S – ²² Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 

²³ But detecting their craftiness, he said to them, ²⁴ “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” 

“Caesar’s,” they said. 

²⁵ “Well then,” he told them, “give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 

Luke 20:22–25 CSB

O – Commentary:

Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not? But this question was not merely about money. It pertained to politics and religion as well. If Jesus gave either a yes or a no answer He would lose support. If He said it was proper to pay taxes to Caesar, a foreign ruler (viz., Tiberius Caesar, a.d. 14–37), the zealots (who opposed Roman rule and favored Jewish autonomy) would be offended by His answer. If He answered that it was not proper to pay taxes (which the religious leaders might have suspected because He had been teaching about the kingdom), then the Romans would be displeased and the religious leaders would be able to turn Him over to their authority.

Jesus, pointing to the portrait and inscription of Caesar on a denarius coin (cf. 7:41; 10:35), answered in the affirmative: Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. But He also used the occasion to teach that one should give to God the thing that bears His image—oneself (and to God what is God’s).

“Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – The wisdom to navigate such a precarious question is amazing.  Jesus speaks the truth, teaches principles and guides the listeners through the spiritual and physical realm.  It is remarkable!  We need to ask God to give us the wisdom and discernment to do the same as we go through our day.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the King of Kings and you have no rival.  Please grow wisdom and discernment in us to navigate today’s challenges.  We want to see how things are in the physical and spiritual realm.  We want to honor you and value others as we go through our day.

S – Now he came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen: 

³⁸ Blessed is the King who comes 

in the name of the Lord.^, 

Peace in heaven 

and glory in the highest heaven! 

³⁹ Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 

⁴⁰ He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out.” 

Luke 19:37–40 CSB

O – Commentary:

The whole crowd of disciples (mathētōn) began joyfully to praise God … for all the miracles (dynameōn, “evidences of spiritual power”) they had seen. These believers quoted (v. 38a) from Psalm 118:26, a messianic psalm of praise. The Pharisees understood the meaning of what was going on, for they told Jesus to rebuke His followers, so they would stop calling him Messiah or King.

Jesus responded that there must be some proclamation that He is the Messiah. If not, even inanimate objects (stones) would be called on to testify for Him. All history had pointed toward this single, spectacular event when the Messiah publicly presented Himself to the nation, and God desired that this fact be acknowledged.

“Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – God (Jesus) is not only worthy of praise and honor, it is not optional.  This is a great reminder check ourselves.  Do we praise and worship God?  It isn’t just singing.  It is proclamation, how we live, our attitudes towards Him and our reverence.  We cannot just give him “lip service.”  We must have a posture of awe, reverence and exaltation in our thoughts, words and actions.

R – Heavenly Father, we praise and worship you as the one, true God!  There is none like you.  We stand in awe of a holy God, who created all, holds all things and yet, still knows us intimately.  We are grateful for all that your love does to bring us into an intimate relationship with you.

S – But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me,^, a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

Luke 18:13–14 CSB

O – Commentary:

Standing with eyes and hands lifted to heaven was a common posture of prayer in antiquity (as well as in some other cultures). Beating one’s breast was a sign of great mourning or grief, in this case in *repentance for sin (which in Jewish custom was expressed by mourning). The tax gatherer’s prayer for mercy involves no deliberate act of restitution, and hence many of Jesus’ contemporaries would judge it invalid.

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition 

A – God wants a humble expression of repentance.  A genuine recognition of our sin keeps us in a posture of knowing that we are broken and fallible but it shouldn’t cause us to belittle the ourselves.  Humility in repentance comes from aligning ourselves with the standard of who God is.  The Pharisee’s standard was all the good things he did…not God.  The tax collector realized he didn’t meet God’s character in his action.  We can repent genuinely and still value ourselves and the gifts God gives us.

R – Heavenly Father, you are omnipotent and all powerful.  We ask you to forgive us for the sins in our lives.  We cannot do this on our own but only through the blood of Jesus.  You are our standard and we fall short.  Please empower us to live our lives in a way that honors you and allows us to impact others with our gifts and talents.

S – As he entered a village, ten men with leprosy^, met him. They stood at a distance ¹³ and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 

¹⁴ When he saw them, he told them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And while they were going, they were cleansed. 

¹⁵ But one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and, with a loud voice, gave glory to God. ¹⁶ He fell facedown at his feet, thanking him. And he was a Samaritan.

Luke 17:12–16 CSB

O – Because of their disease, the lepers stood far away from Jesus.  Jewish law and culture prohibited them from being close or touching others.  When they obeyed Jesus’ command, only one came back to Jesus and said thank you.  He was not Jewish.

A – Gratitude brought the man who only knew distance into proximity with Jesus.  He never knew closeness or the power of touch.  Once he encountered Christ, he was healed and brought near.  We must never take for granted the life changing power of God.  Gratitude should be foundational in our relationship with him – it brings us closer to Him.

R – Heavenly Father, you are holy, holy, holy.  Thank you for all that you have done for us through Jesus Christ.  You have met us where we are at and healed us from our sin and brokenness.  We are grateful for the closer proximity it brings us to you.

S – Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much

Luke 16:10 CSB

O – Commentary:

 If one is faithful in his use of money, then he can be trusted with greater things. True riches (v. 11) seem to refer to the kingdom’s spiritual riches of which the disciples will partake.

“Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Like all relationships, trust is foundational to their growth.  If we our actions build trust, more will be given.  Like a parent giving their child more responsibility as they grow, God is doing the same with us.  Righteousness follows a similar path.  Both stem from the heart and overflow in our thoughts, words and actions.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Alpha and the Omega and hold all that is in between.  Please help us to grow in our faithfulness and righteousness.  To do this, reveal the things in our hearts that do not line up with your word.  Empower us as we grow in both of these areas so you will trust us with more.

S – ‘Son,’ he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found

Luke 15:31–32 CSB

O – Commentary:

The words, You are always with me and everything I have is yours, suggest the religious leaders’ privileged position as members of God’s Chosen People. They were the recipients and guardians of the covenants and the Law (Rom. 3:1–2; 9:4). Rather than feeling angry, they should rejoice that others were joining them and would be a part of the kingdom.

  “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – The older brother had proximity and resources with his father and still didn’t want to celebrate and value his returned brother. Understandably, his brother wasted his father’s inheritance and came home defeated.  We can be that older brother.  In relationship with God with all of his promises and miss his heart by not loving others.  We must see and value others like God does.  A great test for our humility and security is if we can genuinely celebrate someone else and their wins.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the One, true God.  Please help us today to see others as you do.  We want to value and celebrate others.  Your love for each of us is undeserved.  We need to love each other unconditionally.  When someone takes a step closer to you, we need to rejoice with them.

S – For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

Luke 14:11 CSB

O – Commentary:

Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. This recalls Jesus’ earlier statement that those who are last will be first and those who are first will be last (13:30). The Pharisees, assuming they would have important positions in the kingdom, would be humiliated if they were pushed aside for someone else (14:9). However, if they would humble themselves, then they would perhaps be honored (v. 10).

“Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – When we elevate ourselves, two things usually happen.  We make ourselves look better than we are or we push down others to achieve a higher status.  Both do not model the heart of God.  Humility is not debasing ourselves.  It is confident and secure in the gifts and talents the Lord has given us; whether recognized by others or not.  Making others feel small so we can feel big is not God’s way at all.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  Please help us walk in security and confidence in all that you gifted to us.  Empower us to help others rise to new heights.  You will exalt us in the proper time and experience.

S – As he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath, ¹¹ a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit^, for over eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. ¹² When Jesus saw her, he called out to her, “Woman, you are free of your disability.”

 Luke 13:10–12 CSB

O – “Saw” – ŏptŏmai:  to gaze (i.e. with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable

 James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

A – In freeing the woman of the disabling spirit, Jesus saw the woman.  How did he do that when she was bent over in the crowd?  She wouldn’t be with the men on the floor.  She would be in the balcony with the women.  The answer is Jesus was looking for her with intentionality.  He wanted to see her.  He sees us too.  In all of our good and bad, he is intently looking at us and the condition we are in spiritually and physically.  Since we know this, we should invite his presence instead of hiding from it.

R – Heavenly Father, you are omnipresent.  Thank you for being with us at all times.  Give us the resolve not to hide from you.  Instead, come to you in transparency and invite you to remove anything that would hinder our relationship with you.

S – For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

Luke 12:34 CSB

O – Bible Dictionary:

“Treasure” – thēsaurŏs:  a deposit, i.e. wealth (lit. or fig.):— treasure.

“Heart” – kardia:  the heart, i.e. (fig.) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by anal.) the middle:— (+ broken-) heart (-ed

James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

A – Money is often the main association when it comes to treasure.  (Financial wealth was the focus of the verses before this).  Treasure goes beyond wealth.  It is anything you center your life around and pursue.  Anything can be our treasure – family, business, relationships, health – can also be prominent in our lives.  And, they are all good things as is finances.  The tough question is “Are they more important than a relationship with God?”  God must be first and everything else falls beneath Him.

R – Heavenly Father, you are Jehovar Jireh, our provider.  Help us to trust you to provide for all of the things in our lives that we need.  You promise to do this.  We do not have to be anxious about when or where  your provision will come.  Your love us and will give us what we need today.

S – So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened

Luke 11:9–10 CSB

O – Commentary:

Jesus encouraged the people of God to ask. He noted that natural fathers give good food to their children rather than something that would harm them…How much more will the heavenly Father give what is good to His children.

Jesus stated that this good gift is the Holy Spirit, the most important gift that followers of Jesus would receive (cf. Acts 2:1–4). The heavenly Father gives both heavenly gifts and earthly gifts. Believers today are not to pray for the Holy Spirit because this prayer of the disciples (for the Holy Spirit) was answered at Pentecost (cf. Rom. 8:9)

“Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – When we approach God in relationship, it makes asking much easier.  We are not approaching a figure head or an distant “power.”  We are going to our Heavenly Father in relationship and making requests known to him.  Just as a good parent knows what is best for their child, God interacts with us in love.  Even though there is tension in the requests, timing, expectations, and fulfillment of those requests, God’s unchanging love is the foundation.

R – Heavenly Father, you are unlimited and all powerful.  Give us the understanding how to ask of you.  Keep us from entitlement of what we think we deserve.  Also, don’t let us lack in our faith and trust that you can do it.  Let us confidently come to you in faith and ask…knowing that we can trust your timing and fulfillment to be in our best interest.