Creative Space for Wanderers
I included “brief” in the title for this post because Jesus doesn’t need a lot of words on this topic. It’s clear and concise. Yet this is a volatile and personal topic that demands our attention. No, we don’t need more words from Jesus on the topic. As followers for Christ we enter marriage with the …
Luke begins this parable with Jesus’ definition of the Pharisee: “confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else.” He doesn’t say all Pharisees fit this description, but it seems this is the typical Pharisee, one that everyone listening to the parable would relate to. The Pharisee draws attention to himself with audacious, …
Continue reading “Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector”
Jesus set the standard extremely high in verses 1-4 and the disciples respond: “Increase our faith.” Wow! The disciples are listening to Jesus describe what will happen to those who cause people to stumble and they get it–they will be held accountable. There will be a time when leaders will have to answer for their …
These few verses give us great reason to read and understand the Old Testament, the Law that was provided by God (as opposed to that which the Pharisees had created). Jesus defines a point in history that is before and after John the Baptist: Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages …
This passage in Luke appears during the meal at the “prominent Pharisee’s” house, apparently a theme Jesus taught on more than once. In Luke one of those in attendance, perhaps a Pharisee, says: Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God. Jesus affirms this and tells a story about …
Here is another miracle that was 1) performed on the Sabbath and 2) for someone who didn’t apparently ask (not that he wasn’t thankful), repent or confess Jesus as Lord. To add to the interest of this particular interaction, this was in front of a prominent Pharisee and his compatriots who “remained silent” and “had nothing to …