The religious elite in Jesus’ day were guilty of many sins—hypocrisy, self-righteousness, pride, and so on—but one of the most deadly was the sin of presumption (Rom. 2:4). Claiming to be the physical descendants of Abraham, they presumed that they belonged to the people, the kingdom, of God; this is...
Throughout Luke’s gospel, the advancement of the kingdom of God has evoked one of two responses: acceptance or rejection. In the healing of the crippled woman in Luke 13, we see both (v.17). Immediately following this miracle, Jesus gives two parables to explain how, despite opposition, the kingdom of God...
The gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of both love and wrath, of holiness and mercy, of righteousness and grace. Though all have sinned and are rightfully deserving of God’s judgment, God sent his Son into the world not to bring condemnation but salvation. Now, because of the redemption that...
“Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division” (Luke 12:51). This is one of the more obscure mission statements that Jesus gave during his earthly ministry. While it is true that Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6)—who...
While the second coming of Jesus Christ is clearly taught in Scripture (Luke 12:40; 1 Thess. 5:2-4; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 16:15), many in the church today are either consumed with making fanciful predictions about his return or simply neglect this doctrine out of frustration and confusion. For a disciple...
“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15 ). With this saying, Jesus launches into a discourse on the relationship between true discipleship and material wealth. Here we discover one of the most profound...
Whom do you fear? Throughout its history, the church has always been faced with pressure to live out of a fear of man and this world rather than the fear of God. There is always the temptation to give into this world’s demands and live for the praise of man...
The Scriptures are abundantly clear that God is not merely concerned with our outward appearance, which man can see, but with the inward condition of our heart (1 Sam 15:22; 16:7; Hos. 6:6). While there are certainly good works that accompany true saving faith (Eph. 2:10), we are often tempted...
The Bible repeatedly affirms that there is no neutrality when it comes to God and his kingdom. In Luke 11:23 we read: “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (see also Matt. 6:24; Rom. 6:16; James 4:4). In the healing of...