

## The Parables

## of

## The Kingdom of God

### J. K. Kelly

Smashwords Edition License notes: This is the copyrighted work of J. K. Kelly published by Smashwords at http://www.smashwords.com. This book may be reproduced in whole or in part, copied and distributed, but only for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its original form. All reproductions are to maintain this legend at the beginning of the work.

Copyright 2018 J. K. Kelly

Website: http://www.thefirsttrumpet.com

This title and other books by this author available in most eBook formats at no cost.

Revelation 2.0

Worship in Spirit and in Truth

Fulfillment of the Feasts in Discipleship

Scripture quotes from The Holy Bible, New International Version Copyright 1973, 1978 New York International Bible Society, except where otherwise noted

Cover design: Detail of the bronze doors at the entrance to the cathedral in the Campo Dei Miracoli, Pisa, Italy

Illustrations: Created by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld for Die Bibel in Bildern, Published in Leipzig 1852 to 1860, Dover Publications, Inc., Copyright 2003 Used by permission

Dedicated to my father, who wanted me to wield my pen in faith,

and my sister Kathie, who taught me how to read.

With special acknowledgement and thanks to:

My theological advisor Dr. Choo Lak Yeow

My editors Dr. Jan Roberson and Chris DeMuhalla

and the many men and women of God who helped shape my faith.

"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." – 1 Thess 5:23-24

## Foreword

This book comes out of my struggles to come to completeness in Christ. Though I more or less practiced the Christian disciplines and even experienced spiritual breakthroughs, I could not really be called a mature believer. I was diverted by sin more routinely than I wanted to admit, even to myself. I felt I was stuck in my spiritual progress, focused to a large degree on the cares and desires of life. So I determined to deepen my relationship with the Lord. I studied how Jesus related to people and the life lessons He taught in His parables. I resolved to put the lesson of each parable as I understood it into practice before moving on to the next one—a kind of forty steps program. This proved to be much more difficult than anticipated, turning into a four year project, writing and amending each chapter according to my studies, failures, and successes. This study of the parables is only one of many; others will have different or additional insights.

I am fairly certain I'm not alone in my struggle to truly follow Jesus. Perhaps walking in whole-hearted devotion is so difficult because our material and technological blessings have resulted in being more self-centered than preceding generations. A lack of emphasis on holiness in the church is probably a contributing factor. Additionally, most of us are so focused on work and family problems that we are happy just to make it through another day. As many Bible scholars have noted, today's church culture is much like that of Laodicea. We are so caught up in our worldly acquisitions and concerns that we've become lukewarm about pursuing a close walk with God. I believe that if we are to come into spiritual maturity, we need to move on from the basics of salvation by grace through faith, and pursue a deeper, consecrated walk with Christ. Where most of us stumble in our pursuit of this deeper relationship is in dying to ourselves so we can fully live for Him.

There is no special _gnosis_ or knowledge required to understand Jesus' parables—just a diligent heart, relying on the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Accordingly, they have been divided into four chronological sections that define a progressive salvation walk:

I. The Way Of Faith: The basics of kingdom life.

II. Producing A Fruitful Harvest: The reason we've been called to follow Jesus.

III. Disciples of Christ: Becoming more like Jesus so we can walk as He did.

IV. Reaping What We Sow: How our response to Jesus' teaching determines both our spiritual progress and our eternal destiny.

In order to provide context, each parable starts with an introductory cultural, historical, or chronological background. This is followed by an explanation of the parable, with a practical application for today. There is also a follow up section designed for individual or group study. Each parable teaches a spiritual principle of living for the kingdom of God. The basic truth or principle that Jesus was illustrating is usually found in His words just before, during, or immediately following each parable. About three quarters of these are foundational kingdom precepts. The rest are prophetic in nature, motivating us to live in a manner worthy of our high calling in Christ. Reflecting on the parables and their principles helps us better understand the narrow road of discipleship. Living by them enables us to develop a deeper walk with the Lord, build more meaningful relationships, and fulfill God's purpose for our life.

# CONTENTS

### The Kingdom Of God

### Section I. THE WAY OF FAITH

### 1. The Light Of The World

### 2. The Old And The New

### 3. A Tree And Its Fruit

### 4. The Wise And Foolish Builders

### 5. The Two Debtors

### 6. The Rich Man

### 7. The Watchful Servants

### 8. The Faithful And Wise Manager

### Section II. PRODUCING A SPIRITUAL HARVEST

### 9. The Unfruitful Tree

### 10. A House Divided

### 11. The Sower

### 12. A Lamp On A Stand

### 13. The Weeds

### 14. The Growing Seed

### 15. The Mustard Seed & The Yeast

### 16. Hidden Treasure & A Priceless Pearl

### 17. The Fishing Net

### Section III. DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

### 18. The Good Shepherd

### 19. The Wandering Sheep

### 20. The Dutiful Servant

### 21. The Unmerciful Servant

### 22. The Good Samaritan

### 23. The Persistent Friend

### 24. The Wedding Feast

### 25. The Great Banquet

### 26. The Tower and The Battle

### 27. The Lost Sheep & The Lost Coin

### 28. The Lost Son

### Section IV. REAPING WHAT WE SOW

### 29. The Shrewd Manager

### 30. The Rich Man And Lazarus

### 31. The Persistent Widow

### 32. The Pharisee And The Tax Collector

### 33. The Workers In The Vineyard

### 34. The Ten Coins

### 35. The Two Sons

### 36. The Wicked Tenants

### 37. Invitation To A Wedding Banquet

### 38. The Fig Tree

### 39. The Ten Virgins

### 40. The Sheep And The Goats

### Appendix: Kingdom Principles

# The Kingdom Of God

"Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people." – Matt 4:23

We hear much about the _Gospel_ , or "Good News" of Jesus Christ. A quick search of Scripture reveals that this Good News is occasionally referred to as: the _Gospel of God_ or the _Gospel of the grace of God_ , the _Gospel of salvation_ , and the _Gospel of peace_. However, Jesus didn't use these terms. He called His gospel message _the good news of the kingdom of God_. _"I must preach the good news of_ _the kingdom of God . . . because that is why I was sent."_ (Luke 4:43)1 Mark's account confirms this. After introducing his book as _"The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,"_ he goes on to say that after John was imprisoned, _"Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."_ (Mark 1:14-15 KJV) Jesus did more than just preach the good news of the kingdom. As our Savior, He opened its gates to all who would repent and believe in Him.

The word _kingdom_ generally brings to mind the idea of a sovereign country, state or territory. However, the meaning of _the_ _kingdom of God_ is better conveyed by the Aramaic word _malkuth_ , which emphasizes the spiritual reign of God. " _Malkuth . . ._ is properly an abstract noun, meaning 'kingship,' 'kingly rule,' 'reign,' or 'sovereignty,' . . . in which (God) is revealed as King or sovereign Lord of His people."2 We enter the kingdom of God by submitting ourselves to the reign of its King, making Jesus Lord of our life.

Jesus' instruction about the kingdom was a revolutionary departure from the strict Pharisaical focus on the written requirements of Mosaic and rabbinic law, with their belief in a distant, future kingdom of God. Jesus made it clear that the same kingdom could be presently found in the inner recesses of the heart by anyone diligently seeking and submitting to God's will: _"The kingdom of God does not come visibly, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."_ (Luke 17: 20-21) Those who do not enter this spiritual kingdom through repentance and faith in this life will not be part of it in the age to come.

Although Jesus preached His Gospel for only a few short years a very long time ago, the four accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John faithfully convey His ministry and teaching. At the core of His instruction are the parables, which illustrate _the operative principles or truths of the kingdom of God_. After the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus _"spoke . . . to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable."_ (Matt 13:34) The parables help His disciples (that's us!) understand and remember the principles of the kingdom so we can live by them. Jesus revisited the subjects He knew would give us the most difficulty, such as repentance, humility, money, and watchfulness. Sometimes He gave more than one illustration of the same principle, such as the parables of The Lost sheep and The Lost Coin, so that both men and women could relate to His message. Additionally, some of His earlier parables are repeated later in His ministry. (In these cases, complementary parables have been combined into one chapter, and later duplicative parables have been omitted.)

During His life, Jesus fully embraced the kingdom of God, following its principles and teaching them to all who would listen. At His sacrificial death, He defeated the devil in his own dark realm, opening the gates of the kingdom to all who would put their faith in Him. However, prior to His death and resurrection, Jesus was limited to announcing the imminence of the coming kingdom, stating, _"The kingdom of God is near ("at hand" – KJV)."_ (Matt 4:17) This is because entry into the kingdom can only be granted by being _born again_ through the Holy Spirit, who would not come until after Jesus had risen and returned to the Father.

In only one instance did Jesus alter the tense of His announcement. When driving out a demon, He told the objecting Pharisees that _"The kingdom of God has (already) come to you."_ (Luke 11:20) Because the millennial kingdom of God will render Satan powerless over mankind, this future reality became a present spiritual fact when Jesus cast out demonic spirits. Since that time, each demonic deliverance, and every healing or other work of spiritual power, is both a triumph over the kingdom of darkness and a guarantee of Jesus' return to establish His kingdom on earth.

When we respond to the Gospel message by surrendering our life to Jesus, we are reborn a new spiritual creation, becoming children of God. As members of the household of faith and citizens of the kingdom, we are also disciples of Christ. Walking in the narrow way of discipleship, we follow Jesus' teaching and example, living by kingdom principles and growing in the Divine virtues. This means that we may not idly rest in the gift of salvation any more than a newborn may remain in its infancy, dependent on others its entire life. Just as every other living thing grows and matures, the Lord expects us to grow as spiritual beings. We do this by learning from Jesus and His appointed church leaders so we might _"become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."_ (Eph 4:13)

Though He ascended into heaven, Jesus has not left us to walk the path of discipleship alone. He is present with us in His Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith and transform us into His likeness. He has also provided a place for us within His church so we might receive guidance and encouragement, learning to relate and minister to one another in love. And He has left us a roadmap to living the Christian life in His parables, with their simple lessons on how to walk in faith, hope, and love. By studying and applying ourselves to their lessons, we receive the grace to persevere through temptations and trials so we might _"in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ."_ (Eph 4:15) The result of our faithfulness will be a plentiful harvest of spiritual fruit that enriches the soul, bringing the light of grace and truth not just into our own life, but through us into the lives of others. Following Christ and bearing the fruit of His character, we will inherit the place reserved for us when He returns to establish His kingdom reign over all the earth.

### _______

1 The NIV translates the implied meaning of this verse, inserting the words: "the good news of," probably based on Mark 1:14-15 and Matt 4:23.

2 C.H. Dodd _The Parables of The Kingdom_ Charles Scribner's Sons 1961 p. 21

## Section I

## The Way Of Faith

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." – John 14:6

After the fall of mankind, God called a remnant to walk by faith. Hebrews 11 lists several individuals who responded to His call: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses. When the Lord delivered the Israelites from Egypt, He extended this call to the twelve tribes of Israel. He entered into a contract, or covenant, with them to be His special people, to _"serve him . . . in holiness and righteousness."_ (Luke 1:74-75) This Mosaic, or "old" covenant, was designed to instill a faith-based love of the Lord that would result in reverent obedience to God's laws and love for one's neighbor. As long as the memory of their deliverance from Egypt remained strong in the hearts of the people, they kept faith and walked in God's ways. However, later generations lost this vivid remembrance of God's provision for them, and Israel began to follow the ways of the nations around her.

The Lord sent numerous prophets to call His covenant people to return to a walk of faith and obedience. One of these was Habakkuk, who stated the simple truth that _"The righteous shall live by his faith."_ (Hab 2:4) The prophet Micah presented a concise statement of the way of faith: _"_ _He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)_ And the prophet Hosea pointed out that mercy and the knowledge of God are even more important than the sacrificial burnt offerings required by the law for forgiveness (Hos 6:6). This is because repeated forgiveness is of little value unless it is accompanied by a change of heart that brings about changed behavior. Therefore, _"the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard it did not combine it with faith."_ (Heb 4:2)

God finally judged His people for their sins. The northern tribes of Israel were scattered abroad by the Assyrians. Later, Judah was invaded, the temple destroyed and the people led captive to Babylon. During the Babylonian captivity, synagogues were established in an effort to preserve the teaching of the Law contained in the Torah. The practice of meeting for instruction continued after their repatriation to the Promised Land. During the Hellenic period, the learned class of men known as Scribes, who were called _rabbi_ , or teacher, took over administration of the synagogues. Their goal was to faithfully pass the precepts of the Law to each new generation and ensure they were followed. No one wanted a repeat of God's devastating judgment of invasion and captivity in a foreign land.

Over time, the Scribes established hundreds of new directives and traditions to interpret Mosaic Law, much like court decisions interpret and modify our laws today. Rabbinic law and tradition eventually came to hold the same authority as the Law of Moses. The Pharisees zealously kept watch for the slightest violation of rabbinic rules. Instead of producing righteousness by faith, however, this approach led to righteousness by works. The love of God and one's neighbor became an array of externally imposed duties rather than a heart-based walk of reverent faith and compassion for others. This was the society into which Jesus was born.

### Practical Application

Jesus was not the first prophet to teach about faith to a wayward generation, but He was the only one to fully live by it, innocent of any sin. So just what is this way of faith that Jesus taught and modeled? In its simplest terms, faith can be described as trust and obedience. Figuratively, it might be described as the electrical grid running through God's kingdom, enabling us to receive light and power of God's Spirit. Every gift of grace and power that comes from God can be received only by faith, and even faith itself is a gift from God. This circularity, together with the inability to reach God by intellect and reason alone, is what requires us to make what theologians call _a leap of faith._ It is only by faith that we are able to trust God's written word and make the decision to turn our life over to Christ. Through faith in Christ we receive the grace and righteousness that enables us to follow Him: " _But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." (Rom 3:21-22)_

On a more definitive level, "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Heb 11:1) The King James Version is much closer to the original Greek: "Faith is the substance (Gr. stasis: existence) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." In other words, faith gives substance, or existence, to what we hope for, bringing what does not yet exist into being. Because the Lord and His kingdom are not bound by time, He sees us not just as we are now; He also sees the complete man or woman of God we will become in the future. From God's perspective we are already perfected through our continuing faith in Christ: "He has [Gr: already] perfected forever those who are being sanctified." (Heb 10:14 NKJV) As we come to appropriate God's vision for us by faith, it becomes our own, and we are perfected in holiness and righteousness one day at a time.

# 1. The Light Of The World

### Modeling the Beatitudes

"Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.1

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." – Matt 5:1-16

At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus traveled around the northern district of Galilee, doing good works and teaching in local synagogues. Instead of condemning people for their failure to keep the law, He taught about the kingdom of God, confirming the truth of His message with healings and miracles. He cured every type of infirmity and disease brought to Him, and cast demons out of many. People who had been confined to their beds in pain or who could move only with great difficulty were now attending synagogue services. They moved freely about the stalls on market day, talking about Jesus and praising God. The news that a prophet had appeared in Israel began to reach far beyond the borders of Galilee, spreading throughout Israel and the Roman province of Syria.

It didn't take long before people started showing up asking where they could find the prophet Jesus. Small groups of seekers turned into larger ones. One day early in His ministry, a large crowd gathered around Him. He walked up the hillside a ways so His voice would carry, and began to preach. He taught about the condition of the heart that motivates our actions, about trusting the Father and walking in love. His teaching that day has become known as the Sermon on the Mount. It started with The Beatitudes, so named because they describe different blessings of walking in the way of faith. The Beatitudes are a window into the heart of Christ. They are also therefore a description of the qualities that should be found in His followers.

**Blessed are the poor in spirit** : Though He had always lived in perfect spiritual union with the Father and the Holy Spirit, Jesus gave up His equality with God and _"made himself nothing."_ (Phil 2:7) The Son of God impoverished himself to become the Son of Man, inhabiting a physical body like everyone else who ever walked the earth. No longer coexisting in equality with God, He had to rely on faith, prayer, and the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit to relate to the Father, just as we do. When the light of His salvation message penetrates our heart, we understand just how spiritually poor sin has made us. Renouncing sin and embracing Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we receive numerous spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph 1:3). The greatest of these is receiving the same indwelling Presence of the Spirit of God that Jesus had, the same faith to believe, the same ability to draw close to the Father in prayer.

**Blessed are those who mourn** : Jesus sorrowed over the condition of the poor, the afflicted, and the suffering, devoting himself to minister to them. Perhaps most of all He mourned the fallen spiritual state of mankind, held captive to the power of sin and death (Heb 2:14-15). That's why He died in our place, suffering God's judgment on sin so we could be set free to walk in the way of faith. When we understand God's love and forgiveness on a personal level, we experience godly sorrow for our sin, bringing us to repentance. As we mature, we come to mourn the captivity of others. This motivates us to let the light of truth shine through us as witnesses of God's great love for mankind.

**Blessed are the meek** : The word _meek_ presents an image today of someone who doesn't stand up for himself, who can't say no and is easily walked on. However, the Greek word _Praus_ suggests controlled strength, as illustrated by the example of a bridled horse. And the Old Norse _mjúkr_ —from which the English word meek came into use—means _gentle_. Combining these two meanings presents us with a picture of Jesus as a man of great power, yet one who was also consistently humble and gentle (Matt 11:28-30). Submitting to His yoke and walking by the strength of His grace, we are called to be gentle and gracious with others.

**Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness** : Jesus' primary motivation was to do the right thing, pleasing the Father in everything He did. He therefore kept the requirements of the Law of Moses by walking according to _"the law of the Spirit of life."_ (Rom 8:2) Because He paid the price for our sins with his life, we have His righteousness in us through the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit, _"so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness."_ (1 Pet 2:24)

**Blessed are the merciful** : Knowing the weakness of our nature, Jesus had compassion for all men. He was therefore merciful to all, even to the Pharisees who insulted, slandered, and persecuted Him. Though He held the power of eternal judgment, _"he judged no one."_ (John 8:15) He did not avenge the wrongs He suffered, forgiving even those who crucified Him. As His disciples, we are called to follow Jesus' example of being merciful to everyone, accepting rather than rejecting them, returning good for evil and forgiveness for injury.

**Blessed are the pure in heart** : Rejecting all the ways of the world and the temptations of the enemy, Jesus walked in the purity of holiness, keeping Himself _"from being polluted by the world."_ (Jas 1:27) For love of the Father, we are motivated to _"purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."_ (2 Cor 7:1)

**Blessed are the peacemakers** : Out of love for His created children, God sent Jesus to reconcile mankind to Himself, restoring the peace of the Father-child relationship lost in the Fall. He requires that we extend this same reconciling love to others, both saved and unsaved alike. We are therefore called to _"_ _make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy."_ (Heb 12:14)

**Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness** : Even though no one ever lived a more blameless life than Jesus, He was accused of being a criminal and executed for speaking the truth. Yet instead of avenging himself on His persecutors He forgave them, trusting in the Father's mercy and justice. Because the kingdom of darkness actively opposes the kingdom of light, _"everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."_ (2 Tim 3:12) However, our suffering for Christ is nothing compared to the glory of His image that will one day be revealed in us (Rom 8:18).

### **Kingdom Principle** : _"You are the light of the world . . . let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." – Matt 5:14,16_

### Practical Application

The beatitudes are not just about doing but about _becoming_ —developing and practicing Godly virtues as _"Christ is formed in (us)."_ (Gal 4:19) They may be viewed as spiritual guideposts in the way of faith.

If we are to truly appreciate our need for a Savior, we must first recognize and admit our spiritual poverty. When we understand the gravity of our sin, we realize our deep need for Divine forgiveness and come to mourn our separation from the Father. In this place of humility, we are able to see ourselves as no better than any one else, and we learn to be gentle, or meek, with others instead of judging them. As we grow in Christ, we develop a spiritual hunger and thirst to walk in His righteousness. Persevering in the way of faith and drawing close to God in prayer, His compassion grows in our hearts, teaching us to be merciful.

As the light of God's truth penetrates deeper into the recesses of the soul, it reveals the hidden motivations that hinder us from walking in the purity of holiness. Confessing and turning from sin when the Spirit brings it to light, we are forgiven and cleansed. Walking in the compassion and mercy of God, the differences that once separated us from others are covered in love and overlooked in the bonds of peace. Yet because the growing light of truth in us also exposes darkness in the hearts of others, we will be rejected and persecuted for our faith. However, justice will prevail in the end, and the glory of God will one day be revealed in those who faithfully share in the sufferings of following Christ.

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light . . . and find out what pleases the Lord." – Eph 5:8, 10

**Food For Thought:** Though all believers are called to walk a spiritual road of coming to completeness in Christ, not everyone is at the same stage of maturity. Where would you place yourself in the following paradigm? Admitting spiritual poverty/ mourning the brokenness of your soul/ learning meekness and humility/ developing a hunger to walk in righteousness/ growing in compassion and mercy/ growing in purity/ forging bonds of reconciliation and peace/ accepting suffering and persecution for the refining of your faith. Which lessons are easier for you, which ones more difficult?

### _______

1 Only Matthew, who wrote for the Jews, substituted the kingdom of heaven for the kingdom of God out of respect for Jewish tradition. This is explained by Dodd: "The two expressions, 'The Kingdom of God' and "The Kingdom of Heaven,' the latter of which is peculiar to the First Gospel, are synonymous, the term 'heaven' being common in Jewish usage as a reverential periphrasis for the divine name." – C.H. Dodd, _The Parables of The Kingdom_ Charles Scribner's Sons 1961 p. 21

# 2. The Old And The New

### Admitting Our Spiritual Poverty

"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." – Matt 9:16-17 ("And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.'" – Luke 5:39)

Having recently left His hometown of Nazareth, Jesus was living in Capernaum. The religious leaders there were not very happy with Him. Instead of expounding on the law as the priests and Scribes did, Jesus taught about the kingdom of God. Rather than making a public show of tithing, fasting and praying as the Pharisees did, He publicly exorcized evil spirits and performed miraculous healings. The growing belief that Jesus was a prophet worried the religious establishment, since prophets had a long history of being troublemakers.

Adding further offense, Jesus had just chosen Matthew Levi, a local collector of the hated Roman tax, to be one of His disciples. Shortly afterwards, Matthew hosted a dinner party for Jesus. Some local Scribes and Pharisees were present to keep an eye on this controversial new rabbi, disapproving of Him, the host, and probably most of the guests. The Pharisees confronted Jesus about associating with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus responded that He had not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance, and related the parable of The Old And The New.

The old garment and wine bag symbolize worship under the old covenant of law, in which forgiveness was obtained through animal sacrifice. The Pharisees saw God as a harsh judge, granting forgiveness only grudgingly and requiring a multitude of works to prove one's righteousness. The new garment and wineskin symbolize the new covenant of grace. In this covenant, Jesus reveals God as a loving Father, generously granting forgiveness to those who confess their sins. Righteousness is not received by sacrifice or works, but imparted through a living faith relationship with Christ. While we are in fact called by God to do good works (Matt 5:16), they are to be done out of compassion for our fellow man, not to atone for sin or earn righteousness.

Jesus understood that He was upsetting the established order of things. So He reminded His listeners that it is only natural to prefer old wine to new, the comfort and fit of our favorite threadbare jacket to a stiff new one. We are creatures of habit, clinging to our comfortable ways and resisting change. His point was that we must let go of our old ways of relating to God and walk in the Spirit of grace and truth: _"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."_ (John 1:17)

### Kingdom Principle: "'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." – Matt 9:13; (Related) "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." – Luke 6:36

### Practical Application

Just as an old threadbare coat can never be made as good as new by sewing patches over the holes, we cannot follow Jesus merely by patching His teachings over our old belief system—regardless of whether it is based on the Law of Moses, modern science, or another religion. This is because our inherited sin nature can never be patched over or fixed. We must instead be reborn of the Holy Spirit, turning away from our old sinful way of life ( _"the old man"_ ) to walk as a new spiritual creation ( _"the new man"_ ) in Christ. In order to receive this new birth, we must let go of believing in our own inherent goodness and realize just how spiritually poor sin has made us. We cannot save ourselves, no matter how hard we try to live a good life, no matter how many seminars we attend or self-help books we read. Only when we admit our spiritual poverty can we appreciate our need for the gift of salvation.

In the Pharisaical approach to religion, sinners are avoided in order to keep from polluting one's own righteousness by association. This attitude can still be found in churches and believers' hearts today. It is only when we recognize that we are all sinners, in need of God's continual forgiveness and cleansing, that we realize there is no righteousness apart from being in Christ. To be "in Christ" is to have Christ in us, as the sponge is in the sea and the sea is in the sponge. In order to fully experience our new life in Him, we must let go of our old ways of viewing God, others, and ourselves, and look through new eyes of faith. We come to see God as our Holy loving Father, instead of some remote spiritual force or being. When we see ourselves as a temple of God's Holy Spirit, we start to order our priorities differently. And by making the effort to see Christ in others, we become much more willing to love and serve them.

"He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" – 2 Cor 5:15-17

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." – Matt 5:3

**Food For Thought:** The words _compassion_ and _mercy_ are frequently used interchangeably. There is however a distinction. Compassion is the feeling of pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others, while mercy is the act of being kind and forgiving, doing good to others regardless of how they treat us. Having Christ's compassion for others results in being merciful. Our feelings of compassion quickly fade, however, if instead of accepting others as Christ accepts us, we find fault with them. Look up Romans 2:1-4, and Matt 7:1-6. Discuss our responsibility as believers to treat others with the same acceptance and mercy that we have received from God.

# 3. A Tree And Its Fruit

### Spiritual Discernment

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." – Matt 7:13-20

In the previous parable, Jesus addressed the need to make a clean break from our old way of life. Here He relates the first of His "watchfulness" parables, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding our new life in Him. Because the darkness hates the light, the kingdom of God has many spiritual enemies. When we become citizens of the kingdom, we suffer their direct assaults on our faith, their schemes to deceive us, their efforts to draw us from the narrow path of discipleship. Though we tend to think of temptation as the primary threat to our salvation, this is not always the case. Temptation is usually recognizable for what it is. In any given situation we have the choice of whether we will follow Jesus or our old sinful ways. False teaching can present the greater danger because it is not always so easily discerned. It can lead not only individuals but whole churches astray. It is based on spiritual deception, mixing lies with the truth. It is the weapon the serpent used against Eve, causing her to doubt the truth of God's word in order to lead her into sin.

The two principal teaching errors in the early church were the competing doctrines of legalism and license. These may be looked at as ditches on either side of _"the road that leads to life,"_ and they still exist today. False teaching initially erred on the side of legalism, an attempt to impose law on the doctrine of grace. Acts 10 describes the Lord's dealing with Peter over his legalistic approach to the salvation of Gentiles. And Paul had to admonish the Galatian church about requiring the circumcision of Gentile converts. Legalism is still evident today in the imposition of man-made rules that attempt to regulate conduct, but _"lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence."_ (Col 2:21) Legalism results from an emphasis on conformity to external standards of behavior in an attempt to achieve inner righteousness.

The false teaching of license arose somewhat later, becoming prevalent in the wealthier port cities of the Roman Empire, especially Corinth and Rome. The Gospel emphasis on grace was misconstrued by some as offering freedom from restraint, resulting in self-indulgence and compromise with sin. Paul emphatically warned against this error: _"Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!"_ (Rom. 6:15) A similar dynamic has infected many churches today. Society has substituted science for religion and humanism for theology, tolerance of sin for acceptance of the sinner. This has led to the allowance and even endorsement of immoral behavior for church members and clergy alike _._ License arises from an overemphasis on grace, coupled with a de-emphasis on our responsibility to respond to God's grace with faith that leads to obedience.

### Kingdom Principle: (General) "Enter through the narrow gate." – Matt 7:13; (Specific) "Watch out for false prophets . . . By their fruit you will recognize them." – Matt 7:15, 20

### Practical Application

It is possible to have different denominational expressions of faith without falling into the ditches of legalism or license. Some churches have a more liberal approach while others are of a more conservative bent. There is room for different emphases within the body of Christ, just as the epistles of Peter, Paul, James, and John emphasized different aspects of the Gospel. There is no perfect church, since every congregation is comprised of imperfect people. However, as James 1:5 says, _"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."_ This includes the spiritual discernment to know which church is right for us to grow together with other believers in Christ. While we are to refrain from judging others, it is wise to evaluate churches by the fruit of their ministry. If we diligently seek it, God will give us the wisdom and guidance to find a church that is a good fit for us.

"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up . . . Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching." – Eph 4:11, 14

**Food For Thought:** Most Christian churches today operate within defined parameters of faith determined over the centuries by church councils. Still, many denominations differ in their beliefs over issues that are not essential to salvation, such as the timing of the rapture or the operation of spiritual gifts in the church. If we focus on the essentials of faith, such issues need not divide us. Look up Eph 4:11-16. What are the benefits of being part of a cohesive church body? How does being in fellowship with other believers help us discern sound teaching and put it into practice?

# 4. The Wise And Foolish Builders

### Building on the Foundation of Christ

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

"Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." – Matt 7:21-27

Building on His previous parable, Jesus defines walking the narrow road as putting His teaching into practice in order to do the Father's will. He uses the analogy of building a house to describe discipleship as a lifelong walk of faith and obedience. _"Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith."_ (Rom 1:5) Jesus did not save us from the power of sin so we could continue our old way of life: _"He died . . . that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."_ (2 Cor 5:15)

No one enters the kingdom of God knowing how to walk the narrow road. However, we have been given the instruction manual of the Bible and the indwelling Presence of the Spirit so we can follow Jesus' teaching. Obedience is not a gift, but our response to God's love and forgiveness. We must learn it, just as Jesus did: _"He learned obedience from what he suffered."_ (Heb 5:8)

### Kingdom Principle: (Prophetic) "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." – Matt 7:21

### Practical Application

As believers, we are subject to the same trials and temptations as anyone else in this world. Sometimes we cannot help but feel bruised, battered, and bewildered, wondering why God allows His children to suffer. However, if we put Christ's teaching into practice, we will be able to weather the storms of life, confident of His love and provision for us. _Practice_ is the key word here. We do not learn to play a musical instrument well, for example, without a great deal of practice, and the more difficult passages always require greater effort to master. The same is true of kingdom living. We must constantly practice the kingdom principles Jesus taught if we are to build a life that will withstand the storms that come our way. We don't learn to obey God by doing what we want, but by submitting to His will, especially when we don't really want to.

"We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him." – 1 John 2:3-5

**Food For Thought:** Matt 16:25 states: _"_ _Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."_ How does this kingdom principle from the parable of The Tower And The Battle (Chapter 26) relate to the principle of this parable? Why is it easy for us to gain victory in some areas while others present a seeming never-ending source of difficulty? Share how you have already found, or are currently on the road to victory in an area that has been difficult to overcome.

# 5. The Two Debtors

### Mourning Our Sin

Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is–that she is a sinner."

Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."

"Tell me, teacher," he said.

"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he cancelled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt cancelled."

"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – for she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." – Luke 7:36-50

This incident occurred early in Jesus ministry, when the local ruling elders were still trying to figure Him out. The Pharisee Simon had reached out to Jesus, probably after He had taught in a local synagogue. Perhaps he wanted to show Jesus the social and material benefits of aligning Himself with the religious establishment. These Sabbath dinners were private events, usually featuring a liberal amount of wine, food, and schmoozing. The guests were drawn from a much higher class of society than those who attended the dinner Matthew recently hosted for Jesus. The two hosts were quite different as well. Matthew had honored Jesus, believing Him to be a prophet sent by God. Simon, on the other hand, pretty much ignored Him. He probably didn't want to be seen as promoting a faith healer with no credentials and a dubious background. At this dinner party, Jesus was not the guest of honor but a figure of idle curiosity.

Jesus had most likely taken a seat at the far end of the table, because it took some time before Simon realized what was going on. When he finally saw the woman washing Jesus' feet, he thought that if He were truly a prophet, He would not let her touch Him. Considering the ultraconservative social morality of the day, Simon would not have been the only one put off by this public display of affection. Yet no one uttered an open word of rebuke; they were waiting to see what Jesus would do. It was possible that His own reputation could be tarnished over this, which would greatly please the Scribes and Pharisees. Jesus and the prostitute had suddenly become part of the afternoon's entertainment, something that would be talked about in elite social circles for quite awhile.

There were three distinct perceptions of this event: Those of Jesus, the Pharisee, and the prostitute. Jesus' acceptance of her was not due to ignorance of what she had done, as Simon supposed. It arose instead from His compassion for those caught in the bonds of sin. He did not see her as a sinner to be avoided, but as a humble, broken child of God grieving over her sin, seeking forgiveness and restoration. In contrast, Simon saw himself as a righteous man of God, believing he had little need of forgiveness. He believed that as a protector of Israel's morality he had a responsibility to rebuke anyone who might lead others into sinful ways, so he looked down on her as a sinner worthy of his scorn.

The prostitute was well aware that she was at the bottom of society, only slightly above an untouchable leper. She had become ensnared by sin, which she deeply regretted. Previous attempts to change her life had failed. However, from her actions and Jesus' words, we know that she still loved God. So she came to Jesus with an impoverished spirit, mourning her sin. She had faith that God is not only just, but also loving and kind, willing to forgive sin and restore those who come to him in humility and genuine sorrow for their sins: _"_ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." (Ps 51:17)

### Kingdom Principle: "Many sins have been forgiven . . . [those who love God much.] But he who has been forgiven little loves little." – Luke 7:47

### Practical Application

Whether we are coming to Christ at conversion or returning to Him, repentance is more than an intellectual decision. When we come to Him in the humility of trusting, heart-felt sorrow and repentance, we receive the comfort of His forgiveness, the cleansing of our soul from unrighteousness, and restoration to a place among the faithful. "Conviction is . . . a God-given, really sober sense of remorse over what I ought to feel remorseful about. . . . A prodigal son comes to his senses. . . . A sinful woman aching for forgiveness bathes Jesus' feet with her tears. In the same way the stomach hungers for food, the conscience hungers to be cleansed. It is a God-given ache for goodness."1

"Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." – Jas 4:8-10

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." – Matt 5:4

**Food For Thought:** Was the woman forgiven because her loving acts toward Jesus revealed her love for God (v 33-46), or was she forgiven because of her faith (v 50)? Does one naturally proceed from the other? How does confession of sin demonstrate both our faith and our love for God? Discuss the Pharisee's attitude toward the woman in light of 1 John 4:19-21.

### _______

1 John Ortberg, _Soul Keeping_ Zondervan 2014 pp. 73-74

# 6. The Rich Man

### The Danger of Greed

Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'

"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You'll have plenty of good things stored up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry."'

"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'

"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich towards God." – Luke 12:15-21

As Jesus continued to draw ever-larger crowds of followers, the Scribes' and Pharisees' resentment of him grew stronger. Their pet peeve was Jesus' failure to teach and enforce adherence to rabbinic rules, which were very specific in their detailed interpretation of God's laws. Even the number of steps one could walk on the Sabbath was counted to ensure that walking didn't become "work," thus breaking the commandment. Fasting, washing, and working on the Sabbath were the three most easily observed and judged offenses. When Jesus and His disciples violated these, the Pharisees considered it a direct challenge to their authority. Yet whenever they confronted Him, He always had a valid response, usually a Scriptural one that they couldn't refute. However, they were unable to take action against Him because of His growing popularity, which only increased every time He performed another exorcism or miraculous healing. They were losing the hearts and minds of the people to this upstart Rabbi Jesus, and feeling increasingly insecure in their privileged positions of power.

The Pharisees' insecurity was not Jesus' doing, but a result of the conviction of the Spirit in their hearts, which were far from God (Matt 15:8-9). Instead of worshiping Him in Spirit and truth, they trusted in the saving power of their religious works—their sacrifices and rituals, fasting, and prayers—performed publicly and frequently as proof of their righteousness. In addition to their strict observation of religious rites and rules, they devoted themselves to living the good life and acquiring the money that enabled them to achieve it. This attitude was not limited to the Pharisees; it was imitated by all those who looked up to their example. So when someone in the crowd asked Jesus to intervene in a family matter concerning an inheritance, Jesus told this parable to illustrate the importance of prioritizing spiritual matters over material ones.

### Kingdom Principle: "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." – Luke 12:15; (Related) "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." – Matt 6:21

### Practical Application

Life can be messy, marred by poor health, broken relationships, physical and emotional difficulties—and a hundred other things that arise from being born with a corrupted sin nature into a decaying world. Financially, most people struggle just to make ends meet. Many are stuck in undesirable low-paying jobs, and some people have to work well into retirement age. Yet others appear to lead charmed lives of financial prosperity with few apparent difficulties. We may sometimes question why we are burdened in life more than others. Perhaps we have even questioned God's fairness. We need to remember that we all have unique souls and therefore different lessons to learn. True fulfillment does not come by living an easy life or obtaining things that make us happy, whether we live on the street or own it. It comes as we _"Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness"_ (Matt 6:33), submitting the use of our resources to the compassionate leading of the Spirit.

God does not have a problem with us working for the things of this world, whether to buy food to put on the table, a reliable car to drive to work, or a larger house to accommodate a new arrival. In fact, "everything good comes from God and is to be given freedom to be itself, to enjoy and be enjoyed."1 The book of Ecclesiastes recommends excelling at our work and enjoying life. This parable is therefore not denouncing making and spending money, or even being rich. It is instead directed towards _"anyone who stores up things for himself_ _but is not rich towards God_ _."_ In other words, it is an admonition to rein in our inordinate desires for the things of this world, a warning to be watchful of motivations that can lead us from the narrow way: "we are enslaved if we care for anything in ways that exclude the Giver."2 For many, this means changing our focus from a desire for created things to desiring the Creator.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also . . . You cannot serve both God and money." – Matt 6:19-21, 24

**Food For Thought:** Read Revelation 3:17-18, which is addressed to those who value material riches over spiritual ones. What is _"gold refined by fire"_? How can we buy it from Christ? What do we use to purchase it? Once we have it, should we save it or spend it? How? Discuss in light of 1 Pet 1:3-9.

### _______

1 Esther de Waal, _God Under My Roof_ Paraclete Press 1985 p. 8

2 ibid.

# 7. The Watchful Servants

### The Vigilance of Faith

"Be dressed and ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the third watch of the night. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." – Luke 12:35-40

Since feasts were an integral part of Hebrew religion and culture, banquets featured in several of Jesus' parables. A banquet was a feast to which many people were invited for a meal and socializing, usually on the Sabbath. It might also include entertainment such as music, singing or dancing. It could be hosted either at dinner (lunch) or the late evening supper. A wedding banquet was a special celebration marked by traditional rites of passage, just as it is today. Ceremonies did not get started until late afternoon, with supper often being delayed for several hours. So there was no telling what time the wedding guests might return home. Therefore, instead of going to bed, the servants had to stay awake and dressed, keeping the lights burning so their master wouldn't come home to a dark house.

This was the first foreshadowing that Jesus would not be around for an extended time to train and guide His disciples. In order for Him to return home to His servants, He must first leave. So He told this parable to urge His followers to remain true to the faith, even when He was not physically there to keep them accountable. Because His own humanity made Him subject to temptation, Jesus understood the human predisposition to sin and selfishness. We are inclined to laziness, becoming less passionate about our pursuit of the spiritual life instead of more so. That is why He gives us His Holy Spirit to convict and strengthen us, and the body of believers to help us stay on track. He provides us with everything we need to guard our hearts and minds against those things that diminish our light and our desire to live for God.

### Kingdom Principle: "You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." – Luke 12:40

### Practical Application

As disciples of Christ, we enjoy the communion that exists between our spirit and the Presence of God's Spirit in us: _"For in him we live and move and have our being."_ (Acts 17:28) The Holy Spirit is the oil that keeps our lamps burning bright until the Master returns. He is ever present to guide, empower, and comfort us. Yet we need to be vigilant about doing our part in tending the light within—seeking the Spirit's leading and prayerfully reading God's word: _"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."_ (Ps 119:105) As the priests entered the temple both morning and evening to tend the lampstand, we can and should take time daily, at the very least on rising and retiring, to keep our desire to serve God burning in our heart. Having been warned to remain watchful, there is no excuse for being remiss in safeguarding the great treasure of the kingdom of God within us: _"We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised."_ (Heb 6:12)

"But you brothers are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like the others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled." – 1 Thess 5:4-6

**Food For Thought:** 1 Pet 5:8 states: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." Why is self-control so important to being a disciple of Christ? Discuss in context of the analogy of Proverbs 25:28.

# 8. The Faithful And Wise Manager

### The High Calling of Ministry

Afterward Peter asked, "Lord are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?"

The Lord answered, "Who then is that faithful and wise manager, who the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he begins to beat the menservants and womenservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

"That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." – Luke 12:41-48

Jesus' response to Peter indicates that He was telling the parable of The Watchful Servants to everyone, while this one was intended for the Twelve. However, the lesson of this parable should be heeded by everyone who _"has been given much"_ —and we have all received a great deal from the Lord. It establishes the basic principle that we are responsible for the light we have received. This principle can easily be observed in the natural world. Though we are all created equal as human beings, we have different personalities and gifts, opportunities and vocations. Due to genetics and experience, people differ from each other in aptitude and potential. Some are better at math, others at creative endeavors. One person becomes a football star and another studies computer technology, while others excel at raising children _"in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."_ (Eph 6:4 KJV) And a few are placed in positions of authority in the church by the nature of their gifts and God's call. Within this rich tapestry of potential and achievement, one principle is recognized by all: We expect more from those who have been given greater abilities, opportunities, and responsibilities. Conversely, we cut some slack to those with limited abilities, and those who just don't know any better.

The same principle holds true in the spiritual realm. Those who hold positions of authority in the church will be held to a higher standard of accountability. They will receive a commensurate reward for their service, yet greater discipline or judgment if they neglect their duties. That is why James tells us, _"Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly."_ (Jas 3:1) Yet there also is a broader application of this principle. It is not just pastors and elders who are called to build up the church. Every believer is responsible for developing and using his or her spiritual gifts to _"encourage one another and build each other up."_ (1 Thess 5:11)

### Kingdom Principle: "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." – Luke 12:48

### Practical Application

We have all received _"different gifts, according to the grace given us."_ (Rom 12:6) However, the one gift we all receive in common is a _"measure of faith."_ (Rom 12:3) It is the cornerstone of all the other spiritual gifts, enabling us to discover, develop, and use them for our own growth and the edification of others. While not everyone is called to serve in church leadership, we are all called to use our gifts to further the work of the kingdom. The gifts of grace include _"prophesying (speaking the word of God) . . . serving . . . teaching . . . encouraging . . . contributing to the needs of others . . . leadership . . . (and) showing mercy."_ (Rom 12:6-8) Spiritual gifts of power are also given _"for the common good,"_ including: _"The message of wisdom . . . the message of knowledge . . . faith . . . gifts of healing . . . miraculous powers . . . prophecy . . . the ability to distinguish between spirits . . . tongues . . . and the interpretation of tongues."_ (1 Cor 12:8-10) Someday the Lord will evaluate how faithful we have been to build up our brothers and sisters in Christ, encouraging them in God's love and the hope of our eternal inheritance.

"Jesus called them together and said, 'You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'" – Mark 10:42-45

**Food For Thought:** The seven gifts of grace listed in Romans 8:6-8 are enumerated again in more detail in verses 9-21. For example, the qualities of serving (v.7) are listed in verse 10: _"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."_ The qualities of contributing to the needs of others (v. 8) are found in verse 13: _"Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."_ Can you identify the specific qualities associated with each of the seven gifts in these latter verses? How can we use this information to fulfill our ministry in the body of Christ?

## Section II

## Producing A Spiritual Harvest

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." – John 15:5

When God created Adam and Eve, He entered into a holy covenant with them (Hos 6:7). He gave them authority to rule over the earth, a commandment to keep, and a commission to accomplish, telling them, _"Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it."_ (Gen 1:28) Being fruitful and increasing in number was a two-part commission, to be both spiritually and physically fruitful. To be physically fruitful is to bear and raise children, passing on the knowledge of God to each new generation. To be spiritually fruitful as a human being created in God's image is to bear evidence of the Divine nature, as an acorn bears the image of the oak. Yet spiritual fruitfulness is more than developing the virtues and likeness of Christ. It is doing what Jesus would do in our place, consistent with His compassion and character. That is why He associates bearing much fruit with our actions: _"apart from me you can_ _do_ _nothing."_

At first, Adam and Eve were spiritually fruitful, growing in the knowledge, wisdom, and love of God. However, when they sinned, the closeness of their harmony and their relationship with Him was broken. Mankind became subject to the power of the sin nature, and the world came under the authority of Satan. In response, the Lord instituted His long-term salvation plan to redeem mankind and the earth from the results of their disobedience. When the time was right, He sent His only Son to make a new covenant with everyone who would believe in Him. Coming the first time as the Prince of Peace, Jesus ministered the light of God's truth and the grace of His reconciling love, making peace between God and man. Those who invite Christ into their hearts are born of the Holy Spirit, enabling them to walk in the restored Father-child relationship that existed in Eden. On His return as King of kings, everyone who walked in fruitful covenant relationship with Christ will reign with Him, sharing in the same spiritual authority that Adam and Eve were originally given over the earth. _"To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne."_ (Rev 3:21)

### Practical Application

As we remain, or abide, in Christ, we are transformed by the Holy Spirit. This produces spiritual kingdom fruit in us: _"Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."_ (Gal 5:22-23) Love is listed first because all the other virtues proceed from it, and because it is the essence of God's nature: _"God is love."_ (1 John 4:8) This is not an exhaustive list, since Christ embodies all the goodness of God: _"For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth."_ (Eph 5:9) For example, Peter lists the following virtues: _"Faith, knowledge, perseverance, godliness, (and) brotherly kindness."_ (2 Pet 1:5-7) The fruit of Christ's character is most evident in our relationships with God and man, becoming increasingly visible in our actions. Not all at once or in perfect measure, but over time, as we persevere through the seasons of discipleship.

# 9. The Unfruitful Tree

### The Fruit of Repentance

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'

"'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'" – Luke 13:1-9

The presumption among the Jews was that all misfortune was the result of God's displeasure with sinners. However, Jesus asserted that the victims of these tragedies were no more sinful than anyone else, since _"all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."_ (Rom 3:23) He made the point that we should not fear being killed (Gr: apokteinō – v. 4), but rather perishing (Gr. apollumi: _eternal death –_ v. 5), for failing to repent and walk in God's ways. He told this parable to illustrate the fact that God gives everyone time to repent and produce kingdom fruit. There are, however, limits to His forbearance.

This was not the first time Jesus spoke about repentance, but it was the first time He linked it to producing spiritual fruit. John the Baptist had done the same, telling His followers to _"produce fruit in keeping with repentance."_ (Luke 3:8) Repentance is more than just feeling sorry for our sins and asking God's forgiveness. Merely avoiding sin will not produce the fruit of Christ's character in us. Because the soul is like a cup that will always be filled with something, repentance requires that we actively seek God's grace to turn away from the works of darkness, and turn to the Lord. Our new spiritual life begins when we repent and believe; the fruit comes afterward. For repentance to bear fruit, we must love Jesus more than we love the things of this world, our sin, and even ourselves.

It's worth noting that the gardener in the parable didn't do anything to the tree itself. Instead, he worked nutrients into the soil, which would enable the tree to grow and produce fruit. In the same way, our harvest depends on what we allow into our hearts. If we continue to feed the attitudes and appetites of the natural man, we will not bear much in the way of kingdom fruit. If, on the other hand, we feed our soul with those things that nurture a close personal relationship with the Lord, the result will be the lasting spiritual fruit of Christ being formed in us: _"I chose you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last."_ – John 15:16

### Kingdom Principle: (Prophetic) "Unless you repent, you too will all perish." – Luke 13:5

### Practical Application

The concept of being rewarded for doing good and punished for being bad can be found in all major religions. Paul states this spiritual truth in stark terms: _"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."_ (Gal 6:7) However, today's society, especially the millennial culture, has 'evolved' past this belief to the point of having a deeply ingrained sense of entitlement, regardless of their actions. Entitlement is the belief that that just because we belong to a certain class or religious group, we should be recipients of only good things in life, free from the troubles that afflict others. The truth is that God doesn't owe us anything, but He does bless us with much. John Ortberg explains: "The default mode of the sinful human race is entitlement, the belief that this gift or that experience that God placed in my path is rightfully mine. I am owed. The bigger the sense of entitlement, the smaller the sense of gratitude."1

The first step in repenting from the false pride of entitlement is recognizing God's fingerprints in our circumstances and being grateful for everything He allows into our lives. This includes the good things, with which we can bless others, as well as the troubles and trials by which our character is formed and our faith perfected. Sometimes the latter involves suffering that purifies the heart; other times it results in bringing glory to God, as in the healing of the blind man in Jerusalem (John 9:1-7). Like all good qualities, gratitude is an expression of Christ's character. Ortberg continues, "More gratitude come(s) from more of an awareness of God's Presence and his goodness. It's a way of looking at life, always perceiving the good."2

"(God) commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." – Acts 17:31

**Food For Thought:** Paul contrasts the fruit of the Spirit and the fruit of the sin nature, from which we need to repent: "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissentions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Gal 5:19-23) The fruit of the Spirit is an antidote to the fruit of the sinful nature. For example: The cure for hatred is love; for debauchery (excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures), it is self-control. How many other linked pairs can you identify? If you were to pick the most important one for you to focus on at this point in your life, which one would it be?

### _______

1 John Ortberg, _Soul Keeping_ Zondervan 2014 p. 168

2 ibid. p. 166

# 10. A House Divided

### The Fruit of Our Words

Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

"Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. . . .

"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." – Matt 12:22-30, 33-37

This encounter occurred shortly after Jesus had chosen the Twelve from among His followers. When He cast out a demon that had made a man both blind and mute, the amazed crowd questioned whether Jesus might be "the Son of David," the long-awaited Hebrew Messiah, or Christ. The Pharisees, appalled at this idea, tried to discredit Jesus by accusing Him of using the power of the devil rather than God to cast out evil spirits. Jesus understood that this was just another tactic to personally discredit Him. However, by assailing His motives, they were opposing the work of the Holy Spirit, by whose presence and power Jesus had exorcised the demon. They were therefore in danger of doing what they were accusing Jesus of—being in league with the devil. Their accusation was proof of both their own lack of spiritual power against evil and the darkness of their hearts.

Jesus was angry with them for their brush with blasphemy. He called them a brood of vipers for the poison that came from their mouths. Yet Instead of condemning them, He exercised self-control, turning this into a teaching moment. He refuted their charge by explaining that there was a fixed opposition between good and evil. Demonic possession can only be overcome by the power of God, and then only by "tying up," or _binding_ the unclean spirit.1 He concluded with a warning to all that it is not just our actions that will be reviewed on the Day of Judgment (Rom 2:6). We will also be held accountable for our words, because they reflect our inner thoughts and motives. _"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things."_ (Rom 2:1)

### Kingdom Principle: (General) "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." – Matt 12:30; (Prophetic) "By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." – Matt 12:37

### Practical Application

This parable is about more than just our words revealing the state of our heart. It is about taking a clear stand in the spiritual battle between good and evil. If we are less than diligent in striving to keep to the narrow road, we will wind up walking with one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the world, bearing both good fruit and bad. This eventually leads to becoming double-minded, doubting ourselves and Jesus' power _"to save . . . to the uttermost."_ (Heb 7:25 KJV) Before we can become effective instruments of the power of God, we must ensure that our own house is in order. We need to literally and legally bind the strong man from our own lives so we can _overcome_ those things that hinder us, and _minister_ to others in the power of God's Spirit.

Overcoming: As children of God and citizens of His kingdom, we have the right to come into His courtroom and request that He render legal judgment in our favor against our Adversary (See Chapter 31, The Persistent Widow). With this assurance, we are able to _"take captive,"_ or bind _,_ selfish and sinful thoughts (and therefore the complaining, critical, and boastful words that proceed from them), making them _"_ _obedient to Christ."_ (2 Cor 10:5) Exercising our God-given spiritual authority, we are able to bind the strongman and demolish spiritual strongholds in our soul, reject temptation, banish worry, and elevate our emotional outlook through prayer and praise.

With God's decree of pardon from sin in our hand, we have absolute assurance of victory in faith (1 John 5:4). Spiritual victory is in fact often won before the battle begins, as we persevere in prayerful communion with God, believing His promise that He will _"send forth judgment unto victory."_ (Matt 12:20 KJV) Because our faith is not yet perfected, we all experience temporary setbacks in our efforts to walk in obedience. However, those who live by faith in Christ need never fear being overwhelmed by the enemy or separated from God's abiding love. Through faith and the power of Jesus' name (John 17:11), we are promised spiritual victory, overcoming every obstacle and deception that the enemy has, or ever will use against us. "At every time and in every place it is fitting to call upon the name of God. For by this means, writes Chrysostom, the temptation of the enemy is consumed. Beat the warriors, says St. John Climacus, with the name of Jesus, and a stronger weapon you will not find either in heaven or on earth."2

Ministry: Every believer has been given the faith to tap into the same Holy Spirit authority and power that Jesus exercised in His ministry: _"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing."_ (John 14:12) Following the leading of the Spirit and exercising the gifts of grace and power He has given us, we are able to step out in the authority of the word spoken in faith. However, in order to minister in the power and virtue of God, we cannot be producing mixed fruit in our own lives. This includes our speech, which has the ability both to heal and to harm.

Because spiritual transformation takes time, we need to set a guard over our mouth: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Eph 4:29) It is a sign of maturity when believers are meek, or gentle, with others in their words and actions. They can be recognized, as Jesus was, "by the gracious words that came from his lips." (Luke 4:22) This does not imply weakness. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Words of authority spoken in faith and grace have the power to strengthen the feeble, encourage the weary, heal, and even deliver in the Name of Jesus.

"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him." – Mark 11:23

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." – Matt 5:5

**Food For Thought:** When Jesus exercised spiritual authority against the power of the enemy—whether in works of power or in response to temptation—He always used the spoken word of faith. Consider His exorcism of spirits, His numerous healings, and His responses to the three temptations at the beginning of His ministry (Luke 4:1-13). Why do you suppose He responded verbally to each temptation instead of just asking the Father to give Him the strength to withstand it? What do you _believe_ would happen if you applied this principle to your own situation?

**For Further Study:** Luke provides additional insight into the subject of Jesus' temptations: _"When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time."_ (Luke 4:13) A search of the Gospels provides evidence of three of these "opportune times" that tested Jesus' resolve to do God's will. On each occasion, He responded with the spoken word of faith, but in different ways. Discuss the following three incidents and any insights you may have.

• After His trip to Caesarea Philippi (Matt 16:21-27). What was the temptation in Peter's declaration? Was Jesus speaking to Peter or Satan or both? What three adjectives would you use to describe Jesus' response to the voice of temptation? What adjectives would you use to describe your usual response to temptation?

• Underneath the fig tree on the road to Jerusalem (Matt 21:18-22). Matthew tells us that Jesus was hungry, just as He was when Satan previously tempted Him to turn stones into bread. How easy it would have been for Jesus to create juicy ripe figs under the cover of the large overhanging leaves! What was the underlying temptation here besides creating fruit to satisfy His hunger? While it may seem like Jesus was expressing His displeasure in cursing the fig tree, this is not consistent with His character. He was actually removing the source of this temptation. Have you ever turned away from a temptation only to have it return within a short time, even stronger? What can you do to remove the source of your temptations? Do you see a redemptive parallel between this incident and Adam and Eve's temptation in the Garden of Eden? Jesus' considered His cursing the fig tree to be a prayer (v 22). How can a curse be a prayer? Does this broaden your concept of the possible uses of prayer?

• In the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt 26:36-44, Luke 22:39-44). This was the most difficult temptation of Jesus' life, a satanic attempt to emotionally break Him and crush His spirit. On one level, the battle was between submitting to His Father's will and yielding to His desire to avoid the agonizing death of crucifixion. However the true test was not the physical agony of His execution, but the extended spiritual attacks He would suffer during His ordeal. The most wicked and powerful forces of evil in the universe were seeking not just the failure of His redemptive mission, but the eternal destruction of His soul.

There are two indications of just how difficult this temptation was for Jesus. When He was tempted in the wilderness at the beginning of His ministry, He was attended by ministering angels, but not until the testing was over (Matt 4:11). In Gethsemane, the spiritual battle was so intense that the Father sent an angel to strengthen Him while He was still in prayerful supplication, struggling to submit to God's will. Second, He experienced extreme physical suffering, which is described in Luke 22:43: _"And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground."_ Paul reminds us of Jesus' physical agony that night, exhorting and encouraging us to persevere in every temptation and trial: _"In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood."_ (Heb 12:3-4)

### _______

1 The word translated as _tie up_ the strong man comes from the Greek word _Deō_ , which means "to bind"; literally, figuratively, and legally. This is what Jesus did when He spoke deliverance to the demon-possessed.

2 Anonymous, "Gleb Pokrovsky Translation", _The Way of a Pilgrim: The Jesus Prayer Journey_ Skylight Paths 2010 p. 114

# 11. The Sower

### The Fruit of Our Heart

While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, [thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times – Mark 4:8] more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

His disciples asked him what this parable meant. [Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?" – Mark 4:13] He said, "The knowledge of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that: 'Though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.'

"This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. [When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it – Matt 13:18], then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they cannot believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in times of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among the thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." – Luke 8:4-15

Appearing in all three synoptic Gospels, the parable of The Sower explains the foundational principle of sowing and reaping, which is stated plainly in Galatians 6:7-8: _"A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."_ This parable is therefore central to understanding Jesus' instruction about the kingdom: _"Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?"_ It teaches that our response to the word of God determines our spiritual harvest, with both temporal and eternal ramifications. There are four possible responses on hearing the Gospel of the kingdom of God.

I. Many do not understand or accept the Gospel because it does not fit with their religious, scientific, or materialistic view of life. If one doesn't grasp the basics of the kingdom of God and the sacrificial love of its King, he or she obviously cannot believe and embrace the Bible as Truth. Additionally, those who habitually compromise with darkness fear giving up control of their life to God, so they won't come to the light to expose and repent of their sin (John 3:19-20). However, the _perception_ that they are in control of their lives is actually a _deception_ , since: _"the whole world is under the control of the evil one."_ (1 John 5:19) That is why the devil is able to _"take away the word from their hearts."_

II. The seed that fell among rocks represents those who initially believe the Gospel and receive God's forgiveness. However, the implanted word calls for more than just a belief in the message. We must also have a living relationship with the Messenger. Since the powers of this world are opposed to the kingdom of God, everyone who takes a stand for Christ will have their faith in Him tested. Those who do not truly love Jesus will soon turn back to the world, preferring the old wine of familiar relationships, the comfort of their old threadbare habits.

III. The seed that fell among thorns describes those who have developed a living relationship with God and continued in His kingdom, sometimes for many years. Yet no matter how much progress they seem to make, they never fully overcome their addiction to the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life. Because the sin nature is continually engaged in a life-or-death tug of war against the Spirit, we need to actively and fully surrender ourselves, body, soul, and spirit to the Lordship of Christ. If we do not, the process of spiritual transformation is hindered and our harvest will consist of puny, dried up fruit.

IV. Those in the fourth group: 1) Have a noble and good heart; 2) Actively retain the word so they can apply it to their daily lives; and 3) Persevere in faith so they might produce a full kingdom harvest.

### Kingdom Principle: "Those with a noble and good heart . . . hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." – Luke 8:15

### Practical Application

The expression, _"a noble and good heart,"_ translates the meaning of the respective Greek adjectives _kalos_ and _agathos_. The latter is the intrinsic quality of goodness or worthiness, while the word _noble_ denotes the outward expression of goodness, conveying the idea of fitness or usefulness. Nobility carries the connotation of the high status of one's birth as well as qualities associated with royalty: rendering honor and reverence where due and living by high moral standards.

As children of the Father, we have been spiritually reborn into a royal house, with the responsibility of serving Him and bringing honor to the family name. Those in the fourth group draw close to God, listening for His voice and devoting time to prayerful study and memorization of Scripture. This occurs as we develop a hunger and thirst to walk in righteousness. Feeding this hunger nourishes and sustains the soul, enabling us to persevere in following Jesus' teaching and example. As a result, we become more like Him—both in our interior life of faith and prayer, and in the outward manifestation of His virtues in our actions. As we continue to sow to the Spirit, He does His daily work of sanctification, enabling us to develop a deeper walk with Christ.

"From the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold onto the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." – 2 Thess 2:13-17

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." – Matt 5:6

**Food For Thought:** Jeanne Guyon, writing in the latter part of the seventeenth century, was one of the better-known saintly women of French history. She had much to say from personal experience about the deeper, fruit-bearing walk of faith. Discuss the challenges of putting her advice into practice: "If you wish to enter into this deeper state of knowing the Lord, you must seek to know not only a deeper prayer but also abandonment in all realms of your life. Begin to surrender yourself to be led by God and to be dealt with by Him. Do so right now. Surrender yourself to allow Him to do with you exactly as he pleases—both in your _inward_ life of experiencing Him and also in your _outward_ life of accepting all circumstances as from Him."1

### _______

1 Jeanne Guyon, _Experiencing The Depths Of Jesus Christ_ SeedSowers Publishing 1975 p. 36

# 12. A Lamp On A Stand

### Walking in the Light of Truth

"He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.

"Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." – Mark 4:21-25

The Gospel of the kingdom is not just a moral code; it is the word of Truth. Other religions have some degree of truth, so they are able to provide spiritual insight and teach moral lessons about life. However, they are not built on the teaching and Person of the living Christ, who created us in the image of God: _"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made . . . In him was life, and that life was the light of men. . . . The true light that gives light to every man. . ."_ (John 1: 1-4, 9) As our Creator, He is the only one who can unlock the mysteries of the heart and heal our soul. As our Lord and Savior who died to set us free, only He can shine the light of truth into every corner of the soul, delivering us from the power of sin and enabling us to walk as children of the light. For some, especially the young, this is a fairly simple process, though it is still a lifetime walk. For others, to submit to Jesus as Lord is to give him the keys to every room in our house, trusting him to open each door when we are ready.

Since salvation is a process as well as an event, it takes time for us to bring forth mature kingdom fruit. The process of spiritual transformation cannot be rushed beyond our ability to change and endure. If God were to reveal the truth to us all at once, we would be overcome, as Saul (the Apostle Paul) was overcome by the glory of God on the road to Damascus. So the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and reveals the light of truth as we are able to receive and respond to it: _"When he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth."_ (John 16:13) As we humbly seek God and His will, the Holy Spirit does His work of sanctification in us, producing spiritual growth. In his book, _The Measure Of A Man_ , Dr. Getz sums up the matter of producing kingdom fruit: "A man of God does not 'suddenly appear.' It takes time to become like Jesus Christ—a process, of course, that is not complete until we are with Him."1

### Kingdom Principle: (General) "Consider carefully what you hear . . . With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more." (Prophetic) "Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." – Mark 4:24-25

### Practical Application

God's word _"penetrates even to the dividing of soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."_ (Heb 4:12) In other words, it lets us see ourselves in the light of truth. Yet we must "consider carefully" how we respond to this revelation. An important lesson we learn from the history of Israel is that: _"The message [must be] combine(d) with faith."_ (Heb 4:2) The greater our faith in accepting and applying God's word to our lives, the more light we receive. So while this kingdom principle is prophetic, it also applies to our spiritual growth.

When we study, believe, and act on God's word under the leading of the Spirit, we become keepers of the light. As we devote ourselves to doing God's will, His light shines through us into the world, testifying to His love for all mankind: " _Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."_ (Matt 5:1-16) Those who are fearful of facing and embracing the truth shrink back into the shadows of the sin nature. The one who does this will suffer loss when hidden sin is revealed and weighed in the balance at the end of the age. Someday each of us will stand before the Lord, and the light of His glory will reveal _"what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God."_ (1 Cor 4:5)

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgives us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." – 1 John 1:5-9

**Food For Thought:** Read John 1:1-4 and Hebrews 4:12-16. Meditate on Jesus' role as: 1) The Creator of our soul in the image of God, 2) The Word of God who reveals our heart to us, and 3) Our high priest who intercedes for us with the Father. Which role do you appreciate most; which do you understand the least?

### _______

1 Gene A. Getz, _The Measure Of A Man_ G/L Publications 1976 p. 19

# 13. The Weeds

### The Final Harvest

Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'

"'An enemy has done this,' he replied.

"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'

"'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling up the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned, then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'

"The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear." – Matt 13:24-30, 37-43

The weeds described here are probably the bearded darnel, which so closely resembles wheat that a field hand could easily pull up the young wheat shoots along with the weeds. Therefore, the two were allowed to grow together until just before the harvest, when the wheat was well rooted and the difference between them became more apparent. The weeds could then be carefully removed by hand without uprooting the mature wheat plants. The harvest theme is "an old and familiar symbol for the eschatological event, the Day of the Lord, the Day of Judgment."1 So while the analogy is well understood, it is helpful to explore the reason why the weeds were sown among the wheat in the first place.

When we follow Jesus, His enemies become our enemies. The prince of this world reserves deep malice for those who leave his kingdom for the kingdom of light. As Pharaoh pursued the Israelites into the desert, the enemy seeks to recapture those who place their faith in Christ. He sows thoughts of doubt and confusion in the heart of new converts, attempting to inflate our fears of what life as a believer will either bring or take away from us. When that doesn't work, he does whatever he can to turn our focus from God to ourselves so he can draw us back into the world. He continually tries to wear down the faithful with every weapon at his disposal: sowing discouraging thoughts in our trials, proposing both new and old sources of temptation, and instigating various forms of persecution. He is especially pleased when his efforts result in believers blaming God for their troubles.

One of the devil's tactics is to subvert the church from within. While we are aware that we will meet opposition from non-believers, we do not normally expect to encounter people inside the church trying to undermine our walk. In the parable of A Tree And Its Fruit (Chapter 3), Jesus warned against false prophets or teachers. In the current parable we learn that those who would mislead us within the church are not necessarily found in positions of authority. Jude describes individuals who _"have secretly slipped in among you."_ (v 4) Calling them dreamers instead of believers, he says: _"These are men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit."_ (v 19) However, this need not pose a threat to our faith if our confidence is in Christ rather than men. We need to stand firm in our faith, asking God for _"the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that (we) may know him better."_ (Eph 1:17) Spending quality time with the source of all light and truth helps us recognize spiritual deception in its many forms.

### Kingdom Principle: (Prophetic) "The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father." – Matt 13:43

### Practical Application

Because we are all sinners by nature, and because it takes time to come into the maturity of our faith, there will always be sin in the church. It can be difficult to discern between those who are merely immature, and those who are without God's Spirit, living instead by natural instinct. We should therefore be _"as shrewd as snakes"_ (Matt 10:16), carefully considering what we hear. Yet we are also to be _"as harmless as doves,"_ so we don't mistakenly wind up doing the enemy's work of uprooting the wheat. God's mercy is revealed in the time He gives us to see the error of our ways, so those who are in sin today may repent tomorrow: _"The goodness of God leads you to repentance."_ (Rom 2:4 NKJV) On the Day of Harvest, the weeds will be separated from the wheat, and the glory of the Lord will be revealed in His called, chosen, and faithful followers, _"shin(ing) like the brightness of the heavens."_ (Dan 12:3)

"The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another: and star differs from star in splendor. So it will be with the resurrection of the dead. . . . And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. . . . Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you." – 1 Cor 15:41-42, 49, 57-58

**Food For Thought:** Read and compare Daniel 12:2-3 with 1 Cor 15:35-49, which describe the saints sharing in God's glory. What price would you be willing to pay in order to _"lead many to righteousness"_?

### _______

1 C.H. Dodd, _The Parables of The Kingdom_ Charles Scribner's Sons 1961 p. 143

# 14. The Growing Seed

### Spiritual Growth: Part 1

He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." – Mark 4:26-29

Still expanding on the parable of The Sower, Jesus describes the process of spiritual growth, comparing it to the biological development that takes place when a seed is planted in the ground. Just as the seed has life within itself, the spiritual seed of the word of God _"is living and active."_ (Heb 4:12) It is therefore able to grow in the garden of our heart, reproducing the Divine nature in us. As we put Jesus' teaching into practice, our hearts are transformed through the creative power of God's Spirit. As a kernel of wheat has the ability to produce a wheat plant, those who are born of the Spirit have the potential to become spiritually mature sons and daughters of God (John 1:12).

### Kingdom Principle: "All by itself the soil produces grain." – Mark 4:28

### Practical Application

When we invite Jesus into our heart, we are instantaneously removed from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of light. We are born of the Spirit of God, becoming _"a new creation in Christ."_ (2 Cor 5:17) From that point on, the seed of God's life-giving word germinates and grows in our heart. Continuing to read God's word and put it into practice, we experience the spiritual regeneration of our mind. "We are to renew our minds with His Word so that the first thing which comes to mind in a given situation is what God has to say on the subject."1 As some crops grow better than others depending on the condition of the soil and the amount of sunshine and water they receive, so the harvest varies in every believer. The more time we spend in the Presence of God's Spirit, the study of His word, and in prayer, the more spiritual nourishment we receive to produce a bountiful harvest.

However, no one has yet reported living a life of continuous growth and perfect obedience. We seem to undergo more of a cyclical waxing and waning in our experience of God, just as the growth of a tree varies through the seasons. King David recorded his frustrations with this inconsistency. At times we feel God's Presence quite strongly. At the other extreme, our prayers can seem like they are falling into a void. However, even when we do not _feel_ close to God, His word is still sending roots deep into the soil of our heart: _"Do not lose heart. Inwardly we are being renewed day by day."_ (2 Cor 4:16)

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—which is your spiritual worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will." – Rom 12:1-2

**Food For Thought:** When we find ourselves in a spiritually dry place, it is usually because we have been somewhat lax or inconsistent in seeking God. It can therefore be helpful to examine the quality of the time we spend with God. Are we committing Scripture to memory and meditating on it throughout the day? Do we wholeheartedly try to put into practice the verses the Lord has brought to life in our spirit? Are we rejoicing in the Lord always, praying without ceasing, and giving thanks to the Lord in every circumstance (1 Thess 5:16-18)? Sometimes God allows us to wander in the desert for the strengthening of our faith, or so we will see our need for a closer relationship with Him. The next time you are in a dry place, pick one of the following Psalms David wrote when he was feeling the need for a closer walk with God and make it your own. Offer it as a prayer of worship. Psalms: 10, 18, 23, 25, 27, 31, 32, 34, 37, 38, 39, 41, 51, 57, 61.

### _______

1 Kenneth E. Hagin, _The Art of Prayer_ Faith Library Publications 2005 p. 86

# 15. The Mustard Seed & The Yeast

### Spiritual Growth: Part 2

He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches." He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough." – Matt 13:31-33

Continuing the harvest theme, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed that a man plants in his garden, and a bit of leaven a woman mixes into some flour to make her bread rise. Several different aspects of God's kingdom can be identified in these two examples. The first is that the kingdom does not come with the great fanfare of a conquering king, but with the small seed of the word of God. Second, the seed planted in our heart is so inauspicious that one might not notice a remarkable change at first. For some, this is the first test of faith: "I don't feel all that different: Am I really saved?" Third, it takes time for the character of Christ to be formed in us, just as a small amount of yeast has to work its way through a large amount of flour, and a mustard seed has to sprout and endure through the seasons to grow to its full height. Fourth, everyone who abides in Jesus will experience spiritual growth. If we cannot look back and see much of a difference from who we used to be, it is probably time to re-evaluate our level of commitment to Christ and how passionate we are about serving Him. And fifth, as we grow, God will use us for His purposes. We become part of God's provision for others: Leading the lost and weary to rest in Christ as birds shelter in the branches of a tree, and giving ourselves to feed those searching for Truth, as large loaves of bread are broken in pieces and given to the hungry.

### Kingdom Principle: "The man who hears the word and understands it . . . produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." – Matt 13:23

### Practical Application

We do not need a great revelation of God or even great faith for the word to come to fruition in our lives. What we do need is simple trust in the truth of God's word, an abiding desire to please Him, and to be earnest, even passionate, about following Jesus' teaching and example. The latter is of great importance to our spiritual growth. If we are lacking in zeal for God, we tend to become spiritually lukewarm, like the Christians of Laodicea, who were focused on worldly matters (Rev 3:14-22). "We are held too firmly by our passions, and are too much concerned with the passing affairs of the world. We seldom completely master a single fault, and have little zeal for our daily progress; therefore we remain spiritually cold or tepid."1 The only way to overcome spiritual lassitude is to follow Christ's advice to the Laodicean church: _"Be earnest ("zealous" – KJV), and repent."_ The heart will always desire something. For the word of truth to accomplish its work in us, we need to turn our desires away from earthly things and become passionate about the things of God.

Because Jesus is both _"the author and perfecter of our faith"_ (Heb 12:2), He is faithful to do His part in bringing His disciples to fruit-bearing maturity. However, at times our progress can seem laboriously slow. When we are tested by the storms of life, it's possible to lose our confidence and become discouraged. At times we stumble in temptation, and can even slide backwards if we fail to deal with the root causes of sin. Yet the Spirit of God is always present to guide us in the way of truth, to comfort and renew our hearts daily in the compassionate love of God. The cure for discouragement is to practice the verbal art of praise and thankfulness, even when we don't feel grateful. Praising God from the depths of our being lifts our spirit and brings us into the compassionate love and light of His Presence. "Thankfulness, as an attitude, is like a fuel that powers the Christian life and keeps us moving on the pathway of spiritual growth, even when the climb is steep and the trail rough."2

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." – Col 2:6-7

"Give thanks in all circumstances." – 1 Thess 5:18

**Food For Thought:** Read Hebrews 12:1-4. What are some of the attitudinal hindrances to spiritual growth, and how do they differ from _"the sin that so easily entangles"_ us? What was the joy set before Jesus and how is it similar to the joy set before us in the promises of chapters 2 & 3 of Revelation?

### _______

1 Thomas a Kempis, "Sherley-Price Translation", _The Inner Life_ Penguin Group 2005 p. 11

2 Gary L. Thomas, _The Glorious Pursuit_ NavPress 1998 p. 138

# 16. Hidden Treasure & A Priceless Pearl

### Kingdom Treasure

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it." – Matt 13:44-46

In these two parables and the one that follows, Jesus offers some counseling on bearing kingdom fruit. He uses the "carrot and stick" approach of both positive and negative reinforcement. Here He presents the carrot that motivates us to persevere in our discipleship walk, likening the kingdom of God to hidden treasure and an extremely expensive pearl. The major points of these two parables can be summarized as follows: 1) The kingdom of God is the greatest treasure one can possibly find in this life, exceeding all earthly rewards; 2) Not everyone will discover it; 3) While the kingdom may be encountered easily or even unexpectedly by some (the pearl), others will find it only after a diligent search for truth (the buried treasure); 4) Most importantly, we must be _sold out_ , willing to pay the price of giving up everything to follow Christ, submitting to His Lordship and putting God's kingdom first in our life.

### Kingdom Principle: "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure." – Matt 13:44; (Related) "Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven." – Matt 6:20

### Practical Application

One of the more challenging aspects of the human heart is its capacity for ambivalence, the ability to hold two contradictory desires or feelings at the same time. We can quite eagerly want everything that God has for us at one moment, and the very next minute be entertaining thoughts that provoke our desire for the things of this world. Those who get caught up in this dynamic start to doubt God's love and His promises, eventually becoming _"like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."_ (Jas 1:6)

If we are to be successful in submitting to Christ and putting God's kingdom first in our life, we need to actively engage in the battle for our own heart and mind. They are a veritable battleground between light and darkness, right and wrong, wisdom and foolishness. That is why so many of Jesus' parables warn us to be watchful, always on guard against the draw of the world and the pull of the sin nature. It is also the reason Jesus warns us to _"consider carefully what you hear"_ (Mark 4:24); why James tells us to _"Resist the devil and he will flee from you"_ (Jas 4:7); and Paul urges us to _"Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes."_ (Eph 6:10-11) We need to be aware that our spirit can "hear" the devil's urging as well as the voice of God. Because the fallen nature in us always tends toward the easy path, we need to be vigilant, training ourselves to recognize the voice of temptation and immediately turn away from it. "We need especially to be on our guard at the very onset of temptation, for then the Enemy may be more easily overcome, if he is not allowed to enter the gates of the mind: he must be repulsed at the threshold, as soon as he knocks."1

_Considering carefully what we hear_ includes not just recognizing and rejecting the voice of temptation, but also attuning our ears to the leading of the Holy Spirit: _"I know my sheep and my sheep know me. . . . They . . . listen to my voice."_ (John 10:14,16) Seeking the kingdom reign, or _malkuth_ , of Christ in us requires us to _"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."_ (Col 3:2) If we are passive or our hearts are divided in our approach to God, we become complacent, and thus unprepared for the inevitable spiritual subterfuge and attack. "Always be ready for battle if you wish for victory; you cannot win the crown of patience without a struggle."2 Preparing for spiritual battle includes feeding our soul on the word of God and cultivating a rich prayer life. If we actively and fervently seek the kingdom and its King, we will bear the fruit of His righteousness and receive the treasure laid up in heaven for us.

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called." – 1 Tim 6:12

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." – 1 Cor 2:9

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." – Heb 10:35-36

**Food For Thought:** Both Matt 6:19-21 and Luke 12:32-34 mention storing up treasure in heaven, while 2 Cor 4:7-10 speaks about having "this treasure in jars of clay." That's because it is not possible to have treasure in heaven unless we first have heavenly treasure in us. What is this treasure? Bruce Wilkinson, in his book _A Life God Rewards: Why Everything You Do Today Matters Forever,_ states that God will examine three areas in evaluating our actions for the purpose of rewarding us: "The Test of Relationship . . . The Test of Motive . . . The Test of Love."3 To better understand these tests, we can ask ourselves: 1) Is our relationship with the Lord bearing much fruit; 2) Is the primary motivation behind our actions to serve God and bring Him glory; and 3) Are we serving others in a spirit of love. Can you find examples in Scripture of Jesus modeling these behaviors?

### _______

1 Thomas a Kempis, "Sherley-Price Translation", _The Inner Life_ Penguin Group 2005 p. 15

2 ibid. p. 64

3 Bruce Wilkinson, _A Life God Rewards_ Multnomah Publishers Inc. 2002 p. 53

# 17. The Fishing Net

### Judgment at the End of the Age

"Once again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous, and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." – Matt 13:47-50

In the preceding parables of The Hidden Treasure and A valuable Pearl, Jesus presented the carrot that motivates us to persevere in our walk of discipleship. In the current parable, He presents the motivational stick: the certainty of punishment for some while others receive eternal life with Christ. His comparison of this judgment to a fisherman's task after a night of fishing was a familiar one to those living near the Sea of Galilee. Because a net does not discriminate in what it catches, the fish must be examined and sorted, and undesirable ones rejected. This separation is explained by Dodd: "In the parable of the Drag-net . . . the appeal goes to all: the worthy are separated from the unworthy by their reaction to the demands which the appeal involves."1 In simpler words, since God has given us free will, we are responsible for our decision to either accept or reject Christ.

### Kingdom Principle: (Prophetic) "The angels will separate the wicked from the righteous." – Matt 13:49

### Practical Application

At the final judgment, everyone will be divided into one of two camps. On the one hand are those _"who are self seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil."_ They will experience _"wrath and anger, trouble and distress."_ (Rom 2:6) On the other hand are those _"_ _who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality."_ They will experience _"glory, honor, and peace."_ (Rom 2:7) While many believe they can walk a middle ground between these two spiritual poles, no such middle ground exists. As Jesus stated in the parable of A House Divided (Chapter 10), _"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters."_ (Matt 12:30)

Someone once said that we must rest and trust in God to bring us to the completeness of our salvation as though everything depends on Him, yet work as though everything depends on us. This is not a bad interpretation of Phil 2:12: _"Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."_ As we strive to turn away from the world and wholeheartedly seek to walk in God's ways, He enables us to live in a manner worthy of the great treasure of Christ in us.

"If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. . . . The Lord will judge his people." – Heb 10:26-27, 30

"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry... rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." – Col 3:5, 8-10

**Food For Thought:** Read Romans Chapter 6. Discuss the following: Since we have already died with Christ (v 6), why do we still have to put the sin nature to death? What does _"counting ourselves dead to sin but alive to God"_ mean? How does faith, defined in Hebrews 11:1, make it possible to count ourselves dead to sin, even though we still have a sinful nature? What are some things you do personally to offer yourself _"in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness"?_ (Rom 6:16-19)

### _______

1 C.H. Dodd _The Parables of The Kingdom_ Charles Scribner's Sons 1961 p. 152

## Section III

## Disciples Of Christ

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep." – John 10:14-15

The most tender portrayal of the Lord in Old Testament Scripture is that of Shepherd over Israel: "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those who have young." (Isa 40:11) A shepherd is devoted to his flock, knowing each individual ewe and lamb, leading them to pasture by day and keeping them safe at night. King David, "a man after God's heart," was a shepherd. He understood the Lord's love for him and for all Israel in that context: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." (Ps 23:1-3) David guided the people with the basic understanding that people, like sheep, are best led with a caring heart of integrity and understanding (Psalm 78:72).

David's 23rd Psalm is a prophetic description of the promised Messiah, the Good Shepherd who would walk through the valley of death to save God's flock. Jesus was born a thousand years after David, some four hundred years since the last prophet had appeared in Israel. By then, Israel's hope in the promised Redeemer had grown dim, along with her national sense of purpose. The people labored under the harsh imposition of Roman justice and the strict religious enforcement of the Pharisees. The reality of God's personal, tender care for them was tattered and faded. They were _"like sheep without a shepherd"_ (Mark 6:34), increasingly vulnerable to false prophets and other spiritual predators.

During His short ministry, Jesus traveled the length and breadth of Israel, gathering God's scattered flock to himself. He healed the sick, delivered those in spiritual bondage, forgave sins, and admonished the unrepentant. He encouraged the weary and nourished His listeners with the Word of truth. Most of all, He loved God's people with the diligence and care of a shepherd for his sheep. He opposed the oppressive harshness of the Scribes and Pharisees, yet was obedient to the Law and submissive to the Father's will. He faithfully taught the principles of living for the kingdom of God, promising eternal life to all who would repent, believe in Him, and follow His teaching. The parables in this section reflect some of Jesus' more prominent character qualities, which we are called to emulate: His humility, compassion, and forgiveness, His perseverance and gentleness, His self-sacrifice in service to others, and His devotion and care for God's flock.

### Practical Application

The personification of Jesus as the Good Shepherd of His flock is an illustration of the master–disciple relationship. He is our Lord and teacher; we are His servants and students. He leads us—through His word, His example in Scripture, and His Spirit. Discipleship is not a Western concept, but an Eastern one, extant in Jesus' day and still practiced in some parts of the world, most notably India. It consists of completely surrendering one's self to a spiritual leader to become like him, giving up old ways in order to follow a new way of life. This self-abandonment is the foundation of discipleship, the reason why Paul could call himself _"a bondservant_ (Gr. doulos: _slave_ ) _of Jesus Christ."_

Christian discipleship is necessarily a spiritually close relationship—being known and loved completely by Christ, and coming to know and love Him more with each passing season. Because the disciple's goal is to become like the Master, we are called to follow Jesus' teaching and emulate His example. He has commissioned every believer to be a living testimony in both word and action of His light in us—walking in the truth, sharing His love for mankind, and making more disciples. Discipleship is a lifetime journey, growing closer to God and expanding our relationships in the forgiveness and love of Christ. The goal of following Jesus is not realized by achieving a perfect life, but in devoting ourselves to live an obedient and merciful one.

# 18. The Good Shepherd

### Following Jesus

"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech ("parable" – KJV), but they did not understand what he was telling them.

Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth. I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will go in and come out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." – John 10:1-16

As Jesus journeyed through Israel, people flocked to Him, at first in the hundreds and then by the thousands. After awhile, He was unable to openly enter a city without being mobbed. As a result, He spent part of His ministry in the countryside, sending His disciples two at a time into nearby cities to obtain food. Still the crowds managed to find and follow Him in remote places, sometimes going for several days without food.

They came because Jesus loved and cared for them instead of judging them. He did not wield His spiritual authority over people, but served them in humility. He was not angry with them over their sinful condition, any more than a shepherd would be angry with his flock after it had been scattered by predators. He was tenderhearted and sympathetic to their plight: _"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."_ (Matt 9:36) He ministered to their needs in the power of the Father's compassionate love and taught them the principles of abundant and eternal life.

### Kingdom Principle: "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me. . . . They will listen to my voice." – John 10: 14, 16

### Practical application

When Jesus speaks to us through His Holy Spirit, we rarely hear an audible voice. That is because spiritual communication is not a phone call, but quiet communion between spirits—God's and ours. Those who tend to think in pictures may be more likely to experience dreams or visions, in the same way that the spoken word results in images forming in their mind. Those who think more linearly may experience more of a quiet leading, similar to the way we 'hear' words in our mind when silently reading a book. His voice is most often experienced as an impression of knowledge or wisdom, or even warning. The clarity of God's voice is usually related to how intently we listen for it in our spirit. However, those who don't expect to hear from God are not likely to receive much, in the same way a radio doesn't receive anything unless it is turned on and tuned to the right channel. However, we all have a God-given conscience to know right from wrong.

Much as a shepherd guides his flock to food, water, and safety, Jesus leads us through His Holy Spirit: _"The Spirit of truth will guide you into all truth . . . The Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you."_ (John 16:13,15) The Spirit guides every believer in the way of discipleship, enabling us to recognize the small still voice that says _"This is the way; walk in it."_ (Isa 30:21) Our responsibility as disciples is to seek the Lord's guidance, listening for His voice and following His leading to correct our faults and progress in virtue. Through His word and His Spirit, Jesus provides everything we need to obey His teachings and become like Him, regardless of whether we are at the front, in the middle, or bringing up the rear of the flock.

"Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. As has just been said: 'Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.'" – Heb 3:13-15

"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with every good thing for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him." – Heb 13:20-21

**Food For Thought:** How do you perceive God's leading in your life? What do you think might improve your ability to hear from God? Try the following experiment for a month. At the end of your regular time of prayer, write down your impressions of what God is saying to you as you wait quietly for His guidance. Write down any meaningful dreams you may have during this time. Compare your written impressions at the beginning of the month with your later ones. Do you see more depth in your reflections? Share any spiritual understanding or areas of growth that you experienced during this time.

# 19. The Wandering Sheep

### Humility, Compassion, and the Power of Faith

They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" But they kept quiet, because on the way they had argued about who was greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me. – Mark 9:33-36

And he said, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. . . .

"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost." – Matt 18:3-4, 10-14

This parable has its roots in events that followed the Transfiguration. Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John up the mountain to see Him transported to the realm of heavenly peace and glory. For a few moments, He was free from the unending demands of ministry and the cares of this world. However, He was quickly brought down to earth when they returned to the waiting nine disciples. He found them, representatives of the Prince of Peace, arguing like schoolboys with the unbelieving Scribes, because they had been unable to expel a demon from a child. He admonished both the Scribes and His disciples: _"O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?"_ (Mark 9:19) He was frustrated that His disciples still hadn't learned to walk in the power of faith, and He wouldn't be around much longer to instruct them.

After they left that place, the disciples asked Jesus why they hadn't been able to cast out the demon. His response, _"This kind can only come out by prayer,"_ was not an endorsement of a specific methodology of exorcism. Jesus didn't cast this or any other demon out by asking the Father to do it. He did it with a command, exercising spiritual authority. He was telling them that their faith wasn't strong enough to cast out the demon because they didn't pray enough. A devoted prayer life instills both compassion and the confidence of faith that empowers the word spoken in Jesus' name: _"Carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God's love."_ (Jude 1:20–The Message)

During the long walk back home, these events gave rise to a divisive argument among the Twelve about who would be greatest when Jesus set up His kingdom. On the one hand were the three who had been specially chosen to see Jesus in His resurrection glory. Then there were the other nine, who, lacking the faith to expel the demon, had been chastened by Jesus. However the root cause of the disciples' dissension was that they had all incorporated the world's values of competition and ambition into their thinking about the kingdom of God.

When they got back home to Capernaum, Jesus questioned them about their argument on the road. Instead of berating them for their foolish pride, He was gentle and gracious with them. Calling a small child over to himself, Jesus praised his simple humility and trust. He encouraged the disciples to see the value of every human being through the eyes of God's love. He demonstrated this by putting His arms around the boy. He wanted His disciples to make the connection between humility, compassion, and the power of faith. It was compassion that had empowered His faith to cast the demon out of the possessed child when the disciples were unable to do so. It had been humility and the compassion the father had for his son that motivated him to pray: _"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"_ (Mark 9:24) Jesus then related the parable of The Wandering Sheep to illustrate the Father's compassionate love for His flock, the same love we are called to develop.

### Kingdom Principle: "Whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of Heaven." – Matt 18:4

### Practical Application

Because our fallen nature is rooted in pride, humility before God and in our dealings with our neighbor is something we need to work at. "We don't become humble as much as we learn to practice humility."1 As we spend time in prayer, the truth of God's word and His personal love for us illuminate and soften the heart, motivating us to respond in both humility and compassion for others. Although our ego continues to draw us toward prideful gain and selfish satisfaction, our spirit yearns for God—for more truth, more love, and a greater desire to please Him. It is in this testing ground of the soul that we are given the opportunity to develop not just humility, but all the Divine virtues as we choose to serve Christ. "(We) are not to be pretentious and ambitious . . . but meek and lowly in heart; thinking not of (our) place in the kingdom, but giving (ourselves) up in simplicity of spirit to the service of the King."2

As we learn to live for God, we gradually die to selfish desires and ambition, becoming "liberated to serve others at God's direction, rather than trying to impress them."3 Growing in Christ's compassion for the needy and the spiritually oppressed, we are motivated to step out in the power of faith focused by prayer. This frees us to take the light of God's love and truth into the dark places of the world—whether to one individual or many at a time.

"But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them." – Jude 1:20-23

**Food For Thought:** The young, and sometimes the not so young, often stray out of curiosity. The God-given gifts of imagination and curiosity enable us to exercise our stewardship of the planet in creative, healthy ways. Our imagination allows us to grasp God's vision for the world, our communities, and ourselves. However, curiosity and imagination can also lure us from the way of truth. The serpent used Adam and Eve's curiosity to deceive them, and their imagination of becoming like God to lead them into disobedience. We must therefore set a guard on our mind, _"casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."_ (2 Cor 10:5 ASV) Can you recall an instance in which your curiosity caused you to discover something better left undiscovered, something you later wished could be un-heard, un-seen, or quickly forgotten? See if you can identify the triggers that lead you astray through vain curiosity or imagination. Plan concrete steps ahead of time to avoid or counter them, and immediately turn away from them when they occur: "Resist your evil inclinations in the beginning, and break off evil habits, lest they gradually involve you in greater difficulties."4

### _______

1 Gary L. Thomas, _The Glorious Pursuit_ NavPress 1998 p. 49

2 A. B. Bruce, D.D., _The Training of the Twelve_ Kregel Publications 1974 p. 202

3 Gary L. Thomas, _The Glorious Pursuit_ p. 51

4 Thomas a Kempis, "Sherley-Price Translation", _The Inner Life_ Penguin Group 2005 p. 12

# 20. The Dutiful Servant

### Our Duty of Obedience

Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves.

"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says 'I repent,' forgive him."

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"

He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.

"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat?' Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'" – Luke 17:1-10

Though appearing out of order in Luke, this parable follows in the hoof prints of the parable of The Wandering Sheep. Promising grave consequences for those who lead the innocent astray, Jesus introduces the dual principle of doing no harm and forgiving our brothers and sisters when they harm us. Doing no harm is a fairly straightforward concept. To hurt a brother or sister harms them, our own soul, and the spiritual health of the body of Christ. Forgiveness, the second part of the principle, can be a bit more complicated. It is our responsibility to forgive everyone who wrongs us, regardless of whether or not they repent (Mark 11:25). This prevents heart blockage. However, when the offense occurs between believers, Jesus addresses both sides of the relationship, adding the requirement of repentance. That is because the goal of forgiveness among believers is not just to allow God's love to flow through us; it is to repair and restore relationships within the household of faith.

The disciples must have been dumbfounded on hearing this teaching. It is diametrically opposed to the foundational principle of Mosaic Law that allows retribution against those who cause harm: _"Eye for eye . . . wound for wound, bruise for bruise."_ (Exod 21:24) A mere verbal admonishment in response to an injury flies in the face of our natural desire to see justice done. Deep down, we feel it is unfair when those who cause us pain are not made to suffer in equal measure. Forgiveness is just plain contrary to our basic sense of right and wrong. However, any unforgiveness hardens the heart not just against our brother or sister, but against Christ, since _"anyone who does not love his brother . . . cannot love God."_ (1 John 4:20) And if we don't love Christ, we won't obey His teaching (John 14:24). Understanding the importance of faith in following Jesus' teachings, the disciples confessed that they were going to need a whole lot more of it to live by this one. _"Increase our faith!"_ they exclaimed. So He related the parable of The Dutiful Servant to explain that they didn't really need _more_ faith, they just needed to be faith-full servants, exercising the faith they had already been given so it might grow stronger.

### Kingdom Principle: "Watch yourselves [so you don't cause others to sin]. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him." – Luke 17:3

### Practical Application

Jesus' dual directive to refrain from sinning against others and to forgive those who sin against us is a basic tenet of Christianity. However, this kingdom principle has been negated and virtually replaced by the world's values of tolerance and fairness. We demand that people not judge us (or others like us) for "doing our own thing," regardless of whom it affects, and we feel entitled to retaliate whenever someone opposes us. Becoming easily offended at perceived wrongs and being unwilling to forgive are hallmarks of the self-righteousness of our culture.

As believers, it is our duty to live by kingdom principles rather than worldly standards. Because we belong to Christ, we are required to reject the dark side of human emotions, giving up our 'right' to keep score of wrongs and pass judgment on others. In the spiritual kingdom of God, _"Mercy triumphs over judgment."_ (Jas 2:13) Mercy allows us to reject our natural response of wanting to right the wrongs inflicted on us. Our faith enables us to rely on God's grace to forgive, while the exercise of humility helps us take whatever steps are necessary to reconcile with other believers.

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." – Matt 5:23-24

**Food For Thought:** This week, examine your heart for any areas of unforgiveness. Pick a brother or sister in the Lord whose words or actions you've had difficulty forgiving, either in the present or past. A family member can be a good place to start. Forgive them from your heart. Pray for them, claiming forgiveness over them by the blood of Christ, which was shed to cover their sins as well as your own. Ask the Lord to bless them and change two hearts—yours and theirs. So far as it is in your power, continue to work toward peace and reconciliation, following Peter's injunction: _"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."_ (1 Pet 4:8)

# 21. The Unmerciful Servant

### The Requirement of Forgiveness

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times ("seventy times seven" – KJV)."

"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

"But when that servant went out, he found one of his servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.

"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'

"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could repay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In his anger his master turned him over to the jailers until he should pay back all he owed.

"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." – Matt 18:21-35

Jesus had recently pointed out the difference between our duty to serve God by obeying His commands from the heart, and the multitude of duties imposed by rabbinic law and tradition, calling them _"rules taught by men."_ (Matt 15:8-9) Peter's question reflected the fact that his concept of duty was still defined by the old covenant legalistic mindset rather than the new covenant law of love. Jesus' answer was that there are no limits when it comes to forgiveness of a brother or sister, since the goal of forgiveness is reconciliation and unity in the family of God. We have all been forgiven a great debt of sin, and we stand in need of continued forgiveness since none of us has yet been perfected. God's justice therefore _requires_ that we forgive others and reconcile with our brothers and sisters, just as we have been forgiven and reconciled to the Father.

When we hold on to offenses committed against us, we become prisoners of our own unforgiveness, unable to walk in the love of God. Continued unforgiveness leads to becoming judgmental, and not just towards the one who injured us. We become increasingly skeptical and eventually cynical in our general regard of people. This creates a barrier to forming and maintaining healthy relationships. Whenever we find ourselves repeatedly voicing judgment of others, even if this is accompanied by a statement of concern that "they need prayer," it's time for a heart exam. Just as the mouth speaks out of the overflow of the heart (Matt 12:34), so our words have the power to change hearts, for better or worse. In a similar manner, whatever thoughts we give the voice of imagination to gain strength in our mind. Continued lack of forgiveness, regardless of whether the offense occurred in the recent or distant past, is like dark ink discoloring the soul, one poisonous drop at a time.

### Kingdom Principle: "Forgive your brother from your heart." – Matt 18:35; (Related) "If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins" – Matt 6:14-15

### Practical application

Forgiveness is the first gift we receive by faith. It stands to reason that it would be the first virtue we would practice as followers of Christ. We who have been and continue to be forgiven so much by God should find it in our hearts to forgive others in return, even their repeated failings. Yet because of the perversity of the sin nature, forgiveness is one of the more difficult lessons to learn. The way to start exercising forgiveness is to respond to the offenses and failings of others with compassion.

When relational wounds are deep-seated or long unattended, forgiveness is both a decision and a process. In order to find healing, we need to forgive our brother—or father, mother, sister, child, spouse, friend, and even ourselves for our failings—every time the enemy brings accusations or resentful thoughts to mind. If we are to be free of unforgiveness, we need to recognize it in its many disguises. One way to recognize that we have a general unresolved lack of forgiveness is a critical attitude, or that our sense of humor has a sarcastic edge to it. Another is that we have difficulty accepting people because we are focusing on their sin instead of dealing with our own. Other indications that we have a problem with forgiveness include recalling past hurts and imagining possible future encounters, planning our response so we can come out ahead in any exchange. Since forgiveness is a form of mercy, it cannot be doled out in drops or even cupfuls as we see fit. True forgiveness is a wide, healing river flowing from the throne of God, passing through us on its way to healing hearts and restoring relationships.

"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."1 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." – Rom 12:17-21

**Food For Thought:** While our brother or sister usually won't offend us seventy-seven times in one day, the enemy will repeatedly bring thoughts of past hurts to mind about someone, even after we have forgiven him. This is a clue that we still have some work to do to forgive "from our heart." This includes working on eliminating negative feelings and embracing positive ones for the person we dislike. It requires that we _verbally_ express forgiveness and blessing whenever resentment or ill will arises in our thoughts. This is because words trump thoughts, just as actions trump words (See Chapter 35, The Two Sons). Try this simple exercise each evening for a month: Picture your least favorite person, someone who has hurt or offended you. Ask God to fill and bless them, and envision Him pouring His love all over them. Compare your feelings toward them at the beginning and end of the month. Wash, rinse, repeat!

### _______

1 Bring him to repentance.

# 22. The Good Samaritan

### Commanded to Be Merciful

On one occasion an expert in the law ("Scribe" – KJV) stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"

"What is written in the Law," he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came to where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."

Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." – Luke 10:25-37

As a teacher and guardian of the Law, the Scribe wanted to engage the now famous Rabbi Jesus in a theological discussion. So he posed a question that would open the door to scholarly debate. Although Jesus' formal education was far inferior to that of the Scribe, He did have a major advantage. He had lived a sinless life, imbued with the knowledge and wisdom of the Spirit of God. He had studied the Scriptures and understood the nature of man. He was therefore aware that the Scribe was testing Him, probably to build up his own reputation. Yet rather than questioning the Scribe's motives, Jesus responded in humility and patience, giving him the opportunity to demonstrate his knowledge by answering his own question. This avoided needless debate, while affirming the Scribe's competence and the truth of God's law.

Instead of the increased feelings of self-worth the Scribe had sought from this exchange, he experienced something he didn't expect. Since he was in the presence of the Son of God, he was convicted by his own answer! He knew very well, just like the rest of us, that he was not very diligent about loving his neighbor. Especially the inferior mixed-race Samaritans and the much-hated Romans. Surely, he must have reasoned, God doesn't expect us to love everybody. So he tried to justify his lack of love by narrowing the definition of _neighbor_ , attempting to establish the legal limits of his responsibility toward his fellow man.

In response, Jesus related the parable of The Good Samaritan. Its main point is that loving one's neighbor is not a choice of bestowing our benevolence on those we deem worthy of it. Love of our neighbor is motivated by compassion for the human condition—regardless of whether that person is a friend, a foe, or somewhere in between. It is not limited by such considerations as religion, race, ethnicity, the failings of others, or how they treat us. The unselfish care and sacrifice of the Good Samaritan exemplifies not just the compassion Jesus has for us, but also the behavior He expects of His brothers and sisters in the household of faith.

### Kingdom Principle: "Go and [have mercy]." – Luke 10:37; (Related) "Do to others as you would have them do to you." – Luke 6:31; (Related) "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." – Luke 6:36

### Practical application

When we are born of the Holy Spirit, God's Divine love enters our hearts. Our first response is to love Him in return, following the teachings of Christ. As the love of God grows within us, we grow out of our selfishness. His love increasingly flows into our relationships, changing our feelings and behavior toward others. The love of our neighbor should be characterized by the quality of mercy, which goes far beyond the requirement of forgiveness illustrated in the previous two parables. As an expression of the Father's goodness, mercy calls us to be generous and kind, especially to the lonely, the unlovable, and those in need. Mercy seeks to actively extend the love of God to all, without qualification or discrimination.

In His great mercy, Jesus died for everyone, though only some would believe in Him: _"He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."_ (2 Cor 5:15) We are therefore called to be merciful to everyone for whom Jesus died. The unsaved today may become believers tomorrow through the love of Christ we have shown them. Proceeding from a heart of compassion, mercy is a signal measure of our transformation into the likeness of Christ. Every single act of mercy, no matter how insignificant it may seem at the time, makes a difference, both in our own heart and in the lives of others.

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." – Luke 6:32-36

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." – Matt 5:7

**Food For Thought:** When Jesus returns to reward the faithful, He will look at how merciful we have been. This week, try to break the comfortable habit of relating only to those in your work, social, or church group. Ask God to increase your love for others, and look for opportunities to practice mercy. When someone ignores you or hurts your feelings, give him the benefit of the doubt. If someone irritates you, speak kindly to her. Take stock at the end of the week. Do you feel better or worse about yourself? Try it for a month and see if you don't notice a change in your outlook on life.

# 23. The Persistent Friend

### Knocking on God's Door

"Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'

"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, he door will be opened.

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" – Luke 11:5-13

Jesus related this parable just after answering His disciples' request to teach them how to pray. It is therefore best understood in context of the Lord's Prayer. Though this is usually intoned as an exact recital of Scripture, it may best be viewed as a template, prioritizing areas of intimate conversation with God. Prayer that brings us close to God is not a formal speech, but rather a conversation, speaking to Him as we would talk with a close friend or parent. "We ought to act with God in the greatest simplicity, speaking to Him frankly and plainly, and imploring His assistance in our affairs, just as they happen."1

• " _Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name"_ – The Father dwells in unapproachable glory in heaven. Yet He also lives in the hearts of those who respond to the call to follow Christ (John 14:23). He can therefore be found by coming to Him inwardly, with reverence for His holiness and trusting in His great mercy.

• " _Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."_ – When the kingdom of God is finally established on earth at the end of the ages, God's heavenly will shall become the law of the land. However, we do not have to wait for Christ's return to live according to the Father's will. Because the kingdom of God is within us, we have the ability to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit right now. Guyon says: "As you speak the words, 'Thy Kingdom come,' call upon your Lord to reign in you. . . . Give yourself up to God. . . . Surrender your heart into His hands. Surrender your freedom into His hands. Yield to your Lord His right to do with you as He pleases."2

• " _Give us today our daily bread."_ – Just as nothing is too great for God to accomplish, nothing is so small that it escapes His notice and care. The Father is pleased to meet our physical as well as our emotional and spiritual needs. As we receive answers to simple prayers in line with His will, our confidence grows in His love and provision for every area of our lives.

• " _Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."_ – As children of God, we soon discover that the Father is not only merciful, He is also just. He therefore requires that we act justly as well, treating each other with the same mercy that He has shown us. Because He has forgiven us a great debt of sin and continues to do so, we may not withhold our own forgiveness. Any unforgiveness hidden away in our heart not only diminishes our love for others, it also hinders our relationship with the Father (Matt 6:15).

• " _Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."_ – The operative verbs here are _to lead_ and _to deliver_. Since we are citizens of the kingdom of light, the Lord delivers us from the power of the kingdom of darkness. Yet He still allows us to be tested by trials and temptations, so our faith can be proven and refined. That is why we are not delivered from temptation, but led through it, as we seek and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Temptation and trials expose our weakness so we may learn to recognize our need for God's mercy and grace. They also bring our negative attitudes to the surface so we can work on replacing them with godly ones. The Lord is always present to lead us through every circumstance, encouraging and strengthening us in the Way.

• " _For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever."_ – Though this verse appears only in some manuscripts, it is wholly consistent with the spirit of prayer. It is an expression of the praise and gratitude that should characterize our relationship with God. To repeatedly come to the Father seeking His blessings without an appreciation of His glory and power is to miss the point of prayer. As we grow in the knowledge of God, we increasingly come to appreciate the fullness of the most life-affirming relationship we will ever have.

After relating this parable, Jesus concluded His lesson on prayer, explaining that there is no comparison between the gifts our parents give us and those we receive from our heavenly Father. God gives from the very essence of His being: " _How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"_ When we are born again, we receive a measure of _"his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."_ (2 Cor 1:22) From that point on, every gift of grace or comfort or power, and the answer to every prayer in line with His will, comes through God's indwelling Spirit. Since the Father has already given us His Son, _"how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"_ (Rom 8:32)

### Kingdom Principle: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." – Luke 11:9-10

### Practical application

Through prayer, we are able to enter into communion between God's Spirit and ours. Experiencing God's Presence is not limited to "retiring into our prayer closet" at the beginning or end of the day. Paul urges us to _"pray continually"_ (1 Thess 5:17), keeping the Lord foremost in our thoughts. Brother Lawrence, the 17th century monk known for his close relationship with Jesus, said: "Think often on God, by day, by night, in your business, and even in your diversions. He is always near you and with you; leave Him not alone. You would think it rude to leave a friend alone who came to visit you . . . think on Him often, adore Him continually, live and die with Him; this is the glorious employment of a Christian."3

Each time we come into God's Presence and every minute we remain there, we are changed by His glory, as Moses' face was changed, radiating with light after his conversations with God (Exod 34:29-35). Though our face may not glow from our prayer time with God, our spirit does! The more time we spend in inner spiritual communion with the Lord, the further we move away from the external turbulence of our circumstances and desires. The more closely we seek and follow the quiet leading of the Holy Spirit, the more our _"minds [become] set on what the Spirit desires."_ (Rom 8:5)

In any relationship, honest, ongoing communication is vital to harmony and growth. A sporadic or non-existent prayer life weakens our spiritual communion with God, diminishing our sensitivity to the voice of His Spirit. However, when we _"Come near to God . . . he will come near to you."_ (Jas 4:8) Relational communication is a two-way street—both talking and listening on a regular basis. Some call the silent listening part of prayer _meditation_. Others, such as Rick Warren, define meditation as dwelling on God's word, which is still a matter of listening to what God is saying to us. "When you think about a problem over and over in your mind, that's called worry. When you think about God's word over and over in your mind, that's meditation."4 Just being mindful that the Lord knows our every thought can help keep our connection with Him open day and night. If we are faithful to continually seek Him in the innermost part of our being, we will experience greater depths of His love, answers to our prayers, and a more abundant life.

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." – 2 Cor 3:17-18

**Food For Thought:** Kenneth Hagin describes several different kinds of prayer, based on Ephesians 6:18: _"Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests."_ His list includes: "The Prayer of Faith (Matt 21:22); The Prayer of Consecration (Luke 22:42); The Prayer of Commitment (1Pet 5:7); The Prayer of Worship (Luke 24:52,53; Acts 13: 1-4); The Prayer of Agreement (Matt 18:18-20); Prayer in the Spirit (1 Cor 14:14,15); United Prayer (Acts 4:23-31); The Prayer of Supplication (Phil 4:6); and Intercessory Prayer (Eph 6:18)."5 Which of these do you already practice? Pick one you haven't experienced and add it to your prayer repertoire.

### _______

1 Brother Lawrence, _The Practice of the Presence of God_ Revell Baker Publishing Group 1967 p. 19

2 Jeanne Guyon, _Experiencing The Depths Of Jesus Christ_ SeedSowers Publishing 1975 p. 17

3 Brother Lawrence, _The Practice of the Presence of God_ pp. 52-53

4 Rick Warren, _The Purpose Driven Life_ Zondervan 2002 p. 90

5 Kenneth E. Hagin, _The Art of Prayer_ Faith Library Publications 2005 pp. 7-8

# 24. The Wedding Feast

### The Importance of Humility

One Sabbath . . . Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee . . . When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." – Luke 14:1, 7-11

This prominent Pharisee's dinner guests included some of the most important and well-respected men of Perea, the southern district of Israel east of the Jordan River. While an invitation to such a Sabbath dinner was usually considered an honor, Jesus was not an honored guest. This dinner invite was part of the ongoing conspiracy against Him: "They set a trap, and hoped to catch Him in it."1 The plot involved Scribes, Pharisees, and King Herod's officials, all trying to find a legal means of stopping Jesus, even if it meant putting Him to death (Mark 3:6, Luke 11:53-54). One of the charges they planned to bring against Him was His Sabbath healings. While there were no specific statutes on the rabbinic books that prohibited healing on the Sabbath, there were none allowing it either. Most Scribes and Pharisees believed it violated God's commandment against working on the Sabbath (Exod 20:10). When Jesus showed up at the house, He was surrounded by 'witnesses' and confronted by a man with dropsy, a bloated condition caused by major organ failure.

Though He was aware this was a trap to bring legal charges against Him, Jesus acted out of compassion rather than fear, healing the man instantly. When He tried to discuss the matter with the Scribes and Pharisees, _"they remained silent."_ They had no doubt heard about His ability to turn arguments of even the most educated Scribes against them. By refusing to discuss the matter, the conspirators could later say that Jesus had offered no defense for His actions. However, He quickly dismissed the threat of possible legal consequences by citing the well-known emergency rule contained in rabbinic statutes. This exemption allowed for the rescue of a working farm animal that had fallen into a well. If it drowned, the owner would be unable to work his ground and bring in the harvest. He could lose both his land and home to creditors. Therefore, every effort could be expended on a Sabbath to rescue such a valuable animal.

Due to the failure of this man's organs, he was swollen up with excess water. In effect, he was drowning in his own body fluids, and didn't have long to live. If a farm animal could be rescued to keep it from drowning on the Sabbath, how much more worth saving was this son of Abraham? And instead of hours of labor involving several men and a hoist, the work involved here was a mere touch of Jesus' hand. The carefully laid plans of the Scribes and Pharisees had once again come to nothing.

As a faith healer of questionable background, and with no formal education or social position, Jesus was left to himself. He found a place away from the schmoozing at the front of the room. After all, these dinners were an opportunity to network one's way to both social and business success. The wine flowed as feely as the conversation, for the Sabbath feasts of the wealthy were not known for moderation. In fact, they "considered it their duty to make the Sabbath a day of feasting and good cheer."2 Augustine would later record that the Jews kept the Sabbath "in loose, luxurious ease, for they occupy their leisure in frivolity . . . they spend it in those things which God forbids."3 From His vantage point, Jesus noticed the not-so-subtle political maneuvering to sit in places of honor near the head of the table.

The assembled guests were quite surprised when Jesus suddenly interrupted the festivities. The man whose voice had carried across valleys to thousands had no trouble capturing everybody's attention in the Pharisee's dining hall. In the shocked silence that followed, this vagabond rabbi gently instructed some of the leading men of Israel about the importance of humility. He appealed, as He usually did, to their better nature rather than condemning them for their lower one. It is better to be honored without seeking personal recognition, He said, than to be humiliated for doing so. It was a point with which no one could reasonably disagree.

### Kingdom Principle: (Prophetic) "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." – Luke 14:11

### Practical application

When we seek recognition and honor among men, this disqualifies us from receiving it from God (Matt 6:2,5,16). The only reward we receive from elevating ourselves is an inflated sense of ego. However, this is a deep well that can never be filled, never satisfy our basic need to be accepted and loved. It is therefore far preferable to let another honor us if we deserve it. The truly humble person focuses on serving others, graciously honoring them without expectation of repayment, or even gratitude.

"Do nothing out of vain ambition or selfish conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who . . . made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant." – Phil 2:3-5, 7

**Food For Thought:** Philippians 2:3-4 above lays out a plan for learning the practice of humility. The difficulty of following Paul's instructions is that humility involves not just our actions, but also our attitude—and it takes time for attitudes to change. Over the next week, try to come up with a list of practical steps you can take to humble yourself in various social and business situations. At the end of a month of putting these steps into practice, evaluate any difference you notice, both in your attitude toward others, and in others' attitudes towards you.

### _______

1 A. B. Bruce, D.D., _The Training of the Twelve_ Kregel Publications 1974 p. 90

2 ibid.

3 ibid.

# 25. The Great Banquet

### Purifying Our Hearts

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."

Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'

"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field and I must go see it. Please excuse me.'

"Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.'

"Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'

"The servant came back and reported this to his master. "Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'

"'Sir' the servant said, 'What you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'

"Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'" – Luke 14:15-24

An uncomfortable silence filled the room when Jesus finished the parable of The Wedding Feast. Each man was processing the wisdom of Jesus' words and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. One of the guests tried to defuse the tension, commenting: _"Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."_ The diversion was a welcome one, intended to allow for a return to the festivities that had prevailed up to that point. Several others probably murmured their agreement, since everyone there believed that his own participation at God's long-awaited kingdom feast was assured.

However, Jesus knew that this was not the case. Many of these men, filled with their own importance and even arrogance, wrongly believed they met God's standard of righteousness. They felt eternally secure, not in sincere faith and a close relationship with God, but because they were by birthright God's "chosen people" (Deut 7:6). They relied on their religious practices and traditions as the foundation of their righteousness, while simultaneously pursuing "the good life." In their defense, they did try to strictly observe Mosaic Law and ensure that others did too. However, as Paul noted in his letter to the Romans, _"A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly . . . No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly, and circumcision is . . . of the heart, by the Spirit."_ (Rom 2:29) Being called and chosen by God is not about maintaining an external standard of righteousness, but about living and moving and breathing by the Spirit of Christ in us, which results in changed character and behavior.

It would have been a disservice for Jesus to let these self-righteous men continue in their mistaken assurance of salvation, with their hearts divided between seeking the things of God and the things of this world. So He related the parable of The Great Banquet to illustrate the fact that salvation is more than saying "yes" to God's invitation. The people previously invited to the banquet had initially agreed to come, or the host would not have sent his servant with a courtesy notice on the day of the feast. However, they all chose to pursue their own affairs instead of honoring their prior commitment. Jesus' point was that salvation requires follow-through, developing a living relationship with God that results in being faithful to honor His call in our daily lives. _"But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—_ _if you continue in your faith, established and firm_ _, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel."_ (Col 1:22-23 emphasis added)

### Kingdom Principle: "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door." – Luke 13:24

### Practical application

Inviting Jesus into our heart by faith is but the first step in our new spiritual life, just as being born was the first step in our natural life. Continuing on the narrow road of salvation, we will someday enter eternal life. In order to be faithful to our call, we need to _"make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him"_ (2 Pet 3:14), giving up worldly desires and purifying our hearts so we might glorify Him.

Human nature being what it is though, we tend toward the wide, easy way rather than the difficult narrow one. We compromise in the choices we make because, like the Pharisees, we want the things of the world along with those of the kingdom. This inevitably leads to becoming less diligent about seeking God than when we first believed. Still, we are usually careful to maintain at least the outward observances of Christianity. However, _"The kingdom of God is not a matter of (external observances), but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."_ (Rom 14:17) If we would get serious about denying our lower nature and purifying our hearts, it wouldn't take much time for His joy to work itself deep into our being, not too long before His peace infuses our soul and comes to characterize our relationships. As Thomas a Kempis puts it, "If each year we would root out one fault, we should soon become perfect."1

"We are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters.' Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." – 2 Cor 6:16b - 7:1

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." – Matt 5:8

**Food For Thought:** Our own sin nature and the compromises we make because of it result in mixed motivations, weakening our faith and limiting our ability to walk in the power of the Spirit. As we turn away from seeking fulfillment in the attractions of this life and turn toward putting Christ first in our hearts, we are gradually cleansed of the impurities of mixed motives. Look up James 4:1-10. Contrast verse 8, which tells us we need to purify our hearts, and Titus 2:14, which states that God will purify us. Compare this with 1 John 1:7 and 1 John 3:3. Why does God have to wait for us to seek inner purity before He can purify our hearts?

### _______

1 Thomas a Kempis, "Sherley-Price Translation", _The Inner Life_ Penguin Group 2005 p. 12

# 26. The Tower And The Battle

### The Cost of Discipleship

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate1 his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not ("deny himself and" – Luke 9:23) carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'

"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." – Luke 14:25-33

Large numbers of people were traveling south on the pilgrims' route on their way to Jerusalem for one of the feasts. The crowd traveling with Jesus was filled with excitement. Some were hopeful that He might be the long-awaited Messiah, on His way to Jerusalem to proclaim himself king. Many of them just wanted to hear and follow His teaching, even if they couldn't leave home to be His disciples. So Jesus stopped to explain that discipleship was an inner walk of total commitment and self-denial. He didn't sugarcoat the subject, but neither was He harsh with them. As usual, He spoke the truth in love.

Most people at that time associated discipleship either with the Essenes or the Zealots. The disciples of both sects gave up their lives and families to live in remote areas and submit to a strict way of life. The Essenes lived peacefully, much as latter day monks, keeping to themselves and transcribing sacred books. The Zealots, on the other hand, were social misfits and outlaws, planning rebellion against Rome and robbing wealthy travelers. Their hostility and rebellion was a vivid manifestation not just of the fallen state of mankind, but also the battlefield conditions that exist in the spirit realm. Jesus therefore used military analogies to explain the larger spiritual landscape of discipleship. The two examples He gave define corresponding aspects of the commitment and cost of following Him.

Building a Tower: Jesus' first example was something everyone could understand. Building a tower required great expense and the cooperative labor of many people persevering toward a common goal. The builder had to be diligent in his planning and use of available resources. If he came up short of money or stones or mortar or labor, the unfinished tower would stand as an embarrassing monument to his lack of foresight. King Herod's temple was a prime example of such a building project. It was started around 20 BC, and required 10,000 workmen and 46 years to finish. It would later withstand a concerted Roman siege for several months.

Building a tower provides a strong defensive place of safety and comfort. As we draw close to God in the comfort and safety of His Presence, our focus changes from vain external pursuits to seeking the inner life of the Spirit. Jesus has called His followers to be involved in two complementary building projects, one individual and the other communal. Individual: As we put Jesus' teaching into practice, we become _"like a wise man who built his house [life] on the rock."_ (Matt 7:24) Communal: We are called to gather together with other believers to be _"built together to become a dwelling . . . a holy temple in the Lord . . . in which God lives by his Spirit."_ (Eph 2:21-22) The example of constructing a tower is therefore an illustration of building our life on the solid foundation of Christ, and our cooperative journey of being built up together in God's love.

Going to War: Israel's more distant history enabled the crowd to grasp Jesus' second example, that of a king going into battle against a much stronger opponent. The Maccabean revolt had taken place a couple of centuries before Jesus' birth. It was triggered by Antiochus Epiphanes' brutal invasion of Israel and his deliberate desecration of the temple. A relatively small band of Jewish fighters led by the Maccabee brothers took on the mighty kingdom of Syria. These men sacrificed everything—their wealth, their families, and their lives. They build up a small band of freedom fighters and engaged in protracted guerilla warfare over several decades. By persevering in faith, they inflicted enough damage to convince their much stronger opponent to finally withdraw from Israel.

We all need a strong tower where we can go for security and strength, receiving grace and encouragement to help in our struggle against the sin nature. Yet it is just as necessary to go out and meet the enemy on the battlefield. We are called to fight the good fight of faith, putting on _"the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes . . . against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."_ (Eph 6:11-12) As we oppose the temptations that fuel our lower nature, we turn away from selfish thoughts and sinful desires, enabling us to grow in our love for God. Yet we must do more than just turn away from sin and selfishness; we need to actively _"pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness."_ (1 Tim 6:11) The key word here is _pursue_.

By drawing close to God and resisting the enemy, we are able to take new spiritual ground within ourselves: " _Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."_ (Jas 4:7) There is no such thing as a passively victorious Christian walk. As Paul stated, _"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."_ (Phil 3:13-14) The faith that overcomes the world is just like the word of God. It is active and powerful, extending the borders of the kingdom: _"The kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it."_ (Matt 11:12) Paul summed up the matter in his first letter to Timothy: " _Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called."_

### Kingdom Principle: "Anyone who does not (deny himself and) carry his cross and follow me . . . cannot be my disciple." – Luke 14:27; (Related) "Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." – Matt 16:25

### Practical Application

In Jesus' day, the cross was an instrument of suffering and death. Taking up our cross is therefore an illustration of self-denial and suffering—dying to ourselves so we might live for Him who died to free us from the power of sin. As Thomas a Kempis put it more than 500 years ago, "It is right that you should suffer a little for the sake of Christ. . . . Be assured of this, that you must live a dying life. And the more completely a man dies to self, the more he begins to live for God."2 Developing a willingness to suffer for the kingdom requires being devoted to Him above family, friends, and one's self.

All self-denial involves some kind of suffering or deprivation. Denying ourselves means turning away from seeking satisfaction in the things of the world and our own accomplishments so we can focus on eternal priorities. To walk in this kind of self-sacrificial love entails more than "making a decision for Christ." It requires a willingness to suffer loss and make the sacrifices necessary for the expansion of God's kingdom reign, starting with ourselves: _"Therefore, since Christ has suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin._ 3 _As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God."_ (1 Pet 4:1) To follow Jesus in the way of the cross is to willingly _"share in (Christ's) sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."_ (Rom 8:17)

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." – Phil 3:10-11

**Food For Thought:** The most difficult form of spiritual warfare is not battling against injustice or casting out unclean spirits, but rather engaging in the battle for our own mind _. "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."_ (Rom 8:5) When we cleanse the inside of the cup (our thought life), the outside (our actions) becomes clean. In order to be victorious in this battle, we need to train and be prepared for it. Read Eph 6:10-18, which describes our spiritual armor. Select a piece of armor and explain how it helps us stand against the power of the enemy. Which pieces of armor do you have difficulty "putting on"? Pick one of these and come up with a plan to equip yourself with it. Write your plan on a post-it note and put it in your Bible at Ephesians 6. Revise it as you receive more understanding of how God is empowering you to deal with your particular life situation.

### _______

1 Lamsa explains the meaning of the word _hate_ in this verse: "Aramaic . . . speech is amplified as far as imagination can reach, in order to convey the thought." George M. Lamsa, _Idioms In The Bible Explained_ and _A Key To The Original Gospels_ Harper Collins Publishers 1985 p. 78. Reversing this dynamic, translators usually define _hate_ as "love less." However the semantics of Jesus' discourse support a much stronger connotation: that of being so committed to one love that all others pale by comparison.

2 Thomas a Kempis, "Sherley-Price Translation", _The Inner Life_ Penguin Group 2005 p. 38

3 It would not be out of place to add the word _enough_ after "suffered" in this verse, since we usually have the internal resources to adapt to small misfortunes without too much trouble. It is only when we suffer something beyond our ability to control that we are forced to rely on the grace of God, strengthening our faith and enabling us to turn from sin.

# 27. The Lost Sheep & The Lost Coin

### God's Great Love for Sinners

Now the tax collectors and 'sinners' were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me: I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." – Luke 15:1-10

Most of Jesus' followers came from the lower socioeconomic classes. They had no political connections, didn't get invited to eat dinner at a Pharisee's house or read Scripture in the local synagogue. Many of them had been branded by society as 'sinners': religious and social outcasts with little hope of redemption. They were well aware of their sin, and therefore their need for repentance.

When the Pharisees muttered about Jesus' questionable associations, they were not necessarily being malicious. They considered it their responsibility to prevent Israel from a return to idolatry by keeping people from falling in with "the wrong crowd." They had been taught to equate righteousness with conforming to strict religious standards, measurable by behavior and outward appearances. Sadly, their errant concept of righteousness prevented them from understanding that Jesus had come to minister to sinners much as a doctor tends to the sick to make them well again. _"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."_ (Luke 5:31)

Though He was not blind to peoples' shortcomings, Jesus looked for the good in everyone. Understanding the Pharisees' motivation to keep Israel from sin, Jesus responded to them with the same patience that characterized most of His ministry. He had not come to condemn, but to warn and redeem—even the Pharisees. So He invited them to think about the care and compassion they had for their animals, especially when one was lost. If they could relate to that, then perhaps they could understand, and maybe even share, His compassion for sinners.

### Kingdom Principle: "There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." – Luke 15:10; (Related) "The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." – Luke 19:10

### Practical Application

Because every person is created in the image of God, He calls everyone to repent: _"He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."_ (2 Pet 3:9) The salvation of sinners is the reason Jesus died for us, and why He calls the lost to himself. It is the reason He sent the Apostle Paul to preach the Gospel of the kingdom to the Gentiles, to _"_ _turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."_ (Acts 26:17-18) It is why He has given His followers the commission of making disciples of all people.

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." – Matt 28:18-20

**Food For Thought:** Look up Romans 2:1. Since our prejudices point back in some manner to our own sin, it is beneficial to ask ourselves, "Whom do we feel superior to, and what underclass of 'sinner' do they represent?" Now read Rom 15:1-7. Given the fact that we all sinners, why don't we look at people with the same compassion that God does? What is one concrete step that you can take to help you _"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."_

# 28. The Lost Son

### Restoring God's Peace in Relationships

Jesus continued, "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.

"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a different country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father.

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fatted calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. – Luke 15:11-24

This parable is often called The Prodigal Son, because _prodigal_ means being wasteful or extravagant with one's money. However, the manner in which the son spent his inheritance is not the main point of the story. The NIV translation more appropriately describes the son as _lost_ , making it the third in the series of the "lost" parables: The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Lost Son. This parable tells the story of a willful son who chooses to indulge in a sinful way of life, but eventually repents. It is also about the father who believes and hopes for his safe return.

The Son: The prodigal son did not just suddenly wake up one morning and decide it was a good day to leave home. Such a weighty matter must have formed in his thoughts well before it took root in his desires. We don't know the younger son's motive for leaving. There was an implied rivalry between the two brothers with the father acting as peacemaker (v 28-32), so it might be inferred that he saw an early inheritance as a means of getting out from under his brother's shadow. Whatever his reasons, it turned out that his life skills were not much better than his judgment. After a string of poor decisions, he wound up broke, hungry, alone, and finally, repentant.

The Father: What distinguishes this parable from that of The Lost Sheep is that the son's decision to leave was not a matter of straying out of curiosity or ignorance, as the young often do. He made a deliberate decision not just to leave, but to reject his father's authority and cut off family relationships. There was therefore no point in going to look for him as the shepherd searched for his stray lamb or the woman for her lost coin. As an adult, the son was free to make his own choices. The father could not force him to come home any more than he could have stopped him from leaving. He could do little more than pray that God would change his son's heart, drawing him to seek restoration of their broken relationship.

Seeing his son in the distance, the father "was filled with compassion for him." Such compassion is the essence of the Lord's love for all mankind: "The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made." (Ps. 145:8-9) By definition, this includes those caught in the bonds of sin. Our Father longs for the lost to return to His family and experience the peace of restored relationships. While He doesn't force His will on those who willfully break faith with Him, He does send His Holy Spirit to minister conviction so they might return to Him of their own free will: "If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself." (2 Tim 2:13)

### Kingdom Principle: "There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." – Luke 15:10; (Related) "The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." – Luke 19:10

### Practical Application

Several of Jesus' parables deal with repentance, which is not limited to the experience of conversion. Repentance is necessary whenever we find ourselves off course, slipping into selfish or sinful ways. As His children, the Father offers us the same love and forgiveness that we received when we first turned from sin and invited Jesus into our heart. Yet He cannot receive us until we return to Him in humility and sorrow for our sin. Paul's admonishment to believers in the church in Rome is still appropriate today: _"[Do not] show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance, and patience . . . God's kindness leads you toward repentance."_ (Rom 2:4)

As we walk the narrow road of faith, we are filled with the peace of Christ. Having been given the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18), we are called to extend our peace to others. We are to be peacemakers between brothers, like the father in the parable. And as ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor 5:20), we are able to come alongside the wandering, the lost, and the disobedient, interceding for them in prayer and counseling them in the wisdom of the Spirit with the same gentle firmness and mercy the Lord has shown us.

"Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you may also be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." – Gal 6:1-2

"If one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner away from his error will save him from death and cover a multitude of sins." – Jas 5:19-20

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." – Matt 5:9

**Food For Thought:** Jesus didn't say there was rejoicing in heaven over _every_ sinner who repents, but over "one" sinner who repents. This is because God loves every one of His children as if they are the most important person in the world, calling each one by name to a living, forgiving relationship with Him, just like the father in the parable. This stands in vivid contrast to the all too frequent withholding of forgiveness exemplified by the older brother (Luke 15:25-32). See if you can come up with three things you can do to overcome your natural feelings of anger and resentment in order to forgive and walk in peace with _the one_ who has sinned against you. Write them on a post-it and place it in your Bible at this parable for future reference.

## Section IV

## Reaping What We Sow

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." – John 11:25

As the end of Jesus' ministry drew near, His approaching ordeal loomed larger in His mind. He knew He would be beaten, whipped, and sentenced to die an excruciatingly painful death. Yet He was less concerned with His upcoming baptism of blood than He was with the welfare of His disciples. He worked diligently to prepare them—and all those who would believe through their message—for His long absence and the coming judgment at the end of the age. This section therefore deals with the temporal and eternal ramifications of the central kingdom parable of The Sower. The crop we harvest both in this life and the next is directly related to the seed we sow on a daily basis. In this life we reap the fruit of the Spirit; in the next we will receive glory, honor, and the everlasting peace of God (Rom 2:10).

The remaining parables increasingly emphasize themes of obedience, watchfulness, perseverance, judgment and reward, and the impact of our choices on our eternal destiny. The parable of The Shrewd Manager, for example, teaches that the friendships we form in Christ will follow us into eternal life. The parable of The Rich Man And Lazarus is a cautionary tale about the hellish consequences of failing to repent from a self-centered life, lived with little or no compassion for others. And the parable of The Pharisee and the Tax Collector deals with the eternal consequences of our attitudes and actions. This final group of parables should encourage us to evaluate how enthusiastic, or passionate, we are about loving God enough to pursue a walk of holiness. As Gary Thomas notes: "Without love, we change too little. And without change—we will never become holy. For holiness means being separated in heart to God and purely His own, with nothing left of distrust or resistance between us. . . . If you want to become holy, you must first become passionate."1

### Practical Application

There is so much negativity surrounding the subject of death that we avoid it as much as possible. It doesn't usually come up during polite dinner conversation. We put off writing a will because we don't want to think about our own mortality. This aversion is not just to physical death; it applies to the death of the sin nature as well. We balk at implementing the spiritual disciplines necessary to _"put to death the misdeeds of the body."_ Yet for those who willingly take up their cross to follow Jesus, physical death is merely a passage to an indescribably wonderful new life in Christ. Since the next life lasts for all eternity, it is essential that we give serious consideration as to how we will spend the remaining years, months, and days of our life. Once we pass through the gates of death, there is no more time to work on the defects of our character, no more opportunities to forge friendships that will last forever. No more chances to store up treasure in heaven by ministering to someone in need, speaking an encouraging word, or lending a helping hand.

If we would learn to regard each day as if it were our last, we would order our lives much differently. We would take walking in holiness to heart and respond more quickly to the voice of conscience. We would bear the faults of others with greater mercy, be encouraging rather than critical, and accept suffering with a more cheerful heart, knowing that it produces the character of Christ in us. All of our actions have eternal consequences: " _A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."_ (Gal 6:7-10)

### _______

1 Gary L. Thomas, _The Glorious Pursuit_ NavPress 1998 p. 88

# 29. The Shrewd Manager

### Faithfulness

Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.'

"The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg–I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.'

"So he called in each of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'

"'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied.

"The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.'

"Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?'

"'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied.

"He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.'

"The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for your self, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

"Whoever can be trusted ("is faithful" – KJV) with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?

"No servant can serve two masters. 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 both God and money." – Luke 16:1-13

In the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus told the parable of The Rich Man who wanted to build bigger barns to hold his excess crops (Luke 12:16-21). He was so focused on increasing his worldly wealth that he was not _"rich towards God."_ The implication was that he would have little if any treasure stored up in heaven (Matt 6:20). Jesus' point was that seeking God should come before everything else, especially our pursuit of making money. Wherever our treasure is, that is where our heart will be. The obverse is equally true: Wherever our heart is, that is where we will invest our treasure.

Jesus himself was tempted with worldly power and riches following His 40-day fast in the desert, so he is aware that it is a major stumbling block for many. In this parable, however, the rich man is not the villain. That's because it's not money itself, but _"the love of money,"_ or greed, that is the root of evil (1 Tim 6:10). There is no indication that this rich man was anything but fair in his business dealings. The culprit is his financial manager. Jesus does not go into detail about his wastefulness, but stops short of accusing him of outright theft or embezzlement. His point is that the manager was unfaithful in handling his master's finances because he was not wholly committed to serving his interests.

### Kingdom Principle: (General) "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much – Luke 16:10; "No servant can serve two masters . . . You cannot serve both God and money." – Luke 16:13; (Specific) "Use worldly wealth to gain friends for your self, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings." – Luke 16:9

### Practical Application

When we give up ownership of ourselves to serve Christ, we are placed in the position of becoming managers of our time and our resources for the kingdom of God. We are therefore called to be diligent stewards of everything God has given us: _"_ _It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."_ (1 Cor 4:2) The problem is that most of us fall into the trap of believing that whatever we gain by our own efforts belongs to us and not to God. We tend to forget that every gift, talent, opportunity, and every breath comes from His hand. Since we belong to Him, we are called to submit ourselves and all that we have in service to His will. When we give to the work of the kingdom, we sow the seeds of generosity, which results in the spiritual fruit of kindness.

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called." – 1 Tim 6:10-12

**Food For Thought:** When we make Jesus Lord of our life, we become a temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in our heart (1 Cor 3:16). We are therefore more than just simple managers of our lives. We are _"a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God."_ (1 Pet 2:5) Can you think of any sacrifices you have made recently to help someone in need—not just money, but of your talents or time? A more detailed examination of new covenant spiritual sacrifices can be found in the free eBook, _Worship in Spirit and in Truth_ , by this author.

# 30. The Rich Man And Lazarus

### Spiritual Bankruptcy or Eternal Dividends

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'

"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'

"He answered, 'I beg you father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'

"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'

"'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced, even if someone rises from the dead.'" – Luke 16:19-31

When He finished telling the previous parable of The Shrewd Manager, _"the Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus."_ (Luke 16:14) They thought His declaration that _"You cannot serve both God and money"_ was a crackpot idea. As members of the upper class, they worked hard to acquire wealth and enjoy their success. They tried to outdo each other in throwing lavish Sabbath parties in their large homes, featuring the best wine, food and entertainment, and showcasing trophy wives they had acquired after simple no fault divorces (v 18). One might observe that human nature has changed little over the last two millennia.

Though the Scribes and Pharisees made dismal shepherds and were generally antagonistic toward Jesus, they were not the absolute personification of evil that we tend to think they were. To their credit, they feared God's judgment, believed in the Resurrection, and wanted everyone to keep the Commandments. In their own misguided way, they thought they were doing God's will, just as Saul believed he was doing God's work by persecuting Christians. Perhaps that is why Jesus was usually patient with them, responding to their comments with a parable instead of berating them for their sin. His ministry to the lost included even the Scribes and Pharisees. It would not be until the last week of His ministry that He would openly and roundly castigate them, and then only as a class.

It is helpful therefore to examine the shortcomings of the Pharisees more closely, if only to recognize them in ourselves. Their motives were divided between serving God and satisfying themselves. In this conflicted state, the allure of the things of this world eventually wound up taking priority in their hearts. They were polluted with worldly loves in the same way a continually polluted stream eventually becomes filled with toxic sludge, yielding frothy brown water, unfit for any good use. That's why Jesus called them _hypocrites_ , the Greek word for actors, merely playing a (religious) part. Because they had become largely self-centered, their compassion for others was small to non-existent.

Although they were zealous about keeping the Commandments, they did not measure up to God's first requirement of righteousness, of having _"truth in the inner parts."_ (Ps 51:6) They didn't _"worship the Father in spirit and in truth."_ (John 4:23) Their pseudo-religious, self-righteous and materialistic lifestyle was detestable to God, but they weren't aware of this. They were so caught up in the deception of the ruling powers of this world that they practiced the rites and rules of their religion while remaining oblivious to the Spirit of it. They had therefore become spiritually lukewarm, like the wealthy church in Laodicea, to whom Jesus said, _"Because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."_ (Rev 3:16-17)

### Kingdom Principle: "God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight." – Luke 16:15

### Practical Application

At times we all undergo trials, often related to finances or health or a family member. For some, everyday life with our spouse or a child may be a challenge. However, the silver lining is that this provides us with the opportunity to deal with our own rough edges. When we fall on difficult times, we experience just how tenuous our well-ordered lives really are. If we are being sensitive to the Holy Spirit, we learn compassion for those going through their own times of testing. Yet our initial reaction on hearing about others' troubles may not be compassion, but discomfort. Deep down, we would rather share someone's joy than their sorrow. We remind ourselves that we have enough complications and troubles of our own, or that our own family has first claim on our time. We prefer not to get sucked into the pit of others' personal difficulties, so we limit our response to praying for them, or at least telling them that we will.

Our conflicting feelings of compassion for the suffering of others and our perceived need for self-preservation present us with a choice. We can try to protect ourselves by avoiding personal involvement with those in need, like the rich man in the parable. Or we can overcome our discomfort and enter the messiness of someone else's life, ministering to the open wounds of the Lazarus outside our gates. When we open our heart to share in the suffering of another, we cannot help but be changed by the experience. In this way, new depths of compassion are carved in our soul, motivating us to act in mercy, the pleasant fruit of God's love.

Comparing the soul to a cup, in the millennial kingdom of God everyone's cup will be filled to the brim with the glory of God. Some cups however, like some hearts, will be larger than others. Perhaps that is why Paul compared the splendor of our resurrection bodies to _"one star (differing) from another star in glory."_ (1 Cor 15:41 KJV)

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything." – 1 John 3:16-20

**Food For Thought:** With the ever-increasing homeless population on the streets of our cities, we need to exercise both mercy and wisdom. Not sure if someone is really in need? Talk to them! This simple recognition of their human dignity is in itself a gift. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom during your conversation that will guide your decision on whether to give encouragement or material help. This will inform your sense of compassion and hone your spiritual discernment. One way of showing mercy is to bring or buy an individual a meal rather than giving cash that may be spent on questionable purchases.

# 31. The Persistent Widow

### Persevering Through Opposition

Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said, "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'

And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" – Luke 18:1-8

Jesus had just finished giving His disciples a glimpse of future events, describing His coming and the rapture of the faithful at the end of the age. All Israel longed for the day when the Messiah would cast down wickedness and rule in righteousness over the earth. Knowing that this wouldn't happen until the end of the times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24), Jesus didn't want His followers to lose faith and give up hope. So He told this parable to encourage us to continue seeking God in prayer, no matter how bad the circumstances we face or how long the delay till He returns. Like His other parables, it uses an everyday situation to explain a spiritual truth.

Unlike the widow's adversary in this story, our enemy is not an earthly foe, but an array of wicked, highly legalistic spiritual beings under the command of Satan. Instead of an earthly judge, it is the Lord who answers our prayers and renders judgment. Though our Adversary was judged and cast out of heaven long ago, he continues to come before God, spitefully bringing accusations of sin against the children of Light. The good news is that we have our own personal defense attorney seated at the right hand of God (Rom 8:34, 1 John 2:1). Because He paid the blood price for every sin committed by or against us, we are "covered" by the righteousness of Christ. We also have the legal right or standing to come into God's courtroom seeking justice against our spiritual Adversary. This does not mean retribution, since a full accounting will not be made until the end of the age. However, we can and do receive deliverance from evil, guidance in temptation, inner healing, victory by faith, and the grace to persevere _"in trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword."_ (Rom 8:35)

The justice described in this parable therefore does not imply rescue from those who oppose us or freedom from worldly injustice and suffering. We inhabit bodies formed of corrupted DNA and live in a decaying, polluted world, populated by fallen people under the influence of _"spiritual forces of evil."_ (Eph 6:12) We are therefore subject to a host of ailments, adverse circumstances, persecutions, spiritual schemes, and the effects of the sin nature—ours as well as others'.

Someday Jesus will return to institute the kingdom of God on earth. Until that time, we are called to walk as disciples and servants of Christ, seeking grace to persevere and trusting that God is still Lord of heaven and earth. "There are many things in life which we do not and cannot control. . . . We should therefore divest ourselves, as far as possible, of preconceived expectations of life. . . . Hope does not pretend that all that happens is God's will. . . . The crucifixion of Jesus Christ was not God's will, although He permitted evil to have its hour of apparent triumph. . . . Rather it was God's will that His Son accept His suffering and with trust fulfill His perfect act of obedience in accepting the consequences of humanity. Since that day, an endless procession of believers has done the same; out of the conflicts and often tragic circumstances of life, they have found the ingredients of their discipleship and growth in holiness."1

Some suffering in this life may be traced to our own foolish or sinful choices, like the paralytic at the sheep gate (John 5:14). Other times we suffer injustice merely for being light in the darkness, since _"everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."_ (2 Tim 3:12) We should keep in mind that _"It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."_ (1 Pet 3:17) As servants of God, we need to maintain a degree of objectivity about suffering. We should not allow our trials to overwhelm us to the point of losing the joy of our salvation, just as we should never become so content in our blessings that we fail to respond to the suffering of those around us. Someday, _"when the Son of Man comes,"_ every act of injustice will be repaid, but not by us. We are to leave all judgment to Him, for we are called to render good for evil. _"God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you . . . when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven."_ (2 Thess 1:6-7)

### Kingdom Principle: "Always pray and never lose heart." – Luke 18:1 (NTMS)

### Practical Application

If we find that we are repeatedly falling for the same temptations, or are continually plagued by unending trials, this is an indication that we need to go deeper with God to discover the root cause of our difficulties. It may be that we need to go into God's courtroom to seek justice against our spiritual enemy on the basis of the blood of Christ. It may involve examining ourselves and our actions to discover how we may have contributed to our difficulties, so we can set things right wherever possible. Or it may mean that we need to _"cry out to him day and night"_ to change our heart and give us a willing spirit to sustain us. The cure for being less than successful in our discipleship walk is to seek the Lord with all of our heart, asking His help to change our attitude, expectations, and behavior, so we can walk with renewed purpose and devotion. _"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."_ (Jer 29:13)

We are called to continue in prayer, seeking God's grace to endure and trusting in His provision: "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Heb 4:16) Trials, temptations, and persecution have their place in refining our faith, just as gold is purified by fire: "In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Rom 8:28) Though suffering is part of our kingdom walk, we have the promise that "God is faithful and will not let you be tempted [Gr. peirazō: tested, tempted] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." (1 Cor 10:13)

By turning our thoughts to the Lord throughout the day, we develop the habit of becoming aware of His continual Presence. Esther de Waal writes: "An awareness of God's presence . . . of God's immediacy in daily living is precisely what so many people are searching for today, as they struggle to acquire techniques of 'mindfulness.'"2 This inner prayer, "close to the continuous prayer the Orthodox describe as a murmur in the heart,"3 brings us closer to the heart of Christ and makes us more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Seeking and abiding in the Presence of God yields the peaceable fruit of self-control, enabling us to walk in greater obedience and confidence. The more time we spend with God in prayer the stronger our faith grows, and we become correspondingly less attached to the things of this life. However, prayer is not all about us. Intercessory prayer opens the door for the light of God's truth, protection, and deliverance to make a difference in the lives of others.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." – Phil 4:6-7

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven." – Matt 5:10

**Food For Thought:** Take some time during your day to meditate on the fact that Jesus, having walked the narrow way before you, understands the challenges you face. Ask Him to give you a greater thirst to walk in His righteousness, and the grace to pass the tests that God allows to prove your faithfulness.

### _______

1 Benedict J Groeschel, _Listening At Prayer_ Paulist Press 1984 pp. 18-19

2 Esther de Waal, _God Under My Roof_ Paraclete Press 1985 p. 2

3 ibid.

# 32. The Pharisee And The Tax Collector

### Humility: The Mark of Righteousness

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God I thank you that I am not like all other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said: 'God have mercy on me, a sinner.'

"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified [righteous] before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." – Luke 18:9-14

Under Roman rule, taxes were collected by deputized locals rather than Roman officials. Experience had shown that this resulted in more efficient and less troublesome revenue collection. People were less resistant to a despised local than a hated foreigner. However, the Romans were not about to pay wages to a non-citizen. So local tax collectors had to charge extra to pay for their own salaries. This would be like an IRS agent showing up at your door, with one hand out to collect a check for what you owed and the other to extort whatever he could get for himself. Tax collectors were particularly loathed by the wealthy class of Pharisees.

The differences between the two men in the parable could hardly have been more striking. The one a tax collector, "who reminded everyone of the heavy burden of servitude under which men who loved their country, who remembered the glorious days of David and Solomon, suffered."1 The other, a Pharisee who diligently paid his tithes, fasted regularly and prayed in public for God's blessings on Israel. Though they were egotistical, sometimes even arrogant, and strict in their enforcement of the law, the Pharisees were well-respected members of society. Most of the people listening to Jesus would have identified with the sentiment of the Pharisee in this parable, glad that they too were not _"robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or even like this tax collector."_ Yet Jesus proceeded to turn this perspective on its head. He said that because of his genuine humility, the tax collector was a righteous man, while the Pharisee was not! The Pharisee was really just self-righteous. His pride prevented him from walking in the righteousness that comes by faith. That is why _"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."_ (Jas 4:6)

### Kingdom Principle: (Prophetic) "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." – Luke 18:14

### Practical Application

Because Jesus died in our place, we are justified in Him, receiving His righteousness in exchange for our sins (2 Cor 5:21). However, this righteousness is not our own, but the righteousness of Christ in us—and us in Him (Phil 3:8-9). As soon as we start thinking of ourselves as being righteous because of our accomplishments or even our spiritual growth, pride sneaks in and eats away at our relationship with God. As a result, instead of keeping our eyes on Jesus we increasingly focus on ourselves. We become like the Pharisee in the parable who was so self-centered that he _"prayed about himself."_ From this not so lofty elevation, we start comparing ourselves to others, looking down on those who are not as 'spiritually advanced' as we are. A surefire way to recognize that we have fallen into this trap is when being right becomes more important than being rightly related to others. Another is that we increasingly experience the harsh aftertaste of criticism on our tongue. However, when we come to the place of _"honor(ing) one another above yourselves"_ (Rom 12:10), we will reap the gracious fruit of gentleness.

"Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." – 1 Pet 5:5-6

**Food For Thought:** Look up Matt 6:1-6 and Luke 6:32-38. What do these verses have in common with the lesson of this parable? What one thing could you do on a regular basis to clothe yourself with humility toward those under your authority?

### _______

1 Bishop Augoustinos N. Kantiotes _A Panoramic View of Holy Scripture Vol 2_ Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, Inc 2001 p. 13

# 33. The Workers In The Vineyard

### Our Kingdom Inheritance: Eternal Life

"The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

"About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went.

"He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?'

"'Because no one has hired us,' they answered.

"He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.'

"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.'

"The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So those who were hired first expected to receive a higher wage. But when their turn came, they also received a denarius. They began to grumble against the landowner. 'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.'

"But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous? So the last will be first and the first will be last." – Matt 20:1-16

Jesus and His disciples were on their way to Jerusalem for the Passover feast, where He would keep His appointment with destiny as the Savior of mankind. A rich young ruler approached and asked what he needed to do to gain eternal life (Matt 19:16). Jesus told him that if he gave up the thing he treasured most in this world—his great wealth— _and gave it to those in need_ , he would have treasure in heaven. _"Then come, follow me,"_ Jesus said, offering him a place among His disciples.

After the young man left in great disappointment, Peter asked Jesus what the Twelve would receive, since they had already given up everything to follow Him (Matt 19:27). So Jesus described three rewards of discipleship: 1. (v 28): _"At the renewal of all things, when the Son of man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."_ 2. (v 29): _"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much."_ 3. (v 29): _and_ _will inherit eternal life."_

Jesus concluded with the somewhat enigmatic principle, _"But many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first."_ (Matt 19:30) This was not the first time He had revealed a spiritual principle that turned conventional wisdom on its head. During His ministry, He made several statements about the kingdom of God that can be somewhat confusing to the natural mind. For example: Even as Jesus frees us from the burden of sin, He calls us to submit to His yoke; We are to seek and submit to the Father's will, yet step out in faith; and, Those who take up the cross and die to self will never die. From a spiritual point of view however, these statements make perfect sense.

This type of kingdom principle can be thought of as a kind of spiritual equation, expressing equivalency of two diverse classes or actions. Thus, submitting to God's will _is_ stepping out in faith. This parable illustrates just such an equality, in which the reward of the first and the last is the same: _"You have made them equal to us."_ Those who labor all their lives in the kingdom receive the same gift of eternal life as those who place their faith in Christ on the last day of their lives, because eternal life is both complete and indivisible.

### Kingdom Principle: (Prophetic) "Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." – Matt 19:30

### Practical Application

When Jesus returns to earth, we will discover that God's concept of mercy and justice far surpasses our own. Everyone who comes to Christ has the same hope of eternal life. And we know that this hope is not an empty one, _"because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us."_ (Rom 5:5) Regardless of whether we come to the Lord early or late, each life sown in faith and nurtured in hope reaps a harvest of eternal life, _"the gift of God."_ (Rom 6:23) The gift of eternal life is just that, a gift. It is not earned as a reward for anything we have done or will ever do. It is given freely to all who _"believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God . . . that by believing you may have life in his name."_ (John 20:31)

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." – Eph 1:17-19

**Food For Thought:** There is an additional dimension to this kingdom principle. It derives from the principle of humility presented in the preceding parable, _"_ _Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."_ When the disciples had previously requested positions of honor in Jesus' kingdom, He replied that those whom the world calls _great_ rule over others, but those who are great in the kingdom serve others. The kingdom concept of greatness touches on the fact that in addition to the gift of eternal life, there will also be eternal rewards. However, they will not be given for the number of years we work in God's vineyard or even the position we hold in the church. They will be given to those who serve others in the compassion of Christ, with the greatest being servant of all (Mark 10:43-44). The following parable about rewards continues Jesus' answer to the disciples' question about what they would receive for following Him.

# 34. The Ten Coins

### Rewarded for Investing in the Kingdom

Jesus said to (Zacchaeus), "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas ("coins" – ISV). 'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.'

"But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.'

"He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

"The first one came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.'

"'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, (I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord – Matt 25:21 NKJV); take charge of ten cities.'

"The second came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned five more.'

"His master answered, (Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord – Matt 25:23 NKJV) 'You take charge of five cities.'

"Then another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.'

"His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?'

"Then he said to those standing by, 'Take away his mina from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.'

"'Sir,' they said, 'He already has ten!'

"He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away." – Luke 19:9-26

Shortly after His conversation with the rich young ruler, Jesus and the disciples reached Jericho. It seemed like the entire city had turned out to greet Him. He was hailed by a blind man, Bartimaeus, as the Son of David, Israel's Messiah. Jesus restored his sight and continued on His way at the head of a large crowd of pilgrims. Leaving Jericho, He saw short Zacchaeus, who had climbed a fig tree to catch sight of Him as He passed by. As chief tax collector for the region, Zacchaeus was an important official and a wealthy man. He was also rejected and isolated by the people of Jericho because he had gotten rich at their expense while working for the Romans. Seeing the faith that impelled Zacchaeus to cast aside his personal dignity, Jesus told him to come down, as he was going to be having dinner guests.

The crowd, still excited about Bartimaeus' restored vision, was at first shocked and disappointed that Jesus would visit the chief tax collector's house. Zacchaeus, on the other hand, was overjoyed that God's prophet not only knew his name, but was actually going eat dinner with him! Honoring Zacchaeus in this way, Jesus used His authority to restore him, not just to faith in God, but also to the community of believers. Proclaiming him a _"son of Abraham,"_ Jesus returned another lost sheep to the fold.

Overwhelmed with gratitude and joy, Zacchaeus publicly confessed his sin, promising to give half of his great wealth to the poor and repay fourfold anyone he had cheated. The crowd's initial shock and disappointment must have turned to wonder and joy on hearing this. They had just seen blind Bartimaeus healed and now Zacchaeus repenting, with a promise to distribute a great amount of money to the poor. They became increasingly convinced of the whispered rumors that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem to establish the kingdom of God. Jesus was aware of the situation, and He understood their desperate hope for freedom from the Roman yoke. Yet He also knew the threat that this posed to His ministry, even though they meant well. Once before, when He had fed several thousand people on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, the crowd had made plans to forcibly proclaim Him king over Israel (John 6:1-15).

So Jesus told this parable about a man of noble birth who had to go to a distant country to be appointed king. While this was an illustration of His return to the Father in heaven, He knew that the crowd would recognize a more contemporary meaning. Provincial rulers had to be personally approved and crowned by the Roman emperor. Since the emperor resided in faraway Rome, this involved a roundtrip journey that could take up to the better part of a year. This had the desired effect of tempering the crowd's immediate expectations.

However, the timing and manner in which Jesus would establish His kingdom was not the main point of this story. In the previous parable of The Workers In The Vineyard, Jesus taught that the gift of eternal life is promised to all who believe and follow Him as Savior and Lord. The current parable teaches that there will also be various positions of authority awarded for faithfully serving God and investing in His kingdom: _"The Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and . . . reward each person_ _according to what he has done_ _."_ (Matt 16:27 emphasis added) In other words, because God is merciful, all believers receive an inheritance of eternal life in Christ. Yet because God is also just, there are different places of responsibility and honor in the kingdom for our service in this life: _"In my Father's house are many mansions . . . I go to prepare a place for you."_ (John 14:2) Some will receive a martyr's crown, others a prophet's reward, and so on. In fact, every believer will be rewarded for every act of faithfulness and mercy, no matter how small (Mark 9:41).

Just as the Apostles will someday judge the twelve tribes of Israel, the faithful " _will reign [with Christ] on the earth"_ in various positions of government (Rev 3:21, 5:10). Everyone who has proven trustworthy in small matters will be given greater rewards and responsibilities: "Not only are we to be perfected, there are positions of responsibility. Whoever is to be given such a place must first be proven and tested to know if one may be safely trusted with weighty matters."1 Yet there is even more to God's reward program. Because the Apostles had left their homes and families to follow Jesus, they later served in various churches, gaining the close fellowship of hundreds of believers. In the same way, those who sacrifice time at home with their families to labor for the kingdom of God—whether as a missionary in a foreign land or to teach a Sunday school class at their local church—become part of many hearts and homes. This reward is not just for this life, since the relationships we develop in Christ follow us into eternity.

This parable, like several others, also contains a warning. Not every believer will diligently use his or her resources and gifts to serve God. Those who get caught up in the worries and concerns of this life fail to produce much of a spiritual harvest, so there is not much for God to reward. Like the man who failed to invest His Master's coin, they will lose the little treasure that they kept to themselves. Everyone's work _"will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames."_ (1 Cor 3:13-15) John confirms that everyone who believes in Jesus Christ will receive the gift of eternal life (1 John 5:11-13). Yet He also warns us to _"Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully."_ (2 John 8) Bruce Wilkinson sums up the matter in a nutshell: "Your belief . . . unlocks the door to eternal life and determines _where_ you will spend eternity. Your behavior . . . unlocks the door to reward and determines _how_ you will spend eternity."2

### Kingdom Principle: (Prophetic) "To everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away." – Luke 19:26

### Practical Application

If we knew the reward that awaited our every kingdom investment, no matter how small, we would make a much greater effort to obey the Lord and serve Him by serving others in His Name. Those who devote themselves to furthering the kingdom of God emulate the example of Zacchaeus, who in giving away the worldly things he could not keep, stored up for himself heavenly treasure he would never lose. The investment business of the kingdom is really an investment in people, offering our time, talents, and resources for the benefit of those in need. Our resources include not just our worldly goods, but the different gifts of grace and the spiritual gifts we have received for building up the body of Christ in love (Rom 12, 1 Cor 12, Eph 4). As we walk in obedience and mercy, we harvest the spiritual fruit of joy (John 15:9-11). Like every other fruit of the Spirit, our joy will be multiplied many times over in the next life, when we _"enter into the joy of (our) Lord."_

"Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great and you will be the sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." – Luke 6:31-36

**Food For Thought:** The concept of receiving a return on our investment in the kingdom is introduced in Matthew 6:20, where Jesus speaks of storing up treasures in heaven. Bruce Wilkinson describes seven courses of action that will be rewarded: "1) Seeking Him through spiritual acts such as fasting and praying (Matt 6:6; Heb 11:6); 2) Submitting to your employer as a faithful steward (Matt 24:45-47; Eph 6:8; Col 3:22-24); 3) Self-denial in His service (Matt 16:24-27); 4) Serving those in need in His name (Mark 9:41); 5) Suffering for His name and reputation (Luke 6:22-23); 6) Sacrifices you make for Him (Luke 6:35); 7) Sharing of your time, talent, and treasure to further His kingdom (Matt 6:3-4; 1 Tim 6:18-19)."3 Can you see how any of these might result in earthly rewards as well?

### _______

1 Seeley D. Kinne, _The Kingdom of Christ and of God_ Elim Press 1947 pp. 80-81

2 Bruce Wilkinson, _A Life God Rewards_ Multnomah Publishers Inc. 2002 p. 15

3 ibid.

# 35. The Two Sons

### Obedience: The Proof of Repentance

Jesus entered the temple courts, and while he was teaching, the chief priests and elders of the people came to him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you this authority?"

Jesus replied, "I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John's baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?"

They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' But if we say 'From men'—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet."

So they answered Jesus, "We don't know."

Then he said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'

"'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will sir,' but he did not go.

"Which of the two did what his father wanted?"

"The first," they answered.

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of heaven ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him." – Matt 21:23-32

It was the festive week of preparation before Passover, celebrating Israel's delivery from slavery in Egypt. Every extended family bought a lamb and watched over it for three days to ensure it had no defects or blemishes. This represented a state of sinless perfection, prefiguring Jesus as the Lamb of God who would deliver mankind from slavery to the power of sin (Rom 6:16-18). Jews from all over the known world traveled to Jerusalem for this feast. They came from Galilee and Antioch and Damascus, from Ephesus and Corinth, some from as far away as Rome. The road into the city was packed. A million people milled about the Temple courts and surged through the city's narrow, winding streets. Jesus had entered Jerusalem to wildly popular acclaim, riding a young donkey in the manner reserved for prophets. The crowds parted to make way, laying palm fronds on the road to honor Him. They were full of excitement and wonder, hailing Him as the promised Messiah, taking up the chant: "Hosanna to the Son of David!"

Jerusalem was electrified with hope. Yet there was also an underlying atmosphere of tension, an expectation that something monumental was going to happen. There was even a rumor going around that Jesus had recently raised His friend Lazarus of Bethany from the dead. On this evidence alone, many believed that He was the Messiah. They fervently hoped Jesus would declare himself king of the Jews, replacing the Roman puppet king, Herod, who had stunned the nation three years earlier by beheading John the Baptist. However, the people were unaware of the conspiracy at the highest levels of their government to prevent exactly this sort of thing from happening.

The only ones not excited about the situation were the chief priests and elders, and of course the Scribes and Pharisees. After the resurrection of Lazarus, many in the Sanhedrin expressed their deep concern as to what Jesus would do next. So the high priest Caiaphas had declared: _"Better . . . that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."_ (John 11:50-51) It was a bold statement, and one inspired by God, though Caiaphas didn't understand its true meaning. So now, in addition to Scribes, Pharisees, and King Herod's officials in both Galilee and Perea, the leaders in Jerusalem were conspiring to kill Jesus, and they had the resources to do it.

As a group of Pharisees watched the fanfare that accompanied Jesus' entry into the city, they became alarmed, stating, _"This is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"_ (John 12:19) They were concerned that the fever pitch created by His mere presence could incite the crowds to riot. That would draw harsh reprisals from the Roman garrison—more troops being sent from neighboring provinces, mass crucifixions to set an example, and quite possibly further erosion of the Sanhedrin's authority to govern the nation. So they determined to take whatever action was necessary to 'save the nation' from the influence of this Jesus of Nazareth.

While God's plan was that Jesus would die as the atoning sacrifice for the sin of mankind, the Sanhedrin had something quite different in mind. They were going to have Jesus arrested, tried, and crucified as an agitator against Rome. It was not enough for Him to die by stoning for blasphemy. The people, remembering His many miracles, would soon turn Him into a martyr like John the Baptist. Jesus had to be crucified as a criminal so His followers could be declared outlaws and disbanded, the movement He started erased from all but memory. However, since Jesus had become a national rock star, He couldn't be arrested in the crowded temple during the day, as that would probably incite the very riot they hoped to avoid. Nor could He be arrested under cover of darkness, since no one knew where He was staying in the overcrowded city.

To make matters worse, Jesus had shocked everyone the day after His arrival in Jerusalem by physically driving the merchants and moneychangers from the outer temple court. To the Sanhedrin, this was an unprecedented act of arrogance. It was the equivalent of shutting down the country's stock exchange, cutting into their handsome profits. Such a thing had never happened before in the history of Israel. Afterward, Jesus had performed several miraculous healings right there in the courtyard. This inspired a group of children to take up the chant, _"Hosanna to the Son of David!"_ When the chief priests and elders saw this they could sense their control over the people slipping even further from their grasp. What would Jesus do next, raise someone else from the dead in full view of the crowds? So they conferred among themselves and came up with what they thought was a foolproof plan to have Him arrested and executed.

The next day they sent an official delegation to challenge Jesus about ejecting the merchants. These were the brightest and best Israel had to offer. Confident of their combined intellectual prowess, they believed they would win any verbal confrontation with Jesus. When the chief priests and elders located Him in the courtyard, their spokesman got right to the point, demanding to know who gave Him the authority to _"do these things."_ Jesus immediately understood that they had set up a lose-lose situation for Him. If He denied having God's authority to clear the temple, He would be arrested for interfering with the Passover sacrifices, which were required by Mosaic Law. They would jail Him and start the process of interrogation and beatings, doing whatever it took to get Him to confess to crimes against God and Rome. If, on the other hand, they could push Him into claiming to be the Messiah, they would arrest Him on a charge of blasphemy. Since the Messiah was destined to rule Israel on David's throne, they would tell Pilate that Jesus claimed to be "King of the Jews," with the intention of overthrowing Roman rule. Both paths led to the same result of death by crucifixion.

Jesus avoided their trap by turning the tables on them, asking a question about His cousin John the Baptist. Knowing the love the people had for John, the members of the delegation suddenly became concerned for their own safety, fearing that the crowd would turn on them. When they refused to answer, He related three warning parables. He started with The Two Sons, admonishing them for their failure to repent at John's preaching. This parable teaches that the _"fruit in keeping with repentance"_ proclaimed by John the Baptist (Luke 3:8) is obedience to the Father's will. Jesus followed this up with a wakeup call for Israel's leaders: _"The tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of heaven ahead of you."_ He worded it this way because _"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth . . . always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."_ (1 Cor 13:6-7) Jesus still hoped that some of them would repent and believe.

The fact that both sons changed their minds is a reminder that we are all born with a sin nature, susceptible to its willful impulses and desires. Repentance is therefore more than just a change of mind; it involves crossing our own will in order to learn obedience for the love of God: _"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching."_ (John 14:23) Those who don't repent can be recognized by their fruit: _"He who does not love me will not obey my teaching."_ (John 14:24) Because we are called to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily to serve God, repentance continues after conversion. As we progress in our kingdom walk, God's Spirit does His job of revealing truth in a person's heart (Ps 51:6), exposing the deeper roots of the sin nature. If there is no corresponding deeper repentance, any unresolved sinful habits or hindering attitudes will undermine our faith, causing us to stumble in The Way. John Ortberg frames the issue in terms of the First Commandment: "Anytime I sin, I am allowing some competing desire to have higher priority than God and God's will for my life. That means that in that moment I have put something on a pedestal higher than God. That something is my idol."1

### Kingdom Principle: "Repent and believe." – Matt 21:32

### Practical Application

God gave us a will and fortified it with faith so we could walk in His ways. However, because many of our motivations arise from a subconscious level, we are not able to will ourselves to be obedient in the areas that give us the most difficulty. Therefore, we cannot walk the salvation road without earnestly seeking God's grace and help, any more than we can bear spiritual fruit without abiding in Christ. The Holy Spirit empowers us to exercise our faith and turn away from sin, so we can walk in victory over each area that He brings to our attention. Obedience is both the proof and the means of knowing Christ: _"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."_ (John 14:21)

Walking in obedience, we not only become like Him, we become His hands and feet in the world, doing the things He would do. Continuing in the narrow way, we are molded, refined, and made fit to serve with Him when He returns to reign over all the earth. This is the goal of discipleship. For the Spirit to do this work of transformation and sanctification in us, we need to do our part by _seeking God_ and _submitting to His discipleship training program_.

Seeking God: _"He rewards those who earnestly seek him."_ (Heb 11:6) The more time we spend in the Lord's Presence through inner prayer, the more we become aware of His compassion. "You cannot fellowship with God, you cannot sit in the Presence of the Great God of this universe without His love permeating your being, and without His compassion flowing into you."2 Even when we are in sin, His compassion for us is undiminished. It is in fact at its greatest when we are in the midst of temptation and trials, because He feels kinship with our humanity and compassion for our suffering: _"As a Father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust."_ (Ps 103:13-14) God's com-passion in our heart is far stronger than our passions, than our desires, fears, worries, and worldly ambitions: _"I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart."_ (Jer 24:7) To experience the depths of God's compassion is itself an immeasurable reward, far beyond anything the world has to offer.

Submitting to God's Discipleship Training Program: "Do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves." (Heb 12:5-6) Because we tend to be willful, taking the easy, comfortable road whenever possible, we need to actively submit to God's discipleship training course. This means responding in humility and faith whenever we undergo His correction: "God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness." (Heb 12:10) We could save ourselves a great deal of trouble if we responded immediately to the voice of conscience, but few of us are that devoted to pleasing God. As we learn to yield to His will and walk in His ways, we go from being babes in Christ (1 Cor 3:1); through coming to know Him better and walking in His strength to overcome (1 John 2:12-14); to coming into maturity, or completeness in Him (Col 4:12), walking in the love of Christ (1 John 2:5, 3:18). This state of maturity or completeness is variously defined by Bauer as: being thoroughly equipped (Gr: katartisis – 2 Cor 13:9); being made whole (Gr: holoklēros – Jas 1:4); and becoming a (morally full-grown) man (Gr: teleios – Jas 1:4).

While He was on earth, Jesus provided the ultimate example of how to live a mature, obedient life. Having died to save us, He rose from death to intercede for us in heaven, and He sent the Holy Spirit to intercede for us on earth (Rom 8:26, 34). As we seek God's help and respond to His intercession, before and in the midst of our trials and temptations, we receive the grace to follow Jesus' teaching and example (Heb 4:16). Pastor Rick Warren describes how to get moving and keep going on the road to maturity in Christ: "Obedience unlocks God's power. God waits for you to act first. Don't wait to feel powerful or confident. Move ahead in your weakness, doing the right thing in spite of your fears and feelings."3 Persevering in faith and walking in the power of the Spirit, we grow in godly virtues, coming into completeness one day at a time. This produces the spiritual fruit of faith-fulness that will _"_ _result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."_ (1 Pet 1:7)

"We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands . . . If anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know that we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." – 1 John 2:3, 5-6

**Food For Thought:** We cannot eliminate long-held sinful habits without taking an axe to the root of the tree. Until we deal with the underlying causes of sin, we will continue to get caught up in it (Heb 12:1). Consider the following advice from Gary Thomas: "To be free from sin, we need to look at the internal cause rather than just focus on the action. . . . Iron will—external discipline that creates physical distance but not spiritual deliverance—will meet with only limited success. . . . You have been fighting sin unsuccessfully, in large part because while you offer up the action, you can't stop the craving . . . . The road and ascent to God, then, necessarily demands a habitual effort to renounce and mortify the appetites; the sooner this mortification is achieved, the sooner the soul reaches the top. But until the appetites are eliminated, one will not arrive no matter how much virtue one practices."4

Just as everyone has their preferred style of learning, each one responds more readily to different spiritual disciplines. Which of the following have you found most helpful in your quest for obedience and holiness: Reading the Bible, Memorizing Scripture and quoting it when tempted, binding the strongman, spending more time in prayer, regular prayer with two or more believers, praying in the Spirit, journaling to help with consistency and perseverance, spending time in meditation on His word and His goodness, praising God even when you don't feel like it, rejoicing in the Lord when you do, singing worship songs, recalling His many blessings with a grateful heart, forgiving others in order to receive God's forgiveness and inner healing, giving and receiving encouragement, discovering and exercising your spiritual gifts, humbling yourself in fasting and serving others, seeking and believing God for deliverance and a changed heart, accepting hardship as discipline, looking up and believing God's promises, claiming victory over sin in the name of Jesus, confession of sin to one another, seeking wisdom and guidance from elders, developing deeper relationships in Christ, removing the sources of temptation, devotional reading, participating in Bible studies, reading first hand accounts of other believer's experiences with God. Which ones are you willing to try in your pursuit of God?

### _______

1 John Ortberg, _Soul Keeping_ Zondervan 2014 pp. 78-79

2 Kenneth E. Hagin, _The Art of Prayer_ Faith Library Publications 2005 p. 53

3 Rick Warren, _The Purpose Driven Life_ Zondervan 2002 pp. 174-175

4 Gary L. Thomas, _The Glorious Pursuit_ NavPress 1998 pp. 77-78, 80

# 36. The Wicked Tenants

### Persecution and Judgment

"Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.

"The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. Last of all, he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said.

"But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance.' So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

"Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?"

"He will bring those wretches to a wretched end," they replied, "and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time."

Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?

"Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." – Matt 21:33-44

Jesus continued His rebuke of the priestly delegation in the temple courtyard. He returns to the symbolism of Israel as God's vineyard, her leaders the tenants who managed it. They certainly had not done a very good job. Among other things, they failed to spiritually shepherd the people, and they selfishly kept the best of everything for themselves (Ezek 34:1-11, Matt 23:1-4). First John, and now Jesus was calling for repentance, fulfilling the legal requirement that at least two witnesses testify prior to severe judgment being imposed (Deut 19:15, Heb 10:28). In this parable He warns Israel's leaders of the coming judgment against the nation for the blood of the righteous. The Lord was going to punish the wicked tenants for their crimes, bringing them _"to a wretched end."_

Because Israel's rulers refused to repent, the thing they feared most did in fact occur, and their nation was taken from them. Yet God's punishment would not be limited to Israel's leadership, nor would His judgment be merely physical. The crowds that had cheered Jesus as prophet and Messiah on His entry into Jerusalem would accept responsibility for His death before Pilate later that week: _"All the people answered, 'Let his blood be on us and on our children!'"_ (Matt 27:25) A generation after Christ's death and resurrection, the nation would be held accountable for the blood of the righteous. The country would be invaded and Jerusalem crushed under the military might of Rome. God's spiritual judgment against Israel would be even more severe. Because of the continuing unbelief of the Jews, the kingdom of God would be taken away from them and given to the Gentiles who come to Christ by faith. Not because the Gentiles did anything to deserve this, but because by grace and through faith they would _"produce its fruit."_

### Kingdom Principle: (Prophetic) "He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." – Matt 21:44

### Practical Application

Both the prophet Samuel and King David used the imagery of a rock to portray the righteousness and security that can only be found in God. The fortress of the rock of Masada was a prime example of this. As the cornerstone of the new covenant, Jesus is our rock of righteousness and safety. Yet to those who reject Him, He is not a rock of refuge but a stone that makes them stumble, a cause of offense that ignites their anger and persecution against His followers.

The Spirit is always interceding for us to stand firm on the rock of Christ so we might grow strong in our faith and increase in love, even when suffering for God's kingdom (2 Thess 1:3-5). When we fully commit to putting our eternal welfare ahead of worldly pleasures and pursuits we will truly be able to _"Rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts."_ (Rom 5:3-4) Through accepting and embracing God's discipline and trusting ourselves to Him in persecution, we produce the spiritual fruit of patience, or long-suffering.

At the end of the age, those who opposed Christ and persecuted His followers will be "broken and crushed" by His judgments. When He returns to establish the kingdom of God, _"The oppressor will come to an end, and destruction will cease; the aggressor will vanish from the land. In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it—one from the house of David—one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness."_ (Isa 16:4-5) Those who followed Jesus and obeyed His teaching will be rewarded for the persecution they endured for His sake: _"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven."_ (Matt 5:11-12)

"Now to you who believe, this stone is precious, but to those who do not believe, 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,' and 'A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.' They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." – 1 Pet 2:7-10

**Food For Thought:** Jesus has left us the ultimate example of how to live for the kingdom of God. Heb 5:7-10 describes the actions that contributed in large part to His spiritual fruitfulness: 1) He offered prayers and petitions, crying out to God, 2) He walked in reverent submission to the Father, and 3) He submitted to the suffering necessary to learn obedience. Which of these three actions offers the greatest challenge for you? What one thing could you do to help meet this challenge? Does knowing that the Son of God is interceding in prayer for you right now strengthen your resolve to believe His promises and follow in His footsteps?

# 37. Invitation To A Wedding Banquet

### Responding to God's Call

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

"Then he sent more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.'

"But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

"Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 'Friend,' he asked, 'How did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless.

"Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are invited ("called" – KJV), but few are chosen.'" – Matt 22:2-14

Jesus continues His warnings to the chief priests and elders in a virtual retelling of the parable of The Great Banquet, which has long symbolized rejoicing and celebration in the coming kingdom of God. He described the "wretched end" of the tenants mentioned in the previous parable, prophesying that God would send an army to destroy those murderers and burn their city. This parable is an indictment not just of Israel's leaders, but the whole nation. When Israel's leaders _"seized, mistreated, and killed"_ the prophets, the people had raised no protest at these injustices. " _They paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business."_ In the same way, most would soon lose interest in the crucifixion of Jesus except as a topic of conversation, continuing in their daily routine. Only those who had truly responded to His call would believe that He was alive and follow His teachings, meeting together in the unity of the Holy Spirit and walking together in faith and love.

Like several other parables, this one concludes with a word of warning. Just as today's bride wears a white gown as a sign of her purity, in Jesus' time all the guests donned white robes, symbolizing the righteousness and holiness of God's people. Since a courtesy robe was freely available to every guest, there was no excuse for not wearing one. This individual had simply not made the effort to honor the host, the bride and groom, and the other guests. His name was therefore removed from the guest list along with himself, just as those who fail to overcome and walk in righteousness and holiness disqualify themselves from a place in the coming reign of Christ. That's why Paul warns us: _"Make every effort to . . . be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord."_ (Heb 12:14)

### Kingdom Principle: (Prophetic) "Many are called, but few are chosen." – Matt 22:14 KJV

### Practical Application

Righteousness involves more than an initial faith response to God's invitation. It requires that we abide in Christ, continuing wholeheartedly on the narrow road of discipleship, purifying our hearts and living in a way that honors and glorifies the Father. _"Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart."_ (Ps 119:2) Even though we have received the righteousness of Christ in exchange for our sins (2 Cor 5:21), we still need to produce _"the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God."_ (Phil 1:11) In the same way, although we have been consecrated, or made holy, by Christ at conversion (Heb 10:10), we still need to _"have (our) fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."_ (Rom 6:22 KJV) As we persevere through God's process of discipline and sanctification, we are conformed to the obedience and love of Christ. As John simply yet eloquently described the Christian walk:

• "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." (1 John 2:6)

"Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as (Jesus) is pure." (1 John 3:3)

• "Children, let no man lead you astray; he that practices righteousness is righteous, even as (Jesus) is righteous." (1 John 3:7)

• "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." (1 John 3:18)

"This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God." – Phil 1:9-11

"He who overcomes will . . . be dressed in white. I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels." – Rev 3:5

**Food For Thought:** Look up the following verses: 1 Cor 6:11; 2 Cor 7:1; 1 Pet 1:13-17; Eph 1:4; Heb 12:14. What is God's role in our sanctification and what is ours in pursuing holiness? Do you see any similarities between our relationship with Christ and the growing relationship between a husband and wife? How would you characterize a marriage in which one person never changed or matured? List three things that have helped you improve your marriage or a current relationship. How can these be applied to improve your relationship with Christ?

# 38. The Fig Tree

### Watch and Pray

He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

"I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able ("counted worthy" – KJV) to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." – Luke 21:29-36

After the confrontation with the priestly delegation, Jesus and the Twelve left the temple precincts and headed east toward the Mount of Olives, where they would spend the night. From this vantage point, they had a great view of the temple, as imposing and magnificent as any of the seven wonders of the ancient world. When the disciples commented on its splendor, Jesus astounded them by foretelling its complete destruction. This was a confirmation of his prophetic statement in the previous parable, " _The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city."_ The destruction of the Temple would be just one of the many consequences of the coming judgment on Israel.

The disciples were understandably astonished and dismayed by Jesus' prophecy. Such a calamitous event as the destruction of the temple would mean the end of the world as they knew it. So they asked Him, _"When will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"_ (Matt 24:3) Their dual, or compound, question indicates they thought that "the end of Jerusalem, and the end of the world—were . . . contemporaneous."1 In their consternation, they had come to the understandable yet erroneous conclusion that the Temple would be destroyed at the end of the age, when Jesus established His kingdom. In one sense however, they were correct. The destruction of the temple would in fact mark the end of an age—not of the church age at Christ's return, but the end of the old covenant age of forgiveness through animal sacrifice.

### Signs of the Times

Jesus answered the disciples' question in a prophecy that covers two separate seasons of God's judgment, some two thousand years apart. Though far removed in time, these two eras share certain similarities. The most important is that they define the only declared periods of God's vengeance for the shed blood of the righteous. The first was against Israel for _"all the righteous blood that has been shed on the earth."_ (Matt 23:35) The second will fall on the Gentile nations to avenge the blood of _"the souls who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained."_ (Rev 6:9-10)

Both judgments are also marked by a three-and-a-half year period of tribulation. The first period began with the assault on Jerusalem by General Gallus toward the end of 66, and ended in August of 70 with Titus' conquest of the city. In His mercy, God allowed Israel forty years between the establishment of the new covenant on the cross and the end of the old covenant age—a full generation overlap for the Jews to respond to the Gospel. The second tribulation will come against the Gentile nations at the close of the new covenant age. This three-and-a-half year period of tribulation is specified in chapter 13 of the book of Revelation, describing the rule of the beast and his antichrist. He will _"exercise his authority for forty-two months . . . to make war against the saints and to conquer them."_ (Rev 13:5, 7)

Matthew 24:4-14 records six signs in response to the disciples' question, " _What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?_ " 1. The appearance of false Christs; 2. Wars and rumors of wars; 3. Famines and earthquakes in various places; 4. Persecution and martyrdom of believers; 5. Sifting of the church, with many betrayals, false prophets, and a general increase in wickedness; 6. _"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations."_ 2

Judgment on Jerusalem: God's first judgment for the blood of the righteous was completed with the conquest and captivity of Jerusalem, forty years—a prophetic generation—after Jesus gave this prophecy. According to Luke, the warning signs would include persecutions, national conflicts, great earthquakes, famines, epidemic diseases, and great signs from heaven. Secular history records all these events occurring in the Middle East between 30 and 70 A.D.

The portent of Jerusalem's imminent tribulation would be an army camped around its walls: "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city." (Luke 21:20-21) One might question how Jesus' followers could escape Jerusalem if it were already surrounded by the Roman army. The answer is that "For the sake of the elect those days (were) shortened."3 (Matt 24:22) The description of that judgment and the shortening of those days, or the time gap that allowed Christians to escape, are found in the first-hand account of the Jewish historian Josephus in his book, Wars of the Jews. A brief summary follows.

In 66 A.D, Jewish Zealots were pushed into open revolt by the harsh and bloody rule of the newly appointed Roman governor, Gessius Florus. After several intentional provocations, they finally rebelled, storming the Fortress of Antonia that overlooked the temple and slaughtering the Roman garrison inside. General Cestius Gallus responded by marching south from Antioch with 30,000 legionnaires to attack Jerusalem. He managed to breach the outer, or third, wall and burn the suburb of Bezetha. However, after only a nine-day siege, he suddenly withdrew without giving any explanation. The retreat turned into a rout. A large band of Jewish Zealots pursued his army as far as Antipatris, killing 6,000 soldiers and capturing a large amount of weapons—dealing Gallus and Rome a humiliating defeat. The enraged emperor Nero responded by sending another army under the command of his best general, Vespasian, and his son, Titus. Having landed and gathered their forces just north of Galilee, they slowly worked their way south along the coast for three years, subjugating every walled city and town on their way to Jerusalem.

There was therefore a time gap between the retreat of General Gallus and the arrival of Vespasian's army. When Gallus' army departed, followed by the pursuing Zealots, the Christians fled Jerusalem and Judea to the safety of the cities in the eastern district of Perea. When Vespasian reached Jerusalem three years later, it was overflowing with people celebrating the spring Passover feast. The Zealots, who had returned with a great deal of captured weapons, took control of the city, in effect declaring martial law. Though everyone was aware of Vespasian's pending arrival, the Zealots tried to convince the people to place their trust in Jerusalem's recently strengthened fortifications. They believed that the failure of Gallus to penetrate the inner defenses had proven Jerusalem's invulnerability.

Those who wanted to leave were prevented from doing so. After Vespasian began his siege, many managed to escape over the wall at night, but most were caught by Roman sentries. When starvation finally drove the besieged inhabitants to desperation, as many as 500 escaping Jews were captured nightly and crucified outside the city walls the following day. The Zealots leading the rebellion refused Titus' repeated calls to surrender in exchange for lenient treatment and his promise to spare the temple.

Due to the large number of people in Jerusalem when the Roman siege began, estimates run from 600,000 to a million people perishing from the ravages of sectarian warfare, disease, starvation, and slaughter. Crazed with hunger during the 4-month siege, mobs scoured the overpopulated city, breaking into homes and beating people until they gave up their cached food. Deep in the throes of starvation, people ate their leather belts and sandals. In an effort to slow the spread of disease, the bodies of those who died from starvation and disease were gathered each morning, stacked in large piles and burned, creating a foul stench that hung over the city. In describing this judgment, Jesus had prophesied: _"There will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world till now—and never to be equaled again."_ (Matt 24:21) Josephus confirms the fulfillment of this prophecy, adding: _"The multitude of those that therein perished exceeded all the destructions that either men or God ever brought upon the world."_ 4 Jerusalem was ransacked and its fortifications demolished. The temple was set ablaze and razed to the ground. Every stone in the temple was overturned to retrieve the gold that had melted in the fire. Its treasures were shipped off to Rome, along with 90,000 newly indentured slaves.

Judgment at the End of the Age: Both Matthew and Mark differentiate between the two eras of judgment by quoting Isaiah's description of signs in the sun, moon, and stars that would directly precede Jesus' return (Matt 24:29, Mark 13:24). However, neither Gospel writer conveys a sense of the time lapse between the first and second periods of God's vengeance. Only Luke provides an indication of the lengthy period between the two judgments. He notes that the Jews would be _"taken as prisoners to all the nations,"_ and that after the judgment on Jerusalem, the city would _"be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."_ (Luke 21:24) To this day Jerusalem is a divided city, with the temple mount still under the control of Gentiles. At the end of the age, the kingdom of the beast will rise to rule the Gentile world. Jesus will return _"on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory"_ (Matt 24:30), to defeat the beast and his armies and judge the world. And Israel will be grafted back into the tree of salvation, after _"the full number of Gentiles has come in."_ (Rom 11:25)

The judgment against Jerusalem occurred in the spring of the new covenant age, when the fig trees _"sprout leaves."_ (Luke 21:30) The sixth chapter of the book of Revelation uses the image of the fig tree for the same symbolic purpose, this time to indicate that God's latter judgments will occur during the fall harvest season of the new covenant age. _"There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place."_ (Rev 6:12-14)

### Kingdom Principle: "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." – Luke 21:36 KJV

### Practical Application

Although Jesus had just described the signs and events preceding His return, His statement to: _"Be always on the watch"_ was not referring to them. It was a warning to be vigilant in guarding the treasure of the kingdom of God in us. It is an affirmation of His statement, _"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life . . ."_ (Luke 21:34) It is also consistent with His final caution to the disciples just before His arrest: _"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."_ (Matt 26:41) The sincerity of our love for God is proven by keeping an earnest watch on ourselves so we might continue to abide in Christ. His deep desire is that we walk in the obedience that comes from faith so we might produce a full harvest of kingdom fruit. We should therefore live in such a manner that we are always ready to meet Him, regardless of when He returns, since _"each of us will give an account of himself to God."_ (Rom 14:12)

"The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. . . . So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him. Bear in mind that the Lord's patience means salvation." – 2 Pet 3:10-12, 14-15

**Food For Thought:** Read Proverbs 4:20-27. What are the seven instructions Solomon gives to help us walk in the way of righteousness? (Note that they are couplets, with two lines devoted to each instruction.) In the second couplet, how does keeping God's word result in _"life and health to a man's whole body"_? Compare this with Proverbs 9:10-12 and consider how part of being wise stewards of our bodies might include maintaining healthy habits. Why are both watchfulness and prayer necessary to apply these couplets to your life?

### _______

1 A. B. Bruce, D.D., _The Training of the Twelve_ Kregel Publications 1974 p. 332

2 Jesus described the first three of these signs as _"the beginning of birth pangs"_ (Matt 24:8), indicating that they would precede the judgment on Jerusalem, which did in fact occur.

3 The "shortening" (Gr. koloboō: to _dock or abridge_ ) of those days was an abridgement, as a book is abridged, taking portions out of it rather than lopping off the last few chapters. Though the total time of the Roman invasion lasted a little longer than 3 ½ years, the short period (the abridgement) between Gallus' defeat and the start of Vespasian's invasion needs to be subtracted from this time.

4 Josephus Flavius, "William Whiston Translation", _Josephus Complete Works;_ _Wars of the Jews_ Bk. VI, Ch IX Kregel Publication 1960

# 39. The Ten Virgins

### Ready to Meet Jesus

"At that time, the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'

"'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'

"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'

"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." – Matt 25:1-13

At the end of His ministry, Jesus continued to emphasize the importance of watchfulness, essentially repeating His earlier parable of The Watchful Servants (Chapter 7) in Mark 13:35-37, and The Faithful And Wise Manager (Chapter 8) in Matt 24:45-51. The current parable is a retelling of the parable of The Watchful Servants from a different perspective. In the earlier parable, Jesus had warned His disciples to _"Keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet."_ (Luke 12:35-36) Instead of servants keeping the house lighted for their master returning from a wedding, it is now virgins with lamps outside the house awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom.

The virgins are symbolic of spiritual purity, or holiness, the heart cry of those who are passionate about seeking a deeper relationship with Christ. Yet this parable is not about keeping ourselves _"from being polluted by the world."_ (Jas 1:27) Salvation involves the transformation of the whole person: body, soul, and spirit—the head as well as the heart. Jesus is making the point that even the pure of heart need to be wise. Wisdom helps us discern between the leading of the Spirit and our own limited understanding: _"The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."_ (Jas 3:17)

### Kingdom Principle: "Keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." – Matt 25:13

### Practical Application

The goal of being watchful or vigilant is being prepared to meet Jesus, whether on His return at the end of the age, or at the end of our days, whichever comes first. Watchfulness is more than being on guard against our weakness. It is the state of actively maintaining an awareness of God's Presence, day-to-day, moment-by-moment. This helps shift our focus away from our list of immediate needs and desires toward the more important issues of living for the kingdom of God. By maintaining this conscious awareness, " _faith grows more alive_ and active in all the events of life . . . particularly when we are tempted, and in every time of trial . . . The practice of the Presence of God strengthens us in hope . . . and sets (our will) aflame with the consuming fire of Divine love . . . burning to ashes all that is contrary to His will."1 Keeping our mind fixed on God banishes worry and yields the spiritual fruit of peace. As we continue to practice the Presence of God, we become living witnesses of the reality of Christ in us, passing life in "unceasing acts of love and worship, of contrition and of simple trust, of praise and prayer, and service."2

There are four specific manifestations of grace that help us walk in wisdom and holiness, conforming us to the image of Christ and reassuring us of our place in the kingdom of God.

• God's Power: _"The grace of God that brings salvation . . . teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age." (Titus 2:11)_

• God's Intercession: _"Jesus is . . . able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."_ (Heb 7:24-25)

• God's Correction: _"My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either. It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects."_ (Heb 12:6 The Message)

• God's Encouragement: _"The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."_ (1 Pet 5:10)

"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." – Col 1:9-12

**Food For Thought:** How would you define "a life worthy of the Lord" (v 10 above) in your own words? Since salvation is _"by grace through faith,"_ how does _worth_ even enter into the salvation equation? Look up 2 Thess 1:3-5. What are the three qualities that made this church _"worthy of the kingdom of God"_? How can we apply their experience to our own lives, _"so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming"?_ (1 John 2:28)

### _______

1 Brother Lawrence, _The Practice of the Presence of God_ Revell Baker Publishing Group 1967 pp. 81-82

2 ibid. p. 82

# 40. The Sheep And The Goats

### To Know, Love, and Serve God

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come you who are blessed by my father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." – Matt 25:31-46

In the religious culture of Jesus' day, goats and sheep were considered similar animals. Goats were highly prized for their meat, milk, hair, and hides. In some sacrifices, a goat might even be substituted for the more expensive lamb. Although the shepherd would separate the sheep and goats into different enclosures at night, they were pastured together during the day. Jesus was therefore not comparing two dissimilar categories such as sheep and wolves, but two classes that are very much alike in some respects. This type of close contrast is not a new one. It is seen in the parables of The Weeds (and the wheat), The Fishing Net, The Two Debtors, and The Two Sons.

The night before He died, Jesus ate Passover Supper with the Twelve, commemorating Israel's deliverance from Egypt through the blood of the sacrificial lamb. They shared an unblemished yearling ram rather than a goat, because the Passover sacrifice demanded the purer, more expensive animal. Jesus experienced His deepest feelings yet for His disciples, and shared with them some of the greatest truths of the kingdom of God. He discussed the future and spoke about relationships. He talked about His followers' relationship with Him, His Father, and the Holy Spirit, describing their unity and their continuing work in the process of salvation. The Spirit would bring conviction, guide us into all truth, and reveal the knowledge of God. The Father would oversee our growth in Christ, disciplining and purifying us so we would bear a plentiful harvest of spiritual fruit.

Jesus told His disciples that He did not consider them merely servants, but friends—not just because of the relational love they had for one another, but because He had shared many of the deepest mysteries of the kingdom with them. He spoke of the necessity of bearing fruit so their prayers would be answered. He said that the most important fruit is love, and if they truly loved Him, they would follow his teaching. He gave them the commandment of the new covenant, enjoining them to love one another as He loved them. This new commandment is just as important as the Ten Commandments of the old covenant. However, instead of the Old Testament list of "Don'ts," the new covenant would hold Jesus' disciples to a higher standard of "Do's." Those who love God must also love their neighbor, being hospitable to strangers, clothing and feeding the poor, ministering to the sick and the lonely, forgiving offenses and being merciful to all.

Jesus described the ultimate expression of this new covenant love: _"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."_ (John 15:13) We tend to think that He was talking about himself, proclaiming His love for mankind in being crucified for our sin, but that was not the case. His desire was that His disciples learn from His example, taking up the cross of self-denial and walking in His compassionate love, laying down our lives for Him and for one another. Jesus was not speaking just to the Twelve, but to everyone who would ever invite Him into their heart, _"all those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you."_ (John 17:20-21)

### Kingdom Principle: (General) "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." – Matt 25:40; (Prophetic) "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." – Matt 5:7

### Practical Application

On Judgment Day, the Lord will judge the wolves that raided and scattered His flock. He will also judge between the wheat and the tares, between one sheep and another, between church members sitting in the same pew and members of the same family. He will differentiate between true believers and those who claim to be Christians but are not. _"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"_ (Matt 7:21-23) The dividing line between the sheep and the goats then is whether He knows us, and whether we truly know and therefore obey Him.

We come to know Him by earnestly seeking Him in His word and in our heart, abandoning ourselves in faith to His will and His plan for our life. As Paul summed up the essence of the Christian walk to the Galatian church: _"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."_ (Gal 5:6) For love of the Father, we turn away from love of the world— _"the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does"_ (1 John 2:16)—seeking to honor and glorify Him as Jesus did, in thought, word, and deed. Out of love for Christ, we overcome selfishness so we might serve others in His love. _"A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."_ (John 13:34) This is the law of the covenant by which we will be judged and rewarded, the measure of knowing Christ, following His teaching, and laying our lives down in His service.

Walking in the love of Christ produces the fruit of goodness, or virtue, as well as every other spiritual fruit. This has two significant consequences. First, as we bear the fruit of Christ's character, our desires and prayers come into alignment with God's will. _"Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."_ (John 15:16) Second, the love of Christ can be seen in our actions, bearing evidence of the Divine nature in us. Then, _"all men will know that you are my disciples."_ (John 13:35) This brings us full circle back to the kingdom principle of Jesus' first recorded parable: " _Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."_ If we are sincere in our desire to serve others in the love of God, we need to become passionate about experiencing it ourselves on a daily basis—drawing near to Him in thankfulness and prayer, praise, and worship. As we continue to abide in Christ and pursue a deeper spiritual walk with Him, we grow toward maturity and completeness, becoming the man or woman of God that He created and saved us to be.

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and high and long and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of the fullness of God. . . . As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." – Eph 3:16-19; 4:1-2

**Food For Thought:** Of the kingdom principles listed in the appendix, would you rate some as being more important than others? Which ones do you feel you already do a pretty good job of following? Which three principles pose the greatest challenge for you to live by? Write these three principles on separate sticky notes and put them in your Bible at the appropriate parables. Pick one to reflect on when you have a few minutes of quiet time, or to reread at night. When feel like you have a handle on one, go on to the next!

## Appendix

### Kingdom Principles

1. "You are the light of the world . . . let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." – Matt 5:14, 16

2. "'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." – Matt 9:13; (Related) "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." – Luke 6:36

3. (General) "Enter through the narrow gate." – Matt 7:13; (Specific) "Watch out for false prophets . . . By their fruit you will recognize them." – Matt 7:15, 20

4. (Prophetic) "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." – Matt 7:21

5. "Many sins have been forgiven . . . [those who love God much.] But he who has been forgiven little loves little." – Luke 7:47

6. "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." – Luke 12:15; (Related) "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." – Matt 6:21

7. "You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." – Luke 12:40

8. "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." – Luke 12:48

9. (Prophetic) "Unless you repent, you too will all perish." – Luke 13:5

10. (General) "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." – Matt 12:30; (Prophetic) "By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." – Matt 12:37

11. "Those with a noble and good heart . . . hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." – Luke 8:15

12. (General) "Consider carefully what you hear . . . With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more." (Prophetic) "Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." – Mark 4:24-25

13. (Prophetic) "The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father." – Matt 13:43

14. "All by itself the soil produces grain." – Mark 4:28

15. " The man who hears the word and understands it . . . produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." – Matt 13:23

16. "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure." – Matt 13:44; (Related) "Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven." – Matt 6:20

17. (Prophetic) "The angels will separate the wicked from the righteous." – Matt 13:49

18. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me. . . . They will listen to my voice." – John 10: 14, 16

19. "Whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of Heaven." – Matt 18:4

20. "Watch yourselves [so you don't cause others to sin]. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him." – Luke 17:3

21. "Forgive your brother from your heart." – Matt 18:35; (Related) "If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." – Matt 6:14-15

22. "Go and [have mercy]." – Luke 10:37; (Related) "Do to others as you would have them do to you." – Luke 6:31; (Related) "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." – Luke 6:36

23. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." – Luke 11:9-10

24. (Prophetic) "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." – Luke 14:11

25. "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door." – Luke 13:24

26. "Anyone who does not (deny himself and) carry his cross and follow me . . . cannot be my disciple." – Luke 14:27; (Related) "Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." – Matt 16:25

27, 28. "There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." – Luke 15:10; (Related) "The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." – Luke 19:10

29. (General) "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much – Luke 16:10; "No servant can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money." – Luke 16:13; (Specific) "Use worldly wealth to gain friends for your self, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings." – Luke 16:9

30. "God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight." – Luke 16:15

31. "Always pray and never lose heart." – Luke 18:1

32. (Prophetic) "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." – Luke 18:14

33. (Prophetic) "Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." – Matt 19:30

34. (Prophetic) "To everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away." – Luke 19:26

35. "Repent and believe." – Matt 21:32

36. (Prophetic) "He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." – Matt 21:44

37. (Prophetic) "Many are called, but few are chosen." – Matt 22:14

38. "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." – Luke 21:36

39. "Keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." – Matt 25:13

40. (General) "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." – Matt 25:40; (Prophetic) "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." – Matt 5:7

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