Jesus’ teaching about the cost of discipleship includes one of the most outrageous requirements of the Gospel: to love and hate simultaneously. Jesus intended it to be this way because His disciples should have their priorities straight when they pick up the cross to follow Him. If we start a project without investing our whole hearts, we may not finish it and be ashamed. By connecting the first two stories with the salt without taste, Jesus teaches that our priorities should be aligned with the purpose.

In this episode, Jesus addresses Judaism's claim that citizenship in the Kingdom of God was built into their birth certificate. No, they need an invitation, too, and more importantly, they must accept it on an individual basis. This teaching is meaningful for us, too, because becoming Christians does not automatically entitle us to be citizens in the Kingdom of Heaven. We must clean up our lives and start preparing our characters for heaven from the very moment we accept the invitation. It's a battle of priorities, day after day, but the power to overcome comes from above.  

This episode covers one miracle and two short parables, all three dealing with what is more important in God's view. The miracle is a teaching moment in which Jesus explains that manifesting love for those in need around you, including animals, is more important than keeping the cold letter of the law. Likewise, when you are invited to a dinner, you should not look for places of honor but instead manifest humility. If you prioritize those in need, “you will be blessed because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem is triggered by a plot of the Jews to drive Him to Jerusalem, where they could execute their plans to kill Him. Jesus’ response is a powerful example for those of us tempted from the inside by our fears and from the outside by multiple limiting factors. Nothing and nobody can deter Jesus from accomplishing His mission! Knowing God’s purpose for your life, understanding Bible prophecies, and loving people are three anchors for your soul in the most critical moments.

This episode covers the teaching of Jesus about the nature and scope of His Kingdom. Some in the audience were worried if the Kindom was big enough for everyone or was smaller than the world. Interestingly, Jesus' answer is not about its capacity (in other words, don’t worry about that) but about the size of the entrance door. Jesus tries to switch the focus from the quantitative growth of the Kingdom to the spiritual growth of its citizens. Through divine power, the small, humble beginnings will grow to have a gigantic, cosmic impact.

This story is fascinating not only as a healing event but also as a case study for the journey from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. Jesus calls this woman “a daughter of Abraham,” but she is still under the control of the evil one. How can one be in two opposite places at the same time? Only God knows one’s battles during the dark night of the soul, and we have no business in pointing to the speck in one’s eye while neglecting the log in our own eye. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and restore in us the original image of God! (1 John 3:8)

These short stories put to rest our speculations that everything happens for a purpose: either the good of the righteous or the punishment of the wicked. Jesus doesn’t pronounce any judgment on the Galileens massacred by Pilat or those killed by the tower of Siloam. In this world, which is the battlefield of the Cosmic Conflict, events may happen for various reasons. Jesus uses some of these events as teaching moments, as calls to repentance. If we repent, we have a new start, another chance to develop a meaningful relationship with our Maker and Redeemer who loves us so much. And to change our characters for good and for eternity.

In this episode, Jesus tells us to “stay dressed for action and keep our lamps burning.” He explains this truth with two stories and three additional teachings. Jesus does not overlook or disregard reckless behavior but rewards those actively waiting for His second coming. The greatest reward is when the Master becomes a Servant, to serve His faithful reclining at the table when the Kingdom comes!

Over centuries, we have worked hard to build the Western Society and evaluate our success through the abundance of products and services available at any corner. But this materialistic abundance has a built-in trap. In this gospel reading episode, Jesus uses a story to illustrate that trap and to point to the principles of the simplicity of life, helping the needy, and contentment with what the Lord always provides. If there is one thing to worry about, it is how to seek the kingdom of God and grow it in your circle of influence.

This teaching of Christ warns us about the danger of compartmentalizing life into work, family, church, sports, social life, etc. and having different moral values for each area. Moreover, when these moral values conflict with each other, we are tempted to wear masks to suggest consistency. The profound transformation of the character that brings genuine integrity happens only through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.