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The Great Physician: Calling Sinners to Repentance | Jesus’ Parables

Physician
via Chil Vera | Pixabay

Immediately after Jesus called Levi to follow Him, this new disciple hosted a feast at his home. Matthew 9:10 tells us that many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down at his table. Even at this early stage in Jesus’ ministry, the Pharisees and scribes were keeping tabs on what Jesus was doing. Mark 2:16 reveals that they saw Him eating with this motley crew at Matthew’s house. They asked His disciples why He ate with such people.

To the Pharisees, these people were untouchables. Bigotry was a huge problem with the religious leaders – why should they, the elite class, associate with such lowly individuals? In Luke 7:39, a Pharisee named Simon concluded that Jesus was not a prophet, since he willingly allowed a sinful woman to touch Him. Such an accusation was not laid against Him in our text, but was no doubt the thought on their minds.

Building Your Life on the Rock | Jesus’ Parables

rock
via Chil Vera | Pixabay

For as long as I can remember, truck ads for GM have use Bob Segar’s song, “Like A Rock.” Of course, the idea General Motors wants to convey is that their trucks are strong and reliable. I’ve never owned one, so I don’t know if the image is appropriate or not. What I do know is that Jesus used the stability of a rock two millennium beforehand to speak of the faithful child of God.

As the discourse commonly called the sermon on the mount drew to a close, the Lord made a contrast be-tween those who do His will and those who merely hear it. He could simply have said the first is wise and the latter is foolish (which He did do), but to help illustrate and to make the teaching memorable, He employed a parable about two builders. His teaching is not complex; in fact, Matthew 7:24-27 has been fashioned into a simple children’s song. My first introduction to this text, as yours may also have been, was that song.

Matthew 7: How to Identify False Prophets | Jesus’ Parables

false
via Chil Vera | Pixabay

Immediately after saying that the way to heaven is narrow, Jesus spoke of some who will hinder those who seek to walk the heavenly way. He identifies them as false prophets (Matthew 7:15), and uses two images to speak about them; the first speaks of their methods (Matthew 7:15), the second speaks of their manner of life (Matthew 7:16-20).

Jesus’ Use of Parables: To Reveal and Conceal Truth

Parables
via Chil Vera | Pixabay

In Mark 4:2, we are told that Jesus taught the multitude many things by  parables.  Matthew, Mark and Luke record many parables spoken by Jesus. The gospel of John, though different in design from the synoptic gospels, also records some of Jesus’ parabolic teaching. There are likely more parables in the four gospels than you realize. When we think of the parables, some that we are well acquainted with no doubt come to mind, but as we go through this series, I think you may be surprised to see how often Jesus spoke to the people in parables. I was!

I’m hesitant to put in print how many parables we can find spoken by the Lord in the gospels. Perhaps it will be sufficient to say there are many. Some believe the word “parable” needs to be in the text to confirm that a teaching is in fact a parable.  Though it is true the writers will often state that the Lord spoke a parable, they don’t always do so. To require all parables to be specifically identified as such shows ignorance in the one making the requirement of what a parable is, and disqualifies several statements made by the Lord which are parabolic in nature.

The Truth About Christmas and What Jesus Really Wants

Christmas
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There is less than a week remaining to Christmas day. Over the next several days, many will be rushing to the stores for some last minute shopping. Perhaps it will be for stocking stuffers, maybe a special gift for that special somebody.

Mall Santas have heard gift requests from hundreds of children – gaming consoles, sports equipment, DVDs, board games – the list goes on and on. Canadians spent $35 billion+ on Christmas gifts in 2005.1 The economic difficulties of the past few years has likely lowered that figure a bit, but a look at the mall, Walmart or Toys R Us would indicate it has had a minimal effect.

Sharing Your Faith – A Personal Testimony in Jesus Christ

testimony
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It was a regular occurrence at the little denominational group I assembled with as a teenager for folks to get up and give their personal testimony. You’d hear a number of different things, from how the person came to faith to what God had done for them in the past week. As I recall, it was simply called “sharing time.”

Testimony is defined as:

an open acknowledgement; a public profession of religious experience. (M-W.com)

You Children of God – Rejoice In The Lord Always

rejoice in the LORD
via Michael De Groot | Pixabay

It’s a good practice when we study a book of the Bible, to focus on key words. Recurring words will help us understand the theme of a book. For instance, in John’s gospel, the word “Father” is found over 100 times. Jesus’ relationship to the heavenly Father is a major theme of John’s writing. In John’s first epistle, we see “know” over 25 times. His purpose – to establish the true knowledge we have in Jesus Christ. In the book of Philippians, the words “joy” and “rejoice” appear more than 15 times. There are certainly other topics addressed throughout, but the need for us to rejoice permeates the epistle.

Lest We Forget Those Who Have Made Sacrifice

After officiating the funeral of friend and fellow soldier, Lt. Alexis Helmer, Lt. Col. John McCrae wrote “In Flanders Fields.” This past week, this poem was read at memorial services across the country, as folks paused from the hustle and bustle of life to remember those who have given their lives in battle. We should not take for granted freedoms we enjoy, nor forget those who made such a huge sacrifice, even their own lives to preserve such freedoms.

A lot of attention is given to fallen heroes on November 11, Remembrance Day. But should we not be mindful of those who served our nation throughout the year? The benefits we have from their sacrifice are not exclusive to November 11. We’re a free nation – a freedom that cost some their lives.

It is a sad fact that many are prone to forgetfulness. As Moses gave the law of God to the generation that would take possession of the promised land, he was concerned they’d forget all that God did for them. he warned them:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

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