The Caldwell Commentaries Podcast

Matthew 20:17-28; Mark 10:32-45; Luke 18:31-34

This is the first of a two-part study entitled, "Crosses and Cups Before Crowns".  The disciples were growing very apprehensive because the shadow of the up-coming cross was beginning to fall on their Master, and a nameless dread was taking hold of their hearts.  That apprehension was verified when the Lord again announced, in specific detail, His soon approaching time of suffering, shame, crucifixion, and resurrection.  This is what we discuss in the first part of our three-pronged outline, "The Suffering Announcement".

Their nerves already frayed, it did not take much for the disciples to give way to their carnal natures.  James and John revealed their selfish ambition by getting their mother (Salome, the Lord's aunt) to request the "best seats" in the Kingdom.  This caused the other disciples to turn on them in indignation, which is what is discussed in the second outline division, "The Selfish Ambition".  It was not one of the better moments for the disciple/Apostles, but it is one we can learn from!

Matthew 20:1-16

For all Caldwell Commentary study books go to

scripturetruth.com  or  mazon.com

In this lesson of our on-going chronological study of Christ's life, we look at the Lord's 34th sequentially recorded parable, "The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard". First, we discuss the parable itself and then we look at the interpretation. There is a lot said in this study about rewards, motive for Christian service, salvation, sovereign grace, and an explanation of the Lord's words, "But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first" (Matthew 19:30; 20:16)!

IMPORTANT LESSON!!

Matthew 19:23-30; Mark 10:23-26; Luke 18:24-27

In the previous lesson (113), we learned about "A Rich Poor Man" in the account of the rich young lawyer who departed from Christ very poor (tragically so, for he swapped eternal life for "mammon").  Following that episode, the Lord turned to His disciples and elaborated on the danger of trusting in riches.  He also elaborated on the spiritual rewards for those will to forsake the things of this world for His name's sake.  The first focus of this lesson is on "The Peril of Trusting Riches" (Matthew 19:23-26) and the second focus is on "The Promise of True Riches" (19:27-30).

Discussed in this lesson is a lot of information about the time of "the Regeneration" (19:28) mentioned by Christ in response to a question posed by Peter.  "Regeneration" literally means "rebirth" or "new birth," and it speaks of the "rebirth" of the earth that will take place at the time of Christ's Second Coming (during the Millennial Kingdom on earth).

Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-22; Luke 18:18-23

This is the account of Christ's conversation with a rich young ruler who wanted to learn what he must do to inherit eternal life.  Unfortunately, the young man was not willing to do what the Lord requested of him to gain all the blessings and riches that accompany salvation.  The reason is that he served another "master" named "mammon" - money.  He wanted eternal life, but not at the expense of being separated from his "god" of wealth.  Trusting the false "god" of earthly riches inevitably makes one eternally poor.  

Does being saved mean a person has to sell everything he has?  Absolutely not.  Jesus was testing the young man's heart!  Listen and learn more.  Important lesson!

Luke 18:10-17

In this second half of the Lord's teaching on the characteristics of those who enter God's Kingdom, particularly with regard to prayer, we will discuss His famous "Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican".  Prayer is much more than just the words of our mouths; it is the desire of our hearts!

Also discussed is the Lord's use of small, precious children, who He called to Himself, took in His arms and blessed, saying, ". . . of such is the Kingdom of God" and "Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein" (Luke 18:16, 17).  It was a powerful lesson for everyone (and still is)!

Matthew 19:1-15; Mark 10:1-16; Luke 18:1-17

The verses for this study primarily come from Luke chapter 18, where we find three examples of people whose characteristics represent those who enter God's Kingdom.  The first two examples were given by Jesus by way of parables.  The two parables were used to teach His men (and us) about the kind of praying true believers exhibit.  In the first parable, "The Parable of the Persistent Widow," He taught about the need for persistency in the life of the child of God.  In the second (see Lesson 112b), "The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican," He taught about the type of righteous, humble, penitent prayer that allows one to initially enter God's Kingdom (exemplified by the publican - certainly not by the self-righteous Pharisee)!

Luke 17:11-37

Learn about something called "The Gratitude Quotient".  The Lord withdrew to Ephraim, 15 miles north of Jerusalem to avoid the Sanhedrin Council, now determined to kill Him (it wasn't yet His time).  On His way, He was met by ten lepers, and He cleansed all ten.  However, only one former leper RETURNED to thank Him!  This is the subject of the first part of this lesson entitled "Two Returns" (the return of a leper).    

In the second half of this lesson, we discuss what the Lord said to some questioning Pharisees as well as what He had to say to His disciples about His RETURN at the time of His Second Coming.  He gave three very specific prophecies.

John 11:17-54

In the first part of this two-part look at the raising of Lazarus from the dead (Lesson 109), we found nothing but death and despair, from the human perspective.  Lazarus was dead, the disciples could only think of Jesus' death at the hands of the Pharisees, and Thomas (Didymas) spoke about all of them dying!  When this lesson opens, Martha and Mary are only thinking of death, for their dear brother had died.  All this focus on death, the desolation it brings, and man's hopelessness in the face of it, divinely served as the dark and gloomy contrasting background against which the Lord Jesus could all the more brilliantly display His glory and power as "The Resurrection and the Life"!

What an amazing site when a four-day dead Lazarus, still bound in grave strips like a mummy, came walking forth out of his tomb in response to the words of his Saviour, "Lazarus, come forth"!  The greatest news ever given to human ears were spoken to Martha in John 11:25, 26 by the Lord Jesus, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die"!

The greatest news men can ever hear is that death need not be feared!  The One Who made that possible is Jesus Christ!

John 11:1-16

This is the first in a two-part study on a spectacular miracle - the raising of a four-day dead man named Lazarus (brother of Martha and Mary of Bethany).  This miracle took place within weeks of the cross.  It was a climactic testimony of Christ's Deity given - the mightiest work He performed apart from His Resurrection (infinitely greater, for He arose in a new glorified body; Lazarus rose in his old human body).

If Jesus could not defeat death, we would remain forever hopeless.  But He did defeat it, both totally and permanently!  Because of that, we who believe are NOT the most miserable of men (see I Corin. 15:19); we are the most blessed and should be the most thankful, the most joyful, and the most HOPEFUL of all people!  It is most appropriate the greatest miracle Christ performed was against man's greatest enemy, death!

In this lesson, we discuss the "Saviour's Delay" and "Skeptical Didymus".  GREAT TWO-PART STUDY YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS.

Luke 17:1-10

For information regarding the contents of Luke 17:1-6, refer to Lessons 81, 82, and 79 on this podcast.

As Jesus taught on the Christian's responsibility to be a good steward of that which God has entrusted to him, He used another parable to emphasize the need for faithfulness to duty no matter what the demands might be.  The parable is about "The Unworthy Slave" (17:7-10).

We are all unworthy servants, and when we serve God and invest our time, treasures, and talents to Him for His glory, we must realize and remember we have only done "our reasonable service"!  We are to realize that the very best we can do is but the very least we should do!