“One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice” (Luke 17:15). This is one of many “kingdom” events recorded by Luke. Previously the readers of Luke’s Gospel have witnessed the power of touch (Luke 5:13); presence (Luke 8:44, 45); word (Matthew 8:8). The key to understanding Luke’s … [Read more…]
”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 17:10). The opening words of Jesus in our portion of Scripture offer an insight into the reality of life: there are things, which cause people to stumble. The Greek … [Read more…]
”And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us” (Luke 16:26). Worldly wealth and resources for living are a gift from God, to be sure. They are given … [Read more…]
“He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight” (Luke 16:15). We reach this portion of Luke’s gospel coming from the parable of the dishonest manager (Luke 16:1-13). Jesus used the negative … [Read more…]
“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 16:13). A firm foundation defines the safe boundaries that will contain the building. The “firm foundation” on which to … [Read more…]
“My son,’ the father said, `you are always with me, and everything I have is yours” (Luke 15:31). Before attempting to understand Luke’s chapter 15 with its three parables, we need to “set our feet on a firm foundation”. Generally speaking, a firm foundation is designed to support whatever is being built on it. A … [Read more…]
A few years ago, I found myself turning the whole house inside out looking for something that was very valuable to me … my wedding ring. I remember quite vividly the panic that gripped every fibre of my being. Not because of its monetary value but rather what the ring represented. The gold value was … [Read more…]
“The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment” (Luke 23:55). We have considered the goodness of that tragic day when … [Read more…]
“Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna! ” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11:10). “No Kings – a movement peacefully mobilizing millions of people to take to the streets and declare with … [Read more…]
“When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” (John 11:1-4). Bethany seems to have been a special place (village) for our Lord. Here are some facts: its name means “house of dates” – remember Bethlehem? … [Read more…]