Sermon Notes; a Daily Devotional

Luke 18:6-8 "6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?" We are studying the Parable of the Persistent Widow, which Jesus told to show his disciples that they should always pray and not give up (Luke 18:1). In these verses, Jesus explains the parable using an argument from the lesser to the greater (vv. 6–7): If an unjust, uncaring judge grants justice due to persistent nagging, how much more will God—the perfectly just and loving Father—vindicate His elect who cry out to Him day and night? The judge acts out of annoyance; God acts out of love and faithfulness. Verse 8 assures us: God will grant justice swiftly and decisively, though not always on our human timetable. We must trust His perfect timing. Jesus closes with a sobering question...

Luke 18:1-5 1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me." Our Lent study series explores the Parables of Jesus to learn from the lessons our Lord and Savior taught. Last week, the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard showed that God’s kingdom operates on grace, not human merit. The “last” (latecomers, sinners) enter on equal footing with the “first” (early followers, the devout), upending worldly expectations. God rewards every believer equally. Today we examine The Parable of the Persistent Widow. Jesus tells it to emphasize persistent prayer ...

Matthew 20:15&16 "15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen." God defends His actions with two key points: First: "Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?" He asserts his absolute right to dispose of his own resources as he sees fit. Call it Sovereign Freedom.  Second: "Or are you envious because I am generous?" (literally, "Is your eye evil because I am good?"). He identifies the root of the workers' complaint not as a demand for justice, but as jealousy ("evil eye") over his goodness to others. Envy is something we are all susceptible to.  Verse 16 provides the parable's summary: "So the last will be first, and the first will be last." This reinforces the theme that God's kingdom operates on principles of grace, not human merit. Those considered ...

Matthew 20:12-14 "12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee." This parable shows how God’s kingdom operates: We are the workers; God is the landowner who pays a fair—and generous—wage to all who answer His call. By abundant grace, He rewards every worker equally. In today's verses, the all-day workers murmur against the landowner. Do you ever complain about God in this way? Sadly, many do. The grumbling workers represent self-righteousness and jealous. Their attitude contrasts sharply with God’s generosity, exposing the sin of begrudging His goodness to others. Envy is a sin we must guard against. The parable teaches that salvation and reward in the kingdom of heaven rest on God’s grac...

Matthew 20:9-11 "9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house," The world just watched the Winter Olympics, where the greatest athletes performed incredible feats. We expect the best to receive gold, the second-best silver, the third bronze—and everyone else the honor of simply participating. But what if everyone got gold? Would that seem fair? No, it wouldn't. Yet in God's kingdom, everyone receives the same prize. This parable reveals how the kingdom operates: We are the workers; God is the landowner who pays a fair—and generous—wage to all who answer His call. Out of abundant grace, He rewards every worker equally. Will we "murmur" against the goodman of the house? Will we complain about God? Sadly, many...

Matthew 20:7&8 "7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first." Are we paying attention? This parable shows how God’s kingdom operates. We are the workers; God is the landowner who pays a fair—and generous—wage to all who serve Him. He values every worker who answers His call and rewards them all equally out of abundant grace. The landowner hired the first crew early in the morning, then at 9 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m., finding more idle in the marketplace and sending them to work. Even at 5 p.m.—the eleventh hour—He hired those still waiting and sent them into His vineyard. Now He begins paying them, starting “from the last unto the first.” So the workers who arrived minutes ago, barely breaking a sweat, get paid firs...