Luke 14- Good Salt

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Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Luke 14:34-35

Are you good salt? Jesus tells us, we as Christians , are the “Salt of The Earth” (Matthew 5:13) So what happens when salt loses its flavor or usefulness? And how do we apply this to our daily lives right now? Well as we know, Salt has many purposes, we use it almost always to flavor our food and we also use it to preserve our food, even today. 

Jesus said “If the salt loses its flavor, how can it be made salty again” (Matthew 5:13) Jesus is saying if your Born Again, you can’t be Born Again again! You’re only baptized by the Holy Spirit, once. So are you producing fruits of the Holy Spirit? (Galatians 5) Or are you continually living in your sinful and wretched lifestyle? You’re either saved or you’re not. Once you are a new creation , you are now a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)

We are also to preserve justice and morality for society. Many of our laws are based off the laws of the Bible. Because the whole point of the Ten Commandments and moral law was to preserve justice and righteousness. As a Born Again Christian, the Law is written in our hearts (Jeremiah 33) We know right from wrong, and apply this to our daily lives and society. As Christians we need to preserve this justice and righteousness in our Church and our Homes. 

When or if , Christians stop being the “Salt of the Earth” , Jesus says “It is no longer good for anything, and can be thrown out” (Matthew 5:13) We have jobs to do as Christians, to be the Salt of The Earth and the Light of the World. This is not an option, this is a commandment!

Jesus said “Let those who have ears, let them hear” , are you listening? Has the Holy Spirit enlightened you? Those who are dead in their sin can’t comprehend the Word of God, you must become Born Again to become the Salt of The Earth Amen!

Luke 14- The Cost of Christianity

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If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Luke 14:26-28

Alot of people think being a “Christian” is easy, just repeat a few words and you get a golden ticket to Heaven. Well apparently they didn’t read the actual teachings of Jesus Christ. There is a great cost to becoming a Christian, and no I’m not referring to a financial cost, its the cost of your old lifestyle, your old habits, your old friends, your old self. It’s a total transformation becoming Born Again through Christ

Jesus said “Anyone who doesn’t hate their father, mother, wife, children, sister, and your own life, can’t be my disciple” What? Of course Jesus is speaking in hyperbole, he’s trying to make a point. Anyone who puts anything or anyone ahead of God, can’t be a disciple of Christ. There is no such thing as a “part-time Christian” although we see it alot in todays culture. You can’t be a Christian on Sunday and be your old self the other 6 days. If you have been Born Again, you are a new creature, a new creation, your life has changed forever, and it comes with a cost!

Jesus also said “Whoever doesn’t carry their cross, can’t be my disciple” Again this is a hyperbole, Jesus is not expecting you to get crucified. Jesus is saying there is going to be a cost to being his disciple. If you want to be a Christian, you must pay that cost. You might lose family members, or friends , or maybe even your job when you become a Christian. 

Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:29-33

Jesus is saying before you become a Christian, consider the cost! Are you willing to give up everything for The Lord? Are you willing to finish the race? You can’t receive Christ half-heartedly , you are either saved or lost. But understand , the narrow path to life won’t be easy. However remember Jesus paid the ultimate price for you, he paid the wages for your sins so that you may inherit eternal life

Is being a Christian easy, no! Is the pain and suffering worth it, absolutely! Understand that at the cross, Jesus has already overcome the world, defeating sin and death forever! Deny yourself, carry your cross and follow Jesus Amen!

Luke 14- The Great Banquet

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And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. Luke 14:15-17

Jesus teaches a parable about a great banquet, this was in obvious reference to the “Great Wedding Feast” when Christ returns. Throughout the Bible it is referenced that the Church (Christians) are the bride of Christ, and Jesus is the groom. There will be a great day when the Church is reunited with their Lord and Savior, such as a Wedding Feast!

And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed 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 hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. Luke 14:18-21

Jesus continues the parable by stating many people were invited to the banquet but they all made excuses not to come. These people are symbolic of Israel, they were God’s chosen people and were revealed the Messiah first, however most rejected Christ! So Jesus then invited the Gentiles to the Great Wedding Feast and they can become Children of God through Him

And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. Luke 14:22-24

And yet many Gentiles rejected the Messiah also, as we see today. So Jesus commanded to preach the gospel to the entire world. Those who have rejected the invitation , will not be allowed back into the feast. Those who rejected the calling of The Holy Spirit, have committed the unpardonable sin

Have you accepted your invitation to the Great Banquet? Don’t allow the door to be closed forever, receive Christ as your personal Lord and Savior today! Amen!

Luke 14- Jesus Heals on The Sabbath Part 2

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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. And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy. And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;  Luke 14:1-4

Here again we see Jesus challenging the religious leaders about the Sabbath. Why does Jesus spend so much time challenging the Sabbath? Because the Sabbath was a sign between Israel and God, it was the sign of the Old (Mosaic) Covenant (Exodus 20:20, Exodus 31:13) Jesus is bring the New Covenant , a better Covenant (Hebrews 8:6) Therefor Jesus is our Sabbath Rest, Jesus is our High Priest, Jesus is our sacrifice and atonement for sin

When Jesus challenged the religious leaders about the Sabbath, they remained silent, why? Because they created a religion full of man-made rules and traditions. They took the blessing of God’s Sabbath and used it to control and condemn people. This is not what God intended with the Sabbath, God intended for the Sabbath to bless the Israelites and provide them with needed physical rest of their daily lives

Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath, under the Mosaic Law this would be a violation. But Jesus is Lord of The Sabbath, Christ is introducing His New Covenant, where Christ is our everything!

And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day? And they could not answer him again to these things. Luke 14:5-6

Jesus provided them a practical example of their hypocrisy. If one of their animals fell in the pit on the Sabbath, they would surely rescue the animal, right? Because they need that animal for survival to provide for their families. So if they wouldn’t hesitate to save an animal’s life, why would they hesitate to heal a man? Because it’s not truly about honoring God, their hearts are hardened, they love their religion more than they love God

It’s important to love the Lord God with all your mind, heart, and soul, being religious or zealous about your religion is not going to save your soul from eternal Hell. Its time to understand who Jesus truly is, receive him as your Lord, as your Sabbath, receive him as your everything Amen!

Luke 13- Jesus Laments Over Jerusalem

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The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. Luke 13:31-33

Jesus makes some very interesting statements in our reading today, first the religious leaders are warning Jesus that King Herod wants to kill him and to get out of Jerusalem. Now are the Pharisees being honest or do they just want Christ to leave them alone? Either way Jesus makes it clear he’s not too concerned with what Herod thinks of him. In fact Jesus uses an interesting term for Herod, he calls him a fox, which in those days was a reference to being feminine. Jesus was calling out Herods immoral lifestyle and weak masculinity

Secondly, Jesus had alot of work to do, he still had demons to get rid of and people to heal. Jesus wasn’t concerned about Herod’s agenda or the Pharisees agenda. Notice Jesus says “On the 3rd day I will be perfected” , Christ is prophesying about his own resurrection. 

Jesus makes another very interesting statement “It cannot be that a prophet perishes outside of Jerusalem” , as we know prophets and apostles have died outside of Jerusalem, so what is Jesus referring to? First , I think he is prophesying about his own death on the cross, secondly I think he is referring to the accountability Israel has for the death of the prophets. Jesus made it clear throughout his ministry, that Israel was responsible for the death of God’s prophets (Luke 11:49-51)

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Luke 13:34-35

Jesus mourns over Jerusalem, remember Jerusalem means City of God, this was the only place on Earth that Gods resided until Christ came. But the religious leaders corrupted God’s Holy City and killed his prophets and apostles. Jesus knows the fate of Jerusalem and The Temple, as they will all be destroyed in 70 A.D.

Notice Jesus makes another prophecy “You shall not see me until the time come when they say “Blessed is He that comes in the name of The Lord” Most people recognize this as the statements made when Jesus rolled through Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Jesus was prophesying about Palm Sunday and it was also fulfilled. 

God is sending a New Jerusalem in the New Heavens and Earth, be ready for Christ is coming again soon Amen!