1 Chronicles 21:1–30

¹ Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. ² So David said to Joab and to the leaders of the people, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring the number of them to me that I may know it.” ³ And Joab answered, “May the Lord make His people a hundred times more than they are. But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Israel?” ⁴ Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came to Jerusalem. ⁵ Then Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. All Israel had one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword, and Judah had four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew the sword. ⁶ But he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king’s word was abominable to Joab. ⁷ And God was displeased with this thing; therefore He struck Israel. ⁸ So David said to God, “I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing; but now, I pray, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.” ⁹ Then the Lord spoke to Gad, David’s seer, saying, ¹⁰ “Go and tell David, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you.” ’ ” ¹¹ So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Choose for yourself, ¹² either three years of famine, or three months to be defeated by your foes with the sword of your enemies overtaking you, or else for three days the sword of the Lord—the plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now consider what answer I should take back to Him who sent me.” ¹³ And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.” ¹⁴ So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell. ¹⁵ And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. As he was destroying, the Lord looked and relented of the disaster, and said to the angel who was destroying, “It is enough; now restrain your hand.” And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. ¹⁶ Then David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, having in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. So David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces. ¹⁷ And David said to God, “Was it not I who commanded the people to be numbered? I am the one who has sinned and done evil indeed; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, O Lord my God, be against me and my father’s house, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.” ¹⁸ Therefore, the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David that David should go and erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. ¹⁹ So David went up at the word of Gad, which he had spoken in the name of the Lord. ²⁰ Now Ornan turned and saw the angel; and his four sons who were with him hid themselves, but Ornan continued threshing wheat. ²¹ So David came to Ornan, and Ornan looked and saw David. And he went out from the threshing floor, and bowed before David with his face to the ground. ²² Then David said to Ornan, “Grant me the place of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar on it to the Lord. You shall grant it to me at the full price, that the plague may be withdrawn from the people.” ²³ But Ornan said to David, “Take it to yourself, and let my lord the king do what is good in his eyes. Look, I also give you the oxen for burnt offerings, the threshing implements for wood, and the wheat for the grain offering; I give it all.” ²⁴ Then King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing.” ²⁵ So David gave Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the place. ²⁶ And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on the Lord; and He answered him from heaven by fire on the altar of burnt offering. ²⁷ So the Lord commanded the angel, and he returned his sword to its sheath. ²⁸ At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there. ²⁹ For the tabernacle of the Lord and the altar of the burnt offering, which Moses had made in the wilderness, were at that time at the high place in Gibeon. ³⁰ But David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the Lord.

Devotional
Here we see that God being angry with Israel (see 2 Samuel 24:1) moved David; that is allowed Satan who stood up against Israel to move David to do this thing. And so David being moved (i.e. enticed) by Satan, orders Joab the commander of the army and all the leaders to go and number the people of Israel from Beersheba to Dan, (i.e. from the south to the north) so he might know it. Not that God had commanded David to do this, rather David wanted the census taken that he might know it. That is David wanted to know the number of men in Israel fit for war seemingly so that he might glory in the potentially massive army that he was commander and chief of. For David already had a set military force that served the kingdoms military interests being made up of 12 divisions, with each division made up of 24,000 select men, taken from the heads and leaders of fathers houses in Israel, with each division serving a one month term throughout the year (see 1 Chr. 27:1-15). And so their was no legitimate grounds for this census, other than David as ruling king in Israel wanting to personally know the number of men he had under his command. In fact the only time a census was ever commanded by God of Israel was during their Wilderness Wanderings. And there it was for specific purposes, with specific regulations attached to it (see Ex 30:11-16; Num 1:1-46; 3:14-39; 26:1-65 etc.). Again there was no impending battle. And even if there was David never counted his men before he went into battle. From the time of God delivering Goliath the giant into David's hand, when Goliath defied the army's of Israel and reproached the living God. To David's escaping his own sons rebellions against him; David never looked to his own might, military forces, or those with him (unlike Saul his predecessor, consider 1 Sam 13:15) as the source of his deliverance, but always the Lord (consider 1 Samuel 17:45-47; 2 Sam 22:33-35; Psalm 31:15). And thus David's commanding this census be taken, when he was already well established in his throne, and the Nation was essentially at rest, seems and act of pure vainglory. For from the days that the Lord God brought Israel out of Egypt until this day, God alone was to be their exalted Commander and Chief, who will lead them in the Strength and the Power of His Might and subdue their enemies before them, as they obey Him (consider Ex 23:23; Joshua 5:13-15; Psalm 60:10-12). His leaders then were to be shepherds of His people, who look with all dependence to Him, to lead and guide them, and not look to their own might (Num. 27:15-17; 2 Chr 20:12). There is then a serious lesson here for us all to learn, that God who is Sovereign, and who gives us all that we have and are, who raises up one and puts down another, according to His own will (consider 1 Samuel 2:7; Psalm 75:6-7; 86:9; 113:4; Isaiah 40:17-18; Jeremiah 27:5; Daniel 4:35), does not look lightly upon those whom he has chosen and exalted, exalting themselves! Whether this be individuals or nations (consider Isaiah 2:10-12).

Therefore God being angry with Israel (2 Samuel 24:1) moved David; that is allowed Satan who stood up against Israel; to move David to do this thing. And so Satan likely having observed something in Israel that he could accuse them of, takes a stands against Israel before the Lord. And so the Lord being justly angry with Israel, allows Satan to move (i.e. entice or incite) David the leader of the people of Israel to demand that this census be taken. Now we are not told what they did that provoked the wrath of God as in 2 Sam 21:1. And for all intense purposes that is mostly irrelevant. For it is that they had done something so severe, as too so anger God, as to bring about this perilous state of affairs for themselves (consider Psalm 76:7; Ezra 9:15). And so though we as God's people are in a covenant relationship with Him; both individually and collectively. We must never think ourselves, because of the overwhelming abundance of grace that God has given us in Christ, above God chastening us when we sin, or correcting us when we need correction (Heb 12:3-11). And in this, God can deliver us over to Satan to do just that. Yet as we will see, David's audacity in ordering Joab the commander of the army, and the leaders in Israel to go and number the people of war, so that David might know their number. Will only be surpassed by the greatness of David's contrition and humility, when David sees the far reaching consequences of his sin.

Therefore God in doing so, in allowing Satan to move David to do this, will bring about His desired will in the end, and that is David's and the leadership in Israel's repentance, while purging the nation of those within who were guilty before God. And so with their repentance, God will not only preserve the nation, and specifically the capital Jerusalem where David and the nations leaders dwelt. But He will reveal the location of where the Temple of the Lord was to be built. And so once again David will exemplify a heart of contrition and dependence and reverence before the Lord. And so here we see through David before his repentance a potential pitfall for all those in leadership in the church. Who when they too become "established" can become as David was here "independent in their spirit"; heeding neither the warnings of God in His Word, nor the counsels of man according to it. For though there was no grounds for David taking this census, yet he could not be dissuaded from doing so, even by his own general Joab; who perceiving that something was inherently wrong with David requesting him to do so, yet not wanting to arose the kings wrath, tried to humbly persuade David not to pursue such a vain and reckless thing, by which David would be the cause of guilt upon God's people. Yet as the Scripture says David's word prevailed against Joabs (Vs. 3-4). And so the lesson for us is that we too must be careful that when we become established in whatever roles and duties God assigns us, that we also do not become "independent in our spirits", and set out on all kinds of misadventures that would clearly put us in conflict with the Lord and His Will for us, through His Word. For as David reveals here, we too can fall under Satan's influence if we think that we can live as Christians by our own dictates and desires. Similarly we can become disqualified for God's service, and or be removed from His service in a certain capacity, if we pursue and do our own will and desires, while clearly ignoring God's revealed will to us and for us, while in it. As was the case with Davids predecessor King Saul who did not heed God's command to destroy Amalek and the Amalekites and all that was theirs, and instead spared the best of everything that they had for themselves (see 1 Sam 15:1-35). Therefore dependence on, and obedience towards God is critical if we hope to live fruitful lives for Him. For if we begin to live complacently, independently, taking for granted our God given Spirit gifts, abilities, and or calling that Jesus has placed on our lives, we too can unwittingly end up under all kinds of evil influences, and in all kinds of precarious situations and circumstances.

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982,

 

 

Proverbs 9:13-18

13 A foolish woman is clamorous;
She is simple, and knows nothing.
14 For she sits at the door of her house,
On a seat by the highest places of the city,
15To call to those who pass by,
Who go straight on their way:
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”;
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of hell.

Commentary

In the Book of Proverbs we are warned about the seductress, and here we are now warned about another type of women who neither fears God nor regards anyone. She is trouble with a capital T. So hopefully we will take Scriptures warning too heart and not become another victim of her. With that notice that the Bible says that a foolish woman is clamorous, that is boisterous (margin reading). Someone given to making her feelings and demands loudly known. According to the Net Bible the word used here comes close to meaning "riotous." To give you another mental picture of her the word used here is also used metaphorically in Zechariah 9:15 describing one who roars with wine. And so she stands in stark contrast to meek and quiet spirit of a Godly woman (1 Peter 3:4) with her brazen demeanor and outspoken nature, and all coupled too her undignified persona. The Believers Bible Commentary graphically says of her: "The foolish woman is loudmouthed, empty-headed, and brazen faced."

And so the Scripture calls her simple, one who knows nothing of God and less of righteousness. All she knows is how to stir up trouble, or arouse sin within men foolish enough to heed her. For again she regards neither God nor man, and so she knows neither peace, nor quietness in her life, or in her spirit. But instead she is only moved by her clamorous and sensual nature to pursue more of the same. And so when she's not bellowing like a cow in the pastures of sin, or rolling around in the mire like a sow, or brazenly voicing her desires or displeasure's, she perches herself like a hawk waiting to land upon its next prey. As the Scripture says:

14 For she sits at the door of her house,
On a seat by the highest places of the city,
15To call to those who pass by,
Who go straight on their way" vs. 14-15

And so she chooses for herself a strategic location where she can both see and be seen and heard by all those who pass by straight on the way. For she isn't looking for those she has already seduced and slain, for she has no pleasure in that. Instead she is looking for some new victim stupid enough to entertain her invitation to self annihilation. And all presented to him under the guise of endless "ease, delight and pleasure". That is what is meant in verses sixteen and seventeen when she says:

16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”;

And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

Now what is actually being said there by her in the ancient Hebrew in verse seventeen is that sin indulged in secret is more delightful (Specifically illicit sexual intercourse). And so she seduces him through his own sexual desires and sin nature, with the grand illusion that illicit pleasure can be enjoyed with absolute immunity. Now we know that both the Scriptures and life testifies to another reality (Num 32:23; Prov 11:31). For just as sin has it momentary pleasure, so sin always pays its wages, which always ends in ones own death (consider Rom 6:23; James 1:13-15). And so if one dies unrepentant and unbelieving, there will be consequences for eternity (consider 1 Cor 6:9-10, Gal 6:7-8; 1 Peter 4:18). And that is what the Book of Proverbs sets to warns us all about; both here and elsewhere. That living wickedly will ensure one receives repayment, wrath, and judgment from God (consider Prov 3:33-35; 5:21-23; 10:25; 10:27; 11:21; 21:12). While living righteously will ensure ones own life, peace, and safety (consider Prov 10:25; 12:21). For even a casual reading of the Book of Proverbs makes that abundantly clear (consider Prov 10:29; 10:30; 11:31; 14:32; 15:9, 29; 16:4; 21:18; 24:19-20 etc.). Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ warns us all of sin, that there will be eternal consequences for the unrepentant (Matt 5:27-30; Mark 9:42-48) and unbelieving (Rev 21:6-8). And that is something the world always tries to deny, yet can never escape from (Matt 18:7-9). That God is Sovereign and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ will Judge the world in righteousness (Rev 20:11-15) and He will repay the wicked and unbelieving according to their works (Psalm 9:17). And thus the seductress (Prov 2:16-22; 5:1-6; 7:6-27) and or the foolish and clamorous woman, is to be steered well clear of by us all who fear the Lord.

For again she only seduces men through their own sinful desires, and in this she sometimes does so by arousing them through the Law, as verse seventeen indicates. For prohibition never brings liberation from sin (consider Romans 7:8; 1 Cor. 15:56) only regeneration does. And that is why the Lord Jesus Christ says we all must be born-again, whether a brazen harlot, or a fool taken by her, or anyone else. For we all have a sin nature, and we are all susceptible to sin (indeed we are under it's domain), and or deceptions from Satan, until we are born-again by the Spirit of God, by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person (John 3:16). For only when we come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ does God by His Spirit change our hearts, and open our eyes to all that is truly evil and wrong in our lives, and in this world, so that we might do what is truly just and right in His sight by His Word and through His Spirit's Power. For human effort to bring about personal and lasting change through religion or anything else always fails, because of the weakness of our sinful flesh (Rom 7:5-6; Heb 7:18-19). For the Law can only expose sin, it cannot correct the root problem; which again is the sin nature within us all, which largely controls us, and progressively leads us astray until we are born-again (i.e. regenerated) by God's Holy Spirit, which again happens the moment we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person (Eph 1:13-14). Therefore the laws purpose is not to make "religious" people, but to reveal sin in us, by showing us God's Character through its morals decrees, and thus define for us what righteousness is, and what sin is. So that we seeing the problem is within us, that is our own sins and powerlessness to keep ourselves from them, will turn to God, so that He might both save us from our sins, as well as deliver us out of them. That is why the Scripture says the Law was given to bring us to Christ (see Gal 3:19-25). Because apart from the Lord Jesus Christ justifying us before God the Father, then empowering us by His Spirit to live Godly lives; for no one can keep the Law of God to be saved by it. For to fail in one point is to be condemned by all of it (James 2:10). Therefore the Law was given to bring us to end of ourselves; of trying to do what only God can do in us and for us; and that is both atone for all our sins by Jesus' Crucifixion death and shed blood for them at Calvary. As well as change our persons whole nature, giving us who believe in Jesus a new heart and new nature (2 Cor 5:17), through His Holy Spirit regenerating us, which again happens the moment we repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ through the Gospel. And so with our faith in Jesus our old sin nature is not eliminated, but it is crucified, just as we are with Christ (Rom 6:6; Gal 2:21) which assures that though we may struggle with sin in this life, we shall overcome sin, Satan and death, all by the power of Jesus Christ's Crucifixion death, and Resurrection from the dead.

If you have never heard, nor received God's Good News, that there is hope for even the worst of sinners, because God's grace is now freely extended to one and to all who in faith repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as testified too in the Scriptures. Then please in all sincerity open your hearts to God and receive what He has done for you by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ into your hearts and lives. For He loves you and wants to save you from your sins and the wrath to come. That is why Jesus willingly was crucified for you, so that God could save you from all your sins and the judgment to come. And in doing so He could make you a new person in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). So that you can live a life filled with the fruits of His Holy Spirit (see Gal 5:22-23) and thus have and experience an abundant and full and rich life, being in union with Christ, and harmony and peace with God. Rather than living a life only ruled by the sinful desires of the flesh (see Gal 5:17-21), which again ends in death (Rom 6:23) and an eternity in hell (Rev 21:6-8) for those who remain dead in their sins and trespasses.

And so what the Law could not do through the weakness of our flesh, Jesus Christ has done by His own Death on the cross and Resurrection from the dead. So that by His first atoning for all our sins He can now impute His Righteousness to us, to give us a righteous standing before God the Father. Then by His Holy Spirit both transform our persons and empower us to live new lives of righteousness and peace and joy in the Spirit (Rom 14:17) as born-again children of God (John 1:12). It's the best thing in the world to experience and have forgiveness of all of ones sins and new and everlasting life. Don't miss it, instead believe and receive Jesus Christ while you can!

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982,

 

Additional Resources Consulted

^[1] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments (A. Farstad, Ed.) (Pr 9:13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

 

2 Kings 2:15

Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.

Devotional
With Elijah having been carried by the chariot of Israel back to heaven, (see 2 Kings 2:9-12) the spirit of Elijah now rests on the prophet Elisha. Similarly Jesus would later say of John the Baptist that he was the fulfillment of the Scriptures concerning Elijah (Matt 11:13-15; 17:10-13; Mark 9:11-13). For John was prophesied about before his birth that he would go in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17). Thus John the Baptist is the messenger who was to come before the Lord Jesus Christ, to prepare the way before Him (see Mal. 3:1; 4:5; Matt. 3:1-12; 11:7-14; 17:11-13; Mark 1:2-8; Luke 3:1-17; 7:24-27). For Jesus Himself said that John the Baptist is Elijah to come. Yet John the Baptists testimony in John's Gospel to the Pharisees when questioned by them was that he was not Elijah (see John 1:21), nor the Prophet foretold by Moses (see Deut 18:15 18; for your own info Jesus is the Prophet, John 1:45), rather John said he is

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

Make straight the way of the Lord" John 1:23

Therefore John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah to declare the coming of Christ, (whom John said he was not worthy to loose His sandal, John 1:27). Yet he himself said he is neither the Christ nor Elijah, but is the fulfillment of the Scriptures (Isaiah 40:1) concerning the messenger (or voice crying in the wilderness) who was too prepare people for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus John the Baptist is Elijah to come in the sense that John came in the spirit and power of Elijah; as Jesus said of John to prepare the way before Him. For it is clear that John did not want to propagate his own ministry or name in fulfilling the Elijah prophecy, rather he wanted Jesus Christ the Lamb of God sent to take away the sin of the world (see John 1:29-30; 35-36) to be absolutely forefront and foremost in all people's minds. And not have his, nor Elijah's person or name have any bearing on their consciences, as if salvation could come, or would come through them (consider Luke 3:15-17; John 3:30). For John the Baptist (like all the prophets before him) always points people to the Lord Jesus Christ's Person (see John 3:22-36). For that was the purpose of John's ministry, and that is the purpose of all the Scriptures (John 5:39-40), to bring people to faith in Christ (Gal 3:22).
Yet in spite of all that we still we see the terrible error of people looking too another, just as the Pharisees trusted in Moses, so today there are those who look too a Biblical Person, or prophet, instead of looking too the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God. We see this even at Jesus' Crucifixion where some wrongly interpret Jesus' crying out to God the Father (which Jesus did in fulfillment of the Scriptures), as Jesus crying out to Elijah to save Him! (See Matt 27:45-50). Yet we know at Jesus' transfiguration, when both Moses and Elijah appeared there with Jesus, and Peter in moment of rashness and fear said to the Lord let us build three tabernacles, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah, God the Father from heaven immediately declared: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" (see Matt 17:5; 2 Peter 1:17-18). And so we know that no Biblical prophet or figure is to ever be put on par with Jesus, or worse before Him (either to pray too or worship before). Same with angelic beings (consider Col 2:18-19) as the Apostle John quickly found out when he fell before the angel who appeared to him, "And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Rev 19:10
Therefore any prophecy or preaching that does not point people to the Lord Jesus Christ as testified to in the Scriptures, (i.e. Son of God/Son of Man) and thus the Christ and Savior of the world who is the sole means of salvation (John 14:6; Acts 4:12), is a lie and is of demonic origins. For there are those today, just as there have been down through the ages, who seek to undermine the the Lord Jesus Christ's Person and or the exclusivity of His Finished Work at Calvary for the salvation of everyone who repents and believes in Him (consider John 19:30; 1 John 2:18-23; 4:1-3; 2 John 7 etc.).

And so though there may be a future ministry where Elijah will come during the tribulation period as some speculate (see Rev 11:3). The only question that matters,  and on which your souls destiny rests upon is, who are you trusting for salvation and living in expectation of? If it is not the Lord Jesus Christ who was crucified for your sins remission, and rose from the dead for your justification before God the Father, than you've missed the mark! Be sure than that your faith is only in the Lord Jesus' Christ's Person and His Finished work on the cross to save you, and not in someone less than Him (John 3:31). For it's your exclusive faith (or trust) in the Lord Jesus Christ that will save you from the wrath to come (Matt 3:7; 1 Thess 1:10).

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. 1982, Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Luke 14:1–6

1 Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely. 2 And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” 4 But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go. 5Then He answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” 6And they could not answer Him regarding these things.

Devotional
Here through the Pharisees hardness of heart we see the folly of the commandments of men. For yes the Sabbath forbid work on it, but the Pharisees in their misguided zeal took a command of God and applied it with a razors edge to situations that it did not apply to, and thus made it into a terrible burden that they commanded and laid on men. And so rather than bringing rest to God's people through observance of the Sabbath, as it was intended to do (see Exodus 23:12; 31:17). They only brought hardship and misery on those God commanded them to shepherd through the law; and this they often did (as the Gospel so readily reveals) to those in need of some real rest from life's burdens and troubles. And that is the peril of serving God through the doctrines, commandments, and traditions of men. Ones heart always becomes hardened towards God and their fellow person.
And so here (as elsewhere in the Gospel, Jesus time and again intentionally heals those who are need of healing on the Sabbath; and this He often does in their direct presence. For Jesus has no intention of hypocritically observing the Sabbath as they were accustomed to doing. As Jesus says they would think nothing of lifting their own ox or donkey out of a pit on the Sabbath if it had fallen into it. Not that they would lift a finger to assist anyone else in need on the Sabbath, or any other day, (see Matt 23:4). But if their own property was in jeopardy on the Sabbath, then they would think nothing of "working" on it to save it. Yet they will find serious fault with Jesus time and again for showing mercy to people in need on the Sabbath. Even going so far as too condemn His actions (and later seeking to destroy His Person) simply because in His doing good to those in real need of rest on the Sabbath, Jesus did so by violating their commandments, not Gods. And so as Jesus says elsewhere we are to beware of the leaven, that is the doctrines, of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy (Luke 12:1). For one can be utterly wicked on the inside, and cruel on the outside, and yet still be utterly self-justifying, as the Pharisees often were, simply because one adheres to the doctrines and commandments of men handed down to them. Now this situation is not unique too them, but sadly exists in our day as well. For wherever a man-made and decreed righteousness is taught and observed, there you will find people living hypocritically and judging hypocritically (John 7:21-24), and not being just, loving, or kind as God commands of us all, as His people (consider Isaiah 1:16-17; Micah 6:8; Hosea 12:6; Zachariah 7:8-10). For as the text reveals the Pharisees in having invited Jesus to eat bread with them on the Sabbath, had an ulterior motive in doing so. For as Luke's Gospel describes the scene they were all watching Jesus closely, for there was also there a man who dropsy. Whether he was there by coincidence or by their doing were are not told. But he was there, and so the Pharisees knowing Jesus' tendencies, were watching Him closely, to see whether or not He would heal this man on the Sabbath. (Now if you don't know what dropsy; also called edema is; it is the swelling of body tissues, usually around the feet, ankles, lower legs, hands, eyes, or lower back area. Though an entire limb or the whole body may be affected as the condition worsens. Particularly worrisome are the stomach or chest area which can turn into a life threatening condition if left untreated (info source; Medline Plus, online). And so Jesus, with no prompting from the Pharisees, readily observes that the mans painful and often debilitating condition. And so Jesus in response to the obvious need in front of Him, asks the lawyers and Pharisees: “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” Not that Jesus needed an answer from them. But that through their hardness of heart He could dramatically reveal to us all that God's compassion for all people is not bound to the observance of man made doctrines or decrees. For it is always right to do good on the Sabbath, or any other day of the week. And so with their silence Jesus takes the man and heals him and lets him go (vs 4). And having done so Jesus now responds to their silence by saying: “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” vs. 5 To which they could (or would not) answer Him nothing (vs 6.). And so through their silence we see their cruelty. I mean if ever there is cause to rejoice and thank and praise God it is when someone anyone finds Him, and or mercies from Him. Yet the Pharisees true to their form remained utterly silent in the presence of such compassion, not wanting to give any indication to Jesus that what He had just done, was indeed a good and gracious work of God. Nonetheless their response, or lack thereof is, not what ultimately matters, but ours. How are we going to respond to those real and pressing needs that are placed before us? For religious statutes or observances should never tie our (or anybody else's) hands from doing good, especially when it is within our power to do so. For that is what is clearly being conveyed here by Jesus' Deed and Words. Do good to all, whether on the Sabbath or any other day of the week, for all are our neighbors, and all of the Law is summed up in loving God and ones neighbor as oneself (Matt 22:34-40). Therefore as you have ability to do good to someone, in whatever capacity you have, then by all means do it. For that is at the heart of having faith in God, doing good towards all, but especially those who believe (Gal 6:10). Therefore living a life that is callous and indifferent to another's pain, misery or despair is not living out the gospel. A Christian than has no excuses for turning a blind eye to a legitimate need when it is within our power to do something about it. Just as a Christian has no excuse for delighting in the fall, troubles or miseries of another. For professing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ while doing so is not walking in the footsteps of faith and love that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself walked in and lives and thus commands of us all who are called by His Name to do the same. Therefore let us all live in Christ's love and love as the Apostle John said not just in word and tongue but rather let us love in deed and truth (1 John 3:16-18). For only then do we truly honor God when we show true compassion and mercy to all in need (Prov. 14:31; James 2:13).


Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. 1982, Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Luke 13:22–30

22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

Devotional

Having just given to very brief (but really important) Parables about the Kingdom (the Parable of the Mustard Seed, Luke 13:18-19; and the Parable of the Leaven, Luke 13:20-21). Jesus now in response to a question asking: "are many saved?" declares not a number of how many will be saved. Instead Jesus says and emphasizes to us all: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” And so Jesus tells us all too first and foremost too strive to enter the Kingdom of heaven for the onus is on us all too first and foremost repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ while we can. For He already has made salvation available to us all by His suffering crucifixion death for us all. Yet as He reveals here not all will attain to eternal life by faith in His Person. For as Jesus reveals here though there were many who were following Him, and or were associated with Him, yet many of them, were not yet yielded to Him and trusting in Him as their Lord and Savior. Indeed most of Jesus' followers then could have easily identified themselves with Him as simply "a fellow Jew" just as they were. And thus hold Him in their heart as just another "religious teacher" from amongst them". Indeed there probably were many who were just content to hear Jesus speak Words of Wisdom to them as a gifted rabbi, or as they probably already heard about His exploits, to see Him perform sort of miracle worker with words and power like the prophets of old. And so Jesus knowing that emphasizes that it is absolutely paramount for each individual to strive to enter by the narrow gate while they can. For the Kingdom of God is not a right for anyone. For as Jesus radically declares here, the Jews (Jesus' own countrymen by birth) will not enter the Kingdom simply because they are Jews and Abraham's biological descendents (Vs 28-30). Nor will you and I enter simply because we went to church on Sunday, or grew up in a Christian home, or belong to a certain denomination, or like watching Christian TV programming, or listening to Christian music and concerts, and reading Christian books and such. No, those things have their place, but they can never replace repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ which requires a total surrender to God and a total commitment to Christ. Which first means we trust in Him completely and then seek to obey Him unreservedly; that is what Jesus is warning us all about here. Of only having a faith of association with Him, or with His people, or with things and activities and ideals associated with Him. But not having a faith in, and commitment towards Him personally as our Lord and Savior. And so Jesus describes this perilous situation to us, which can bring a false sense of security to those who leisurely reside in their self-complacent and or self satisfied state.

For that is how chapter thirteen begins with Jesus exposing, then commanding repentance from peoples false sense of security that sees other people's suffering as God's judgment on them, yet does perceive one's own need for repentance! (Luke 13:1-9). And so Jesus warns us here and now of the terrible end of those things, of only associating with Him, yet living like one who does not know Him (vs. 25-27). For as He says, in the end there will people who down through the ages heard Him speak through His Word, yet neglected to believe in Him and put His Words into their lives practice. And so in the end though they lived amongst true Christians or where His Name was named, they will in the end find themselves trying to enter the Kingdom yet only to hear Him say to them: Depart from Me all you workers of iniquity. And so again, Jesus compels us all to "strive to enter by the narrow gate" (also see Matt. 7:13-14). And not be His disciple by mere association with His Person, His people, His or causes. Rather let us all be Jesus' disciple by repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person who was crucified for all our sins remission and raised from the dead for our justification, so that the moment we believe in Him, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit for the Day of redemption (Eph 1:13-14). Therefore let us all put our complete trust in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person and live our lives now in full dependence on Him. And thus let us all wait on Him; while waiting for Him! Serving the Lord Jesus Christ in whatever callings, capacities, and of course Spirit giftedness and empowering He lays on us, with all joy and faith, until His Second Coming or our going home to be with Him! For we who believe are those who as Jesus says "will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

 

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. 1982, Nashville: Thomas Nelson.