S – For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side ⁴⁴ and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” 

Luke 19:43–44 ESV

O – Commentary:

Jesus showed compassion on Jerusalem but He also foretold that days would come when it would lie in ruins. Jesus rejected Jerusalem because Jerusalem rejected Him. He wept over the city because its people did not understand the significance of what was going on that day—that national acceptance of Him on that day would bring them peace. Because the people did not recognize the time of God’s coming to them (v. 44), the city would be totally destroyed. Roman soldiers did this starting in a.d. 70.

 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), 253–254.

A – Jesus wept because the Jewish nation did not accept Him as the Messiah.  Imagine God’s heart the world when they do not accept Him as God.  Those who do recognize him as the one, true God will be rewarded and those who do not will be punished.  Jesus clearly demonstrates the heart of God desires for relationship and acceptance.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the one, true God.  We accept you as the God of all.  We recognize your rightful place and want to be in a relationship with you.  Empower us by your Holy Spirit to help others see and accept you.

S – But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 18:13–14 ESV

O – Commentary:

The purposes of the Parable of the Prayers of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector were to show that one cannot trust in himself for righteousness and should not view others with contempt (v. 9). The Pharisee’s prayer was concerned with telling God what a good man he was, for not only did he keep the Law by fasting and tithing (v. 12), but also he considered himself better than other people (v. 11). He was using other people as his standard for measuring righteousness.

On the other hand the tax collector used God as his standard for measuring righteousness. He realized that he had to throw himself on the mercy of God for forgiveness

 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), 250.

A – Great principle for us to practice today – Use God as a the standard for measuring righteousness and not ourselves.  It isn’t our list of accomplishments or good deeds.  It is our faith in God to provide the righteousness that none of us have.

R – Heavenly Father, you are just and righteous.  Empower our faith to trust you and elevate you as the standard for righteousness.  As we trust and obey you, help our hearts to align with yours and do your will today.

S – Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; ¹⁶ and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. ¹⁷ Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?

Luke 17:15–17 ESV

O – Commentary:

The lack of gratitude by the other nine was typical of the rejection of His ministry by the Jewish nation. He alone had the power to cleanse the nation and make it ceremonially clean. However, the nation did not respond properly to Him. The nation accepted the things that Jesus could do (such as heal them and feed them), but it did not want to accept Him as Messiah. However, those outside the nation (such as this Samaritan leper—a person doubly repulsive to the Jews) were responding.

 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), 248.

A – Two questions from this story. Do we accept God’s can do for us more than who He is to us?  Do we express glory and praise when He works in our lives?  We will never be perfect in either question but we should be moving closer to honoring God in both.  All of us have the opportunity to put God in his rightful place in our lives and give him honor for his many blessings.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  Thank you for being our God – you know and love us personally.  Thank you for your many blessings and things you do that empower us in our gifts and talents.  We love you!

S – One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

Luke 16:10 ESV

O – Jesus shares a universal principle.  The faithful person with little will show the same conviction and dedication with much.  The opposite is true as well.  A person of little commitment will show the same for both small and large responsibilities.

A – Jesus does not discourage gaining wealth.  He actually says it can be an effective tool in sharing the gospel.  Then, he challenges the individual to become faithful and honest stewards of the wealth are given.  If we do this well with little, more will be given to us.  All along the journey, using the wealth as a way of sharing the gospel with others.

R – Heavenly Father, you are Jehovah Jireh, our Provider.  You give us everything we need.  We choose to be faithful and honest in our stewardship of all that you have blessed us with.  Continue to show us how we can share the gospel with the resources you give us.

S – And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. ²¹

Luke 15:20–21 CSB

O – Commentary:

It was a breach of an elderly Jewish man’s dignity to run, though familial love could take priority over dignity after a long absence (cf. Tobit 11:9—mother and son). Given the normal garb, the father would have to pull up his skirt to run. Kissing was a conventional greeting for family members or intimate friends; normally it consisted of a light kiss on the lips (easily distinguishable from lovers’ passionate kisses).

 Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014), 221–222.

A – While he was “a long way off,” his father saw him, felt “a deep, visceral sense of sympathy” and it caused him to run toward him.  All of this is counterintuitive to our human nature.  Yet, it is the perfect analogy of God’s love for us.  He loved us while we were sinners, felt compassion to meet our disobedience and self reliance and he moved from heaven to earth to meet us in our sin.  He had every right and dignity to not move…but he did.

R – Heavenly Father, you are mercy, grace and truth.  Thank you for loving us so much that you moved toward us in our sin.  Thank you for your mercy and grace that forgives us of all things.  We invite your Holy Spirit to work in us today to grow us into your character and love.

S – Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? ³⁵ It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” 

Luke 14:34–35 ESV

O – Commentary:

Salt … if it loses its flavor: Sodium chloride cannot actually lose its saltiness. Jesus might be speaking hypothetically (if salt were to lose), or he might be referring to a combination of minerals that included salt. The salt around the Dead Sea was a mixture of sodium chloride and other minerals. When the sodium chloride was removed, what was left behind was “salt” without saltiness.

14:35 good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile: Salt had various uses in the ancient world, including flavoring (14:34), preserving, and weed-killing. The sludge left after removing the sodium chloride was useless.

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Lk 14:34–35.

A – A little salt changes the flavor of food, breaks down ice, and preserves meat.  Salt is very versatile and has many uses as long as it keeps its composition including sodium chloride.  If that is removed, it is useless.  As Christians, what makes us different is the spirit of God living in us and operating through us.  If we don’t grow that relationship and use our God given gifts, our “saltiness” becomes stale.  Let’s commit to staying “salty” in our relationship with God.

R – Heavenly Father, you are God of all things.  Empower us to use our God given gifts and identity to share your love with others.  We want to grow our ability to do this with the help of your Holy Spirit. Thank you for blessing us today.

S – And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” 
Luke 13:29–30 CSB

O – Commentary:
Jesus explained that Gentiles would be added to the kingdom in place of Jewish people (Luke 13:29–30). People coming from the four corners of the world represent various population groups. Those listening to Jesus’ words should not have been surprised by this teaching because the prophets had often said the same thing. However, Jews in Jesus’ day believed that Gentiles were inferior to them. When Jesus had begun His ministry in Nazareth, His teaching of Gentile inclusion had so maddened the crowd that they tried to kill Him (4:13–30). The Jewish people considered themselves to be first in every way, but they would be last, that is, they would be left out of the kingdom. In contrast, some Gentiles, considered last, would be in the kingdom and would really be first in importance (13:30)
 
John A. Martin, “Luke,” (https://ref.ly/logosres/bkc?ref=Bible.Lk13.22-30&off=2029&ctx=ved+in+the+kingdom.+~Jesus+explained+that) 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), 241.

A – Jesus restated what was spoken throughout the Old Testament.  The kingdom of God was for all people, not just the Jewish nation. As he moves closer to Jerusalem and his crucifixion, this is an important principle for his disciples to remember as they build the early church.

R – Heavenly Father, you are God of all people.  Thank you for loving all of us so we could have the opportunity to be in a relationship with you.  We want to get to know you better and grow our relationship with you today.

S – Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. 
Luke 12:48 CSB

O – Jesus uses this theme a couple of times in his ministry.  For believers and unbelievers, we have access to so much information about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  We will be accountable for what we do with it.

A – Earlier in the chapter, it talks about how important we are to God.  When we begin to build that relationship with him, we unlock his character and love in our lives.  We are responsible for what we do with our relationship with God.  Just as in our most important human relationships, we should desire greater intimacy and understanding with Him.

T – Heavenly Father, you are the only true God.  We choose you above all things that want to elevate themselves above you.  We want to know you more each day.  Empower us today to grow deeper and more intimate with you.

S – The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners
Isaiah 61:1 CSB

O – Commentary:
Three factors indicate that Me refers to the Messiah: (1) The association of the Holy Spirit with the anointing points to Jesus Christ. After being anointed with oil, Israel’s first two kings, Saul and David, were blessed with the Spirit’s ministry (1 Sam. 10:1, 10; 16:13). Similarly Christ was anointed by the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:16–17) to be Israel’s King. The Hebrew word for Messiah (māšîaḥ) means “the Anointed One,” and Christ (christos, from chriō, “to anoint”) is the Greek equivalent of māšîaḥ. (2) Part of this passage (Isa. 61:1–2a) was read by Jesus (Luke 4:18–19) in reference to Himself. (3) The mission of this Anointed One was Jesus’ ministry: to preach good news, to heal and free (Isa. 61:1; cf. 42:7), to proclaim … favor and … vengeance (61:2), and to comfort (vv. 2–3). When Jesus read from this passage He stopped in the middle of the sentence, after the word “favor” (Luke 4:18–19). By doing this He was showing that His work would be divided into two advents. In His First Advent He did the things mentioned in Isaiah 61:1–2a; in His Second Advent He will do the things in verses 2b–3. When He returns He will bring judgment on unbelievers 
 John A. Martin, “Isaiah,” (https://ref.ly/logosres/bkc?ref=Bible.Is61.1-3&off=117&ctx=d%2c+and+the+Messiah.+~Three+factors+indica) 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), 1116.

A – Isaiah’s words were shared for generations until the arrival of Jesus.  He read them and asserted that he was the promised messiah. This is our mission as well.  Walk with the spirit daily, share the gospel, be a conduit of healing physically, spiritually and emotionally and show the way to freedom in all areas of our lives.  We can do this.

R – Heavenly Father, you are our messiah and savior.  Empower us to walk in the same ministry that Jesus did.  Help us to see the value in others to share the good news with them and help them face life’s challenges.  We have the presence and power of God in us, we can do this.

S – All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Luke 10:22 ESV

O – Commentary:

Jewish texts did speak of unique mediators of revelation (e.g., Moses), but in this period the role here ascribed to the Son as the sole revealer of the Father and as the content of the Father’s revelation is held in Jewish texts only by Wisdom, personified as a divine power second only to God.

Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014), 207.

A – There is a special relationship between God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus as a human.  It gives us a blueprint for us to follow.  Honor God, Be like Jesus and Invite the Holy Spirit to empower us each day.  Simple but similar to the relationship that God and Jesus enjoyed.

R- Heavenly Father, you are God, Son and Holy Spirit.  Thank you for the role each of you play in our lives.  Help us to honor you, be more like Jesus and invite the Holy Spirit into our lives today.