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The hunt was on long ago. The Pharisees were after Jesus, and would try everything they could to catch Him in breaking the law…

Paying Taxes to Caesar

Luke 20:20-26
20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. 21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

Astonished? That’s the Creator they were trying to deceive. What did they expect?

You almost want to feel sorry for them, the Pharisees. You feel like yelling at them and pleading with them to see Jesus as the Messiah that He is. They can’t though. The way that we can’t sometimes. Intentional or not, we can blind ourselves, and unfortunately blind others around us.

Before we begin to place ourselves above the Pharisees, we must see our own inability to have the true faith and belief that is required to carry out God’s will in our lives. To make that our priority every day.

Don’t get me wrong. We are righteous. We have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, which in turn covers us in His saving blood. However, when we forget to love first and start to point at others as they fail, then we have avoided our own areas in our lives that require the prayer of the very person you are pointing to.

We are all the recipients of unmerited favor. Jesus died for all. Included are those that sought to kill Him. That is love. So now, give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what is God’s. That’s you.

Amen.
DK

Amazing story. Jesus teaches in such a bold and comforting way…

The Parable of the Tenants

Luke 20:9-19
9 He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.

13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’

14 “But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

“What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”

When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!”

17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written:

“‘The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone’[a]?
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”

19 The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

The teachers of the law held back knowledge from those God had sent to receive it. They had kept so much for themselves. They had perverted it. They had refused for so long to know God. They assumed just following their own interpretation was enough. They were so “knowledgeable “.

Jesus always had a way of teaching and telling those that needed it the truth. The truth is what hurt these teachers of the law the most. Jesus, the very author of the laws, was right in front of them. Telling them what to do. They were asked, told, ordered, pleaded with, and in every other way given a chance to accept Jesus as Christ. As Messiah. They refused. They were blinded by this world.

Let us not be blind. Let us accept the gift freely given by God to us. To allow of us that do not deserve it. It was given out of love that is incomprehensible to us. We won’t even come close to feeling the full love of the Father until we stand before Him. Jesus was sent so that when we get the there, we are clean. Pure. Redeemed.

Amen.
DK

Always the teacher…

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

Luke 20:1-7
1 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2 “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”

3 He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: 4 John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

5 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”

7 So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”

8 Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Jesus saw the traps. God had told Him exactly how it would go down. As Jesus saw the traps ahead, He walked with the authority of the Creator straight through the traps without fear. And He did it as a man.

The question was where Jesus’ authority came from. We know where it came from. The Pharisees sure knew. Everyone knew where it came from. The Pharisees where trying to get Him out. Their fear was growing, and the traps became more public and desperate.

Jesus did not act until the Father told Him to. He waited. The plan is perfect. The plan that continues to this very day. The plan that includes you. What is your role in it? Ask.

Amen.
DK

There are still rules everyone. We are covered in His blood and forgiven, but we must not wander from the path. If we do, we will be corrected…

Jesus at the Temple

Luke 19:45-48
45 When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. 46 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’[c]; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’[d]”

47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

Jesus taught at the temple every day. The question may come up, “Why didn’t He do this sooner?” Also, many people wonder of Jesus is mad. Both of those inquiries are ok. Jesus is a teacher remember. The perfect teacher. Ask the question.

In this case, the temple merchants had gone too far. God the Father spoke to Jesus and gave Him instruction when to act. This was the day He would act. It is one of the most memorable visions I had as a kid. Jesus turning tables over and money and merchandise flying everywhere.

I imagined such authority did not exist here on Earth. But it did as man in Jesus, and now lives in us as the Holy Spirit. We have that authority. We have the Word of God to stand on. We have truth. Be sanctified. Regardless of the pain. The apostle Paul tells us what is just on the other side. Blessings.

We need correction in our lives. We need to be checked and strengthened through the crucible of life. Stand tall and stand on the knowledge that you belong to Jesus Christ.  That you are free. Spread His truth. Start with your kids. ASAP. If you dont, the devil will.

Father we pray to you with the thankful hearts. Lord, we know you are with us because you have promised that you would be. We thank you for your many blessings. We pray for those are in the dark tonight. We pray that they see your light right now. Lord, we ask that you continue to correct us like the perfect Father that you are. We may grumble, we may complain, but your will is perfect. We lo
ve you. In the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.
DK

He is coming again…

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
Luke 19:28-44
28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”

35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

As a history teacher, the knowledge of what happens to Jerusalem throughout history is incredible. Invasion after invasion, death upon death come to mind. Perhaps the movies have done more of this than teaching, but they each play a part.

In this verse we see that the King has arrived. The Messiah. The Deliverer.  Yet not everyone can tell. Perhaps because he is arriving on a small colt or donkey that they cannot tell. I mean surely the Son of Man wouldn’t be on a donkey…right?

The first responders. The ones that know. Did you read what they did? They placed their cloaks on the ground beneath the feet of the donkey. A sign of honor. A spur of the moment red carpet so to speak. What love they showed what reverence.

However, at the same time, those that “knew” the law. The higher class. The rich and esteemed couldn’t see Him. They only saw a man. A man that threatened their way of life. A life of comfort and complacency. One that required little faith, but lots of money. They were in love with what they saw. Only what they saw.

Even in all of this, Jesus wept for them. He wept for them because He loved them. He loved them, and died for them and for all so that sins may be forgiven. So that all would be able to afford salvation, which now only requires FAITH.

The walls came down. They went up again and came down again. But Jesus removed the barriers. He crushed the dividers between us and God. He crushed the devil and He crushed sin. Yesterday’s sin, today’s sin, and tomorrow’s sin. All crushed, forgiven, and paid for. By Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!

Amen!
DK

We have been given Minas by God. He will return. What will you have done with yours?

Luke 19:14-27
14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

17 “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’

19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’

22 “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

25 “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

There is no doubt about it. We will be judged by God. For those that choose to be judged by man and conform to this world only, beware. What is first here on Earth, is last in Heaven.

This does not means that blessings will not find you. They will. That is one of God’s many promises for you on this Earth.  What you do with what you have been given is what this parable is talking about. And what you do in the eyes of God, rather than the eyes of man as well.

The easiest way to do what God will see as a blessing to others is by developing a relationship with the Holy Spirit by reading God’s Word. Reading the Bible and praying. God is with you.

I pray for all of us to use the blessings (minas) that God has given us the way that He wants us to use them. For His glory.

Amen.
DK

Jesus wants us to inquire, to question, to search. This only the first half of the parable. Read on…

Luke 19:11-13
The Parable of the Ten Minas
11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.[a] ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

Many of you know this parable, or teaching directly from Jesus Christ. If so, choose one word or phrase and meditate on it. Mine would be “Until I come back.” If you have never read the parable before but know Jesus personally, chances are you could finish this parable. Or at least know that He will return. This is the Holy Spirit talking to you.

He sparks inquiry. The Holy Spirit wants you to search. The question should come to like, “What would Jesus do?” Also, “What did Jesus do?” Read it.

Now let’s make this relevant to your situation right now. Say you attend a church that you attend because your parents attended, or because that’s all you know. The Holy Spirit will talk to you if you ask. If you inquire.  If you search. The foundation is your relationship with the Holy Spirit, a vital part of the triune God.

Amen!
DK

I am at Mission Hospital, recovering from appendicitis surgery. I didn’t even know. It didn’t hurt that bad. It was pqinful, but I went work the last two days with it. I will be in here a couple of days because of the complications and leakage inside my body. He cleaned it up though.

Thank you for your prayers…

Here is last night’s post. I was on me da so I forgot to press publish…

You won’t find a whole lot of rich men climbing trees…this man did. It was Jesus!

Luke 19:1-10
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

He came to seek and save the lost. He loves us so much. He came for us. He came looking, and when He found us, He laid his life down for us. For you and I, He forgave us of our sins through death and resurrection. Hallelujah!

Thank you Jesus!
Amen
DK

Ask and receive.  It’s that simple…

Luke 18:35-43
35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

If you ask for something from God, He will hear you. You have a wonderful chance at getting it also, be it His will. Thank may take a few tries. It may take a few days, but if it is God’s will, then so be it. Prepare to receive.

This verse is beautiful. It seems that the Apostles always show us what we as humans might do. So any times we ignore and insult the needy. I say we, because intentional or not, I am sure I have before. Whether in my head or by words. We rebuke daily.

The blind man was healed just by the Word of God through Jesus.  Beautifully done by our Lord  and creator.

Lord Jesus, thank you. Thank you for the blessings of today.  Please prepare our hearts for the blessings that you promise that we are to receive.  We love you.

Amen.
DK

He knew what was to happen. It is heartbreaking…and life saving.

Luke 18:31-34
31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; 33 they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”

34 The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

I have heard the saying, ” Ignorance is bliss.” I disagree. Ignorance is the absence of information, not the presence of bliss. Bliss is happiness, which comes from God. Amen.

The Apostles didn’t understand. They are such beautiful friends. They want to see only the good. Yet Jesus is telling them what will happen, and they miss it. They are unaware, uniformed, ignorant. As we all are. As we all are human.

I have said, “What a great day to be Gentile!” How awesome is God to forgive us through Jesus. Amen.

Lord, thank you a thousand times. Thank you for your life, death, and resurrection. It is beautiful and perfect. Help us to love each other daily. More and more. Thank you for your gift of salvation and redemption. You are so awesome.

Amen.
DK