Luke 21:5-9

Luke 21:5-9

And while some say regarding the temple, that it has been arranged by good stones and by dedicated things, He said, “These things that you all watch with your eyes – a day will come in which a stone will not be set away upon a stone which will not be overthrown.”  And they interrogated him while saying, “Teacher, therefore when will these things be and what is the sign when these things should be about to become?”  And the one said, “See that you should not be led astray.  For many will come upon my name while saying, ‘I am’ and ‘The time has approached.’  Do not walk behind them.  And when you all should hear about wars and tumults, do not be terrified.  For it is necessary for these things to become first.  But it is not immediately the end.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Once more we see Jesus take advantage of the surroundings.  His disciples are amazed at the temple around them.  They are amazed at the massive stones built upon one another.  It was an incredible structure to behold!  Jesus notices their attention and He seizes the opportunity.  This is a great opportunity to take their amazement at the apparent indestructability of this temple area and talk about a time when it wouldn’t even exist anymore.

Are you amazed at Jesus’ ability to take His surroundings and teach about God?  Are you surprised at Jesus’ sense of opportunity?  How good are you at being able to look around you and see something that you can use to teach people about God?

Second Thought:

The disciples are curious.  They inquire from Jesus about that which they do not know.  There are two really good dynamics to this thought.  First of all, they are curious.  They want to know.  They are thinking on a deeper level and coming up with questions for which they do not know the answers.  As for the second dynamic, it tells us much about their relationship with Jesus.  They trust Jesus.  They are willing to humbly submit to their teaching.  They believe in Jesus’ ability to give them answers.  They have confidence in Jesus.  This is what discipleship is all about.  Curiosity and trust working together to develop a person into closer relationship with the Lord.

Are you curious about anything in the spiritual world?  Where have you learned that you can place your trust?  Who has shown that they will place their trust in you?

Third Thought:

When we start reading passages like this, where we hear about the days of judgment and days of the Lord, we need to make sure that we read Jesus’ actual words rather than the words that we want to hear.  Jesus is clear to tell us that we will hear rumors of war and turmoil.  We shouldn’t be deceived.  This is just the beginning of the end.  The end is coming.  It is always coming.  But just because we hear about people being violent against other people we should not leap to the conclusion that the end is imminent.  What Jesus is really telling us is that we need to remain calm in moments of turmoil.  We need to keep ourselves under check.  We need to continue to be rational when the world is falling apart around us.  Jesus is concerned that we will be led astray because of our curiosity.

How easy is it for you to not get caught up in the hype around you?  Why do we want to get sucked into the hype and believe that the return of the Lord and the days of judgment are right around the corner?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 21:10-13

Luke 21:1-4

Luke 21:1-4

And after looking up he saw the ones who throw their wealthy gifts into the treasury.  And he saw some poor widow while throwing two thin things there.  And he said, “Truly I say to you all that this poor widow threw much more than all.  For all these threw out of the things that are excess to them into the gifts.  But this one threw out of her poverty – all the life that she was having.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Once more we see Jesus look around to use His context to teach.  Here is a master teacher at work.  Jesus can take a poor widow and turn it into a life-lesson.  Jesus can overlook people and turn that into a life-lesson, too.

Who are the master teachers in your life?  In what ways do they help you see the imitation of Christ?  How can you learn to be a master teacher?

Second Thought:

Jesus isn’t impressed by the big gifts of the wealthy.  Their incredible generosity is next to nothing to Him.  They don’t become His test-case scenario.  They don’t become His model example to be lifted up for teaching.  Their big gifts don’t involve sacrifice.  Their big gifts don’t look like Christ.  Jesus didn’t come to give what was comfortable.  He didn’t come to give until it might hurt.  Jesus came to give His whole life.  He is looking for people who can model this behavior as well.

Are you impressed by quantity?  How is this story truly about quality instead of quantity?  Do you feel that the world is impressed by quantity instead of quality?  Why?

Third Thought:

The woman gave all that she had.  It isn’t how much she threw; it is what she threw.  Jesus isn’t looking for followers who are willing to give a part of their life.  He isn’t looking for people who will find time to put God’s ways on when it is convenient.  Jesus is looking for disciples who are willing to sacrifice the whole life.  He wants people who are willing to go full in.  He is looking for people who, like Him, are willing to sacrifice everything in their pursuit of accomplishing God’s calling.  That’s what this woman represents to Jesus.

Are you willing to give it all?  What does that look like to you?  Do you have limits to your natural sacrificial self that cause you to pause and struggle to exceed?  How might you overcome such barriers?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 21:5-9

Luke 20:45-47

Luke 20:45-47

And while all the people heard he said to his disciples, “Give heed to the scribes – the ones who desire to walk around in long robes, who love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the seats of honor in the dinners.  They devour the houses of the widows and they pray long prayers hidden in pretext.  These ones will take an extraordinary judgment.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jesus warns us about desiring to show off in front of other people.  Jesus speaks about the scribes, who desire to walk around in long – or fancy and expensive – robes.  Jesus warns us about the religious leaders who desire to sit in places of honor so they can be seen by other people.  Jesus’ disciples are not supposed to be seeking their own glory and their fame.  Jesus’ disciples are to be seeking the honor and glory of God!  How we act in front of other people truly shows what we worship.  If we walk humbly before God, we show that He is our God.  If we walk arrogantly while drawing attention to our own glory, we are showing that our God is really ourselves.

Why do you think Jesus warns us against demonstrations of our own glory in front of other people?  What is the danger to ourselves when other people consider us to be great?

Second Thought:

Jesus also warns us about flattery.  He cautions us against getting the best seats.  He warns us about receiving profound greetings.  When we look for things such as this, we create an appetite for it.  Suddenly we find ourselves behaving in certain ways to please other people so that we are complemented and praised.  Not too long after that we often find ourselves caring more about pleasing other people than pleasing God.  The danger with flattery is that we can so easily fall in love with the praise that we forget about being in love with God.

Do you like being praised?  Why is it important to be praised from time to time?  How do you know when you are in danger of being praised too much so that you start caring more about the praise and attention than you care about God?

Third Thought:

What is the wage for oppressing others and taking more than you are due?  Extraordinary judgment.  Take this to heart.  When we live outside of our means and infringe upon others – especially those who cannot afford to be infringed upon – we will get what we deserve in eternal life.  Do you remember Jesus’ story about Lazarus and the rich man?  In that story, Abraham is very clear that the rich man has gotten his reward by living a life of comfort while Lazarus has lived a life of begging and rejection.  Jesus’ message is consistent all the way through.  Life is not about living in luxury and getting all that we can here and now.  Life is about living in our means and caring for people like orphans and widows who need someone to help them.

Where do you live outside your means?  Where do you infringe upon others?  Where is your life made easy by the hard work of others, others who may not be able to share in your luxury?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 21:1-4

Luke 20:41-44

Luke 20:41-44

And he said to them, “How do they say that the Christ is to be the son of David?  For David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my lord, sit at my right hand until I should put your enemies as a footstool of your feet.’  Therefore, David calls him lord.  And how is he his son?”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Taking the opportunity to teach the people, Jesus poses His own question.  There is really a neat dynamic at play.  Remember that the Pharisees and Sadducees had each posed a question to Him.  Now it is Jesus’ turn to pose His own question. It is only fair play.  However, notice that while the Pharisees and Sadducees asked their questions about the right way to live, Jesus’ question takes the people back to the Word of God.  The Pharisees and the Sadducees are looking to be right.  Jesus is looking to draw people into the Word of God.

How does a good teacher draw you into God’s Word?  Have you ever known a teacher that was more interested in their own teaching and glory than in God’s Word?

Second Thought:

As we look at Jesus’ question, what we can see is that Jesus wants us to focus on what the Bible tells us about the Son of God.  First, we know that He will be human.  He will be a son of David.  He will be flesh and bone.  This is not anything that would have surprised His listeners.  They were waiting for God’s Messiah to come and free them from the oppression of the Romans.  This opening comment from Jesus would have affirmed that Jesus was about to teach what they already knew and believed.

Why is it important that God’s Messiah was flesh and bone?  When you think about God’s plan, are you surprised that He would come to live and dwell among us?

Third Thought:

However, Jesus quickly points to the other side of the identity of the Messiah.  Jesus reminds us that David calls the Messiah Lord.  In other words, the Messiah is more than flesh and bone.  The Messiah is Lord.  How is it that Jesus can be both a flesh and bone person and also a Lord?  The only way that this can happen is if He is both fully human and fully divine.

Do you understand the fact that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine?  Why is this important to try to understand?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 20:45-47

Luke 20:34-40

Luke 20:34-40

And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this era marry and are being given in marriage.  And the ones who are being considered worthy to obtain that era and the resurrection out of the dead neither marry nor are being given in marriage.  For they are not powerful enough to die: for they are similar to angels, they are sons of God, while being sons of the resurrection.  And regarding the dead being raised, even Moses showed by the bush as he says, ‘the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’  And God is not among the dead but living.  For all live by him.”  Answering, some of the scribes said, “Teacher, you spoke well.”  For no longer were they making up their mind to interrogate him about anything.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jesus handles the Sadducees on many levels.  On the first level, Jesus talks about marriage.  He puts marriage in perspective.  Marriage is a thing of this world.  It’s not a bad thing mind you.  Jesus doesn’t say that we should not get married.  However, it is a thing of this world.  He does say that in the era to come there will not be any marriage.  There isn’t really any point to marriage in heaven.  After all, we will dwell with God.  We will be in the presence of God.  The Father will be our primary focus, not some other human being.  To be concerned about marriage in the eternal demonstrates that we don’t really understand what eternal life will be about or even be like.  Jesus is teaching us how little we understand and how easy it is for all of us to let what we don’t understand blind our perspective.

Do you ever get the wrong perspective because of a lack of understanding?  How often are you concerned about marriage in the afterlife?  Why is it easy for us to think about such a thing?  How does it show a human understanding of the eternal?

Second Thought:

Notice that Jesus teaches about more than marriage.  Jesus knows the hearts and the teaching of the Sadducees.  He knows that they do not believe in the resurrection at all.  This is the far more troubling issue for Jesus.  You will notice that when Jesus challenges the Sadducees on this topic that He brings scripture into the mix.  Jesus reminds them that when Moses is at the burning bush, God is spoken of as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  These are people who were dead hundreds of years prior to Moses.  If there was no resurrection, then what importance would they have?  But if there is a resurrection, then God can indeed be the God of people who are known to have died hundreds of years prior.

Why is it important to you that the resurrection be a real concept, something in our future to which we can look forward?  What does it say to us that Jesus seems to be more concerned that the Sadducees learn God’s truth about the resurrection than to have the right perspective on marriage?

Third Thought:

Jesus’ words convince many to leave Him alone.  However, don’t think that this means Jesus swayed their opinion.  While we can say that He won from a divine perspective, we cannot conclude that Jesus won from a human perspective.  Remember that the religious leaders still plot against Him in order to kill Him.  The Sadducees simply realize that it is futile to talk to Him because Jesus will not capitulate.  They decide to leave Him and not draw this out any further.  Certainly Jesus impresses some of them.  Certainly some genuinely believe that Jesus’ teaching is powerful.  But the reality is that Jesus is still crucified according to God’s plan and under the full will of His enemies.

Have you ever confused being left alone with winning?  Why is it important at this moment to understand that winning is not really as important as God’s will being done?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 20:41-44

Luke 20:27-33

Luke 20:27-33

And after some of the Sadducees – the ones who say antagonistically that the resurrection is not to be – interrogated him while saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if the brother of someone should die while having a woman – and this one should be childless –that the brother should take his woman and he should raise up a seed to his brother.  Therefore, there were seven brothers.  And after the first takes a woman he died childless. And the second and the third took her.  And similarly also the seven did not leave behind children and they died.  And subsequently the woman died.  Therefore, the woman – in the resurrection – to which of them does the woman become?  For the seven had her as woman.” 

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Here comes another trap.  We can tell that Luke wants us to read this passage as a trap because he goes out of his way to make sure we understand that the Sadducees teach that the resurrection is not a real thing.  Yet, they come and ask a question about the resurrection!  Luke’s point is clear.  People are not above hypocrisy when they want to be the victor.  People will go to all kinds of lengths, especially saying something to seem as though they believe the opposite of what they actually believe.

When have you had to deal with the hypocrisy of others?  Have you ever had someone assert something just to get you to respond, only to find out that they actually believed the opposite of their own assertion?  Why will people do this?

Second Thought:

Furthermore, look at the fact that the Sadducees try to use God’s Word in their ploy.  They bring up the Law in their attempt to trick Jesus.  Now, there are plenty of ways that the Law can be used.  It is absolutely possible that the Law can be used as a means for us to understand a historical society.  The law can be used to teach us how to behave.  The Law can be used to expose our own sinfulness.  The Law can certainly be used to point us to Christ and our need for Him.  However, the Law should not be used in a deceptive attempt to entrap someone!  God’s Word is not a tool in our hand to accomplish our own devices.  God’s Law is a tool in His hand to accomplish His own will.  Just as people will not be afraid to misuse words to get their way, people will not be afraid to misuse ideas, teaching, and even objects in unintended ways so long as they are able to win.

Have you ever seen a person take a thought or idea out of its context in order to win a point?  Why is this dangerous?  Have you ever seen a person willing to trespass upon the sanctity of something in order to use it for their own purposed?  Why do people do this?

Third Thought:

Each of these points helps us really understand the flaw of the Sadducees.  They are focused on the wrong thing.  They want to win.  They want to get rid of Jesus.  They want to remain in power and n control.  They want to dispose of this upstart.  Because their focus is on the wrong thing, they completely miss an opportunity to hear truth.  They aren’t even open to the idea that the resurrection might just be a real thing.  Their own preconceptions cause them to be blind and closed in mind.

Where do your preconceptions blind you?  Where are you efforts in the kingdom blocked by the preconceptions of others around you?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 20:34-40

Luke 20:20-26

Luke 20:20-26

And after watching insidiously, they sent forth subordinates, while themselves acting to be righteous, in order that they should grasp upon his word therefore to hand him over to the rulers and to the authorities of the governor.  And they interrogated him while saying, “Teacher, we have known that you speak correctly and you teach.  And you do not judge by appearances but you teach upon the way of God.  Is it lawful for us to give a tribute to Caesar or not?”  And after perceiving their cunning, He said to them, “Demonstrate a denarius before me.  Of whom does it have an image and inscription?”  And they said “Of Caesar.”  And He said to them, “Therefore give the things of Caesar to Caesar and the things of God to God.”   And they were not strong enough to grasp upon his saying before the people.  And after marveling upon His answer they kept silent.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The religious leaders turn insidious.  They stand back, watching and planning and scheming.  They send in subordinates to try and entrap Jesus.  They are looking for any excuse to be able to hand Jesus over to the authorities.  They even came before Jesus with words of flattery!  This is what can lay in the heart of mankind.  We might like to think that mankind wants to play nice with one another.  But the truth is that we would rather not.  We watch others with judgmental eyes.  We wait for them to stumble so that we can rise up against them or at least drag their name down.  We even plot against others, planning our reactions to theirs.

Are you ever living in this manner?  When are you apt to let yourself fall into this kind of insidious behavior?  How can you learn to avoid such thinking regarding others around you?

Second Thought:

Jesus perceives their cunning and deception.  He knows what they are up to.  He has them figured out.  Jesus responds to their direct question with an example.  He asks for a coin, and helps them to discover that Caesar’s image is upon it.  He then replies with a very non-committal expression.  When He says, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s,” make sure you hear Him correctly.  Does Jesus ever say that the coin isn’t God’s coin?  No, of course not!  Jesus puts that conclusion into the hands of the listener.  If a person determines that the coin belongs to Caesar, then let him return it to Caesar in the form of taxes with no guilt.  But if the person perceives it as God’s coin, then that person should not feel any guilt about returning the coin to God, either.  Jesus diffuses their question by allowing each listener the ability to think and conclude for themselves.  Rather than allow Himself to get pinned down and thus open Himself to attack, Jesus allows the minds of the people to remain open.

How do you try and diffuse the cunning of those who would entrap you?  How easily are you able to remain open instead of allowing yourself to get pinned down and attacked?

Third Thought:

The net effect is a gain for Jesus.  The religious leaders are not able to accuse Him at a time of their own choosing.  Even more importantly, the people around Jesus marvel at His deft hand.  God is praised through the actions of Jesus.  It isn’t about winning after all.  It is about giving the people something to think about and giving them a reason to contemplate the grandeur of God.

When are you led to marvel at God and His words?  Have you ever had an opportunity to grant the people around you reason to marvel at God through what He has done through you?  What does that feel like?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 20:27-32

Luke 20:17-19

Luke 20:17-19

And the one who looked earnestly to them said, “What therefore is this thing that has been written, ‘A stone that the ones who build reject by trial, this became into a head cornerstone.’  All the ones who fall upon that stone will be broken to pieces.  And upon whom it should fall it will scatter him like chaff.”  And the scribes and high priests sought to cast hands upon him in the same hour.  And they were being afraid of the people, for they knew that to them he said this parable.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Normally in parables, the point of the parable is to speak truth in a way that is hidden from people unless they really want to discover it.  In this rare parable, however, Jesus takes a moment to explain the parable to everyone who can hear.  Jesus has told this parable because He is the Son.  The Son of God is the Messiah, the cornerstone.  However, Jesus is really clear.  Like the son of the owner of the vineyard, this cornerstone is rejected.  Jesus is sending a clear message.  He expects to be rejected.  He knows what His enemies are planning.  But He is moving ahead in spite of their plans.

Why do you think Jesus would want to be clear at this moment?  What is Jesus trying to prove by telling His enemies that He knows that they plan to reject Him?

Second Thought:

Jesus continues.  Jesus tells the people who are listening that anyone who falls upon this stone will be broken into pieces.  In other words, the people who come upon Jesus and reject Him will stumble and be broken.  They will be scattered.  Jesus is telling those who oppose Him to carefully consider what they are planning.  There will be consequences to their actions.  There are always consequences when we reject God’s Son.

When have your plans resulted in unexpected negative consequences?  When have you stumbled in sin and reaped consequences you could not foresee?

Third Thought:

Naturally, the religious leaders don’t care for what Jesus says.  Jesus has thrown down the gauntlet in a very formal and public way.  Notice that the religious leaders don’t take the hint.  They are in power.  They think that they are in control.  They hear Jesus’ words, get angry, and resolve to deal with the situation.  However, they can’ possibly foresee the mistake that they are making.  They can’t possible know the consequences of their actions.  They are blinded by their anger and the need to be in control.

Have you ever heard something that angered you so much that you did something that led to seriously bad consequences?  Why do humans do this kind of action?  Does the amount of power you have in a situation ever impact your response to hearing something that you do not like to hear?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 20:20-26

Luke 20:13-16

Luke 20:13-16

And the lord of the vineyard said, “What should I do?  I will send my beloved son.  Perhaps they will be put to shame in this one.”  And after the keepers of the vineyard saw him they were considering carefully with one another while saying, ‘This one is the heir.  We should kill him in order that the inheritance should become of us.’  And after casting him outside of the vineyard they killed.  What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them?  He will come and he will destroy these keepers of the vineyard and he will give the vineyard to others.”  And after hearing they said, “May it not become.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The lord of the vineyard sends his son to check on the vineyard.  The lord of the vineyard is hoping that the tenants will see him and come to their senses.  He is hoping that they will be ashamed of their actions and do the right thing.  He is hoping that they will receive the Son.  But I think there is more to it than just this.  The vineyard owner is giving the people one final chance to come to their senses.  He’s giving them one more opportunity to do the right thing.  Naturally, this is like God with us.  He gives us chance after chance after chance.  He even sent His own Son so that we might recognize Him.  But in the end, He can only give us the opportunity to do the right thing.  We must receive His opportunity.

Do you respect the Son of the Father?  Do you repent when faced with the sin of your own actions?  Why is it gracious for God to give us so many chances?

Second Thought:

Naturally, of course, the people do not respect the son.  They reject him.  In fact, they kill him.  They kill him in order to take his inheritance.  They kill him because they think that if they do that much, then the vineyard will be theirs.  Of course this is a huge parable foreshadowing the death of Jesus.  They killed Him so that they wouldn’t be troubled by His teaching anymore.  They killed Him so that they would once more have the illusion of control.  But we are not necessarily much different.  We don’t always listen.  We wrestle control out of Jesus’ hands.  We walk away and go the other direction.  Hopefully we don’t go so far as to wish Him dead, but we are not innocent in out obedience, either.

Where in your life do you wrestle against Jesus and God for control?  Why I it so important for human beings to be in control?

Third Thought:

What is the consequence of such ruthless action?  Destruction.  Jesus promises destruction upon them.  However, note the reaction of the people listening.  They say, “May it not be so.”  They are humbled by such consequences.  They may have felt some pity or sorrow for the tenants because they know what they are feeling.  The reality is that we can always have one of two reactions to consequences.  The first reaction is anger.  We can be angry when corrected.  But the other is humble introspection.  When we are facing consequences, we can take the opportunity to examine ourselves and see the faults within.

What is your response to consequence?  Do you usually listen or do you shrug it off?  What makes people apt to receive consequence?  What makes people apt to reject consequences?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 20:17-19

Luke 20:9-12

Luke 20:9-12

And He began to say to the people this parable: “Some man planted a vineyard and leased it to keepers of a vineyard as tenants.  And he traveled away from his own country for a sufficient time.  And by a time he sent forth a slave to the keepers of the vineyard in order that they will give to him from the fruit of the vineyard.  And the keepers of the vineyard dismissed him in vain after scourging him.  And he decided to send another slave.  And the ones who scourged and who dishonored that one sent him out in vain.  And he decided to send a third.  But the ones who wounded this one cast him out.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

As we look at this passage, set the context.  A person creates a vineyard and then leases it to other people.  This is the nature of God.  God creates for other people to enjoy.  God creates for other people to be blessed.  God creates not because He has a need; God creates because we do.  The context of this passage is the blessing and provision of God.

Do you see God as a provider?  How mindful are you of God’s provision each day?

Second Thought:

In the midst of the vineyard owner’s blessing, we see expectations.  The same is true with God.  While God blesses us far more than we could ever return to Him, He does ask for some things in return.  He wants us to bear fruit.  He wants us to share with Him out of the fruit that we bear through His provision.  It is a very reasonable request.  He does far more giving than receiving; but why shouldn’t He receive something in return and share in the creation He made in the first place?

How grateful are you of God’s provision?  How do you ask God to share in the fruit you bear through His creation?

Third Thought:

The tenants are not grateful in the least.  They mistreat the slaves that the owner of the vineyard sends.  They want to keep all of the fruit for themselves.  So it was with the Hebrew people.  God provided for them all throughout history, but they mistreated the people of God that He sent to them.  The same can also be true for us.  If we are not careful, we can find ourselves looking upon God’s messengers to us with scorn and derision.  When we forget about being grateful for the provision of God, we can become bitter towards the people who come to remind us about Him and His ways.

Have you ever mistreated people who brought God’s Word into your life?  When can this behavior creep into your life?  How can you avoid this feeling?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 20:13-16

Luke 20:1-8

Luke 20:1-8

And it became in one of the days while he teaches the people in the temple.  Even while bringing good news, the high priests, scribes, and elders stood near and spoke, saying to him, “Say to us, in what kind of authority do you do these things? Who is the one who gave this authority to you?”  And answering, He said to them, “I will interrogate you all with a word.  Say also to me, ‘The baptism of John, was it out of heaven or out of mankind?’”  And they debate with themselves, saying, “If we should say ‘out of heaven’ he will say ‘for what sake did you all not believe him?  And is we should say ‘out of mankind’ all the people will stone us, for they are having been convinced John to be a prophet.  And they answered to not know from where.  And Jesus said to them, “Neither do I say to you all in what kind of authority I do these things.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I love the contrast in the way that Luke sets the context of this passage.  Jesus is preaching good news.  Yet, even while Jesus is preaching, people come to test Him.  These people cannot see the good things of Jesus.  They are not willing to listen to His preaching and see it as good news.

Are you open to the good news of Jesus?  Do you even feel the need to test the Word of God, even when you know it is good news?

Second Thought:

At first glance, the question from the religious leaders seems rather innocent.  They simply seem to be curious about the authority of Jesus.  From an innocent perspective, this question is rather innocent.  But the religious leaders are not coming from a perspective of innocence.  They are coming from a perspective of trickery.  They desire to entrap Jesus.  They know that in the eyes of the people they can twist any answer that Jesus can give to the question.  Once more we see a great example that black-and-white definitions of right and wrong do not portray reality.  An action is not necessarily right because of its external appearance.  Motivation is sometimes more important than the act itself when determining placement.

Have you ever done or said things that people think are righteous when you know in your heart they aren’t as righteous as they think?  Hwy is it hard for human beings to truly judge the actions of the people around them?  How does this make it difficult for human beings to know when we are being enticed into a trap?

Third Thought:

Jesus turns the tables.  He doesn’t feel the need to answer the question.  Instead, He asks one of his own.  The religious leaders opt not to answer because they realize that Jesus could easily turn the tables on them.  Since they don’t answer, Jesus is cleared of any shame in not answering their question in return.  God provides a way out of the trap.  God’s plan will still be done.  Jesus will be crucified.  But it will be on God’s terms, not the terms of the religious elite.

Has God ever provided a way out for you when you were being entrapped?  Have you ever attempted to entrap another person?  What are the motivations for entrapping others?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 20:9-12

Luke 19:45-48

Luke 19:45-48

And after going into the temple He began to cast out the ones who sell, saying to them, “It has been written, even my house will be a house of prayer.  And you all made it a den of robbers.”  And He was while teaching according to a day in the temple.  And the high priests, scribes, and first among the people were seeking to destroy Him.  And they were not finding the thing that they should do, for all the people earnestly and attentively listened while hearing him.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The first place that Jesus goes is to the temple.  Of course this is the first place to go!  Where would expect the Son of God to go except to His Father’s house?  Jesus goes to commune with the Father.  He goes to model His focus upon the Father for His disciples.  The focus of Jesus is on the Father, as it should be with all of us.

Where is your focus?  When are you most focused on the Father?  What examples do you draw upon when looking to focus on the Father?

Second Thought:

Unfortunately, Jesus also knows what He is getting into in the temple.  What He wants to find is a place to worship and commune with the Father.  What He finds is a place for human beings to take advantage of travelers, foreigners, and other people coming to the temple.  He finds people who are willing to rob one another for their own personal gain.  He finds people who take advantage of others.  Jesus drives out the offenders.  Jesus goes to commune with the Father.  Before that can happen, He needs to clean house.

Have you seen people willing to use other people unfairly for personal gain?  Have you ever used other people unfairly for your own personal gain?  Why does this happen?  What can you do to avoid seeing other people as a means for unfair personal gain?

Third Thought:

Jesus’ actions do not bring favor.  In fact, His pursuit of the Father and the Father’s ways brings scorn.  The high priests and other religious leaders seek to put Him away once and forever.  Sometimes when we pursue the Father, we upset the people around us.  When that happens, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we have done anything wrong.  It is entirely possible that we will have to face the decision to follow God or please the people around us.  In those moments, we know where we stand and where our loyalties are.  Jesus clearly chooses the ways of the Father.

Are you willing to choose the ways of the Father, even if it means the scorn of the people around you?  How willing would you be to forfeit your life or livelihood to follow God?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 20:1-8

Luke 19:41-44

Luke 19:41-44

And as He approached, after seeing the city, He wept upon it, saying, “If you knew in this day also the things to peace!  But now it was being hidden from your eyes.  Since days will come upon you, your enemies will throw up a rampart to you, they will encircle you, they will grasp you from all direction, they will raze you and your children in you, they will not send away a stone upon a stone in you – against which you did not know the time of your inspection.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

As Jesus looks to Jerusalem, He mourns.  This is an element to maturity that I personally haven’t understood until recently.  When I was younger, it was easy to feel anger against enemies.  As I got older, some of that anger was replaced with disappointed understanding.  Still older and more anger was replaced by genuine sorrow for the state of sinfulness in the world at all.  But only recently have I truly been able to put aside the anger and simply feel sorrow for my enemies.  I respect Jesus for knowing what is coming yet still being able to mourn for Jerusalem and its leaders.

Are you able to mourn your enemies without feeling anger towards them?  What truly makes that possible in your life?

Second Thought:

What is it that Jesus mourns?  He mourns that they do not know the ways of peace.  They don’t know God’s ways.  They don’t know love and forgiveness.  They don’t know relationship.  They don’t kindness.  They don’t know acceptance towards the foreigner.  Perhaps worse, not only don’t they know; they aren’t going to know, either.  Their choice to oppose and condemn Jesus will blind them from future growth.

Have you ever been blind to the ways of peace?  What is able to enter your life and blind you to the ways of peace?

Third Thought:

Jesus gives a prediction.  Jerusalem will be surrounded, thrown down, and pulled apart.  This is a pretty consistent teaching of Jesus.  Those who use the sword will die by the sword.  The people who reject Jesus will themselves be rejected.  We know this happens.  The Romans do come and overthrow Jerusalem.  But the spiritual ramifications of this teaching should stay with us.  When we find ourselves on the wrong side of Jesus, we can expect the world to pull us apart.  When that happens, if we have rejected Jesus, who will be there to put us back together?

When have your actions led to negative consequences?  What can our moments of such failure teach us about our need for God?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 19:45-48

Luke 19:37-40

Luke 19:37-40

And while He approaches – now to the descent of the mountain of olives – the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God while rejoicing by a great sound regarding all the powers they saw, saying, “The one who comes is having been praised – the king in the name of the Lord.  In heaven peace and glory in the highest.”  And some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”  And after answering he said, “I say to you all, if these will keep silent, the stones will cry out.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jesus continues His trip towards God’s will.  As He heads out, notice that His disciples can’t help but rejoice.  Of course, let’s keep this in perspective.  They are rejoicing because of the powerful things that they’ve seen.  They may well be rejoicing because they are expecting Jesus to head to Jerusalem and become the Messiah!  Jesus has had a powerful influence on their life and they were expecting that to come to a whole new level.  Of course, they weren’t wrong.  But I am willing to bet that events unfolded differently than they expected when they were celebrating Jesus on His way down the mount.

Do you find it natural to celebrate in the presence of Christ?  What helps bring the celebration out of you?

Second Thought:

Naturally as we have seen all along, Jesus’ disciples are rebuked by the religious elite.  The opposition will be there into the bitter end.  The religious elite cannot bring themselves to partake in the celebration.  They cannot bring themselves to see God at work.  Instead, they reject.  The desire to be in control and in power continues to lead these religious elite down the wrong path.

Are you surprised by the continued presence of Jesus’ enemies?  Why do you think that Jesus’ enemies were never far from Jesus?  Why do you think their criticism was so sharp?

Third Thought:

I love Jesus’ response, although it is rather humbling.  Jesus tells the religious elite that the stones will cry out if nobody else will.  This is a really expression.  God will be praised.  If human beings don’t lift their voices, creation will uphold the creator!  So why is this humbling?  It shows us once more that God truly does not need us.  He can get what He desires from rocks if He has to.  However, we should not stop here.  Because while this is a humbling realization, it should also be uplifting.  God can get all the praise He desires from rocks; yet time and time again He continues to choose us.

Why should you feel uplifted at the realization that God desires relationship with you?  How do you humbly live in the glory of our relationship with the Lord?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 19:41-44

Luke 19:33-36

Luke 19:33-36

And while they were freeing the colt, its lords said to them, “Why do you free the colt?”  And they said, “Because the Lord has a need of it.”  And they led it to Jesus.  And after throwing their outer cloaks upon it, they sat Jesus upon it.  And while He departed they were spreading their cloaks upon the road.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

We can tell that there is something big at work.  Some theologians have speculated that Jesus had set up an arrangement with the owners of the colt, so that when Jesus sent His disciples they would let it go.  After all, Jesus did make arrangements for the use of a room during the Lord’s Supper; it isn’t unreasonable for Him to make arrangements for the use of the colt.  Other people simply assert that these owners of the colt had a reverence for Jesus and were willing to let it go.  In either case, we see a larger plan at work.  People are playing the role that God appointed them to play.  They are willing participants, desiring to accomplish what God has asked of them.

Where do you have such willingness in your life?  When you accomplish what God has asked of you, what feelings are evoked within?

Second Thought:

This theme of obedience carries back through to the disciples.  They get the colt.  They tell the owners what Jesus said.  They lead the colt to Him.  All of these things are great signs of obedience.  They aren’t out there freelancing.  They are out in the world improvising.  They are obedient to the call of their Lord.

Where do you see obedience within you?  When you think about obedience, what emotions do you feel?

Third Thought:

Finally, we see the triumphal entry begin.  Jesus begins to depart, and the people start throwing cloaks into the road.  This is a clear sign of honor and respect.  The people want Jesus to know that they are willing to make a sacrifice for His benefit.  They want Him to feel their support.  They are looking forward to what they think it will look like when Jesus demonstrates that He is the Messiah.  Their intentions are good, if not a bit misguided in their understanding.

Where have you been excited by God’s work around you?  When have you been excited enough to sacrifice your comfort in order to give gloryand honor to God?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 19:37-40