Title: Gaining God's Blessing
Author: Jerry Watts
Text: Luke 18:9-14
- Jesus was a master storyteller, and He told stories with a purpose. Not only did every story He told have a purpose, but they made a point. Not only did make a point and have a purpose, but they were POINTED, normally they were pointed at someone or some group. He always knew who His target was and always HIT His intended target. (Often, it was me!) Let's see who and what Jesus spoke to. Verse 9.
- He spoke directly to SOME - Not only did Jesus seek out the lost, the hopeless, and the needy, but Jesus, Himself, was sought out by some people who 'thought they were so enlightened' that they wanted to hear what this man, Jesus, had to say. They wanted to hear but not necessarily adhere.
I suggest that Jesus still speaks to those who are just like the 'some' in that crowd. Who were they? Who was Jesus' target here? Here's how Dr. Luke describes them.
- Who Trusted in Themselves - The Greek word means to "be confident in, believe in, or persuaded." This sounds like a 21st century American, so convinced and have so much confidence in ourselves that we little need of God. Why? Because we have, know, and hold all the answers to life. It's like "I'm a self-made man." When we trust in and believe in ourselves, we no longer trust and believe in Jesus because no man can serve two masters. As an aside, most of this 'SOME" were church people and leaders. OUCH.
- Who believed they were righteous - It's a short step from trusting in self to becoming self-righteous. They believed their press and reminded God how fortunate He was to have them on His side. Said another way, the 'some' likely believed that their works "for God" bought them status (or something) before Jehovah.. The "some" that Jesus was speaking to directly in this passage just knew that they were righteous before God because of their status, actions, and good works. But there is a different in before righteous 'before' a ...
Author: Jerry Watts
Text: Luke 18:9-14
- Jesus was a master storyteller, and He told stories with a purpose. Not only did every story He told have a purpose, but they made a point. Not only did make a point and have a purpose, but they were POINTED, normally they were pointed at someone or some group. He always knew who His target was and always HIT His intended target. (Often, it was me!) Let's see who and what Jesus spoke to. Verse 9.
- He spoke directly to SOME - Not only did Jesus seek out the lost, the hopeless, and the needy, but Jesus, Himself, was sought out by some people who 'thought they were so enlightened' that they wanted to hear what this man, Jesus, had to say. They wanted to hear but not necessarily adhere.
I suggest that Jesus still speaks to those who are just like the 'some' in that crowd. Who were they? Who was Jesus' target here? Here's how Dr. Luke describes them.
- Who Trusted in Themselves - The Greek word means to "be confident in, believe in, or persuaded." This sounds like a 21st century American, so convinced and have so much confidence in ourselves that we little need of God. Why? Because we have, know, and hold all the answers to life. It's like "I'm a self-made man." When we trust in and believe in ourselves, we no longer trust and believe in Jesus because no man can serve two masters. As an aside, most of this 'SOME" were church people and leaders. OUCH.
- Who believed they were righteous - It's a short step from trusting in self to becoming self-righteous. They believed their press and reminded God how fortunate He was to have them on His side. Said another way, the 'some' likely believed that their works "for God" bought them status (or something) before Jehovah.. The "some" that Jesus was speaking to directly in this passage just knew that they were righteous before God because of their status, actions, and good works. But there is a different in before righteous 'before' a ...
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