Burunche’s Blog

Luke 9:57-62 The Cost of Discipleship (Matthew 8:18-22; Luke 14:25-33; John 6:60-65)

“As they were walking along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow You wherever You go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.”

The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.”

Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

The morning Jesus begins making these statements, the disciples are really scratching their heads. You can almost hear them thinking, “Jesus! What do you think you are doing? Don’t you know that if you want to be inclusive, you shouldn’t be discouraging people this way?” Jesus knows exactly what his disciples are thinking; that’s why he is saying these things.

What the disciples can’t see and what Jesus already knows is that following him is going to be both the very best thing the disciples have ever done and also the most dangerous. Jesus knows that the religious professionals are out to get him any way they can and that sooner or later, they’ll succeed. When that day arrives, anyone found following Jesus will be persecuted and possibly even killed.

Let’s look at what we can learn from these three men. “As they were walking along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow You wherever You go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”  Matthew tells us that this was one of the scribes who made this statement just as Jesus gave orders to cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus recognizes that this man wants to follow him…as long as it’s pleasant and convenient. Right now the sky is blue, the sun is shining, and the birds are singing. But this man has no idea that Jesus must depend on the kindness of others for everything, including a place to sleep. What happens when a cold rain is falling and nobody offers shelter? Jesus might wind up sleeping in a cave, not an inviting thought.

Jesus wants this man to think carefully before he makes commitments he can’t possibly keep. And this man is used to public approval. What happens when Jesus falls into disfavor? What happens if Jesus is dragged before the Sanhedrin, the religious court? John 12:43 tells us that there were many religious leaders who were secret followers of Jesus but who feared to be open about it, “for they loved the glory of men more than the glory of God.”

Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.”

The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Was this man’s father dead already? Chances are good that the man’s father was hale and hearty with every intention of living several more years. No matter how dedicated a son this man appears to be, he’s really concerned with securing his inheritance once his father dies. Should this man’s father die while he is moving around the country with Jesus, he might lose out entirely. Jesus knows all this and that’s why he elicits a response by telling the man to follow him. This man isn’t even pretending to be a follower; he’s merely a listener. No way is this man stepping out into an uncertain future! And why should this man proclaim the kingdom of God? Aren’t there enough rabbis and teachers of the Law already?

“Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.”

Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Now this sounds really harsh unless we consider the type of farewell this man has in mind. It’s likely that this guy isn’t simply thinking of stopping by the house and kissing everybody goodbye before setting off. No, this man wants proper farewell parties with some recognition of the sacrifice he is making so everybody can admire his willingness to suffer. Jesus knows that taking this man as a disciple would be a disaster, for he would always be finding excuses for running back to his family instead of obeying Jesus. This man’s feet may be headed in one direction, but he will always have his face turned toward home, no matter the fine statements he is making now.

Whether done with animals or with a tractor, plowing requires concentration and fixing your eyes on a distant goal to maintain straight lines when you plow. If you are forever turning your head, your plow will make huge skunk tracks across the field. (Skunks never walk in straight lines but wander around.)  

Jesus is trying to emphasize that discipleship is going to COST! Luke records more of Jesus’ discussion in Luke 14:25-35 “Large crowds were now traveling with Jesus, and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.” Condemned criminals were forced to carry parts of their crosses to the execution site before being crucified. In effect, Jesus is warning the crowd that anyone following him must be prepared to die for his loyalty to Jesus.

“Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it? Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’ 1Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand? And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace.

In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.

Salt is good, but if the salt loses its savor, with what will it be seasoned? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile, and it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Disciples who talk a good game but who don’t live up to their boasting are like salt that has lost its flavor-useless!

Eventually, the disciples learn the truth of the teachings Jesus is giving this morning. Most of the disciples will die as martyrs, but they will die praising God and the earth will be glad for their lives and their examples. These men will eventually pay the price of discipleship in full.

What of us? We might feel that we have no desire to suffer, but how much control do we really have over our lives? Isn’t it better to follow God and His leading than to wander blindly like someone plowing while distracted? When we follow God, our lives will count for something; if we live only to please ourselves, we will fail and live lives of futility.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives and not to waver. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Luke 13:6-9 The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

“He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ”

Unless you understand the context in which Jesus tells this story, it might make much sense. Here are the verses in Luke 13 that precede this parable: Luke 13:1-5 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

The general view the crowd around Jesus has is that those who suffer must be horrible sinners and therefore worthy of punishment or even death. “Those who suffer must really deserve such horrible fates!” is the thinking of the crowd. Jesus turns that idea on its head, avowing that the victims of two recent tragedies are simply that, victims and not particularly terrible sinners. But Jesus also warns the crowd to repent. By this point, some people are probably thinking, “REPENT? HOW? I feel stuck with what I am!” That’s when Jesus tells the story of the barren fig tree.

The first question we need to ask is this: How soon after a fig tree is planted will it bear fruit? HGTV gives us the answer: “Most fig trees take three to five years to start ripening fruit. Prior to that, figs may form along stems where each leaf attaches, but they won’t ripen.” The owner of the vineyard is impatient and has been expecting fruit from a recently-planted fig tree, refusing to allow it time to develop. At this point, many of Jesus’ listeners are probably standing there thinking, “This guy knows nothing about fig trees! What does he expect?”

The keeper of the vineyard is much smarter and advises his master to allow him time to dig around the tree, breaking up the soil, thereby softening the soil,  allowing the roots to expand for moisture to better reach the roots and to fertilize the tree as well. The crowd thinks, “Well, OK. Great story, Jesus, but what’s the point?”

Jesus links the tragedies of the martyred worshipers and those crushed by a falling tower with his story of a barren fig tree to advise the crowd to examine their lives. When the leaves appear on fig trees, fruit should also appear. But some fig trees will bear leaves but no fruit, promising something they cannot deliver. Jesus is warning his listeners not to be barren fig trees full of leaves without fruit.

What’s the point of mentioning the actions of the gardener? Ah, that’s the main part of the story. Despite our best efforts, we are all barren fig trees promising righteousness without being able to deliver it. But God is a faithful and patient Gardener who refuses to give up on any of us. Just as the gardener in the story plans to carefully tend the tree to give it the best chance to bear, so God persistently continues to bring things into our lives to cause us to repent and turn to Him. God breaks up the hard soil of our prejudices and preconceived notions. God may strip us of anything that will keep us from coming to Him while we stand and wail about how harshly God is dealing with us.

Chuck Colson was a top lawyer for President Nixon until he wound up in prison over the Watergate affair that drove Nixon out of office. At that point, it appeared that Colson’s career was over and in a shambles. But while in prison, Colson had time to read and to reflect. Not only did Colson accept Christ while in prison, but when he came out, he founded Prison Fellowship International. Prison Fellowship describes itself this way: “Prison Fellowship International is the world’s largest, most extensive network of Christian ministries working in the criminal justice field. Through compelling programs and practices, we pursue restoration and healing in response to crime so that offenders are transformed, relationships are reconciled and communities are restored….Prison Fellowship International’s work is accomplished in more than 120 countries on six continents through multi-denominational, indigenous and autonomous National Ministries – powered by more than 60,000 local volunteers. This grassroots presence enables ministry to prisoners, their families and victims in culturally relevant ways.”   

All this ministry has happened because an arrogant Washington, D.C. lawyer, a barren fig tree, went to prison and God the Celestial Gardener, began digging around his roots and fertilizing his soul.

When the gardener in the story began digging around the fig tree’s roots, the fig tree was undoubtedly disturbed! “What’s this guy doing? Why won’t he just let me alone?” But the gardener knew that unless he dug around those roots and spread smelly fertilizer, the fig tree was doomed. The very actions that were disturbing the fig tree were the actions that would save it from destruction.

What about us? Have we repented and are we bearing fruit, or are we leafy fig trees, making a good show but producing nothing? The amazing thing about God is that He will never give up on you. You can pray right now, asking God for forgiveness for your sins and for help to follow Him.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we confess that we are sinners and nothing we do is enough to cancel out those sins. We want to turn away from our sins, but we are stuck. Please deliver us from our sins and help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 25:31-46 The Sheep and the Goats

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.

Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’

Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’

And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’

Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

And they too will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’

Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’

And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.”

Once more, Jesus is speaking to an audience well-acquainted with farm animals. Even in cities and towns, goats and sheep freely roam the streets, leaving their droppings behind.  Everyone knows that sheep are docile with sweet dispositions and are easily led, while goats are stubborn, willful, and will go their own way whenever possible. Experienced shepherds must handle sheep and goats differently if they are to succeed. And there’s also another thing: While sheep do have some odor, goats STINK! Bottom line: shepherds will separate sheep from goats and handle the two groups differently. Here the righteous are represented by the sheep while the unrighteous are represented by the goats.

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’

Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’

And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’”

One of our friends says, “It’s all about choices.” Throughout their lives, the righteous have consistently chosen to help and to minister to all those around them. Notice that the King says nothing about how deserving the people were who benefited from these efforts, for mercy gives freely without judging. We have many friends who work in various ministries, including prison Bible studies, half-way houses for those released from prison, projects such as Angel Tree for children from poor families, shelters for battered women and children, food banks, etc. At the mission hospital where we work, we support patients and their families who need food and medicine. Recently farming seasons have yielded little, leaving our rural population in great need. Nobody can do everything at once, but when you open your eyes, God can show you the needs He wants you to help address. Here Jesus is saying that whenever we help someone, it is as if we were helping Him.

“Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

And they too will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’

Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

At one point in Charles Dickens’ book A Christmas Carol, Marley’s ghost laments, “Business! Mankind was my business!” Sadly, it was only after Marley had died that he recognized his failure to care. But all of us are still alive and we can begin helping others today. It’s interesting but true that some of the most generous people we know are also the poorest because they know what it means to suffer and therefore have compassion on others. Mother Teresa made a similar observation working with the poor in Calcutta, India. You might feel that you have nothing to give; however, if you go through your closet, there are probably clothes you haven’t worn for some time that would bless someone else. We have a friend who must own 50 or more pairs of shoes, but nobody can wear more than one pair of shoes at a time. Look in the back of your cupboard and see if you don’t have cans of food that would bless others.

Helping others will not allow you to buy your way into heaven. We don’t help because we are trying to manipulate God but out of gratitude for what God has already done for us. Each one of us has been born with a sin problem and nothing we do is sufficient to wipe out our sin and make us acceptable to a holy God. But Jesus has shed his blood on the cross at Calvary as a sacrifice for our sins. When we confess our sins to God and accept what Jesus has done for us, God sees us as righteous. Once we are trusting in Jesus for our righteousness, we want to do things that will please him and not ourselves. Here Jesus is telling his disciples and believers in all times that if we have changed our nature from a goat nature to a sheep nature, we should show others mercy as we have received mercy.

Finally, we should heed the warning embodied in the final sentence of this parable. When we refuse to show others mercy and to help others, it is as if we have refused to help God. Each time we turn away or stop our ears so we can ignore the cries of the poor, we are turning away from God. God is not refusing us; we are refusing God and making eternal choices in the process.

This story follows the stories of the foolish virgins and the man who wasted the money his master gave him to invest. In each story Jesus is trying to warn his followers to be faithful, to be watchful, and to be merciful and charitable. Jesus knows he is about to die, and these are some of his final teachings. Jesus is desperate for his followers to understand the workings of the Kingdom of God because once he is gone, they must carry on.

This story also graphically illustrates a Kingdom principle that Jesus emphasizes repeatedly: the measure you give out is the measure you will receive. The more generous you are, the more God can give you to give others. When George Mueller began taking in orphaned children in Bristol, England, he started quite modestly. Before Mueller died, the orphanages he founded were caring for thousands of children at a time, not only feeding and clothing them but also educating them as well. In addition, Mueller was also supporting the China Inland Mission as well as other Bible teachers in various parts of the world, and he himself traveled the world preaching and encouraging others to trust God.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help all those who read these words to trust You and to become your sheep, helping and caring for others. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 25:14-30The Parable of the Talents

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 

After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Again, Jesus knows he is in the final days of his life here on earth and is trying to warn his disciples to be ready and to be faithful. It’s quite possible that Jesus and the disciples know a merchant who has done something of the sort. A talent of silver weighs about 75 pounds and would represent between 15-20 years’ wages for a common working man, or as much as one million dollars or more. This merchant is obviously very wealthy to be able to give out a total of 8 talents to his servants. Such a man must have many servants; however, he has chosen to specially bless these three men.

The master understands the relative abilities of these men and gives out his money accordingly. By the time the merchant returns, the first two servants have invested the money entrusted to them and have doubled it, proving they are both canny and faithful. But then there’s servant number three.

Evidently, for years, servant number three has gone around hating and resenting his master, doing the minimum to get by, and generally being a Debbie downer. If the other two servants can find a silver lining in every cloud, this guy can find a cloud for every silver lining. While others are seeing glasses as half-full, this guy is seeing glasses as half empty and about to fall off the table and break anyway. When the master gives servant number three one talent to invest, this man views this gift as a trap. What’s the master trying to do? Is the master trying to lure this man into making mistakes so he can dismiss him from his service? This man suspects his master has never really liked him anyway and is discriminating against him.

This servant doesn’t trust his master and believes the very worst of him, so he simply buries the talent. By not taking any risks, this servant believes he is protecting himself; after all, the master hates him and that’s why the master has only given him one talent while he has given the other two servants more. Listening to this description, the disciples probably wonder why a right-thinking merchant would trust such a man with any amount of money, let alone a whole talent.

Jesus continues the story. After a long trip to a far country lasting several years, the merchant returns and meets with his servants to settle accounts. The first two servants have been fabulously successful, doubling the sums given to them. Perhaps these two have worked together; at any rate, their master is thrilled. Both men receive the highest commendation possible: “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ “

Now it’s the turn of servant number three. While the other two men have dressed as nicely as possible to honor their master’s return, this man is wearing his ordinary street clothes and comes in dragging his feet and wringing his hands. “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’”  This servant practically throws the money at his master’s feet because he is so disgusted.

Say what? If this merchant is such a terrible master, why has this man worked for him for all these years? And if this servant hasn’t felt competent to invest the money himself, why hasn’t he allowed someone else to do it? Giving the money out to a bank would have removed the burden from this man’s head. “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.” 

This man has allowed himself to become bitter over nothing; his master undoubtedly has many other servants to whom he has not given any money to be invested. This servant has been given a unique opportunity but he has totally misread the situation and has wasted the chance of a lifetime. And now the master pronounces his judgment: “So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.’ For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

What is the lesson for us from this story? If we are following God, we are all His servants. God doesn’t make cookie-cutter people; each of us is unique. Each of us has received different abilities from God. God will not hold us responsible for someone else’s gifts; however, we are responsible for the abilities God has given us. We are also responsible for telling others about God and encouraging others as much as possible. In the kingdom of God there are no little people; God wants each of us to use the abilities He has given us. At the same time, we must remember that God is also the One who will give us the strength and the courage to use those abilities. While the merchant in the story gave out his money and then traveled, God is not an absentee Master but a present one. Remember that in Matthew 11:30 Jesus tells us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. May God help us to use our gifts and talents as wisely as possible!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to use all the talents You have given us to bless those around us. Help us to be faithful stewards. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

Matthew 25:1-13 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,  but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

Jesus is entering his last few days on earth and he’s doing everything he can to advise and warn his disciples. For us to understand this parable, we need to know some of the traditions surrounding marriage in Jesus’ time. Couples would become engaged during a ceremony in which the groom would give the bride money or something valuable such as a ring. Then there would be a year of betrothal during which the groom would prepare a dwelling place for the bride while the bride would prepare her personal possessions such as clothing, lamps, etc.

While the bride might have a general idea of the date and time at which the groom would come for her, the groom’s father would decide when the groom should collect the bride. Not even the groom would know the precise details until his father would make the announcement. The bride-and her friends-had to keep their lamps ready in case the bridegroom came at night. Even after the wedding had been announced, those wishing to attend the ceremony might wait for several hours before the groom would finally appear. Nobody would want to miss the groom’s arrival because once the groom arrived and the guests entered, the doors would be locked for the sake of security.

Listening to this story, Jesus’ followers were probably snickering to themselves. Who in their right mind would be so stupid as to fail to carry along extra lamp oil? Of course, bridegrooms always arrived with very little notice and generally at night-this was a given. And no sensible guest would fail to make adequate provision, for once inside the marriage feast, the celebration would be worth all the time and effort spent on preparation. Inside the celebration, there would be delicious food and wine with singing and dancing. A wealthy family might even supply special clothing. Yes, wedding celebrations were worth any amount of work.

In these last few days, Jesus repeatedly warns his disciples that just as the bridegroom’s father controls the date and time of the wedding, so his Heavenly Father is the only one who knows the time Jesus will return. Just as the bridegroom arrives when he is least expected, so Jesus’ return will be equally sudden. Anyone refusing to prepare is as foolish as friends of the bride who assume their current oil will be sufficient.

At any point prior to the groom’s arrival, the five foolish virgins could have bought extra oil, but they did not. Those young ladies had plenty of opportunities to prepare, but they were complacent, sure that nobody would ever turn them away. Jesus is warning his followers that they too must not relax, assuming that they will be acceptable to a Holy God on their own merits.  

During such celebrations, there would always be guests known to the bride or her family but not known to the groom. Those entering along with the bridegroom could easily be introduced to the groom so that he would know them; however, those trying to enter after the groom and the main group were inside could find themselves turned away. The final statement by the bridegroom is chilling,” ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’”

At this point, Jesus’ listeners might be gasping. How horrible! To be locked out of a wedding celebration and spurned by the bridegroom-how shameful! And now Jesus delivers a final warning:  “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

What does this parable mean for us? When Jesus’ followers demanded to know when he would return, Jesus told them, ”And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” (Acts 1:7) None of us knows how long we might live, and none of us knows the problems we might encounter. The only time we have is today, this hour, this minute. If we insist on depending on our own righteousness, we are doomed, just like those foolish virgins who were sure they had enough oil without making any additional provisions. But what we cannot do for ourselves, God has already done, sending Jesus to die for our sins. We can refuse to accept that sacrifice or we can humble ourselves to accept it. Once more, Jesus is warning all of us, “Be ready!”

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we confess that we are sinners and that nothing we can do is enough for us to earn our way into heaven. Please help us to trust in Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. Thank You for Your promise of eternal life when we trust in Jesus. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

Readiness at Any Hour (Matthew 24:36-51; Mark 13:32-37)

Luke 12:35-48 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning. Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them. Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed!

But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”

“Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”

And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day he does not anticipate and at an hour he does not expect. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows. But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.”

Jesus is telling this story immediately after telling the story of the rich fool. Jesus assures his followers, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no storehouse or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? So if you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the lilies grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith!

And do not be concerned about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it. For the Gentiles of the world strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek Hise kingdom, and these things will be added unto you.

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:22-34)

Having warned listeners not to behave like the rich fool, Jesus now tells the story of servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet. Wedding banquets generally take place at night and can last most of the night. Wedding guests might not return home until the early hours of the morning, meaning that servants must be ready at any moment to open the door for their master. Jesus goes on to say, “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them. Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed!”

By now, the disciples are scratching their heads. Nobody has ever heard of a master who turns around to serve the servants, encouraging them to recline at table while he waits on them. And any master who returns during the second or third watch of the night is more likely to go to bed immediately rather than wait on his servants. If that concept is baffling, Jesus continues to baffle his disciples by quoting a local proverb, “If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.” The disciples are standing there thinking, “Of course. Everybody knows that.” Then Jesus advises, “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”  

By now, the disciples are beginning to realize there’s more to this story than they have previously realized. That’s when Peter pipes up. “Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”

And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day he does not anticipate and at an hour he does not expect. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows. But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.”

Why is Jesus telling this story? Jesus wants his followers to be aware that he will soon go to his heavenly Father but that he will also return, and that his servants must be ready at all times. No servant wants their master to return suddenly and find them misbehaving. “The master of that servant will come on a day he does not anticipate and at an hour he does not expect. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.”

Jesus also describes servants who know what their master wants but refuse to do it. “That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows. But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows.” What servant wants to be punished? Here Jesus is warning his followers to be faithful so that they will avoid punishment. And then Jesus issues a final warning: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.”

No matter how hard we try, we will never be perfect servants. Each one of us has a sin problem and nothing we can do measures up to the holiness of God. But God in His infinite mercy has sent Jesus to die for our sins, offering his blood in place of ours. Our part is to accept what Jesus has done for us and to follow him and serve him the rest of our lives. When we do this, we will please God and He will forgive us. 1 John 1:8-9 tells us, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We cannot clean ourselves up, but Jesus can do what we cannot.

PRAYER: Father God,  thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. Thank You for sending Jesus as the sacrifice for our sins. Help us to be good and faithful servants, doing Your Will. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

The Parable of the Rich Fool

Luke 16:13-21 “Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?” And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’

This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Jesus frequently starts off with something happening with his listeners or with recent events known to everyone. Here an unhappy guy in the crowd demands Jesus settle his family matter for him. Generally, inheritances won’t be divided until a father dies, and then the eldest son takes a double portion while everyone else takes a single portion. With a clear idea of God’s calling on his life, Jesus refuses to act as a judge or executor. Note that Jesus also refuses to even ask the most basic question: is your father dead or alive? Here Jesus demonstrates a very important point: know your mission and don’t get distracted.

Next, Jesus questions this man’s motives: “And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” OUCH! In case this man hasn’t gotten Jesus’ message clearly, now Jesus is spelling it out for him. To drive home this point, Jesus now tells a story.

“The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’

Jesus tells the story of a rich man who has lived his entire life caring only for himself despite numerous warnings throughout the Mosaic law to care for the poor and marginalized. Leviticus 19:9-10 says, “When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.” 

The rich man Jesus describes is busy harvesting as much as he can from his ground. This is the kind of fellow who will order his servants to reap to the very edges of the field, gathering the gleanings and stripping his vineyards bare. When this man’s fields yield an abundant harvest, this man has choices: he can share this abundance with the poor and the foreigner-a move that would make him a hero in the community-or he can keep it all for himself. But this guy thinks only of himself and his immediate reaction is to tear down his current barns, build bigger ones, and then indulge himself for the rest of his life. Too bad his life is about to end abruptly. “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’”

Years ago, C. J. Studd, the founder of the Worldwide Evangelism Crusade, stated, “Only one life-twill soon be past. Only what’s done for God will last.” Life does not come with any guarantees. Jesus ends his story by commenting, “This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”

At this moment, Elon Musk is rated as the richest man in the world with a net worth of  $252.4 billion. But God is not impressed by wealth, for He is the Lord of the universe. At some point, Mr. Musk will stand before the judgment seat of God and will have to account for the way he has handled that wealth.

How can we be “rich toward God?” Micah 6:8 tells us, “He has shown you, O mankind, what is good.

And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Leviticus 19:9-10 advises us to care for the poor and the foreigners. We need to realize that everything we have is a gift from God, and that we should hold everything loosely, realizing that at any moment God might want us to pass things on to others. As long as we receive things from God with open hands, we will keep acting as channels of blessing. God will bless us as we bless others. May God help us to continue to trust God for His provision.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to hold things loosely so that at any moment we may pass them on to someone else. Help us not to be selfish. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

The Story of the Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37

“One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?”

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.”

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.

Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side.

But when a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, he looked at him and had compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

The next day he took out two denarii (two days’ wages for a working man) and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’

Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

“The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law.

Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

A teacher of the Law has sidled up to Jesus and is now quizzing him. First, the man asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus turns the question back on his examiner, whose answer is straight out of the Scriptures as he quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 ”You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your strength.” and Leviticus 19:18 “…you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.”

This guy isn’t satisfied; he wants to know whom God considers his neighbor. That’s when Jesus tells this story. But before we go into the story, you need to understand who the Samaritans were and why the Jews despised them so.

The city of Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel. Samaria was founded by Omri, the father of wicked King Ahab, and got its name from Shemer, the man from whom Omri bought the hilltop on which he founded the city. When the Northern Kingdom was destroyed by the Assyrians, most of its citizens were slaughtered or carried off into exile. The Assyrians moved in a mixed rabble who began worshiping their own gods. But God sent lions among these people and they had to import a priest to teach them about the worship of the One True Living God. The Samaritans eventually combined worship of their traditional gods with worship of Yaweh, causing the Jews to despise them as heretics. During the time of Jesus, Samaria was located between Galilee to the north and Judea to the south.

Biblestudytools.com tells us, “They established as their center of worship a temple on Mount Gerizim, claiming it was where Moses had originally intended for the Israelites to worship. They had their own unique version of the five books written by Moses, the Pentateuch, but rejected the writings of the prophets and Jewish traditions. The Samaritans saw themselves as the true descendants of Israel and preservers of the true religion, while considering the Jerusalem temple and Levitical priesthood illegitimate. 

When Jews returned to rebuild Jerusalem (under Ezra and Nehemiah), they were opposed by Samaritans. This led to further ill-will as the two sects were established in the land in opposition to one another. To the Jews, a Samaritan was more revolting than a Gentile (pagan); Samaritans were half-breeds who defiled the true religion.”

Jesus begins his story very simply. ““A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.” Everybody knows the dangerous road between Jerusalem and Jericho that runs through the desert. There are many places where the road is so narrow that robbers can easily block the road, assault travelers, strip them of everything, and then escape. Those traveling that road try to go in large groups to discourage robbers.   

“Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side.” Why wouldn’t either of these men stop to help this poor fellow? Perhaps the priest and the Levite feared that the robbers were still near and wanted to escape as rapidly as possible; after all, each of them is traveling alone. Perhaps this man appeared to be dead; as religious men, they didn’t want to become ritually unclean by touching a dead body and then having to go through the rituals of purification. Perhaps they failed to stop because the robbery victim was not of their social class or his skin was darker than theirs. Perhaps night was falling and they didn’t want to be out on that road at night. And perhaps they failed to stop because they feared the victim might be a Samaritan or a Gentile and they wanted nothing to do with Samaritans or Gentiles.

By now, the legal expert is hooked and wants to know how the story will play out. Imagine his surprise when the hero turns out to be a hated Samaritan. Not only does this pagan tend the man’s wounds but he also loads the injured man on his own donkey, takes him to an inn, and even leaves two days’ wages for a working man as a down payment on the injured man’s expenses, promising to make up the difference on his way back. And now Jesus asks the key question: “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”  What’s the legal expert to do? He must answer honestly. “The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Jesus uses the hated Samaritan as the hero to demonstrate that God has no interest in our pet prejudices. Assuming the injured man is a Jew, the Samaritan might easily pass by on the other side as have the priest and Levite. But the Samaritan is more interested in mercy than in racism. Jesus’ point is simple: everyone is our neighbor and everyone deserves mercy.

How many of us have been tempted to behave like the fictional priest and Levite? So many times we criticize others while being blind to our own prejudices. We have lived in Charleston, SC, Memphis, TN, and New Orleans. Each of these cities was once a center for the slave trade, and each of these cities is riddled with pools of spiritual darkness and racial tension. I have listened while doctors have expressed all kinds of general racial prejudices, only to work tirelessly to save individual members of the same race they have just criticized.

Here in Ghana, tensions among tribes may have existed for hundreds of years. There is a general prejudice among those from the South against Northerners, much of which may have its roots in the short-sighted policies of British colonialism. While the British brought education to the south and established schools even in small villages, they left the North alone, preferring to use uneducated Northerners to work in the gold mines and cocoa farms of the South. Those managing various operations would train a few Northerners as translators while using educated Southerners as clerks. I have spoken in Southern churches, urging their members to help us at the hospital. As soon as I have begun describing spiritual darkness in Northern Ghana, my translator has stopped, assuming that I have so little command of his language that I don’t realize what he is doing. (WRONG! I hear more than I can speak!)  

The TV icon Mr. Fred Rogers inspired and comforted millions of viewers by creating an imaginary neighborhood to which he invited them, singing, “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood….won’t you be my neighbor?” Rogers was an ordained Presbyterian minister with additional training in early childhood development. For 33 years  Rogers invited viewers to be his neighbors while he tackled a whole range of problems children might face such as death, trauma of various kinds, criticism from school mates, etc. Although the program was aimed at pre-school children, Rogers’ kind approach and loving manner attracted viewers of all ages. There are many adults today who credit Rogers with being the single most important influence in their lives as they grew up.  

Many of us are kind to people when they are kind to us, but how many of us are willing to attack when people disappoint us or fail to please us? When we fail to give mercy, we are behaving like those who left the man bleeding and dying on the roadside, or worse-like the robbers! Jesus’ message to us is clear: we are always to give mercy. And remember this: one of the immutable laws of the kingdom of God is that the measure you give out is the measure you will receive. We all want mercy, but we must first give it if we are to receive it.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to be merciful to all those around us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

The Parable of the Guests

Luke 14:7-11 “When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, He told them a parable: “When you are invited to a wedding banquet, do not sit in the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited. Then the host who invited both of you will come and tell you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ And in humiliation, you will have to take the last place.

But when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that your host will come and tell you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in front of everyone at the table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus is sharing a Sabbath meal at the home of a leading Pharisee. As the religious leaders file in, Jesus can only smile. First, the host chooses his place at the dinner table, but after that, it’s a free-for-all. As leader after leader enters the room, there’s a mass movement down both sides of the table. One leader seats himself, only to be forced to shift further away from the host as someone else more important arrives. Jesus remains standing until everyone else is seated and then takes the place indicated by the host. It’s after everyone has finally been seated that Jesus tells this story.

Pride is as old as the human race, and jockeying for position is equally as old. Jesus has had to deal with this same problem with his disciples. Once the mother of James and John comes to him, requesting that her sons should occupy the most honorable places in his Messianic kingdom. Jesus has to explain that the decision is not up to him but to his Heavenly Father.

There are many constants in the kingdom of God and Jesus states one at the end of this parable. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Proverbs 3:34 says, “He (God) scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble.” Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.”

When we first came to Ghana and began attending church, it was fascinating to observe the “big men” jockeying for position on the front rows of the church. First, no big man would ever arrive at the beginning of the church service but would wait in hopes that others would have preceded him. When the big men began to arrive, there were scenes reminiscent of this story. In many parts of Ghana, chiefs parade around under huge umbrellas that are carried by strong young men. If the day is hot, the umbrella carriers might even have to move the umbrella up and down, fanning the chief.

In public meetings called durbars, it is common to see chiefs and other dignitaries scrutinizing one another, trying to determine who is the most important.

Because of our position in the community, many times we are escorted to seats of honor in the front of meetings. Unfortunately, many times we find ourselves in direct line with a huge bank of loud speakers. As my husband has grown older, he has noticed the ravages of age and noise exposure on his hearing. Once the loud speakers are cranked up and the base boost and echo are going full-blast, not even ear plugs will save my husband from pain. We try to sit as far away from loud speakers as possible. Sometimes this problem becomes a cultural one because those who are unaware of my husband’s hearing difficulties may assume that the organizers of the meeting don’t know how to treat honored guests. Our struggle is to find a compromise so that we don’t cause unnecessary embarrassment to those trying to be kind to us.

Humility can be quite protective. Jesus himself is a very humble man, born to a village carpenter and a young maiden in the midst of the confusion of a government census. If Jesus had been born to a socially prominent family, he might have been considered a threat to the Roman government. As it was, King Herod tried to murder any little boy of the appropriate age. Only an angelic warning saved the small family from destruction. When Jesus’ family returned from Egypt, they settled back in the small village of Nazareth where Jesus could grow up unnoticed by the government or religious leaders. As Jesus moves around, he depends on others for feeding and lodging. And Jesus walks everywhere. The only time Jesus rides a donkey is on Palm Sunday when he enters Jerusalem, fulfilling Messianic prophecy.

When the Communists overran China, they targeted highly visible established churches. But the China Inland Mission had spent years training national Bible teachers who lived at the same level as those whom they were teaching. These brave men and women moved from village to village using local transportation. The results were amazing; these humble individuals continued to effectively spread the Gospel, resulting in millions of new believers.

Why should we insist on promoting ourselves in public gatherings? Part of our problem is judgement; we judge others, forgetting that God is the only One who truly can judge. But if we remember Jesus’ story, we will take the lowest seat, allowing the host to promote us. May God help us to remain humble, no matter what.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to remain humble, realizing that You are the only Perfect One. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 22: 1-14 The Parable of the Banquet (Luke 14:15-24)

“Once again, Jesus spoke to them in parables: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to call those he had invited to the banquet, but they refused to come.

Again, he sent other servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

But they paid no attention and went away, one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.

The king was enraged, and he sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the crossroads and invite to the banquet as many as you can find.’

So the servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone they could find, both evil and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

But when the king came in to see the guests, he spotted a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes. (Traditionally, wedding clothes were provided.) ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’

But the man was speechless.

Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot and throw him outside into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Sometimes, we must compare versions of Jesus’ stories to get the full picture. Matthew is a former tax collector, writing as a Jew for Jews and wants to highlight the main points of a story. Luke, by tradition, is a Greek physician. I have always thought that if Luke were practicing today, he would be a specialist in Neurology, because Luke is a detail man, obsessed with transmitting as much information as possible.

Here is Luke’s introduction to the story of the banquet: “One Sabbath, Jesus went to eat in the home of a leading Pharisee, and those in attendance were watching Him closely. Right there before Him was a man with dropsy. So Jesus asked the experts in the law and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” But they remained silent. Then Jesus took hold of the man, healed him, and sent him on his way. And He asked them, “Which of you whose son or ox falls into a pit on the Sabbath day will not immediately pull him out?” And they were unable to answer these questions.” (Luke 14:1-6)

Jesus is at it again, scandalizing religious leaders while fulfilling the Will of his Heavenly Father. One of the religious leaders reclining at table makes a pious statement. “Blessed is everyone who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” What a lovely sentiment! How can Jesus possibly turn this earnest observation on its head? You can practically see all the other religious leaders nodding in polite agreement. “Way to go, Abner! Show this upstart that we are men of discernment!”

Jesus only smiles and then begins telling another story. This time, Jesus tells of a ruler who throws a huge banquet to celebrate his son’s wedding. Since Jesus generally uses recent events as the basis for his stories, it’s possible that such a celebration has just occurred in Jerusalem. This man sends out invitations to friends, neighbors, and relatives in the expectation that everyone will want to share in his joy. After all, what can be better than free delicious food, wine, dancing, and music? Surely nobody will be crazy enough to turn down such an offer.

But in this story, the invited guests not only offer ridiculous excuses, but even seize the ruler’s servants, mistreat them, and even kill them. By now, those in the crowd are shaking their heads. Who could be stupid enough to do such things, especially to the servants of a powerful ruler? Don’t these people realize this ruler can ruin their lives for their refusal to honor him or kill them because they have murdered his servants? These people must be crazy!

In revulsion, the ruler orders his servants to go to the crossroads and invite as many people as they can possibly find. (Luke adds “Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ ‘Sir,’ the servant replied, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’ So the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will taste my banquet.’” (Luke 14:21-24)

Now we return to Matthew’s version, for he makes another important point. To avoid offending any important people attending, it’s the custom at such events for the host to supply wedding garments so that everyone attending will be properly clothed. Again, the religious leaders are nodding in agreement. Certainly, nobody will be stupid enough to refuse to exchange his old rags for beautiful new raiment. But in Jesus’ story, one man strides in, certain that his clothing is so good that he doesn’t need the wedding garments the host has provided. This guy is not only wrong but has made a fatal mistake.

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he spotted a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes. (Traditionally, wedding clothes were provided.) ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man was speechless.

Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot and throw him outside into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Right about now, some of the more insightful religious leaders are beginning to feel quite uncomfortable. Surely, Jesus can’t be indicting them with this story? Some of the more thoughtful ones realize that Jesus might be referring to God sending untold numbers of prophets, only for many of them to be murdered in ghastly ways. Is Jesus trying to imply that these religious leaders are like the man without a wedding garment who has trusted in his own clothes? The host is beginning to remember all the warnings his friends have given him about Jesus being a very awkward dinner guest.

Let’s leave this embarrassed host and his guests because Jesus’ story is not just aimed at them but also at us. We are the incidental guests at God’s banquet, and He is inviting us to be with Him forever. But nothing we do will be good enough for us to earn our way into heaven. Unless God helps us, we are like that man who refused to wear the wedding garments provided by the host because he thought his clothing was good enough.

Each of us is born with a sin problem, and nothing we can do will ever make up for the sins we commit. The Bible tells us that “without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin.” (Hebrews 9:22) But praise God, God the Father has done for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Jesus has come and has lived a sinless life and has died an innocent death for our sins. We can choose to accept what Jesus has done or to refuse it. But when we refuse it, we are like that man who thought his clothing was good enough when it wasn’t. God never sends anyone to hell; people choose to go to hell. And if we refuse to accept what Jesus has done for us, we will find ourselves forever condemned to that outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Don’t delay this decision, thinking you will reconsider tomorrow. As I am writing this, America is mourning the tragic death of a good man who attended a political rally, only to be shot down by a sniper as he sheltered his wife and children with his body. Nobody expected a gunman to appear at that rally, but he did. 2 Corinthians 6:1 tells us, “For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” We are not promised tomorrow; today, right now, is the only time you have to make this decision. Please hear your Heavenly Father’s call! Please come and follow Jesus!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, thank You for sending Jesus to die for our sins so that we have the opportunity for eternal life with You. Help all who read these words to trust in Your mercy. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.