What Jesus Did

When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people, he returned to Capernaum.

—Luke 7:1 NLT

Key Thought


I've lived in the country. I've lived in the city. I've lived in the suburbs. Each has its own rhythm. Each has its own advantages. Each has its own drawbacks. A good bit of Jesus' ministry occurred on the mountainsides or along the Sea of Galilee, but he felt a call to the city. That's where the need was greatest because that's where most people lived. So, after...

 

[Jesus said,] "A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart."

—Luke 6:43-45 NLT

Key Thought


Ultimately, all the...

 

[Jesus said,] "You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate."

—Luke 6:36 NLT

Key Thought


We MUST be compassionate! Hmm, that doesn't leave any wiggle room, does it? God is serious that we are to be compassionate. Why is showing compassion to others such an important principle to our Father in heaven? Because he has been so gracious, forgiving, and compassionate with us. How can we take the compassion and grace he has shown us and not be willing...

 

[Jesus said,] "And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, 'Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye."

—Luke 6:41-42 NLT

Key Thought


The problem with sin and forgiveness, with inconsistency, with...

 

Then Jesus gave the following illustration: "Can one blind person lead another? Won't they both fall into a ditch? Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher."

—Luke 6:39-40 NLT

Key Thought


Who is the greatest embodiment of generosity, forgiveness, and grace who has ever lived? It is Jesus, of course. So Jesus becomes our example. To follow lesser examples is to be led into a trap. Our goal isn't just...

 

[Jesus said,] "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven."

—Luke 6:37 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus isn't talking hypothetically. He is talking about a problem that has plagued the petty human race for centuries. God doesn't want us judging people's motives and actions. Only he can see inside a person's heart. He loathes the all-too-human practice of judging...

 

[Jesus said,] "Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full — pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back."

—Luke 6:38 NLT

Key Thought


Two areas where many of us can be the stingiest are money and forgiveness. So after all that Jesus taught us in the previous statements about graciousness and generosity, he now sums it up with these two...

 

[Jesus said,] "Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked."

—Luke 6:35 NLT

Key Thought


"I have my Father's eyes," Amy Grant sang years and years ago. While that may be good, our heavenly Father wants us to have his heart. With other things taught us in the New...

 

[Jesus said,] "And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return."

—Luke 6:33-34 NLT

Key Thought


So often we have a circle of "nice folks" or "familiar folks" with whom we associate and for whom we extend a special grace. Jesus reminds us that even sinners have that kind...

 

[Jesus said,] "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them!"

—Luke 6:32 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus has just given us the golden rule in the previous verse (Luke 6:31). Now he wants to make clear that the golden rule is not just a principle to practice with people we like and people who treat us nicely. It is a principle to use with all people, even our enemies (Luke 6:27-28)! Just as God loves all...