Jesus expressed His desire that He could complete His work and bring final judgment on Israel so that the purified nation could finally enjoy God’s promised blessings. But before that could happen, He needed to go through the baptism of His death, burial, and resurrection. He needed to die as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. The end goal of Jesus’ work was peace but in the interim, it would bring division. Because not everyone would believe in Him families would be divided. Those who choose to believe will be ostracised by those who chose not to.

Up to that point, Jesus had been focused on His disciples, now he turns to the crowd and addresses them on their inability to recognise and accept Him as the Messiah. They were able to see the cloud rising over the sea and know that rain was coming. They could see the south wind blowing and know that it was going to be hot. They could interpret the natural signs, the earth and sky, but they were not able to interpret the spiritual signs. Jesus was right there among them offering them the kingdom but they could not see it and would not believe Him.

Jesus used the illustration of an accused person going before the magistrate to speak of the urgency of being right with God. In earthly terms, it would be wise even before reaching the magistrate to settle with our accuser because once we face the judge, his judgement is final and he will ensure that every last penny is paid to settle our debt. The nation of Israel still had time to settle its account with God before it was too late. We are given that same opportunity. The harsh reality is that if we stand before God with unsettled accounts then He will judge us rightly and our sin against an eternal God will result in a punishment that is eternal—there will be no ability for us to pay the very last penny. But Jesus has offered us an opportunity to settle with God before we get to that judgement seat. It’s not a settlement we can make using our resources because we have nothing to offer God. Instead, Jesus offers us His righteousness (2 Cor 5:21; Rom 4:5) so that when we get to the judgement seat, our accuser has no accusation to offer, instead, we will stand their blameless. If you have not accepted Christ’s offer of salvation, what is holding you back? What will you say to God when you stand before Him and have to account for the wrong you have done against an eternally perfect God?

Jesus told two parables looking forward to His ascension to heaven and instructing us to be ready for His return. We should be dressed for action. This phrase refers to having your loins girded which meant to have the bottom of the garment tucked into the belt to facilitate movement. This is similar to how God told the Israelites to eat the Passover in Exodus 12:11, ready to leave. We must be waiting for His imminent return, ready to receive Him as soon as He arrives. Those who are ready for Christ’s return will be blessed by the reward of being seated at the table and Christ Himself serving them—wow! He reminds us that we need to remain awake because His return could be sooner or later, we need to remain ready no matter how long the wait. Jesus switches to a second parable where He is no longer the master but speaks of a master who, if he had realised when a thief was coming would not have left his home vulnerable to entry. This parable should ring very true in our ears as we are unfortunately all too aware of the necessity of keeping our homes safe. Are we as alert to the Lord’s return as we are to the potential threat of a break-in? Be ready because Jesus is coming back when we don’t expect Him.

Peter wanted to know if this parable was for all believers or just for the leaders? Jesus’ answer indicates that it was for both but with a more severe warning for the leaders. Jesus expects that on His return He will find those leading the church doing what He has instructed them to do (1 Peter 5:1-4). Those who are found to be serving well will be rewarded with the responsibility of ruling in the future kingdom. Those who don’t take seriously the imminent return of Christ and think they can mistreat those under their care and instead serve themselves will find themselves facing consequence when He returns. The punishment is described as being cut into two pieces and then put with the unfaithful—those who were not faithful in waiting for the Lord’s return. Being cut in two is likely figurative because the person is then placed with the unfaithful, this may suggest being brought to bear by the cutting truth of God’s word (Hebrews 4:12-13). To those who knew God’s will and though they didn’t abuse those under them, still weren’t ready, they will receive a severe beating. To those who didn’t know God’s will, they are not innocent through ignorance, but their punishment will be lighter. Those who have been entrusted with much will have much to answer for and those who have been entrusted with little will face lesser consequence (see James 3:1).

This is a sobering passage because it makes it clear that when we get to heaven we will be rewarded or punished based on how we lived this life. Are you living in expectation of Christ’s return? And when He returns will you be found ready and actively doing His will?

Someone from the crowd called out to Jesus to have Him settle a dispute he had with his brother who wouldn’t split their inheritance with him. Jesus denied his request and left him to think about the source of Jesus’ authority. Then He turned to the crowd and taught them to watch out for covetousness because life is not fulfilled in an abundance of things. Jesus then used a parable to illustrate the point. The story is of a rich man who was doing well for himself. He had an abundance of crops and decided to build bigger barns to store it all up for himself. Then he sat back thinking he had plenty for many years and decided to live the “good life”. His every thought seemed to be about himself and he mistakenly placed his trust in his possessions and the expectation of a long life. God called him a fool and brought an end to his life. Who then got to enjoy the things he had stored up? This is the expected fate for all who store up treasures for themselves, that their things will ultimately do nothing for them.

Jesus went on to explain what it meant to “be rich toward God”. While the rich man placed his trust in his abundance of wealth, we can do the same even without an abundance if we worry and are anxious about what we do not have. When we worry about what we lack, even if it’s a necessity, then we are still showing dependence on things and not on God. Jesus’ point isn’t that there is no significance to the things we need but that our focus must be on more than food and clothing. If we look at the ravens, who do not sow or reap and have no barns to store up food, we see they are well fed by God. We are far more valuable to God than the ravens. What does your anxiety do for you? Can it change anything? If not, why do you worry? Instead, place your trust in the God who looks after the plants that are only around for a few days. God knows what you need and if He looks after the rest of His creation, He will look after you. Jesus directs our focus on seeking His kingdom and then the rest will be supplied. Our desire for the kingdom should be so great that we are prepared to sell all we have, give to the needy, and invest in the kingdom. An investment in the kingdom of God is a secure investment that is not exposed to theft or decay. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. If we see our material possessions in terms of the kingdom, then our focus will remain on God.

Where is your focus? On things or on the King? Where are you storing your treasure? What is it you worry about? What is that worry accomplishing? Is it helping? If not, why are you still worrying? How can you replace your worry with trust?

As the Jewish leaders’ hostility grew, so did the crowds listening to Jesus. Jesus turned to His disciples and warned them of the leaven (yeast) of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy. Leaven is often used Biblically to refer to something unhealthy that can permeate and take over. The warning is that hypocrisy will eventually become known. What you cover up and try to hide will eventually be revealed. If it is not revealed while you’re alive, your motives will be laid bare when you one day stand before Jesus. Because of this, it is far better your outward life is true to who you are on the inside. That doesn’t mean you have permission to be a say-it-like-it-is, wear-my-heart-on-my-sleeve kind of person. The lesson is to be presentable and holy from the inside out.

The Pharisees yielded much power socially and so many would be tempted to conform to their way of living rather than heed Jesus’ words. But Jesus reminded them that it makes no sense to fear those who even have the power to kill you because after that there is nothing more they can do to you. Instead, fear the One who after you die has the authority to cast you into hell. God is the One who determines our ultimate fate. Do not live to please man, live to please God. If God is concerned about a single sparrow despite its insignificant cost, how much more does He care for you and me. John 3:16 reminds us how much He cares for us. He didn’t leave us with the fate of hell but sent His Son to die in our place so that our ultimate fate would be eternal life with Him—if we believe.

So, rather than choosing to conform to man’s ways, we should acknowledge Christ before men, especially in the face of opposition. If we boldly proclaim Christ, He will boldly praise us at the future judgment. If we shrink away and deny Him, we will be denied rewards in heaven. This is not talking about our salvation because salvation is not conditioned on acknowledging Christ—that would be a work and salvation is based on faith alone (Eph 2:8-9). Of those who had denied Jesus, the ones who rejected Him on the basis of His humanity were still offered forgiveness as they were still in a position to change their minds. But those who regonised the Holy Spirit’s work in the miracles that testified to Jesus as Messiah and still rejected Him would remain unforgiven. Finally, when it came to standing up for Jesus in the face of persecution, His disciples need not fear how they were to defend themselves because the Holy Spirit would provide the words they needed as they needed them.

In this godless world, how are you living your life? Are you scared of what others will say and so you keep your Christianity hidden? Or are you willing to boldly declare that Jesus is Lord of your life, living an outward expression of your inner change?

Jesus was invited to dinner at the house of a Pharisee. The Pharisee was astonished that Jesus didn’t wash his hands before He ate. The issue wasn’t about Jesus’ sense of personal hygiene but that He didn’t follow the ceremonial customs of the day that were not required by the Law. Jesus used that opportunity to raise the fact that the Pharisees were overly concerned with external religious practice over internal purity. They presented a clean and religious exterior while their hearts were filled with greed and wickedness. Jesus called them fools because they didn’t recognise that the God they sought to honour externally was the same God who made their inner person and to truly honour Him required obedience that stemmed from the heart. Jesus placed an emphasis on acts of generosity from the heart. There is a distinct connection between your attitude to your possessions and your inner life. A heart inclined to the needy cleanses you from within. You will release the things you covet, you will focus on others rather than on yourself, and you will be doing what God wants of you.

Jesus declared three woes directed at the Pharisees. Firstly, they were meticulous in tithing (giving a tenth) of even the smallest of herbs but completely ignored issues of justice and God’s love toward others. The problem wasn’t the meticulous tithing, they needed to tithe but without neglecting the other issues they conveniently overlooked. Secondly, they were focused on prominent positions and were self-centered. Thirdly, they were hypocrites with outward lives that didn’t match their inner attitude. People weren’t able to see the disconnect between the outward appearance of cleanness and their rotten hearts—but God always can.

One of the lawyers (those who studied the Mosaic law and ensured its proper application) took umbrage because they felt lumped in with the Pharisees and by implication they felt that was unjustified. So Jesus proclaimed three woes directed at the lawyers. Firstly, they placed heavy burdens of rules on the people that were over and above the Old Testament requirements. They themselves negated the very law they upheld by moving people away from God rather than toward Him. Secondly, they built tombs for the prophets killed by their ancestors. Their monuments stood as a witness to their consent to the despicable actions of their forefathers. God would send prophets and apostles in the establishment of the church which they would kill formalising the link between their forefathers and the current generation. Because of this, the blood of all the prophets from Abel (beginning of Genesis) to Zechariah (end of Jewish Old Testament; 2 Chronicles) would be on their hands. Thirdly, the lawyers had taken away the key of knowledge because they focussed on the wrong things. They hindered the people from acquiring the correct knowledge of what was required to receive eternal life and a relationship with God (Salvation is through faith alone, not works of the Law). They themselves didn’t believe the truth and hindered others from entering the Kingdom.

Instead of hearing Jesus’ accusations and responding with repentance, the Pharisees and lawyers pushed Him and cross-examined Him hoping to catch Him out in something He said.

What is your natural response to someone pointing out that you are not living rightly? You know when someone has accurately pointed out a failing in your life. Is your first response to repent and seek to make it right? Or is your first response to justify your actions thinking you can be righteous in your sin whatever your reason might be? Remember God always sees the true motivation of our heart and we cannot have a true relationship with Him while we justify living any way that is not His way.

Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings that are easily applied to everyday situations. Consider carefully which of the sayings you’ve read today are particularly applicable to you today and in the coming week. What do you need to change or do more of to make use of God’s wisdom in your life?

As the crowd grew, Jesus addressed their request for a sign. Matthew and Mark point out that it was the Pharisees who demanded a sign (Mat 12:38; Mark 8:11). Luke indicates that the attitude was held by the people as well. Jesus calls them evil because they demand a sign as validation of Jesus’ teaching despite the many miracles He had performed as validation of His message. What sign might be enough to convince someone who doesn’t believe? What could Jesus show them that He hadn’t already that would be enough? There was only one sign left and that is described as the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days so Jesus would die, be in the grave for three days, and then rise again. But that sign would be a sign against that generation of Jews and their unbelief. The queen of the south (a Gentile) will testify against their unbelief because she traveled a great distance to hear the wisdom of Solomon (1 Kings 10) and they were ignoring Jesus who was far greater than Solomon and standing right in front of them. The men of Nineveh (a Gentile nation) will also testify against their unbelief because they repented at the teaching of Jonah (Jonah 3:5) while the Jews rejected Jesus who is greater than Jonah standing before them. The Jews had been offered the kingdom of God but they rejected it. When Jesus rose again, salvation would be available to all Gentiles and they would receive it in faith. We have the eye witness accounts of Jesus’ miracles and His death, burial, and resurrection. If you don’t yet believe, what will it take? What more could Jesus do to prove He is the Son of God? As a believer, isn’t it wonderful that God opened heaven to all who will believe?

Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12) and his word is truth (John 17:17; John 7:16). What are we to do with that light? We could ignore it or hide it away but that’s not the logical thing to do with a light. Instead, it should be placed on a stand for all to see. How we respond to the light of Jesus’ teaching affects our whole person. If we are open to His teaching, then our whole body will be healthy and full of His light. If we ignore it, then what is in us is darkness. The first step is to receive the light of Jesus by believing in Him, the second is to remain focussed on that light by abiding in His word. And the third is to be the lamp on the stand so others can see and receive that light. How are you responding to the light of Jesus?

Jesus cast out a demon from a man who was mute and after the demon left, the man spoke. The response from the crowd was varied. Many marveled at the miracle but some accused Jesus of using the power of Satan to cast out demons. This accusation refused to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah and instead saw Him as a mere man who was in alliance with the enemy of God and man in order to do what He did. This was the worst kind of rejection, they saw Jesus as the complete opposite of who He was. Others continued to demand a sign from heaven to test Jesus before they would believe showing how hard their hearts were that they wouldn’t acknowledge the miracle they had just witnessed.

Jesus responded with a parable that revealed the absurdity of their accusation. Every kingdom that is divided against itself will fall. How can Satan’s kingdom stand if he is involved in casting out his own demons from the ones he wishes to oppress? Jesus then points out that the Jewish exorcists also cast out demons. If they considered that Jesus was using Satan to cast out demons, who were their exorcists using? Their own exorcists are proof against them. The logical conclusion is that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of God, and if that is the case, then that is sufficient proof that the kingdom of God had come. Jesus continued by likening Satan to a strong man who guards his house. That would be fine unless a stronger man comes, attacks him and overpowers him removing the armour in which he trusted. The implication is that Jesus is the stronger man who has defeated Satan and is able to divide the spoil in releasing those oppressed by demons, releasing us (who believe) from slavery to sin, and ultimately binding Satan once for all in the end times. We cannot sit on the fence, if we do not believe Jesus, we are against Him.

Jesus then used the cleansed man as a symbol for the need for belief. It is no good being cleansed of evil spirits if the emptiness is not replaced with something otherwise they will just return and the result will be worse than before. The healed man and all those who were listening needed to believe in Jesus as Messiah. The same principle is taught about our growth in spiritual maturity. It is no good removing sinful practices, we need to replace them with obedience (Paul talks about putting on the new self after putting off the old in Colossians 3:1-10).

A woman in the crowd expressed how wonderful it must have been to be Jesus’ mother but Jesus replied that true blessings don’t come through familial ties but through obedience to God’s word as we hear it.

How are you moving forward in your Christian walk? Does your life reflect the strength of Christ to overcome Satan? Are you putting to death the sinful practices in your life? And more importantly, are you replacing that with obedience to the word of God?