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Jesus Teaches His Disciples to Pray with Persistence and Trust (Luke 11:5-13)

And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ 7 and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. 9 “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? 12 Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? 13 If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how muc...

Jesus Teaches His Disciples How to Pray (Luke 11:1-4)

He was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread 4 and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.” Jesus first teaches His disciples to call God “ Father .” This reveals the relationship of trust into which He invites them. The Son, who Himself prays to the Father, teaches His followers to approach God with the confidence of His children. Christian prayer therefore begins in a relationship with the Father who loves, provides for, forgives, and cares for His people. “ Hallowed be your name ” means that God’s name is to be honored as holy. It also asks that His holiness become visible in the lives of His people. “ Your kingdom come ” expresses the desire that God’s reign, already present through...

Jesus Teaches That Listening to His Word Is the Better Part (Luke 10:38-42)

As they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. 39 She had a sister named Mary [who] sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. 40 Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” 41 The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. 42 There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” As Jesus continues His journey toward Jerusalem, Martha welcomes Him into her home. Her hospitality is good and generous. Mary, however, sits at the Lord’s feet and listens to Him speak. Sitting at the feet of a teacher was the position of a disciple, so Luke presents Mary as a disciple giving her full attention to Jesus and His word. Mary is doing what the Father had commanded at the Transfiguration: “ Listen to him” (Luke 9:35). Earl...

Jesus Teaches That Love of Neighbor Cannot Be Separated from Mercy (Luke 10:25-37)

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” 27 He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” 29 But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. 32 Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. 33 But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. 34 He approached the v...

Jesus Teaches That God Will Entrust His Kingdom to Those Who Bear Fruit (Matthew 21:33-46)

Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. 34 When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. 35 But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. 36 Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. 37 Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ 39 They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” 41 They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper tim...

Jesus Teaches His Disciples to Rejoice That Their Names Are Written in Heaven (Luke 10:17-24)

The seventy[-two] returned rejoicing, and said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” 18 Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. 19 Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” 21 At that very moment he rejoiced [in] the holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” 23 Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see...

Jesus Teaches That Greatness in the Kingdom Requires Humility (Matthew 18:1-5, 10)

At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a child over, placed it in their midst, 3 and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. 10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. The disciples approach Jesus with a question about greatness: “ Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? ” (v. 1). Their question follows several events in which Peter had received particular attention from Jesus, including Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah, the Transfiguration, and the payment of the Temple tax (Matthew 16:13–19; 17:1–8, 24–27). Jesus answers their question by calling a child, placing t...

Jesus Sends Seventy-Two Disciples to Proclaim the Kingdom of God (Luke 10:1-12)

After this the Lord appointed seventy[-two] others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. 2 He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. 3 Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6 If a peaceful person lives there, by tv your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. 8 Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’ 10 Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, 11 ‘The dust...

Jesus Teaches That Disciples Must Have an Undivided Commitment to the Kingdom of God (Luke 9:57-62)

As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” 59 And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “[Lord,] let me go first and bury my father.” 60 But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” 62 [To him] Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.” Jesus and His disciples are now on the journey toward Jerusalem. Luke has just told us that Jesus “ resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem ” (Luke 9:51). He knows that this road will lead to His suffering and death, followed by His Resurrection and Ascension. Against that background, three people encounter Jesus and learn what it means to f...

Jesus Reveals that He is the Son of Man Who Unites Heaven and Earth (John 1:47-51)

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him.” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Philip has just invited Nathanael to meet Jesus with the simple words, “ Come and see ” (John 1:46). As Nathanael approaches, Jesus identifies him as “ a true Israelite ” in whom there is “ no duplicity. ” Nathanael asks, “ How do you know me? ” Jesus answers, “ Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree .” Jesus reveals knowledge of Nathanael that Nathanae...

Jesus Corrects His Disciples About Greatness and Belonging (Luke 9:46–50)

An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. 47 Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.” 49 Then John said in reply, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.” The disciples have just heard Jesus tell them that “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men” (Luke 9:44). Earlier, He had taught them that anyone who wishes to follow Him must deny himself and take up his cross daily (Luke 9:23). Immediately after Luke tells us that the disciples do not understand Jesus’ words about His coming suffering, an argument arises among them about which o...

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