Luke 16:1-12

In one of the Lord's parables a rich man fired his steward. The steward figured out a way he could continue his lifestyle after he lost his job. He cheated his master by having all his master's customers cut their bill in half. What did this accomplish? The steward traded in his master's money and purchased for himself friends. Friends can be more valuable than money or a job at times in life. This man knew all he had left after losing his job was the charity of people. In order to secure their friendship and charity he cut their bill in half of what they owed his master.

Why did the Lord tell this parable? It showed the steward was smart enough to think ahead and secure his future. He used the resources he had and even resources which were not his own but what he had control over in order to secure his future.

The Lord said people in the world were smarter than most of God's children in this respect. Christians do not give any thought about the end of their life. They are short sighted and only think about the current life in the world system. Instead, they should use their time, energy, and resources to prepare for what will come in the kingdom. Paul mentioned this in 1 Timothy 6 when he exhorted people who had worldly resources to invest those resources into what would count in God's kingdom.

1 Timothy 6:17-19, "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."

We should use everything we have including gifts, talents, or earthly resources and invest into what will truly count when we stand before the Lord. We should think about our reward, inheritance, and crown we hope to receive at the judgment seat of Christ. We need to get our mind off earthly things and set our mind on things above and allow this to impact how we live, how we relate to people, and how we manage our earthly resources.

Christ died for our sins. He was buried. He rose again on the third day. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Acts 2:21, "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Luke 16:13-18

The Lord Jesus revealed a spiritual principle which was unchangeable. A man can only serve one master.

He will either serve God or he will serve himself. You cannot love God and money. You cannot love God and the devil. You cannot walk in light and darkness. You cannot be both. You cannot be holy and profane. People who try to do this become double minded and speak with a forked tongue. The devil taught this doctrine of the knowledge of good and evil. Man tried to make himself into a god by becoming the judge of what is good and evil but the Lord is the true judge. You cannot serve self and God. You either serve God or you serve yourself. If you serve self you turn your soul into a bottomless abyss of darkness.

The religious leaders mocked the Lord Jesus for teaching this because they loved money and thought they loved God, too. However, they were religious hypocrites. They were self deceived. They lied to themselves. This is why they could not believe in the Lord Jesus because they already believed the lie of the devil.

This is crucial! This is fundamental! People think they can have God and their own life, opinions, or self. You cannot. the Lord Jesus plainly said if anyone would come after him they must deny self, take up the cross, and follow him. To live for God means we must die to self. We must surrender our lives to God.

The wonderful thing about God is that he can raise the dead. Once you are completely dead then he gives you a new life which is much better than anything you could have ever imagined.

Let us continue to surrender ourselves to God.

Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

You cannot serve two masters. You will be mastered by sin or you will be mastered by the Lord Jesus Christ. The only choice we have is which master we will give our life to. One road leads to death. One road leads to eternal life.

Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Luke 16:19-31

Some may think this account of the rich man and Lazarus was a parable but it was much more than a parable. There were no other parables where people had actual names. This was the only story the Lord Jesus told where he gave a person a name. This was not merely a story but a real account of a literal event which the Lord Jesus knew about.

Notice the villain in the story who went to hell was a rich man. This was not an accident. Notice the man who went to paradise was a poor man. This was not an accident. Notice the rich man who made a name for himself on earth did not have a name in hell but the poor man Lazarus had a name that was known not only on earth but also in heaven. Even the rich man in hell knew the name of Lazarus but we still do not know the name of the rich man. Those who make a name for themselves in this earth will be forgotten but those who make the name of the Lord Jesus great will be remembered forever.

Proverbs 10:7, "The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of wicked shall rot."

Hell is a literal place of burning flame and torment. There is no water there to drink. A man will be thirsty but he will have no water to drink in that place. He will be tormented in a flame that burns him but will never consume him. He will continue to suffer forever with flames that burn him and with a thirst which is never quenched. This is just a small glimpse of the horror that is hell. It is eternal and lasts forever and ever.

Repent! Why will you die and go to hell? Even those who are in hell want to send preachers to tell you to repent! The most wicked and vile people in hell pray for God to send preachers and evangelists to warn people on the earth not to come to that place of torment! How awful it must be. How horrifying is a place that even the wicked dead would warn us not to come there.

May God open our eyes to this reality. May the truth so grip our heart we will fall on our knees, humble ourselves, and repent and put all our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Call upon the name of the Lord Jesus! Whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Luke 15:1-10

The Lord Jesus was criticized for spending time with sinners. He spent time with them, taught them about the kingdom, and ate meals with them. The religious leaders condemned the Lord Jesus for spending time with sinners and eating a meal with them.

Looking back on this we can see the religious hypocrisy of the Pharisees but it was not apparent to religious people in that time. There was a lot of history in the Old Testament which taught separation between the righteous and the wicked. Read the book of Nehemiah and you see a man who was so mad that Jews married foreigners that he pulled his hair out. This was the religious background the Pharisees came from. No doubt they put scriptures in the wrong context. But this is what people do. In order for people to justify their unbelief they twist scripture and take it out of context.

The Lord Jesus made it clear that his goal was to reach sinners with the gospel. He was there on purpose to demonstrate the reality of God's love for every person. He gave them simple parables about a shepherd who looked for one lost sheep. He told a story about a woman who searched for a lost coin and found it. These stories demonstrated the joy God has when one sinner repents and puts his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said there was joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repented.

We should rejoice when sinners come to the saving knowledge of the Lord. We should pray that God will use us to reach people with the gospel. The religious leaders did not know God's heart of love for people. Their entire focus was on rules and keeping people under a religious system. Anyone who disturbed the religious system was condemned. The Lord Jesus certainly upset the religious system. Almost everything he did was a challenge to dead religion and tradition. He constantly challenged the religious ideas the Pharisees held.

God loves us! He reaches out to every person. It is not God's will that any perish. The Lord's desire is for everyone to hear the gospel, repent, and put faith in the Lord Jesus.

God provided forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus. The Lord Jesus died on the cross in our place. He was buried. He rose again on the third day. Whosoever calls on the name of the Lord is saved.

Luke 15:11-32

This is a well known parable of the Lord Jesus. It followed the criticism the Lord Jesus received from the religious leaders who thought that the Lord Jesus was wrong to associate with sinners. The Lord Jesus taught through parables that the angels in heaven rejoice when one sinner repents.

This was a longer parable but had the same message and included the reaction of the Jews to the salvation of the lost.

In this parable a father had two sons. The younger sons wanted his inheritance immediately and did not wait. The father gave the son his inheritance and the son left. The younger son wasted his inheritance by living a sinful life. Eventually the young man's sins caught up to him and he was left in poverty. As a result he repented through his suffering and decided to return to his father. The father was on the edge of his seat waiting for his son to return. As soon as the son got close to home the father ran out to meet him and threw a big party to celebrate his return. When the older brother realized there was a party to celebrate his younger brother he was angry. He did not realize why the father was happy about the younger brother's return. He thought his father should love him more because he was faithful to his father and did not waste any inheritance.

This story revealed a lot. The important thing this parable showed was the love of the father. God our Father loves us more than we can possibly comprehend. He loves us so much he sent his Son Jesus Christ into this world to die upon the cross in our place so our sins could be forgiven. God is eager to run to anyone who turns in his direction. The Lord runs out to meet you where you are in life. All you have to do is turn towards him and he will run to meet you. The Lord will clothe you in his righteousness and adopt you into his family. He will rejoice that you come to his house and will celebrate with everyone who is in heaven.

I think we miss this sometimes. We forget that a large part of what the church is here for is the great commission. We are called to be ambassadors for Christ. Our purpose is to preach the gospel and reach people with the good news that God loves them. He loves them so much that the Lord Jesus died on the cross in their place so they can be forgiven and receive eternal life.

Listen to the words of the father. Verse 32, "It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."

Let us rejoice today in what God rejoices in.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Luke 14:1-6

The Lord Jesus was in the house of a chief Pharisee on a Sabbath day and broke with the tradition of the religious leaders in order to heal a man sick from something called "dropsy". The Lord Jesus challenged the religious leaders and asked them the question, "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?" They did not answer him. He pointed out that common sense said if you can take care of your farm animals on the sabbath day then surely you can help a man on the sabbath day. The religious leaders would not answer him.

Here I believe the Lord Jesus was purposely doing good while at the same time he applied pressure to the religious leaders. He healed a man. This should be proof that he was from God and was doing the work of God. He challenged them specifically in regard to their religious traditions. I think the Lord still does this today. When God wants to deliver people he will challenge the religious traditions people have and especially religious traditions that are man-made. I think we would be amazed to know how many religious traditions we have which are man-made and are not from God at all.

We can easily see how many strange religious traditions the Pharisees held. But the Christian church has had 2,000 years to develop and accumulate man-made religious traditions. How do you know which religious traditions are from the Lord and what are simply man-made traditions?

We should pray and ask the Lord to help us let go of any religious traditions which are not of him, from him, or by him. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to set us free from man-made religion so we can truly be used by God to see souls saved, people healed, and lives changed for the glory and honor of God.

The Lord Jesus came into the world to seek and save those who were lost. He died upon the cross of Calvary for our sins. He was buried in a tomb, and three days later he rose from the dead. He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God by him, for he now lives forever to make intercession for us. There is no other mediator between God and man except for Christ Jesus. He is the priest and the mediator. He is the only way to God. Whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved.

Luke 14:7-11

The Lord Jesus noticed people took the chief rooms at a feast. They assumed their own importance and wanted to be over other people. This is the pride of life. The Lord Jesus taught the Pharisees that their attitude of taking the chief places for themselves would result in God opposing them. He taught them to humble themselves and take the low place so instead of being embarrassed when they were told to go lower they would instead be happy if they were asked to go up higher. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. This is repeated by Peter and also James in their letters. This is a fundamental teaching for Christians and the church. Do not exalt yourself.

When people claim to be "gods" they are exalting themselves. God calls us to humble ourselves. This is the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. Read Philippians chapter 2. The Lord Jesus humbled himself. The Lord Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and said he gave us an example of humility. We are to consider others better than ourselves (Romans 12:3, 10)

Nebuchadnezzar learned that God is able to abase those who walk in pride. Pride is the fountain of unbelief and disobedience to God. When we walk in pride we think we know better than the word of God. When we walk in pride then God opposes us. It is God's nature to hate pride and arrogance.

Proverbs 8:13, "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate."

Instead, humble yourselves before the Lord.

James 4:10, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

Listen to what the Lord Jesus said to these religious leaders. Search your heart and see if there is pride or arrogance in your heart. Ask the Lord to search you and show it to you. Determine that you will confess your sins to the Lord, and repent, and determine to walk with the Lord with a humble heart.

Luke 14:12-24

The Lord Jesus was invited to a meal with the religious leaders. He noticed the people who were invited to this feast were all people who could reciprocate the host. In other words, each person who was there could repay the invitation. This is how the world operates: scratch my back, and I will scratch your back. Give to me and I will give to you. But this is not how the Kingdom of God operates. In God's Kingdom we give and do not expect anything to be given back to us. The Lord Jesus taught them to have a supper and invite people who could not return the favor. He said to invite the poor, maimed, lame, and blind. If you act like this then God will reward you in his kingdom at the resurrection of the just.

What does this teach us? We see here a contrast between the principle of the world system and the kingdom of God. God does not view people by what they can do for him or how they can pay him back.

But how do men see one another? They create friendships with people with whom they think can add value back to themselves. People are viewed as "assets" instead of as people. As long as you serve a purpose these people will be your friend. As soon as they think you can no longer benefit them they drop you as their friend. I have personally experienced this and it is disheartening and discouraging, especially when the person who turns their back on you professes to be a Christian.

My goal is not to base my relationships with people on what they can do for me. Instead, I should have the attitude of someone in God's kingdom. What can I do for others? How can I serve? How can I be a blessing to others? I wish that I had lived like this in the past because it would have made a big difference. How many friends have I lost in the past because I looked at them as "assets" and not as people with intrinsic value to God?

The Lord Jesus went on to tell a parable about a feast which would take place in God's kingdom. Many people were invited but there were some who made excuses for why they could not come to the feast. These excuses were basically made because those who were invited were self-centered and worshiped themselves. They did not care about the person who made the invitation.

God help us to open our heart today and truly care about people. I do not want to make excuses to God as to why I cannot obey him.

Lord, help me to be obedient to you. Help me to love the truth, receive the truth, and to obey the truth when you speak to me today.

Luke 14:25-35

There is a cost in following the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus was upfront about how this would look to the world around us. Following the Lord Jesus would at times make the world think you don't love your family. You may find yourself in a situation where you have to choose between the Lord Jesus and your family. In that situation if love for your family stops you from obeying the Lord Jesus then you are really not a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes when we follow the Lord Jesus it may appear to the world that we don't even love our self. It might appear to others we are making decisions that are not in our own best interest. This confuses people in the world who do not know Jesus. They will think we are foolish when we make decisions that are not in our best interest because we love the Lord Jesus and want to be his disciple.

What happens if you start following the Lord Jesus but turn aside? What if you stop obeying the Lord after years of following him? The Lord Jesus said this is like salt which loses its flavor. Because you followed the Lord it changed you and the world doesn't like you anymore. However, because you stopped obeying the Lord then Christians are not comfortable around you either. What happens? The Lord Jesus said they were like salt which lost its flavor and was no longer good for anything but to be cast out.

Discipleship is serious. We must be prepared to follow the Lord Jesus no matter where that takes us, and no matter what the personal cost to ourselves or to our relationships with other people. We must put the Lord first.

If we truly know the Lord and love him then hopefully the memory of knowing him and loving him will bring us back to active obedience. Sometimes it does. But I've seen the danger in myself and in other people of going along with the world or living for self. I've seen the natural tendency to drift away from following the Lord and it is frightening. May God be faithful to reprove, rebuke, and correct me. And may I have such a love for the truth that I will be like King David and admit, "I have sinned against the Lord". The Lord does forgive and he does restore.

Don't let another moment go by without humbling yourself and crying out to God. Return once again to active obedience in your relationship with the Lord and his word.

Luke 14 KJV

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.

Luke 14:2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

Luke 14:3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

Luke 14:4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

Luke 14:5 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?

Luke 14:6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

Luke 14:7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,

Luke 14:8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;

Luke 14:9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.

Luke 14:10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luke 14:12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.

Luke 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

Luke 14:14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

Luke 14:15 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.

Luke 14:16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

Luke 14:17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

Luke 14:18 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.

Luke 14:19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

Luke 14:20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

Luke 14:21 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 14:22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

Luke 14:23 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.

Luke 14:24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

Luke 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

Luke 14:26 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.

Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:28 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 14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Luke 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Luke 14:31 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?

Luke 14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

Luke 14:35 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.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Luke 14:1-6

The Lord Jesus was in the house of a chief Pharisee on a Sabbath day and broke with the tradition of the religious leaders in order to heal a man sick from something called "dropsy". The Lord Jesus challenged the religious leaders and asked them the question, "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?" They did not answer him. He pointed out that common sense said if you can take care of your farm animals on the sabbath day then surely you can help a man on the sabbath day. The religious leaders would not answer him.

Here I believe the Lord Jesus was purposely doing good while at the same time he applied pressure to the religious leaders. He healed a man. This should be proof that he was from God and was doing the work of God. He challenged them specifically in regard to their religious traditions. I think the Lord still does this today. When God wants to deliver people he will challenge the religious traditions people have and especially religious traditions that are man-made. I think we would be amazed to know how many religious traditions we have which are man-made and are not from God at all.

We can easily see how many strange religious traditions the Pharisees held. But the Christian church has had 2,000 years to develop and accumulate man-made religious traditions. How do you know which religious traditions are from the Lord and what are simply man-made traditions?

We should pray and ask the Lord to help us let go of any religious traditions which are not of him, from him, or by him. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to set us free from man-made religion so we can truly be used by God to see souls saved, people healed, and lives changed for the glory and honor of God.

The Lord Jesus came into the world to seek and save those who were lost. He died upon the cross of Calvary for our sins. He was buried in a tomb, and three days later he rose from the dead. He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God by him, for he now lives forever to make intercession for us. There is no other mediator between God and man except for Christ Jesus. He is the priest and the mediator. He is the only way to God. Whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved.

Luke 14:7-11

The Lord Jesus noticed people took the chief rooms at a feast. They assumed their own importance and wanted to be over other people. This is the pride of life. The Lord Jesus taught the Pharisees that their attitude of taking the chief places for themselves would result in God opposing them. He taught them to humble themselves and take the low place so instead of being embarrassed when they were told to go lower they would instead be happy if they were asked to go up higher. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. This is repeated by Peter and also James in their letters. This is a fundamental teaching for Christians and the church. Do not exalt yourself.

When people claim to be "gods" they are exalting themselves. God calls us to humble ourselves. This is the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. Read Philippians chapter 2. The Lord Jesus humbled himself. The Lord Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and said he gave us an example of humility. We are to consider others better than ourselves (Romans 12:3, 10)

Nebuchadnezzar learned that God is able to abase those who walk in pride. Pride is the fountain of unbelief and disobedience to God. When we walk in pride we think we know better than the word of God. When we walk in pride then God opposes us. It is God's nature to hate pride and arrogance.

Proverbs 8:13, "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate."

Instead, humble yourselves before the Lord.

James 4:10, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

Listen to what the Lord Jesus said to these religious leaders. Search your heart and see if there is pride or arrogance in your heart. Ask the Lord to search you and show it to you. Determine that you will confess your sins to the Lord, and repent, and determine to walk with the Lord with a humble heart.

Luke 14:12-24

The Lord Jesus was invited to a meal with the religious leaders. He noticed the people who were invited to this feast were all people who could reciprocate the host. In other words, each person who was there could repay the invitation. This is how the world operates: scratch my back, and I will scratch your back. Give to me and I will give to you. But this is not how the Kingdom of God operates. In God's Kingdom we give and do not expect anything to be given back to us. The Lord Jesus taught them to have a supper and invite people who could not return the favor. He said to invite the poor, maimed, lame, and blind. If you act like this then God will reward you in his kingdom at the resurrection of the just.

What does this teach us? We see here a contrast between the principle of the world system and the kingdom of God. God does not view people by what they can do for him or how they can pay him back.

But how do men see one another? They create friendships with people with whom they think can add value back to themselves. People are viewed as "assets" instead of as people. As long as you serve a purpose these people will be your friend. As soon as they think you can no longer benefit them they drop you as their friend. I have personally experienced this and it is disheartening and discouraging, especially when the person who turns their back on you professes to be a Christian.

My goal is not to base my relationships with people on what they can do for me. Instead, I should have the attitude of someone in God's kingdom. What can I do for others? How can I serve? How can I be a blessing to others? I wish that I had lived like this in the past because it would have made a big difference. How many friends have I lost in the past because I looked at them as "assets" and not as people with intrinsic value to God?

The Lord Jesus went on to tell a parable about a feast which would take place in God's kingdom. Many people were invited but there were some who made excuses for why they could not come to the feast. These excuses were basically made because those who were invited were self-centered and worshiped themselves. They did not care about the person who made the invitation.

God help us to open our heart today and truly care about people. I do not want to make excuses to God as to why I cannot obey him.

Lord, help me to be obedient to you. Help me to love the truth, receive the truth, and to obey the truth when you speak to me today.

Luke 14:25-35

There is a cost in following the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus was upfront about how this would look to the world around us. Following the Lord Jesus would at times make the world think you don't love your family. You may find yourself in a situation where you have to choose between the Lord Jesus and your family. In that situation if love for your family stops you from obeying the Lord Jesus then you are really not a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes when we follow the Lord Jesus it may appear to the world that we don't even love our self. It might appear to others we are making decisions that are not in our own best interest. This confuses people in the world who do not know Jesus. They will think we are foolish when we make decisions that are not in our best interest because we love the Lord Jesus and want to be his disciple.

What happens if you start following the Lord Jesus but turn aside? What if you stop obeying the Lord after years of following him? The Lord Jesus said this is like salt which loses its flavor. Because you followed the Lord it changed you and the world doesn't like you anymore. However, because you stopped obeying the Lord then Christians are not comfortable around you either. What happens? The Lord Jesus said they were like salt which lost its flavor and was no longer good for anything but to be cast out.

Discipleship is serious. We must be prepared to follow the Lord Jesus no matter where that takes us, and no matter what the personal cost to ourselves or to our relationships with other people. We must put the Lord first.

If we truly know the Lord and love him then hopefully the memory of knowing him and loving him will bring us back to active obedience. Sometimes it does. But I've seen the danger in myself and in other people of going along with the world or living for self. I've seen the natural tendency to drift away from following the Lord and it is frightening. May God be faithful to reprove, rebuke, and correct me. And may I have such a love for the truth that I will be like King David and admit, "I have sinned against the Lord". The Lord does forgive and he does restore.

Don't let another moment go by without humbling yourself and crying out to God. Return once again to active obedience in your relationship with the Lord and his word.

Luke 14 KJV

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.

Luke 14:2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

Luke 14:3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

Luke 14:4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

Luke 14:5 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?

Luke 14:6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

Luke 14:7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,

Luke 14:8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;

Luke 14:9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.

Luke 14:10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luke 14:12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.

Luke 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

Luke 14:14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

Luke 14:15 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.

Luke 14:16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

Luke 14:17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

Luke 14:18 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.

Luke 14:19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

Luke 14:20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

Luke 14:21 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 14:22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

Luke 14:23 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.

Luke 14:24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

Luke 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

Luke 14:26 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.

Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:28 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 14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Luke 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Luke 14:31 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?

Luke 14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

Luke 14:35 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.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Luke 14:1-6

The Lord Jesus was in the house of a chief Pharisee on a Sabbath day and broke with the tradition of the religious leaders in order to heal a man sick from something called "dropsy". The Lord Jesus challenged the religious leaders and asked them the question, "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?" They did not answer him. He pointed out that common sense said if you can take care of your farm animals on the sabbath day then surely you can help a man on the sabbath day. The religious leaders would not answer him.

Here I believe the Lord Jesus was purposely doing good while at the same time he applied pressure to the religious leaders. He healed a man. This should be proof that he was from God and was doing the work of God. He challenged them specifically in regard to their religious traditions. I think the Lord still does this today. When God wants to deliver people he will challenge the religious traditions people have and especially religious traditions that are man-made. I think we would be amazed to know how many religious traditions we have which are man-made and are not from God at all.

We can easily see how many strange religious traditions the Pharisees held. But the Christian church has had 2,000 years to develop and accumulate man-made religious traditions. How do you know which religious traditions are from the Lord and what are simply man-made traditions?

We should pray and ask the Lord to help us let go of any religious traditions which are not of him, from him, or by him. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to set us free from man-made religion so we can truly be used by God to see souls saved, people healed, and lives changed for the glory and honor of God.

The Lord Jesus came into the world to seek and save those who were lost. He died upon the cross of Calvary for our sins. He was buried in a tomb, and three days later he rose from the dead. He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God by him, for he now lives forever to make intercession for us. There is no other mediator between God and man except for Christ Jesus. He is the priest and the mediator. He is the only way to God. Whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved.

Luke 14:7-11

The Lord Jesus noticed people took the chief rooms at a feast. They assumed their own importance and wanted to be over other people. This is the pride of life. The Lord Jesus taught the Pharisees that their attitude of taking the chief places for themselves would result in God opposing them. He taught them to humble themselves and take the low place so instead of being embarrassed when they were told to go lower they would instead be happy if they were asked to go up higher. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. This is repeated by Peter and also James in their letters. This is a fundamental teaching for Christians and the church. Do not exalt yourself.

When people claim to be "gods" they are exalting themselves. God calls us to humble ourselves. This is the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. Read Philippians chapter 2. The Lord Jesus humbled himself. The Lord Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and said he gave us an example of humility. We are to consider others better than ourselves (Romans 12:3, 10)

Nebuchadnezzar learned that God is able to abase those who walk in pride. Pride is the fountain of unbelief and disobedience to God. When we walk in pride we think we know better than the word of God. When we walk in pride then God opposes us. It is God's nature to hate pride and arrogance.

Proverbs 8:13, "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate."

Instead, humble yourselves before the Lord.

James 4:10, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

Listen to what the Lord Jesus said to these religious leaders. Search your heart and see if there is pride or arrogance in your heart. Ask the Lord to search you and show it to you. Determine that you will confess your sins to the Lord, and repent, and determine to walk with the Lord with a humble heart.

Luke 14:12-24

The Lord Jesus was invited to a meal with the religious leaders. He noticed the people who were invited to this feast were all people who could reciprocate the host. In other words, each person who was there could repay the invitation. This is how the world operates: scratch my back, and I will scratch your back. Give to me and I will give to you. But this is not how the Kingdom of God operates. In God's Kingdom we give and do not expect anything to be given back to us. The Lord Jesus taught them to have a supper and invite people who could not return the favor. He said to invite the poor, maimed, lame, and blind. If you act like this then God will reward you in his kingdom at the resurrection of the just.

What does this teach us? We see here a contrast between the principle of the world system and the kingdom of God. God does not view people by what they can do for him or how they can pay him back.

But how do men see one another? They create friendships with people with whom they think can add value back to themselves. People are viewed as "assets" instead of as people. As long as you serve a purpose these people will be your friend. As soon as they think you can no longer benefit them they drop you as their friend. I have personally experienced this and it is disheartening and discouraging, especially when the person who turns their back on you professes to be a Christian.

My goal is not to base my relationships with people on what they can do for me. Instead, I should have the attitude of someone in God's kingdom. What can I do for others? How can I serve? How can I be a blessing to others? I wish that I had lived like this in the past because it would have made a big difference. How many friends have I lost in the past because I looked at them as "assets" and not as people with intrinsic value to God?

The Lord Jesus went on to tell a parable about a feast which would take place in God's kingdom. Many people were invited but there were some who made excuses for why they could not come to the feast. These excuses were basically made because those who were invited were self-centered and worshiped themselves. They did not care about the person who made the invitation.

God help us to open our heart today and truly care about people. I do not want to make excuses to God as to why I cannot obey him.

Lord, help me to be obedient to you. Help me to love the truth, receive the truth, and to obey the truth when you speak to me today.

Luke 14:25-35

There is a cost in following the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus was upfront about how this would look to the world around us. Following the Lord Jesus would at times make the world think you don't love your family. You may find yourself in a situation where you have to choose between the Lord Jesus and your family. In that situation if love for your family stops you from obeying the Lord Jesus then you are really not a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes when we follow the Lord Jesus it may appear to the world that we don't even love our self. It might appear to others we are making decisions that are not in our own best interest. This confuses people in the world who do not know Jesus. They will think we are foolish when we make decisions that are not in our best interest because we love the Lord Jesus and want to be his disciple.

What happens if you start following the Lord Jesus but turn aside? What if you stop obeying the Lord after years of following him? The Lord Jesus said this is like salt which loses its flavor. Because you followed the Lord it changed you and the world doesn't like you anymore. However, because you stopped obeying the Lord then Christians are not comfortable around you either. What happens? The Lord Jesus said they were like salt which lost its flavor and was no longer good for anything but to be cast out.

Discipleship is serious. We must be prepared to follow the Lord Jesus no matter where that takes us, and no matter what the personal cost to ourselves or to our relationships with other people. We must put the Lord first.

If we truly know the Lord and love him then hopefully the memory of knowing him and loving him will bring us back to active obedience. Sometimes it does. But I've seen the danger in myself and in other people of going along with the world or living for self. I've seen the natural tendency to drift away from following the Lord and it is frightening. May God be faithful to reprove, rebuke, and correct me. And may I have such a love for the truth that I will be like King David and admit, "I have sinned against the Lord". The Lord does forgive and he does restore.

Don't let another moment go by without humbling yourself and crying out to God. Return once again to active obedience in your relationship with the Lord and his word.

Luke 14 KJV

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.

Luke 14:2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

Luke 14:3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

Luke 14:4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

Luke 14:5 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?

Luke 14:6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

Luke 14:7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,

Luke 14:8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;

Luke 14:9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.

Luke 14:10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luke 14:12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.

Luke 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

Luke 14:14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

Luke 14:15 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.

Luke 14:16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

Luke 14:17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

Luke 14:18 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.

Luke 14:19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

Luke 14:20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

Luke 14:21 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 14:22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

Luke 14:23 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.

Luke 14:24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

Luke 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

Luke 14:26 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.

Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:28 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 14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Luke 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Luke 14:31 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?

Luke 14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

Luke 14:35 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.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Luke 14:1-6

The Lord Jesus was in the house of a chief Pharisee on a Sabbath day and broke with the tradition of the religious leaders in order to heal a man sick from something called "dropsy". The Lord Jesus challenged the religious leaders and asked them the question, "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?" They did not answer him. He pointed out that common sense said if you can take care of your farm animals on the sabbath day then surely you can help a man on the sabbath day. The religious leaders would not answer him.

Here I believe the Lord Jesus was purposely doing good while at the same time he applied pressure to the religious leaders. He healed a man. This should be proof that he was from God and was doing the work of God. He challenged them specifically in regard to their religious traditions. I think the Lord still does this today. When God wants to deliver people he will challenge the religious traditions people have and especially religious traditions that are man-made. I think we would be amazed to know how many religious traditions we have which are man-made and are not from God at all.

We can easily see how many strange religious traditions the Pharisees held. But the Christian church has had 2,000 years to develop and accumulate man-made religious traditions. How do you know which religious traditions are from the Lord and what are simply man-made traditions?

We should pray and ask the Lord to help us let go of any religious traditions which are not of him, from him, or by him. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to set us free from man-made religion so we can truly be used by God to see souls saved, people healed, and lives changed for the glory and honor of God.

The Lord Jesus came into the world to seek and save those who were lost. He died upon the cross of Calvary for our sins. He was buried in a tomb, and three days later he rose from the dead. He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God by him, for he now lives forever to make intercession for us. There is no other mediator between God and man except for Christ Jesus. He is the priest and the mediator. He is the only way to God. Whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved.

Luke 14:7-11

The Lord Jesus noticed people took the chief rooms at a feast. They assumed their own importance and wanted to be over other people. This is the pride of life. The Lord Jesus taught the Pharisees that their attitude of taking the chief places for themselves would result in God opposing them. He taught them to humble themselves and take the low place so instead of being embarrassed when they were told to go lower they would instead be happy if they were asked to go up higher. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. This is repeated by Peter and also James in their letters. This is a fundamental teaching for Christians and the church. Do not exalt yourself.

When people claim to be "gods" they are exalting themselves. God calls us to humble ourselves. This is the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. Read Philippians chapter 2. The Lord Jesus humbled himself. The Lord Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and said he gave us an example of humility. We are to consider others better than ourselves (Romans 12:3, 10)

Nebuchadnezzar learned that God is able to abase those who walk in pride. Pride is the fountain of unbelief and disobedience to God. When we walk in pride we think we know better than the word of God. When we walk in pride then God opposes us. It is God's nature to hate pride and arrogance.

Proverbs 8:13, "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate."

Instead, humble yourselves before the Lord.

James 4:10, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

Listen to what the Lord Jesus said to these religious leaders. Search your heart and see if there is pride or arrogance in your heart. Ask the Lord to search you and show it to you. Determine that you will confess your sins to the Lord, and repent, and determine to walk with the Lord with a humble heart.

Luke 14:12-24

The Lord Jesus was invited to a meal with the religious leaders. He noticed the people who were invited to this feast were all people who could reciprocate the host. In other words, each person who was there could repay the invitation. This is how the world operates: scratch my back, and I will scratch your back. Give to me and I will give to you. But this is not how the Kingdom of God operates. In God's Kingdom we give and do not expect anything to be given back to us. The Lord Jesus taught them to have a supper and invite people who could not return the favor. He said to invite the poor, maimed, lame, and blind. If you act like this then God will reward you in his kingdom at the resurrection of the just.

What does this teach us? We see here a contrast between the principle of the world system and the kingdom of God. God does not view people by what they can do for him or how they can pay him back.

But how do men see one another? They create friendships with people with whom they think can add value back to themselves. People are viewed as "assets" instead of as people. As long as you serve a purpose these people will be your friend. As soon as they think you can no longer benefit them they drop you as their friend. I have personally experienced this and it is disheartening and discouraging, especially when the person who turns their back on you professes to be a Christian.

My goal is not to base my relationships with people on what they can do for me. Instead, I should have the attitude of someone in God's kingdom. What can I do for others? How can I serve? How can I be a blessing to others? I wish that I had lived like this in the past because it would have made a big difference. How many friends have I lost in the past because I looked at them as "assets" and not as people with intrinsic value to God?

The Lord Jesus went on to tell a parable about a feast which would take place in God's kingdom. Many people were invited but there were some who made excuses for why they could not come to the feast. These excuses were basically made because those who were invited were self-centered and worshiped themselves. They did not care about the person who made the invitation.

God help us to open our heart today and truly care about people. I do not want to make excuses to God as to why I cannot obey him.

Lord, help me to be obedient to you. Help me to love the truth, receive the truth, and to obey the truth when you speak to me today.

Luke 14:25-35

There is a cost in following the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus was upfront about how this would look to the world around us. Following the Lord Jesus would at times make the world think you don't love your family. You may find yourself in a situation where you have to choose between the Lord Jesus and your family. In that situation if love for your family stops you from obeying the Lord Jesus then you are really not a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes when we follow the Lord Jesus it may appear to the world that we don't even love our self. It might appear to others we are making decisions that are not in our own best interest. This confuses people in the world who do not know Jesus. They will think we are foolish when we make decisions that are not in our best interest because we love the Lord Jesus and want to be his disciple.

What happens if you start following the Lord Jesus but turn aside? What if you stop obeying the Lord after years of following him? The Lord Jesus said this is like salt which loses its flavor. Because you followed the Lord it changed you and the world doesn't like you anymore. However, because you stopped obeying the Lord then Christians are not comfortable around you either. What happens? The Lord Jesus said they were like salt which lost its flavor and was no longer good for anything but to be cast out.

Discipleship is serious. We must be prepared to follow the Lord Jesus no matter where that takes us, and no matter what the personal cost to ourselves or to our relationships with other people. We must put the Lord first.

If we truly know the Lord and love him then hopefully the memory of knowing him and loving him will bring us back to active obedience. Sometimes it does. But I've seen the danger in myself and in other people of going along with the world or living for self. I've seen the natural tendency to drift away from following the Lord and it is frightening. May God be faithful to reprove, rebuke, and correct me. And may I have such a love for the truth that I will be like King David and admit, "I have sinned against the Lord". The Lord does forgive and he does restore.

Don't let another moment go by without humbling yourself and crying out to God. Return once again to active obedience in your relationship with the Lord and his word.

Luke 14 KJV

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.

Luke 14:2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

Luke 14:3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

Luke 14:4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

Luke 14:5 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?

Luke 14:6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

Luke 14:7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,

Luke 14:8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;

Luke 14:9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.

Luke 14:10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luke 14:12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.

Luke 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

Luke 14:14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

Luke 14:15 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.

Luke 14:16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

Luke 14:17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

Luke 14:18 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.

Luke 14:19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

Luke 14:20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

Luke 14:21 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 14:22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

Luke 14:23 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.

Luke 14:24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

Luke 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

Luke 14:26 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.

Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:28 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 14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Luke 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Luke 14:31 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?

Luke 14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

Luke 14:35 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.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Luke 13

Luke 13:1-9

The Lord Jesus taught men that unless they repent they shall perish. People told him about a tragedy where people died. The idea was that those people must have been terrible sinners to die in such a horrific manner. However, the Lord made it clear that those who died in that manner were no more sinners than those who related the story to him.

Unless men repent they will all perish. Repent! What do we repent of? Ask the Lord, and he will show you. The Lord will put his finger on whatever there is in your life that you need to repent of. When a man came to the Lord Jesus and asked him for eternal life the Lord Jesus told him to sell everything and follow him. The man would not do it because he was rich. The Lord will tell you what you need to repent of. In my life he has been faithful to correct me. I did not always listen to the Lord, and I am thankful he had mercy on me, until I got to the point where I was humble enough to truly repent.

Anyone who refused to listen to the Lord will perish in their sins. The only hope we have is to hear the word of the Lord, repent, and believe the gospel. Believe the gospel! Christ died for our sins, he was buried, and he rose again on the third day. Why will you die in your sins? It is not God's will for any one to die in their sins and perish in hellfire. It is God's will for everyone to come to repentance and be saved.

Acts 17:30-31, "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."

Jesus Christ is coming back. He will judge this world in righteousness. Humble yourselves now, repent, believe the gospel. Prepare to meet thy God! He will return, as sure as day follows night, the Lord is coming back to this earth.

Psalms 50:1-4, "The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. 3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. 4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people."

Repent or perish. The choice is yours.

Luke 13:10-17

The Lord Jesus taught in a synagogue on the Sabbath day. There was a woman bound by a spirit of infirmity eighteen years. The spirit of infirmity caused her to be "bowed together". The Lord Jesus laid his hands on the woman and immediately she was made straight. The Lord Jesus commanded her to be healed with his word "thou art loosed from thine infirmity".

The ruler of the synagogue condemned the Lord Jesus for healing the woman on a Sabbath day. The Lord pointed out that people will take care of their farm animals on a Sabbath day. They feed and water their farm animals on a Sabbath day. How much more valuable is this woman than a farm animal? He silenced his enemies in shame. They could not stand against his logic.

It is clear the devil can physically afflict people with sickness. I don't know how often we consider this when we suffer in our bodies. How often do we pray when we are sick? Is it possible that we might be suffering physically because of a spiritual problem in our life? We need to ask the Lord to shine his light on us. We need to pray that the Lord will show us any sin in our life. We need to pray and ask the Lord to expose any devils which might be causing us to suffer in our physical bodies. We know that the devil was able to cause boils upon the body of God's prophet Job. If this is possible, should we not consider this when we are sick? Should we not pray and take authority in the name of Jesus against any unclean spirits which might be trying to make us sick?

The Lord Jesus exposed hypocrisy. When we care more about religion than we do about people there is a real problem. These people were more concerned for church decorum than the suffering of people in the church. Are we more focused on church programs than on the people within the church who are suffering? How much do we care about the people around us? Do we know their names? Do we pray for them? Do you love the people in the church?

The Lord Jesus healed them from sickness and disease. Let us pray and ask the Lord to heal our bodies and our souls. He is able to heal the sick and to set us free from the power of darkness.

Luke 13:18-21

When the Lord Jesus described the kingdom of God we might assume he described something positive or uplifting. In both these descriptions of the kingdom the meaning was not positive and it was not uplifting.

The Lord Jesus said the kingdom of God was like a mustard seed which was planted and grew into a huge tree and the fowls of the air came and lodged in the branches. These birds do not represent something good. Instead, the birds in the branches represent evil which infiltrated Israel, the church, and the nations. These birds were not a good sign. Birds were invited to feast upon the dead. Birds were not a good sign in the Bible usually.

In the next illustration he compared the kingdom to three measures of meal that had leaven mixed in. Leaven was a symbol of sin in the Bible. We are admonished to get leaven out of our lives. Leaven is a picture of how sin starts out small but when it is mixed into your life it corrupts you from the inside out. It completely changes who you are.

This second illustration confirms that the birds in the first illustration were not good. Both of these examples of what the kingdom of God was like showed how the kingdom of God on earth is vulnerable to infiltration. The forces of Satan came into Israel, they came into the church, and they will infest the nations. Sin, the devil, self, and the world system corrupt what is good in the kingdom of God on earth.

Why did the Lord Jesus teach us this? So we would not be surprised when we find people full of the devil in church? Don't be surprised to find hypocrites. Don't be surprised to find tares among the wheat. This is how things are right now. This is how it will be until the Lord returns and sends his angels to separate the wheat from the tares. The Lord will remove the leaven one day. The Lord will remove the evil birds roosting in the branches one day.

Meanwhile, we are to occupy until he comes. Continue to preach the gospel. Continue to witness, testify, and lift up the name of Jesus Christ. Don't be discouraged by the leaven and the birds. Make sure you have no leaven or birds in your life. Make sure you are living before God with clean hands and a pure heart.

Let us pray with David, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24)

Luke 13:22-30

Someone asked the Lord Jesus the question would there be few people saved? The Lord Jesus said that many people would try to enter in and would not be able. Then he described the master of the house rising up and closing his door. There were people standing outside the house when he closed the door. Those people now try to gain entrance by saying they knew the master of the house. But he said to them that he did not know them. They were not in his house when the door was closed. This reminds me of Noah and the ark. A lot of people heard the message Noah preached. But how many people were in the ark when the door was closed? Very few indeed. How many people of the original group of Israel who left Egypt actually made it into the promised land? Of all the original group who left Egypt, out of hundreds of thousands of people, only two men made it into the promised land, Joshua and Caleb. What does this tell us?

We should tremble in our shoes. We should take God's word serious and obey what the Lord says. Strive to enter in at the strait gate. Jesus Christ is the strait gate. There is no other way to the Father. Jesus is the only way to the Father. To get into God's house you have to enter in by the only door which God has made. That door is Jesus Christ himself.

Notice that the Lord Jesus also pointed out that many people from different parts of the world would be saved. He looked forward to the future when the gospel would be preached to every nation under heaven. God saves people from every nation, tongue, and language.

It doesn't matter if you think you know the Lord. Does the Lord know you? Does the Lord know your name? Is your name written in the Lamb's books of life?

There is only one way to be saved.

Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

How can I be saved today?

Acts 16:30-31, "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

Romans 10:9-10, 13, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Be saved today!

2 Corinthians 6:2, "For he saith, I have thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation"

Luke 13:31-35

The Pharisees tried to warn the Lord Jesus that Herod wanted to kill him. We know this is a lie because later on when Herod had a chance to kill the Lord Jesus he did not but sent him back to Pilate. Why did the Pharisees tell Jesus this lie? Perhaps it was the same reason why people tried to intimidate Nehemiah from rebuilding the walls? They thought they could scare Jesus and make him run away?

The Lord Jesus was not afraid. He knew exactly what his purpose was. He went to Jerusalem and he knew he would be turned over to the Romans by the Jewish religious leaders. He knew he would be condemned and executed at Calvary. He prophesied what would happen to himself. He said a prophet could not die outside of Jerusalem. He prophesied what would happen to Jerusalem. It would be left desolate.

The Lord Jesus was not afraid of religious or political leaders. He stood his ground and set himself to walk in obedience to his heavenly Father. Sooner or later the enemy will threaten us and try to turn us aside from obeying the Lord. We must continue to be steadfast and unmovable. We must abound in the work of the Lord because we know our labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Notice the Lord Jesus injected the "third day" into his reply. This shows that Jesus knew he would rise from the dead on the third day. He repeated this again when he said "I must walk today, and tomorrow, and the day following". There is a pattern in the Bible with three days.

God is three in one. Prophet, priest, and king. Israel, church, and the nations. Three days and all will be complete in the New Jerusalem.

Everything in creation gives glory to God. It reflects who he is. Three days is a reflection of who God is. He is three in one.

Luke Chapter 13 KJV

Luke 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

Luke 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Luke 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

Luke 13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

Luke 13:8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

Luke 13:9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Luke 13:10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

Luke 13:11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

Luke 13:12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

Luke 13:13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Luke 13:14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto 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.

Luke 13:15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

Luke 13:16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

Luke 13:17 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.

Luke 13:18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

Luke 13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

Luke 13:20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?

Luke 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Luke 13:22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

Luke 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Luke 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

Luke 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

Luke 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

Luke 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

Luke 13:29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

Luke 13:30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Luke 13:31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.

Luke 13:32 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.

Luke 13:33 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 13:34 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!

Luke 13:35 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.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Luke 13

Luke 13:1-9

The Lord Jesus taught men that unless they repent they shall perish. People told him about a tragedy where people died. The idea was that those people must have been terrible sinners to die in such a horrific manner. However, the Lord made it clear that those who died in that manner were no more sinners than those who related the story to him.

Unless men repent they will all perish. Repent! What do we repent of? Ask the Lord, and he will show you. The Lord will put his finger on whatever there is in your life that you need to repent of. When a man came to the Lord Jesus and asked him for eternal life the Lord Jesus told him to sell everything and follow him. The man would not do it because he was rich. The Lord will tell you what you need to repent of. In my life he has been faithful to correct me. I did not always listen to the Lord, and I am thankful he had mercy on me, until I got to the point where I was humble enough to truly repent.

Anyone who refused to listen to the Lord will perish in their sins. The only hope we have is to hear the word of the Lord, repent, and believe the gospel. Believe the gospel! Christ died for our sins, he was buried, and he rose again on the third day. Why will you die in your sins? It is not God's will for any one to die in their sins and perish in hellfire. It is God's will for everyone to come to repentance and be saved.

Acts 17:30-31, "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."

Jesus Christ is coming back. He will judge this world in righteousness. Humble yourselves now, repent, believe the gospel. Prepare to meet thy God! He will return, as sure as day follows night, the Lord is coming back to this earth.

Psalms 50:1-4, "The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. 3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. 4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people."

Repent or perish. The choice is yours.

Luke 13:10-17

The Lord Jesus taught in a synagogue on the Sabbath day. There was a woman bound by a spirit of infirmity eighteen years. The spirit of infirmity caused her to be "bowed together". The Lord Jesus laid his hands on the woman and immediately she was made straight. The Lord Jesus commanded her to be healed with his word "thou art loosed from thine infirmity".

The ruler of the synagogue condemned the Lord Jesus for healing the woman on a Sabbath day. The Lord pointed out that people will take care of their farm animals on a Sabbath day. They feed and water their farm animals on a Sabbath day. How much more valuable is this woman than a farm animal? He silenced his enemies in shame. They could not stand against his logic.

It is clear the devil can physically afflict people with sickness. I don't know how often we consider this when we suffer in our bodies. How often do we pray when we are sick? Is it possible that we might be suffering physically because of a spiritual problem in our life? We need to ask the Lord to shine his light on us. We need to pray that the Lord will show us any sin in our life. We need to pray and ask the Lord to expose any devils which might be causing us to suffer in our physical bodies. We know that the devil was able to cause boils upon the body of God's prophet Job. If this is possible, should we not consider this when we are sick? Should we not pray and take authority in the name of Jesus against any unclean spirits which might be trying to make us sick?

The Lord Jesus exposed hypocrisy. When we care more about religion than we do about people there is a real problem. These people were more concerned for church decorum than the suffering of people in the church. Are we more focused on church programs than on the people within the church who are suffering? How much do we care about the people around us? Do we know their names? Do we pray for them? Do you love the people in the church?

The Lord Jesus healed them from sickness and disease. Let us pray and ask the Lord to heal our bodies and our souls. He is able to heal the sick and to set us free from the power of darkness.

Luke 13:18-21

When the Lord Jesus described the kingdom of God we might assume he described something positive or uplifting. In both these descriptions of the kingdom the meaning was not positive and it was not uplifting.

The Lord Jesus said the kingdom of God was like a mustard seed which was planted and grew into a huge tree and the fowls of the air came and lodged in the branches. These birds do not represent something good. Instead, the birds in the branches represent evil which infiltrated Israel, the church, and the nations. These birds were not a good sign. Birds were invited to feast upon the dead. Birds were not a good sign in the Bible usually.

In the next illustration he compared the kingdom to three measures of meal that had leaven mixed in. Leaven was a symbol of sin in the Bible. We are admonished to get leaven out of our lives. Leaven is a picture of how sin starts out small but when it is mixed into your life it corrupts you from the inside out. It completely changes who you are.

This second illustration confirms that the birds in the first illustration were not good. Both of these examples of what the kingdom of God was like showed how the kingdom of God on earth is vulnerable to infiltration. The forces of Satan came into Israel, they came into the church, and they will infest the nations. Sin, the devil, self, and the world system corrupt what is good in the kingdom of God on earth.

Why did the Lord Jesus teach us this? So we would not be surprised when we find people full of the devil in church? Don't be surprised to find hypocrites. Don't be surprised to find tares among the wheat. This is how things are right now. This is how it will be until the Lord returns and sends his angels to separate the wheat from the tares. The Lord will remove the leaven one day. The Lord will remove the evil birds roosting in the branches one day.

Meanwhile, we are to occupy until he comes. Continue to preach the gospel. Continue to witness, testify, and lift up the name of Jesus Christ. Don't be discouraged by the leaven and the birds. Make sure you have no leaven or birds in your life. Make sure you are living before God with clean hands and a pure heart.

Let us pray with David, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24)

Luke 13:22-30

Someone asked the Lord Jesus the question would there be few people saved? The Lord Jesus said that many people would try to enter in and would not be able. Then he described the master of the house rising up and closing his door. There were people standing outside the house when he closed the door. Those people now try to gain entrance by saying they knew the master of the house. But he said to them that he did not know them. They were not in his house when the door was closed. This reminds me of Noah and the ark. A lot of people heard the message Noah preached. But how many people were in the ark when the door was closed? Very few indeed. How many people of the original group of Israel who left Egypt actually made it into the promised land? Of all the original group who left Egypt, out of hundreds of thousands of people, only two men made it into the promised land, Joshua and Caleb. What does this tell us?

We should tremble in our shoes. We should take God's word serious and obey what the Lord says. Strive to enter in at the strait gate. Jesus Christ is the strait gate. There is no other way to the Father. Jesus is the only way to the Father. To get into God's house you have to enter in by the only door which God has made. That door is Jesus Christ himself.

Notice that the Lord Jesus also pointed out that many people from different parts of the world would be saved. He looked forward to the future when the gospel would be preached to every nation under heaven. God saves people from every nation, tongue, and language.

It doesn't matter if you think you know the Lord. Does the Lord know you? Does the Lord know your name? Is your name written in the Lamb's books of life?

There is only one way to be saved.

Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

How can I be saved today?

Acts 16:30-31, "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

Romans 10:9-10, 13, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Be saved today!

2 Corinthians 6:2, "For he saith, I have thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation"

Luke 13:31-35

The Pharisees tried to warn the Lord Jesus that Herod wanted to kill him. We know this is a lie because later on when Herod had a chance to kill the Lord Jesus he did not but sent him back to Pilate. Why did the Pharisees tell Jesus this lie? Perhaps it was the same reason why people tried to intimidate Nehemiah from rebuilding the walls? They thought they could scare Jesus and make him run away?

The Lord Jesus was not afraid. He knew exactly what his purpose was. He went to Jerusalem and he knew he would be turned over to the Romans by the Jewish religious leaders. He knew he would be condemned and executed at Calvary. He prophesied what would happen to himself. He said a prophet could not die outside of Jerusalem. He prophesied what would happen to Jerusalem. It would be left desolate.

The Lord Jesus was not afraid of religious or political leaders. He stood his ground and set himself to walk in obedience to his heavenly Father. Sooner or later the enemy will threaten us and try to turn us aside from obeying the Lord. We must continue to be steadfast and unmovable. We must abound in the work of the Lord because we know our labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Notice the Lord Jesus injected the "third day" into his reply. This shows that Jesus knew he would rise from the dead on the third day. He repeated this again when he said "I must walk today, and tomorrow, and the day following". There is a pattern in the Bible with three days.

God is three in one. Prophet, priest, and king. Israel, church, and the nations. Three days and all will be complete in the New Jerusalem.

Everything in creation gives glory to God. It reflects who he is. Three days is a reflection of who God is. He is three in one.

Luke Chapter 13 KJV

Luke 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

Luke 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Luke 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

Luke 13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

Luke 13:8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

Luke 13:9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Luke 13:10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

Luke 13:11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

Luke 13:12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

Luke 13:13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Luke 13:14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto 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.

Luke 13:15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

Luke 13:16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

Luke 13:17 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.

Luke 13:18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

Luke 13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

Luke 13:20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?

Luke 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Luke 13:22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

Luke 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Luke 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

Luke 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

Luke 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

Luke 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

Luke 13:29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

Luke 13:30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Luke 13:31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.

Luke 13:32 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.

Luke 13:33 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 13:34 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!

Luke 13:35 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.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Luke 13

Luke 13:1-9

The Lord Jesus taught men that unless they repent they shall perish. People told him about a tragedy where people died. The idea was that those people must have been terrible sinners to die in such a horrific manner. However, the Lord made it clear that those who died in that manner were no more sinners than those who related the story to him.

Unless men repent they will all perish. Repent! What do we repent of? Ask the Lord, and he will show you. The Lord will put his finger on whatever there is in your life that you need to repent of. When a man came to the Lord Jesus and asked him for eternal life the Lord Jesus told him to sell everything and follow him. The man would not do it because he was rich. The Lord will tell you what you need to repent of. In my life he has been faithful to correct me. I did not always listen to the Lord, and I am thankful he had mercy on me, until I got to the point where I was humble enough to truly repent.

Anyone who refused to listen to the Lord will perish in their sins. The only hope we have is to hear the word of the Lord, repent, and believe the gospel. Believe the gospel! Christ died for our sins, he was buried, and he rose again on the third day. Why will you die in your sins? It is not God's will for any one to die in their sins and perish in hellfire. It is God's will for everyone to come to repentance and be saved.

Acts 17:30-31, "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."

Jesus Christ is coming back. He will judge this world in righteousness. Humble yourselves now, repent, believe the gospel. Prepare to meet thy God! He will return, as sure as day follows night, the Lord is coming back to this earth.

Psalms 50:1-4, "The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. 3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. 4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people."

Repent or perish. The choice is yours.

Luke 13:10-17

The Lord Jesus taught in a synagogue on the Sabbath day. There was a woman bound by a spirit of infirmity eighteen years. The spirit of infirmity caused her to be "bowed together". The Lord Jesus laid his hands on the woman and immediately she was made straight. The Lord Jesus commanded her to be healed with his word "thou art loosed from thine infirmity".

The ruler of the synagogue condemned the Lord Jesus for healing the woman on a Sabbath day. The Lord pointed out that people will take care of their farm animals on a Sabbath day. They feed and water their farm animals on a Sabbath day. How much more valuable is this woman than a farm animal? He silenced his enemies in shame. They could not stand against his logic.

It is clear the devil can physically afflict people with sickness. I don't know how often we consider this when we suffer in our bodies. How often do we pray when we are sick? Is it possible that we might be suffering physically because of a spiritual problem in our life? We need to ask the Lord to shine his light on us. We need to pray that the Lord will show us any sin in our life. We need to pray and ask the Lord to expose any devils which might be causing us to suffer in our physical bodies. We know that the devil was able to cause boils upon the body of God's prophet Job. If this is possible, should we not consider this when we are sick? Should we not pray and take authority in the name of Jesus against any unclean spirits which might be trying to make us sick?

The Lord Jesus exposed hypocrisy. When we care more about religion than we do about people there is a real problem. These people were more concerned for church decorum than the suffering of people in the church. Are we more focused on church programs than on the people within the church who are suffering? How much do we care about the people around us? Do we know their names? Do we pray for them? Do you love the people in the church?

The Lord Jesus healed them from sickness and disease. Let us pray and ask the Lord to heal our bodies and our souls. He is able to heal the sick and to set us free from the power of darkness.

Luke 13:18-21

When the Lord Jesus described the kingdom of God we might assume he described something positive or uplifting. In both these descriptions of the kingdom the meaning was not positive and it was not uplifting.

The Lord Jesus said the kingdom of God was like a mustard seed which was planted and grew into a huge tree and the fowls of the air came and lodged in the branches. These birds do not represent something good. Instead, the birds in the branches represent evil which infiltrated Israel, the church, and the nations. These birds were not a good sign. Birds were invited to feast upon the dead. Birds were not a good sign in the Bible usually.

In the next illustration he compared the kingdom to three measures of meal that had leaven mixed in. Leaven was a symbol of sin in the Bible. We are admonished to get leaven out of our lives. Leaven is a picture of how sin starts out small but when it is mixed into your life it corrupts you from the inside out. It completely changes who you are.

This second illustration confirms that the birds in the first illustration were not good. Both of these examples of what the kingdom of God was like showed how the kingdom of God on earth is vulnerable to infiltration. The forces of Satan came into Israel, they came into the church, and they will infest the nations. Sin, the devil, self, and the world system corrupt what is good in the kingdom of God on earth.

Why did the Lord Jesus teach us this? So we would not be surprised when we find people full of the devil in church? Don't be surprised to find hypocrites. Don't be surprised to find tares among the wheat. This is how things are right now. This is how it will be until the Lord returns and sends his angels to separate the wheat from the tares. The Lord will remove the leaven one day. The Lord will remove the evil birds roosting in the branches one day.

Meanwhile, we are to occupy until he comes. Continue to preach the gospel. Continue to witness, testify, and lift up the name of Jesus Christ. Don't be discouraged by the leaven and the birds. Make sure you have no leaven or birds in your life. Make sure you are living before God with clean hands and a pure heart.

Let us pray with David, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24)

Luke 13:22-30

Someone asked the Lord Jesus the question would there be few people saved? The Lord Jesus said that many people would try to enter in and would not be able. Then he described the master of the house rising up and closing his door. There were people standing outside the house when he closed the door. Those people now try to gain entrance by saying they knew the master of the house. But he said to them that he did not know them. They were not in his house when the door was closed. This reminds me of Noah and the ark. A lot of people heard the message Noah preached. But how many people were in the ark when the door was closed? Very few indeed. How many people of the original group of Israel who left Egypt actually made it into the promised land? Of all the original group who left Egypt, out of hundreds of thousands of people, only two men made it into the promised land, Joshua and Caleb. What does this tell us?

We should tremble in our shoes. We should take God's word serious and obey what the Lord says. Strive to enter in at the strait gate. Jesus Christ is the strait gate. There is no other way to the Father. Jesus is the only way to the Father. To get into God's house you have to enter in by the only door which God has made. That door is Jesus Christ himself.

Notice that the Lord Jesus also pointed out that many people from different parts of the world would be saved. He looked forward to the future when the gospel would be preached to every nation under heaven. God saves people from every nation, tongue, and language.

It doesn't matter if you think you know the Lord. Does the Lord know you? Does the Lord know your name? Is your name written in the Lamb's books of life?

There is only one way to be saved.

Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

How can I be saved today?

Acts 16:30-31, "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

Romans 10:9-10, 13, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Be saved today!

2 Corinthians 6:2, "For he saith, I have thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation"

Luke 13:31-35

The Pharisees tried to warn the Lord Jesus that Herod wanted to kill him. We know this is a lie because later on when Herod had a chance to kill the Lord Jesus he did not but sent him back to Pilate. Why did the Pharisees tell Jesus this lie? Perhaps it was the same reason why people tried to intimidate Nehemiah from rebuilding the walls? They thought they could scare Jesus and make him run away?

The Lord Jesus was not afraid. He knew exactly what his purpose was. He went to Jerusalem and he knew he would be turned over to the Romans by the Jewish religious leaders. He knew he would be condemned and executed at Calvary. He prophesied what would happen to himself. He said a prophet could not die outside of Jerusalem. He prophesied what would happen to Jerusalem. It would be left desolate.

The Lord Jesus was not afraid of religious or political leaders. He stood his ground and set himself to walk in obedience to his heavenly Father. Sooner or later the enemy will threaten us and try to turn us aside from obeying the Lord. We must continue to be steadfast and unmovable. We must abound in the work of the Lord because we know our labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Notice the Lord Jesus injected the "third day" into his reply. This shows that Jesus knew he would rise from the dead on the third day. He repeated this again when he said "I must walk today, and tomorrow, and the day following". There is a pattern in the Bible with three days.

God is three in one. Prophet, priest, and king. Israel, church, and the nations. Three days and all will be complete in the New Jerusalem.

Everything in creation gives glory to God. It reflects who he is. Three days is a reflection of who God is. He is three in one.

Luke Chapter 13 KJV

Luke 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

Luke 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Luke 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

Luke 13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

Luke 13:8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

Luke 13:9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Luke 13:10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

Luke 13:11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

Luke 13:12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

Luke 13:13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Luke 13:14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto 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.

Luke 13:15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

Luke 13:16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

Luke 13:17 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.

Luke 13:18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

Luke 13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

Luke 13:20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?

Luke 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Luke 13:22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

Luke 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Luke 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

Luke 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

Luke 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

Luke 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

Luke 13:29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

Luke 13:30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Luke 13:31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.

Luke 13:32 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.

Luke 13:33 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 13:34 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!

Luke 13:35 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.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Luke 13

Luke 13:1-9

The Lord Jesus taught men that unless they repent they shall perish. People told him about a tragedy where people died. The idea was that those people must have been terrible sinners to die in such a horrific manner. However, the Lord made it clear that those who died in that manner were no more sinners than those who related the story to him.

Unless men repent they will all perish. Repent! What do we repent of? Ask the Lord, and he will show you. The Lord will put his finger on whatever there is in your life that you need to repent of. When a man came to the Lord Jesus and asked him for eternal life the Lord Jesus told him to sell everything and follow him. The man would not do it because he was rich. The Lord will tell you what you need to repent of. In my life he has been faithful to correct me. I did not always listen to the Lord, and I am thankful he had mercy on me, until I got to the point where I was humble enough to truly repent.

Anyone who refused to listen to the Lord will perish in their sins. The only hope we have is to hear the word of the Lord, repent, and believe the gospel. Believe the gospel! Christ died for our sins, he was buried, and he rose again on the third day. Why will you die in your sins? It is not God's will for any one to die in their sins and perish in hellfire. It is God's will for everyone to come to repentance and be saved.

Acts 17:30-31, "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."

Jesus Christ is coming back. He will judge this world in righteousness. Humble yourselves now, repent, believe the gospel. Prepare to meet thy God! He will return, as sure as day follows night, the Lord is coming back to this earth.

Psalms 50:1-4, "The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. 3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. 4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people."

Repent or perish. The choice is yours.

Luke 13:10-17

The Lord Jesus taught in a synagogue on the Sabbath day. There was a woman bound by a spirit of infirmity eighteen years. The spirit of infirmity caused her to be "bowed together". The Lord Jesus laid his hands on the woman and immediately she was made straight. The Lord Jesus commanded her to be healed with his word "thou art loosed from thine infirmity".

The ruler of the synagogue condemned the Lord Jesus for healing the woman on a Sabbath day. The Lord pointed out that people will take care of their farm animals on a Sabbath day. They feed and water their farm animals on a Sabbath day. How much more valuable is this woman than a farm animal? He silenced his enemies in shame. They could not stand against his logic.

It is clear the devil can physically afflict people with sickness. I don't know how often we consider this when we suffer in our bodies. How often do we pray when we are sick? Is it possible that we might be suffering physically because of a spiritual problem in our life? We need to ask the Lord to shine his light on us. We need to pray that the Lord will show us any sin in our life. We need to pray and ask the Lord to expose any devils which might be causing us to suffer in our physical bodies. We know that the devil was able to cause boils upon the body of God's prophet Job. If this is possible, should we not consider this when we are sick? Should we not pray and take authority in the name of Jesus against any unclean spirits which might be trying to make us sick?

The Lord Jesus exposed hypocrisy. When we care more about religion than we do about people there is a real problem. These people were more concerned for church decorum than the suffering of people in the church. Are we more focused on church programs than on the people within the church who are suffering? How much do we care about the people around us? Do we know their names? Do we pray for them? Do you love the people in the church?

The Lord Jesus healed them from sickness and disease. Let us pray and ask the Lord to heal our bodies and our souls. He is able to heal the sick and to set us free from the power of darkness.

Luke 13:18-21

When the Lord Jesus described the kingdom of God we might assume he described something positive or uplifting. In both these descriptions of the kingdom the meaning was not positive and it was not uplifting.

The Lord Jesus said the kingdom of God was like a mustard seed which was planted and grew into a huge tree and the fowls of the air came and lodged in the branches. These birds do not represent something good. Instead, the birds in the branches represent evil which infiltrated Israel, the church, and the nations. These birds were not a good sign. Birds were invited to feast upon the dead. Birds were not a good sign in the Bible usually.

In the next illustration he compared the kingdom to three measures of meal that had leaven mixed in. Leaven was a symbol of sin in the Bible. We are admonished to get leaven out of our lives. Leaven is a picture of how sin starts out small but when it is mixed into your life it corrupts you from the inside out. It completely changes who you are.

This second illustration confirms that the birds in the first illustration were not good. Both of these examples of what the kingdom of God was like showed how the kingdom of God on earth is vulnerable to infiltration. The forces of Satan came into Israel, they came into the church, and they will infest the nations. Sin, the devil, self, and the world system corrupt what is good in the kingdom of God on earth.

Why did the Lord Jesus teach us this? So we would not be surprised when we find people full of the devil in church? Don't be surprised to find hypocrites. Don't be surprised to find tares among the wheat. This is how things are right now. This is how it will be until the Lord returns and sends his angels to separate the wheat from the tares. The Lord will remove the leaven one day. The Lord will remove the evil birds roosting in the branches one day.

Meanwhile, we are to occupy until he comes. Continue to preach the gospel. Continue to witness, testify, and lift up the name of Jesus Christ. Don't be discouraged by the leaven and the birds. Make sure you have no leaven or birds in your life. Make sure you are living before God with clean hands and a pure heart.

Let us pray with David, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24)

Luke 13:22-30

Someone asked the Lord Jesus the question would there be few people saved? The Lord Jesus said that many people would try to enter in and would not be able. Then he described the master of the house rising up and closing his door. There were people standing outside the house when he closed the door. Those people now try to gain entrance by saying they knew the master of the house. But he said to them that he did not know them. They were not in his house when the door was closed. This reminds me of Noah and the ark. A lot of people heard the message Noah preached. But how many people were in the ark when the door was closed? Very few indeed. How many people of the original group of Israel who left Egypt actually made it into the promised land? Of all the original group who left Egypt, out of hundreds of thousands of people, only two men made it into the promised land, Joshua and Caleb. What does this tell us?

We should tremble in our shoes. We should take God's word serious and obey what the Lord says. Strive to enter in at the strait gate. Jesus Christ is the strait gate. There is no other way to the Father. Jesus is the only way to the Father. To get into God's house you have to enter in by the only door which God has made. That door is Jesus Christ himself.

Notice that the Lord Jesus also pointed out that many people from different parts of the world would be saved. He looked forward to the future when the gospel would be preached to every nation under heaven. God saves people from every nation, tongue, and language.

It doesn't matter if you think you know the Lord. Does the Lord know you? Does the Lord know your name? Is your name written in the Lamb's books of life?

There is only one way to be saved.

Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

How can I be saved today?

Acts 16:30-31, "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

Romans 10:9-10, 13, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Be saved today!

2 Corinthians 6:2, "For he saith, I have thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation"

Luke 13:31-35

The Pharisees tried to warn the Lord Jesus that Herod wanted to kill him. We know this is a lie because later on when Herod had a chance to kill the Lord Jesus he did not but sent him back to Pilate. Why did the Pharisees tell Jesus this lie? Perhaps it was the same reason why people tried to intimidate Nehemiah from rebuilding the walls? They thought they could scare Jesus and make him run away?

The Lord Jesus was not afraid. He knew exactly what his purpose was. He went to Jerusalem and he knew he would be turned over to the Romans by the Jewish religious leaders. He knew he would be condemned and executed at Calvary. He prophesied what would happen to himself. He said a prophet could not die outside of Jerusalem. He prophesied what would happen to Jerusalem. It would be left desolate.

The Lord Jesus was not afraid of religious or political leaders. He stood his ground and set himself to walk in obedience to his heavenly Father. Sooner or later the enemy will threaten us and try to turn us aside from obeying the Lord. We must continue to be steadfast and unmovable. We must abound in the work of the Lord because we know our labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Notice the Lord Jesus injected the "third day" into his reply. This shows that Jesus knew he would rise from the dead on the third day. He repeated this again when he said "I must walk today, and tomorrow, and the day following". There is a pattern in the Bible with three days.

God is three in one. Prophet, priest, and king. Israel, church, and the nations. Three days and all will be complete in the New Jerusalem.

Everything in creation gives glory to God. It reflects who he is. Three days is a reflection of who God is. He is three in one.

Luke Chapter 13 KJV

Luke 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

Luke 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Luke 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

Luke 13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

Luke 13:8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

Luke 13:9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Luke 13:10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

Luke 13:11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

Luke 13:12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

Luke 13:13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Luke 13:14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto 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.

Luke 13:15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

Luke 13:16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

Luke 13:17 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.

Luke 13:18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

Luke 13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

Luke 13:20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?

Luke 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Luke 13:22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

Luke 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Luke 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

Luke 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

Luke 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

Luke 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

Luke 13:29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

Luke 13:30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Luke 13:31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.

Luke 13:32 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.

Luke 13:33 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 13:34 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!

Luke 13:35 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.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com