Sermon Notes; a Daily Devotional

Luke 15:11&12 "11 And He said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living." Our Lenten devotionals explore Jesus’ parables. Yesterday we began the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), whose opening verses introduce three stories celebrating God’s joy over repentance: the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son. Jesus drew tax collectors and sinners—people shunned by the religious elite—while Pharisees and scribes grumbled that sharing meals with them signaled approval, revealing their pride and preference for ritual purity over compassion. Jesus’ teaching unveils God’s heart for the lost. In today's verses the younger son’s demand for his inheritance was shocking and deeply disrespectful. In Jewish culture, inheritance came after a parent’s death; requesting it early was like wishing the father dead. It showed brazen self-centeredness, valui...

Luke 15:1-3 "1 Then drew near unto Him all the publicans and sinners for to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying," Our Lenten daily devotionals focus on the Parables of Jesus. Yesterday we concluded the parable of believers as “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14–16), where Jesus calls for visible faith tempered by humble motives—shining to glorify God, not to impress people. Today we turn to Luke 15 and the parable of the prodigal son, beginning with its introductory verses. These set the stage for three parables that celebrate God’s joy over repentance. The crowd drawn to Jesus includes tax collectors and sinners—marginalized groups shunned by the religious elite. Tax collectors were viewed as corrupt Roman collaborators, and “sinners” as those openly defying Jewish law. Yet they flocked to hear Jesus’ message of grace and restoration. The Pharisees and s...

Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." This verse concludes Jesus’ teaching on believers being “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14–15). It emphasizes that the purpose of good works is not self-promotion, but God’s glorification. Just as a lamp is placed on a stand to illuminate a room, Christians are to live in such a visible, authentic way that their actions reflect Christ’s light.  The “good works” refer to deeds of love, integrity, compassion, humility, and justice—actions that flow from a transformed life in Christ. When others observe these deeds, they are not meant to praise the believer, but to recognize God’s goodness and respond by glorifying Him.  This verse calls for both visibility and humility: believers should not hide their faith, yet their motivation must be pure—focused on honoring God, not gaining human approval.  Let your light shine. Amen. 🙏

Matthew 5:15 "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house." In Matthew's account of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shares the Parable of the Lamp on a Stand through two vivid metaphors: • "You are the light of the world" — declaring His followers the source of spiritual light in a dark world. • "A city set on a hill cannot be hidden" — just as a hilltop city (especially when lit at night) cannot be concealed, believers' lives and good works should be visible. Jesus then stresses that light is meant to shine openly. No one lights a lamp only to hide it under a bushel (a grain basket). Likewise, believers should not conceal the spiritual light of their faith—expressed through good works, truth, and godly character. Instead, let your light shine so others may see it, be guided by it, and ultimately glorify God (as Matthew 5:16 explains). The image draws from everyda...

Matthew 5:14 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." Yesterday we concluded the Parable of the Watchful Servants. Jesus calls us to constant readiness for His return—those found faithfully watching are blessed. He emphasizes the unpredictability of His coming: our preparedness must be ongoing, not occasional. In light of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, the least we can offer is faithful preparation and eager anticipation of His return and reign. Today we move to the Parable of the Lamp on a Stand (part of the Sermon on the Mount), which features two powerful metaphors: 1st- "You are the light of the world": Jesus declares His followers the source of spiritual light in a dark world. This light—drawn from Christ, the ultimate Light (John 8:12)—reveals truth, exposes sin, and guides others to God through words and deeds. 2nd- "A city set on a hill cannot be hidden": This highlights visibility and prominence. Just as ...

Luke 12:38-40 "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 goodman 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 ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." Yesterday we began the Parable of the Watchful Servants. Jesus urges constant readiness for His return. Those found faithfully watching are blessed: the master girds himself, seats them at table, and serves them—a stunning reversal that reveals God's lavish grace and the profound reward for vigilant anticipation. Jesus then stresses the unpredictability of His coming. The master may return in the second watch (midnight) or third watch (pre-dawn), yet servants alert at any hour are declared blessed. Readiness must be constant, not occasional. He shifts to a sharper image: if a homeowner k...