HEALING THE EPILEPTIC BOY!
MARK 9:17 __Why couldn't the disciples cast out the evil spirit? In 6:13, we read that they cast out devils while on their mission to the villages. Perhaps they had special authority only for that trip, or perhaps their faith was faltering. Mark tells this story to show that victory over sin and temptation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not through our own efforts.
THE MINAS (POUNDS) !!!!!!!!
MARK 9:17 __Why couldn't the disciples cast out the evil spirit? In 6:13, we read that they cast out devils while on their mission to the villages. Perhaps they had special authority only for that trip, or perhaps their faith was faltering. Mark tells this story to show that victory over sin and temptation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not through our own efforts.
THE MINAS (POUNDS) !!!!!!!!
LUKE 19:11__27 __There are notable differences with the similar parable of Matthew 25:14__30. Likely Jesus told two parables using a similar theme. Here Jesus point, as He approaches Jerusalem and suspense builds, is to
keep His followers from expecting to much too soon. Many of the citizens, the Jews, will not acknowledge the nobleman, Jesus, as their Master. And there will be a period when servants will have opportunity to demonstrate their faithfulness and resourcefulness. Jesus by this instruction braces the disciples for some of the jolts and challenges just ahead__some of which are no less pressing today.
ALTAR !!!! MATTHEW 23:18__19
And, whosoever shall swear by the alter, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. : 19 _Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the alter that sanctifieth the gift?
THE PHARISEE AND THE RUBLICAN - LUKE 19:9__14
This house may refer just to the house of Zaccheus. The words seek, save, and lost all appear elsewhere in Scripture in a shepherd context. This verse may be taken as a kernel statement of the central theme of Luke: Jesus is the compassionte, searching Herdsman who seeks to save those who can by no means save themselves.
THE IMPORTUNATE WIDOW !!!!!!
LUKE 18:1__8 _If an unjust judge acts in this way, how much more hope may God's children place in God? However, the issue is not God's faithfulness. It is whether believers will persist in supplication, or whether their patience and perseverance will give out by the time Christ finally returns.
UNPROFITABLE SERVANTS
LUKE 17:7__10 _If we have obeyed God, we have only done our duty and we sould regard it as a privilege. Do tou sometimes feel you deserve extra credit for serving God? Remember, obedience is not something extra we do; it is our duty. Jesus is not rendering our service as meaningless or useless, nor is he doing away with rewards. He is attacking unwarranted self-esteem and spiritual pride.
THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS !!!!!! __LUKE 19:31
By this time Jesus was extremely well known. Everyone coming to Jerusalem for the Passover feast had heard of him, and for a time the popular mood was in his favor. "The Lord hath need of him" was all the disciples needed to say, and the colt's owners gladly turned their animals over to the disciples.
THE UNJUST STEWARD !!!!!!
LUKE 16:1__13 _LORD is often considered to refer to the steward's master. Yet it may well refer to Jesus, who commends the steward's readiness to reduce the bill when he realizes that he has been found out. In light of impending judgment, by the analogy of this action, men should spare no effect to right their wrongs. For similar uses of the word translated wisely, see 12:42; 1 CORINTHIANS 4:10; 10:15. the same quality of wisdom in the sense of being ready for judgment is seen also in the parable of the 10 virgins, Matthew 25:1__13.
THE PRODIGAL SON !!!!!!!!!!!!
LUKE 15:11__12 _The younger son's share of the estate was one-third (DEUTERONOMY 21:17). In most cases, he would have received this at his father's death, although fathers sometimes chose to divide up their inheritance early and retire from managing their estate. What is unusual here is that the younger one initiated the division of the estate. This showed disregard for his father's authority as head of the family.
THE LOST COIN !!!!
LUKE 15:8__10 _If a woman and her neighbors delight in recovering a solitary coin, and if a shepherd takes joy in rescuing a single sheep, how much more praiseworthy is the salvation of a sinner?? While some portray God as impersonal or aloof from human affairs, Jesus here teaches of His concern for every individual.
BUILDING A TOWER AND A KING MAKING WAR !!!!
LUKE 14:25__35 _Jesus audience was well aware of what it meant to carry one's own cross. When the Romans led a criminal to his execution site, he was forced to carry the cross on which he would die. This showed his submission to Rome and warned oberservers that they'd better submit too. Jesus gave this teaching to get the crowds to think through their enthusiasm for him. He encouraged the superficial either to go deeper or to turn back. Following Christ means total submission to him__perhaps even death.
THE GREAT SUPPER !!!!!!!
LUKE 14:16__24 _In this chapter we read Jesus words against seeking status, and in favor of hard work and even suffering. Let's not lose sight of the purpose of all our humility and self-sacrifice__a joyous banquet with our Lord! God never asks us to suffer for the sake of suffering. He never asks us to give up something good unless he plans to replace it with something even better. He is not calling us to join him in a labor camp but in a feast__the marriage supper of the Lamb (REVELATION 19:6__9), when God and his beloved church will be joined forever.
THE BARREN FIG TREE !!!!!
LUKE 13:6__9 _In the Old Testament, a fruitful tree was often used as a symbol of godly living. Jesus pointed out what would happen to the other kind of tree__the kind that took time and space and still produced nothing for listeners that God would not tolerate forever their lack of productivity. Have you been enjoying God's special treatment without giving anything in return? If so, respond to the Gardener's patient care, and begin to bear the fruit God has created you to produce.
FAITHFUL AND WISE STEWARD !!!!
LUKE 12:42__48 _Jesus promises a reward for those who have been faithful to the Master. While we sometimes experience immediate and material rewards for our obedience to God, this is not always the case. If so, we would be tempted to boast about our achievements and do good only for what we get. Jesus said that if we look for rewards now, we will lose them later (see MARK 8:36). Our heavenly rewards will be the most accurate reflection of what we have done on earth and far greater than we can imagine.
THE FAITHFUL SERVANT AND THE EVIL SERVANT !!!!!!
LUKE 12:35__40 _Jesus repeatedly said he would leave this world but would return at some future time (see MATTHEW 24__25; JOHN 14:1__3). He also said a Kingdom is being prepared for his followers. Many Greeks envisioned this as a heavenly, idealized, spiritual Kingdom. Jews__like Isaiah and John, the writer of Revelation__saw it as a restored earthly Kingdom.
THE RICH FOOL !!!!!!
LUKE 16:21 _And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
A FRIEND IN NEED !!!!!
LUKE 11:5__13 _Good fathers, even though they make mistakes, treat their children well. How much better our perfect heavenly Father treats his children! The most important gift he could ever give us is the Holy Spirit (ACTS 2:1__4), whom he promised to give all believers after his death, resurrection, and return to heaven (JOHN 15:26).
THE GOOD SAMARITAN !!!!
LUKE 10:37 _The lawyer cannot even bring himself to say "the Samaritan." Jesus shows that racial considerations are utterly transcended by God's command to love Him, and thus to love others as He does, without prejudice or partiality.
THE ABSENT HOUSEHOLDER !!!!
keep His followers from expecting to much too soon. Many of the citizens, the Jews, will not acknowledge the nobleman, Jesus, as their Master. And there will be a period when servants will have opportunity to demonstrate their faithfulness and resourcefulness. Jesus by this instruction braces the disciples for some of the jolts and challenges just ahead__some of which are no less pressing today.
ALTAR !!!! MATTHEW 23:18__19
And, whosoever shall swear by the alter, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. : 19 _Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the alter that sanctifieth the gift?
THE PHARISEE AND THE RUBLICAN - LUKE 19:9__14
This house may refer just to the house of Zaccheus. The words seek, save, and lost all appear elsewhere in Scripture in a shepherd context. This verse may be taken as a kernel statement of the central theme of Luke: Jesus is the compassionte, searching Herdsman who seeks to save those who can by no means save themselves.
THE IMPORTUNATE WIDOW !!!!!!
LUKE 18:1__8 _If an unjust judge acts in this way, how much more hope may God's children place in God? However, the issue is not God's faithfulness. It is whether believers will persist in supplication, or whether their patience and perseverance will give out by the time Christ finally returns.
UNPROFITABLE SERVANTS
LUKE 17:7__10 _If we have obeyed God, we have only done our duty and we sould regard it as a privilege. Do tou sometimes feel you deserve extra credit for serving God? Remember, obedience is not something extra we do; it is our duty. Jesus is not rendering our service as meaningless or useless, nor is he doing away with rewards. He is attacking unwarranted self-esteem and spiritual pride.
THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS !!!!!! __LUKE 19:31
By this time Jesus was extremely well known. Everyone coming to Jerusalem for the Passover feast had heard of him, and for a time the popular mood was in his favor. "The Lord hath need of him" was all the disciples needed to say, and the colt's owners gladly turned their animals over to the disciples.
THE UNJUST STEWARD !!!!!!
LUKE 16:1__13 _LORD is often considered to refer to the steward's master. Yet it may well refer to Jesus, who commends the steward's readiness to reduce the bill when he realizes that he has been found out. In light of impending judgment, by the analogy of this action, men should spare no effect to right their wrongs. For similar uses of the word translated wisely, see 12:42; 1 CORINTHIANS 4:10; 10:15. the same quality of wisdom in the sense of being ready for judgment is seen also in the parable of the 10 virgins, Matthew 25:1__13.
THE PRODIGAL SON !!!!!!!!!!!!
LUKE 15:11__12 _The younger son's share of the estate was one-third (DEUTERONOMY 21:17). In most cases, he would have received this at his father's death, although fathers sometimes chose to divide up their inheritance early and retire from managing their estate. What is unusual here is that the younger one initiated the division of the estate. This showed disregard for his father's authority as head of the family.
THE LOST COIN !!!!
LUKE 15:8__10 _If a woman and her neighbors delight in recovering a solitary coin, and if a shepherd takes joy in rescuing a single sheep, how much more praiseworthy is the salvation of a sinner?? While some portray God as impersonal or aloof from human affairs, Jesus here teaches of His concern for every individual.
BUILDING A TOWER AND A KING MAKING WAR !!!!
LUKE 14:25__35 _Jesus audience was well aware of what it meant to carry one's own cross. When the Romans led a criminal to his execution site, he was forced to carry the cross on which he would die. This showed his submission to Rome and warned oberservers that they'd better submit too. Jesus gave this teaching to get the crowds to think through their enthusiasm for him. He encouraged the superficial either to go deeper or to turn back. Following Christ means total submission to him__perhaps even death.
THE GREAT SUPPER !!!!!!!
LUKE 14:16__24 _In this chapter we read Jesus words against seeking status, and in favor of hard work and even suffering. Let's not lose sight of the purpose of all our humility and self-sacrifice__a joyous banquet with our Lord! God never asks us to suffer for the sake of suffering. He never asks us to give up something good unless he plans to replace it with something even better. He is not calling us to join him in a labor camp but in a feast__the marriage supper of the Lamb (REVELATION 19:6__9), when God and his beloved church will be joined forever.
THE BARREN FIG TREE !!!!!
LUKE 13:6__9 _In the Old Testament, a fruitful tree was often used as a symbol of godly living. Jesus pointed out what would happen to the other kind of tree__the kind that took time and space and still produced nothing for listeners that God would not tolerate forever their lack of productivity. Have you been enjoying God's special treatment without giving anything in return? If so, respond to the Gardener's patient care, and begin to bear the fruit God has created you to produce.
FAITHFUL AND WISE STEWARD !!!!
LUKE 12:42__48 _Jesus promises a reward for those who have been faithful to the Master. While we sometimes experience immediate and material rewards for our obedience to God, this is not always the case. If so, we would be tempted to boast about our achievements and do good only for what we get. Jesus said that if we look for rewards now, we will lose them later (see MARK 8:36). Our heavenly rewards will be the most accurate reflection of what we have done on earth and far greater than we can imagine.
THE FAITHFUL SERVANT AND THE EVIL SERVANT !!!!!!
LUKE 12:35__40 _Jesus repeatedly said he would leave this world but would return at some future time (see MATTHEW 24__25; JOHN 14:1__3). He also said a Kingdom is being prepared for his followers. Many Greeks envisioned this as a heavenly, idealized, spiritual Kingdom. Jews__like Isaiah and John, the writer of Revelation__saw it as a restored earthly Kingdom.
THE RICH FOOL !!!!!!
LUKE 16:21 _And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
A FRIEND IN NEED !!!!!
LUKE 11:5__13 _Good fathers, even though they make mistakes, treat their children well. How much better our perfect heavenly Father treats his children! The most important gift he could ever give us is the Holy Spirit (ACTS 2:1__4), whom he promised to give all believers after his death, resurrection, and return to heaven (JOHN 15:26).
THE GOOD SAMARITAN !!!!
LUKE 10:37 _The lawyer cannot even bring himself to say "the Samaritan." Jesus shows that racial considerations are utterly transcended by God's command to love Him, and thus to love others as He does, without prejudice or partiality.
THE ABSENT HOUSEHOLDER !!!!
MARK 13:33__37 _Months of planning go into a wedding, the birth of a baby, career change, a speaking engagement, the purchase of a home. Do you place the same importance on preparing for Christ's return? His return is the most imprtant event in your life. Its results will last for enternity. You dare not postpone preparing for it, because you do not know when it will occur. The only way to prepare is to study God's Word and live by its instructions each day.
THE GROWING SEED !!!!MARK 4:26__29 _The point of this parable is that God causes the gospel to bear fruit and His kingdom to grow. Just how He does these thing we do not fully understand.__This parable about the Kingdom of God, recorded only by Mark, reveals that spiritual growth is a continual, gradual, process that is finally consummated in a harvest of spiritual maturity. We can understand the process of spiritual growth by comparing it to the slow but certain growth of a plant.
