Tag Archive | God

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (6/10) Luke 24:36-52

Jun10

A five-day-per-week study

June 10 – Luke 24:36-52

Read and Believe in Jesus

“It is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” Luke 24:46b-48

The Gospel according to Luke.

REVIEW – Jesus, in His “resurrected body disguise,” joined two disciples as they walked to Emmaus from Jerusalem after Passover week. They were astounded that this man didn’t know all the amazing things that had happened there, and told Him. Jesus then explained how all those things fulfilled the prophesies about the Messiah in the Scriptures. The two were amazed and said that “their hearts burned.” Jesus accepted their invitation to stay at their home, and when He took the bread, broke it, and gave it to them …. they suddenly recognized him as their Master. At that moment Jesus disappeared. The two rushed back to Jerusalem to tell the apostles.

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Luke 24:36-43.

Meanwhile, back in Jerusalem, the apostles and disciples were hearing and rejoicing at Simon Peter’s account of seeing Jesus himself. The two from Emmaus arrived and told their story. And there was great rejoicing.

As they were talking, encouraging each other, Jesus suddenly appeared among them. “Peace to you,” He immediately said, for they were frightened, thinking He was a ghost!

“Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

(We may laugh at them, but seriously! How would YOU feel if Jesus in resurrected flesh was suddenly behind you while you read this on your phone or tablet? You would be wide-eyed. You would gasp. Your heart might start pounding. I know that’s how “I” would feel.)

Jesus then held out His nail-printed hands and showed his scarred feet. Surely they could see the healed wounds the crown of thorns made on his forehead. Yes, it was Jesus! Yes, He had risen as He said! But oh, how absolutely amazing and astounding it was to actually SEE Him. They looked and touched, wide-eyed and trembling. They saw Jesus but still “disbelieved for joy.”

(You know how that is. Sometimes something is SO amazing, we might say, “Wow! Unbelievable! I can’t believe I saw that!” That’s the attitude they had.)

Smiling at their amazement and joy, Jesus sought further proof to show them, and asked for some food. Surely ghosts don’t EAT! They gave Jesus a piece of boiled fish, and He ate it. Oh, how they watched wide-eyed as He bit, chewed, and swallowed.

(I can even see Him open His mouth and stick out His tongue to show that the fish had actually been swallowed!! Ha-ha)

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Luke 24:44-49.

Then, as He had done with the two on the road to Emmaus, Jesus told them that “Everything written about Me in 1) the Law of Moses, 2) the Prophets, and 3) the Psalms (the whole Old Testament) must be fulfilled.” Then Jesus did a wonderful thing. He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. Often, when He had taught the crowds, He told His disciples that they wouldn’t understand it all “then,” but they would later. NOW was that time.

(Can you imagine how it would be to totally understand and “see” Jesus throughout the Bible? We study and learn some, but to have instant understanding! Wow. Of course, these men (and women) would need that knowledge, as well as the Holy Spirit in them, to begin preaching the Gospel to all the world.)

Then Jesus states clearly the Gospel that is to be preached to all nations. “That Christ (Messiah) should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name.” This message would first be preached in Jerusalem and then spread to the whole world.

Jesus also promised that He would “clothe them with the power” they would need for the task. The Holy Spirit of God would soon come upon them. They were to wait in the city until this happened. (40 days later, on Pentecost)

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Luke 24:50-53,

Their clear task before them; the promise of power soon to be fulfilled; it was time for Jesus to return to Glory, to the Father, to the place of honor from which he had come 33 earth-years earlier. From there, He would send the Holy Spirit. And there He would intercede for them when the Tempter tried to prevail. And from there He would welcome them home when they were martyred for His name’s sake.

Jesus led them out as far as Bethany on the easter slope of the Mount of Olives. He lifted up His hands in a final blessing on them. And as He did, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.”

Like we would, they continued to stare in amazement into heaven at the last tiny spot they had seen Jesus. Then they worshiped Him (in praise and prayer). They returned to the Holy City with great joy, and were in the temple continually blessing God.

Hallelujah!!

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Luke omits some incidents and words that the other Gospels include after the Resurrection and goes straight to the glorious point of Jesus’ ascension.

As we study John next, we will see Jesus in those precious moments with Mary Magdalene in the garden, with “doubting” Thomas, who then proclaimed Him as “My Lord and my God”, with 500 disciples at one time in Galilee, and with the disciples beside the Sea, when Peter humbly said three times that he DOES love Jesus.

Matthew ends with the Great Commission and Jesus’ promise, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (5/22) Luke 21:1-19.

May22

A 5-day per week study.

Read and believe in Jesus.

“…you will be brought before kings and governors for My name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness.”  Luke 21:12b-13

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The Gospel according to Luke 

Review – While Jesus taught at the Temple, the Sadducees, Pharisees, and others tried to trick Him with their questions. But His answers stumped them, and when He asked THEM a question, they silently went away,

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Vss. 21:1-4.

At the end of chapter 20, Jesus warned the people to beware of the ways of the scribes (Pharisees), because, among other ridiculous things, they “..devour widows’ houses..” This was a practice in which pious religious leaders would visit newly widowed and vulnerable women and persuade them to give all their inherited possessions to the “religious community.” It would be a “donation to God,” and “what their husbands would have wanted.” This usually left the new widows bankrupt, and the temple coffers bulging. Jesus hated the practice of “devouring widows’ houses.”

Now, it seems that when Jesus lifted His eyes, there, in front of them, was just such a desperately poor widow. (Righteous anger for her must have burned in Him for what those scribes had done. But for the woman, herself, noting but love and tenderness and admiration.

As this widow dropped two tiny copper coins into the temple offering box (ALL that she had, says Mark 12:42), Jesus commended her. “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them (the rich). For they all contributed out of their ABUNDANCE, but she out of her POVERTY, put in all she had to live on.”

(This makes me feel convicted. When I drop 10% or even 20% into the offering box, I often feel so “righteous.” But I would be giving out of “my abundance.” LORD, help me to be generous (even till it hurts) with all You’ve given me!”)

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Vss. 21:5-6.

While Jesus continued to sit in the temple courtyard, watching the people with His disciples, He heard a comment about how beautiful the temple was and how it was adorned with noble stones and decorations (donations from the wealthy). And although this temple was not as grand as Solomon’s, Herod had done a pretty amazing job at renovating the old one. It was almost gaudy-beautiful.

Still, Jesus knew its future was less than 40 years….

“As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will ot be thrown down.”

Shocking words. It would be like someone saying this about the U.S. Capitol Building or the White House. Unimaginable. Still, the God of the universe knew everything from eternity past to eternity future, and Jesus spoke the truth.

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Vss. 21:7-19.

Horrified, the disciples and people around Jesus wanted to know WHEN this would happen and WHAT the warning signs of imminent destruction would be.

Jesus listed a few “signs of the times,” mingling the horrors of 40 A.D. and Titus’ destruction of Jerusalem, with the signs of the Great Tribulation, still future to us.

  1. Many would come, claiming to be the Messiah.
  2. They would hear of wars and tumults.
  3. Nations fighting nations would be common.
  4. Earthquakes would be everywhere.
  5. Famines and plagues (viruses) would come.
  6. Terrible signs in the sky would appear.
  7. Severe persecution would come.
  8. Family betrayals unto death would be common.
  9. Martyrdom.

Then Jesus says some amazing words that speak to a believer’s ETERNAL SECURITY even in the face of martyrdom.

“But not a hair of your head will PERISH. By your endurance, you will GAIN your lives.

John 10:28-29 makes this even clearer. “I (Jesus) give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

True believers are double-protected, in the hands of Christ underneath, and the hands of God Almighty above. Completely covered and protected FOR ETERNITY, though we may suffer loss and death in the horrific times to come (as many Jews did in 40 A.D.).

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(I use the 2010 MacArthur Study Bible, English Standard Version, for my studies.)

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (5/6) Luke 16:1-15

May6

A 5-day per week study.

May 6 – Reading Luke 16:1-15

Read and believe in Jesus.

“No servant can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and money.” Luke

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The Gospel according to Luke 

Review – Jesus told the parable of the Prodigal (wasteful) Son and the hardworking son, and a loving father who welcomes wanderers and disgruntled children alike, but who seeks repentance.

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Vss.  16:1-2

Jesus told this parable to the disciples (not the religious leaders), though it links to the one before. The prodigal son wasted his father’s inheritance, and the manager wasted his master’s possessions.

THIS story is about dishonesty, deception, retaliation, bribery, greed, and shrewdness.  And Jesus seems to condone them all, right?  Yeah, NO! This is the perfect, sinless Son of God.  So let’s try to dig out what He meant with this unusual parable.

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‘There was a rich man who had a crooked manager, and charges were brought against him…”

The rich man called the manager and told him to turn in the books, for he was fired.

So far, so good.

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Vss. 16:3-7.

At first, the manager was in panic mode.  Yikes! “I’m not strong enough to dig!  And I’m ashamed to beg!

Being a day-laborer was out – he’d spend his days with his feet up on a desk, scrolling on his phone, drinking iced sweet tea, and not paying attention to his boss’s assets.

And sitting in the local market, with an alms cup held out to strangers, also did not appeal to him.  Now what?

(He basically didn’t WANT to work.  He liked the ease. Then he got an idea!)

“I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into the houses.”

(Notice his reason, beginning with “so that…”  This was bribery. ‘I do this for you; you will reciprocate this to me.’  No thought for his employer.)

So, that’s what he did.  He went around to all his employer’s debtors and lowered the amounts they owed.  Notice that BOTH parties are complicit. None of the debtors said, ‘Well, that wouldn’t be fair to your employer.’  Nope, they all agreed.

And we presume, if this were a TRUE story, these debtors would have made life easy for that manager.  BUT this is a parable, a story with a lesson to be learned.  And this is the hard part.

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Vss. 16:8a.

Notice the master’s reaction. Totally shocking,

“The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness.”

This shows, first, that the master was also a crook.  One crook to another, he admired his manager’s criminal genius. Perhaps he would have considered re-hiring him if this were a true story.  

It’s clear now that ALL the characters in this story are corrupt/dishonest: the master, the manager, and the debtors.   

Huh!

What does Jesus want His disciples to ‘see’ in this crazy parable?

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Vss. 16:8b-9

First, Jesus says, “The sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.”

Sons of this world – unbelievers.

Sons of light – believers.

(Most unbelievers are wiser in the ways of the [financial] world than some believers are toward the things of God.

Even the most wicked are shrewd enough to provide for themselves against coming evil.  Believers ought to be more ‘shrewd’, because they are concerned with matters of eternity.)

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Jesus continues with true advice to His disciples about what to do NOW to ensure a more fruitful, glorious eternity.  

He says, “Make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.”

“Unrighteous wealth” = money in this world.

“Make friends” = share the gospel, pray for unbelievers, support missions and ministries for evangelism.

“The failing world and its economy” = At the (or your) end, when Jesus comes, or you die.

“THEY may receive you” = all those you had a part in bringing to Jesus will welcome you into glory.

“The eternal dwellings.” = Heaven, for all eternity.

Invest yourself in promoting the kingdom of God, with what earthly money and work you can. You will have a living “treasure” in Heaven to meet you when you die or when Jesus comes.

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Vss. 16:10-13.

Jesus sums it up, looking at the negative side. 

“If then you have NOT been faithful in unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you true riches.  And if you have NOT been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?

“No servant can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.”

Serve the Lord! Use the world’s money to further the Kingdom. Put the Lord first in your life, love Him, serve Him.

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Vss. 16:14-15.

Oh, it seems that the richly clad Pharisees WERE still there, around the peripheral, probably.  These “lovers of money” ridiculed Jesus when they heard these things.

Jesus answered them harshly, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”

Whoa!

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 Oh, Lord, please let my heart be towards You and not the things of the world. Help me to be wise in how I handle the money You give me.

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (4/24) Luke 12:35-48

Apr24

A 5-day per week study.

April 24 – Reading Luke 12:35-48

Read and believe in Jesus.

“You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”  Luke 12:40.

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The Gospel according to Luke

Review –

Jesus talked about anxiety, what we worry about, and told us to seek and store our “treasures” in Heaven, and not on earth in the material “things” of the here and now.

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Vss. 12:35-40.

From Jesus’ last admonition to “Sell your possessions, give to the needy, and provide yourselves with treasure in Heaven,” where He seems to tell them to free themselves from the pull of earthly possessions, He now urges His listeners toward further preparedness for Christ’s return.

“Stay dressed for action!”

“Keep your lamps burning!”

“Be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once!”

And… “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes.”

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Vss. 12:41-48.

Peter, the spokesman for the disciples, asks a question that you and I are probably wondering too.

“Lord, are You telling this parable for us or for all?”

Good question, but Jesus does not answer it fully.  He sort of implies that these admonitions are for unbelievers, especially the ones to whom much had been given.

Jesus then compares three “managers” or chief servants of the Master.  (Those in leadership?)

  1. The faithful and wise one, whom the Master will find doing what He commanded before He left, will be rewarded plentifully.
  2. The lazy and cruel one who knew the Master’s will but did not do it. Instead, he beat the other servants and indulged in eating, drinking, and getting drunk. This one will be “rewarded” with a severe beating.
  3. And lastly, the servant who had not heard and did not know the Master’s will. He still deserved punishment, but received a light beating.

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(NOTE: Yes, the Bible teaches that there will be varying degrees of punishment in hell.  See Matthew 10:15, 11:22 & 24, Mark 6:11, and Hebrews 10:29)

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Jesus ended this teaching (perhaps peering into the faces of the people and Jewish leaders around Him) by saying,

“Everyone to whom much is given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrust much, they will demand the more.”

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (4/20) Luke 11:14-32

Apr20

A 5-day per week study.

April 20 – Reading Luke 11:14-32

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”  Luke

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The Gospel according to Luke

REVIEW – Last time, Jesus taught on prayer. How to do it, and how to be humbly persistent. We can be confident of answers when we ask, seek, and knock because God, our Heavenly Father, wants to give good gifts to His children.

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Vss. 11:14-23.

What a curious thing that someone would accuse Jesus of doing a merciful act by conspiring with the devil!  It’s so wrong in many ways!

  1. First, Jesus is exercising power AGAINST the bondage of Satan.
  2. He is freeing a helpless man whom Satan maliciously bound.
  3. The righteous Son of God cannot be in league with the blasphemous son of perdition.
  4. Jesus is sinless, merciful, kind, good, self-sacrificing, and loving. Satan is greedy, a murderer, a deceiver, a liar, and an accuser of Christians.
  5. Good vs evil. White vs black. Beauty vs the stench of decay.

Seriously, people!

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus stated it plainly.

  • “A kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided house falls.”
  • “If Beelzebul (the devil) is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?”
  • “But, if it is by the ‘finger of God’ that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

The King was in their midst, showing His sovereign power. He demonstrated that by binding Satan and his demons.

Jesus then illustrates this with a little story.

A strong man will fully arm himself to guard his palace and his “stuff.”  BUT, if a STRONGER one attacks and overcomes him, that one will not only take away the spoil, but … his armor as well.

Jesus not only freed the mute man from his suffering, but He also bound the demon. He took away his “armor.”   Jesus is all-powerful; He does NOT need Beelzebul’s help.

(These people – and perhaps many today – were spiritually blind.)

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Vss. 11:24-26.

Jesus then warns these “blind” spectators about their own false exorcists, who DO pair up with the devil for power. Jesus uses this story.

An unclean spirit is “cast out” by one of these so-called exorcists. The person cleans up his life, but there is no lasting power involved, so the demon gathers more of his evil fellows to dwell in the now “swept and orderly” person’s being, making the second state worse than the first.

THIS is not how JESUS works.  “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”  (John 8:36)

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Vss. 11:27-28.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a woman yells out, “Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed!”

Umm…

Jesus doesn’t deny His mother’s blessings, but assures the woman and the crowd that it is WAY more blessed to HEAR the Word of God and to OBEY it.

Awkward moment averted.

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Vss. 11:29-32.

Earlier, some in the crowd, in order to test Jesus, asked Him to show them a sign from heaven, to prove Himself.

Now Jesus tells them that it’s an evil generation that seeks a sign for proof. (Jesus wants them to have faith.)  He says that they won’t get any sign except for the sign of Jonah.

Huh?

Disobedient Jonah? Swallowed by a fish, Jonah?  Disgruntled but obeying anyway, Jonah? Whining at the bad guys repenting, Jonah?

No.

Jonah was three days in the belly of the fish, as good as dead. Jesus was three days in the grave, truly dead.  Both emerge: Jonah to preach judgment to Nineveh, and Jesus as a judgment to come. Nineveh and the people of today both experience(d) mercy and grace. But judgment did (and will) come.

“Someone ‘greater than Jonah’ is here,” Jesus warned.

Jesus’ resurrection would be the “sign.” Would they then believe?

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (4/2) Luke 7:18-35

Apr2

A 5-day per week study.

April 2 – Reading Luke 7:18-35

Read and believe in Jesus.

“”  Luke

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The Gospel according to Luke 7:18-35

Review – A godly Centurion showed great faith, and Jesus healed his servant from afar with just a word. Then Jesus “saw” the widow in the middle of two huge crowds, came to her, and restored her dead son to her alive. The people feared, glorified God, and spread the news far and wide.

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Vss. 18-20.

John the Baptist is in Herod’s prison. His disciples come, bring food, and tell him of the news. They give John some of these wild reports about Jesus that have been circulating through Galilee and Judea. They tell him of His miracles and compassion for hurting people, and of His teachings about love … especially for their enemies.

From the beginning, John had preached a message of coming judgment (“The One is coming who will baptise you with fire!  The axe is laid to the roots of unfruitful trees! He will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire! Repent of your wicked ways!”).

 But, Jesus, whom John baptised, was not judging evil. Forgive and love your enemies?  Huh??

(Have you ever been confused about God, Jesus, and the Bible? Have you had questions that needed to be answered?  Did current struggles ever make you doubt?)

John sent a couple of his disciples to Jesus with this question, “Are You the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

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Vss. 21-23.

Jesus, instead of immediately answering John’s question with “Of course I am the One,” began a flurry of healings and casting out demons. Diseases were cured, plagues removed, and the blind were made to see.

Then Jesus tells John’s disciples this: “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.”

What was Jesus saying?

He was preaching the scriptures (that John knew so well) back to this questioning servant of God.  This was Isaiah 29:18-19, the Messianic passage that tells of the FIRST part of the Coming One’s ministry (the part before the verses about judgment).

This very passage in Isaiah was the one Jesus read in the synagogue at the beginning of His ministry, then sat down and said, “Today this is fulfilled in your sight.”

Jesus knew that John would recognise the passage and be reassured.  Judgment WAS coming, later, but first the message of Good News, confirmed by miracles.

(And when we are unsure, doubting, questioning, this is what WE should do.  Go to God’s word and ask Him to help us see more clearly.)

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Vss. 24-30.

After John’s disciples left with the visual and verbal message, Jesus turned to the crowd.

  • “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
  • What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts! 
  • What then did you go out to see? A prophet?  I tell you, and MORE than a prophet.”

Then Jesus quotes Malachi 3:1. “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.”

Then Jesus continues, “I tell you, among those born of women, none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

When the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God JUST, having been baptised with the baptism of John.

But the Pharisees and lawyers REJECTED “the purpose of God” for themselves, not having been baptised by him.

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Vss. 31-35.

Jesus looked at the self-righteous religious leaders and compared them to children sitting in the marketplace, taunting each other.

  • ‘We played the flute, and you didn’t dance.’
  • ‘We sang a dirge, and you did not weep.‘

Jesus uses strong language to rebuke the Pharisees. He’s suggesting they were behaving childishly, determined NOT to be pleased with any outcome.

  • John the Baptist came, eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say He has a demon.
  • The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!

“Wisdom is justified by all her children.” (True wisdom is vindicated by what it produces.)

The real problem with the Pharisees and scribes was the corruption of their own hearts, but they wouldn’t acknowledge that.

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (3/31) Luke 6:27-49

Mar31

A 5-day per week study.

March 31 – Reading Luke 6:27:49

Read and believe in Jesus.

“As you wish others would do to you, do so to them.” Luke 6:31

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The Gospel according to Luke 6:27:49

Review – Jesus, after a night in prayer, chose twelve of all the disciples to be Apostles.  Then Jesus began teaching the Sermon on the Mount to His disciples, starting with the Beatitudes.

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Vss. 27-36.

Have you ever read (and really pondered) 1 Corinthians 13?  If you have time, do it now.  It describes the selfless LOVE we are to have towards each other: the self-sacrificing LOVE Jesus had for sinners when He died in their place.

Now, read these verses in Luke about loving OUR ENEMIES.

REALLY??  Our enemies?  (And yet, isn’t that what sinners are to a Holy God?)

  1. Love your enemies,
  2. Do good to those who hate you,
  3. Bless those who curse you,
  4. Pray for those who abuse you,
  5. Willingly accept a blow to the other cheek,
  6. Give to him more than what he takes from you,
  7. Generously lend to him, and neither require nor expect anything back.

And WHY does Jesus say His disciples are to do this?

“You will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.  Be merciful, as your Father is merciful.”

And also, “your reward (in heaven) will be great.”

(Of course, there is no way we can do this without the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Romans 5:5 tells us that “God’s LOVE has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

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Vss. 37-45.

BAD judging and GOOD judging.  FIRST, the BAD kind.

“Judge not, lest you be judged. Condemn not, lest you be condemned.” 

This is the self-righteous, pompous, looking-down-your-nose, wagging-your-finger type of judging.  It says, “I” certainly would NOT do that!

The thing is, WE probably WOULD do the offence, given the right circumstances.  We are ALL sinners.

(And as my Hubby likes to say, “When you point a finger at someone, the other three fingers are pointing back at YOU!”)

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No, Jesus tells His followers to, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven, give and it will be given to you, and in a measure you will barely be able to hold!”

And to illustrate His words, Jesus tells them to “picture” a big LOG in your eye, keeping you from seeing anything.  Then, picture a tiny speck of dust in your brother’s eye.   SERIOUSLY, you need to remove that “log” before you can help your brother.

(Jesus was not talking about literal logs and specks, but those faults that we are so eager to point out in others, when OURS are totally larger and more grievous. Go to God, humbly confess your sin, repent of it, and then with tenderness and understanding you can help your brother.)

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GOOD judging.

We aren’t to be “judges” of others, but we CAN be “fruit inspectors.”

Jesus said, “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit.”

And again, it is a HEART issue.  What is in the DNA makeup of a tree determines what fruit it will bear, and what is in the heart of man is what will come out in his life and through his mouth

We can try to be sweet and kind.  We can try to bear sweet juicy peaches.  But if our unsaved nature is to be a “crabapple tree,” all we can bear is … crabapples.   Again, it is the Holy Spirit of God, given to us when we are saved (regenerated), who can change our selfish selves into Christlike ones.  THEN, the “fruit of the Spirit” will grow freely and naturally.

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Vss. 46-49.

Jesus now gives a familiar illustration of two homebuilders.

One is thorough, spends more time and money, but builds a sturdy house on a bedrock foundation.

The other is impatient, does not seek out or listen to building codes, and puts up a “quickie” pre-fab home on soft, golden sand.

What happens when a storm breaks the upstream dam, and a huge flood of water rushes at the houses is both reassuring and horrific.

  • The house on the rock (Christ) stood firm.
  • The house built on sand went “smack,” as kids clap their hands when singing that song.  (“It fell, and great was the ruin of it.”)

Okay, so trees and houses, what is Jesus teaching?

Come to Him … hear His words … obey.   Simple.  Let the Word of Christ change you from the inside out, and you will be strong, loving disciples in His kingdom.

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (3/30) Luke 6:12-26

Mar30

A 5-day per week study.

March 30 – Reading Luke 6:12-26

Read and believe in Jesus.

“In those days, He went out to the mountain to pray, and all night He continued in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12

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The Gospel according to Luke 6:12-26

Review – In the last study, Jesus and the Pharisees/Scribes head-butted about two aspects of Sabbath keeping. The definition of “work” differed greatly between them. The religious leaders kept adding layers of “fences” around God’s “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. On it you shall not do any work” commandment to keep it “safe.”  Jesus promoted rest, restoration, and mercy.

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Vss. 12-16.

There was a big decision coming up for Jesus. Out of the many “disciples” who followed Him, He was to choose twelve whom He would intimately teach and empower to be leaders. To illustrate the importance and as an example to us, Jesus spent the entire night alone in prayer to His Father.

(Wow, how often do I spend even 5 minutes praying about my decisions!)

(NOTE: There were many who believed in and followed Jesus. Luke 10 shows Jesus sending out 70 disciples, two by two, to proclaim the Gospel.  After His resurrection, He appeared to more than 500 disciples at one time.)

After a night of prayer, Jesus called all the disciples together and chose from them twelve, whom He named “Apostles” (messengers sent out with authority).  And yes, Judas, as one of the twelve, was also called “an apostle.”

  1. Simon, whom He named Peter,
  2. Andrew, his brother,
  3. James, and
  4. John,
  5. Philip,
  6. Bartholomew (Nathaniel),
  7. Matthew (Levi),
  8. Thomas,
  9. James, the son of Alphaeus,
  10. Simon, the Zealot,
  11. Judas, the son of James,
  12. Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

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Vss. 17-19.

Then Jesus and the twelve came down from the mountain.  A great crowd of His disciples, along with a great multitude of people from as far as Jerusalem in the south, to Tyre and Sidon in the north, came to HEAR Jesus teach and to be HEALED of their diseases and released from demon possession.

Jesus healed them ALL.

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Vss. 20-23.

(I never noticed this before, but Luke tells us that Jesus taught the Beatitudes (and the whole “sermon on the mount”) to HIS DISCIPLES, to those who were following Him, believers. See verse 20.)

Looking at His disciples, Jesus said,

  • Blessed are YOU who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
  • Blessed are YOU who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.
  • Blessed are YOU who weep now, for you shall laugh.
  • Blessed are YOU when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!  Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

(NOTE: Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount is shortened.  His audience was meant to be Gentiles, and some of the portions omitted were uniquely Jewish, such as Jesus’ teaching about the Law of Moses.)

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Vss. 24-26.

Jesus now (as in good debates) takes the negative side of the above 4 “blessed.”

  • WOE to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
  • WOE to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.
  • WOE to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
  • WOE to you, when all people speak WELL of you, for so their fathers did to the FALSE prophets.

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The poverty and riches, hunger and fullness, weeping and laughter are more than just physical things. Jesus points to the attributes of the heart.

The “poor” point to a deep humility and spiritual insufficiency before God, where we know we are “lost and hopeless” without His love, mercy, and grace.  Ephesians 2.

The “rich” are those who feel self-sufficient and capable in themselves. They believe they do not need a Saviour. They are good enough.

Jesus also speaks of a hunger and thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS rather than for bread and meat. This isn’t the self-righteousness of the Pharisees, but a true relationship with God, through the work of Jesus on the cross.  2 Corinthians 5:21.

Weeping portrays a godly repentance that leads to salvation and a joy beyond measure at forgiveness. 2 Corinthians 7:10

Careless laughing and mocking the things of God will turn to mourning when the judgment comes.  Isaiah 65:13-14

And if believers suffer and even die for Jesus’ sake, their reward will be great in heaven.  If the proud cultivate the approval of man, THAT is all they will get.  “They have their reward” now.  Matthew 6:3, 5

More tomorrow on Jesus’ “Sermon” to His disciples.

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Reading the Gospels in 2026: (3/24) Luke 5:1-11

Mar24

A 5-day per week study.

March 24 – Reading Luke 5:1-11

Read and believe in Jesus.

“When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.” Luke 5:11

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The Gospel according to Luke 5:1-11

Review – In the last study, we saw Jesus beginning to teach and heal in Capernaum. The people there were astonished at his authoritative words in explaining scripture and commanding demons. We saw Jesus go to Peter’s home, then spend a whole evening healing ALL who were sick, laying His hands on EVERY ONE of them, and casting out demons with authority.

The people of Capernaum – unlike those in Nazareth – wanted Jesus to stay there and minister only to them.  But after an early-morning prayer time with His Father, Jesus told them He had to go to other towns to share the good news as well.

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Vss. 1-3.

Back from a time of teaching and ministering in Judea, we next see Jesus in the middle of a crowd “by the Lake of Gennesaret.”  This is another name for the Sea of Galilee, which is also sometimes called the Sea of Tiberias in John’s gospel.  It’s the freshwater lake that supported a lot of the industry in Galilee.

The people immediately recognized Jesus and began pressing close to Him to hear the Word of God. Jesus kept backing up and backing up until perhaps he was almost standing in water. It was late morning, and all the fishing boats were back at shore.

The fishermen were washing their nets, perhaps watching the Master and the crowd.  Jesus got into one boat – it just so happens it was Simon Peter’s – and asked him to push a little way away from shore.  This would give space between Him and the crowd, so that all could hear Jesus when He spoke.

When He was in the boat, Jesus “sat down,” a sign that He was going to teach. Mark’s gospel says that Jesus “proclaimed the gospel of God, saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom is at hand; repent and believe the gospel.’

Simon Peter and the other fishermen nearby also heard these words.

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Vss. 4-8.

Jesus dismissed the crowd and turned to Simon Peter. “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

“Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But….at Your word I will let down the nets.”

Peter and the other fishermen had worked all night with NO CATCH.  They’d spent time washing their nets. Everything was put away for the day. They were ready to go home.

But when Jesus spoke…  His WORD rang with such authority that it had to be trusted and obeyed.

They rowed out into deep water and heaved the heavy nets overboard … again. As the boat drifted, the nets spread.  Immediately, there was a tug on the nets, and they began to move the boat.  Hundreds of silvery fish appeared in them.

Peter called for his partners, who rapidly rowed out to help him. Together, they pulled the huge catch of fish into both boats so that they were up to the gunwales in the seawater.

“Stop, or we’ll sink!” came the cry.

And Simon Peter, eyes wide and mouth agape, turned to Jesus and fell at His feet amid the fish. “Depart from me, for I am a sinful (unbelieving) man, O Lord.”

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Vss. 9-11.

As they rowed to the shore, Simon Peter and the sons of Zebedee, James and John, who were co-owners in the business, were absolutely astonished at all the fish. A miracle had happened at the WORD of the Teacher.

Now here’s the amazing part.

When they got to shore, and the workers had begun unloading the boats, Jesus looked to Peter, James, and John and said,“Do not be afraid (to leave all this); from now on you will be catching men.”

I’m sure they had NO idea what that meant, or all it involved, but verse 11 says, “they left everything and followed Him.”

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I’ve sometimes thought this was unfair to Zebedee and the men who worked for them.  But remember, James and John had actually known Jesus for a while.  They had been disciples of John the Baptist and then followed the One whom John said was “the greater.”  And Peter’s home was the headquarters of Jesus ministry when He was in Galilee. They knew Jesus.

Jesus would soon call other men to follow Him, and finally, He would set aside the twelve as Apostles. The decision to be Jesus’ disciples was in the hearts of these fishermen, and as Jesus ministered throughout Galilee, they grew to depend on Him for everything.

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (3/18) Luke 3:21-38

Mar18

A 5-day per week study.

March 18 – Reading Luke 3:21-38

Read and believe in Jesus.

“The heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him…”  Luke 3:21

No photo description available.

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The Gospel according to Luke 3:21-38

In the last study, we saw John the Baptist “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Many came to him, were baptized, and with repentant hearts asked how they could bear the fruits of repentance. From religious leaders to tax collectors and soldiers, they came, and John told them.  And while they were there, he preached the good news of the coming Messiah and his own unworthiness.

Before John was arrested by Tetrarch Herod for incest and adultery with Herod’s brother’s wife (and a few other sins), John also (reluctantly, according to Matthew 3:13-15) baptized Jesus “to fulfill all righteousness.”

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Vss. 21-23a.

At Jesus’ “righteous” baptism, the Holy Spirit descended on Him “in bodily form,” like a dove.  And a Voice (of God) came from Heaven, saying, “You are my beloved Son, with You I am well pleased.”  Jesus heard the voice, an affirmation from His Father.  John saw the dove descending on Jesus and took it as the sign he’d been promised that “this was the Messiah.” He then began pointing to Jesus as “the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29-34)

This was when Jesus began His ministry.  he was about thirty years of age.

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Vss. 23b-38

Here, Luke inserts another of his factual reports, a genealogy of Jesus. These are the passages we typically skim through, if at all.  But there are some interesting things to see.

Unlike Matthew’s genealogy, Luke begins and ends with Jesus.  Son of God, AND born of man (Adam).

He starts with “Jesus being the supposed son of Joseph, who was the son of Heli.  It should actually say, son-in-law of Heli, for this is the lineage of Jesus ON MARY’S SIDE.  Her line also leads back through King David, but through his son, Nathan, not Solomon.  This is important because, just before the fall of Jerusalem under the last king of Judah, God said NO MORE KINGS IN THIS LINE would rule Israel (Jeremiah 22:24-30 – read this for yourself.), and yet the Messiah would be King, a descendant of David.  And so the true blood line DOES come down through David (as God promised him), but through a different son.

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And  so, God the Father proclaimed Jesus His “beloved Son,” and Jesus’ genealogy back to the beginning also proclaims Jesus as “the Son of God.”