A Tender Heart

Luke 19:41 ESV

41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it,

He wept for Lazarus, even when He knew He would soon call him out of the grave. He does the same for Jerusalem. 

God has a tender heart for His children. 

Who Did Not Want Me

Luke 19:27 ESV

27 But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’”

Jesus ends the parable of minas with these stark words. He wasn't just a nice fellow, a good teacher and a good man. He is the Son of God and the King of Kings. Yes He is kind and gentle, but He is the sword of God's justice. 

We will come before Him one way or the other. 

Small Of Stature

Luke 19:1-3 ESV

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. 

Though big in worldly position, when it came to seeing Jesus being rich offered no advantage. Jesus said it was impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Then He said all things were possible for God. 

We are all too small to see God unless we climb on the tree of life. 

Have Separated You

Leviticus 20:7-8 ESV

7 Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.

8 Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you.

Leviticus 20:26

26 You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.

We are holy by observing His word and doing it. We are to be holy for He is holy. If we do not, we take His name in vain. 

We are His, not in name only, but through and for His name. 

Otherwise we run the risk of showing up for the wedding feast, but He doesn't know our name, for it is not written in the book of life. 

He Cried Out All The More

Luke 18:38 ESV

38 And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Luke 18:39

39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

The blind man cries out. Jesus would later say that if He tried to silence the people, even the stones would cry out. Blind as he was, he could see the one who could heal and make him whole. 

Who Humbles Himself

Luke 18:13-14 ESV

13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

It is the realization and decision of every person, the choice given to every man and woman: God or self. 

Where The Corpse Is

Luke 17:35,37 ESV

 35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.” 37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

Those who place their faith in the flesh will learn that place is for the birds.