Meditate on it

Section 92 SECOND GREAT GROUP OF PARABLES (Probably in Peræa) Subdivision E PARABLE OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS STEWARD LUKE 16:1-18 The Parable of the Dishonest Manager Jesus directs this parable to a broad group of disciples. Others are present, including his opposition.  This parable is unique to Luke. "The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.  And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings."  Luke 16:8-9 This translation from The Message is helpful: "Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits.  I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention o

Section 92 SECOND GREAT GROUP OF PARABLES Probably in Peræa Subdivision D PARABLE OF THE LOST SON LUKE 15:11-32 Luk 15:11  And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.  A man… had two sons; the contrast between his sons is the point of the parable. BKC "And he divided unto them his living." -Luke 15:12 "Abraham so divided his estate in his lifetime (Gen. 25:1- 6); but the custom does not appear to have been general among the Jews. God, however, gives gifts and talents to us all, so the parable fits the facts of life--Ps. 145:9; Matt. 161 5:45; Acts 10:34." -Fourfold Gospel "The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. " Psalm 145:9 "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5:45 " Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no

Section 92 SECOND GREAT GROUP OF PARABLES. (Probably in Peræa) Subdivisions A, B, & C INTRODUCTION LUKE 15:1-10 Setting--Luke 14: 25 relates that "great crowds were accompanying him."  Luke 15 begins with the observation that "the tax collectors and sinners" were following him and that the Pharisees and scribes complained about this. Then he tells them the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son: "The Lord speaks his three parable-stories of the "lost," in which he explains his reason for loving and receiving the sinful." -Pulpit Commentary "Those who have always lived an outwardly correct life and who do not think themselves in need of repentance are the ninety and nine." F.B. Meyer Although Meyer's observation may seem obvious, it's significant to nail the context to fully understand the story.  This story was directed to the self-righteous Jewish community who had no room for and openly

Section 91 COST OF DISCIPLESHIP MUST BE COUNTED, continued Probably Peræa LUKE 14:28-35 " Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple." -Luke 14:33 " You must be always ready for the cross, always preparing for it, whether it seem near, or whether it seem further off . One paraphrase the words thus, “Whosoever doth not come to Me with a preparation of mind to suffer anything rather than part with Me, he is not for My turn.” This is to bear the cross daily, as Christ requires Luk_9:1-62. Though every day do not afford a cross, yet every day we bear the cross by daily preparing for it 1Co_15:31: "And why do you think I keep risking my neck in this dangerous work? I look death in the face practically every day I live. Do you think I'd do this if I wasn't convinced of your resurrection and mine as guaranteed by the resurrected Messiah Jesus? 1 Cori

Section 91 COST OF DISCIPLESHIP MUST BE COUNTED Probably Peræa LUKE 14:25-27 "And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:25-26 "To emphasize that discipleship is difficult, Jesus said that one must hate his own family and even his own life in order to be His disciple. Literally hating one’s family would have been a violation of the Law. Since Jesus on several occasions admonished others to fulfill the Law, He must not have meant here that one should literally hate his family. The stress here is on the priority of love (cf. Mat_10:37). One’s loyalty to Jesus must come before his loyalty to his family or even to life itself. Indeed, those who did follow Jesus against their families’ desires were probably thought of as hating their families."-BKC "S

Section 90 DINING WITH A PHARISEE SABBATH HEALING AND THREE LESSONS SUGGESTED BY THE EVENT Probably Peræa LUKE 14:1-24 The Fourfold Gospel provides a bit of historical background on the customs of banquets: And he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready .  Luke 14:17 "The custom of sending a second invitation at the supper hour is a very old one (Esth. 5:8; 6:14), and is still observed."-Fourfold "The triclinia, or Grecian table, then in use had three sections which were placed together so as to form a flatbottomed letter U. The space enclosed by the table was not occupied. It was left vacant that the servants might enter it and attend to the wants of the guests who reclined around the outer margin of the table. The central seat of each of these three sections were deemed a place of honor. This struggle for precedence was a small ambition, but many of the ambitions of our day are equally smal

Section 89 THE STRAIT GATE, WARNED AGAINST HEROD (Peræa) LUKE 13:22-35 " And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that are saved? Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. " When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ " -Luke 13:23-27 Illustration from Kingsway Bible School This parable reads like a nightmare to me.  It brings out the worst of my works based fears-the thought that I would miss the main point, arrive too late, be left out and excluded from the best.  How am I to interpret this warning?  To whom was it addressed? From

Strive---a concept study  (from the TSK cross reference) agōnizomai ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee From G73; to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or generally (to endeavor to accomplish something): - fight, labor fervently, strive. -Strong's Although entrance into the Kingdom is not a works-based act, life in the Kingdom clearly involves hard work: Luk 13:24  “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able Luk 21:36  But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Gen 32:25  When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.  Mat 11:12  From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.

Section 88  FEAST OF THE DEDICATION THE JEWS ATTEMPT TO STONE JESUS AND HE RETIRES TO PERÆA (Jerusalem and beyond Jordan) JOHN 10: 22-42 Setting:  feast of dedication (winter) = Hanukkah More on Hanukkah: "Hanukkah. It is generally believed that this feast was instituted by Judas Maccabeus when the temple was rededicated after being defiled by Antiochus Epiphanes, 165 b.c. It was a yearly feast, instituted by the Jewish people, and not one of the feasts of the Lord." -Believer's Bible Lots of commentary on this passage where Christ points out that their law calls them "sons of God." Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do

Section 87  SABBATH HEALING  MUSTARD SEED AND LEAVEN  (Probably Peræa)  LUKE 13:10-21  Overview:  When Jesus is teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath, he heals a hunched-over woman suffering from a "disabling spirit" for 18 years.  She immediately praises God, but the ruler of the synagogue is "indignant" because Jesus healed her on the Sabbath. When individuals organize into religious organizations, the result is that some are attracted to the prestige and power at the expense of the mission. Here, the synagogue leader gets hung up on the technicalities of the healing (and probably his own ego issues) instead of praising God himself and rejoicing for this poor woman. Our highest mission is never "the church" but THE Church, and the mission of THE Church is healing, liberation, and love. "But the words hold a wider truth, applicable to our conduct. The relief of human sorrow is always in season. It is a sacred duty which hallows