S – Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” ⁴⁸ Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 

⁴⁹ Those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 

⁵⁰ And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.

Luke 7:47–50 CSB

O – Commentary:

But the woman was not forgiven because of her love; rather, she loved because she was forgiven (vv. 47–48). Her faith brought her salvation: Your faith has saved you; go in peace (cf. 8:48). Her faith in turn caused her to respond in love. The other dinner guests wondered who Jesus is since He forgave sins (cf. 5:21). Though Jesus in this interchange with Simon never explicitly stated His claim to be the Messiah, He spoke as He did because He is the Messiah

John A. Martin, “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 224.

A – The Bible says that God loved us while we were still sinners.  When we see his love for us and through him we can be forgiven of sins, it moves us toward him.  This chapter had many expressions of faith. This is the one of someone worshipping Jesus for who he was.  It is a great reminder for us that our faith can approach God in many ways.

R – Heavenly Father, you are worthy of all praise, honor and glory.  We worship you today – Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus as you became the form of a man.  You alone are God and we worship and surrender to you.

S – During those days he went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God. ¹³ When daylight came, he summoned his disciples, and he chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles:

Luke 6:12–13 CSB

O – Before Jesus chose the 12 disciples, He spent an entire night in prayer. Jesus had a large number of disciples and from those He picked 12 who were to be close to Him. These were specifically called apostles (apostolous) as opposed to the term disciples (mathētas). Disciples were followers, but apostles were those sent out as messengers with delegated authority

 John A. Martin, “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 219.

A – When making a big decision, Jesus prayed.  This decision led to these men leaving behind their own plans to follow his plan. It changed their lives, their families and ultimately, them.  Jesus had many followers but these were the ambassadors of the gospel and early church.  As believers, we are called in the same way.  Not all are called to full time ministry.  Yet, our lives become a ministry for Him and grows in us.  We are the ambassadors of the gospel to others.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the One, True God.  Empower us today as you did your early disciples.  Help us to grow in our relationship with you so we can share the good news with others.  Thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit to lead and direct us today.

S – While he was in one of the towns, a man was there who had leprosy all over him. He saw Jesus, fell facedown, and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 

¹³ Reaching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying, “I am willing; be made clean,” and immediately the leprosy left him

Luke 5:12–13 CSB

O – Commentary:

This leper addressed Jesus as Lord (kyrie) as Simon had also done (Luke 5:8). Though the term was often used as one would today use “sir,” it seems to have stronger import here. The leper did not doubt the ability of Jesus to heal him, for he said, If You are willing You can make me clean. His only reservation seemed to be Jesus’ willingness. According to the Mosaic Law one who was leprous was not to be touched by anyone who was ceremonially clean. When someone clean touched something unclean, the clean became unclean. Luke, in describing Jesus’ actions, showed that Jesus was the Source of ceremonial cleansing. If He was the Source of cleansing for that leper, He would also be the Source of ceremonial cleansing for the nation.

John A. Martin, “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 216–217.

A – This story fascinates me beyond the miracle of healing.  Jesus was willing to touch a man with leprosy.  For whatever part of his life, this man never knew what it felt like to have a hand on a shoulder, a hand shake or touch or a hug.  No physical contact of close proximity.  Yes, Jesus healed him of leprosy but he also gained “contact” with God and others.  

R – Heavenly Father, you are Jehovah Jireh, our provider.  Thank you, God, for meeting our most intimate needs.  There are obvious things we need and you provide us with those.  There are also things deep in our hearts that we long for and you meet those in ways that only you can.  We invite your Holy Spirt to move and provide in our lives.

S – The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, ¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.^, 

²⁰ He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. ²¹ He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.” 

Luke 4:18–21 CSB

O – Commentary:

Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing, the implication was clear. Jesus was claiming to be the Messiah who could bring the kingdom of God which had been promised for so long—but His First Advent was not His time for judgment. The crowd was fascinated at His teaching—The eyes of everyone … were fastened on Him (Luke 4:20). Jesus’ words plainly stated that the offer of the favorable year of the Lord (i.e., the kingdom time) was being made to them through Him (v. 21).

The people were amazed (ethaumazon, “wondered, marveled”; cf. comments on 2:18) at His gracious words (lit., “words of grace”), but they immediately began to question the authority with which He could say these things. How could Joseph’s Son—the Boy they saw grow up in their town—be the Messiah

 John A. Martin, “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 214.

A = The wait for the Messiah came to an end and they did not see it. It is understandable – Jesus grew up with them and he was just like them.  His familiarity lessened his impact.  We can fall into the same trap.  In the U.S., Christianity is so “available” – churches everywhere, bibles easy to get, etc.  Do we hunger for God because we desire to be in relationship with him or is it just convenient?

R – Heavenly Father, you are God and Jesus is the Messiah.  Develop a hunger in us for you as God.  It is easy to settle into what you do for us.  We want to know you intimately and with full transparency on our part.  Thank you for Jesus coming to earth and sacrificing for our sins so we can be in relationship with you.

S – John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I am is coming. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire

Luke 3:16 ESV

O – Commentary:

baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire This likely signals the purifying function of Jesus’ efforts, reflecting prophetic imagery (compare Isa 6:5–7). It also could anticipate the events of Pentecost (Acts 2). Another possibility draws on the symbolic association of fire with divine wrath (e.g., Luke 3:9, 17; Matt 3:10, 12) and envisions a twofold baptism: The repentant will receive baptism with the Holy Spirit, but the non-repentant will receive the baptism associated with judgment

 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Lk 3:16.

A – John shares that he is not the messiah and what is different about who Jesus is.  If we accept Jesus as God’s son and our Savior, then we will be filled with the Holy Spirit.  He is always present and ready to walk with us.  What a powerful gift!

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you today.  Thank you for the gifts of salvation and your presence.  We invite the Holy Spirit to lead us and give us wisdom, discernment and courage today.

S = And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn

Luke 2:6–7 CSB

O – Commentary;

By the early second century a.d. even pagans in the area were reportedly widely aware of the tradition that Jesus was born in a cave used as a livestock shelter behind someone’s home, and they reported the site of this cave to the emperor Hadrian. (The story could have been adapted to fit a few *Gentile stories about deities born in caves, but its earliness lends some weight to its reliability.) The manger was a feeding trough for animals; sometimes these may have been built into the floor. The word traditionally translated “inn” probably means something more like “home” or “guest room”; whether because other relatives may have also been returning home for the census or for other reasons, it is easier for Mary to bear (or care for the child after birth) in the vacant cave outside.

 Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014), 185.

A – Jesus being born in Bethlehem fulfilled the Micah’s prophecy. Even though that was “expected,” few things in Jesus’ birth met expectations.  One would expect a coming “King” to be born in a palace, surrounded by the best people and help.  Jesus’ birth goes against expectations from the beginning.  We need to make sure our expectations align with him and not others or circumstances.

R- Heavenly Father, you are the Messiah.  Thank you for Jesus coming to earth.  Help us to align our expectations with you and your character more than things we see or desire.  There are things that go against our understand and believe – help us with that today.

S – And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, ⁷⁷ to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.

Luke 1:76–77 CSB

O – Commentary:

thou child—not “my son”—this child’s relation to himself being lost in his relation to a Greater than either.

prophet of the Highest; for thou shalt go before him—that is, “the Highest.” As “the Most High” is an epithet in Scripture only. of the supreme God, it is inconceivable that inspiration should apply this term, as here undeniably, to Christ, unless He were “God over all blessed for ever” (Ro 9:5).

77. to give knowledge of salvation—To sound the note of a needed and provided “salvation” was the noble office of John, above all that preceded him; as it is that of all subsequent ministers of Christ; but infinitely loftier was it to be the “Salvation” itself (Lu 1:69 and Lu 2:30).

by the remission of … sins—This stamps at once the spiritual nature of the salvation here intended,

 Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 98.

A – Zecharia’s song lays out the plan directly – John would be the forerunner for the Messiah bringing salvation to the world.  What a revelation of a baby well before any of it happened.  God knows our story as well.  He is leading us through it to accomplish his plans for us too.

R – Heavenly Father, you are our God and Jesus is our Savior.  Thank you for knowing us and having a plan for each of us.  We want to bring glory to your name by obeying your plans for us.  

S – But as for you, go on your way to the end; you will rest, and then you will stand to receive^am your allotted inheritance at the end of the days.” 

Daniel 12:13 CSB

O – Commentary:

Daniel did not live to see many of his prophecies fulfilled. He, the angel said, would rest, that is, in death (cf. v. 2). But he will be resurrected (you will rise at the end of the days), and he will receive his allotted inheritance in the Millennium. Because of Daniel’s faith in God he led a life of faithful service for Him, and for that faith and that obedience he will receive a glorious reward. All who like Daniel trust the Lord will share in the blessings of His millennial kingdom.

 J. Dwight Pentecost, “Daniel,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1374.

A – This is what I want in my life – to finish strong.  Daniel obey and was used by God powerfully in his life. He finished strong in a life filled with some tremendously difficult challenges.  He was faithful to God daily and did what asked in adversity.  Let’s have the same conviction Daniel did.

R – Heavenly Father, you are generous and loving.  Empower us with strength and conviction to obey and be faithful to you.  We want our relationship with you to impact others with your love and glory.  Help us to finish strong and honor you.

S -“Don’t be afraid, Daniel,” he said to me, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers. ¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia

Daniel 10:12–13 CSB

O – Commentary:

God has arranged the angelic realm in differing ranks referred to as “rule, authority, power, and dominion” (Eph. 1:21). Gabriel and Michael have been assigned authority over angels who administer God’s affairs for the nation Israel (cf. Michael in Dan. 10:21; 12:1; Jude 9). In imitation Satan has also apparently assigned high-ranking demons to positions of authority over each kingdom. The prince of the Persian kingdom was a satanic representative assigned to Persia. To seek to prevent Gabriel’s message from getting to Daniel, the demonic prince attacked Gabriel as he embarked on his mission. This gives insight into the nature of the warfare fought in the heavenlies between God’s angels and Satan’s demons to which Paul referred (Eph. 6:12): “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world, and against spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms.”

The battle between Gabriel and the prince (demon) of Persia continued for three weeks until Michael, one of the chief princes of the angelic realm (cf. Dan. 10:21; 12:1), came to Gabriel’s assistance. Such angelic-demonic conflict indicates something of Satan’s power. While the king of Persia was fighting Michael, Gabriel was able to bring a message to Daniel concerning the future of Israel, Daniel’s people (cf. “your people,” 9:24). It was to be a revelation of the warfare (10:1) between Israel and her neighbors until Israel is given peace by the coming Prince of peace. This vision contains the most detailed prophetic revelation in the Book of Daniel.

 J. Dwight Pentecost, “Daniel,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1366.

A – “We wrestle not against flesh and blood…”  The spiritual realm is real and it isn’t as depicted by movies or shows.  There is a war going on between God and Satan.  The good news is that we know that God already holds the victory.  We can defeat the attack of the enemy by the blood of Jesus, the word of God and our testimony of our relationship with God.  The key is to be on God’s side.

R – Heavenly Father, you are victorious.  Thank you for fighting for us in our daily walk.  We recognize there is a war going on in the spirit realm.  We will walk in a place of victory today.

S – I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. ¹⁴ He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one 

that will not be destroyed. 

Daniel  7:13–14 CSB

O – Commentary:

In the third major portion of this vision Daniel saw the Son of Man approaching the Ancient of Days. Jesus Christ, taking the title “Son of Man” from this prophecy, frequently used it to refer to Himself (as recorded in the Gospels; cf. comments on Mark 8:31; John 1:51). When the Son of Man was brought into the presence of the Ancient of Days, all the authority, glory, and sovereign power that had been exercised by rulers in the four kingdoms over all peoples, nations, and men of every language (cf. Dan. 3:4, 7; 4:1; 5:19; 6:25) was conferred on Him and those peoples worshiped Him. This is in keeping with the Father’s promise to the Son in Psalm 2:6–9, and will be fulfilled at Christ’s Second Advent (Matt. 24:30; 25:31; Rev. 11:15).

The Son of Man will establish an everlasting dominion or kingdom (cf. Dan. 4:34; 7:27). That kingdom will never be conquered by another (cf. 6:26). His reign will be established on earth (Rev. 20:1–6). At the expiration of the 1,000 years of the Lord’s millennial reign, He will surrender the kingdom to God the Father, after which Christ will be appointed as Ruler over God’s eternal kingdom forever 

 J. Dwight Pentecost, “Daniel,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1351.

A – Fascinating to see the same events depicted in Revelation, Isaiah and now Daniel.  There is a time coming where there will be tribulation ending in Jesus coming to judge the world.  We need to make sure our hearts and relationship with him is strong and healthy.

R – Heavenly Father, you are righteous judge and God.  Thank you for the opportunity to know you through the blood of Jesus on the cross.  Empower us to accept and know you more in our relationship with you today.