Week of 13 Pentecost - C
This is a Three-Year Lectionary based on the Lutheran Book of
Worship 3-year Lectionary (for public worship), "Prayers of the
Day..." (Propers), p. 13-41, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis,
1978. It is based, with only minor variations, on the Revised Common
Lectionary, used by many denominations, including the Episcopal,
Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches:
http://www.commontexts.org/
and:
http://www.commontexts.org/rcl/usage.html
The daily readings are the Propers (Lections) for the following
Sunday, so that the daily devotions can prepare us for worship.
Additional Lections are from Common Service Book of the Lutheran
Church, "Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers," United Lutheran
Church of America, General Rubrics VIII. Scripture lessons for
Matins and Vespers, p. 299 - 304, Philadelphia, 1918.
The previous 2- year Bible Study based on the Lutheran Book of
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Podcast Download: Week of 13 Pentecost - C
Sunday 13 Pentecost - C
First
posted August 22, 2010;
Podcast: Sunday 13 Pentecost - C
Jeremiah 23:23-29 – God's
Omnipresence;
Psalm 82 -- God's Judgment on Idolatry;
Hebrews 12:1-13 – Spiritual Discipline;
Luke 12:49-53 – The Coming Judgment;
Jeremiah Paraphrase:
God is both near to us individually, and also present
everywhere throughout the universe at all times; there is
no place one can hide so that God cannot see him. God has
heard the lies of false prophets who lie in his name,
saying that they have had a dream.
How long will false prophets continue to lie, who lie from
their own deceitful hearts and try to make God's people
forget God's name by their lies, as their fathers forgot
God's name in exchange for Ba'al? Let the false prophets
tell their dreams, but let him who has God's Word speak it
faithfully. Can straw compare to wheat? God's Word is like
fire, and like a hammer which shatters rock.
Psalm Background:
In the ancient Near East, it was believed that the world
was ruled by a council of gods. The Psalmist visualized
God standing in the midst of that council and pronouncing
judgment upon all the others.
Psalm Paraphrase:
In the divine council God has taken his place and holds
judgment in the midst of the other gods. He condemns them
for judging unjustly and showing partiality to the wicked.
He commands them to give justice to the weak and
fatherless, and to uphold the right of the destitute and
afflicted. They are to rescue the needy and powerless from
the power of the wicked. The gods of the council lack
knowledge and understanding. They go about in darkness;
and as a result the foundations of earth have been shaken.
Because they govern unjustly, they will all perish like
any mortal and any human ruler, even though they are sons
of God.
Arise, O God, judge the earth; for to thee belong all the
nations” (Psalm 82:8)!
Hebrews Paraphrase:
We are surrounded a great cloud of witnesses, those who
have succeeded at discipleship and have gone on to God's
eternal kingdom, (as exemplified in Hebrews 11). So we
need to put away anything that would interfere with our
participation, and persevere in the race set before us,
recalling the example of Jesus who is the pioneer
(“trail-blazer”) and perfecter of (demonstrator; enabler;
of perfect) faith (spiritual maturity). He hated the shame
of the cross, but he endured it because he focused on the
joy that was promised him through it. And so he is
enthroned at the right hand of God.
Let us reflect on the hostility he had to endure from
sinners; then we will not grow fainthearted and weary.
After all we have not had to resist to the point of
shedding our own blood. And let us not forget that, as his
children, God exhorts us not ignore the discipline of the
Lord, nor become discouraged when punished by him.
Everyone he loves, he disciplines, and he chastises all
whom he receives (quote from Proverbs 3:11-12).
We must endure for the sake of discipline. He is treating
us as his children. After all, good earthly fathers
discipline their children. Those who are not disciplined
are illegitimate, not true children. All the children of
God have participated in discipline.
Our earthly fathers disciplined us and we respected them.
Shall we not more readily submit to our spiritual Father
and gain eternal life? Our earthly fathers disciplined us
to suit themselves, but our heavenly Father disciplines us
for our good, so that we can share in his holiness. All
discipline seems unpleasant at the moment, but later on,
it produces a harvest of righteousness to those who have
allowed themselves to be trained by it.
Luke Paraphrase:
Jesus declared that he had come into the world to cast the
fire of judgment upon it, and he wished that the blaze had
already been kindled. Jesus knew that he had a “baptism,”
a commission from God, to fulfill, and he felt restricted
by that obligation until it was accomplished. Jesus had
come not to bring peace on earth, but division. There
would be division between members within households, and
division between the closest personal relationships: For
example, Father versus son, mother versus daughter, and
mother-in-law versus daughter-in-law.
Commentary:
The meaning and purpose of life in this world is to seek
and find God and have fellowship with him (Acts 17:26-27).
God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of
his people who willingly choose to trust and obey him.
God has designed Creation to allow for the possibility of
sin (disobedience of God's Word), so that we will have the
freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God. But God
is not willing to tolerate disobedience and rebellion
forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom, so God has
placed a time-limit on Creation and on we ourselves.
We are all born physically alive but spiritually unborn.
This lifetime is our one and only opportunity to be
spiritually “born-again” to eternal life. That is only
possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ by
the baptism of the Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives
(John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey
Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and
guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2
Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11,
15-16).
God's Word contains both great promises and ominous
warnings. Those warnings are intended to help us avoid the
consequences of disobedience of God's Word. God's
discipline is intended to help us grow to spiritual
maturity at the Day of Judgment, so that we can live in
fellowship with him in his eternal kingdom.
There is a Day of Judgment coming when Christ returns to
judge the living (“quickened”) and the dead in both the
physical and spiritual senses (1 Peter 4:5; John 5:28-28).
Everyone who has ever lived on earth will be accountable
for what each has individually done in this lifetime.
Jesus is God's one and only provision for our forgiveness
and salvation from eternal condemnation. Those who have
accepted Jesus as Lord and have trusted and obeyed Jesus
will enter eternal life in Heaven. Those who have rejected
Jesus and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus
will be condemned eternal destruction in Hell with all
evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
We can't do evil in secret. God knows everything we do.
When Christ returns, people will be fainting with fear
(Luke 21:26), and will try to hide from judgment, but
there will be nowhere to go to escape (Luke 23:30).
On the Day of Judgment it will be too late to change our
eternal destinies. No one can be certain to live tomorrow.
Today is the Day of Salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you
Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying
Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy
Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you
making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey
all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know
with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John
5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Monday 13 Pentecost - C
First
posted August 23, 2010;
Podcast: Monday 13 Pentecost - C
Psalm 117 – Praise the Lord!
“Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples” (Psalm 117:1)!
The Lord has great and steadfast love for us, and his faithfulness is
for ever. Let us praise the Lord!
Commentary:
The Lord's steadfast love and faithfulness are revealed for all to see
at the cross of Jesus Christ. God has designed a Savior, the Messiah
(Christ), into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).
We all need the Savior, because we have all sinned (disobeyed God's
Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), and the penalty for sin is eternal
death (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God's only provision for our forgiveness
and salvation (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17; Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of
Salvation, sidebar, right, home).
Throughout the Old Testament, God has been giving us a preview of the
Savior: For example, God deliberately intends for Moses to prefigure
Christ. Moses mediated the Old Covenant (Testament) of Law; Jesus
mediates the New Covenant of Grace, which is to be received by faith
(obedient trust) in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus is the New Moses who
leads us out of slavery to sin and death in the “Egypt” of this present
world order, through the “Sea” of baptism into Jesus, through the
“Wilderness” of this lifetime, led by the “Pillar of Fire” (Exodus
13:21-22), the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the "New Joshua" who leads us
through the “River” of physical death, and into the eternal “Promised
Land” in Heaven. David, the great human shepherd-king of Israel
prefigures Jesus, who is David's descendant, the “Good Shepherd” and
eternal King. There are other examples.
Jesus is God's “anointed” eternal prophet, priest and king. Messiah and
Christ each mean [God's] “anointed” in Hebrew and Greek, respectively.
God had been teaching his people that God's prophets (1 Kings 19:16; 1
Chronicles 16:22), priests (Exodus 29:29; Leviticus 4:3) and kings (1
Sam. 16:13; 2 Sam. 2:4) are to be “anointed” with oil at God's
direction.
The Holy Spirit is the “oil of gladness” with whom “born-again”
Christians are “anointed” (“baptized”). Only Jesus baptizes with the
indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and
obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee
that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22;
Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
By the baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit, born-again Christians
experience the great steadfast love and faithfulness of the Lord. As we
walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit we come to know, by personal
experience, his faithfulness.
Unfortunately, many, including his own people, who knew the Old
Testament Scriptures, did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, and did
not recognize the love and faithfulness of God in him.
God's Word is eternal and eternally true. What God says, happens! The
test of God's Word is its fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). Because it
is eternal, God's Word is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for
its fulfillment are met.
God's Word contains both precious promises and ominous warnings. We will
either know, believe and claim the promises, or we will receive the
consequences that the warnings were intended to help us avoid.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple
(John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you
received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts
19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to
obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with
certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians
1:13-14)?
Tuesday 13 Pentecost - C
First posted August 24, 2010;
Podcast: Tuesday 13 Pentecost - C
Isaiah 66:18-23 – Zion's Future Hope;
Paraphrase:
God knows the thoughts and deeds of every person. He is coming to gather
all peoples together, and they will behold his glory. He will reveal a
sign (a display of his glory and power) in their midst.
The Lord will send those who survive [God's Judgment] to Tarshish
(perhaps Carthage, a Phoenician port on the coast of Spain), Put
(Libya), and Lud (western Egypt), “who draw the bow” (warfaring nations;
Isaiah 66:19b) to Tubal (east of the Black Sea, and Javan (Greece) and
distant coastlands that have not heard of God's fame or seen his glory.
The survivors will declare God's glory to them. They will bring our
brethren (believers) from all the nations, by every form of
transportation, to the temple mount in Jerusalem, as an offering to the
Lord, just as Israelites brought cereal offerings in clean vessels to
the house of the Lord.
The Lord will take some of the Gentile believers as priests and Levites
(temple servants). In the new heaven and earth that God will create,
they will remain before him as will the name and descendants of Israel.
Month by month and sabbath by sabbath they will come and worship before
the Lord.
Commentary:
God knows the thoughts and deeds of every person, and every person will
be accountable to God. There is a Day of Judgment coming, when Christ
will return to judge the living and the dead in both physical and
spiritual senses (1 Peter 4:5; John 5:28-29). Every person will see
Christ's return (Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7).
God will send those people who have believed in (trusted and obeyed)
Jesus to testify to all people, even in the most distant lands, to bring
them to the worship of God. Gentiles will be accepted as priests and
Levites.
This prophecy began to be fulfilled first by Paul (Saul of Tarsus), the
prototype and example of a modern, post-resurrection, born-again (John
3:3, 5-8) disciple (student) and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of
Jesus Christ, as we all can and should be. Paul was the first Christian
missionary to preach the Gospel in Europe (Acts 16:11-40). Paul's
ministry was to the Gentiles (2 Timothy 1:11), because the Jews rejected
his message. I am a fulfillment of that prophecy. The Christian Church
is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Gentile priests and Levites.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple
(John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you
received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts
19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to
obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with
certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians
1:13-14)?
Wednesday 13 Pentecost - C
First
posted August 25, 2010;
Podcast: Wednesday 13 Pentecost - C
Hebrews 12:18-24 – Mt. Sinai
and Mt. Zion Contrasted;
Background:
Mt. Sinai was where Moses met face-to-face with God, and
received the Old Covenant (Testament) of Law (the Ten
Commandments). Mt. Zion is the temple mount in Jerusalem
which prefigures the heavenly temple in the City of God in
Heaven.
Text Paraphrase:
Touching Mt. Sinai was forbidden to the people of Israel,
at the penalty of death. The Lord descended in fire with
the sound of a loud trumpet. God spoke with a voice like
thunder. There was thick cloud, thunder and lightening,
like a great tempest. God's voice was so terrifying that
the people asked that God not speak to them directly
(Exodus 19:12-22; 20:18-21; Deuteronomy 4:11-12;
5:22-27). Moses was so terrified that he trembled with
fear (Deuteronomy 9:19).
Instead, believers have come to Mount Zion, and to the
City of God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to many angels in
festal gathering, “and to the assembly of the first-born
who are enrolled in heaven, and to the judge who is God of
all, and to the spirits of just (righteous in God's
judgment) people made perfect (complete; by the blood of
Jesus), and to Jesus, the mediator of a New Covenant, and
to the sprinkled blood that speaks more graciously than
the blood of Abel" (Hebrews 12:23-24).
Commentary:
Under the Old Covenant of Law, God's people were motivated
by fear of punishment. No one could keep all the Law all
the time (James 2:10), and the penalty for sin
(disobedience of God's Word is eternal death; Romans
6:23). Blood sacrifices had to be made continually for the
forgiveness of sin.
Aaron was allowed to go up Mt. Sinai with Moses part of
the way (Exodus 19:24; 24:9-11) but only Moses had a
face-to-face relationship with God. God's voice and his
descent upon Mt. Sinai were so frightening that the people
asked that God speak to Moses, who would then relay God's
Word to the people.
The Church is the New Jerusalem on earth, a foretaste of
the heavenly Mt. Zion, the City of God, the heavenly
Jerusalem.
Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant of Grace
(unmerited favor; a free gift) to be received by faith
(obedient trust) in Jesus, which he instituted on
the night of his betrayal and arrest at the Last
Supper. He shed his blood on the cross, once for all time
and people who are willing to receive it by faith, for the
forgiveness of all our sins. Abel's blood called out to
God for vengeance, but Jesus' blood pleads for our
forgiveness.
When we receive the forgiveness Jesus offers, we will want
to keep his commandments out of love and gratitude for
what he has done for us. Jesus' blood makes it possible
for us to have a personal fellowship with Jesus and God
the Father through the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only
Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who
trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is
the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has
eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14;
Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus (the Spirit of God;
note the doctrine of the Trinity; Romans 8:9). We see the
character of Jesus in the New Testament. He isn't scary
like the manifestation of God at Mt. Sinai. “Born-again”
(John 3:3, 5-8) Christians have been filled with the
indwelling Holy Spirit. He speaks to us by the still, quiet
voice of his Holy Spirit in a non-frightening way, and we
experience his love and goodness through his Holy Spirit.
He will ask us to do things we'd rather not do, but as we
respond in faith (obedient trust) we will learn from
experience that his will is good, possible for us to do,
and in our very best interest (Romans 12:2, RSV).
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you
Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying
Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy
Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you
making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey
all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know
with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John
5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Thursday 13 Pentecost - C
First
posted August 26, 2010;
Podcast: Thursday 13 Pentecost - C
Luke 13:22-30 – The End of the
Age;
Paraphrase:
Jesus was teaching as he passed through towns and villages
on his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him if only a few
would be saved. Jesus replied that we should try to enter
the narrow door, because many will try and will not be
able. When the householder shuts the door, many will stand
outside and knock, and he will deny knowing them. They
will say that they ate and drank in his presence and he
taught in their streets, but he will deny knowing them,
will call them doers of iniquity, and will tell them to
depart. Then they will weep and grind their teeth when
they see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the prophets in the
kingdom of God, and themselves cast out. People will come
from the four corners of earth and sit at the table in
God's kingdom. Watch and see: some who are last will be
first, and some who are first will be last.
Commentary:
The door is narrow that leads to eternal life. The worldly
try to suggest that there are many ways to spiritual
enlightenment, but that is not true. Jesus is the only
way, the only truth, the only means to true, eternal life
(John 14:6; Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation,
sidebar, right, home).
There are many nominal Christians in Churches today who
think they are ministering the Gospel in Jesus' name, who
Jesus will deny knowing and will call evildoers (Matthew
7:21-23). Genuine Christians are by definition disciples
of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who have been “born-again”
(John 3:3, 5-8) by the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit, which
only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who
trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The baptism of the
Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily
event (Acts 19:2). The Holy Spirit is the seal and
guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2
Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11,
15-16).
Sadly some mainline denominations are failing to make
disciples of Jesus Christ, and are actually discouraging
their members from seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit,
by teaching that spiritual rebirth is automatically
conferred by water baptism (see False Teachings, sidebar,
right, home).
The Jews were the first to hear the Gospel of Jesus
Christ, but most rejected it and him. God hasn't given up
on the Jews. There are Jews being saved today, and there
will be many Jews saved during the Great Tribulation (a
seven-year period preceding Christ's return on the Day of
Judgment; Mark 13:14-27; Matthew 24:21-30; 2 Thessalonians
2:1-12; Revelation 3:10; 7:14). There is divided opinion
as to whether the “Rapture” (“catching up;” 1
Thessalonians 4:17; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Matthew 13:30;
24:31) of the Church will occur before, in the middle of,
or after the Great Tribulation. I believe the Rapture will
be pre- or mid- trib. So some Jews, who were first will be
last, and some Gentiles, who were last, will be first.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you
Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying
Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy
Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you
making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey
all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know
with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John
5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Friday 13 Pentecost - C
First
posted August 27, 2010;
Podcast: Friday 13 Pentecost - C
Galatians 3:15-22 – The Purpose
of Law;
Paraphrase:
The Law was given to Moses to help us recognize our sin,
until the coming of the offspring (the Messiah; the
descendant of David) to those to whom the promise (2
Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29) had been given (the Jews;
God's people; the Church). Jewish tradition taught that
the Law was delivered by angels (Deuteronomy 33:2; Acts
7:38, 53) through an intermediary (Moses). The Law was a
covenant between God and mankind, through Moses as
mediator, but the promise of the Savior (Messiah; Christ)
was given directly by God's Word.
Then, is the Law contrary to the promises of God?
Definitely not! Righteousness cannot be achieved by
fulfilling the Law. God's Word condemned all things to
sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus
Christ might be given to those who believe.
Commentary:
The Law was like a “custodian,” a “nanny” (“governess;” 1
Corinthians 4:15), to restrain us until the coming of
Christ. The Law teaches us the standard of righteousness
that God requires, and demonstrates that we cannot achieve
it by our own abilities.
Angel means Spirit (Acts 12:15). God is Spirit (John
4:24).
Moses was the mediator, between God and mankind, of the
Old Covenant of Law. Jesus is the “New Moses,” the
mediator of the New Covenant of Grace (unmerited favor;
free gift) through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus. Moses
led the people of God out of sin and death in Egypt,
through the wilderness, to the Promised Land. Jesus is the
“New Moses” who leads us out of sin and death in the
“Egypt” of this world, through the spiritual wilderness of
this lifetime, to the “Promised Land” of eternal life in
God's heavenly kingdom. Jesus is the “New Joshua” (“Jesus”
is the Greek form of “Jeshua,” the post-exilic form of
“Joshua”) who leads us through the “River” of physical
death and into the eternal "Promised Land" of God's eternal
kingdom restored to paradise in Heaven.
Jesus is the institutor (Matthew 26:26-28) and mediator of
the New Covenant (Matthew 26:26-28), the “New Passover.”
Passover is the sacrificial feast that Israel celebrated
when the final plague, the deaths of the first-born of
Egypt, happened, to accomplish their release. A perfect,
unblemished lamb was sacrificed to provide the main course
of the feast, and its blood marked the Israelites to be
“passed over” by the destroying angel.
Jesus is the perfect “Lamb of God,” (John 1:36) sacrificed
on the cross, whose body provides the feast of the “Lord's
Supper" (Holy Communion; Eucharist), and whose blood marks
us to be passed over by condemnation to eternal death.
The promise of a Savior has been fulfilled, without any
requirement on our part to accept him. Those who choose to
accept him as their personal Savior and Lord receive
eternal life. Those who reject him receive eternal
condemnation and destruction in Hell; (Matthew 25:31-46, 2
Thessalonians 1:5-10).
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you
Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying
Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy
Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you
making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey
all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know
with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John
5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Saturday 13 Pentecost - C
First
posted August 28, 2010;
Podcast: Saturday 13 Pentecost - C
Luke 10:23-37 – The Good
Samaritan;
Paraphrase:
Jesus told his disciples privately that they were greatly
blessed to be seeing and hearing what others, including
kings and prophets, longed to see and hear, but weren't
able.
A lawyer stood up to test Jesus asking what he must do to
inherit eternal life. Jesus asked him what the law (the
Old Testament scriptures) said. The lawyer answered,
saying that one shall love the Lord God with all one's
heart, soul, mind, and strength, and one's neighbor as
oneself. Jesus commended the lawyer for answering
correctly, and said that if he did so he would live
[eternally].
But the lawyer wanted to justify himself, so he asked who
his neighbor was. Jesus replied that a man was going from
Jerusalem to Jericho and he was attacked by robbers who
stripped and beat him and left him half dead. A priest
crossed to the other side of the road to avoid coming into
contact with the victim, and a Levite (Temple Assistant)
did the same. But a Samaritan* had compassion for the
victim and went to him, poured oil and wine (ancient
medicines) on his wounds and bandaged them. Then he put
the victim on the Samaritan's beast and took him to an inn
where he attended to him. The next day he paid the
innkeeper two day's wages to take care of the victim and
promised to return and repay any other costs incurred.
Then Jesus asked the lawyer which of the three proved to
be the neighbor of the victim. The lawyer supposed that
the Samaritan had been the neighbor of the victim, because
he had demonstrated mercy for him. Jesus told the lawyer
to do likewise.
Commentary:
God had promised to send a Savior, the Messiah (Christ),
from the very beginning of God's Word, in Genesis 3:15,
immediately after the fall of mankind in the Garden of
Eden. Jesus has been designed into Creation from the very
beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). God knew that by giving us the
freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God's Word or
not we would all choose to do our own will, rather than
his (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). Disobedience of God's
Word is sin, and the penalty for sin is eternal death
(Romans 6:23; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, right,
home).
For thousands of years the Israelites were looking forward
to the coming Messiah, but many died physically without
having seen the fulfillment of the promise (Hebrews
11:1-40).
Christians are by definition disciples of Jesus Christ
(Acts 11:26c) who have been “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8)
by the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives
(John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey
Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and
guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2
Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11,
15-16).
In Old Testament times, only a few select individuals had
a close personal relationship with the Lord. Now, by the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus' disciples (Acts
2:1-13), we can all experience that relationship on a
daily basis. We are able to see and hear what prophets and
kings longed to experience and weren't able. Do we realize
how blessed we are?
The lawyer in this passage was an expert in the law (God's
Word). He knew the law, but mere knowledge is not
sufficient; one must apply that knowledge in daily
actions.
That's the problem in too many nominal Churches today.
They are led by people who know a lot about God, but don't
know God personally (Job 42:5-6). It takes born-again
disciples to make born-again disciples. If unregenerate
(un-born-again) leaders knew how to be born-again they
wouldn't be unregenerate! If the Church fails to make
born-again disciples, there won't be any born-again
candidates for leadership!
The spiritual leaders of the Jewish religion were trying
to remain ritually “clean” by avoiding contamination by
dead bodies. The lawyer who tested Jesus was also trying
to maintain ritual cleanness by his own efforts. In
contrast, the Samaritan, who Jews regarded as genetically
and spiritually contaminated,* was the one who obeyed
God's will.
Everyone is our neighbor; the issue is who we regard as
our neighbor.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you
Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying
Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy
Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you
making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey
all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know
with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John
5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
*Samaritans were the result of cross-breeding and spiritual assimilation with the remnant of Israel which had avoided deportation by Assyria because of poverty, weakness or ill health, and had intermarried with aliens brought in by the Assyrians to pacify conquered territories.
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