The Devotional

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 201 Luke 21:7   –   So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?” Matthew 24:3 – Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” Mark 13:4 – “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah Luke 21, Matthew 24 and Mark 13 is a major subject and discourse among the many found in the gospels. All are important, very important to the Jew first and then to the Gentile. The events that the LORD Jesus discusses with His disciples are concerning His nation and prophesy from Daniel, Ezekiel and others who provide truth from God in the scriptures of the Old Testament. Times and seasons in the Word o...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 200 Luke 21:1-6   –   And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So , He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; “for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, “These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah While seeking to walk through the gospel of Luke, to understand bits and pieces of the Life of Jesus Christ, I know that anyone who attempts this will, feel “small and overwhelmed” as I often do. It does not matter that someone has a Master or Associate degree in theology, or no degree at al...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures –199 Luke 20:42 – 47 – And He said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David? “Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” “Therefore, David calls Him ‘Lord’ ; how is He then his Son?” Beware of the Scribes! Then in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, “who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah If one desires a position of teacher, preacher, prophet, or priest regarding the scripture, they desire a good work in the written and Holy Word of God. The apostle Paul states that these MEN desire a good work (1 Timothy 3:1). One who oversees the H...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 198 Luke 20:27-33 – Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. “Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife and died without children. “And the second took her as wife, and he died childless. “Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children and died. “Last of all the woman died also. “Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become, for all seven had her as wife?” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah This is a great passage to explain the deceitfulness of religion, religions that reject the power of God and multiplies human reasoning among the various doctrines developed by man and not by God are demonic and not useful to the child of God. Hi...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 197 Luke 20:20-26 – And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people—for they knew He had spoken this parable against them. So, they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor. Then they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth: “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test Me? Show Me a denarius. whose image and inscription does it have?” They answered and said, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled ...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 196 Luke 20:1-9-19 – Then He began to tell the people this parable “Now at vintage-time, he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. “Again, he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. “And again, he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out. “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.’ “But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’ “So, they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? “He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.” And when they heard, they ...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 195 Luke 20:1-8 – Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?” But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me: “The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him? “But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” So, they answered that they did not know where it was from. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah It is the last week before the Messiah offers His Life a ransom for many, th...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 194 Luke 19:37-40 – Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered and said to them , “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah In Luke 13 Jesus laments over the hardness of heart He sees in the nation. Jerusalem, the center of Judaism has a history of stoning and killing the prophets of God. Jesus is determined to go to Jerusalem as He states in Luke 13:33 that no prophet can die outside of Jerusalem. It is interesting that some of the Pharisees warn Jesus to stay away from Jerusalem as Herod is...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 193 John 12:12-19 – The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ The King of Israel!” Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.” His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. Therefore, the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. For this reason, the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. The Pharisees, therefore, said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 192 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. Therefore, He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. “So, he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ “But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ “And so, it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. “Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ “And the second came, saying, ‘Master...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 191 Luke 19:1-10 – Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So, he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So, he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because he also is a son of A...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 190 Luke 18:35-43 – Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So, they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So, Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah The meeting with the blind man Bartimaeus is NOT coincidental, earlier in the da...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 189 Luke 18:31-34 – Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. “For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. “They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken. Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah It is easy to get bogged down in the details of a trip from Jericho to Jerusalem. The geographical layout; eighteen miles of dangerous terrain, bandits and other hazards. Of King David’s flee from Absalom his son, in 2 Samuel and such things like being above sea level in Jerusalem and below sea level in Jericho in just an eighteen-mile trip and thus miss the discourse that Jesus is giving to His disciples. ...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 188 Luke 18:24-30 – And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?” But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.” So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, “who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah 2 Peter 3:9 - The LORD is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. ...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 187 Luke 18:18 – 23 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” So, Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. “You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” So, when Jesus heard these things, He said to him , “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus, the Christ o...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 186 Luke 18:15-17 – Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah Of the other gospels, Mark seems the most compassionate, and Matthew does not give the warning of receiving the kingdom of God as a child. Children, especially children that are still infants, I would say less than nine months are not normally introduced to the harshness of the world. The response to people and the world around them is still a response of FAITH. As we know; faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen. Infant children have a pure faith, yet the sinful nature of infant c...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 185 Luke 18:9-14 – Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ “I tell you; this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah Of all parables, this is my favorite as it is directed at our personal relationship to Christ. I think at times we are challenged and found a half a ...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 184 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. “Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ “And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, ‘yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ” Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. “And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? “I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah The Western Wall of the Second Temple of Jerusalem is where devout Jews come to pray for the return of the LORD. The Romans destroyed t...