As Brother V is currently very much engaged in Spreading the Gospel for the inmates of a high-security prison, the LBC
Department of Faith has decided to finish this Manual for Saved and Unsaved alike with guest entries. Without further ado, let us go on with
Luke 19-21.
Important stuff is taking place. Here we have answers to many questions:
- Who can be Saved
- What will happen if I don't choose Jesus?
- Confirmation of the Divine nature of Jesus!
- What will happen if I choose Jesus?
- When will we see Jesus return?
Today's reading begins with the story of
Zacchaeus, who was a sinner and
deformed (of dwarf stature). He also felt the
touch of Jesus deep within and wanted to see Jesus, but because of being vertically challenged, he climbed a tree. Jesus saw him and they became friends.
Luke 19:7
And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
But Zacchaeus had
really been touched by Jesus.
Luke 19:8-9
And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
This is good news.
Anyone can be Saved, even a repulsive sinner, such as Zacchaeus. If you choose
Jesus, you have hope even if you're a dwarf, a retard, very ugly or deformed in any other manner. Next, Jesus tells the famous
parable of the Ten Minas (or pounds). A king goes to another country for coronation but the people over there do not like him.
Luke 19:14
But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
Meanwhile, the king wants to make
profit while being away, and gives money to his servants for investment purposes. Two of the servants do quite well but the third one is useless and his money is unproductive. This leads us to one of the most significant passages in the Bible!
Luke 19:26-27
For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
Next, Jesus goes into Jerusalem, and we
understand the parable.
He is the king. Only a minority of all mankind wants to have Him as king (Matthew 7:14). Most of the people have misjudged the kingship of Jesus except the two hard-working servants. This tells us that
we must choose to serve Jesus or to oppose Him. What happens if we oppose? "
...those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me."
As we realize this, we're already deep in Luke 19. Jesus takes a
colt and rides into Jerusalem. By this time, most readers might remember that He'll be Crucified, so it's not a spoiler to reveal that that is going to happen eventually in Luke, as well. The
miraculous nature of Jesus is revealed by cross-referencing, as in Matthew 21:7 He used
two donkeys, an ass and a colt, but in Luke
only a colt. This shows how
Jesus is beyond human logic and warns us against it (see also 1 Timothy 6:20). The parable is made into reality in Luke 19:38-48 as many people, among them, as expected, the power-hungry Jewish Leaders, oppose Him as king. He also demonstrates His powers by
cleansing the Temple (Luke 19:45-46). The things sold by the Church should go to support God's Work and not un-Godly businesses.
Jesus spends some time in Jerusalem going around the sights and teaching. The
slimy Jews ask Him this question:
Luke 20:2
And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?
He tells us the answer in another famous parable:
The Parable of the Tenants. The question is:
"Who owns the vineyard?". A vineyard owner tries to get what is his own, the fruit of the vineyard, from husbandmen but they refuse. Finally the owner sends his own son, and let us see, what happens.
Luke 20:15-16
So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
The husbandmen are the Jewish Leaders, who have
usurped God's authority wrongfully. They have done wrong with God's Prophets. Jesus will eventually
revenge all this, He
"shall come and destroy these husbandmen." The parable in Luke 19 (
"slay them before me") is re-enforced. This teaches us that it is the prudent thing to
obey Jesus.
Next, Jesus tells us to
obey secular laws even if they collide with our conscience that derives from the Bible. This is especially hard when the secular authorities refuse to punish people in the manner God intended (Leviticus 20:13). But, Jesus is clear in His utterances.
Luke 20:25
And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.
This is hard but there is the ultimate prize waiting for us in Heaven. Jesus tells us some
very important stuff that will give us hope during the tiresome years we spend on Earth fulfilling his most basic commands (Genesis 1:28).
Luke 19:35-36
But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
No more death and, more importantly,
no more marital duties. Ever! However, some of His enemies will eventually reach Heaven to be punished there for ever and ever as pieces of
furniture.
Luke 20:42-43
And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
We go on to Luke 21. First we are told about
the widow's mite. A poor woman gives some money to God.
Luke 21:4
For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
This shows us that
it is good for poor people also to give tithes. Instead of buying bread with their last dime, it is better to
give it to Jesus, as giving to Jesus is
more important than eating (Matthew 4:4). By now we have learned that it is going to be bad for those who refuse Jesus but very good for us who do! It is time to assess
when all this will happen: When are we going to get into Heaven?
Luke 21:10-12
Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
As we can see, all this is taking place. More will be revealed at the end of the Bible in
Revelation. It might be that Jesus is just
practicing and
warming up, so there might still be some time to Spread the Gospel. However,
the End is near. We are facing
heavy persecution everywhere, even on this Godly Forum with the Unsaved harassing us.
Luke 21:17
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
Jesus goes on by telling us that there'll be signs in the stars and the Moon. Eventually, it is all going to be alright!
Luke 21:27
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Chapter Luke 21 ends with a magnificent promise told to the disciples of Jesus!
Luke 21:32-33
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.
This is also a
warning. Do not neglect to
obey the Bible.
Luke 21:36
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.
Next: The Last Supper and much more!