What Jesus Did

So Jesus went with [the Jewish elders who had come on behalf of the Roman officer]. But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some friends to say, "Lord, don't trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say...

 

[When Jesus returned to Capernaum,] the highly valued slave of a Roman officer was sick and near death. When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some respected Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his slave. So they earnestly begged Jesus to help the man. "If anyone deserves your help, he does," they said, "for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us."

—Luke 7:2-5 NLT

Key Thought​

In a world of prejudice and rank, this is a story that warms the...

 

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

—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 there was the greatest concentration of...

 

[Jesus continued,] "I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn't obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a...

 

[Jesus continued,] "So why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say?"

—Luke 6:46 NLT

Key Thought​

In this section of Luke's Gospel, Jesus has one simple point: "If I am your Lord, then you will obey what I tell you. If you don't obey, then I'm not your Lord." It's that simple. It's that clear. So why have we grown so passionless about obeying what he says? After all, if we have trouble with obedience, our fundamental problem is really a lack of love for...

 

[Jesus returned to his teaching on our interactions with others:] "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 the lack...

 

[Jesus continued,] "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 principles...

 

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 to be...

 

[Jesus continued,] "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 continued his teaching on our interactions with others, commanding,] "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 our petty and vindictive human race for centuries. God doesn't want us judging people's motives and actions. Only he can see inside a...