Jesus preaches throughout the country. He went into large wealthy cities and into the poor, obscure villages. He preached and healed both rich and poor. He taught in the synagogues. He had compassion on them, but in a spiritual way. His concern was that they were ignorant with a lack of spiritual vision.

Listed in today's reading is the verse containing "sheep without a shepherd"…can you imagine a field of sheep with no direction and no shepherd?
This would be a sad condition of those who are without Christ. Sheep when they have gone astray are helpless and exposed to danger. They are not capable of finding their own way. They need shepherds to bring them into the fold and give them direction and protection. When Jesus spoke of false shepherds, they not only led the sheep away from the fold but they also fleeced the flock. They didn’t feed them. They didn’t nourish them with the word of truth.

“Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
People obviously wanted the teaching that Jesus was giving them. They needed it, they desired it, and they went out of their way to get it. There were few teachers who were teaching the truth. Jesus sent out his disciples.

Work is to be done now. Are there enough laborers to do the work?

“Shake the dust” is mentioned. When we are unwelcome, at times we need to just walk away.

To just be left alone as sheep where they may be in danger from wolves was one thing, but to send them out among known wolves was something else. They could expect from this warning that they would be like a helpless sheep among a herd of ravenous wolves to be devoured and destroyed. But because He sends them forth, He will protect them. Be aware of the dangers but be meek and mild.

Who can kill the soul? Rejecting Jesus and salvation through Him...that will kill our souls.

Jesus calls His disciples “little ones”. Is that because they were “babes in the faith”?

John the Baptist is beheaded. He had completed his mission on earth. Herod thought Jesus was John the Baptist who had risen from the dead - Herod was a Sadducee: and the Sadducees denied the resurrection of the dead. They also denied the existence of angels. So Herod was shaken by Jesus. This says he didn’t know much about Jesus.

As we reflect on the Scripture readings for today, let's take to heart the words of the Lord of the Harvest, let's go out as workers into His harvest field!

Some amazing miracles are included in today's reading.  And some amazing lessons to be learned.

When Jesus said He had no place to lay His head, was He thinking of His heavenly home as His real home and He had no place in this earthly kingdom?  Is He telling us that we shouldn't get too comfortable in this temporary home called earth?

There were some hard lessons that Jesus gave to His followers.  Some of them said they would follow Him but they had other commitments  that took top priority.  Do we do that too?  One man said he had to go bury his father.  Another said he wanted to say good-by to his family.  These seem like pretty important things.  But Jesus wanted these followers to proclaim and serve the kingdom of God and not be distracted by anything.

Wonderful lessons to be learned from the calming of the sea.  Jesus had complete control over the wind and the waves. He has complete control over all the winds and waves of our lives as well. He tells us the same thing that He told the wind and the waves, "Peace!  Be still!"

When Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead, He gave orders not to tell anyone about it. He told the blind men the same thing. Why? Earlier He told the demon possessed man to tell. What was the difference? 

Whenever Jesus heals the physical, He asks people not to tell. When He performs a spiritual miracle, such as driving out demons, He wants people to tell. This gives us a clue as to the importance Jesus places on the spiritual. He wants the spiritual healings to be broadcast to everyone. 

Jesus’ family is listed in today’s reading, his mother, Mary, his brothers James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon, and sisters who are not named. But we know He has at least 2.

Jesus didn’t do miracles in his hometown, except to heal a few sick people. It was their lack of faith that prevented them from being healed.

Is our lack of faith preventing us from receiving or witnessing miracles? Are we putting limits on Jesus because of our lack of faith?  Heaven forbid!

Today’s reading is filled with parables. A parable is a short, simple story designed to communicate a spiritual truth, religious principle, or moral lesson; a figure of speech in which truth is illustrated by a comparison or example drawn from everyday experiences. The Greek word for parable literally means “a laying by the side of, or a casting along side of”, thus a comparison or likeness. In a parable something is placed alongside something else, in order that one may throw light on the other. A familiar custom or incident is used to illustrate some less familiar truth.

We can look at the surface meaning of a parable or we can dig deeper and discover a much deeper meaning. In finding the central meaning of a parable, the reader needs to discover the meaning the parable had in the time of Jesus. As an illustration, let’s look at the parable of the pencil. (Thanks to a friend who sent this to us several years ago.)

PARABLE OF THE PENCIL

In the beginning the pencil maker created the pencil. “You must remember these five things,” the maker told the pencil.

1. You will do great things but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand.
2. You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time but it is required if you are to become a better pencil.
3. You have the ability to correct any mistakes you might make.
4. The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.
5. No matter what the conditions, continue to write as you submit to the master’s hand, leave a clear, legible mark no matter how difficult.

If we compare ourselves to the pencil, we can do great things if we allow ourselves to be held in God’s hands and allow other people access to our many gifts. We may undergo a painful “sharpening” by various problems to make us stronger and sharper. We will be able to correct our mistakes or we might grow through them. The most important part of us is what’s inside. On every surface we walk we should leave our mark serving God in everything, following His leading, and never taking credit for authorship of the work.

If this parable had been told in Jesus’ time, would they have understood it? But if we could explain our culture and the importance of pencils and how they are used, then they might have understood the practical application of this parable of the pencil.  In understanding Jesus' parables we must keep in mind four things:
1. content
2. context
3. culture
4. customs
We must read the content within the entire context of Scripture, not only the verses before and after but the whole Bible.  We must place ourselves in Jesus' day and learn as much as we can about the culture and customs of the day.

For some thoughts on the parables, go to this link and the writing Parables to Ponder.
http://www.philandpatti.com/biblestudies

Jesus gives us the secrets to the kingdom of heaven. Are we getting just the surface meanings or are we going after the hidden treasures? How are we doing digging into his word for those secrets? Are we really working to dig out the nuggets by reading and studying the entire Bible?

Jesus condemns hypocrisy. One of the most scathing condemnations is this one.
Luke 11:52
"Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering."
Those experts were not teaching the truth and were quenching the spirit of those who were seeking the truth. Not much has changed today.

For those of you out there who are “worry warts”…this verse is for you!
Matt 6:27
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Jesus said to seek first His kingdom. What does it mean to seek His kingdom?

Jesus also said to be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. What does it mean to be ready?

To repeat a previous blog entry, Jesus made it very clear in this verse that baptism has nothing to do with water. It has everything to do with spiritual matters.
Luke 12:50
But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!

Luke 3:16
John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

So often during the Christmas season we hear the words, “Peace on earth.” Did Jesus come to bring peace on earth?
Luke 12:51
Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.

This verse should bring us comfort as believers in Jesus Christ. If we are His followers and doing His will, there will be division, not only in the world, but in our churches and even within our families. We must stand firm with the Monument of Truth (God's Word) no matter what happens around us.

John the Baptist inquires for confirmation of Jesus’ divinity.
Luke 7:20
When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'"

Jesus didn’t answer with a yes or no. He answered with:
Luke 7:22
So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

It is only after the disciples of John leave that Jesus tells the crowd that “there is no one greater than John…”

Why didn’t Jesus tell that to the messengers from John? Wouldn’t that have given great comfort to John? Or was Jesus preventing even a hint of pride to creep into John? 

Some interesting reading on the anointing by the sinful woman can be found on the website. Click here:
http://www.philandpatti.com/abiblicalviewofholyweek

What is the unforgivable sin as identified by Jesus in today’s reading?

Luke 11:27-28
As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you." He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
Jesus didn't seem to bless His mother above anyone. He was more concerned with those of us who hear and obey the word of God.  Once we become a believer in Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, there is no greater blessing than to hear and obey His Word.

Ah…the Sermon on the Mount…just a few thoughts. 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit…” Poor in spirit refers to a state of mind, as in a broken and contrite spirit, drained of self, emptied in order to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Truly blessed are those who are filled with the Holy Spirit and not filled with self. 

“Blessed are those who mourn…” This mourning is a Godly sorrow, a mourning over sin. But those who mourn over their sins are also blessed because they know they have forgiveness for those sins.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

The Jews, under the guidance of the Pharisees were taught to keep the inward manifestations of the Law. Jesus commands that the heart be purified. These who are pure in heart will see God with spiritual vision by faith. They can see God in all things, both here and in eternity. 

“Blessed are you when people insult you…” Sometimes this can take the form of unchristian talk around us. 

“Rejoice and be glad…” Easy to say, not so easy to do when we are being insulted and persecuted.

When Jesus responded to Satan, He said, “It is written…” Jesus quoted Scripture. During the readings for today, Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said…”
Jesus made it very clear that we shouldn’t rely on what others say or what traditions hold, but that we should go straight to what is written in God’s Word and receive understanding through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus warns several times about doing good works only for the praise.  While it is important to do good works, the desire to do those good works should stem from obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Some very hard teaching in the following passage, so hard that many spiritual leaders avoid it for fear of being judgmental or politically incorrect. But…God’s Word says it and that settles it! No “wiggle” room here! Not all pathways lead to God.
Matt 7:13-14
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Jesus tells us that He is that narrow gate.
John 10:9
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.There is NO other way!

The tax collector Levi (Matthew) is called by Jesus. Notice Levi got up and followed.  The fishermen had done a similar thing. When Jesus called, they followed. The fishermen however could go back to fishing (which they did). Once Matthew left his lucrative tax collecting business, he burned a bridge. He couldn’t go back. 

Some significant pieces of Scripture in today’s reading.
John 5:21
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.

John 5:28-29
"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out-- those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

John 5:25
I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.

God the Father raises ALL the dead. Only those who hear  Jesus’ voice will live forever. They are the ones who know Him and have salvation.  Those who are raised and do not know Jesus will die the second death.

John 5:46
If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.
Moses…wrote about Jesus??? How can this be???  Isn't this an interesting little treasure hidden away? How many people miss the significance of the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, simply because they do not read and understand the Old Testament?  How did Moses know what to write about Jesus? Because he met with the Son of God face to face as a friend would meet with a friend.  (you can find this in the book of Exodus).

Several times Jesus gives strict orders to the demons and evil spirits not to tell who He was. Why?

Luke 6:12-13
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:

Jesus had many disciples or followers, not just the twelve. A disciple is someone who wants to learn. Many people followed Jesus around to learn from Him. But Jesus chose twelve to become apostles (sent out). He chose these twelve to be the ones to send out and be the leaders of the others. Interesting that Jesus spent the night in prayer before choosing the twelve. If Jesus spent the night in prayer with His heavenly Father, shouldn’t we spend time in prayer with Him too?