. The word chief implies that Zaccheus was responsible for all the taxes of Jericho and had other collectors under him. 

Taken,(v.8) The same Greek word as in 3:14. It is a mild way of saying “extorted.” The tax collectors would put an excessive value on property or income, or increase the tax of those unable to pay, and would then practice usury. However evil this tax collector was, he nevertheless was a son of Abraham, a chosen heir of God’s promised inheritance (Gal.3:7,29). Zaccheus’s declaration of what he intended to do from then on, now that his life had been changed by Christ. Once a sinner receives the Savior, the issue of his dynamic salvation is that he deals with material possessions and clears his past sinful life.

In verse 10 indicates that the Savior coming to Jericho was not accidently but purposeful; He came to seek this unique lost sinner, just as He sought the sinful woman in Samaria (John4:4) 

 

Jesus’ teaching concerning faithfulness –Parable ten minas (19:11-27)

While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people though that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. “Put this money to work,” he said, “until I come back.”(vv.11-13)

 

            But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, “We don’t want this man to be our king.” He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. the first one came and said, “ Sir, your mina has earned ten more.” “Well done, my good servant!” his master replied. “Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.” (vv.14-17)

 

The second came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned five more.” His master answered, “you take charge of five cities.” Then another servant came and said, “Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.” His master replied, “ I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?” (vv.18-23)

 

Then he said to those standing by, “Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.” “Sir, they said, he already has ten!” He replied, “I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them-bring them here and kill them in front of me. (vv.24-27).

 

Spiritually, this further parable continuation of the preceding case of salvation. It depicts how the saved ones should serve the Lord that they may inherit the coming kingdom.

Verse 12 a man of noble signifying the Savior, who is the highest status-the God –man, both honorable in His deity and noble in His humanity, went to a distant country signifying the Savior’s going to heaven after His death and resurrection (24:51;1Pet.3:22) return. Signifying the Savior’s coming back with the kingdom (Dan.7:13-14; Rev.11:15;2Tim.4:1)

Verse 13 Minas. A mina was a measure of money worth one hundred drachmas or denarii. A mina is equal to one hundred drachmas, or one hundred days’ wages. Notice that each servant received the same amount (in contrast to the parable of the talents in which each received according to his ability. The minas represent the equal opportunity of life itself; the talents, the different gift God gives each individual. In the parable in Matt.25:14-30, the slaves are given a varying number of talents according to their individual ability; here the parable emphasizes the common portion given equally to each slave based on the common salvation. However, the point of both parables is the same; the faithfulness of the slaves will determine their portion their portion as their reward in the coming kingdom.

Verse 29 Bethphasge. Its site is unknown though was near Bethany, which was on the SE side of the Mount of Olives.

Verse 14 his subject (citizen) hated him. Signifying the unbelieving Jews hated Savior. Do not want Him to be the King. This was fulfilled in Acts2-9.

Verse 17 take charge of ten cities. Signifying the overcomers’ reigning over the nations (Rev.2:26;20:4,6)

Verse 19 five cities. indicating that the overcoming saints’ reigning in the coming kingdom as a reward will differ in extent.

Verse 20 laid away in a piece of cloth (handkerchief) Signifying that the unfaithful believers keep their salvation in an idle way instead of using it productively. To keep the Lord’s salvation laid away is to not make use of it. Such idleness toward the Lord will cause the unfaithful believers to be condemned and to suffer loss.

 

The condemnation of the son of man for men - A Sunday, going up to Jerusalem 19:28-44

 

After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “God to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” Tell him, “The Lord needs it.” (vv.28-30).

 

Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They replied, “The Lord needs it.” They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” (vv.32-38)

 

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” I tell you, He replied, “If they keep quiet the stones will cry out.” As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace –but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you. (vv.39-44)

 

Monday 19:45-48

Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling.” It is written, he said to them, “My house will be a house of prayer; but you have made it a den of robbers.” (v.46) every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Yet, they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

 

In the preceding verse the Savior finished His ministry. Now the time came when He needed to go up to Jerusalem to present Himself to the death ordained by God for the accomplishing of God’s eternal redemption. Although He knew that the leaders of Judaism were seeking the opportunity to kill Him. He still went straight ahead boldly. Verse 42 what would bring you peace. This will be in the restoration of Israel (Acts.1:6) after the Savior’s return.

            Verse 45 They will dash you to the ground.  This was fulfilled in A.D.70 through the Roman prince Titus with his army. The Savior’s first coming, when He visited them in grace in the acceptable year of the Lord.  To miss the Lord’s visitation of grace and thereby lose the opportunity to repent and be saved will cause a person to be judged and to regret forever.

 

Chapter 20    Sadducees say no resurrection 20:27-38

 

Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. “Teacher”, they said, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. The second and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. Finally, the woman died too. Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her? (vv.27-33)

Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive. (vv. 34-38) 

 Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher! And no one dared to ask him any more question.(vv.39-40)

 

 In Old Testament Deut.25:5-10.According to the laws a man died without an heir, any unmarried brother was obliged to marry the man’s widow. Like the angels.(v.36)  In the resurrection stage, there is no marriage or procreation. The coming age of the kingdom (13:28-29;22:18) and the resurrection of life (John 5:29;Luke14:14;Rev.20:4,6) are eternal blessings and enjoyments in the eternal life for the believers who are counted worthy(18:29-30;Matt.19:28-29).

Verse 40 no one dared to ask him any more questions. The faultfinding opposes insidious questions exposed their evil, subtlety, and meanness, which were the exact opposites of the Man-Savior’s perfection, wisdom, and dignity. This vindicated Him in His human perfection with His divine splendor and muzzled them in their hateful plot and their Satan-instigated conspiracy (Matt.22). They were trying to find fault with the Man-Savior, but eventually they were subdued by Him, the perfect and blameless one.

Then Jesus said to them,, “How is it that they say the Christ is the Son of David?      David himself declares in the Book of Psalms; “The Lord said to my Lord; “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” (v.41-42) David calls him “Lord” How then can he be his son? While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ house and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.”(vv.44-47)

After muzzling all His opposers, the Savior warned His disciples of the hypocrisy and evils of the scribes, indicating that they were condemned by the One in whom they tried their best to find fault. Pretense make long prayers, down through the ages prayer has been offered as a pretense and has been misused by man. Such men will be punished or condemned.

 

 

Bibliography,

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

Bible in one year 1/28/2022 Luke 17-18 By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Bible in one year 1/28/2022 Luke 17-18

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; pastoral ministry & counseling

 

Chapter 17 Jesus’ teaching concerning forgiveness 17:1-6

Jesus said to his disciple: “It is impossible for causes of stumbling not to come, but woe to him through whom they come. It is more profitable for him if a millstone is put around his neck and he is hurled into the sea than to stumble one of these little ones. (Luke17:1-2)Take heed to

yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day and turn again to you seven times, saying , I repent, you shall forgive him.(Luke17:3-4)

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed. You can say to this mulberry tree, “be uprooted and planted in the sea. And it will obey you”

 

Jesus’ teaching concerning gratitude 17:11-19

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along to border between Samaria, and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them when he saw he was healed came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (Luke17:11-19)

 

Jesus’ teaching concerning the kingdom 17:20-37

Once, having been asking by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, “Here it is, or there it is, because the kingdom of God is within you.” Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. Men will tell you, “There he is! Or “Here he is!” Do not go running off after them. For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. (Luke17:20-25)

 

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.  It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying, and selling, planting, and building. But the day  Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. (vv.26-29).

It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left. “Where, Lord?” they asked. He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.” (vv.30-36).

 

Biblical implication & interpretation

          Verse 20 indicating that the kingdom of God is not material but spiritual. It is the Savior in His first coming (vv.21-22), in His second coming (vv.23-30), in the rapture of His overcoming believers (vv.31-36), and in His destroying of the Antichrist (v.37) to recover the whole earth for His reign there (Rev.11:15)

            Verse 22-24,  prove that the kingdom of God is the Savior Himself, who was among the Pharisees when He was questioned by them Wherever the Savior is. There the kingdom of God is. The Kingdom of God is with Him and He brings it to His disciples (v.22) He is the seed of the kingdom of God to be sown into God’s chosen people to develop into God’s ruling realm. Since His resurrection He has been within His believers (John14:20; Rom8:10). Hence, the kingdom of God is within the church today (Rom14:17)

Verse 22 This indicates the Savior’s absence. During His absence, the world, having rejected Him, will be an evil generation, living in the indulgence of lust (vv.23-30), and an opponent of His followers, persecuting them because of their testimony concerning Him (18:1-8). Hence, His followers need to overcome the stupefying effect of the world’s indulgent living by losing their soul-life in this age (vv.31-33). Also, they need to deal with the world’s persecution by being long suffering and praying persistently in faith (18:7-8), that they may be ruptured as overcomers and enter into the enjoyment of the kingdom of God at the Savior’s coming back (vv.34-37).

Verse 26 the conditions of evil living that stupefied the generation of Noah before the deluge and the generation of Lot before the perilous condition of man’s living before the Lord’s parousia (presence, coming) and the great tribulation (Matt.24:3) To participate in the overcomers’ rapture that we may enjoy the Lord’s parousia and escape the great tribulation, we must overcome the stupefying effect of man’s living today.

Verse 32 Lot’s wife became a pillar of salt because she took a lingering look backward at Sodom, indicating that she loved and treasured the evil world that God was going to judge and utterly destroy. She was rescued from Sodom, but she did not reach the safe place that Lot reached (Gen19:15-30).She did not perish; neither was she fully saved. Like the salt that becomes tasteless (14:34-35) She was left in a place of shame. This is a solemn warning to the world- loving believers.

Verses 33, preserving our soul-life are related to lingering in the earthly and material things, as mentioned in v.31. We linger in the earthly things because we care for our soul’s enjoyment in this age. This will cause us to lose our soul; that is, our soul will suffer the loss of its enjoyment in the coming kingdom age.

Verse 34, for vv34-36, in these verses the rapture of the overcoming believers is revealed. It will occur secretly and unexpectedly, at night for certain believers who are sleeping and in the daytime for certain sisters grinding at home and certain in brothers working in the field. They are chosen because they have overcome the stupefying effect of the age. In 14:25-35 the Savior charges us to pay the price, insofar as we are able, that we may follow Him. In 16:1-13 He charges us to overcome mammon that we may serve Him prudently as faithful stewards. In vv.22-37 of this chapter, He charges us to overcome the stupefying effect of self-indulgent living in this age that we may be raptured into the enjoyment of His presence, coming. All these charges are related to the believers’ overcoming in their practical living. 

         Verse 30 in will be just like this. Until the time of Christ’s return, many people will be prosperous, feel secure, and be unprepared for His return as in the days of Noah and Lot. Vultures. A reference to the carnage of Armageddon (Rev.19:17-19).

 

Chapter 18 Jesus’ teaching concerning prayer 18:1-14

 

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give

up. He said, “ In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, “Grant me justice against my adversary.” For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, “Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet, because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!” (Luke18:1-6).

 

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones; who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (vv.6-8)

 

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: (v.9) 

Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke18:10-14)

 

Biblical implication & interpretation

Verse 3, we believers in Christ have an opponent, Satan the devil, concerning whom we need God’s avenging. We ought to pray persistently for this avenging (Rev.6:9-10) and should not lose heart.

Verse 9 What is covered in vv.9-30 may consider the conditions and requirements for entering into the kingdom of God: (1) to humble one-self as a sinner before God, realizing the need of God’s propitiation (vv.9-14); (2) to be like a little child, without any preoccupying concept (vv.15-17); and (3) to follow the Savior by overcoming being occupied by riches and all other material matters (vv.18-30).

Verse 11 this does not sound like a prayer but like an accusing of others. Verse 12 does not sound like a prayer but like an arrogant boast to God. Such boasting is an utterly detestable sin.

Verse 13 the tax collector realized how his sinfulness offended God; hence, he asked God to be propitiated, to be appeased toward him by a propitiatory sacrifice for sins, that God might be merciful and gracious to him.

 

 

Bibliography,

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 

Bible in one year - Luke 15-16 1/27/2022 By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Bible in one year 1/27/2022 Luke 15-16

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; pastoral ministry & counseling

 

Chapter 15 God’s love for sinner

         Jesus used Parable of a Shepherd seeking a sheep and a parable of a father receiving His son (Luke15:1-32)

Chapter 16  Jesus' teaching concerning wealth

 

Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, “What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.” “The manager said to himself, “What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I ‘m ashamed to beg. I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.”(Luke16:1-4).

 

Verse 1 indicating continuation. In the preceding chapter the Lord spoke three parables concerning a sinner’s salvation. In this chapter He continued with one more parables, this one concerning the believer’s service. After a sinner becomes a believer, he needs to serve the Lord as a prudent. In verse 4, signifying being received into the eternal tabernacles  (v.9).

 

So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, “How much do you owe my master? “ Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,” He replied. The manager told him, “Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.” Then he asked the second, “ And how much do you owe?” “A thousand bushels of wheat,” he replied. He told him, “take your bill and make it eight hundred.” (Luke16:5-8)

 

The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. (Luke16:9)

 

Verse 9 to use money to do things to help others according to God’s leading. Money is of the satanic world. It is unrighteous in its position and existence. The steward in the parable exercised his prudence by his unrighteous act. The Lord teaches us, His believers, to exercise our prudence in the use of unrighteous mammon. After the satanic world is over, mammon will be of no use in the kingdom of God. The prudent believers will be received into the eternal dwelling by those who shared the benefit of their prudence. This will be fulfilled in the coming kingdom age.

 

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handing worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? (vv.10-12)

 

Verse 12 In His New Testament economy God does not intend that the New Testament believers care for material possessions. Though the material things of this world were created by God and belong to Him (1Chron.29:14, 16), they have been corrupted by man’s fall (Rom.8:20-21) and usurped by Satan, the evil one (1John5:19); therefore, they belong to fallen man and are unrighteous (v.9). While God does supply the believers with their daily necessities from the material things of this age (Matt.6:31-33) and commits to them as His stewards a portion of these material goods for their exercise and learning that He might prove them in this age, none of these goods should be considered theirs until the restitution of all things in the next age (Acts3:21). Not until then will the believers inherit the world (Rom.4:13) and have an abiding possession (Heb.10:34) for themselves. In this age they should exercise to be faithful in the temporary material things God has given them that they may learn to be faithful toward their eternal possession in the coming age.   

 

No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Luke16:13)

 

Verse 13 serve in Greek, hold to one means cleave to the one as against the other. This indicates that to serve the Lord requires us to love Him, giving out heart to Him, and cleave to Him, giving our entire being to Him. Thus we are released from being occupied and usurped by mammon that we may serve the Lord wholly and fully. The Lord emphasizes here that to serve Him we must overcome the enticing deceitful mammon of unrighteousness.

 

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.” (Luke16:14-15)

 

Verse 15 the self-justifying of the Pharisees was a prideful exalting of self; hence, it was an abomination in the sight of God.

 

The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.(vv.16-17) Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.(vv.18)

 

          Verse 16 indicating the change of dispensation from the law to the gospel; To the Pharisees, the money lovers, the Savior preached the kingdom of God as the gospel (v.14). Money and sexual lust, which is incited by money, help them back from entering into the kingdom of God. Hence, the Savior’s preaching hit these two things purposely and strongly in vv.18-31. For the Pharisees to force their way into the kingdom of God, they needed to humble themselves (v.15) and to divorce their money (v.14) not their wives (v.18), that is, to overcome money and lust, which is incited by money.  

 

 

There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. (vv.19-21)

 

Verse 19 this is not a parable, because it mentions names such as Abraham, Lazarus and Hades. It is a story used by the Savior as an illustrative answer to the money –loving and self-justifying Pharisees (vv.14-15); it is a warning to them, unveiling that their future will be miserable, like that of the rich man, as a result of their rejection of the Savior’s gospel because of their love for money.

 

The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment he looked up and saw Abraham faraway, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.”(vv.22- 24).

 

But Abraham replied, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.” (vv.25-26)

 

Verse 26 A gulf that divides Hades into two sections: the pleasant section, where Abraham, Lazarus, and all the saved saints are (v.22), and the section of torment, where the rich man and all the perished sinners are (vv.23a,28). The two sections are cut off from each other and have no bridge between them for passage. Yet those in the two sections can see and even talk to one another (vv.23-25),

 

He answered, “Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warm them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.” “Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.” (vv.27-29)

 

Verse 29 Referring to the Law of Moses and the books of the prophets, which are the word of God (Matt.4:4). Whether one hears the word of God or not determines whether one is saved or perishes. The poor man was saved not because he was poor but because he heard the word of God (John5:24; Eph.1:13). The rich man perished not because he was rich but because he rejected the word of God.(Acts.13:46).

 

“No, father Abraham,” he said, “But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.” He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” (vv.30-31)

 

Verse 31 if people do not hear what the word of God says, they will not be persuaded even if someone miraculously rises from the dead. The Savior’s word here implied that is the Jews, represented by the Pharisees, did not hear the word of God spoken through Moses and the prophets in the Old Testament, they would not be persuaded even though He would rise from the dead. This very tragedy occurred after His resurrection. (Matt.28:11-15;Acts13:30-40,44-45)

 

 

 Bibliography,

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 

Bible in one year 1/26/2022 Luke 13-14 By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Bible in one year 1/26/2022 Luke 13-14

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; pastoral ministry & counseling

 

Chapter 13  Teaching concerning Repentance13:1-9

 

Now there were some present at the time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on the them – do you think they were more guilty them all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke13:1-5)

Then he told this parable: ? A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, “For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil? “ Sir, the man replied, “leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not then cut it down.” (vv.13:6-9)

 Theological interpretation & implication

            Though there is no other record of this incident, apparently some Galileans were slain by Pilate’s soldiers while offering sacrifices at the Temple, so that their blood and the blood of the sacrifices were mixed. The point Christ makes is that this did not happen to them because were worse sinners than other Galileans, but that all need to repent. A fig tree. The fruitless fig tree was symbolic of the Jewish people. God’s judgment is sure, and His patience is great. The Lord used the two incidents in vv.1-5 to remind the Jews that now was the time for them to repent and that if they did not, they would all perish like the victims of those two incidents.

This parable indicates that God the owner came in the Son to seek fruit from the Jewish people, who were likened to a fig tree planted in God’s Promised Land, the vineyard. He had been seeking fruit for three years, but had not found any. He wanted to cut the Jews down, but God the Son as the vinedresser prayed for them, asking God the Father to tolerate them until the Son died for them (dug the ground around the fig tree) and gave them fertilizer (threw on manure), at which point, He hoped, they would repent and produce fruit. Otherwise, they would be cut down.

 

Jesus teaching concerning hypocrisy and healed a bent –double woman on the Sabbath13:10-17

On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your

infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. ((Luke13:10-13)

Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” (v.14) The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox and donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set from on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” (vv.15-16)  

When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. (v.17)

 Theological interpretation & implication

            A woman was bent over (v.11) signifies a person’s being oppressed by a demon to an extreme, so that the person is bent toward the satanic world only and is unable to stand erect to look into the heavens. Satan used not only the evil spirit to possess the woman but also the religious ruler to oppose her being released by the Lord. Religion is much used by the usurper to keep God’s chosen people under his oppression. The Sabbath was ordained by God so that man could rest (Gen.2:3) not so that man would remain under bondage. Be set free. (v.16). Her healing was obligatory, especially since animals could be watered on the Sabbath. (v.15).

 

Jesus’ teaching concerning the entrance into the kingdom of God (Luke 13:18-35)

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.” (Luke13:18-19)

 

Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.” (vv.20-21)Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”(v.23) He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, “Sir, open the door for us.” But he will answer, “I don’t know you or where you come from.” Then you will say, “We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.” But He will reply, “I do not know you or where you come from, away from me, all you evildoers.” (vv.24-27)

 

There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first and first who will be last. (vv.28-30)

 

At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go tell that fox, “I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal. In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem! “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” (vv.31-35).

 

Theological interpretation & implication

 

           Mustard seed.(v.19) From the smallest of seeds the Palestinian mustard plant grows in one season to a shrub the size of a small tree. Narrow door.(v.24) Christ Himself, apart from whom there is no other way to heaven (John14:6). That fox (v.32) Herod Antipas is described as a fox, known for its use of cunning deceit to achieve its aims. Your house is left to you desolate. This was fulfilled when the Temple was destroyed in A.D. 70 and the Jews were expelled under Hadrian in A.D.135. Blessed is he who comes. (Ps.118:26) This will be fulfilled at the second coming of Christ.

The Jews asked about salvation (v.23).But the Lord answered concerning participation in the kingdom of God in the millennium which will be the most enjoyable part of God’s full salvation before the enjoyment of the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth (rev.21:1-3a,5-7;22:1-5). Verse 30 last who will be first, referring to the saved Gentiles, who will receive the Savior before some of the saved Jews and will participate in the kingdom of God in the millennium (v.29). First who will be last (v.30) referring to the Jews who will believe in the Lord after the Gentiles believe (Rom.11:25-26). The word in this verse is applied in another sense in Matt.19:30;20:16 and Mark10:31.

In verse 32 Today and tomorrow and on the third day. This indicates that the Lord had a set schedule to carry out His ministry, to end His course, and to reach His goal through His death and resurrection, and that no one, not even Herod, could prevent Him from accomplishing it. Verse 33 I must journey. The threat (v.31) did not prevent the Lord from journeying to Jerusalem to accomplish His redemptive death. Rather, He was bold to proceed there (Mark10:33) to reach the goal of His entire ministry. In verse 35 Your house is left to you desolate. The house (singular in Greek) was God’s house; God’s temple. Because the Jews rejected the Lord, that is, God ‘s coming in the Son, the Lord rejected the temple, considering it the house of the Jews themselves and leaving it to them that it might suffer the coming destruction and become desolate.

 

Chapter 14 Jesus’ teaching concerning the acceptance of God’s invitation (Luke 14:15-24)

           

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” Jesus replied, “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many quests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, “Come, for everything is now ready.” But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, “I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it .Please excuse me.” Another said, “I have just bought five yoke of oxen and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.”  “Still another said, “I just got married so I can’t come.” (Luke14:15-20).

 

The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his Servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” “Sir, the servant said, “What you ordered has been done, but there is still room.” “Then the master told his servant, “Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.” (Luke14:21-24)

 Theological interpretation & implication

           Luke 14:16-24 express the open, compelling invitation to come to Christ for salvation. Verse 16 great banquet. This great dinner is different from the wedding feast in Matt.22:2-14, which was for the reward of the kingdom. This great dinner is for God’s full salvation. God, as the “certain man,” prepared His full salvation as a great dinner and sent the first apostles as His slaves to invite the Jews (vv.16-17). But because they were occupied by their riches, such as land, cattle, or a wife, they refused His invitation (vv.18-20).Then God sent the apostles to invite the people on the streets- the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. Because of their poverty and misery, they accepted God’s invitation (vv.21-22a). Yet God’s salvation still had room for more; so He sent His slave to go out farther, to the Gentile world. Signified by the roads and hedges, to compel the Gentiles to come in and fill up the house of His salvation. (vv.22b-23;Acts13:46-48;Rom.11:25).

 

Jesus’ teaching how to follow the cost of following Him (Luke14:25-35)

 

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said, “ If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children his brothers and sisters –yes, even his own life- he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (vv.25-27).

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.”(vv.28-30).

Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he had cannot be my disciple. (vv.31-33).

Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He, who has ears to hear, let him hear.(vv.34-35).

Theological interpretation & implication

         Verses 25-33 express the cautions His followers to consider carefully the cost of full commitment to Christ in a life of service. Hate (v.26) doesn’t justify malice or ill will toward one’s family, but it means that devotion to family must take second place to one’s devotion to Christ.

The Lord unveiled to the crowds who went along with Him, the cost of following Him. To receive salvation is to be saved; to follow the Lord is to enjoy Him as the blessing of God’s salvation. This require us to renounce all, even our life, and to carry our own cross.(vv.26-27,33). The aim of the cross is not suffering but the termination of the person. The believers in Christ have been crucified (terminated) with Him (Gal.2:20); Rom.6:6). After bring organically united with Him through faith, they should remain on the cross, keeping their old man under the termination of the cross (Rom.6:3; Col.2:20-21). This is to carry their own cross. Christ first carried the cross and then was crucified (John19:17-18). But the believers in Him are first crucified and then carry the cross that they may remain in the termination of their old man. Thus experiencing and enjoying Christ as their life and life supply. 

In verse 28 and verse 31 The Lord’s word indicate that to make a career of following the Lord, we must give to it all we have and all we can do; otherwise, we will be a failure, becoming the tasteless salt and being thrown out of the glorious realm into a sphere of shame. (vv.34-35). 

Verse 34 indicates that the believers in Christ are the salt of the earth used by God to kill and eliminate the earth’s corruption. Their taste depends on their renouncing (or rejecting) of earthly things. The more they renounce the things of earth, the more powerful will be their taste. They will lose their taste by not being willing to renounce all the things of the present life. If this happens, they will be fit neither for the land, signifying the church as God’s farm (1Cor.3:9), which issues in the coming kingdom (Rev.11:15), nor for the manure pile, signifying hell, the filthy place in the universe (Rev.21:822:15) They will be thrown out from the kingdom of God, especially from the glory of the kingdom in the millennium. They are saved from eternal perdition, but because they have failed to renounce the earthly things, they lose their function in the kingdom of God, thus being unfit for the coming kingdom and needing to be put aside for discipline.

 

 

Bibliography,

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.