Humility and Hospitality continued...

Luke 14:12-14 (GNT) Then Jesus said to His host, "When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your rich neighbors - for they will invite you back, and in this way you will be paid for what you did.  When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind; and you will be blessed, because they are not able to pay you back.  God will repay you on the day the good people rise from death."

Humility and Hospitality

Luke 14:7-11  (GNT) Jesus noticed how some of the guests were choosing the best places, so He told this parable to all of them: "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place.  It could happen that someone more important than you has been invited, and your host, who invited both of you, would have to come and say to you, 'Let him have this place.'  Then you would be embarrassed and have to sit in the lowest place.  Instead, when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that your host will come to you and say, 'Come on up, my friend, to a better place.' This will bring you honor in the presence of all the other guests.  For everyone who makes himself great will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be made great."

Jesus Heals A Sick Man

Luke 14:1-6  (GNT) One Sabbath Jesus went to eat a meal at the home of one of the leading Pharisees; and people were watching Jesus closely.  A man whose legs and arms were swollen came to Jesus, and Jesus spoke up and asked the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees, "Does our Law allow healing on the Sabbath or not?"  But they would not say a thing.  Jesus took the man, healed him, and sent him away.  Then He said to them, "If any one of you had a son or an ox that happened to fall in a well on a Sabbath, would you not pull him out at once on the Sabbath itself?"  But they were not able to answer Him about this.

Jesus' Love For Jerusalem

Luke 13:31-35 (GNT) At the same time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to Him, "You must get out of here and go somewhere else, because Herod wants to kill you."  Jesus answered them, "Go and tell that fox: 'I am driving out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I shall finish my work.' Yet I must be on my way today, tomorrow, and the next day; it is not right for a prophet to be killed anywhere except in Jerusalem.  Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets, you stone the messengers God has sent you!  How many times I wanted to put my arms around all your people, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me!  And so your Temple will be abandoned.  I assure you that you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, 'God bless Him who comes in the name of the Lord.' "

The Narrow Door

Luke 13:22-30 (GNT) Jesus went through towns and villages, teaching the people and making His way toward Jerusalem.  Someone asked Him, "Sir, will just a few people be saved?"  Jesus answered them, "Do your best to go in through the narrow door; because many people will surely try to go in but will not be able.  The master of the house will get up and close the door; then when you stand outside and begin to knock on the door and say, 'Open the door for us, sir!' he will answer you, 'I don't know where you come from!' Then you will answer, 'We ate and drank with you; you taught in our town!'  But he will say again, 'I don't know where you come from.  Get away from me, all you wicked people!'  How you will cry and gnash your teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, while you are thrown out!  People will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down at the feast in the Kingdom of God.  Then those who are now last will be first, and those who are now first will be last."

"What Shall I Compare the Kingdom of God With?" (The Parable of Yeast)

Luke 13:20-21 (GNT) Again Jesus asked, "What shall I compare the Kingdom of God with?  It is like this. A woman takes some yeast and mixes it with a bushel of flour until the whole batch of dough rises."

The Parable of the Mustard Seed - "What is the Kingdom of God like?"

Luke 13:18-19 (GNT) Jesus asked, "What is the Kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it with?  It is like this.  A man takes a mustard seed and plants it in his field.  The plant grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make their nests in its branches."

Your God, the Lord Himself, Will Be With You. He Will Not Fail You Or Abandon You

Deuteronomy 31:6 (GNT) (Moses said) "Be determined and confident.  Do not be afraid of them.  Your God, the Lord Himself, will be with you.  He will not fail you or abandon you."

(I wanted to post this today because it gave me such comfort and strength; I wanted to share)

Jesus Heals A Crippled Woman on the Sabbath

Luke 13:10-17 (GNT)

¹⁰ One Sabbath Jesus was teaching in a synagogue. ¹¹ A woman there had an evil spirit that had kept her sick for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not straighten up at all. ¹² When Jesus saw her, He called out to her, “Woman, you are free from your sickness!” ¹³ He placed His hands on her, and at once she straightened herself up and praised God.
¹⁴ The official of the synagogue was angry that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, so he spoke up and said to the people, “There are six days in which we should work; so come during those days and be healed, but not on the Sabbath!”
¹⁵ The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Any one of you would untie your ox or your donkey from the stall and take it out to give it water on the Sabbath. ¹⁶ Now here is this descendant of Abraham whom Satan has kept in bonds for eighteen years; should she not be released on the Sabbath?” ¹⁷ His answer made His enemies ashamed of themselves, while the people rejoiced over all the wonderful things that He did.

Cross references:

1. Luke 13:14 : Exod 20:9; Exod 20:10; Deut 5:13; Deut 5:14

The Parable of the Unfruitful Fig Tree

Luke 13:6-9 (GNT)  ⁶ Then Jesus told them this parable: “There was once a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went looking for figs on it but found none. ⁷ So he said to his gardener, ‘Look, for three years I have been coming here looking for figs on this fig tree, and I haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it go on using up the soil?’ ⁸ But the gardener answered, ‘Leave it alone, sir, just one more year; I will dig around it and put in some fertilizer. ⁹ Then if the tree bears figs next year, so much the better; if not, then you can have it cut down.’”    (Does "unfruitful" in the title mean "unfaithful" as it may refer to people?)

Turn from Your Sins or Die

Luke 13:1-5 (GNT)

13 At that time some people were there who told Jesus about the Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices to God. ² Jesus answered them, “Because those Galileans were killed in that way, do you think it proves that they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? ³ No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did. ⁴ What about those eighteen people in Siloam who were killed when the tower fell on them? Do you suppose this proves that they were worse than all the other people living in Jerusalem? ⁵ No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did.”

Settle with Your Opponent

Luke 12:57-59 (GNT) (Jesus said)

⁵⁷ “Why do you not judge for yourselves the right thing to do? ⁵⁸ If someone brings a lawsuit against you and takes you to court, do your best to settle the dispute before you get to court. If you don't, you will be dragged before the judge, who will hand you over to the police, and you will be put in jail. ⁵⁹ There you will stay, I tell you, until you pay the last penny of your fine.”

Cross references:

1. Luke 12:54 : Matt 16:2; Matt 16:3
2. Luke 12:57 : Matt 5:25; Matt 5:26

Understanding the Time

Luke 12:54-59 (GNT)

⁵⁴ Jesus said also to the people, “When you see a cloud coming up in the west, at once you say that it is going to rain—and it does. ⁵⁵ And when you feel the south wind blowing, you say that it is going to get hot—and it does. ⁵⁶ Hypocrites! You can look at the earth and the sky and predict the weather; why, then, don't you know the meaning of this present time?

"I Am The Bread of Life"

An epcert from the movie "The Visual Bible - The Gospel of John" - enjoy!

Jesus the Cause of Division

Luke 12:49-54 (GNT) (Jesus said)
⁴⁹ “I came to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already kindled! ⁵⁰ I have a baptism to receive, and how distressed I am until it is over! ⁵¹ Do you suppose that I came to bring peace to the world? No, not peace, but division. ⁵² From now on a family of five will be divided, three against two and two against three. ⁵³ Fathers will be against their sons, and sons against their fathers; mothers will be against their daughters, and daughters against their mothers; mothers-in-law will be against their daughters-in-law, and daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law.”

The Servant Who Knows What His Master Wants Him To Do

Luke 12:47-48 (GNT) (Jesus said)

⁴⁷ “The servant who knows what his master wants him to do, but does not get himself ready and do it, will be punished with a heavy whipping.

⁴⁸ But the servant who does not know what his master wants, and yet does something for which he deserves a whipping, will be punished with a light whipping. Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given."

At A Time He Does Not Know...

Luke 12:44-46 (GNT) (Jesus said) "Indeed, I tell you, the master will put that servant in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself that his master is taking a long time to come back and if he begins to beat the other servants, both the men and the women, and eats and drinks and gets drunk, then the master will come back one day when the servant does not expect him and at a time he does not know. The master will cut him in pieces and make him share the fate of the disobedient."

The Faithful Or The Unfaithful Servant

Luke 12:41- (GNT) Peter said, "Lord, does this parable apply to us, or do you mean it for everyone?"  The Lord answered, "Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant?  He is the one that his master will put in charge, to run the household and give the other servants their share of the food at the proper time.  How happy that servant is if his master finds him doing this when he comes home!"

The Son of Man Will Come At An Hour When You Are Not Expecting Him

Luke 12:38-40 (GNT) (Jesus continued) "How happy they are if He finds them ready, even if He should come at midnight or even later!  And you can be sure that  if the owner of a house knew the time when the thief would come,  he would not let the thief break into his house.  And you, too, must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you are not expecting Him."

Be Ready For Whatever Comes

Luke 12:35-37 (GNT) (Jesus said) "Be ready for whatever comes, dressed for action and with your lamps lit, like servants who are waiting for their Master to come back from a wedding feast.  When He comes and knocks, they will open the door for Him at once.  How happy are those servants whose Master finds them  awake and ready when He returns!  I tell you, He will take off His coat, have them sit down, and will wait on them."

Riches In Heaven

Luke 12:32-34  (GNT) (Jesus said) "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom. Sell all your belongings and give the money to the poor. Provide for yourselves purses that don't wear out, and save your riches in Heaven, where they will never decrease, because no thief can get to them, and no moth can destroy them.  For your heart will always be where your riches are."

Trust In God -- He Will Provide

Luke 12:29-31 (GNT) [Jesus says] "So don't be all upset, always concerned about what you will eat and drink.  (For the pagans of this world are always concerned about all these things.) Your Father knows that you need these things.  Instead, be concerned with His Kingdom, and He will provide you with these things."

Trust In God (continued)

Luke 12:27-28  (GNT)  (Jesus continued...) "Look how the wild flowers grow: they don't work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that not even King Solomon with all his wealth had clothes as beautiful as one of these flowers.  It is God who clothes the wild grass-grass that is here today and gone tomorrow, burned up in the oven.  Won't He be all the more sure to clothe you?  What little faith you have!"