Today's Agenda:
The Parable of the Prosperous Farmer
Do Not Worry: Seek the Kingdom
The Parable of the Watchful Servants
‘Who is the Faithful and Watchful Servant?’
Jesus Predicted Division
The Parable of the Fig Tree
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
Jesus’ Critics Are Humiliated
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
‘If You are the Christ, Tell Us Plainly.’
Jesus Escapes Capture Again
The Parable of the Strait Gate
‘Herod Will Kill You!’
Jesus Heals Again on the Sabbath
The Parable of the Chief Seats


The Parable of the Prosperous Farmer

16 And he spoke a parable unto them, saying, ‘The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, “What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?"

18 And he said, “This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.” 19 And I will say to myself, “Self, you have much goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.”

20 But God said unto him, “You fool, this night your life shall be required of you: then whose shall those things be, which you have provided?” 21 So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.’

Do Not Worry

22 And he said unto his disciples, ‘Therefore I say unto you: Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat; neither for the body, what you shall put on. 23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither (do they) have storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them: how much more are you better than the fowls?

25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26 If you then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take you thought for the rest?

27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?

29 And seek not you what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, neither be you of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knows that you have need of these things.

Seek the Kingdom

31 But rather seek the Kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. 33 Sell what you have, and give good deeds; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that fails not, where no thief approaches, neither moth corrupts. 34 For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.

The Parable of the Watchful Servants

35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36 And you yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he comes and knocks, they may open unto him immediately.

37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he comes shall find watching: truly I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

39 And this know, that if the good man of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40 Be you therefore ready also: for the Son of man comes at an hour when you think not.’

‘Who is the Faithful and Watchful Servant?’

Luke 12:41 - Then Peter said unto him, ‘Lord, do you speak this parable unto us, or even to all?’

42 And the Lord said, ‘Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing.

44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he has. 45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delays his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes.

For unto whoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. 49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I sent, if it is already kindled?

Jesus Predicted Division

50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! 51 Suppose you that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52 For from now on there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.’

54 And he also said to the people, ‘When you see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway you say, ‘Here comes a shower; and so it is. 55 And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be heat.’ And it comes to pass.
56 You hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that you do not discern this time? 57 Yes, and why even of yourselves judge you not what is right?

58 When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, as you are in the way, give diligence that you may be delivered from him; lest he hale you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer cast you into prison. 59 I tell you, you shall not depart there, till you have paid the very last mite.’

Luke 13:1 - There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answering said unto them, ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no: but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.

4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think you that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, No: but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.’

The Parable of the Fig Tree

6 He spoke also this parable; ‘A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why does it occupy the ground?

8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that you shall cut it down.’

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And, behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, ‘Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.’ 13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Jesus’ Critics Are Humiliated

14 The ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day, and said unto the people, ‘There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.’

15 The Lord then answered him, and said, ‘You hypocrite, does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has bound these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?’

17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

18 Then he said, ‘Unto what is the Kingdom of God like; and whereunto shall I resemble it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.’

20 And again he said, ‘How shall I compare the Kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.’

‘If You are the Christ, Tell Us Plainly.’

John 10:22-39 - And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. 24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, ‘How long do you make us to doubt? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.’

25 Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. 26 But you believe not, because you are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and my Father are one.’
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

32 Jesus answered them, ‘Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do you stone me?’

33 The Jews answered him, saying, ‘For a good work we stone you not; but for blasphemy; and because that you, being a man, make yourself God.’
34 Jesus answered them, ‘Is it not written in your law, ‘I said you are gods?’ 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

36 ‘How do you say of him, whom the Father has sanctified, and sent into the world, “You blaspheme because I said, I am the Son of God?” 37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though you believe not me, believe the works: that you may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.’

Jesus Escapes Capture Again

39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, 40 and went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. 41 And many resorted unto him, and said, ‘John did no miracle: but all things that John spoke of this man were true.’ 42 And many believed on him there.


The Parable of the Strait Gate

Luke 13:22-17:10 - And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then said one unto him, ‘Lord, are there few that be saved?’ And he said unto them, 24 ‘Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

25 ‘When once the master of the house is risen up, and has shut to the door, and you begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, “Lord, Lord, open unto us.” And he shall answer and say unto you, “I don’t know who you are.” 26 Then shall you begin to say, “We have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets.”

27 ‘But he shall say, “I tell you, I know you not who you are; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity. 28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the Kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.”

29 ‘They shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the Kingdom of God. 30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.’

‘Herod Will Kill You!’

31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, ‘Get out and depart hence: for Herod will kill you.’

32 And he said unto them, ‘Go and tell that fox, “Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.” 33 Nevertheless I must walk today and tomorrow and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perishes out of Jerusalem.’

Luke 13:34 ‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which kill the prophets, and stone them that are sent unto you; how often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen does gather her brood under her wings, and you would not!
35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and truly I say unto you: you shall not see me, until the time come when you shall say, “Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.”

Jesus Heals Again on the Sabbath

Luke 14:1 - And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath day, that they watched him. 2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

3 And Jesus answering spoke unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?’

4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; 5 and answered them, saying, ‘Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the Sabbath day?’

The Parable of the Chief Seats

6 And they could not answer him again to these things. 7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief seats; saying unto them, 8 ‘When you are bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest seat, lest a more honorable man than you be bidden of him, 9 and he that bade you and him come and say to you, “Give this man your place.” And you begin with shame to take the lowest room.

10 But when you are bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that invited you comes, he may say unto you, “Friend, go up higher.” Then shall you have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with you. 11 For whoever exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.’

12 Then said he also to him that bade him, ‘When you make a dinner or a supper, call not your friends, nor your brethren, neither your kinsmen, nor your rich neighbors; lest they also bid you again, and a recompense be made you.

13 But when you make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame and the blind, 14 and you shall be blessed; for they cannot recompense you: for you shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.’
WHY JESUS MATTERS NOW
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