08-09-09
Sorry, you must have Windows Media Player 9 or higher. This is a large file which may take a few seconds to start Click here, or scroll down to view today's diagram (Luke 18:1-8) And he [Jesus] spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge [Gk: to vindicate, retaliate, punish for] me of mine adversary [Gk: enemy]. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me [the widow had faith, i.e., she believed that she would succeed]. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust [Gk: unrighteous] judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect [Gk: chosen], which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh [i.e., the Lord Jesus Christ’s Second Coming], shall he find faith on the earth? 1. parable = Gk: a fictitious narrative (of common life conveying a moral), apothegm or adage:--comparison, figure, parable, proverb. 2. pray = Gk: to pray to God, i.e. supplicate, worship:--pray (X earnestly, for). 3. faint = Gk: be (bad or) weak, i.e. (by impl.) to fail (in heart):--faint, be weary. 4. faith = Gk: persuasion, i.e. credence; mor. conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), espec. reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstr. constancy in such profession; by extens. the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. a. Dictionary: faith = syn: confidence, trust, reliance, assurance, conviction. a. Dictionary: faith = syn: belief, devotion, loyalty, faithfulness, commitment, dedication. 5. Commentary: We learn in this parable that “prayer” is equated with “faith,” and one is admonished “always to pray,” continually. Prayer necessitates faith, prayer is the product and manifestation of faith. (Gen 32:24-32) And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man [an “angel” Hos 12:4] with him until the breaking of the day [dawn]. And when he [the angel] saw that he prevailed not against him [Jacob], he [the angel] touched the hollow of his [Jacob’s] thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he [the angel] said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he [Jacob] said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me [Jacob had faith, i.e., he believed that he would succeed]. And he [the angel] said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he [the angel] said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob [Heb: heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter)], but Israel [Heb: he will rule as God; prince with God]: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel [Heb: the face of God]: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted [Heb: limped] upon his thigh. Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew [Heb: tendon] which shrank [symbolic of Jacob’s pride], which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank. 1. thigh = Heb: to be soft; the thigh (from its fleshy softness); by euphem. the generative parts; fig. a shank, flank, side:-- X body, loins, shaft, side, thigh. 2. (Hosea 12:3,4) He [Jacob] took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength [i.e., by his faith, belief] he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication [Heb: to implore (i.e. move to favor by petition)] [prayer] unto him: he found him [God] in Bethel [i.e., Jacob’s ladder], and there he [God] spake with us [through Jacob]; 3. (James 2:20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 4. Commentary: Faith translates into power with God. Samson was a man of prayer. Prayer is a work of faith. A working definition then of faith seems to be persistent active belief. THE POWER OF FAITH (Luke 17:3-6) Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass [Gk: sin] against thee, rebuke him [Gk: censure or admonish]; and if he repent [Gk: to think differently, reconsider], forgive him [i.e., loose him]. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him [an act of power well beyond the expectations held of an ordinary human being]. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith [Gk: belief]. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed [the smallest seed known in Jesus’ day], ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you [an act of power well beyond the expectations held of an ordinary grain of mustard seed]. 1. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary: Sycamore = A huge evergreen tree growing to a height of about 12 to 15 meters (40-50 feet) with a trunk circumference of over 6.5 meters (20 feet). 2. (Mat 17:20) And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain [Gk: kernal] of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove [obey you]; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. THE EXAMPLE OF ORDINARY FAITH (Luke 17:7-10) But which of you, having a servant [we are all God’s servants] plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not [Gk: I think not]. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do [ILLUSTRATING ORDINARY FAITH – A TYPE OF MARTHA]. THE EXAMPLE OF NINE SERVANTS OF ORDINARY FAITH(the eventual residents of a city in Heaven)AND THE EXAMPLE OF THE SERVANT OF EXTRAORDINARY FAITH(the eventual ruler of a city in Heaven – Luke 19) (Luke 17:11-18) And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back [i.e., disobeyed for a higher purpose, indicating a higher understanding], and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks [ILLUSTRATING EXTRAORDINARY FAITH – A TYPE OF MARY]: and he was a Samaritan [i.e., doubly an outcast: a leper, and of non-Jewish mixed blood]. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. 1. cleansed = Gk: to cleanse:--(make) clean, purge, purify /// clean:--clean, clear, pure. 2. healed = Gk: to cured:--heal, make whole. 3. whole = Gk: ("safe"); to save, i.e. deliver or protect:--heal, preserve, save (self), be (make) whole. (Luke 17:20,21) And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation [Gk: ocular evidence]: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. 1. (Mat 19:23,24) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven [32x in Matthew, exclusively]. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God [5x in Matthew]. Amen Click here, or on the diagram for a printable (pdf) version. Previous Chapter Table Of Contents Next Chapter Click here to download a printable version of this message Click here to download a DOC version of this message
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(Luke 18:1-8) And he [Jesus] spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge [Gk: to vindicate, retaliate, punish for] me of mine adversary [Gk: enemy]. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me [the widow had faith, i.e., she believed that she would succeed]. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust [Gk: unrighteous] judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect [Gk: chosen], which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh [i.e., the Lord Jesus Christ’s Second Coming], shall he find faith on the earth?
1. parable = Gk: a fictitious narrative (of common life conveying a moral), apothegm or adage:--comparison, figure, parable, proverb.
2. pray = Gk: to pray to God, i.e. supplicate, worship:--pray (X earnestly, for).
3. faint = Gk: be (bad or) weak, i.e. (by impl.) to fail (in heart):--faint, be weary.
4. faith = Gk: persuasion, i.e. credence; mor. conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), espec. reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstr. constancy in such profession; by extens. the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.
a. Dictionary: faith = syn: confidence, trust, reliance, assurance, conviction.
a. Dictionary: faith = syn: belief, devotion, loyalty, faithfulness, commitment, dedication.
5. Commentary: We learn in this parable that “prayer” is equated with “faith,” and one is admonished “always to pray,” continually. Prayer necessitates faith, prayer is the product and manifestation of faith.
(Gen 32:24-32) And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man [an “angel” Hos 12:4] with him until the breaking of the day [dawn]. And when he [the angel] saw that he prevailed not against him [Jacob], he [the angel] touched the hollow of his [Jacob’s] thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he [the angel] said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he [Jacob] said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me [Jacob had faith, i.e., he believed that he would succeed]. And he [the angel] said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he [the angel] said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob [Heb: heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter)], but Israel [Heb: he will rule as God; prince with God]: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel [Heb: the face of God]: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted [Heb: limped] upon his thigh. Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew [Heb: tendon] which shrank [symbolic of Jacob’s pride], which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.
1. thigh = Heb: to be soft; the thigh (from its fleshy softness); by euphem. the generative parts; fig. a shank, flank, side:-- X body, loins, shaft, side, thigh.
2. (Hosea 12:3,4) He [Jacob] took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength [i.e., by his faith, belief] he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication [Heb: to implore (i.e. move to favor by petition)] [prayer] unto him: he found him [God] in Bethel [i.e., Jacob’s ladder], and there he [God] spake with us [through Jacob];
3. (James 2:20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
4. Commentary: Faith translates into power with God. Samson was a man of prayer. Prayer is a work of faith. A working definition then of faith seems to be persistent active belief.
(Luke 17:3-6) Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass [Gk: sin] against thee, rebuke him [Gk: censure or admonish]; and if he repent [Gk: to think differently, reconsider], forgive him [i.e., loose him]. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him [an act of power well beyond the expectations held of an ordinary human being]. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith [Gk: belief]. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed [the smallest seed known in Jesus’ day], ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you [an act of power well beyond the expectations held of an ordinary grain of mustard seed].
1. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary: Sycamore = A huge evergreen tree growing to a height of about 12 to 15 meters (40-50 feet) with a trunk circumference of over 6.5 meters (20 feet).
2. (Mat 17:20) And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain [Gk: kernal] of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove [obey you]; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
(Luke 17:7-10) But which of you, having a servant [we are all God’s servants] plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not [Gk: I think not]. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do [ILLUSTRATING ORDINARY FAITH – A TYPE OF MARTHA].
(Luke 17:11-18) And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back [i.e., disobeyed for a higher purpose, indicating a higher understanding], and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks [ILLUSTRATING EXTRAORDINARY FAITH – A TYPE OF MARY]: and he was a Samaritan [i.e., doubly an outcast: a leper, and of non-Jewish mixed blood]. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
1. cleansed = Gk: to cleanse:--(make) clean, purge, purify /// clean:--clean, clear, pure.
2. healed = Gk: to cured:--heal, make whole.
3. whole = Gk: ("safe"); to save, i.e. deliver or protect:--heal, preserve, save (self), be (make) whole.
(Luke 17:20,21) And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation [Gk: ocular evidence]: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
1. (Mat 19:23,24) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven [32x in Matthew, exclusively]. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God [5x in Matthew].
Amen
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