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The resurrection is at the center of this passage and is mentioned half a dozen times. It's ironic to see the Sadducees expand

The resurrection is at the center of this passage and is mentioned half a dozen times. It's ironic to see the Sadducees arrogantly arguing the things of God with the Son of God Himself! One can be thoroughly right in resurrection theology but miss the point entirely. The point of the resurrection is that God has made Jesus LORD over everything. God gives Christ all the power. From the date of His resurrection, He rules the world, and God has been placing all His enemies under Jesus' feet. This passage gives us the world's approach to resurrection and Jesus' approach to resurrection. And we learn two concrete examples for our lives today... back

This is the story about us, the story of the world – the whole creation! God owns us and we are His tenants. But expand

This is the story about us, the story of the world – the whole creation! God owns us and we are His tenants. But we have an irrational, inbuilt hostility towards the God who created us. There are three narratives in this passage that deal with ownership. We are strongly reminded in the middle story that God doesn't just say "over to us", He constantly sends reminders to us that we are tenants and He will come to collect some of the 'fruit' from us. In the third narrative, the word 'render' means give back (and not give). The fact that we bear the image of Jesus is proof that God owns us. And if we bear His image, we must give back "to God the things that are God's" – i.e. ourselves! back

This passage starts with an acted statement from Jesus Himself about His kingship, sandwiches the punishment that comes expand

This passage starts with an acted statement from Jesus Himself about His kingship, sandwiches the punishment that comes when Israel failed to pass on God's blessing to all the world, and ends with Jesus' symbolic restoration of the Gentile quarter of the temple back into a house of prayer. Jesus shows amazing compassion as He longs for the repentance of Israel and laments the catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem. As you read through next week's passage, you will see a repeat pattern of identity, judgement for unfaithful leaders, and stewardship. back

The parable of the ten minas is about faithful stewardship. God gave us gifts. When we use our gifts, we are to use expand

The parable of the ten minas is about faithful stewardship. God gave us gifts. When we use our gifts, we are to use them for His glory. He expects us to 'engage in business until He comes'. The text tells us that Jesus told this parable "because He was near to Jerusalem" (where Jesus will finish His work, and pass on His ministry to us). The story starts with the expectation that the nobleman will return, and finishes with a picture of his actual return. Verse 15 gives us a specific warning "When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business." back

This passage gives us three characteristics of a real Christian. Righteousness is a relationship word – we see expand

This passage gives us three characteristics of a real Christian. Righteousness is a relationship word – we see what it means to be right in our relationship with God. If you do not follow Jesus, you will get what you deserve. None of us deserve heaven. And how is it that Jesus can make us righteous? back

In this passage, Luke presents three examples of what it takes to receive eternal life. The first step towards eternal expand

In this passage, Luke presents three examples of what it takes to receive eternal life. The first step towards eternal life is to acknowledge our brokenness, our need to be saved. Secondly, Jesus tells us that we are to receive the kingdom of God just like an infant would, trusting in Jesus without questioning. Then, we must choose rightly on an on-going basis to follow Jesus. Just as Jesus gave us His life so that we may receive eternal life as a free gift, we too, must give Him our lives no matter what the cost. But if we do not follow Jesus, we will get what we deserve... back

Jesus tells His disciples about a moment in the day when He returns. We're told that it will be unexpected. Reflect expand

Jesus tells His disciples about a moment in the day when He returns. We're told that it will be unexpected. Reflect on the gravity of that moment: those who are not reconciled with Jesus will be left behind, lost, without hope. This passage gives us five things to focus on... back

This passage follows Jesus teaching graphically about hell. The structure of the passage is (1) don't cause offense expand

This passage follows Jesus teaching graphically about hell. The structure of the passage is (1) don't cause offense (2) don't take offense (3) that's impossible, give us faith (4) shocking truth. The words "to offend" means to cause to stumble, and Luke only uses this word three times. We are not to try to make Jesus gentle and pallatable, so that He's more popular. If we do that, we will stop people from following Jesus and cause them to stumble... back

This is a red hot reversal. Although it feels like a parable, we're not told it is a parable. As Jesus deals with expand

This is a red hot reversal. Although it feels like a parable, we're not told it is a parable. As Jesus deals with heaven and hell, He is not dealing with literary devices, He is speaking about ultimate reality. The poor man has nothing, but he has a name in this passage and he is known to God. The rich man has no name. We're told of three idols that the rich man has but none of his idols can help him in hell. The point of this life is not how much money you make, but that you have Jesus Christ, that you know Him personally, that you truly listen to His word, that you do more than just hear a sermon occasionally, that you've taken the warnings of judgement personally, that you've taken the death and resurrection to yourself personally, and that you know the joy of repentance. There is a time for repentance, and it is today... back

In v15, we see the clearest declaration of reversal in Luke. Jesus used the word "abomination", i.e. taking expand

In v15, we see the clearest declaration of reversal in Luke. Jesus used the word "abomination", i.e. taking what is beautiful and making it ugly. The Bible talks about idolatry as inward, not outward. And very often we are not aware of it. Idols are the things that drive our anxiety, and drive what we do. My idols justify me because they are things I have to have. All of us have something that we've exalted, something that we have to have. Something that is far more important to us than Jesus Christ. In the resurrection of Jesus, God takes all of our idols and ploughs them into the grave. That's when a complete reversal happens. That's when God rights everything... back

Jesus speaks about money more often than we know. In fact, He speaks about it on average in one out of every seven verses expand

Jesus speaks about money more often than we know. In fact, He speaks about it on average in one out of every seven verses. There are two points we can learn from the parable of the dishonest servant. The first is the best place to put your money. There is a way to take our money and use it for something that will last forever. But there's no mention about amounts. Jesus is not talking about digging deep. All He's talking about is being shrewd. This is far more than giving to the poor. Jesus is offering a way to make an eternal difference with our money... back

Notice the word 'parable' is singular in v3. This is a series of parables which is one big parable. What stands expand

Notice the word 'parable' is singular in v3. This is a series of parables which is one big parable. What stands out in the third parable is in v18 "he came to himself" – the younger son came face-to-face with reality, with the state of his sin and hopelessness. He demonstrated four characteristics of repentance: (1) recognizing the actual state of our sin (2) confessing and renouncing it (3) change (4) submitting to be a servant of God... back

Why do we need to look at the Bible ourselves? Don't rely on anyone to tell you what it is. You must learn it expand

Why do we need to look at the Bible ourselves? Don't rely on anyone to tell you what it is. You must learn it yourself. Our political correctness rules today are like the Pharisees' in their day. It's a set of rules made without following God's laws. And if you reduce it all into one thing, it would be "it's all about me". But Jesus says that the main thing about following God is that "it is not about you". He's the Divine Master that has come to invite us to follow Him and be His disciples now. What excuse can you possibly give not to follow Jesus now? What possible reason have you that you still do not make Jesus your 'main thing'? back