Bible Commentary on Luke Archives - Page 12 of 14

Yes, I’m still here. It’s been a month since I posted anything. I’ve been busy. Hopefully, someone is still reading…

My Bible commentary writing is going slow. I spent three hours today on “to preach the gospel to the poor” in Luke 4:18. Talk about a trap-filled verse! My conclusion shocked me a bit. If I ever finish with that section, I tremble a little just thinking about posting it! Maybe I’m wrong in my conclusions, but if so, that’s what the interactive commentary is for. I hope you all weigh in!

Regarding the posts on this blog, I think I need to get it up current with the Grace Commentary blog. I find that most of my “devotional” insights come to me as I study and think about a particular verse. If I get caught up here with what I am studying and posting over there (at gracecommentary.com) then these posts here will maybe be more relevant, thought-provoking, and fresh.

So my goal over the next 2-3 weeks is to get myself “caught up.” Enjoy the ride!

Putting Christ back in Kingdom

By Jeremy Myers

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Luke 2:8-20 makes it obvious that while the Kingdom of Heaven is not of this world, it has nevertheless come into the world through the birth, life, and work of Jesus Christ. And though there are great debates about whether the Kingdom is already here or is primarily a future event, everyone can agree that in some sense, the Kingdom began with Jesus. And what, primarily, is the Kingdom supposed to accomplish? Luke 1 revealed many facets to the Jewish expectations that the kingdom would over overthrow the powers that be. It would upset rulers, dominions, powers, and authority.

But maybe not exactly in the way we think.

Overthrowing Rulers

When we think of God overthrowing unrighteous rulers and abusive authorities, we think of God removing them from their position, and setting someone else up in their place of power. But Scripturally, it doesn’t seem to work that way. The Kingdom of Heaven is about restoring justice and reinstating the righteous reign of God on earth, not by replacing the rulers, but by using people other than rulers to bring about justice and righteousness.

Leave the rulers as they are, doing their thing. They have a place in God’s plan.

But don’t rely on them to do what we as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven are supposed to be doing.

Luke 2:8-20 shows the beginning seeds of this plan. Though there were dozens of royal rulers and religious leaders within a few miles of Bethlehem, God chose to make the angelic proclamation to people without power, riches, and authority – to poor shepherds in the cold, dark, night.

The Backwards Kingdom of God

This shows that in the Kingdom of God, the place of priority is not with the rich and powerful, but with the dishonorable, the outcast, the uneducated, and the poor. This is the type of people who were first to hear about the birth of Jesus, welcome Him to this earth, and spread the news about Him. This is also the type of family into which Jesus was born. He was born into a poor family in a poor setting.

God’s greatest work in human history began in a ridiculous place. It began in an animal feeding trough in a backwoods town of a tiny, poor, insignificant country. It began with people that the rest of the world would ignore and overlook.

Where might God show his face in your life? Stop looking to the rich and powerful. Don’t go to the elite. Look where you would least expect to find God – among the nameless, overlooked, forsaken, poor, and forgotten. Maybe it is among the homeless, prison inmates, prostitutes, or drug-addicts that God is about to do His next great work.

This Christmas, look for someone who is overlooked and forgotten, then go be an angel to them. Who knows? Maybe once you touch their lives, they will go and make widely known the things they have seen and heard, and the whole world will marvel at what God is doing.

This post is based on the Grace Commentary for Luke 2:8-10.

What Kingdom is This?

By Jeremy Myers

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It was not the way a king was supposed to be born. Kings are born in riches and glory, surrounded by silk, servants, and soft music. All the people in the entire kingdom wait with bated breath to hear the birth announcement.

Jesus was born with none of this. At least, not as expected. Yes, there was music, angelic, heavenly music. But it was sung out in the countryside, at night, to a few, poor shepherds. Yes, there were attendants at the birth, but they most likely consisted of a few relatives, and maybe a donkey or a cow. There was no silk, but instead, swaddling cloth, which was also used for burials. And only one person eagerly waited to hear of the Messiah’s birth, but that’s because he wanted to kill Jesus.

God could have done it a different way, but I believe that one of the reasons He did it this way was to show that the Kingdom of God is based on a different set of standards: Humility, lowliness, and simplicity instead of glamor, glitz, and glory.

So I can’t help asking, “What has happened?” Christianity seems to be chasing glamor, glitz, and glory, not humble service and simplicity. How did we go from a hay-lined manger to stained glass and marble floors? When did swaddling clothes become tailored suits? When did kings stop threatening us, and start courting us?

I can hear the objections now: “But this is what people want! This is what people expect! They want quality! This is one way we attract people to our church!”

Yes, that’s all true. But my question is, “How has any of this changed since the days of Jesus?” People have always wanted to join with the powerful, rich, glorious, and famous. That’s why kings and armies of the world have always operated the way they do. But that is not how God operates. That is not how Jesus came. That is not the kind of Kingdom Jesus brought.

So as we look at our churches, our structures, our clothing, our programs, and our budgets, it begs the question: “What Kingdom is this anyway?”

This post was based on the commentary for Luke 2:1-7 at www.gracecommentary.com.

The Light in Death’s Shadow

By Jeremy Myers

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These are hopeless days for lots of people. The economy is getting worse. People are losing their jobs. They can’t afford homes. They can’t afford health care. Everybody is scared of the swine flue. We’re selling our country to China. There is no end in sight to the war in Iraq. Terrorism is a constant threat. So is crime.

So we have a lot to be thankful for.

Wait. What?

Look at Zacharias in Luke 1:67-79 to see what I mean. Here’s a man who loses his job (a priest without a voice is not a priest) and can’t explain why to his wife. At least, not with words. And not only that, but as with all Jewish people about 2000 years ago in Israel, they were heavily taxed by the oppressive Roman government. We can’t say for sure, but I have to wonder if Zacharias lost his home (They say John grew up in the wilderness. Why, if he had a home?) And on top of it all, he’s got a son coming. And Zacharias, if he is as old as he says, probably won’t be around long enough to see John reach adulthood.

Yet as we read what Zacharias says, he praises God for what God is about to do in and for Israel through his son, John. Things are not great for Zacharias, but he sees a glimmer of light. In verses 78-79, he talks about the morning light that is about to break upon those who sit in the darkness of the shadow of death. He is talking about himself and all those in Israel who are in similar situations. Also, he is quoting from Psalm 107, which is about how to give thanks to God, even in the midst of misery and despair. Psalm 107 lays out four different groups of people who are facing misery, despair, and even death. When they cried out to God, He intervened, and so they give thanks.

As a nation, and for many of us as individuals, we are at the place where these four groups were at in Psalm 107, and where Zacharias was before the birth of John. But if we cry out to God for rescue, we can expectantly thank Him for the deliverance that will follow. Tough times are not times to despair, but times of opportunity for our faith and thankfulness to grow.

Mary’s World

By Jeremy Myers

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In recent years, when we look at our elected officials in government offices, it is easy to get jaded as it seems that no matter who gets into office, no problems are fixed and things just keep getting worse.

I am not saying we should stay out of politics or throw up our hands in despair. But maybe we are losing hope because our hope was misplaced to begin with. As Christians, we should not be hoping in politicians and governments.

And no, I am NOT saying that instead, we should put our hope in Jesus. This is true, of course, but it’s too easy to say, and much harder to apply. How do you “put your hope in Jesus” for millions of unemployed people? How do you “put your hope in Jesus” for millions of people without food and homes?

As I was walking through a parking lot yesterday, I saw a bumper sticker which read, “Jesus is the answer.” But that depends on the question. There are lots of questions where “Jesus” is not the answer. There are lots of issues where “Jesus” is not the solution. At least, not quite so easily as that.

Let me explain. Rather, let Mary explain.

In my commentary on Luke 1:46-55, I write about the song Mary sings after she is told she will give birth to the Messiah. Mostly, the song is about the Messiah. But I argue briefly that the center of the song seems to be 1:50, that from generation to generation, God’s mercy will be on those who fear Him. It’s a hinge verse, where verses 46-49 are about how God has used her, and verses 51-55 are about how He can use anyone else in a similar way.

As she expands and explains this concept in the rest of her song, Mary shows over and over that God does not work through the rich, powerful, and elite, but through the poor, humble, and hungry. And this is not just true in her own generation with the coming of the Messiah, but for every generation. That includes ours.

So the song is really about how God gets things done in this world. And the answer is that he does not primarily use presidents, senators, investment bankers, and movie stars, but WalMart checkers, stay-at-home moms, construction workers, mail carriers, farmers, and McDonald’s hamburger flippers. Anybody who fears God (i.e., respectfully obeys Him) can be used by God to turn this world upside down. Yes, bankers and senators can be part of that, but that’s not the point. The point is this: WE can help feed and clothe people. WE can help teach people. WE can help people live better, healthy lives. WE can provide clean water. It’s not THEIR job. It’s OUR job. If we fear God, if we want to obey Him, it is what WE will do.

Don’t put such things off on Jesus, especially when He has told US to do it. And definitely don’t put it off on politicians.

Mary saw a world, led by Jesus, where everybody worked to feed the poor, heal the sick, clothe the naked, touch the brokenhearted, and love the unlovable. That’s what she sang about. That’s what she longed for. No matter who is in political office, let’s work together to make Mary’s world a reality.

Anyone still here?

Putting Christ back in Kingdom

Overthrowing Rulers

The Backwards Kingdom of God

This post is based on the Grace Commentary for Luke 2:8-10.

What Kingdom is This?

This post was based on the commentary for Luke 2:1-7 at www.gracecommentary.com.

The Light in Death’s Shadow

Mary’s World

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