Luke

Unclean No Longer

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And it came to pass, as He went to Jerusalem, that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.  And as He entered into a certain village, there met Him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: and they lifted up their voices, and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”  And when He saw them, He said unto them,
“Go shew yourselves unto the priests.”
And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.  And Jesus answering said,
“Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.”
And He said unto him,
“Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
Luke 17:11-19

The miracles of Jesus were done by Him as evidence and proof of who He is.  According to the prophet Isaiah 61:1-5 He was sent to preach good tidings to the poor, to heal the broken hearted, to set captives free, and to set prisoners free,  and to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.  It is at that point where Jesus stopped as He was reading Isaiah 61 in the said in the synagogue in Galilee.

When John the Baptist was in prison, he needed some assurance that  Jesus was indeed the Messiah, so he sent some of his disciples to Jesus and asked Him, “Are You the Messiah (Christ), or do I need to look elsewhere?”  Jesus answered by telling them that they had witnessed the miracle which He did, and that proved true to the Scriptures which teach of the Messiah.

Nine Lepers come to Jesus, they are in rags for clothing, they have a horrid stench about them.  No one wants to be near them, but they call on Jesus for healing, and before  they are healed, Jesus tells them to go perform the word of God’s direction for a healed leper, and as they go they are healed.  One of the men who had been a leper returns to Jesus, and praises and worships Him, and he is a Samaritan; a people group who are despised people to the people of Judah.

Jesus says to this lone former leper,  “Arise, go your way: your faith has made you whole.”

No matter how unclean, or unworthy you feel about receiving forgiveness Jesus has paid our sin debt.  If you see yourself as an unclean individual, Jesus will hear your cry for salvation.  If you are one who feels unworthy of God’s love, mercy and grace it is for you that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again.

Being A Disciple Of Jesus Christ

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And there went great multitudes with Him: and He turned, and said unto them,
“If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,  saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’  Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?  Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.”
Luke 14:25-33

Jesus left a place of wealth, glory, and power to come earth to become a lowly human baby.  To then grow into the Man who would give His life a sacrifice to pay our sin debt to God.

Since He did that for us then, we ought to give ourselves to Him, and be His disciple. There is something we must do to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, and that is surrender our wills to doing  His will.  Comparing our love for Jesus  Christ to our love for family should seem like hatred for family; we love Jesus so much, we lead our family to the saving grace  of God through faith in Him, and even being willing to die for Christ. Even to the point of watching a child die for the name of Christ because you will not deny or betray Him.

As I read  the text, and what I have written above I  am  writing to myself and asking myself the question;  Is there anything that I love more than Jesus?   Nothing comes to mind.

 

Building Barns

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And He spake a parable unto them, saying,
“The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:  and he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?’  And he said, ‘This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.’  But God said unto him, ‘Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:’ then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

Barns are built for the purpose of the storage of grain, hay for the cattle that is hauled in out of the field during the summer months, and they can be built as protection for their from the weather for their farm equipment.  Then there are milk barns where the Dairy farmer milks his milk cows.  There is nothing wrong with the building of barns.

Before the above verses Jesus has been asked by a brother of another to talk the other one to divide their inheritance.  Jesus uses the opportunity to teach us of covetousness.  Covetousness is wanting more and more of a thing, and when in receipt if one item desires another, then another; never content, neither do they thank God for the blessing.

The farmer in Jesus’s parable was so caught up in his wealth he had not considered that God was the giver of life, and he takes life.  He was laying up treasure  for his retirement years, thinking that he could have a life of comfort and ease without God.

We cannot continue living without God, and His Son Jesus Christ.  Do you not realize that every breath we breathe, every beat of your heart, and every step we are able to take comes from the Lord.

You can trust God with your when you surrender to do His will and follow Him.  Jesus Christ died on the cross, He was buried, and He rose again the third day so that we might come to God.  Trust Him and call on His name.  He will hear you, and give you eternal life, cleansing you  of every sin.

The Least Among Us

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Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.  And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by Him, and said unto them,
“Whosoever shall receive this child in My name receiveth Me: and whosoever shall receive Me receiveth Him that sent Me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.”
Luke 9:46-48

There were some of the disciples who thought Jesus was going to set  up His kingdom on earth.  In verses preceding our text today, tells us that Jesus had told them once again that He was going to die at the hands of men.  They refused to hear it, not understanding what He was saying.  How could these men miss what Jesus told them several times?

They had preconceived ideas about the Messiah.  The death of Messiah was unthinkable to these men.  Because of the way they believed about Jesus, and thinking Jesus was there to set  up the Messianic kingdom, they were asking where they were going to sit in that kingdom, seeking for greatness.

Jesus takes a young child and sets him by Himself, and explains who the greatest will be.  The child was young, and still trusting, and humble before  God and others  too.  He was not seeking for greatness.

Anyone desiring to be great will be last; and he that is last shall be first.  To be saved from our sins we must humble ourselves before  Christ seeking Him and a cleansed life.  Trust  in the Lord, believe Him.

The Fruit of the Heart

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“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?  Either how canst thou say to thy brother, ‘Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye,’ when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.
For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
Luke 6:41-45

What is in your heart?  Is there an abundance of evil?  Is there an abundance of good.  If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ you still have a propensity toward sin and evil.

When you surrender your heart, soul, mind and body to the Lord Jesus your life desires will change, and you will have an abundance of good fruit.

Your choice.

The First Prophet In Five Hundred Years

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Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  And the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”  He answereth and saith unto them, “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.”  Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, “Master, what shall we do?”  And he said unto them, “Exact no more than that which is appointed you.”  And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, “And what shall we do?” And he said unto them, “Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”   And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;  John answered, saying unto them all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: whose fan is in His hand, and He will throughly purge His floor, and will gather the wheat into His garner; but the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable.”  And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.
Luke 3:7-18

It had been around 500 years since God’s Spirit had moved among the people of Israel, raising up a prophet to the people. It was not until Gabriel came to Zacharias and told him he was  going to have a son, and his name was John, the forerunner of the Christ, who was coming.

Now when John is a young man and he is in the wilderness wearing camel skin clothing, and eating grasshoppers; and preaching of the One who was on the way.  Jesus, later tells the disciples that the Baptist – as John was called – was the greatest  of the  prophets.

This greatest of the prophets felt himself to be unworthy to even loose the latches of His shoes.

We are blessed people today.  The Christian who has been born again by the work of the Holy Spirit has God living  in them.  We have the Holy Spirit who is Jesus Christ in us.  The Spirit of God in us is like a down payment that will be completed when Jesus comes again.

God, our Father cares for us daily, and never forsakes us.  The only hope for a wicked world is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  begin a personal relationship with  Him today, by calling on His name, the name of Jesus.

The Mountain Experience

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And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.  And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistering.  And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.  But Peter and they that were with Him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw His glory, and the two men that stood with Him.  And it came to pass, as they departed from Him, Peter said unto Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias:” not knowing what he said.  While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.  And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son: hear Him.  And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
Luke 9:28-36

The Words of a Father for His Son

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And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David; as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began: that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant; the oath which He sware to our father Abraham, that He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.
“And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 1:67-79

Till All Be Fulfilled

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Jesus has just answered questions concern matters of the future.  Some of the events he mentions in those verses (Luke 21:20-28) have been fulfilled, some have not yet occurred .  The verses I share  here today have not yet come to pass, but they will, and I can say that because of verse 33.

And he spake to them a parable;
“Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.  So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass away.
Luke 21:29-33

Having spoken with the disciples of these things concerning future events ignites even further search and questions.  Here are some of the things that Jesus says will take place in the last days (Luke 21:25-28):

  1.   Signs in the sun, moon, and stars;
  2.  Upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity (Confusion);
  3.  With the sea waves roaring;
  4.  Men’s hearts failing them because they are afraid;
  5.  Scared to death, because they see the signs in the heavens yet will not believe God.

Then Jesus gives us the parable and tells us of the fig tree, and all the trees, that when they begin to leaf out we can know that summer is near.  So when those signs begin to come to pass, then, we can know that the kingdom of God is near at hand.  When these things begin to come to pass, that generation of people shall not pass until all are fulfilled.

The Jesus gives us His word that , “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” Every word that has come to us from the Father and the Son, and Holy Spirit will come to pass just as He has promised.

Jesus is coming soon,  and He is coming to judge the earth, and everyone who is still here.

Hear the words of Jeremiah, “Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know”  (Jeremiah 33:3).  Until He comes you have the chance to repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  This is no time to wait.

 

Justification Comes From God Alone

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.And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided Him.  And He said unto them,
“Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.  The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.  And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.”
Luke 16:14-17

Jesus is rebuking those Pharisees who at about every point Jesus made  to them they excused themselves, justifying their actions, seeing themselves as better than any of the people they were supposed to be ministers to.  What is looked on highly among man is an abomination to God.

Being sure that one is in the kingdom of God is an urgent,  even a pressing need for all who will come.

Jesus said,  “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass than one tittle of the law to fail.” One tittle of the law is a Hebrew letter the smallest of the Law of God, and Jesus tells us basically, that we can be sure and secure that all His word is truth, and will come to pass.

Be Alert, Watch

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“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.  Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.  and if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.”
“Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”
Luke 12:35-40

How does one  “Be ready” when it comes to the second coming of Jesus  Christ?  While we are waiting for that day we must devote ourselves to Him, being diligent to pray, read and study His word.

Best of all we must have Christ as our Lord and Savior.  That comes when you get to the place that you recognize Him as One who gave His life to redeem you from your sin,  then, you confess Him as Lord, and believe that God has raised Him from the grave.

Be saved today, and that is the beginning of being ready, being alert, and watching your life for Jesus.

Rejecting Jesus Christ, and His Work, and Words Has Eternal Consequences

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“But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,  ‘Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.’  But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.”
“Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.  But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.  And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
“He that heareth you heareth Me; and he that despiseth you despiseth Me; and he that despiseth Me despiseth Him that sent Me.”
Luke 10:10-16

These are the words of Jesus Christ.  Every one who is in need needs Jesus.  Every one needs to receive His words, believing His words, and trusting Him for eternal salvation.  We are all sinners.  Jesus came into the world to deliver us from our condemnation.

These words were spoken by Jesus to the seventy He sent out to all Judea, telling them of their responsibility if they are rejected; and also the destination of any city, nation, or people that rejected the word of the gospel.

Jesus goes on to say “He that hears you, hears Me; “ and “He that despises you despises Me.”  He went on and added this, “He that despises Me despises Him who sent Me.”

Will you call on Him for salvation and deliverance from your condemnation?

How To Behave With Your Enemies; This is for Christians Only

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Jesus tells up how to be a Christian, and He tells us how to treat those who may not like us and mistreat us:::

“And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? For sinners also do even the same.  And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.  But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”
“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”
Luke 6:33-36

The Law, The Prophets, and The Kingdom

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And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided Him.  And He said unto them,
“Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.  The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.  And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
Luke 16:14-17

Jesus has just told the Pharisees that you cannot serve two masters. You cannot serve God and mammon, that is be a servant to God and material things such as money.  Money is a big issue.  We need it to live, but we can be ruled by our wealth, rather than have rule of our money.  They did not like what Jesus said.  Does that surprise me?  Not at all.  They have not liked Him or anything He has said.  Their hatred for Him is clearly visible for all too see.

The Pharisees justified themselves in many ways.  One way was in taking money that was supposed to be used for their parents, and they call it for use in the temple (Mark 7:11).  They are probably holding it for themselves.  God knew their hearts, and He knows yours, and my hearts as well.  What we may value very much might just be an abomination in the eyes of God.

John the Baptist was the last of the Old Testament prophets; and the Law and the Prophets were until him.  Since Jesus has began His ministry on earth the kingdom of God is here,  and it will not pass  away.

In Jesus we have the assurance of being in the kingdom.  It is assured for us by the words of Jesus, “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than for one tittle of the Law to fail.”  If it has been written in the Law and the Prophets, it shall be done.   That includes our salvation by grace through faith.

A Tree For Each Of The Three

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And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying, “If Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us.”  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, “Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this Man hath done nothing amiss.”  And he said unto Jesus, “Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.”  And Jesus said unto him, “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.”
Luke 23:39-43

Each of these three were hanging on their own cross, and each cross was made from the wood of a tree.  The man on the right of Jesus was guilty. The on the left of Jesus was guilty, but Jesus the Man in the middle not only innocent of the charges brought against Him, He was innocent in all His living. He never sinned.

It is evident that the Man in the middle was an innocent Man. How?  You may ask. He never, while being nailed to the tree cursed those who had accused Him, neither did He speak vile words to those who nailed His hands and feet to that tree.  Instead He said, “Father forgive them they know not what they do” Luke 23:34.  Another example is in our text for the day. One of the condemned men, who had previously mocked Jesus on the cross, had realized that He [Jesus] was not a sinner, but the Savior.  Now, he is calling on Him to save Him; not from the cross but for the kingdom’s sake, he said, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom,.” How do you suppose he expected Jesus to do this since He was hanging on a tree? He recognized Jesus as the Messiah.

The response of the Man on the middle cross was given, and it was one of forgiveness. You could call the mans salvation, “A death bed confession and faith” because that is what it is.  Was that guilty man saved? Will he be in glory with the Lord Jesus Christ?  Most definitely He will. How do I know that?  Because of the  words of Jesus, the Man on the middle cross said to him, “Truly I say unto you, Today, you will be with Me in paradise.” That very day Jesus and that man went to paradise together.

One guilty man wanted Jesus to deliver them from the cross, one asked to be remembered in the kingdom that is coming, and one Man gave salvation to the who asked. It should have been me dying on that old cross, not Jesus the innocent One, who knew no sin. It should have been you who was hanged there, but just as Jesus took murderer, and insurrection leader’s place He took my place and yours.

Two men hanging on a tree on opposite sides of Jesus; one died in peace, knowing his eternal destination, the other died with darkness, and empty expectations, and is in eternal darkness, and burning flames. What made the difference?  The One on the tree in the middle.  His name is Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. Yes He died on that tree for our sins. He was buried. He rose again and He lives eternally in a new body of flesh and bone (Luke 24:39).

Those Who Sit Down In The Kingdom of God

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And He said unto them,
“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.  When once the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open unto us;’ and He shall answer and say unto you, ‘I know you not whence ye are:’ then shall ye begin to say, ‘We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets,’ but He shall say, ‘I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity.  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.  And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.  And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
Luke 13:24-30

There are many who are seeking to enter the kingdom of God, however they are wanting to enter in their own way, by their merit, by their own works, goodness, kindness or mercy; and God has given us only one way into His kingdom.

That one way is God’s way. If your sin debt is not paid there is but one thing you need to do, and it is not doing good deeds. We cannot earn a spot in the kingdom of God it is a gift of God. Your sin debt was paid for by the Perfect Lamb of God who is Jesus Christ, so He is the only way to God and into the kingdom.

People from all over the world – from the east, the west, north and south will come and sit down in the kingdom of God. Will you be one of them?

Put your trust and your life into the hands of the Christ who gave His life a sacrifice for our sins, dying on a cross, then being buried, and was raised up from the grave. Because He lives we live to receiving eternal life with Him in His glory.

 

Religious Without Jesus

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And the Lord said unto him, “Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.  Ye fools, did not He that made that which is without make that which is within also? But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.  Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.”
Luke 11:39-44

Religious folks always present a good outward appearance, mostly by using religious terminology of their own making; but on the inside are full of wickedness, and all kinds of evil.

God made both the outside and the insides of every one of us. Both are important. The Pharisees were really strict  on outward matters, working on appearances, maybe trying to change the heart and mind from the outside to the inside. Religion wants to be seen by men. That is certainly the way of most Pharisees. Those words spoken by Jesus in verses 39-44 began after host, who was a Pharisee, questioned Jesus about why He did not wash before eating. It was more a ceremonial thing. They had their traditions to keep. May God help you if you do not keep them, was the Pharisee mindset.

Jesus is the only One who can change the heart and mind. There are many who are religious, but without Jesus. Many of these people go to church worship services faithfully, and say they are alright with God, yet there has been no changing in their hearts and minds. They know about Jesus, but they know not Jesus.

Jesus recognized the Pharisees principles of tithing, but they did not practice the godly acts of a fair, just, and equitable judgment, and the love of God. It is written,  ” If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. ”  James 1:26-27

Religion without Jesus is bondage to rules, laws, and traditions. Those who trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior, are free from sin, death, and hell; we are free to worship God as much as we choose, we have the freedom to live a righteous life to glorify the name of our great God and Savior. We have freedom to live for Him, and to share Him with others who need Him.

He died on the cross for our sins, becoming sin for us, smitten by the Father in His wrath, dying and buried, and rising from the grave the third day, conquering sin, death, and the grave. You can call on His name and be saved unto eternal life.

A Man With A Promise

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The man had been promised by the Spirit of God that he would see the Messiah of God before he would die. When Jesus came into the temple, carried by His mother, at the age of 8 days; and for His naming, and circumcision; the Holy Spirit revealed to him that the Messiah was in the temple. Simeon was the man who had waited for many years, believing God’s promise to him that he would not die until he would see Him come.

Simeon, then spoke these words –

Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Luke 2:29-32

It was about four hundred years since God had spoken, as far as can be told. God had come visiting. Now how would the people respond?

The promises of God are for real. Simeon had received one, and God did not fail to come true.

We have received promise from God as well through His Son, whom Simeon waited for; and it this same Jesus for whom we also waiting to come back, and take us home with Him. Just as the promise was kept by the Lord GOD for His first coming, so will He keep the promise, His promise, “I will come again, and I will receive you unto Myself…”(John 14:3). We must hang on to that promise, and live for Him as if  He was coming today.

Let those of us who are in Christ Jesus, and He in us live in the promise, trusting His word. His word is good. You can stand on it.

By trusting the promise of eternal  life for all who will call on the name of Jesus who died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again, just as He said; one day He will come and receive us into His glory.

All Things Fulfilled

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And He said unto them,
“These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me.”
Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them,
“Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
Luke 24:44-49

To Stand Before The Son of Man

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“…And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34-36

You Be Ready

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“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
“Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”
Luke 12:35-40

Out of the Law, and Out of the Prophets

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And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.  And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.  And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, “Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, saying,
‘Go unto this people, and say, ‘Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.’
“Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.”
Acts 28:23-28

Preaching Jesus The Messiah

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Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: and Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.  And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
Acts 17:1-4

Filled With Joy, and the Holy Spirit

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Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.  For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, ‘I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.’ ”  And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.  And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.  But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.  But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.  And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
Acts 13:46-52

…A great number believed, and turned to the Lord

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Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.  And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.  And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.  Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.  For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Acts 11:19-26