Today's Readings Luke 9.18-36
Luke 9 with Commentaries, verse by verse
The second event is the healing of the boy with an evil spirit (Luke 9.37-45; Matthew 17.14-18, 22,23; Mark 9.14-17, 30-32). Faith and prayer were needed to healed the boy.
The third event was when the disciples were arguing among themselves about who would be the greatest. Luke 9.46-48; Matthew 18.1-5; Luke 9.46-50; Mark 9.33-40 The Christian life is full of paradoxes. To be great, you have to be humble. disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all–he is the greatest.”
He also warned them against having exclusive groups among themselves. (v. 49-50) He said to the 'Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you (even though he is not one of you)!
IVP Commentary on Luke 9
Luke 9:51-56
Samaritan Opposition
Jesus had determined to finish his mission on earth v. 51. He had sent messengers ahead of him for the Samaritan village to get things ready for him but the people did not want him there. But James and John asked Jesus if He wanted them to call fire from heaven to destroy the village but Jesus rebuked them and went to another village. This was John before he was changed by the Holy Spirit! He became the disciple who preached about God’s love. His brother James was the first martyr.
What does it cost to follow Jesus? (Luke 9:57-66; Matthew 6:19-22) Jesus saw three men who would be ‘wanna be’ disciples. The first one saw Jesus and said to him ‘I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied in Luke 9:58 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."(NKJV) The second one he said to follow him and he said that he should go and bury his father. Jesus replied ‘let the dead bury the dead..’ The third one said he would follow Jesus but let him go and say goodbye to his family. Jesus replied in verse 62 "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (NKJV).. We have many in the churches who say that they are disciples of Jesus. Well if they are, praise God. The requirements are 1) Material things should not hinder us from being disciples. The second is family relationship which should be second to the total commitment to Christ and thirdly, a total commitment to Jesus Christ means looking forward. This is like plowing in the old days, the farmer looks straight ahead when he is plowing the field and does not look back. Let us be honest with ourselves here, is Jesus above material wealth, family and an unswerving undivided attention in our lives?
IVP Commentaries on Luke 9.18-50
Links to Commentaries and other References - Luke
Bible Study Tools
Jesus Saves
How to Become a Christian
This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.
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