Sermon Notes; a Daily Devotional

Luke 13:8&9 "8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down." As we conclude Lent, Jesus shares the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree. A vineyard owner wants to cut down a fruitless tree, but the gardener intercedes. In verse 8, the gardener—representing Jesus or faithful ministers—pleads with the owner (God the Father) to spare the tree for one more year: “Let it alone this year also.” The Greek word aphes (“let it alone”) also means “forgive,” highlighting divine patience and grace. The gardener promises to dig around the tree and fertilize it, symbolizing spiritual cultivation through repentance, teaching, and care. Mercy is extended, but it comes with expected action. Verse 9 adds the condition: “If it bears fruit, well; but if not, you may cut it down.” God’s patience has limits. Persistent unfruitfulness leads to judgment, urgin...

Luke 13:6&7 "6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?" In the preamble to the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree, Jesus mentions the slaughter of Galilean Jews while they were offering sacrifices and the collapse of the tower in Siloam that killed eighteen people. In both cases, He firmly rejects the common belief that great suffering proves great personal sin. These tragedies were not divine punishments for specific sins of the victims. Jesus then turns the focus back on His listeners: “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” He is urging them to get right with God, because none of us knows when our time will come. This short parable carries a powerful message: •The Man (Owner): Represents God the Fath...

Luke 13:3-5 "3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." This is a sobering parable rarely taught in children’s Sunday school. It is prompted by news of a shocking atrocity: Pontius Pilate had ordered the slaughter of Galilean Jews while they were offering sacrifices in the Temple. The vivid phrase “mingled their blood with their sacrifices” paints a gruesome picture of worshippers killed in the midst of a sacred act. Jesus immediately confronts a common misconception. The people reporting the tragedy apparently assumed these Galileans must have been worse sinners than others to deserve such a fate. Jesus directly challenges this: “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered th...

Luke 13:1&2 "1 There were present at that season some that told Him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?" Today we begin the last parable we will study this Lenten season. This is a parable we don't learn in Sunday school as children. Like the Seeds of the Sower we will want to “Pay close attention—this matters.” In these verses, some people tell Jesus about a shocking atrocity: Pontius Pilate had ordered the slaughter of Galilean Jews while they were offering sacrifices in the Temple. The vivid phrase “mingled their blood with their sacrifices” paints a gruesome picture of worshippers killed in the middle of a sacred act. Jesus immediately uses the tragedy to confront a common misconception and deliver a vital spiritual lesson. The people reporting the event apparently assumed these Galile...

Mark 4:7-9 "7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. 9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." Jesus told this parable to a massive crowd gathered by the Sea of Galilee. He began with a clear signal: “Pay close attention—this matters.” Far more than moral advice, the parable reveals how God’s grace meets the human heart. Jesus pictures a farmer (God) scattering seed (the Gospel). The focus is not on the sower or the seed, but on the soil—our hearts and how we respond to the message of the Kingdom. Seed on the path (v. 4): Some hear the word, but Satan immediately snatches it away before it can take root. Seed on rocky ground (vv. 5-6): Others receive it with instant joy, but lacking deep roots, they fall away as soon as trials or persecution arise. S...

Mark 4:3-6 "3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: 4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. 5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: 6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away." We're studying the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4. A huge crowd gathered around Jesus by the Sea of Galilee—the perfect setting for sharing His message through parables. These lessons weren't mere entertainment; they delivered some of the most vital truths we'll ever hear. Jesus begins with “Hearken!” (or “Listen!” in modern translations)—a strong call to attention, like “Pay close attention; this matters!” While some suggest it echoes the prophetic “Thus says the Lord,” the core is clear: this is urgent. Humanity's habit of not listening runs deep, as Israel's history wi...

Mark 4:1&2 "1 And He began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto Him a great multitude, so that He entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. 2 And He taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in His doctrine," We are nearing the end of our Lenten journey through Jesus’ parables. We’ve covered much ground and learned a great deal. Today we reach Mark 4 and the Parable of the Sower. A huge crowd gathered around Jesus by the Sea of Galilee—so large that He stepped into a boat, sat down on the water, and taught while the people stood on the shore. This natural amphitheater gave Him the perfect setting to share His message through parables. Jesus taught them “many things in parables,” using familiar images—like farming—to reveal deep truths about the Kingdom of God. His approach made profound spiritual lessons accessible yet demanding, inviting reflection and understanding. Parables were nev...

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." We are getting closer to Holy Week in our Lenten journey. It has been fulfilling studying the Parables of Jesus. He teaches us so many important things. Today we review what we have studied through the litany from our church service: L: The grace of God, the compassion of Christ, and the hope of the Holy Spirit, be with you all C: And also, with you! L: Jesus, we praise You for how You speak to us through Your parables. C: Have mercy and heal us. L: Jesus, You warn us against being the Unforaiving Servant, C: Lord, renew our hearts and give us the will to forgive those who have hurt us. L: Almighty God Your grace and mercy are undeserved and freely given to us. (Workers in the Vineyard) C: Lord, correct Us, when we think You owe US good things in this life when we do good things. L: Jesus, You teach us to be persistent in ou...

Mark 4:32 "But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it." This completes Jesus' Parable of the Mustard Seed. He begins with a rhetorical question to engage listeners, then delivers an unexpected answer: The mustard seed—familiar in Palestine as the smallest seed farmers sowed—represents God's kingdom, which starts small and seemingly insignificant, through a handful of followers and simple teachings. Yet it grows into a large shrub (often 10 feet or more), far outstripping expectations and spreading worldwide. Its great branches offer shade and shelter for birds, symbolizing how the kingdom welcomes all people—Gentiles, sinners, and outsiders alike. By choosing a humble, fast-growing, even invasive mustard shrub instead of a majestic tree (like the cedar), Jesus highlights that God's reign emerges in surprising, disruptive ways: unnoticed at f...

Mark 4:31 "31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:" In the Parable of the Mustard Seed, Jesus poses a rhetorical question to draw listeners in, prompting them to grasp the surprising, paradoxical nature of God’s kingdom. This question signals the need for a simple, everyday parable to convey a profound spiritual truth that might otherwise be difficult to understand. The answer is unexpected: The mustard seed, well known in Palestine as the smallest seed farmers used, symbolizes how God’s kingdom begins in a seemingly insignificant way, through a small group of followers and simple teachings. Yet from this tiny start, it grows into a large shrub (often reaching 10 feet or more), illustrating how the kingdom expands far beyond expectations, spreading globally through the Gospel. Jesus emphasizes that God’s power works through humble means—ordinary people and small acts of faith—to produce extra...

Mark 4:30 "And He said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?" We just finished the Parable of the Good Samaritan, where Jesus teaches active, costly love—true charity—that goes far beyond duty, even toward strangers. From God’s perspective, the question is not “Who is my neighbor?” but “To whom will I be a neighbor?” Love is not theoretical; it is action. Today we reach the introduction to the Parable of the Mustard Seed. Jesus uses a rhetorical question to draw listeners in, inviting them to consider how to illustrate the surprising, paradoxical nature of God’s kingdom. The “kingdom of God” means God’s active rule and reign, especially as it grows on earth through His followers. His question signals that a simple, everyday story—a parable—is needed to convey a deep spiritual truth that might otherwise be hard to grasp. It sets up the unexpected answer that follows...

Luke 10:36&37 "36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise." The Parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us to follow the example of active, costly love—true charity—that goes far beyond duty to help a stranger. A man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho is attacked by robbers, stripped, beaten, and left for dead. A priest passes by and continues on the other side. A Levite (a temple assistant) does the same. These religious figures, expected to show compassion, fail to act. In sharp contrast stands the unexpected hero: a Samaritan, despised by Jews, who is moved with compassion to help. He binds the man's wounds with oil and wine, places him on his own animal, takes him to an inn, cares for him personally, and the next day gives the innkeeper two silver coins—about two days' wages—instructing him to continue the care and...

Luke 10:33-35 "33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee." Jesus's parables often teach challenging lessons. We're studying the one commonly called the Good Samaritan—though Jesus never uses the word "good"; scholars applied that title centuries later. Jesus tells the story in response to a religious expert's question: "Who is my neighbor?" A man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho is attacked by robbers, stripped, beaten, and left for dead. A priest passes by, sees him, and continues on the other side. A Levite (a temple assistant) doe...

Luke 10:30-32 "30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side." We continue our series on Jesus's parables. Yesterday, we explored the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:45-46), which packs profound truth into two verses, calling us to reorder life around eternal values—measuring devotion by what we are willing to surrender. Today we turn to the familiar Parable of the Good Samaritan. Note: Jesus never calls the Samaritan "good"; scholars gave it that title centuries later. Jesus tells this story in response to a lawyer's (a religious expert) question: "Who is my neighbor?" H...

Matthew 13:45&46 "45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. During this Lenten season, we're exploring Jesus's parables. We recently finished the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32) and yesterday read verse 44, likening the kingdom of heaven to hidden treasure in a field. Jesus teaches that God's kingdom is infinitely valuable—worth surrendering everything to gain, bringing ultimate joy and transforming our lives. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price packs profound truth into two verses: A merchant sells all he has to buy one priceless pearl. It illustrates true devotion through: Wholehearted commitment: The kingdom demands total sacrifice—of possessions, ambitions, and self-reliance. Deliberate pursuit: Unlike the accidental discovery of treasure (v. 44), the merchant actively seeks pearls, symbolizing intentional spiritual seekin...

Matthew 13:44  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." During this Lenten season, we're learning from Jesus's parables. We just finished the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32), which ends without showing the older brother's choice—inviting us to examine our own hearts. How does it affect you? Relieved by grace? Upset that the younger son "pays no price"? Jesus challenges us. Are you ready? Need incentive? Consider hidden treasure. In today's parable, Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to treasure buried in a field. A man discovers it, hides it again, and—for sheer joy—sells everything he owns to buy the field and claim the treasure. The Treasure represents the supreme, incomparable value of God's kingdom and salvation in Christ—worth more than anything else. The Discovery is unexpected (unlike the searc...

Luke 15:25-32 "25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound." Today we conclude Jesus’ Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), shifting focus from the repentant younger son to the resentful older one. The faithful older son, who had diligently worked the fields, returns to discover a celebration for his wayward brother. Hearing music and dancing, he asks a servant and learns the reason. Rather than rejoice, he grows angry and refuses to join. His response exposes bitterness, self-righteousness, and a transactional view of his relationship with his father—believing loyal obedience deserved special rewards never granted. The father goes out to plead with him, extending the same grace shown to the younger ...

Luke 15:20-24 "22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry." Jesus’ Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) reveals God’s heart for the lost. The younger son disrespectfully demands his inheritance early, leaves home, squanders it on reckless living, and hits rock bottom—feeding pigs during a famine, a degrading low for any Jew. Coming to his senses, he plans to return repentant, offering to serve as a hired hand, no longer worthy of sonship. In today's verses, he returns. The father spots him from afar, runs (an undignified act in that culture), embraces, and kisses him before the apology finishes. Instead of punishment, he restores full sonship: the best robe (honor), ring (authority), sandals (...

Luke 15:13-19 "13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want." We are studying Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). The message is God’s heart for the lost. In the story so far; the younger son disrespectfully demanded his inheritance before his father passed away. His father grants the request, dividing his property. This reflects God’s grace: allowing free choice, even when it leads away from Him, with the patience of divine love that anticipates hardship ahead. Today’s verses describes the younger son leaving for a "distant country" and squandering his inheritance "in wild living" (riotous.) This represents a complete break from his family and values, symbolizing spiritual separation from God. His reckless lifestyle leads to ruin—...

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...