Who Can Be Saved?

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Luke 18:1) And He spoke a parable to them that men ought always to pray and not to weary,

Jesus had been journeying to Jerusalem with His disciples and others following, stopping in villages along the way, healing and teaching.  He now began a parable that taught men to always pray without ceasing and not to grow weary.

(2) Saying, "There was in a city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man."

Jesus told of a judge in a certain city who neither feared God nor had any regard or respect for the rights of men.

(3) "And there was a widow in that city, and she came to him, saying, "Avenge me of my adversary."

There was also a widow in the city who came to the judge and asked that he give her justice against her adversary, or vindicate her from him.

(4) "And he would not for a while, but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, (5) Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her lest by her continual coming she weary me.'"

In the beginning and for a while, the judge did not help the woman.  However, it appears the woman did not give up and she kept coming back and asking him to intervene for her.  Finally, not because he feared God or had any regard for her innocence, he decided to rule in her favor just because he was tired of her continually coming to him and nagging him about her problem.

(6) And the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said."

Jesus told them to really hear and understand what an unjust judge had said.  He called the judge unjust because he did not dispense justice as he ought.  He had only given in to the woman because she bothered him so and he wanted to be rid of her.

(7) "And shall not God avenge His own elect who cry day and night to Him though He bears long with them?"

Jesus asked if even an unjust judge would relent and eventually do justice after persistent pleading, how much more would a good God avenge His own elect who prayed to Him continually?  Even though He may delay for a while perhaps to try their faith or to refine it, or perhaps even showing patience to the one who might be causing the trouble for the one crying out for justice, you can be sure that God will eventually answer those requests.

(8) "I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.  Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

Jesus confirmed that God would indeed avenge His elect suddenly and unexpectedly.  It might be after long suffering to the point that one might think it was hopeless that God shows up in a big way.  I have experienced just that.  It has seemed that prayers might not be answered in the way I desired but all the sudden God acts and things move and change very quickly.  I believe that is God's design.  In the long suffering patience, we grow in love and dependence on the Lord, and then when He acts, there is no doubt it was God changing things and we grow in faith because we learn that He is indeed trustworthy and completely deserving of our faith.  However, Jesus asked that when He returned, if he would find any faith on earth.  It may seem that Jesus has delayed His second coming to the point of seeming slack in His promise to return and avenge His elect, but 2 Peter 3:9 assures us that the Lord is not slack but rather patient, not wanting any of His children to perish but giving them time to all come to repentance.  Jesus wondered just how many would endure till the end and would He find faith on earth at that time.

(9) And He spoke this parable to certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others.

Jesus began a parable specifically to some among those listening to Him who trusted that they themselves were righteous and they had contempt for those they believed were not as righteous as they were.

(10) "Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a publican."

Jesus told of two men who had gone to the temple to pray.  One was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.

(11) "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not as other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.'"

Jesus told how the Pharisee stood and prayed apparently silently to himself.  He thanked God that he was not like other men, sinners, extortionists, adulterers, unjust, or even as the publican who was also in the temple praying.

(12) "'I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'"

Jesus went on to tell more that the Pharisee prayed.  He praised himself to God that he fasted and tithed regularly.

(13) "And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven but struck his breast, saying, 'God be merciful to me a sinner.'"

The publican or tax collector, on the other hand, stood a distance away and would not even lift his eyes up to heaven as he prayed.  He struck his breast, recognizing that he was a sinner and prayed for God's mercy.

(14) "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other, for everyone who exalts himself will be abased and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Jesus told His listeners that the tax collector who humbled himself before God was counted as just in the sight of God and the Pharisee was not.  He declared that everyone who exalted themselves would be abased or humbled.  Anyone who sings his own praises and doesn't recognize that he is a sinner as we all are, not only lies but is guilty of pride, one of the sins that God hates most (Proverbs 6:17 and 16:5).  Anyone who humbled himself before the Lord would be exalted as his sins might be forgiven and not visible in the sight of God.  This is a most beautiful promise of the Lord!  Though one may not be able to boast of righteousness equal to the Pharisees and cannot be justified according to the law, yet he may be justified freely through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:24).

(15) And they brought to Him also infants that he would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

People brought infants to Jesus that He might lay His hands on them.  However, when the disciples saw them bringing babies to Jesus, they rebuked them, probably thinking they were troubling Him.

(16) But Jesus called them to Him and said, "Allow little children to come to Me and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God."

However, Jesus called those who had brought the children to Him and told His disciples to allow them to come to Him, for it was of such innocent children that made up the kingdom of God.

(17) "Verily, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no way enter in."

Jesus told them assuredly that anyone who did not receive the kingdom of God as a little child would never be able to enter it.  One who was proud and vain could not enter the kingdom of God, but if one humbled himself to the level of a child, meek and lowly, not proud or vain or prejudiced, then he would be able to enter in.

(18) And a certain ruler asked Him, saying, "Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

Then a ruler asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, calling Him Good Master.

(19) And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? None is good, except One, God."

Jesus asked the man why he called Him good, because there was no one good except God.  His point may have been to show the ruler that he acknowledged that the man realized who He was, but even more it added to the lesson Jesus was about to give this ruler about just what "good" would get him.

(20) "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.'"

Jesus then began to answer the man's question by suggesting first that he surely already knew the commandments, and He quoted several of them.

(21) And he said, "All these I have kept from my youth up."

The ruler replied that he had obeyed all the commandments since he was a child.  In this, he was a bit like the Pharisee in that he believed he did only good.  Yet he must have realized something was missing to ask if he needed more to obtain eternal life.

(22) Now when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, "Yet you lack one thing; sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

Jesus told the ruler that he lacked one thing.  The commandments He had first mentioned to the man dealt with how he should treat others, but what He mentioned now was how he approached God.  He told the ruler to sell all he had, give it to the poor, and that his treasure would be in heaven, and He asked him to follow Him.  Was he willing to give all to God and not put his possessions over God?

(23) And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

When the ruler heard that answer, he was very sorrowful because he was very rich and knew he could not give all that away.  He probably had felt that he loved God very much but thought he could have both God and riches.  And it's not that he couldn't have both; rich men can serve God, but in this ruler's case he wasn't willing to choose God over his riches.  You cannot serve God and money equally (Matthew 6:24).

(24) And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, "How hard for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!"

Jesus saw that the ruler was genuinely sorry and remarked how hard it was for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.  For that reason, we should feel very blessed when we don't have as much to prevent us from salvation!

(25) "For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

Jesus then told His listeners that it was easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.  That would mean it was impossible.  Many commentators have gone to great lengths to explain that He didn't mean it was impossible, that the word "camel" was actually meant to be "cable," or that the Needle's Eye was some small gate in the Jerusalem wall.  However, it was a proverbial expression that just meant something was extremely difficult, but actually Jesus would admit that it was impossible with man alone.

(26) And they who heard, said, "Who then can be saved?"

Those people who heard what Jesus said were astonished at this and asked how then could anyone be saved it was impossible for them.

(27) And He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

Jesus answered that although it was impossible for man to save himself, it was possible with God.  God draws us to Him and changes our hearts' desires and makes it possible for us to put Him before everything.

(28) Then Peter said, "Lo, we have left all and followed you."

Then Peter told Jesus that they, His disciples, had left everything and followed Him.  Whether it was a boasting that they had left everything to follow Him, something the rich ruler had not been able to do, or whether he was asking if they had done enough, it is not clear.

(29) And He said to them, "Verily, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children for the kingdom of God's sake, (30) Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time and in the world to come life everlasting."

Jesus answered His disciples saying that there was no one who had left his home and his family for the sake of the kingdom of God who would not receive many times more in the present and in the everlasting life to come.  This is not to be understood as more houses and more family and more possessions, but the blessings that would come as a result of one giving up everything to God would be immensely greater than those worldly things.  They would have great treasures in heaven and eternal life which is what that rich ruler had been seeking.

(31) Then He took the twelve and said to them, "Behold, we go to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man will be accomplished."

Jesus then took His twelve disciples aside and told them they would be going to Jerusalem where all the things that had been prophesied by the prophets concerning Him would be accomplished.

(32) "For He shall be delivered to the Gentiles and would be mocked and spitefully treated and spit on."

Jesus told His disciples how He would be delivered up to the Gentiles and how He would be mocked and shamefully treated and spit on.

(33) "And they shall scourge Him and put Him to death, and the third day He shall rise again."

He told them they would also scourge Him and would put Him to death, but on the third day He would rise again.

(34) And they understood none of these things, and this saying was hid from them, neither did they know the things which were spoken.

The disciples understood none of what Jesus said.  You might understand why they didn't understand about Jesus rising again on the third day, but He was pretty plain in His speech about what the Gentiles would do to Him in Jerusalem.  However, the disciples still expected their Messiah king to be a temporal prince and conqueror, so the things Jesus said made no sense at all to them.  It was not revealed to them in their hearts and spirits what exactly was to happen to Jesus.

(35) And it came to pass that as He was come near to Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside begging.

As Jesus and His disciples were on their way to Jerusalem, they passed near Jericho, and there was a blind man sitting by the side of the road begging.

(36) And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

It appears that many people followed along with Jesus as there was a multitude of people passing by the blind man, and he asked what it meant.

(37) And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth passed by.

Some of the people told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by him.

(38) And he cried, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

The blind man seemed to know at once that Jesus was the promised Messiah from the line of David and cried out to Him to have mercy on him.

(39) And they who went before rebuked him that he should hold his peace, but he cried all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Those who went ahead of Jesus and probably some of the ones who had told the blind man that it was Jesus who was passing by him, rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he only cried all the more, still proclaiming who Jesus was and asking Him to have mercy on him.

(40) And Jesus stood and commanded him to be brought to Him, and when he had come near, He asked him, (41) Saying, "What do you want Me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, that I may receive my sight."

Jesus stopped among the crowd and commanded that they bring the blind man to Him.  When he was near Him, Jesus asked what it was that the blind man wanted Him to do for him.  Of course, Jesus already knew what the man wanted, but He wanted to hear it again from the man himself.  He answered that he wished to receive his sight.

(42) And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has saved you."

Jesus told the blind man to receive his sight, that his faith had saved him.  I find that an interesting choice of words, just receive your sight.  I wonder how many times we just need to receive our blessings.  We go around stuck in our circumstances and we need only to receive our blessing from God to remedy them.  Jesus told the man that his faith had saved him.  He had had faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of David, and he didn't let the people rebuking him stand in his way.  That is a beautiful picture of how we should we willing to accept Jesus into our hearts although the world and Satan may put stumbling blocks in our way, tempting to forbid us.  And thusly, our faith may save us, too.

(43) And immediately he received his sight and followed Him, glorifying God, and all the people when they saw, gave praise to God.

The blind man immediately received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God, and all the people in the crowd who had seen him receive his sight, gave glory and praise to God, as well.  This is an example of how we may be an inspiration to others who witness Jesus's saving grace in us.

Forgive, Have Faith, Be Thankful, Don't Turn Back

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Luke 17:1) Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses will come, but woe through him they come!"

At the end of the last chapter, Jesus had been teaching and telling parables to His disciples and also to Pharisees who had been among those who heard Him speak.  He then told His disciples that there was no escaping offenses in life; they would indeed come at some point or another and probably multiple times.  However, the greatest woe would be to those from which the offenses came!  In this, He was directing His comments to the Pharisees who were notorious for cheating for their own gain and to the detriment of the people.

(2) "It would be better for him that a millstone was hung around his neck and he was cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones."

Jesus went on to say that it would be better for one of those offenders if a millstone was hung around his neck and he was thrown into the sea, than what was in store for him if he offended the least of Christ's own, those followers of Him.  The world is full of people who distrust church and Christianity because of the harm done by people who call themselves Christians.  We are all imperfect people who sin, even pastors do.  However, the difference between a true Christian pastor of God and a Pharisee is that the first one will be shown his sin by the Holy Spirit and he will confess it and repent, but a Pharisee is in it for his own gain and will only deny and defend his actions.

(3) "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother trespasses against you, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him."

Although He declared the most severe woe and doom to the offender, Jesus warned that those little ones who were offended must be willing to forgive.  If it was a brother who offended him, it was okay to rebuke him; it was good to go to him and tell him his fault and the effect of his conduct and seek an explanation, that is, talk about it.  If he repented, the offended one must forgive him.

(4) "And if he trespasses against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turns again to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."

Even if a brother trespassed against one seven times in one day, the number seven usually representing perfection or completeness, I believe in this case represents an infinite number of times, if he came to the one and repented, the offended one must be willing to forgive him.  To err is human, and Christians are to be of a forgiving nature, actually even to those who may not repent, because we were forgiven by God, so ought we forgive others (Matthew 6:14-15).

(5) And the apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith.'"

The apostles asked the Lord to increase their faith, which may have been a response to His command that they must be willing to forgive an infinite number of times.  They perhaps thought they needed more faith to be able to continually forgive such offenses, and perhaps also that they themselves not offend anyone else.

(6) And the Lord said, "If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you might say to this sycamore tree, 'Be plucked up by the root and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."

Jesus told them that if they only had faith the size of a grain of a tiny mustard seed, they could tell a tree to be uprooted and plant itself in the sea, and it would indeed obey them.  This scripture makes me sad.  It really only takes so tiny a faith, and yet we must not have even that small amount of faith if we can't move a tree.  However, I don't really think this has to be taken literally.  There is no real purpose of God's to transplant a tree into the sea, but it refers to any obstacles that might stand in the way of our performing our service to accomplish God's will.  Jesus might have been telling the apostles they already had all the faith they needed if they had faith in Him; it was up to them to use it.  Likewise, with just a little faith, we should not let offensive articles stand in our way of doing good for the Lord.  Doubts and fear are a lack of faith, faith as tiny as a grain of mustard seed.

(7) "But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say to him by and by, when he has come from the field, 'Go and sit down to eat'? (8) And will not rather say to him, 'Make ready so that I may sup, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'?"

Jesus then asked His disciples which one of them would reward his servant who had come in from doing his job in the field with a meal before he himself ate.  Rather, it was more likely that he would instruct him to continue with his duties and serve him his meal and then he could eat afterward.

(9) "Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not."

Jesus asked them if that master would thank his servant for doing the job he was hired to do.  Jesus said He didn't think he would.  Although it is possible a master might commend his servant for a particular job well done, it would probably not be a regular occurrence because the servant was just doing what he was hired to do.

(10) "So likewise you, when you have done all those things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do.'"

Jesus told them that in like manner, they should not expect thanks and reward just for doing what was commanded to them.  They should recognize and confess that they were truly unprofitable servants, for men cannot profit God.  All the good men do is that which is their duty to do; they should not expect any great reward for that.  Additionally, our best service is still imperfect as we all come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23); no reward should be expected for a flawed job.  However, because of His love and mercy for us, we are saved and rewarded with eternal salvation, but this is not a result of our own doing (Ephesians 2:8).  Though men are unprofitable to God, following God's commands is profitable to them and may be to others, as well.

(11) And it came to pass, as He went to Jerusalem, that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

Jesus was journeying toward Jerusalem, and as He went, He passed through Samaria and Galilee.  Bible commentators suggest that the meaning is more likely in the middle between Samaria and Galilee, as that is a more likely path to Jerusalem.

(12) As He entered into a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers who stood afar off.

As Jesus came into a village, He was met by ten lepers who stood far back from Him.  It is plausible that these men were confined together to this place on the edge of the village, and they stood a distance away from Jesus as was the law for lepers.

(13) And they lifted up their voices, and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"

The lepers raised their voices to be heard by Jesus and asked Him to have mercy on them.  They recognized Him and called Him Master and probably all called out in unison.  Adam Clarke, in his Commentary on the Bible, wrote something beautiful that bears contemplation, "Sin is the worst of all leprosies; it not only separates those to whom it cleaves from the righteous, but it separates them from God; and nothing but the pitying heart and powerful hand of Christ Jesus can set any soul free from it."

(14) And when He saw them, He said to them, "Go show yourselves to the priests." And it came to pass that as they went, they were cleansed.

When Jesus saw the lepers, He told them to go show themselves to the priests, as was the law that the priests were the ones who could proclaim lepers clean.  As they went, they were cleansed.  Note that it was as they did what was commanded them by Jesus, that they were cleansed.  That's a beautiful picture of us just doing the right thing as commanded by Jesus, and as we do that, we may receive the mercy and blessings we desire.  It's not always a matter of us just praying for something expecting it immediately and deciding God didn't answer when it doesn't turn out the way we asked.  As Proverbs 3:5-8 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding.  In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.  It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones."  Trust Him and He will direct your paths and it will be health to you.  Another thing to remember is Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."  Love and trust God and do what He asks and it will always work for good.  But we also must remember that God's ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9) and He sees the big picture that we cannot yet see, but we can be assured His ways are for the best if we love, trust, and follow Him.

(15) And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back and with a loud voice glorified God,

One of the lepers, when he realized he was healed, turned back, in this case meaning he returned to Jesus, and glorified God in a loud voice.

(16) And fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.

The leper returned to Jesus and fell down on his face at Jesus's feet, thanking Him.  This particular man was a Samaritan.  That was noted because the Samaritans were considered by the Jews to be ignorant and not religious and no better than heathens.  But this "heathen" was the one who came back to thank Jesus.

(17) And Jesus, answering, said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?"

Jesus answered the man by asking about the other nine who had also been cleansed.

(18) "There are not found any who returned to give glory to God, except this stranger?"

Jesus went on to ask if there were none to return to give thanks to God except that one stranger, or foreigner, that Samaritan that the other nine likely considered a heathen.  This is a potent reminder that we should always give thanks to God for our blessings.  He notices when we do not.  I always have a pang of guilt when I realize that thanking Him was not the first thing I did after receiving a blessing.  This Samaritan came back and thanked Him first thing, before even going to the priest as Jesus had told him to do.

(19) And He said to him, "Arise, go your way; your faith has made you whole."

Jesus told the man to arise from His feet and continue on his way to the priest, that his faith had made him whole, that is, healed and saved.  Although Jesus had healed the other nine also and they were certainly whole in health and that would not be rescinded, I'm not sure that they were all eternally saved.  The Bible doesn't always make a point of saying that one who was healed would be with Jesus in heaven eternally as He told the thief on the cross that he would be with Him that day in paradise.  However, in this instance, Jesus did commend the leper's faith and told him it had made him whole.  Jesus did the healing which made his health whole, but the man's faith in Jesus made his spirit whole, as well.

(20) And when He was demanded of the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation." 

Apparently there were Pharisees in Jesus's presence at some point in His journey between the cities of Samaria and Galilee, and they asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come.  Jesus replied that it was not something they would physically see with their eyes and know instantly that the kingdom had come.

(21) "Neither shall they say, 'Lo here!' or 'Lo there!' For behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

Jesus went on to say that no one would say that they saw it here or there or anywhere, as the kingdom of God was within oneself.  Or perhaps Jesus meant that it was already among them.  Either way was true; the kingdom of God was already among them and was present in the soul of every true believer.  The Pharisees were always looking for a worldly king Messiah who would set up a kingdom they would see with their eyes, but it was a spiritual kingdom that existed in the heart.

(22) And He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and you will not see it."

Jesus then told His disciples that there would come a day when they would wish for the days when they personally had Jesus with them, but He would not be there.

(23) "And they shall say to you, 'See here!' or 'See there!' Do not go after them or follow them."

In those days when Jesus was no longer physically among them, there would be those who were still looking for that worldly king Messiah, and they would declare that he was now with them.  Jesus warned His disciples not to go after those people or follow their "Messiah."

(24) "For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also will the Son of man be in His day."

Jesus told them that there would be no doubt when He returned.  Just as lightning flashed out of one part of the sky and went across the sky to another side, so would His coming be, just as swift and wide and self-evident.  It also described the swift judgment that would come upon Jerusalem when it would fall to the Romans.  The Roman army would descend upon them swift and wide as lightning across the sky.  Lightning also describes His kingdom of God on earth.  The Pharisees expected to see it, but Jesus had said it was within them.  So once again, they were not to believe anyone who said, "There it is!"  The kingdom of God was within their hearts and would spread fast and wide as lightning and would light the world.

(25) "But first must He suffer many things and be rejected by this generation."

Before Jesus would come again, and before His church would spread all over the world, He would suffer many things and be rejected by his own people.

(26) "And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man. (27) They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark and the flood came and destroyed them all."

As it was in the days of Noah when he was building the ark, so it would be when Jesus came again in judgment.  The people in Noah's time ignored the signs of Noah and continued living their jolly normal lives until the flood came and destroyed them all.

(28) "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built, (29) But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all."

As it was also in the days of Lot, the people lived their jolly debauched lives ignorant of the swift fate that befell them when Lot and his family left Sodom.  It rained fire and brimstone and destroyed them all.

(30) "Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."

So it would be when Jesus returned.  Immediately before the destruction of Jerusalem, people would be just as oblivious to its coming.  When Jesus returned in judgment on Jerusalem, though not personally, there would be no doubt this was a judgment of God against the Jews.  When He returns on the last day and is revealed to all just who He is, it will be as a thief in the night, so sudden and unexpected to the people who will be once again living their corrupt lives with no thought to Him or His coming.

(31) "In that day, he who is on the housetop and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away, and he who is in the field, let him likewise not turn back."

Jesus spoke specifically about the destruction of Jerusalem here.  In that day when the Romans besieged Jerusalem, anyone on the housetop or in the field should not turn back to retrieve anything, but flee for his life.

(32) "Remember Lot's wife."

Jesus told His disciples and anyone listening to remember Lot's wife, who turned back when she had been warned not to; she was turned to a pillar of salt.

(33) "Whoever shall seek to save his life will lose it and whoever shall lose his life shall preserve it."

Just as what happened to Lot's wife was symbolic of one turning back to the world and sin and not obeying God, so it would be with those who sought to save their lives and their worldly possessions themselves.  Their only hope was to trust God, not look back, and flee from the destruction.  Of course, as Jesus said this before in Luke 9:24, He meant this spiritually.  By giving their lives up to Jesus, they would have eternal life.

(34) "I tell you, in that night there shall be two in one bed; the one shall be taken and the other shall be left."

So uncertain was their fate, Jesus told them that there might be two in a bed and one would be taken by the Roman soldiers and the other might escape.

(35) "Two shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken and the other left. (36) Two shall be in the field; the one shall be taken and the other left."

Also uncertain was the time that destruction might occur.  It might be at night when they were in bed, or it might be while they were working during the day.  Even in the daytime with no turning back, so uncertain was their fate, one would be taken by the Roman soldiers while the other might escape.

Some have suggested that the above verses are about the end times and imply that some will be raptured away while others remain.  I think it is very evident that Jesus was talking about the coming destruction of Jerusalem.  Even though the swift destruction of Jerusalem might be symbolic of the destruction of the world in the end, it is clear that the meaning is that one will be spiritually saved and have eternal life while the other will not.  A Left Behind scenario is a relatively new interpretation of scripture and is probably a trick of the devil to lull us into a false sense of security.  We are told by Jesus to endure till the end and we will be saved (Matthew 24:13).  I believe that implies that there might be fair weather believers who will fall away when things get tough, and that is why a belief in a pre-trib rapture could be dangerous.

(37) And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" And He said to them, "Wherever the body, there will the eagles be gathered together."

Either the disciples asked, or perhaps it was the Pharisees who had asked when the kingdom of God would come before Jesus had turned His attention to His disciples.  The Pharisees may have still been within hearing.  They wanted to know where these things would happen.  Jesus answered that it would be where the body was, more specifically, where the dead carcass was, as He said in Matthew 24:28.  That was symbolic of the spiritually dead Jerusalem; it was there where the Roman eagles would gather (the Romans wore eagles on their ensigns), just as vultures would gather at a dead carcass.

Parables of the Unjust Steward and the Rich Man and Lazarus

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Luke 16:1) And He also said to His disciples, "There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and the same was accused to him that he had wasted his goods."

In the last chapter, Jesus had been teaching His disciples and others about the importance of saving just one lost soul and the joy in heaven when a lost soul was found which He illustrated in the parable of the prodigal son.  He now began another parable directed to His disciples.  He spoke of a rich man who had a steward, and it was told to him that that steward had been wasting his goods.

(2) "And he called him and said to him, 'How is it that I hear this of you? Give an account of your stewardship for you may be no longer steward.'"

The rich man called his steward to him, asking how it could be that he had heard such things about him.  He demanded the steward give an account of his stewardship, his receipts and disbursements, and told him that he would no longer be his steward.

(3) "Then the steward said within himself, 'What shall I do? For my lord takes away from me the stewardship; I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg.'"

The steward wondered within himself what he was going to do if his master took away his stewardship.  He said he couldn't dig or do any such hard manual labor.  Whether he was physically unable to do so or he wouldn't stoop that low to do such menial labor, scripture doesn't say, but we do get a sense of his character.  He also said he was ashamed to beg, but apparently not too ashamed to cheat his master, so we don't see an actual sorrow and repentance over what he had done.

(4) "'I have resolved what to do that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.'"

The steward had a plan that when he had been put out of the stewardship, the people he had had dealings with because of his stewardship would receive him into their houses.

(5) "So he called every one of his lord's debtors, and said to the first, 'How much do you owe my lord?'"

The steward called all of his master's debtors to him and began by asking the first debtor how much he owed his master.

(6) "And he said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill and sit down quickly and write fifty.'"

The first debtor replied that he owed the steward's master a hundred measures of oil.  The steward told him to take his bill and change it to fifty that he owed.

(7) "Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' And he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill and write eighty.'"

The steward asked another debtor what he owed and he replied that he owed a hundred measures of wheat.  The steward told him to take his bill and change it to eighty.  Of course, his plan was that all those debtors would feel an obligation to him and give him sustenance and a place to live after he lost his stewardship.

(8) "And the lord commended the unjust steward because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light."

Of course, my first reaction was "What?!"  An unjust cheating steward was commended by the one he had cheated?  But upon deeper reflection, the master had only commended the steward's wisdom and craftiness in providing for himself.  And Jesus did say in Matthew 10:16 to be wise as serpents but harmless as doves.  I believe the second part of the statement above was Jesus's own reflection on the moral of His story; the children of this world, those with only worldly interests, were wiser than the children of light, those following Christ.  It struck me how I could compare this to the circus going on in Congress this very minute.  Although I think the Democrat Party stands for everything against God, against life, against God Himself, against authority, and standing for what He deems an abomination, like same-sex marriage and pornography and the abuse of children.  Although I found Nancy Pelosi to be a wicked woman, she was a very shrewd leader, and always produced for her party and her president.  However, the party that is supposed to stand for God and life and the people and good morals, constantly flails around and never comes together to do anything of any real value.  Oh, that they would be as wise as the Democrats!  Wow, what a lesson for how to defeat the darkness that is of the principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness of this world (Ephesians 6:12), who kill the babies, allow the trafficking of children, and celebrate every sexual deviancy and depravity!  I hear leaders saying they don't want to stoop to the same level as the other side, but Jesus says here that the other side is wiser!  We should use every legal measure within our means to achieve just and righteous laws.  Why, I even believe this answers the question to whether or not a Christian should stand in the political arena.  Some believe a Christian should have nothing to do with filthy politics.  But politics determines the world our children live in, so we should be willing to use every wise and shrewd method available to us to improve that world and keep it as safe and fair as possible for them to live freely.

(9) "And I say to you, make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when you fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations."

Jesus told His disciples to make friends with the mammon of unrighteousness.  He called it that because money and riches are often gotten by unrighteous means.  However, the money in itself is not evil; only the love of it is (1 Timothy 6:10).  Therefore feel free to use money for good.  I fought hard against Obamacare because I found it wrong to make taxpayers pay for the healthcare of everyone, especially when it included many things I was opposed to as a Christian.  However, when I was a recipient of the subsidies for it, I used them.  That freed up my personal money to do some good.  It is fine to take advantage of the proceeds we may get because of unrighteous laws or maybe from proceeds we get from an unrighteous boss.  However, the line in the sand we must not cross is if we are called to do something against God's laws, such as killing a baby in the womb for a paycheck.  There may come a time when we must sign our names to say we agree and approve of abortion and same-sex marriage and teaching porn in elementary schools in order to receive social security checks.  That is when we will have to say no to mammon.  To accept that check would be demonstrating the love of that social security check over God's laws and thus Him.  

The meaning of the word translated as "fail" above means more precisely "cease (by implication) die."  If one has used mammon to do good as in feeding the poor and helping the less fortunate, he will be received into heaven and everlasting life when he dies.

(10) "He who is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much, and he who is unjust in the least is unjust also in much."

Jesus's point was that if one is faithful in the lowest things such as worldly substance, he is also faithful in things of a higher nature, and one who uses the lowest gifts unjustly and unfaithfully is likewise unfaithful in spiritual things.

(11) "If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?"

If one has not been faithful in the proper righteous use of unrighteous mammon, how can he be trusted with true riches, those of heaven which are spiritual and eternal?

(12) "And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?"

If one has not been faithful in that which is another's, which is the proper definition of "allotrios" that was translated as "another man's," that is more specifically, the things that are the Lord's, the things that have been committed to his care as a steward of all that belongs to God, how can he be trusted with the things that are truly his own?  All things on earth are God's and it is only through His blessings that we are born when and where we are, that we have the health and the talents to make something in this world, that resources and privileges are available to us, and that no man takes it all away from us, including our very lives.  The only thing that is truly ours is our eternal salvation by the love and mercy of God.  That is the one thing that no man can take away from us (John 10:29); men might be able to kill our bodies, but they cannot kill our eternal souls (Matthew 10:28).  If we cannot be trusted with trivial worldly matters, how can God trust us with something so infinitely more important as the salvation of our eternal souls and our life's testimony to that salvation?  He must be able to trust us to be good stewards of that salvation, that by our example, others may desire it as well.

(13) "No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

Jesus concluded this particular lesson by saying that one could not wholeheartedly serve God and riches at the same time.  His heart would naturally be more for one over the other.  If he used unrighteous mammon for his own gain and his riches were most important, he could not possibly be a good servant and steward to God; it would be impossible.  One must be able to put God over riches and say no when those riches cause us to sin against God.

(14) And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things, and they derided Him.

Pharisees, who were among the group of people who heard Jesus speak, heard all these things Jesus taught and had contempt for Him because they were lovers of money.

(15) And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."

Jesus either heard the Pharisees talking or simply knew their thoughts and spoke directly to them.  The Pharisees attempted to serve both God and mammon, justifying their actions before men, but they didn't fool God for He knew their hearts.  The deeds they did that were highly esteemed among men were pure abomination in the sight of God.  It can't be understood that Jesus said every act that was highly esteemed among men could be considered abomination, for often righteous deeds may be esteemed by men, but in the case of the Pharisees, their "good" deeds were an abomination because God knew their hearts and their true reasons for doing any good they appeared to do.

(16) "The law and the prophets were until John; since that time the kingdom of God is preached and every man is pressing into it."

Before that time when Jesus was speaking, all the people had were the law and the prophets which foresaw this time of Jesus.  But at that present time, they had Him and His message of salvation and eternal life, and the people were pressing into it and Him in great numbers.

(17) "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass than one tittle of the law to fail."

Jesus's point was that what was taught by the law and the prophets was not nullified because He was there at that present time offering the kingdom of God.  He was the fulfillment of the law and what the prophets foresaw.  As Jesus said in Matthew 5:17-18, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy but to fulfill. For verily I say to you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no way pass from the law till all be fulfilled."

(18) "Whoever puts away his wife and marries another, commits adultery, and whoever marries her who is put away from her husband, commits adultery."

Jesus then spoke of a man who divorced his wife and married another as having committed adultery.  Also if a man married a divorced woman, he also committed adultery.  This was undoubtedly spoken to the Pharisees to show how they departed from the law of Moses even though they pretended piousness.

(19) "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day."

Jesus then began a parable about a rich man who had the finest in clothes and lived every day in luxury.

(20) "And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus who was laid at his gate, full of sores."

There was also a very poor man, which is more the sense of the original word, rather than beggar.  He may have been reduced to begging because he was very poor and his body was full of sores.  He was laid at the gate of the rich man.  

(21) "And desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table; moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores."

The poor man lay at the gate of the rich man hoping to eat from his crumbs, and dogs came and licked his sores; such was his state of destitution.

(22) "And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried."

The beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom.  The Jews supposed that Abraham must be in heaven or else in a special paradise reserved for those saints' souls where they were until the resurrection.  The poor beggar was with Abraham.  The rich man also died and he was buried.  We weren't told that the beggar was buried, most likely that was because fine burials were reserved for the rich only.

(23) "And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeing Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom."

The rich man was in hell.  We aren't told of his life that brought him to that place, but we know he ignored the poor man at his gate!  He was after his death tormented in hell, and part of that torment was that he could actually see Abraham and Lazarus in paradise.  

A side note here is that I have often heard the debate about whether we actually go to heaven when we die or if we are in limbo until the resurrection.  I believe our souls may go directly to heaven, but our bodies decompose in the ground until the resurrection.  So how is it that the rich man could see Abraham and Lazarus?  At Jesus's crucifixion, He told one hanging on a cross next to Him that He would see him in paradise that very day (Luke 23:43).  Of course, Jesus was only telling a parable in the first instance, so perhaps it shouldn't be taken so literally.  Perhaps it was only the souls of Abraham and Lazarus, and where exactly did the rich man see them?  The scripture didn't specifically say; I called it paradise as the opposite of where the rich man was.  However, Jesus did say "paradise" to the thief on the cross.  Jesus said at one point to Nicodemus in John 3:13 that no one had ascended to heaven except Him.  However, in 2 Kings 2:11, we were told that Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.  I have not studied all references at this point, but I am learning that there may be different levels of heaven, at least prior to Jesus's resurrection after He was crucified.  Before Jesus, people could not accept Jesus's payment for their sins that justly required death.  Where did their souls go?  They could not be with God because of their sins, but in their hearts they followed God to the best of their abilities.  Some of the old commentators I study suggest it may have been a place called Paradise or Abraham's Bosom.  Although very peaceful and pleasant in complete opposition to a tormenting hell, it was not with God yet.  Once Jesus paid the price for their sins, then they could be with God.  Is this another level of heaven?  Or merely a way for our human minds to understand the differences?  As far as Elijah going up to heaven, it could be this "lower" level of heaven reserved for those righteous people who did not yet have the gift of Christ.  In the beginning God made the heavens and the earth (Genesis 2:4).  Deuteronomy 10:14 spoke of heaven and the heaven of heavens, denoting two different heavens.  Whether it refers to different levels of heaven or maybe only to the universe and God's heaven above, I can't say with authority.  However, I know that a God I could fully explain and a heaven I could fully understand couldn't possibly be as magnificent and glorious as they surely are, and my simple mind could not possibly know the completely just and righteous and good and loving mind of God!

Back to the rich man and Lazarus:

(24) "And he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame.'"

The rich man in hell called out to Abraham to have mercy on him and to send Lazarus down to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool the rich man's tongue.  I don't believe this can be taken literally that the rich man could actually talk to Abraham, but it is said that the Jews thought it was possible that departed spirits might know and converse with each other.  Therefore, Jesus was using language they would understand to convey His message about the torment in hell.

(25) "But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted and you are tormented.'"

Note that Abraham did not revile this damned soul.  It's a beautiful picture of how Jesus Christ must feel about those who rejected Him in life and must then face the terrible consequences of their choice.  An additional lesson might be that the rich man was probably indeed a descendant of Abraham, but that was not enough to save him.  In Matthew 6:1-2,5, Jesus spoke of those who would have their reward on earth and would have no reward in heaven.  In this parable, Abraham reminded the rich man that he had chosen to receive his reward on earth.  However, Lazarus had received evil things in his life due to no fault of his own and was at that present time comforted in Abraham's bosom.

(26) "'And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who would pass from here to you cannot; neither can they pass to us from there.'"

Additionally, Abraham told the rich man that there was a great fixed chasm between them and neither side could reach the other even if they wanted to.  

(27) "Then he said, 'I pray thee therefore, Father, that you would send him to my father's house. (28) For I have five brothers, that he may testify to them lest they also come to this place of torment.'"

The rich man then asked Abraham to send Lazarus to his father's house to warn his five brothers about that place of torment that awaited them if they did not change their ways.

(29) "Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'"

However, Abraham told the rich man that his brothers had all the writings of Moses and the prophets to warn them and that they should take heed to what they said.

(30) "And he said, 'No, Father Abraham, but if one went to them from the dead, they will repent.'"

The rich man in turn implied that was not enough, but if someone from the dead went to tell them the firsthand truth, they would then repent.

(31) "And he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.'"

However, Abraham told the rich man that if his brothers would not hear the words of Moses and the prophets, then they would not listen even if one rose from the dead, which of course, Jesus would soon do, and still most of His listeners to this parable, most especially the Pharisees, would not be persuaded to repent.

Much can be gleaned from this parable of Jesus.  I believe it tells us that our souls do not die with our bodies and that they do not sleep, but are conscious after death.  The righteous are taken immediately to a place of happiness upon death, even if not heaven with God Himself, and the wicked are immediately sent to a place of misery, even if not the final hell after judgment.  We should certainly not envy the powerful and rich, but strive for a better inheritance than can ever be possessed in this life.  The sufferings in hell will be indescribably great and there will be no escape or end to the torments.  God has given us sufficient warning to prepare for death.  He sent His Word, Jesus Christ, a multitude of servants, and His Holy Spirit to draw us, and He will give us nothing more.  If one doesn't believe after all the proof he has been given, why would he believe one claiming to come from the dead to warn him?  God has set before us two choices, life and death, therefore choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19)!

The Prodigal Son

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Luke 15:1) Then drew near to Him all the publicans and sinners to hear Him.

At the end of the last chapter, Jesus had been journeying toward Jerusalem and a multitude of people followed Him.  He had been telling them what they must do in order to be His disciples, forsake family and self, and accept all trials and tribulations that came with being His disciple.  At this time, whether from the ranks of the multitude or perhaps coming out of the town He was passing through, tax collectors who were detestable to the Jews and other sinners came near to Jesus to hear Him.

(2) And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

When the scribes and Pharisees saw that the publicans and sinners had easy access to Jesus and He cordially accepted them into His audience and even sometimes ate with them, they found it disgraceful and began murmuring among themselves about it.

(3) And He spoke this parable to them, saying, (4) "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?"

Jesus, knowing what the scribes and Pharisees were thinking and saying, asked what one of them, if he had 100 sheep and lost one, would not leave his 99 sheep and go in search of the lost one.

(5) "And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing."

Still part of His question to them, would they not rejoice when they had found their lost sheep?

(6) "And when he comes home, he calls together friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.'"

Would they not be happy about finding their lost sheep and would rejoice with friends and family that they had found it?

(7) "I say to you that likewise joy will be in heaven over one sinner who repents more than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."

Jesus said that was the way it was in heaven, great rejoicing over one sinner who repented, more than over 99 just people who had no need of repentance.  As Jesus had said in Luke 5:32, He had not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.  Therefore, it was necessary to be where the sinners were.

(8) "Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she loses one piece, does not light a candle and sweep the house and seeks diligently until she finds it?"

Jesus offered another example, asking what woman who had ten pieces of silver, if she lost one, would not search diligently for the one lost piece of silver until she found it.

(9) "And when she has found it, she calls friends and neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me for I have found the piece which I had lost.'"

Wouldn't that woman be so happy about finding her one lost coin that she would rejoice with friends and neighbors telling them she had found it?

(10) "Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Again Jesus told them there was great joy in heaven over one sinner who repented, and that is why Jesus was often among sinners.

(11) And He said, "A certain man had two sons."

To further illustrate His point, Jesus began a parable about a man who had two sons.

(12) "And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' And he divided to them his livelihood."

The younger of the man's two sons asked his father if he could have his portion of his inheritance at that time, and his father did indeed divide his property and give the younger son his share.

(13) "And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living."

Not many days after the younger son had received his inheritance, he packed up everything he owned and journeyed to a faraway land, and there wasted all his money on excessive riotous living.

(14) "And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land, and he began to be in need."

When that son had wasted his entire inheritance, there came upon the land a severe famine, and the son found himself in need.

(15) "And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine."

The son went into the service of a citizen of that country who sent him into his fields to feed the swine.  This is representative of one who attaches himself to the world and is employed in loathsome activity, contrary to Godly living, as the keeping of swine was unlawful and one of the lowest forms of degradation to a Jew.

(16) "And he would long to have filled his belly with the husks that the swine ate, and no man gave to him."

The son was so poor and hungry that he longed to eat the husks that the swine ate, but no one gave him anything.

(17) "And when he came to himself, he said, 'How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare and I perish with hunger.'"

When the son came to his right mind, he started thinking about his father and how even his father's servants had more than enough to eat and there he was starving to death.

(18) "'I will arise and go to my father and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, (19) And am no more worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired servants."'"

He thought about what he would do and what he would say to his father.  He would acknowledge that he had sinned against God and his father also in squandering all that he had given him with debauched living.  He would confess that he was no longer worthy to be called his son and would ask that he be allowed to be one of his father's servants.

(20) "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him."

So the son went back to his father.  When he was still a distance away from him, his father saw him coming and was moved with compassion and love for him.  He literally ran to his son and threw his arms around his neck and kissed him.

(21) "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight and am no more worthy to be called your son.'"

The son confessed to his father that he had sinned against God in heaven and against his father and considered himself no longer worthy to be called his son.

(22) "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring forth the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet.'"

However, the father told his servants to bring out the best robe and put it on his younger son, and also to put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet.  The son was surely in rags and must have been barefooted.  The father wanted his son clothed in the best and with a ring that denoted dignity and the favor of his father.  This is a beautiful picture of how God receives us when we repent; He showers us with His grace and love.

(23) "'And bring here the fatted calf and kill it and let us eat and be merry.'"

The father continued telling his servants to also bring forth a fatted calf and kill it so they might feast on it and be joyful.

(24) "'For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry."

The reason for the father's joyous feast was that his son had been as dead to him, seemingly gone forever; he had lost his way, lost in sin, but had now found his way back.  For this, they began a joyous feast.  Again this is a beautiful picture of Father God and the joy in heaven over a lost soul who repented.

(25) "Now his elder son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing."

The father's older son was apparently working in the field when all this occurred.  As he came near the house, he heard the music and dancing of the joyful feast.

(26) "And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant."

The older son called one of the servants and asked him the reason for the music and dancing.

(27) "And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has received him safe and sound.'"

The servant told the older son that his brother had returned and that his father was overjoyed that he had come back to him safe and sound, so he had killed the fatted calf and they were having a joyful celebratory feast.

(28) "And he was angry and would not go in; therefore his father came out and entreated him."

The older son was angry about it all and would not join the feast, so his father came out to him and begged him to join them.

(29) "And he, answering, said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you; I neither transgressed your commandment at any time and yet you never gave me a kid that I might make merry with my friends. (30) But as soon as this your son came, who had devoured your livelihood with harlots, you have killed for him the fatted calf.'"

The son told his father why he was so angry and would not go in to the feast.  He had served his father faithfully for many years and never failed to do what he asked, and yet his father had never offered so much as a goat kid so that he might celebrate with his friends.  However, when his sinful son returned, after squandering his inheritance that had been his father's livelihood, he killed a fatted calf and made a great celebration for him.

(31) "And he said to him, 'Son, you are ever with me and all that I have is yours. (32) It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead and is alive again and was lost and is found.'"

The father told his older son that he had been with him always and therefore enjoyed all that his father had.  However, they should be joyful that their lost family member was now found.  He had been literally dead in sin but was now alive!  That should be a happy event for the older son, too.  Of course, this was a perfect addendum to what Jesus had said at the beginning of this chapter.  In this case the Father would not leave the one and others to find the lost one but would seem to shower more blessings on the lost one when he returned.  Although it might seem unfair to some that they could be faithful Christians all their lives when a lost soul who lived a corrupt life can come to Jesus and Father God at the end of his life and be showered with blessings, we must remember that as faithful Christians, we have always had the blessings of the Father that come with following Him.  A lost soul has never really been happy, always searching for something to fill the emptiness.  And he was destined to live eternity in hell!  We must realize that "there but for the grace of God go I."  We could have so easily been lost as well if not for the love and mercy of God.  Perhaps we were for a time and are now saved.  Because God forgave us and saved us, we should also be willing to forgive others no matter how long they have lived wickedly, and to rejoice when they finally come to Jesus.  This is something Jesus taught in Matthew 6:14-15, that only when we forgave men's trespasses would our heavenly Father forgive us ours.  Matthew Henry said it beautifully in his Commentary on the Whole Bible:

"Therefore we ought not to envy others God's grace to them because we shall have never the less for their sharing in it. If we be true believers, all that God is, all that he has, is ours; and, if others come to be true believers, all that he is, and all that he has, is theirs too, and yet we have not the less, as they that walk in the light and warmth of the sun have all the benefit they can have by it, and yet not the less for others having as much."

Lessons on Humility and Discipleship

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Luke 14:1) And it came to pass as He went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath Day, that they watched Him.

In the last chapter Jesus was teaching in the cities and villages on His way to Jerusalem.  In one of those cities or villages, He accepted the invitation of one of the chief Pharisees to dine at his house.  It seems that if not the host, at least many of his guests watched Jesus, probably hoping to catch Him in something they could use against Him as was their usual M.O.

(2) And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy.

There among the guests was a man who had a disease that caused severe swelling and he was in front of Jesus.  He didn't approach Jesus; Jesus just saw him there before Him.

(3) And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath Day?"

Jesus "answered" the scribes and Pharisees.  Possibly He knew they had planted this ill man before Him to test whether or not He would heal him on the Sabbath.  Jesus asked them if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath.

(4) And they held their peace. And He took and healed him and let him go;

The scribes and Pharisees did not answer Jesus, and He did indeed heal the man.

(5) And answered them, saying, "Which of you shall have a donkey or an ox fallen into a pit and will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath Day?"

Jesus asked the scribes and Pharisees which of them who had a donkey or an ox fall into a pit would not immediately pull the animal out on the Sabbath.  That was considered work according to their strict interpretation of the law, yet they would certainly do that anyway to rescue their animal.  How much more should a person be rescued from his disease on the Sabbath, as in the eyes of the Lord, His people are worth much more than animals:

"...you are of more value than many sparrows." - Matthew 10:31

"Of how much more value...is a man than a sheep?" - Matthew 12:12

"...how much more are you better than the birds?" - Luke 12:24

"...let (man) have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." - Genesis 1:26

(6) And they could not answer Him to these things.

Once again the scribes and Pharisees had nothing to say to Jesus.  

(7) And He put forth a parable to those who were invited when He noticed how they chose the chief places, saying to them, 

Jesus noticed how all the invited guests sought the best seats closest to the head of the table and He put forth a parable to them.

(8) "When you are invited by anyone to a wedding, do not sit down in the highest place, lest a more honorable man than you be invited by him, (9) And he who invited you and him comes and says to you, 'Give this man place,' and you begin with shame to take the lowest place."

Jesus told them that whenever they were invited to a wedding or any kind of feast, one should not sit down at the highest place.  It could be there was someone invited whom the host considered deserving of more honor and he would ask that one to give up his seat for the more honorable man.  Then that first man would feel ashamed as he had to get up and take the lowest seat at the table.

(10) "But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, that when he who invited you comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher;' then you will have glory in the presence of them who sit at the meal with you."

Instead, Jesus said, one ought to seek the lowest place at the table.  Then when the host might ask that one to move up closer to the head of the table, he would feel honor and esteem rather than embarrassment in front of the other guests.

(11) "For whoever exalts himself shall be abased, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted."

Jesus concluded with the moral of His parable, that whoever exalted himself would be humbled and the one who humbled himself would be exalted.

(12) Then He also said to him who invited Him, "When you make a dinner or a supper, do not call your friends, nor your brothers, nor your kinsmen, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back and you will be repaid.

Jesus then spoke to the host of the meal, telling him that whenever he made a dinner or a supper, he shouldn't make it for his friends and family and rich neighbors only, not that there should never be an occasion to have a dinner for close friends and family.  However, when he made a feast for no particular reason, he should not invite only those who would in turn repay him with an invitation to a dinner.

(13) "But when you make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, (14) And you shall be blessed for they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just."

Rather, Jesus told the host, he should invite the poor and disabled, those who could never repay him, and for that he would be blessed by God and be among the resurrection of the saints.  As Jesus said in Luke 6:33-34, "...if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks have you? For sinners also do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks have you? For sinners also lend to sinners to receive as much back."

(15) And when one of them who sat at the meal with Him heard these things, he said to Him, "Blessed he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God."

It seems there was one guest who sat at the meal with Jesus who seemed to understand the spiritual meaning of what Jesus had said and recognized that one would be blessed to dine in the kingdom of God.

(16) Then He said to him, "A certain man made a great supper and invited many."

It appears Jesus turned His attention to the man who had spoken and began another parable.  He told of a man who had made a big feast and invited many to it.

(17) "And sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.'"

The man sent his servant out to tell all the invited guests to come to supper as everything was ready for them.

(18) "And they all with one accord began to make excuse. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground and I must go and see it; I pray you have me excused.'"

All the invited guests began making excuses as to why they couldn't attend.  One man said he had bought some land and had to go see it, and asked to be excused from his invitation.

(19) "And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen and I am going to test them; I pray you have me excused.'"

Another man said he had just bought oxen and was going to test them and he also asked to be excused.

(20) "And another said, 'I have married a wife and therefore I cannot come.'"

Another used the excuse that he had just married and could not come to the supper.

(21) "So that servant came and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.'"

The servant went back to his master and reported all the excuses to him.  The master was angry and told his servant to go into the streets of the city and bring in all the poor and disabled.  This is a picture of Father God who prepared His merciful gift of salvation and invited His chosen people to receive it.  However, they all rejected it, so He offered His gift to those of a lower station, the Gentiles.  He said to go quickly; the time was short, as it indeed is with us all as we never know when our time will be up.

(22) "And the servant said, 'Lord, it is done as you have commanded and still there is room.'"

The servant did as his master had told him and there was still room at the table.  The servant could be a symbol of Jesus who came to do His Father's will.  He brought those who would receive Him and there was still room for more.  

(23) "And the lord said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and the hedges and compel them to come in that my house may be filled.'"

The master of the house told his servant to go out further, into the highways and the hedges that were planted to border the fields.  This is a picture of the great commission of Christ to "go therefore and teach all nations" (Matthew 28:19).  "Compel them to come," or earnestly press them, accepting no excuses of their poor and lowly state or feelings of unworthiness; "come as you are," to quote a hymn and Christ's sentiment.  God wants His kingdom filled with all His children.

(24) "'For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste of my supper.'"

The master of the house said that none of the men he had originally invited would taste of his supper, as will be the fate of those who reject Christ and His salvation.

(25) And there went great multitudes with Him, and He turned and said to them, (26) "If any man comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."

There was a great multitude of people following Jesus and He turned His attention to them and began to tell them what it really meant to be a true follower or disciple of Him.  Merely following Him out of curiosity or just desiring to hear Him teach was not enough to be a true disciple of Jesus.  He must be the most important thing in their lives to be disciples.  The original word translated as "hate," that is "miseo," in this sense means to loves less.  Obviously, Jesus doesn't want His followers to hate their family and friends; He taught us to love.  However, we must put Jesus before our family and friends.  As He said in Luke 12:51-53, He came to bring division and would divide families, those who accepted Him from those who rejected Him.  He also expects us to deny ourselves and our egos and die to self.

(27) "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple."

Jesus also told them in order to be His disciple they must be willing to take upon themselves all the trials and persecutions that come with following Him.  When the world objects, if they relinquish and fall away, they are not true followers of Christ.

(28) "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has sufficient to finish it?"

Jesus asked which of them, if they intended to build a tower, would not first sit down and figure the cost to determine if he had enough to finish the job once he started it.  Likewise, if a man intended to be a disciple of Christ, he should first consider the difficulties he would encounter and determine if he had the strength and faith to endure.  

(29) "Lest haply, after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish, all who behold it begin to mock him, (30) Saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'"

If a man began building a tower without first considering the cost, he might wind up laying the foundation and not be able to finish, and those who saw the empty foundation may begin to mock him.  Likewise, one certainly would be a poor witness for Christ if he professed to be a disciple and fell away at the first sign of difficulty.

(31) "Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?"

Jesus also asked what king would decide to make war against a king with a much larger army without first planning a strategy to defeat him.

(32) "Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends an ambassador and desires conditions of peace."

If a king did act so rashly, he might find himself surrendering before he even started.

(33) "So likewise, whoever he be of you who does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."

Jesus's point to those who were following Him was that they must consider the costs of being a true disciple, whether or not they could forsake family and deny themselves and bear the difficulties that would surely come with discipleship.

(34) "Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what shall it be seasoned? (35) It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill; men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Jesus concluded by stating that salt was good, but if it lost its saltiness, how could it then be salted?  It couldn't; it was not fit for land or even a dunghill, but only to be thrown out.  Salt was used as a preservative and for flavoring.  It killed bacteria and prevented rapid rotting of meats.  Likewise, a disciple of Christ was salt for a decaying world.  Salt brings flavor and purpose to lives that are empty and hopeless.  But a "disciple" of Christ that is not salt is useless to God and His kingdom on earth.  Jesus asked that those who heard His words really understand them.

Repent and Enter at the Narrow Gate, or Perish

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Luke 13:1) There were present at that season some who told Him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

In the last chapter Jesus had been speaking to His disciples and a multitude of people, teaching them to be reconciled to their Lord and ready for His second coming.  At this time some of the present company told Jesus about a certain incident.  According to Biblical scholars, this was most likely about the Galileans who were followers of Judas of Galilee (Acts 5:37) who refused to acknowledge the Roman government.  There was an occasion recorded by the historian Josephus when Pilate surrounded and killed Galileans while they were sacrificing in the temple, thus mingling their blood with their sacrifices.

(2) And Jesus answering, said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans because they suffered such things?"

Jesus perceived that their reason for telling Him of this incident was to pass judgment on the character of Galileans who seemingly sinned above all and received their just punishment.  He point-blank asked them if that was their supposition.

(3) "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish."

Jesus answered that was not the case, but unless they repented, they, too, would in like manner perish.  Indeed, they would.  The fate of those Galileans, killed while sacrificing at the temple, was an illustration of what was to happen to the Jews who would be slain in Jerusalem by Roman soldiers.  The broader point was that unless they repented of their sins, they would perish in hell for eternity.

(4) "Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were sinners above all men who dwell in Jerusalem?"

In this question of Jesus, He showed them that not only Galileans, whom they may have had contempt for, but also inhabitants of Jerusalem had died violent deaths.  Apparently, this was a recent occurrence that a tower which had been built at the Pool of Siloam fell and killed eighteen men likely as they were purifying themselves in the pool, which made this case much like the one they had described with the Galileans.  Did they also presume that those eighteen Jews were more sinful than the other Jews in Jerusalem?

(5) "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish."

Again Jesus told them that was not the case, and that unless they repented, they would all perish in the same way.  Once again, it was a picture of what was to come.  As the tower fell and buried the eighteen in the pool, so would Jerusalem fall and they would all be buried in the ruins of the city.  This may have been exactly what Jesus meant, warning them to repent before all of Jerusalem fell, but I can't help but think about it in a broader sense.  That's because, if there was someone in Jerusalem who repented and followed Jesus, Jerusalem would have still fallen and could have killed that innocent person.  Jesus said it rains on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45) indiscriminately, but the just will have eternal life whereas the unjust will be permanently destroyed.

(6) He spoke also this parable, "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came and sought fruit on it and found none."

Jesus then began a parable to illustrate His point.  He spoke of a man who had a fig tree planted in his vineyard.  He went to it to gather fruit from it, but there was none.

(7) Then he said to the vinedresser, "Behold these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none; cut it down, why let it cumber the ground?"

The owner of the vineyard spoke to the keeper of his vineyard, telling him he had been coming to that particular fig tree for three years looking for fruit and had found none.  He told the vinedresser to cut it down as it was taking up ground that a fruitful tree could use.  This was a symbol of God looking for good fruits from His creation, and finding none, wishing to destroy it and allow the more fruitful of His creation to take its place.

(8) And he answering, said to him, "Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig around it and fertilize it."

The vinedresser answered his master, asking that he allow the tree one more year.  He would work it, nurture and fertilize it.  The vinedresser is a symbol of Christ, the intercessor for us sinners, asking for patience while He was on earth to nurture and teach the sinners.  

(9) "And if it bears fruit, well; and if not, after that you shall cut it down."

Like the vinedresser for the barren tree, Christ the intercessor for sinners, asked for one more chance to allow sinners to bear the fruit of repentance, and if by then they did not, then they could be destroyed.  Interestingly, Christ's ministry was also three years like the time that the owner of the vineyard had been looking for fruit from the fig tree.  Still the Jews had not come to repentance, but Jesus in His love and mercy and patience, asked for more time for them.  Even at His crucifixion Jesus would ask forgiveness for the ones who crucified Him because they didn't know what they were doing (Luke 23:24).  However, after that, if they still did not bear the fruit of repentance, then they were to be destroyed.

(10) And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.

Sometime later Jesus was teaching at one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day.

(11) And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years and was bent over and could in no way lift up.

There was a woman in the synagogue who had a condition that kept her bent over and unable to lift herself up.  She had had the condition for eighteen years, but it did not keep her from attending the synagogue on the Sabbath.  I can't help think about what feeble excuses we might use not to attend church, but this woman went in her condition and received an incredible blessing as we will see in the next verses.  What blessings might we be missing when we miss church?

(12) And when Jesus saw her, He called and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity."

When Jesus saw the bent over woman, He called out to her and told her that she was released from her infirmity.

(13) And He laid hands on her and immediately she was made straight and glorified God.

Jesus laid His hands on the woman, and she immediately straightened up and praised God.

(14) And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day, and said to the people, "There are six days in which men ought to work; in them therefore, come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day."

The ruler of the synagogue was indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath.  He seemed to be indignant at the people as well as he quoted to them the fourth of the ten commandments that men were to do their work in six days and not on the seventh.  He suggested people should come to be healed on one of the six work days and not on the Sabbath.  You would think that prayer and laying on of hands would be exactly what was expected on the Sabbath.  What Jesus had done could not really be considered work, but the laws had become so strict and cumbersome, they had lost all sense of their original purpose.

(15) The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrite, does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it away to watering?"

Jesus called the ruler a hypocrite and asked if he or any of them loosed their oxen and donkeys on the Sabbath and lead them to water.  That was considered work in their strict interpretation of the law, yet they, including the ruler himself who was being so hypocritical at that moment, would certainly do that.  If they would do good to water their animals, how much more good and proper was it to heal people from their infirmities when the occasion arose?

(16) "And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?"

Indeed, Jesus went on to say that as they would all loose their animals in order to water them, shouldn't that woman, who was a daughter of Abraham, one of God's own chosen people, who had been bound by Satan for eighteen years, be loosed from her bond on the Sabbath day?  After all, was she not worth more than the animals, as Jesus said in Luke 12:7, "You are of more value than many sparrows."

(17) And when He had said these things, all His adversaries were ashamed; and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

When Jesus had spoken what He did, the ruler of the synagogue as well as other adversaries like the scribes and Pharisees who were surely also in the synagogue hoping to catch Jesus in the wrong, were all put to shame.  Whether or not they personally felt ashamed or not, they were surely disgraced and silenced as all the people rejoiced in what Jesus had done and said.

(18) Then He said, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?"

I don't believe this question of Jesus was made at the same time as when He was in the synagogue, but rather later or at another time, "Then He said...."  Jesus asked a question He would answer Himself, what was the kingdom of God like and to what should He compare it for His listeners' understanding.

(19) "It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and cast into his garden, and it grew and became a great tree and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it."

Jesus used this comparison to show that the kingdom of God was not a sudden perfection on earth that they might have believed it would be.  The people expected an earthly king Messiah who would set up His kingdom immediately.  However, He explained it was not like that.  It would start very small like the mustard seed but would grow to be enormous in the world and would shelter many who would take refuge in it.

(20) And again He said, "To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?"

Jesus asked the question again in order to give another example.

(21) "It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened."

Jesus said the kingdom of God on earth was like leaven, though small and perhaps seemingly begun in secret with a small few, would swell and spread till God's people throughout the whole world were leavened with the Gospel.

(22) And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

Jesus went through cities and villages as He journeyed toward Jerusalem, and He took the time to teach people about the kingdom of God as He went along the way.

(23) Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And He said to them, (24) "Strive to enter in at the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able."

Someone among the people Jesus taught asked Him if there were only a few who were saved.  He told the people to strive, or be diligent about their salvation, striving to be Christ-like in communion with Him in prayer, in study of the scriptures, contending with Satan and the world that opposed salvation.  Jesus called this a narrow gate that many would seek to enter but would be unable.  The use of the word "seek" here bothered me a little because Jesus had said, "Seek, and you shall find."  However, God said in Deuteronomy 4:29, that one would find Him if he sought Him with all his heart and with all his soul.  I believe that is what makes it the narrow gate.  It's not enough to just say we wish to enter the kingdom of God and call ourselves Christian because we say we believe in Jesus and Father God.  We must truly strive to make Him the Lord of our lives proving we desire Him with all our hearts and souls.  Just saying we believe and continuing to live a worldly life is trying to enter by a broad gate that is not of Christ and His narrow gate.

(25) "When once the Master of the house has risen up and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us,' and He shall answer and say to you, 'I do not know you where you are.'"

Jesus told them that once the Master of the house, meaning God in heaven, had shut His door, and people stood outside the door asking to be let in, He would answer and say He did not know them as His own who lived among His flock, as they came from the world.  Not only would people be unable to enter the narrow gate because they did not wholeheartedly seek the Lord with all their hearts and souls, but they came too late.  God said in Isaiah 45:23, and it was reflected upon in Romans 14:11, that in the end every knee would bow to Him and every tongue would acknowledge Him; every person would eventually acknowledge God, but it would be too late then.

(26) "Then you will begin to say, 'We have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets.'"

Jesus said those people would plead their cases saying that they had been in His presence, if not with Him personally, in His church, and His word was taught in their streets.  They would say that they "knew" Him.

(27) "But He shall say, 'I tell you, I do not know you where you are; depart from Me, all workers of iniquity!'"

However, the Lord would reiterate that He did not know them where they were in the world.  He would call them workers of iniquity and would demand they depart from Him.  Most all the translations other than the King James Version translated Jesus's words as something to the effect of, "I don't know you or where you came from" or "I don't know where you come from."  The fact that it was said twice the very same way, "I do not know you where you are," or exactly in the KJV, "I know you not whence you are," I believe that is exactly what was meant.  The Lord Jesus knows everyone and He knows where they came from.  I believe the sense is that He did not recognize them as one of His own because of where they were in the world, living as the world and not as one of His flock.

(28) "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you shall see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you thrust out."

Those Jesus told to depart from Him would find themselves wailing in anguish when they saw their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the prophets who had foretold Jesus to them, there in the kingdom of God, and they were thrust out.

(29) "And they shall come from the east and the west, and from the north and the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God."

Souls would come from all corners of the earth to sit in the kingdom of God.  This meant Gentiles would come from all nations to sit in the kingdom of God, but they, God's chosen people, would not be able to enter because they never really knew Jesus and He did not know them as His own.

(30) "And behold, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last."

By this statement, Jesus was telling them that the last, the Gentiles, the farthest removed from God, and the last to receive the Gospel after it was rejected by the Jews, would be first in the kingdom of God.  God's first chosen and the first to hear the Gospel would become last because they had rejected it.

(31) The same day there came certain of the Pharisees saying to Him, "Get out and depart from here, for Herod will kill You."

That same day some Pharisees came to Jesus and warned Him to depart from there because Herod would kill Him.  From verse 22 we know that Jesus was journeying toward Jerusalem, so He was not there yet.  Therefore this may have been Herod the Tetrarch of Galilee whose jurisdiction went no further than Galilee.  Perhaps it was of good will that some Pharisees warned Jesus to get out of Herod's jurisdiction, but more likely they just wanted Him to leave and that was designed to make Him leave, whether or not it was Herod who sent them.  

(32) And He said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.'"

However, Jesus fittingly called Herod a fox as he was known as a crafty and incestuous prince.  He told those messengers to go tell Herod that He intended to stay and do the works He was sent to do for the short time He had left to do them, and on the third day He would depart for Jerusalem where He would be perfected when He died there.  Whether He would be just three days there before He was perfected, or rather what He said was to be symbolic of the three days He would be in the tomb before He rose again, the meaning was the same.  He had a short time to do His work and then He would be gone.

(33) "Nevertheless, I must walk today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem."

However, Jesus said that He would be walking toward Jerusalem those three days, though He intended to keep working His miracles as He journeyed.  He said that was because a prophet could not perish out of Jerusalem.  Obviously, it wasn't true that no prophet could ever perish outside of Jerusalem, but as that was where the Sanhedrin was which was said to be the only one to try and judge a prophet, that was where Jesus determined to go.  He did not fear death by Herod where He was and would not immediately depart, but He knew where He must go to die so He would be journeying that way.

(34) "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to you; how often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!"

Jesus then lamented over Jerusalem calling it a place that killed the prophets and stoned to death those who were sent to it in order to save it.  How often Jesus had desired to gather the people of Jerusalem together to protect them as a hen gathered her chicks under her wings, as He had made three different trips to Jerusalem in order to do just that.  However, Jerusalem rejected Him.

(35) "Behold, your house is left to you desolate, and verily I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you shall say, 'Blessed He who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

Because Jerusalem rejected Jesus, it was then consigned to destruction, and would not see Him again until the time when its people would acknowledge Him as Messiah and Savior coming the second time in the name and authority of the Lord.  However, that would be to the posterity of Jerusalem's present people, when the time came that they might be converted in the latter days.