Today's Reading:

Matthew 20
Mark 10:32-52
Luke 18:31-43
Luke 19:1-27

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard: Jesus wanted it known that we do not earn God’s grace. He is generous to us. Jesus tells the story of a landowner who hired workers throughout the day and paid every one of them the same full day’s wage at the end. The early workers had agreed to a fair wage and put in a full day, so when they saw the later workers received the same amount, they felt it was unfair. But the landowner answered that he had the right to be generous with what is his. The point is clear: we do not earn God’s grace. He freely gives it to whomever he chooses. The real grace falls on the workers hired near the end of the day. They received far more than their short day deserved. This is the heart of grace: God gives us what we have not earned, and he gives it in abundance.

If we have worked hard and done what was asked, why does someone else’s unearned gift still bother us?

Can you believe we have made it to day 300!! We are closing in on the end of the year.

For the third time, Jesus predicted His death to His disciples. Here is a short overview of the three:

1. Jesus described that He would go to Jerusalem and suffer at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised on the third day.
2. The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men; they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day. This was more general and about betrayal by human hands.
3. This third account explicitly stated for the first time that He will be handed over to the Gentiles (Romans) to be killed. If the Jews were to kill him, he would have been stoned and not crucified. Jesus stated the exact death of crucifixion. They were actually on their way to Jerusalem (for this purpose) when He pulled them aside to discuss this.

While on the way to Jerusalem, the mother to James and John (sons of Zebedee), came to Jesus to ask a favor. She wanted Him to favor her sons. In the book of Mark, it says that the sons had asked (probably with prompting from their mother). Note that all three (mother, James, and John) responded with “we can” about drinking the cup, although the cup leads to the cross. The disciples wanted status, but Jesus is the model of humble service, so following Him means sharing in humble service and not seeking places of honor. Even though James and John were nicknamed “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17), their mother wanted them to be in the good seats in His Kingdom. This proves a little thunder does not cancel out the mom’s hovering and ambition. James and John have their spiritual volume set too high, with a quick temper, zeal, and occasional “should we call down the fire” energy. This question of favor made the other disciples upset.

Continuing on to Jerusalem for Passover, they passed through Jericho. Two blind men called out to Jesus. Being blind, they could hear the crowd that followed Jesus and called out to Him. They persisted even though the crowd rebuked them, and because of their faith, Jesus healed them immediately. In Matthew, he included both blind men in the story. In Mark, there was only one blind man, and his name was Bartimaeus, and Luke only had one man. Their focus was on just the one man, Bartimaeus, because in the end, after he was healed, he became a known follower.

Luke has more of Jesus’ parables than the other Gospels. Chapters 10-19 have many parables that are unique to Luke only. About half of the book is unique to him: the Good Samaritan, Prodigal Son, Rich man and Lazarus, Tax collector and Zacchaeus, etc. Luke shows mercy to the outsiders, care for the poor and lost, prayer, repentance, and reversal of status. His access to Jesus is sometimes referred to as L” source. Luke used eyewitness accounts as sources for his writing. Without these, we would still know Jesus taught through parables, but we would not have the extensive stories.

Next was the Parable of Zacchaeus, the tax collector. Tax collectors (Jewish) worked for the Roman Empire and were hated. They typically collected taxes for the Roman foreign power that ruled over Israel. They often charged more than they should have in order to keep the extra for themselves. They were known as religiously “unclean” for being in contact with the Gentiles and as part of a corrupt system. Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector, making his position more prominent and so more hated. Ironically, Zacchaeus means “pure or innocent.” The crowd complained about Jesus going to a sinner’s house, which showed their attitude towards tax collectors. The Sycamore-fig tree is not a modern-day sycamore. The tree had large, low-lying branches, which made it easy for a short man to climb. Jesus was on a mission, so He “must” stay at Zacchaeus’s house. He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Jesus showed that seeking out the tax collector as a sinner was not optional; it was why He was there. Zacchaeus made two promises. The first was to give half of his wealth to the poor (no calculating how much he could spare or giving only the minimal amount). The second promise was that he would repay four times anyone whom he had cheated. The fourfold restitution matches the Old Testament penalty for theft (Exodus 22:1). These promises showed that he was not only glad Jesus was coming to his house, but that his heart was changed. Jesus knew he was genuine.

The Parable of the 10 Minas. Jesus and his disciples were near Jerusalem, and people thought the Kingdom of God was going to appear at once. In the parable, the man left to go and be made king, and while he was to be away, he left his servants each with 10 minas and told them to put the money to work. One earned ten more, so he was put in charge of ten cities. One earned five more and was put in charge of five cities. The last servant had hidden the money and did nothing. The king rebuked him, took the mina away, and gave it to the man with the ten minas, giving him even more. Jesus said everyone who has will be given more. This was to correct the crowd that the Kingdom would not come immediately, and there would be a time without him. The king’s servants were in charge and responsible for doing his work while he was gone. When he returns, there will be a reward for faithfulness and judgment on those who reject the king. We are to relate this to Jesus, as we are responsible to do His work while He is gone. This also echoed real events of that time. The crowd would have understood that Archelaus (son of Herod the Great) went to Rome to have his rule over Judea confirmed. The Jews had opposed him. The ruling even over cities shows our sharing in the kingdom’s reign when He returns. Those who rejected the King were to be put to death. “The enemies” are those who refuse his Kingship and will face judgment.

Today's Discussion question:

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