Luke 13:18-21  Jesus uses two parables here to describe the "kingdom of God".  In the first He compares it to a mustard seed that was thrown into a garden and grew into a large tree.  In the second He compares it to leaven hidden in the meal until the whole thing was leavened. 

The Kingdom of God  is the central message of the Gospel.  The prayer that Jesus taught His disciples begins with these requests.. that God's name would be hallowed, that His Kingdom would come, and that His will would be done.  Without the fear of God.. knowing Who He is and the greatness of His Name and the Power of His Grace we cannot know His Kingdom that will come.  The Kingdom of God is more than a place.. it is a recognition of the sovereignty of God who created all things, who reigns over all of His creation, and Who has sent His Son to redeem and restore His Kingdom  on earth as it is in heaven,.. And this is His will.. that we seek His Kingdom and His righteousness above all else. 

So, how is this great and wonderful Kingdom like a mustard seed or leaven.  Both of these things are small.. practically unseen.. but they have a powerful effect on the earth.  Jesus tells us that the mustard seed will grow into a tree that provides a place for the "birds of the air".  He says that the leaven will affect the whole lump of dough. These things will act as God created them to be and the Kingdom will also affect the whole earth just as He has planned and purposed.  When we pray for His Kingdom to come we are praying for His will to be done on earth according to His plans and purpose and this will glorify His holy name.  We are asking that others will come to know the Greatness of our God and the Wonder of His reign over all He has created... that they will be made new in the salvation that comes in  believing in Jesus Christ .

How much more vital than those things that the Pharisees worried about.. work on the Sabbath, healing, eating without washing, etc.  God's priority is His Kingdom!  He wants us to belong to Him, to seek Him, to know Him and to help others to seek Him too. 

Jesus is going to keep teaching about God's kingdom during these last days and weeks before He reaches Jerusalem and gives Himself up so that we can belong in that Glorious Kingdom for eternity.  We must allow the message of the gospel to grow like a mustard seed and become a place with others will find Jesus.  We must allow His Word to fill us and expand throughout our land and around the world so that all will see that the Kingdom has come in Jesus Christ and that He is coming again to take us with Him forever and ever, Amen. 

Father in heaven, we hallow Your name and we pray that You will be exalted in all the earth and in every nation . We pray that Your Kingdom will be made known and that many more will come to You and bow before You. We pray that in all things Your plans and purposes will be done.  In the name of Jesus we ask this, Amen. 

 Luke 13:10-17  Luke tells the story of a woman who had suffered for 18 years.. she had " a sickness caused by a spirit and she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all."  Still, she came to the synagogue on the Sabbath.  When Jesus saw her He called her over and said, "Woman, you are freed from your sickness." 

With a touch, Jesus healed her and she was able to stand up straight.  She "immediately... began glorifying God."  

The official in the synagogue was not pleased.  Healing on the sabbath?  That was "work".  It should be done on any other day of the week in his opinion. He had no compassion.  He had no praise for God.  He only had criticism for Jesus. 

Jesus answered this man and the others with him... "You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead him away to water him?"   They had compassion and care for an animal, but not for a "daughter of Abraham" .. a woman who had suffered for so long.. Did she not deserve the same care? How hard their hearts were!

The synagogue leaders were "humiliated". But the crowd rejoiced. 

The lesson is important. Hypocrisy is deadly.  The religious leaders acted as if they were so good.. so much better than anyone else.. yet their hearts were dark and they had no love or compassion.  They missed the whole message that Jesus taught.. that love.. for God and for people is what pleases God and brings Life.  

We must examine our own hearts often.. and ask God to fill us with His Spirit and to overflow our lives with His Love so that we will not follow the paths of these unbelievers, but see God at work and give Him praise! 

A woman bent over for 18 years praised God when Jesus touched her.  When we are burdened by sin and are freed by the the power of Jesus' name.. we also praise Him and give glory to God.  Let us not miss the message He sends.. let us love like He loves.  Help us Father, to surrender all to You.  Fill our hearts with Your great love and compassion we pray. Amen. 

 Luke 13:1-9  " Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans, whose blood  Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices."  

Tragedy. Horror. Grief. It is all around the world.  It has always been since the first murder when Cain killed his own brother.  It was very much a part of the Roman empire.  Jesus was well aware. But, His reply to this report is not what we would expect.. 

Perhaps those who reported this tragedy to Jesus expected Him to take action.. to avenge these deaths or to step up to the role that they wanted.. A Warrior King.. . who would defeat the Romans.  That is not what Jesus wanted them to learn. "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered this fate?" He asked them.  Was suffering caused by sinfulness?  This is what the Jewish leaders taught.  Is this what He believed too?

Suffering is connected to sin.. because sin caused the curse to afflict all of mankind. Jesus tells His listeners that the only hope anyone has.. suffering or not.. is to "Repent.."  People will suffer.. and die. All of us are in the same situation as the those killed by Pilate or those who died when a tower fell on them. We do not know when or how we might suffer or die.  We do not know the hour or day.  But.. we can be ready.. if we have repented of our sin and are following Jesus. 

The parable that Jesus uses here puzzles me a bit.. What does an unproductive tree have to do with this? For three years the owner had watched this tree and no fruit had been produced. It was useless and he was ready to cut it down.  For three years Jesus had preached to the nation of Israel.. and as a whole there were no changes.  Israel was fruitless and useless.  The time of judgement was coming.  The vine keeper in the parable asked for one more year.. one more chance for the tree to become productive.  The Lord would give Israel one more chance too... In fact He has given them 2000 years to become a nation under God that would produce the fruit of righteousness.. time is running out. 

But.. there are some who repented.. some who did not perish but have everlasting life!  They became followers of Jesus. They have borne righteous fruit. They abided in the True Vine and God pruned them and they bore much fruit through the life of Jesus Christ in them.  

Sometimes suffering and death sneaks up on us.. sometimes it is a long, slow process that leads us to our Heavenly Home. What is most important.. no matter what.. is that we have repented of our sin and have received the glorious salvation that Jesus purchased for us by His own blood and death on a cross.  He lives and He gives Life!  Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Father in heaven, we are so grateful for the Savior who came to bring salvation.. forgiving our sin and giving us new life in Him.  Jesus is the True Vine and we are the branches.. You are the One who prunes us and sometimes this hurts.. a lot.. But we are not cut off.. in fact we are made more fruitful.. and for this we give You thanks and praise. Keep us faithful Lord Jesus that we might bear the fruit of righteousness to the glory of God and to the praise of Your Holy Name. Amen 

 Luke 12:49-59  Division.. not something that we desire...for we value unity and community more.. especially in the context of the church.. but Jesus spoke about division saying, " Do you suppose I came to grant peace on earth?  I tell you , no, but rather division;"  Division - parting; disunion; dissension.

Jesus said there would be division in families: "father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother... ."  And if division is among families it is even greater among countrymen and nations.. as we see very clearly in our day.

The cause of this division will be Jesus Himself. Some will join themselves with Him and some will not. Those who were able to discern or "judge" what is right.. able to reconcile with God and put their faith in Jesus soon realize that not everyone appreciates their beliefs and life in the Lord. In some places the division causes hatred,  disinheritance, and even murder. Even here in our "free" country there is hostility towards believers.  I've seen it and you probably have  too.  

Paul wrote to Timothy about this .. "But realize that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable ... " etc. ( II Timothy 3: 1-3)  There will be division.  There will be times we cannot be reconciled to each other.. but.. in spite of that we are still commanded to love.. to preach the Word.. and to seek peace.. as far as it depends on us.  ( Romans 12) 

Will we be found faithfully serving the Lord in this way when He returns? I pray so!

Father in heaven, grant to us strength to persevere in doing right. Grant us discernment and patience that we might keep on loving and serving others even when they are hostile to our faith. Have Your way in our lives Lord Jesus that we may be found faithful when You return to take us Home. We ask all of this in Your Name. Amen. 

 Luke 12:35- 48  "Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps alight."  

I recently read a novel written in 1921 about the return of Jesus.  The main character came to Christ and immediately became convinced of the Lord's soon return.  He was a newspaper editor and so he wrote  about it.. and he made up a sign that simply said, "Today? Perhaps!"  This image has stuck in my mind.  I know that in light of current events some people are saying and thinking about the Lord's return in our day.  We do not know when that glorious day will be, but maybe we also should make a sign.. "Today? Perhaps!"  It would be a powerful message proclaimed to a world that needs to know.. Jesus IS coming soon!

In this passage Jesus tells His disciples to be "like men who are waiting for their master.. "  How are they to be ready?

They need to be dressed in "readiness"... or to "let your loins be girded about"-- as Ephesians 6:14 tells us "Stand firm therefore, having girded you loins with truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness." To be dressed in "readiness" is to have the full armor of God.. and standing firm in Him.  

Jesus also said to "keep your lamps alight." This brings in mind the parable of the maidens who also waited for the bridegroom.. some with extra oil and some with none.  It speaks of readiness and preparation. 

Jesus said that they should be ready to "open the door to him who comes and knocks."  He spoke of being "alert"... they are watching for Him.  "Whether he comes in the second watch or even in the third.. " the faithful servant is watching and ready.  "You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect."  It is vital that we recognize Who it is that is coming!  We must know Him and watch for Him.. May we be alert and prepared. 

Peter wanted to know who this message was for.. just the disciples? Or everyone?  To answer this Jesus returns to the illustration of the master and his servants.. "Who then is the faithful and sensible steward.. "

Who is the one who is doing the will of the master?  He will be blessed. He is ready no matter what time Jesus comes.  As the old song goes.. "May be morning. May be noon, May be evening.. and May be soon."

Who is the one who thinks the master is not returning.. so he does whatever he wants.. is cruel and selfish and evil?  These are the ones who will be taken by surprise when the master does return and he will be punished with many "stripes" or "lashes". 

Another old song comes to mind.. " I wish we'd all been ready.. "  Inspired by the old book I decided to reread the Left Behind book.  If you have read it then you remember the heartache of those who should have known and been ready.. but were left behind while their loved ones were taken to heaven. How I pray.. Lord let all of my family... all of my neighbors.. be ready!  Spirit of God, move in us today to proclaim the coming of our Lord Jesus in all His glory and power. Amen.

Oh Lord God, our Father and Jesus Christ our Savior, we are looking for that Day.. but we are not all ready.  We have been distracted by the things of this world. We have been lazy about our preparations.. please forgive us and cleanse us from all unfaithfulness.  May we  be renewed in the" spirit of our minds." ( Ephesians 4:23) and put on our "new self" which is "created in the likeness of God" - righteous and holy and full of truth.  We put on the full armor of God today that we may stand firm in Your strength.. ready, prepared and faithful.  May Your church be alert and watching for the coming of the Bridegroom.. today? Perhaps!  Thank You Jesus. Amen

 Luke 12: 1-34  Luke seems to gather many of the Lord's sermons and record them in this one long monologue. It is full and overflowing with words of wisdom and life.  There were thousands of people gathered together, Luke tells us, but Jesus addresses His disciples "first of all". 

His first point begins with these words of warning, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."  Leaven ferments.. it spreads and affects what it touches. Hypocrisy is the same thing, Jesus teaches - it is infectious. It is able to deceive others and it can even deceive you.  "Beware"  Jesus says.. pay attention, discern carefully and attend to yourself in this matter.  Is your heart and soul filled with truth so that your walk reflects it?  Or are you just pretending?  Again Jesus reminds His listeners that nothing is truly hidden. The Light shines into the darkness and will expose whatever is hidden there.  What has been "whispered" will be "proclaimed" .  

Our Father in heaven sees everything, hears everything, and will judge everything.. even what we think He doesn't see or hear or care about.. 

Our Father cares about us, Jesus teaches us,  more than the sparrows or the ravens.. He cares about what is in our hearts.. not what is in our barns.  He doesn't want us to be afraid or anxious! He tells us to not be afraid.. even of those who want to kill us.  He doesn't want us to worry about food or clothing.. about wealth or poverty. He doesn't want us to worry about knowing the right words to speak or being good enough, great enough or popular enough. 

What we must focus our hearts on is simply Himself. 

Fear only God, for He has the authority to not only end this life.. but He will cast into hell those who refuse His salvation. 

Confess Jesus before men.  Only then will He confess you as His own. 

Don't speak against the Holy Spirit.  Trust Him to help you say the right words at the right time. 

Lay up treasures in heaven.. not on earth.  Reckon your life to be more than earthly possessions.. more than food and clothing.. more than whatever it is that you need today.  

His Kingdom is the only treasure that is unfailing and He gives it to us "gladly"! 

Father in heaven, all we are is Yours.  We are Your creations!   We are Your children! We pray that You will be the focus of our lives, the center of our hearts, and the fullness of our souls.  We acknowledge Jesus Christ Your Son as King of kings and Lord of lords. There is no one like You.  Let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done in us today we pray, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen 

 Luke 11: 37-54  A Pharisee asked Jesus to lunch.. and He came.  Now, Jesus would have known the expectation that the man would have.. the ceremonial washings were not new to Jesus.. but He deliberately ignored that tradition. This opened up a serious discussion where Jesus exposed the most urgent needs of the hearts of God's people. 

Jesus said, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness."   He reminded them that the inside.. their hearts and minds.. and souls were made by God.. He sees everything, not just their "outside" lives.  Cleanliness inside is much more vital than washing a plate or cup.. or even your hands.  A heart of compassion or "charity" is what God desires.  Nothing wrong with cleaning your body.. but to have a pure heart, uncorrupted by sin, is what God desires.  

Jesus pronounces 3 "woes" upon the Pharisees.  Because their hearts were  not clean the Lord was grieved by those who should have been holy.. they had the Word.. they had the Son of God standing with them.. they saw the marvelous miracles that He had done.. but their hearts remained unchanged.. corrupt.. dead.  The  three statements prove this:

They "tithed" mint and rue and herbs... the small and unnecessary things.. but failed when it came to justice and "the love of God".... that which the Lord God desired most from His people. "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8)

The second "woe"... The Pharisees loved to be seen and respected and honored.  They looked down on everyone else and were only focused on theirselves.  They knew the commandments, but ignored the most important ones.. to love the Lord their God with all their heart and soul and mind and their neighbor as their self. 

The third woe.. "...you are like concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it."  The Jewish Law said that anyone who touched a dead body was considered unclean for a certain period of time and they had to wait and then wash before they could worship.  But, if you were not aware of touching something dead, then you would be contaminated and commit a trespass against the Law without any knowledge of doing it...  In other words the Pharisees were causing the rest of the people to be contaminated and not even know it so they could take appropriate actions. Their uncleanness was spreading to everyone that came near them. 

Now the "lawyers" .. those who interpreted and taught the Law took what Jesus said as an insult to them too.  So, Jesus spoke to them too, revealing the sin that they needed desperately to repent of... that which God was not pleased with..that was separating them from the God they thought they served.. 

First, the lawyers were weighing down others with heavy burdens.. and didn't care about helping anyone but themselves.  They used the Law as a hammer and not as a blessing. There was no love or kindness in the teaching of the Law.. it was all about the do's and don'ts.. totally missing the love of God who gave the Law to guide and teach His ways. 

The lawyers were also guilty of building the "tombs of the prophets".  They were trying to cover up the guilt of their own ancestors who had killed the prophets. They honored their evil ancestors and were implicated in their guilt.  This was such a serious offense to God that He said " that the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world..:" would be "charged against this generation." 

The lawyers were also guilty of keeping "the key of knowledge" from any others who wanted to enter into God's kingdom.. and they would not enter themselves.  They knew the Word of God like the back of their hands.. but they did not know the God of the Word. And.. they kept what they knew hidden from any others. 

Jesus grieved over the sins of His people.. all of them.. even the Pharisees and Lawyers. He gave them a message that could have brought them to examine their own hearts and repent.. but instead they "began to be very hostile" and "plotted against Him." 

Father in heaven, may we stop and examine our own hearts lest we become like these Pharisees and Lawyers who grieved the heart of Jesus.  May we love You with all our hearts and love others with kindness and compassion. May we do what is just and care for others who are hurting and heavy-ladened with the cares of this life.  Mold and make our hearts like the heart of Jesus.. sharing the truth of Your Word and living it out before all men.  Thank You for giving us the Light of the World so that we can shine Your Light into a world of darkness.  Change hearts and minds and lives with the Word freely shared with all those who will listen.  Let Your Kingdom come and Your will done in us today we pray... in Jesus' name.Amen