Luke 13
March Memory Verse: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:10 NIV
Read: Luke 13
Jesus in Luke 13 is really going after sin deep down hidden in our heart. The sin that we didn’t know was there. The sin that we don’t want to admit was there. This is what Jesus does. He does not just want to fix our behavior. He wants to fix our heart. To do this sometimes He has to do open heart surgery. This is exactly what He was doing to His audience.
He exposed the sin of…
1) SUPERIORITY (v.1-9)
For some reason this audience thought they were better than others so therefore they were going to meet a better fate. This is wrong. The ground is LEVEL at the foot of the cross. Before Jesus we are all sinners in need of salvation. We all need to/are required to lay down our sin, repent, and turn to Him.
2) HYPOCRISY/LEGALISM (v.10-17)
Jesus uses the story of the woman with the disabling spirit to CALL OUT their hypocrisy and legalism. The fact that they were holding people to standards that (1) were not God’s standards and (2) they didn’t hold to themselves. This sin creeps up fast in our lives.
Remember, our convictions/preferences are not always God’s. We must look at Scripture for what God calls right and wrong.
3) DOING IT THEIR WAY (v.22-30)
Jesus is speaking to a chief sin in their (and our) lives - SELF SUFFICIENCY. We love to do things OUR WAY, including try to get to God our way… or impress Him our way… or obey Him our way (I know, when we think about it it doesn’t make sense but we do it) and Jesus is calling this out. It is HIS WAY or NO WAY. The path is narrow. It is inclusive - for everyone - but exclusive - His way.
4) HARD HEARTS (v.31-35)
This is a sad part of this passage. We see the hard hearts of Jerusalem. May our hearts not be this way. May we look at Jesus and bow down in surrender and not pick up stones. May we run to Him not from Him. May we open our hearts instead of close our hearts.
Why?
BECAUSE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS COMING AND IS COMING FAST (v.18-21)
God is working. He is adding to His kingdom. The goal is to humble ourselves, repent from sin, and JOIN this movement.
Where do these subtle, yet cancerous sins appear in your life? How did God speak to you today through His Word?
By: Nick Parsons
Read: Luke 13
Jesus in Luke 13 is really going after sin deep down hidden in our heart. The sin that we didn’t know was there. The sin that we don’t want to admit was there. This is what Jesus does. He does not just want to fix our behavior. He wants to fix our heart. To do this sometimes He has to do open heart surgery. This is exactly what He was doing to His audience.
He exposed the sin of…
1) SUPERIORITY (v.1-9)
For some reason this audience thought they were better than others so therefore they were going to meet a better fate. This is wrong. The ground is LEVEL at the foot of the cross. Before Jesus we are all sinners in need of salvation. We all need to/are required to lay down our sin, repent, and turn to Him.
2) HYPOCRISY/LEGALISM (v.10-17)
Jesus uses the story of the woman with the disabling spirit to CALL OUT their hypocrisy and legalism. The fact that they were holding people to standards that (1) were not God’s standards and (2) they didn’t hold to themselves. This sin creeps up fast in our lives.
Remember, our convictions/preferences are not always God’s. We must look at Scripture for what God calls right and wrong.
3) DOING IT THEIR WAY (v.22-30)
Jesus is speaking to a chief sin in their (and our) lives - SELF SUFFICIENCY. We love to do things OUR WAY, including try to get to God our way… or impress Him our way… or obey Him our way (I know, when we think about it it doesn’t make sense but we do it) and Jesus is calling this out. It is HIS WAY or NO WAY. The path is narrow. It is inclusive - for everyone - but exclusive - His way.
4) HARD HEARTS (v.31-35)
This is a sad part of this passage. We see the hard hearts of Jerusalem. May our hearts not be this way. May we look at Jesus and bow down in surrender and not pick up stones. May we run to Him not from Him. May we open our hearts instead of close our hearts.
Why?
BECAUSE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS COMING AND IS COMING FAST (v.18-21)
God is working. He is adding to His kingdom. The goal is to humble ourselves, repent from sin, and JOIN this movement.
Where do these subtle, yet cancerous sins appear in your life? How did God speak to you today through His Word?
By: Nick Parsons
20 Comments
Point 2 hit home for me. It is a phenomenon I have noticed recently in my life. The same sins I am oblivious of or not fighting to kill is the same sins I am hyperaware of in those around me. A good check for where I need to grow lately is the sin I notice most often in others. Even if they are correct, how can I hold someone to a standard that I don't hold myself to? It brings me back to Luke 11:46
"And he said, "Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers."
Such a good point, Jordan! We do tend to notice in others what is most prevalent in us.
Thanks for sharing bro! Proud of you!
Such a good point, Jordan! We do tend to notice in others what is most prevalent in us.
There is a certain urgency in verses 6-9, today.
Thanks for your words and challenge, Nick! Verses 10-17 stuck out to me today. There are several stories throughout the gospel accounts that tell of Jesus healing on the Sabbath. As Nick pointed out, Jesus response in this story challenges their hearts. It seems that Jesus continues to tell the Pharisees that Old Testament laws-such as the Sabbath-are not nullified but that there are weightier laws that are being ignored. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus comments on the Pharisee's specific tithing practices:
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others."
At another instance (Matthew 9:13), Jesus tells the Pharisees to figure out the meaning of Hosea 6:6 "'I desire compassion, rather than sacrifice.'" Walking with and obeying God seems to be all about having a "circumcised heart" (Jeremiah 4:4).
Yes! Great point Makenna!
Is ALL of THEM an OK answer? I struggle with each of these in some ways. Thanks for the GREAT word and inspiration for my day!
Such good commentary today, Nick.
The superiority thing rears its ugly head
Great point! Thanks for sharing!
Sorry, didn't get to finish.....The superiority thing rears its ugly head ever so often. I have to constantly remind myself that we are all on equal footing with God, all made in His image. Exterior status versus internal status.
Great point! Thanks for sharing!
The Hypocrisy/Legalism was the one that I have felt the most convicted about this morning. I try to encourage others to share the gospel, share their story, and be bold with people. How can I say these things to others while I am not consistently living them out myself? It is so much easier to sit and say things rather than going and doing them. This goes on to show my lack of faith in the Lord to use me, and the lack of faith I have that He could actually save the people in my life.
Bro! That is deep! I feel you!
I'm with Tim on this one. I can struggle with all of these to some extent. It's important that we remind ourselves of who we are in Jesus, and what we were before Jesus. We need to understand that outside of his grace, we are nothing, just like everyone else. We should have the attitude of superiority, or a hard heart. We should do things God's way because it just works out better. We should let God have control so we don't become like the people listed here. Great reminder today, Nick! We can all easily go down this path if we forget who we are in Christ and what he has done for us!
Thanks Scottie!
Today's passage left me so grateful that despite all the ways I continually mess things up, Jesus is the gardener who patiently tends the fruit tree and waits one more season for us to do what we were designed to do, the healer working on our behalf on his sabbath, the small bit of leavening that can change an entire batch of bread, the bird still longing to gather us close.
Great point! Thanks Susan!
Amen to every comment I've read. The closer we get to Christ the more our sin is magnified. I'm constantly amazed how the author of roughly 2/3rds of the NT, Paul, called himself the chief of sinners and confessed how much he struggled to do what was right and how easily he did what was wrong. How can this be for a man who was so zealous for Christ and sharing the gospel? As I mentioned earlier, the closer we get to Christ thru His word and prayer the more we see our sin. Praise God for the truth in 1st John 1:9. If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin and purify us from all unrighteousness. I'm so grateful that His mercies are new each day.
This portion of verse 22 spoke loudly to me today. 'always pressing on toward Jerusalem"
Jesus knew what awaited Him in Jerusalem yet He kept pressing on. He knew our salvation depended upon it.
Wow! There is a wealth of takeaways in the book of Luke!
Like the blog for Luke 12 and today, I believe that Jesus is coming soon! Praise the Lord that Jesus paid for our sins on the cross!
The fact that we are all equally sinful stuck out to me. It's easy to judge people on their sin especially when it's a sin that is clearly premeditated and public. My sin is no less bad than theirs. Whether it's one sin or a thousand sins it all sets us equally apart from God.
Ugh...if God would only see my way and decide to answer my prayer-I have already taken care of the details for Him! 🙋â€â™€ï¸ I am guilty!!! Thanks Nick!!!