The story of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem is one of contrasts. It is the story of the King who came as a lowly servant, on a donkey rather than a prancing steed, not to conquer nations by force but to conquer hearts by love. Yet this is also a tragic story: though his very […]
The third parable of Luke 15, like the two before it, is again about something that is lost. “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” is one of the most well-known and cherished of Jesus’ parables—and for good reason! Many of us have experienced the realities described in the first half of this parable. Though we were […]
At the end of chapter 14, Luke records Jesus proclaiming: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Luke 14:35). Then, as chapter 15 begins, we read that “tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him,” but “the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled” (Luke 15:1-2). This is the context for the […]
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 is in Christ Jesus, whom God put […]
“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 and practical implications of the […]
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 rather than God, proving that […]
The parable of the Good Samaritan and Jesus’ visit to the home of Mary and Martha are related in a couple of significant ways. First, here we find both the command to show mercy to our neighbors and do good works (Luke 10:37), but also the preliminary and gracious invitation to find rest in the […]
Chapter 9 in Luke’s gospel is profound. After Peter makes the monumental confession that Jesus is “the Christ of God” (Luke 9:20), Jesus responds by saying: “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Luke 9:22). Yet […]
All throughout Scripture, we are given glimpses the promise that one day sin and death will be no more. In the Old Testament, we see hints of this future hope through different characters, prophets, and events, all of which point to God’s final answer to the sting of death and the power of sin: Jesus Christ, the […]
