Luke 21

Total commitment to giving verse 1- 4

And HE looked up – and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury

and HE saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites

And HE said – Of a truth I say to you

that this poor widow has cast in more than they all

for all these have of their abundance cast in

to the offerings of God

BUT she of her penury has cast in all the living that she had

Jesus explains future events:

Destruction of Temple verse 5- 6

And as some spoke of the temple

how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts

HE said – As for these things which you behold – the days will come

in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another

that shall not be thrown down

Jesus explains future events:

False messiah will come verse 7- 8

And they asked HIM – saying – Master

but when shall these things be?

and what sign will there be when these things

shall come to pass?

And HE said – Take heed that ye be not deceived

for many shall come in MY name – saying

I am Christ – and the time draws near

go you not therefore after them

Jesus explains future events:

Wars between nations verse 9- 11

BUT when you shall hear of wars and commotions – be not terrified

for these things must first come to pass

but the end is not by and by

Then said HE unto them

Nation shall rise against nation – and kingdom against kingdom

and great earthquakes shall be in divers places – and famines

and pestilences

and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven

Jesus explains future events:

Persecution of Christians verse 12- 19

BUT before all these – they shall lay their hands on you

and persecute you delivering you up to the synagogues

and into prisons

being brought before kings and rulers for MY name’s sake

and it shall turn to you for a testimony

Settle it therefore in your hearts – not to mediate before what ye shall answer

for I will give you a mouth and wisdom

which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist

And you shall be betrayed both by parents – brethren – kinsfolk – friends

and some of you shall they cause to be put to death

and you shall be hated of all men for MY name’s sake

BUT there shall not an hair of your head perish

in your patience possess you your souls

Jesus explains future events:

Jerusalem under attack verse 20- 24

And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies

then know that the desolation thereof is nigh

Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains

and let them which are in the midst of it depart out

and let not them that are in the countries enter there into

FOR these be the days of vengeance

that all things which are written may be fulfilled

BUT WOE to them that are with child – and to them that give suck

in those days

For there shall be great distress in the land – and wrath on this people

and they shall fall by the edge of the sword

and shall be led away captive into all nations

and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles

until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled

Jesus explains future events:

Heaven will be affected verse 25- 26

And there shall be signs in the sun – moon – stars

and on the earth distress of nations – with perplexity

the sea and the waves roaring

Men’s hearts failing them for fear

and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth

for the powers of heaven shall be shaken

Jesus explains future events:

Second coming of Messiah verse 27- 28

AND then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power

great glory

And when these things begin to come to pass – then look up

and lift up your heads FOR your redemption draws nigh

Illustration of fig tree verse 29- 33

And HE spoke to them a parable

Behold the fig tree – and all the trees – when they now shoot forth

you see and know of your own selves that summer is

now nigh at hand

SO likewise you – when you see these things come to pass

know you that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand

Verily I say to you – This generation shall not pass away

till all be fulfilled

Heaven and earth shall pass away

BUT MY words shall not pass away

Warning to watch verse 34- 36

And take heed to yourselves – lest at any time your hearts be

overcharged with surfeiting – drunkenness – cares of this life

and so that day come upon you unawares

FOR as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the

whole earth – watch ye therefore – and pray always

that you may be accounted worthy to escape

all these things that shall come to pass

and to stand before the Son of man

Jesus has sunrise teaching events verse 37- 38

AND in the daytime HE was teaching in the temple

and at night HE went out

and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives

AND all the people came early in the morning to HIM in the temple

FOR to hear HIM

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. (5303 “penury” [husterema] means which is lacking, poverty, destitution, deficiency, need, want, or shortcoming)

DEVOTION: Jesus used this word to describe the rich young ruler. He told him that he “lacked” one thing and that was to sell all and follow HIM. He walked away because he had great wealth.

This poor widow had nothing to speak of as far as wealth was concerned. She only had two mites to her name. This was one hundredth of a daily wage in her day. She was giving away her bread money.

Jesus thought that giving was measured by the degree of sacrifice when we give. The rich people were giving out of their discretionary fund but keeping more than enough for themselves.

When we give we need to determine if we are giving not only what is expected but over and above what is expected at times. We are expected to give ten percent to the local church that we attend if it is a Biblical church. We are to give offerings above that at times to help other ministries. There have been people who have given as much as ninety percent of their income and lived on ten percent. The LORD has blessed those who give with the proper attitude.

The rich people who were giving were giving for show. They wanted the people around them to see how much they were dropping into the offering box outside the Temple. Coins would make noise that others could hear. When a lot of coins were given people would probably turn to see who was giving. This was giving in the wrong attitude.

Today some churches have a box in the back of the church where people can put their offering envelopes in with no noise and no show. Others have offering bags so people can’t really see what others are giving.

Our goal should be to give as the LORD has blessed us to the church and others. It should never be for show. When we help someone who is poor in the church it should be done secretly and the LORD will bless you openly. There should be no one in the church that is suffering because no one is helping them through difficult times.

CHALLENGE: Always give so only the LORD really knows how much you are giving. Your tithe might be know but your offering can be between you and the LORD.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional

Believers

: 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what you shall answer: :15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. (471 “gainsay” [antepo] means say against, contradict, to speak in opposition to, refute, or to say in return)

DEVOTION: In many countries in our world there are people being arrested and killed for their faith in Jesus Christ. Some of these people are brought to trial to give a defense of their actions. The problem is that in many countries they don’t want to know if someone is doing good but only if they are worshiping the proper god of the nation.

Many false religions have a god or gods that they worship. They think that their god or gods want them to kill anyone who doesn’t worship them. So they kill them and/or take their property away from them. They will mistreat people in the name of their god or gods.

Christians are supposed to be different. Those who are genuine believers are different. There have been times when those who claim to be believers have hurt people in the name of the God of the Bible. They were not good followers of God. HE wants those who are genuine to leave the judging to HIM.

If it comes to the point where we have to defend ourselves in court in this country we need to realize as those in other countries realize that the LORD will give us just the right words to say when we stand before the judge. They might not listen but we will be saying what the LORD want us to say.

Remember that Jesus Christ gave a testimony before the ruler of the nation of Judah at HIS trial and they still crucified HIM. The Holy Spirit will give us the strength to give a testimony before judges even if they will not listen. HE knows what will happen. We are to trust HIM no matter what on all occasions.

CHALLENGE: Prayer will allow the Holy Spirit to give you the right answers to those who are questioning your faith.

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: 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles is fulfilled. (4137 “fulfilled” [pleroo] means complete, to cause to abound, to consummate, come to an end, bring about, to finish, or make full.)

DEVOTION: When the children of Israel left Egypt to go to the Promised Land the Bible stated that the time of the Amorite was over. They were the ones who occupied the Promised Land before the children of Israel took over. Their sins were full. It was time for the LORD to deal with them through the children of Israel.

Here we find that the time of the Gentiles is going to be fulfilled. We don’t know when that time is going to be but we are living in the times of the Gentiles. It started with the ministry of Jesus Christ and will end when the church is taken in the Rapture.

Once the church leaves there will be 144,000 Jewish virgins sealed by the LORD to witness during the seventieth week of Daniel. The Jewish nation will realize that the Messiah has come and they will have seven years to make a decision for Christ. There will be two witnesses in Jerusalem at the same time. It is thought that these witnesses will be either Moses and Elijah or Enoch and Elijah. They will be killed and then raised from the dead for the entire world to see.

So the LORD has a plan and is working HIS plan for the Gentile nations as well as for the Jewish nation. HE is not in the dark as to what is happening in our nation and in the rest of the nations of the world. HE is not surprised.

We would like things to be different at times but we need to realize that God stated HIS plan in the Word of God and we have to pray for wisdom to understand what HE is doing and witness.

CHALLENGE: The LORD is still on the throne and HE know what is happening our world and in our life. Trust HIM!!!

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. (925 “overcharged” [baruno] means be troubled, be under pressure, to weigh down, burden, depress, effects of gluttony, drowsiness, affections of the soul or load.)

DEVOTION: Jesus watches a widow give to the LORD of all her income. Other give out of their wealth. The disciples were impressed with the looks of the temple. Jesus told them that the temple would be destroyed.

This caused them to ask when these things were going to happen. Jesus gave them signs that would happen before this would take place. The list of signs was long. It included a time of persecution and betrayal.

They were told that they were to watch and pray. These signs could accord at any time. They had to be prepared. Part of the warning was that they should not be troubled. They should not be weighed down. They should not act sleepy. What would cause this to happen? One cause would be drunkenness. The second would be the actions of those who were drunken. The third would be the cares of this life. All these things could keep the disciples from being prepared for HIS second coming.

This verse is warning those who are listening to Jesus to keep their eyes focused on HIM and not think that what HE is saying isn’t going to happen. Many times we will come across people who say that Jesus hasn’t returned for two thousand years, so why should we think it is going to happen. They think that they can eat, drink and be merry because there is no judgment day coming.

If someone is drinking intoxicating drinks or being giddy or concerned about daily life, he can’t be watching for the LORD’S return properly.

Are we falling victim to any of these three things? Are we watching for the LORD’S return properly? The only one who can answer these questions is the one reading these devotions. Do we get up each morning saying, Even so come Lord Jesus?

Check to see if you are asleep at the wheel. Are you getting depressed at what is happening in our world? Are you concerned about paying your bills? Are you part of the crowd that says “HE is never coming back?”

CHALLENGE: Are you “Occupying until HE returns?” OR are you serving the LORD with all your strength?

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Giving to God verse 1- 4

Gifts into the treasury verse 1

Two mites verse 2

Offering verse 3

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Jesus says there is a time not to meditate verse 14

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

People commanded to watch and pray verse 36

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

Treasury verse 1

Offerings verse 3

Temple verse 5, 37, 38

Synagogues verse 12

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

Fulfilled verse 22, 24

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

Master verse 7

MY name’s sake verse 12, 17

Son of man verse 27, 36

Coming with power and great glory verse 27

Parable of fig tree verse 29- 32

HIS words will not pass away verse 33

Teaching in Temple verse 38

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

God verse 4, 31

Offering to God verse 4

Kingdom of God verse 31

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Nation verse 10, 24

Kingdom verse 10

Kings verse 12

Rulers verse 12

Adversaries verse 15

Gentiles verse 24

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Deceived verse 8

False Christs verse 8

Betrayal verse 16

Hatred verse 17

Fear verse 26

Surfeiting (carousing) verse 34

Drunkenness verse 34

Cares of the life verse 34

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Offering to the LORD verse 4

Take heed verse 8

Persecution verse 12

Prison verse 12

Testimony verse 13

Settle verse 14

Meditate verse 14

Answer given verse 15

Wisdom verse 15

Patience verse 19

Redemption verse 28

Take heed verse 34

Watch verse 36

Pray verse 36

Accounted worthy verse 36

Teach verse 37

Hear HIM verse 38

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Rich men verse 1

Penury verse 4

Jerusalem verse 20, 24

Judaea verse 21

Mount of Olives verse 37

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

Sign verse 7- 28

Heaven verse 11, 26

Days of vengeance verse 22

Times of the Gentiles fulfilled verse 24

Son of man coming in the cloud verse 27

Kingdom of God verse 31

In the day verse 37

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DONATIONS:

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QUOTES regarding passage

Jesus’ words, if taken literally, mean not ‘more than any one of them’ but ‘more than all of them together’. If the measure be what is left over after giving, she certainly outdistanced them all, for they gave out of their abundance, and thus had much left over. She gave all she had. This is real sacrifice. (Morris, L. (1988). Vol. 3: Luke: An introduction and commentary. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (312). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)

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This one made a gift of only two copper coins (lepta). The word denotes a small Jewish coin (incidentally the only Jewish coin mentioned in the New Testament). Its monetary value was small. (Morris, L. (1988). Vol. 3: Luke: An introduction and commentary. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (312). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)

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The widow’s “two very small copper coins” (lepta, v. 2, the familiar “mites”) were each worth only a small fraction of a day’s wage. (Leifeld, W. L. (1984). Luke. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 8: Matthew, Mark, Luke (F. E. Gaebelein, Ed.) (1019). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

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2. two mites—“which make a farthing” (Mk 12:42), the smallest Jewish coin. “She might have kept one” [Bengel]. (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Lk 21:2). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)

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21:4. Jesus’ reasoning is simple. The rich gave from their abundance, leaving much more for themselves. The widow gave from abject poverty, leaving nothing for herself. They gave out of discretionary funds. She gave her bread money. Giving is judged by the degree of sacrifice. (Butler, T. C. (2000). Vol. 3: Luke. Holman New Testament Commentary (350). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

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21:2. Jesus did not focus on the rich. He zeroed in on a poor widow. She had two lepta, each worth about one one-hundredth of a denarius, the coin used for a day laborer’s daily wage. Thus, her contribution to the temple was tiny in terms of monetary value. (Butler, T. C. (2000). Vol. 3: Luke. Holman New Testament Commentary (350). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

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FROM MY READING:

Old Testament WORDS for Today by Warren W. Wiersbe

The prophet Amos asked, “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3). The NASB version of this verse reads, “Do two men walk together unless they have made an appointment?” The Father wants us to make a daily appointment with HIM when HE can speak to us from the Scriptures and we can speak to HIM in prayer. What a privilege it is to fellowship with the God of the universe! (p. 189)

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The Good Shepherd
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1)
The 23rd Psalm is perhaps the best-loved chapter in the Bible, with its beautiful picture of Christ as the Shepherd. This chapter finds its New Testament exposition in John 10:1-30, where Christ identifies Himself as “the good shepherd” who “giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
These two chapters (Psalm 23; John 10) are probably the two greatest chapters in the Bible on the security of the believer in Christ. This theme seems woven by divine inspiration into the very structure of the passages. For example, there are six verses in the poetic structure of the psalm, each containing a different testimony concerning the providing and protecting Shepherd. In similar fashion, there are six times the word “shepherd” is used in John 10, each referring again to the work of our Good Shepherd. There are also six references in the other books of the New Testament where Christ is referred to as a shepherd.
The intensely personal aspect of the 23rd Psalm is evidenced by David’s use of the first-person pronouns (“I,” “me,” “my,” etc.) no less than 17 times in its six verses, all expressing his absolute trust in the Lord. Similarly, the word “sheep” is used 17 times in John 10, with the grand theme again stressing the security of the sheep. This number “17” repeatedly seems to crop up in Bible passages related to our security in the Lord. As one example, the famous passage ending the eighth chapter of Romans lists exactly 17 things that can never “separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:35-39).
In any case, this marvelous psalm of security concludes (as it began) with a great promise and testimony, which can be paraphrased as follows: “Surely [Christ’s] goodness and lovingkindness will pursue me as long as I live, and then I will dwell in God’s great heavenly family through all the ages of eternity!”

(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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2 Timothy 3
As Christians, we must be on our guard to follow the truth continually.
INSIGHT

The Scriptures are designed to be the basis of truth for leading a Christian to maturity in Jesus Christ. They are accurate and trustworthy, afford adequate knowledge, and lead to a godly, biblical lifestyle. They also yield a biblical ministry: “that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (v. 17). A mature Christian is one who knows what he needs to know (knowledge), is what he needs to be (lifestyle), does what he needs to do (ministry), and is guided by the Scriptures in all of this. (Quiet Walk)

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KNOWING GOD

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 1 John 4:13
We may know, and should know, that we are in a relationship to God and that we possess His life. That is the nature of the Christian life. “Hereby,” says John, “know we”—we know it, and we are certain of it. John’s whole business in writing this letter is that we may have this knowledge: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13).
Now we all possess this knowledge, and we must never be satisfied with anything less than that. This knowledge is to me the very essence of the New Testament teaching. What the Bible offers us is nothing less than this knowledge that God is in us and we in Him, and we should not rest for a moment until we have it. We have no right to be uncertain—“that ye may know.” Christians who are uncertain of these things are doing dishonor to the gospel of Jesus Christ, to the work of Christ upon the cross, and to His glorious resurrection. We must not rest until we have full and certain assurance, confidence, and jubilation. The whole of the New Testament has been written in order that we may have it, and I argue that this is something that really must be inevitable. I cannot understand anyone who not only lacks this certainty, but who would even be prepared to argue against such a certainty.
As unbelievers we were dead; we had no spiritual life. A Christian must be born again, by faith, in order to have the life of God in his soul. So, is it possible that we can have such life in us and not know it? I say that is impossible!
A Thought to Ponder: We must not rest until we have full and certain assurance, confidence, and jubilation.

(From The Love of God, pp. 95-96 by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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The weather man says a storm is coming. Everybody panics & gets prepared. The preacher says Jesus is coming & nobody moves. Let that sink in for a minute.

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DAILY HOPE

Today’s Scripture

Numbers 35-36

God provides for the people He instructs to be stewards of His possessions. I had a professor at Moody Bible Institute that told his students the last thing he would discuss with a church while being interviewed for employment was the financial package. He felt that if God was calling him to a place of ministry, God also knew his family’s necessities.

As we conclude the book of Numbers, we are presented with the ways that God instructed the nation of Israel to care for the Levites and those who oversaw the tabernacle and later the temple. The Levites were assigned 48 cities which were given by the tribes so they could raise their families and pasture the livestock they had accumulated.

The cities were to be a designated size with pastureland surrounding them to accommodate animals. Six of these cities were designated as places of refuge where individuals could go when accidental or innocent blood was shed. Premeditated murder was to receive capital punishment with no sanctuary provided.

The final instructions of the book of Numbers cover tribal inheritance, boundaries and maintaining purity before the Lord. Previously, Manasseh had been confronted by daughters of Zelophehad maintaining the land rights of their father when no sons were in the family (Numbers 27:1-11). Here, it was further clarified the women were to be obedient to the law in order to maintain the ownership of the land within their father’s tribe.

The nation of Israel, disciples, and the churches through the centuries have all experienced God’s oversight of His people. During uncertainty and turmoil, the words of Jesus are a clarion-like promise, “’… I will never leave you or forsake you.’ So we may boldly say; ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:7-8). Draw comfort and strength from these promises God freely provides us to claim.

In Expectant Hope, Pastor Miller

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