Thoughts on Luke – Part 3
LK 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
LK 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
I have heard these verses misused today to try to validate bringing the world into the church. They will say that Jesus sat with publicans and sinners. Then they will reason. Therefore we need to bring fleshly rock-n-roll music in to appeal to the sinners, and all the other worldly things they do. Their reasoning is that this is the way to get the sinners in.
There are many major things wrong with this reasoning. In this verse the sinners did not come to get entertained. They did not come to have their flesh catered to. Verse one says that they came to hear Jesus. They came for the preaching. They came for the word of God. And let me tell you they did not get no watered down feel good message. The got the truth from the Son of God. Jesus’ preaching brought conviction.
Second there is a huge difference between preaching to sinners and partaking in their sin with them. Jesus NEVER partook with their sin.
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Bringing fleshly music into the church house is partaking in the sinner’s sin. You cannot use these verses to justify partaking in sin to try to reach the sinner.
LK 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
A lot can be said about this parable. One thing that always stands out to me every time I read it is that the father saw the son coming when he was yet a great way off. This clearly implies that the father was watching for the son to come. The father had no advance warning that the son was coming. He received no advanced notice. No messenger was sent ahead of the son. The father had no advance indication that the son was coming. And yet the father saw him coming. Clearly the father was looking constantly for the son to come. The son was in great sin and yet the father still loved him and was longing for him to come home. What a wonderful picture of the Heavenly Father watching and longing for sinners to come home.
I know some preachers preach this text as a lost man who is lost in sin and his repentance and confession of it and his coming to the father is a picture of salvation. Others will preach that he is a backslidden saved person who is coming home. This entire chapter has the same context. Verse 1 Jesus is sitting with lost people. Verse 2 the Pharisees and scribe take issue with it. Look at verse number 7. It is talking about the lost. There are other verses that would support the first view as well as the second. So which is it? Well the picture here is a sinner coming to the father. Is not both true. A lost person is a sinner and needs to repent and come to the father. And a backslidden Christian is living in sin and needs to repent and come to the father.
The context of the chapter is that which is lost is found. Fellowship that is broken gets restored. A man on his way to hell is lost and has no fellowship with the Father. A Christian who is backslidden has lost his fellowship with the father. He is still saved but fellowship is lost. In both cases fellowship is restored.
And in either case our Heavenly Father is eagerly watching for the one in sin to come to Him. And there is great rejoicing when he does.
LK 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. LK 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
LK16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
The rich man thinks that if his brothers were told by someone who was raised from the dead that they would repent, but that is not the case.
We are told that if they will not hear the scriptures then they will not be persuaded.
We see a very important principle here. It is not by miracles that people come to believe. It is by the word of God. Rom 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
What saves is the hearing of the word of God. It is the preaching of God’s word that needs to be our focus.
LK 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
LK 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
LK 16:12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?
You have most likely heard people say, I would give more to my church and give to missions if I was rich. Or how about, the things I would do for God if I won the lottery. That is just a lot of hot air. No they would not. If they are not faithful in the little that they have, then they will not be faithful if they had more.
Jesus does not just look at how much is given. It is how faithful are you with what you have been given. Verse 10 teaches that if you are faithful with the little you have, then you are actually faithful in much. If you make 100.00 and give 10.00 you are more faithful than the man who made 800.00 and gave 40.00. It is not the total amount; it is how faithful with what God has put into your care. Being faithful with a little is being faithful in much. The opposite is also true. Actually it is to God. It is not the amount of money that is the issue; it is how faithful you are with what you were entrusted with.
LK 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
LK 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
One of the big problems with the Pharisees was that the were covetous. They coveted many things. Money, power, prestige, the best seats, the praise of men, and so on. The scriptures that they memorized and professed to love clearly told them that thou shalt not covet. That then brings a big conflict. Their covetous lives did not match up with the scriptures. What they should have done was realize that, repent of it, and get right with God and stop all the coveting. But that is not what they did. Instead of getting right they come up with ways to justify their coveting. This justifying it says was before men. They might fool themselves, and they might fool others, but it was not fooling God.
“but God knoweth your hearts:”
God knows every thought that you have. Nothing escapes Him. Jesus was telling them that they were not going to get away with it. It did not matter how highly they or others thought of their excuses and twisted logic. Man thinking well of something does not make it right and it does not impress God. In fact just the opposite is true.
“for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”
The things of God are not highly esteemed by the world. And the things that are highly esteemed by the world are abomination to God. The two cannot walk hand in hand. They are opposites. Be wary of things that are highly esteemed among men and instead set your heart upon the things of God.
How thankful are you for your salvation?
LK 17:15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
LK 17:16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
LK 17:17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
LK 17:18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
Ten were cleansed but only one returned. Jesus asked the question but where are the nine. It is clear that Jesus expected them to return and give glory to God.
Leprosy in the Bible is a type or picture of sin. When Jesus heals physical leprosy it is a picture of how He can heal the spiritual leprosy of our sin.
We might think that it is awful that the nine did not return and give glory to God, but we see the same thing today.
Many people will get saved. But they will not return and give glory to God by being faithful to His house, or by giving glory to God by the way they handle their finances, or by living for Him.
How thankful are you for your salvation?
Are you like the one who was thankful enough to return and give glory to God?
Or are you like the nine who took the gift of healing and then went their own way?
LK 17:22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
LK 17:23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.
LK 17:24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
The context of verses 20 thru 37 is when Christ comes back to get the redeemed. Notice how it is mentioned that one is left and the other is taken. Also notice how no notice is given. People are carrying on their normal lives.
In verse 24 it talks about how fast Jesus is coming. It will be like lightning. There will be no advanced notice. It will happen so fast that no one will have time to think about it or prepare for it. There will be no chance for someone to see that it is starting and then decide to get saved. It will be too late. Jesus is coming like lightning.
In 23 Jesus gives a warning about false teachers in connection to this subject. Jesus knows that many will long to see Him, and that people will take advantage of that. They will say see here, or see there. They will say He is coming back on such and such a date. Some will even claim that Jesus is already here.
Jesus says, “go not after them, nor follow them.” Never listen to anyone who says that they know when Jesus is coming back. No man knows the hour.
LK 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
LK 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
The eyes of Israel was on the coming of the promised kingdom. You see it many times in the New Testament. They desperately wanted to get rid of Roman rule. In verse 20 they demanded of Jesus when the kingdom of God should come. They demanded to know. It was a big deal to them. And not just to the Pharisees. One of the reasons that the disciples were so despondent after Jesus died is because they thought Jesus would bring in the kingdom right then. It was only after Jesus rose again that they understood that there is a church age before the literal 1,000 year kingdom.
Jesus answered their question about the kingdom. He said, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:” The kingdom that Jesus is talking about cannot be seen with the eyes. It is real and it is being built right now. Where is this kingdom? Jesus tells us, “the kingdom of God is within you.”
He is building His kingdom right now. He had been building it for thousands of years. The kingdom of God is in the hearts of men. Men are added when they get saved. There will still be a literal kingdom on the earth. Jesus will reign and those who are added to the kingdom today will reign and rule with Him then. His 1,000 year kingdom will come to pass one day. He is building it right now. Are you a part of it?
LK 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
This parable is spoken to men who believed in a works salvation. They thought they were saved because of what they did. This belief often leads to thinking that you are better than someone who does not do as much works as you do. Trusting in yourself and your righteousness lifts up pride and leads to despising others.
LK 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
LK 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
LK 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Can you just see the pride oozing out of this works salvation believer?
LK 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
The second man is quite a contrast. He realizes that he is a sinner. He knows that he is not worthy. He is burdened and convicted by his sin. He simply calls upon God for mercy. The second man has not fasted, he has not tithed, he has not done any works to get saved. He did not join a church. He was not in the religious crowd. He did not get baptized.
Now which one is justified in the eyes of God? Is it the first man (works), or is it the second man (grace)?
LK 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The second man is justified and the first is not. Works does not save. Only the mercy of God saves us.
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
LK 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
In verse one we have clearly stated what the purpose of this parable is. A parable always has a purpose; a reason of why it was told. A parable is a teaching tool. In many parables, the explanation comes after the parable, but not here. Here we are told up front that what this parable teaches is that men should keep praying. Don’t give up. Don’t quit. Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.
LK 18:2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
LK 18:3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
LK 18:4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
LK 18:5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
LK 18:6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
LK 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
The unjust judge had no fear of God, and he also did not care what man thought. Verse 4 says, “nor regard man” This was a very wicked judge. Because he did not fear God, his judgments would not be done based on righteousness. And because he did not regard man, you could not get him to do what is right based on political pressure. He would not do what was right to impress someone no matter what the authority. This unjust judge was only going to do what he wanted to do. And in this case the judge did not want to right the wrong done to this widow. Not wanting to help a widow shows a cold wicked heart. The case looks hopeless. The judge will not do it for God. He will not do it for man. What can possibly make him move?
LK 18:5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
What did it was the widow’s relentless continual coming. She would not give up. She just kept asking. She did not get an answer the first time so she asked again, and again. The judge knew that she was not going to stop. The judge did not care for doing what was right, and he in no way cared for this widow. The unjust judge was swayed by her continual asking.
The application is if an uncaring, unholy, unjust judge will grant a request because of continual asking, how MUCH MORE will a loving, Holy, Just, God who loves you dearly? So don’t quit asking.
LK 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Verse 7 says, “though he bear long with them” God does have reasons for delaying answers, but the answer will come.
LK 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
LK 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
LK 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Zacchaeus was a chief among the publicans. They were hated by the people because they were crooked. They would overcharge people on their taxes and pocket the difference. They did not care about others or doing what was right.
Then Zacchaeus meets Jesus. And look at the change. He is now going to give half of all he owns to the poor. He now has a concern for others. And he is also going to make restitution to all the people that he had taken money from falsely. He now has a concern for doing what is right.
What a change. Jesus then says that salvation has come to this house. It is not the works that Jesus is referencing. It is the change of heart.
And a real salvation will result in a real changed life. Behold all things are become new. We don’t work to get saved; we work because we are saved. Salvation is not a work matter. Salvation is a heart matter.
Have you given your heart to Jesus?
LK 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
LK 19:42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
LK 19:43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
LK 19:44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
Jesus knew all about this guilty city. He knew all too well what they were about to do. He knew how they were going to beat Him and mock Him and crucify Him. He also knew how God had shown mercy to this city over and over again. Jesus had also preached to them many times. He tried to reach them. They have had many opportunities to repent and accept Jesus. But they refused. Even with the love and power of God displayed before them, they still rejected Jesus.
Jesus then pronounces the destruction of the city. This happened in 70 A.D. when Titus (a Roman general) destroyed the city.
“The national wickedness is too great; the cup is full; mercy is exhausted; and Jerusalem, with all her pride and splendor, the glory of her temple, and the pomp of her service, must perish” – Albert Barnes.
The punishment to come is just to the crime. However, Jesus took no pleasure in the knowledge. He beheld the city and wept over it. Even after all the wrong they have done and even full well knowing what they were about to do to Him. He still wept over them. He still loved them. Even though they were terrible sinners, Jesus still loved them. It is the same with us.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
LK 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
The context of verse 41 is the coming judgment of Jerusalem.
LK 19:42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
LK 19:43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
LK 19:44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
This is a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. The reason for the judgment is given in verse 44, “because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation”. Their long awaited messiah had finally come and they refused to see it. They rejected Jesus. God was with them in the flesh and they did not accept Him. Now because of their rejection judgment will come. God is righteous and He is just and so justice must be meted out. Some will say, see how hard and uncaring God is. Look again at verse 41. “And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,”
God is just, but He is also love. Jesus gave the pronouncement of judgment upon Jerusalem weeping. The judgment was bathed in tears. Their rejection of Jesus was wrong, it was a sin, and judgment must come. But it did not come with a cold indifference. It came with tears. It broke the heart of God, and Jesus wept.
Some will claim that a God of love cannot throw people into hell. Yes He can and He will. He is just, righteous, and holy as well as love. He will throw those who reject Him into hell. But He does not do it with glee. It does not bring God joy. God hates the sin and will punish it, but He loves the sinner and will weep over them.
God loves the sinner and has went to great lengths to keep men from going to hell. Jesus left the glories of heaven and went to the cross to pay their sin penalty for the wages of sin is death. God gave man His word in the scriptures and then God preserved them so man would have them. God calls men to be preachers and missionaries. God sends Christians out to the highways and hedges to witness. God gave man a conscience and convicts men of their sin and their need for a Saviour. The heavens declare His handy work to show man of His power and that He exists. If a man rejects it all, he has in effect chosen to put himself in hell. He goes there in opposition to the love of God that has pleaded with him to not go to hell but to repent, accept Jesus and go to heaven.
God is love as well as just.
LK 20:46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;
LK 20:47 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.
In warning about the scribes Jesus says that they will receive greater damnation. To have greater damnation, then some must receive more damnation than others.
Hell is a terrible place for everyone that goes, but some will get more damnation than others. Everyone that goes has received damnation but a Hitler will receive greater damnation.
We are not told what this will entail. God did not reveal to us how the levels of damnation work. He only revealed to us that some will receive greater damnation
LK 20:1 And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,
LK 20:2 And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?
LK 20:3 And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:
LK 20:4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?
LK 20:5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?
LK 20:6 But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.
LK 20:7 And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.
LK 20:8 And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
The chief priests and the scribes and the elders, asked Jesus a question about where did He get his authority. The implication is clear, Jesus acted and taught with authority.
They asked the question, but they really did not want the answer. They did not want to learn. It was not an honest question. They were trying to catch Jesus with His words. They were seeking something that they could use against Him.
Notice that Jesus did not give them an answer (verse 8). They were not seeking truth. They were only after a fight. Their kind are still around today. They will try to get you into a debate or ask a question not really wanting the answer so they can learn. They are only hoping to trip you up in some way. They think they have some full proof argument that they just want to hammer you with. When you get right down to the bottom line, the real problem is a heart problem.
We can learn from Jesus’ example how to deal with people who play this kind of game. Instead of giving them an answer Jesus asked them a question that was designed to get them thinking. But He never answered their question. He did not let them drag Him into a debate that would have been fruitless. Don’t give them an answer. Don’t play their game. Spend your time and energy with those who want to learn.
LK 20:22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
LK 20:23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
LK 20:24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s.
LK 20:25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.
LK 20:26 And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
Some will question should Christians pay taxes. Some will ask, if truth be known, out of greedy motives. They would love it if they could find a way out of taxes.
Others will ask for a more genuine reason. It truly appalls them that their hard earned money goes for the killing of babies. It makes their heart sickened that their hard earned money goes to pay for children to be indoctrinated into the atheistic state religion of evolution. Or a multitude of other things that tax money goes to that is against Christian values. It is true that Christians are to turn from every evil way and that we are to have no part with wickedness. So it is a valid question. Should Christians pay taxes when they know the money will be used for wickedness. Well we find the answer here in our text.
They came to Jesus and basically asked Him should we pay Caesar taxes. Now if you study history, you know that Caesar’s government did plenty of godless wicked things with that tax money. What we see today is nothing new. And Jesus answered them, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s” Jesus taught that we should pay our taxes. We cannot control the use of the money. Tax money will be misused today and tax money was misused in Caesar’s day. The people in Caesar’s day had no say in how the money was used and Jesus taught them to pay taxes anyway. So the answer is clearly yes Christians should pay their taxes.
LK 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
Jesus told His disciples that they would have persecution and then He gives them one reason why.
LK 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
One of the reasons for persecution is so we can give a testimony.
Anyone can talk a good talk when things are going great. But someone who can sing praises to God after being whipped and in prison shows the power of God.
A good testimony while under persecution testifies that God is real; that He has real power to work in your life.
A testimony for Christ under persecution is powerful.
LK 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
LK 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
LK 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Some will take verse 14 out of context and they will say that a preacher is not to have a prepared sermon when he preaches. Verse 14 is not talking about a man preaching to his flock. It is not even talking about speaking to Christians. In fact it is not talking about preaching as we know it at all. The context is giving an answer to your adversaries when under heavy persecution. Verse 16 even talks about being put to death.
I believe that a man should be well prepared before he stands in the pulpit. Some men will go up with a good outline, and this works for them. They have spent the time in preparation and in prayer and they have been given the talent from God to be able to preach a good coherent message from an outline. Others need more, and so they have an outline that includes notes. That is also fine. And some go to the pulpit with a full sermon. And I have seen a few men preach who could do it with no notes at all and they did a wonderful job. However, they were well prepared. They had what they were going to say prayed thru before they ever got in the pulpit. And it showed. A man should respect the pulpit enough to put some effort in preparation before he preaches. Speaking of how things are to be done in God’s assembly 1Cor 14:40 says, “Let all things be done decently and in order.”
All things would include the preaching. A sermon should have an order to it. Preaching should not be done shooting from the hip with no goal and no purpose. Better preaching goes a long way to building stronger Christians.
LK 22:60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
LK 22:61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
LK 22:62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
The Lord has power over His creation. He can use something big like earthquakes or as in this case He can use something small like a rooster.
The timing of the rooster crowing was not an accident. He crowed at exactly the time that God wanted him to.
Sometimes we can feel like we are small and insignificant, but God uses the small and the insignificant. Here God used a little rooster to bring much needed conviction to Peter’s heart.
We can be used by God; We just need to be obedient like the rooster and do what God wants us to do when He wants us to do it.
LK 22:2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
LK 22:3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
LK 22:4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
LK 22:5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.
LK 22:6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
The chief priests and scribes wanted to do something horrific. They wanted to kill. They dared not do it out in the open. What they wanted to do would not stand up to examination. They would not do it in the light of day. Instead they did it under the cover of darkness. They did it in secret. They gave Judas blood money to find an opportunity to betray Jesus when He was not surrounded by the multitude. Judas knew about the garden and how Jesus liked to pray alone. He sold out for a few pieces of silver and entered into the dark plot. The meeting between Judas and the priests was no doubt done in secret. Behind closed doors. The meeting was done where there would not be any one who might stand up and give an objection. What they were doing could not survive the light.
There is a principle here that we all can learn from. Evil deeds seek darkness. If what you are doing requires secrecy; if you know that there would be a scandal if it got out; if you are hiding what you are involved in; then you should not be involved in it.
Godly things can be done out in the open. Righteous things can stand the light. The Bible teaches that we are to be light in this world. We are to shine a light in the darkness. We are not to hide in the darkness.
All of the dealings of a Christian should be out in the open and above board.
LK 22:8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.
LK 22:9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?
LK 22:10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.
LK 22:11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
LK 22:12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.
LK 22:13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
Jesus commanded something to be done. He told them to go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. The apostles ask where. They had no place to go. Jesus then tells them where to find the place. And in verse 13 they accomplish what Jesus had commanded. The apostles had no place, but a place was provided. God had once again worked in circumstances and in the heart of a man to provide what was needed for His purpose. And God’s plan was accomplished.
We see a basic principal here. What God ordains He provides for. And He does it thru men. God worked thru circumstances and in the heart of a man to accomplish His plan and God still works the same way today. If God wants a church to be built, He will work thru circumstances and thru the hearts of the people to provide what is needed. God provided the circumstances and He was the one that worked on the man’s heart, and God had already blessed the man so that he would have what was needed.
So what was required on the part of the apostles? Well they had to have faith and act accordingly. Jesus made it clear what He wanted done and they had to trust Him and go out and act upon it. If they did not step out on faith, then the place would not have been found.
We need to have patience and wait on the Lord. He will show us thru circumstances and thru the hearts of the people, when the time to build is right. When it becomes clear, then is the time to step out on faith and act accordingly. Churches can get into trouble when they rush into some building project without God’s clear direction and provision. I have seen church building projects stall out because they were undertook on man’s timing and not God’s.
We need to have faith that God’s timing is perfect and not run ahead of God. We also need to have the faith to step out when the time comes. What God ordains, He will provide for.
LK 23:8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
LK 23:9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.
LK 23:10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
LK 23:11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
Herod was happy to see Jesus, but for the wrong reason. His reason was because he hoped to have seen some miracle done by Jesus. He was not happy to see Jesus so that he could repent of his sin and be saved.
Herod did not want Jesus to do a real work in his life. He did not want Jesus to come into his heart and change his life. Herod only wanted the show. We have many around like this today. They do not want to come to Jesus and be changed.
They just want to see a show. The type of show varies. Some want to see someone flop on the floor, some want to see someone speak jibberish, some want to see the show of a big crowd with a health and wealth preacher telling everyone that they will be rich. Some like the show of strange costumes. Some like the show of ritual. Some like the show of a rock n roll band at church. The one thing that they all have in common is that like Herod they just want to see the show.
Very few today really want to see Jesus so that they can be changed.
That is why real preaching is frowned on by most today. They don’t come for the Word of God, they only come for the show.
LK 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
These are the first words that Jesus spoke from the cross. Some have called this the keynote address of Calvary. It was as if to declare why He was there. Father forgive. He was acting as a mediator and calling on the Father to forgive them.
And think about who He is asking forgiveness for. The people who had just hammered the nails thru his flesh. The people who had beaten Him. The people who were mocking Him. The people who ripped His clothes off and were gambling for them. He did not pray for forgiveness after the pain had gone. He was praying while the blood was still dripping from the wounds.
Can anyone read this and honestly doubt the love of God?
The prayer of Jesus was answered for many of those there got saved at Pentecost.
But the prayer for forgiveness that Jesus spoke upon the cross was also for all the sinners of all the ages. He was not just dying for those that were present that day. He was dying for you and for me. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, forgiveness is available to all who will believe with their heart and call upon Him to save them.
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
LK 23:18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:
LK 23:19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)
LK 23:25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
At this time of year Pilate would release to the Jews a prisoner of their choice. Pilate tried to get them to take Jesus. To help make the choice go in Jesus’ favor the prisoner that Pilate offered was of the worst sort. Most likely he was the worst prisoner that Pilate had at that time. Verse 19 tells us that this man was put into prison for the crime of murder. You could not get a greater contrast between these two. A wicked vile murderer and the spotless, sinless, Son of God. I think that Pilate thought that between the two surely they would pick Jesus for who would want the murderer. He underestimated the wicked dark hearts of this crowd, and they chose the murderer over Jesus. What a dark picture we see here of the dark heart that rejects Jesus. A heart that will accept anything except Jesus.
But we also have something else pictured here. A most wicked sinner was set free in exchange for Jesus. Jesus was punished unto death. A punishment that the murderer deserved. But he was set free because of Jesus. The just who should have been let free is punished unto death and the unjust is set free. He gets a pardon. We see here a picture of what was about to take place on the cross. Wicked sinners were going to be set free and given a pardon because of Jesus dying for them on the cross. Jesus died for you. He took your punishment that you might go free. Have you received your pardon? Have you trusted in Jesus as your Saviour?
LK 24:5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
LK 24:6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
LK 24:7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
The resurrection is foundational to Christianity. Why you ask?
It is because the wages of sin is death. Christ took our sin upon Him on the cross and died in our place. He paid our sin penalty. If His payment was not sufficient, then He would still be dead.
But praise God His payment was sufficient. It was paid in full and accepted. Christ then rose from the dead. His resurrection proves that the price had been paid.
All that remains is for us to accept that the price has been paid and then receive the free gift of salvation
LK 24:7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
LK 24:8 And they remembered his words,
LK 24:9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
LK 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
LK 24:11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
Many critics have tried to claim that the apostles had planned the whole thing and made it up. This weak feeble excuse does not fit the facts.
The fact is that the death of Christ was not expected by the apostles. They thought that Jesus was going to bring in the kingdom. When He died it crushed them. They lost hope. Later they quit and returned to the profession of being fishermen. When news comes that Jesus had risen. They thought it was as idle tales, and they did not believe it.
The fact is that the apostles did not make it up. They did not believe it until after they saw the resurrected Christ.
LK 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
LK 24:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
LK 24:3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
They come bringing spices for the dead, but their spices would never be used for Jesus was not there!
LK 24:4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
LK 24:5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
LK 24:6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
LK 24:7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
LK 24:8 And they remembered his words,
At first they were perplexed. Where was the body of Jesus and why is the stone rolled away? Then the angels tell them that He is risen! They say, “Why seek ye the living among the dead” Then they remind them that Jesus foretold that this would happen. Jesus had told them that He must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. They then remembered His words. The wonderful truth of it broke down upon them. And look at how they reacted.
LK 24:9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
They now had the greatest news the world has ever had. There is a risen Saviour. And what did they do? How did they react to this news? They told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. They immediately went out and told others. Not only to the eleven, but it says to all the rest.
Should we not react the same way? Is not the greatest news in the world worth sharing?
See more lessons from the Gospels