“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. – Luke 6:24 ESV

GREEK
παράκλησιν/paraklēsin: comfort, encouragement; the outcome of making peace

CONSIDER
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), quarantining as a result of COVID-19 helped to mitigate the spread of the disease, but it came at an unexpected cost. In 2022 the NIH determined that quarantine was directly linked to an increase in mental and emotional health issues. A summary of the data pointed to a truth we have known for years: without human interaction, our lives aren’t nearly as robust as they were meant to be. It turns out that our relationships keep us quantitatively healthy, happy, and hopeful.
When Jesus gave his list of woes to a crowd gathered to hear him teach, the Gospel writer Luke used a specific Greek word to convey a similar idea. He quotes Jesus as saying, “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your paraklēsin (comfort, encouragement; the outcome of making peace).” More specifically, this word relates to the act of bringing someone close to your side to make them feel better. When things aren’t going well, we want someone to provide paraklēsin, a safe place of connection to comfort and encourage us. Jesus’ point is that those who rely on their riches to do that for them are making an idol of their wealth – an idol that does a poor job of providing what it promises to give us. The bottom line is that we are in trouble if we expect anything other than a living relationship with the Lord for paraklēsin because nothing else is strong enough to withstand the crushing weight of our spiritual deficiency. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring us near to the One who provides ultimate comfort, peace, and encouragement (see Matt. 11:28 – 30). As we draw near to him, we will experience the paraklēsin that we so desperately need.

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What is the Gospel compelling me to take action on?

bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. – Luke 6:28 ESV

GREEK
εὐλογεῖτε/eulogeite: speak a word of honor regarding
καταρωμένους/katarōmenous: pray a prayer of evil & hatred toward

CONSIDER
One of the beautiful things about the Gospel of Jesus is that it is simultaneously profound and practical. It’s been known to change lives on seminary grounds, battlegrounds, and playgrounds. There may be no clearer picture of this truth than Jesus’ words to the crowd in today’s verse. At first glance, his command to “eulogeite (speak a word of honor regarding) those who katarōmenous (pray a prayer of evil & hatred toward) you” may simply seem idyllic. It would be easy to nod our heads in agreement with Jesus from the oversized sofa of our local coffee shop. But for many, the idea of using our words to honor the one who just prayed evil to befall us seems impossible. What’s the point Jesus is trying to make? Among others, Jesus’ point is that understanding the Gospel forces us to live a life that stands apart from others. Without knowing the love of Christ ourselves, the most loving thing we could muster up when someone curses us is not to retaliate. And if we chose that path, we would blend in with the millions of other people who would respond the same way. But when we use the very weapon that our offender does (our words) to combat their hatred with kindness, we show just how much the Gospel has changed us. By modeling the truth that God met us in our evil and chose to profoundly bless us instead, we can display how superior the power to eulogeite others is over the desire to katarōmenous.

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What is the Gospel compelling me to take action on?

…for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. – Luke 6:35b ESV

GREEK
ἀχαρίστους/acharistous: people who live without grace

CONSIDER
What is the Gospel compelling me to take action on? This question may require a bit of self-reflection, but psychological research suggests that this isn’t always easy. There are psychological barriers and practical obstacles to understanding our own thoughts, feelings, and motives. One of these obstructions is known as the “introspection illusion.” Simply put, this term means that we think we have perfect clarity on why we do what we do because we have direct access to our own inner world. However, not only is this a false reality, but the introspection illusion also includes the assumption that others must be judged regardless of motive. See the problem? We are likely to assume we are good because we judge our intentions, but we can easily assume others are bad because we judge their actions!
Thankfully, Jesus is not subject to the introspection illusion because of his unique perspective. Being fully God, Jesus was integral in creating us, and being fully human he knows how tempting sin can be. In this position, nothing is hidden from the Most High. God could easily withhold anything good from humanity, and yet Luke records that “he is kind to the acharistous (people who live without grace) and the evil.” This adjective could be translated as the graceless of heart and action. Both inside and outside, these people neither recognize their need for grace, nor award grace to anyone they come in contact with. Unfortunately, the Gospel points to the truth that this describes every one of us! Jesus’ death while we were yet sinners is the ultimate example of being kind to the acharistous. So when considering what to take action on, perhaps the first thing to reflect on should be the kindness of the cross.

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What is the Gospel compelling me to take action on?

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
– Luke 6:37 ESV

GREEK
ἀπολύετε/apolyete: release from deserved consequences; let die one’s right to punish

CONSIDER
We all know what it feels like to be wronged by someone. Whether intentional or not, suffering from the consequences of another person’s poor choices can easily consume us. It’s as if our unforgiveness is a living, breathing thing that feeds off of our anger, grief, and frustration. And the more we feed it with these emotions, the bigger it grows. Over time, we even become accustomed to having this living being around, comfortable with how big it’s getting, and even enjoying its company. Left unchecked, it becomes a beast so large that it cannot be tamed. It controls us instead of us controlling it.
This language is similar to how Jesus speaks of forgiveness. In Luke 6:37, he says “apolyete (let die your right to punish), and you will be forgiven.” Notice that Jesus doesn’t make an exception for whether forgiveness is deserved or not – the Greek verb used here assumes that a person has the right to punitive action! Instead, we can starve the beast of unforgiveness by refusing to dwell on our need to be right or harboring bitterness toward the one who wronged us. Jesus finishes his thought by telling us that if we let our right to punish others die off, we will experience personal – and even relational – freedom.
While we were sinners, God released his right to destroy us by sending his only son to die in our place. When we recognize how much we’ve been forgiven of, we will be far more likely to forgive those who have wronged us.

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How will God’s grace toward me transform my response?

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. – Luke 6:40 ESV

GREEK
κατηρτισμένος/katērtismenos: completely assembled

CONSIDER
It’s safe to say that when it comes to vehicles, there are as many opinions as there are people. One person prefers the classics, while another likes the modern. To some, trucks are clunky gas guzzlers. Others refuse to get behind the wheel of anything but a four-by-four. The list could go on, but the point is that vehicle preference is as varied as we are. However, it’s safe to assume that no one would be interested in a vehicle that came with brakes missing! That’s what happened to cars that were misassembled in the Nummi plant in Fremont, California. A series of small issues developed into a serious problem, resulting in cars with no brakes, steering wheels, or engine parts. The average vehicle may have nearly 30,000 parts, but it turns out each one is vital to make it run the way it’s designed to.
In Jewish culture, a disciple was someone who dedicated themselves completely to their Rabbi’s teaching and way of life. Because the disciple was so connected to him, he could not be expected to be different or better from his teacher. So if the rabbi started heading down the wrong road spiritually or philosophically, the disciple would be traveling in the wrong direction as well. This is Jesus’ point in verse 40: “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is katērtismenos (completely assembled) will be like his teacher.” This verb points to the truth that disciples are formed by their masters. And much like a faulty manufacturing element on an assembly line, there is no chance that the finished product will be complete if the leader isn’t complete. Katērtismenos references only a finished product, not a perfect one. So who we follow matters significantly. The good news is that the perfect, sinless Son of God is calling us to follow him today! And though we all come to him with our own broken parts, his grace extended to us will consistently transform us into his image.

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How will God’s grace toward me transform my response?

You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. – Luke 6:42b ESV

GREEK
ὑποκριτά/hypokrita: actor under an assumed character

CONSIDER
The Greek theater relied on a series of understood assumptions to convey a story. Everyone knew that importance was portrayed by height, so actors would wear boots known as cothurnus and headdresses called onkos to show stature. Athenian characters were easily identifiable by their elaborate costumes, while foreigners were portrayed in shabby attire. And because Greek theaters prioritized acoustics (which would cause the audience to be seated far from the stage at times), all actors would wear masks to clearly depict character and emotion. These masks were oversized and would be switched out several times throughout the performance. These hypokrinomai – stage actors – could take on multiple roles throughout the play by simply changing their masks to fit the scene.
If the concept of wearing a mask to play different roles sounds familiar, it may be because of how easy it is for us to metaphorically do the same thing. This is what Jesus warns about in Luke 6, when he said, “You hypokrita (actor under an assumed character), first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.” In effect, Christ is telling us that when we are unwilling to acknowledge our own issues and instead fixate on others, we are like actors who say one thing but do another. Masking our true need may fool those around us, but it’s senseless to be inauthentic with the Lord. Not only can he see beyond the mask into our true selves, but because of his sacrifice on the cross, we have been awarded grace for our brokenness. His goodness toward us when we were “plank-eyed” has changed our true identity. Our lives can now be singularly focused on His glory, reflecting his grace to those who need it as desperately as we do.

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How will God’s grace toward me transform my response?

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, – Luke 6:43 ESV

GREEK
σαπρόν/sapron: rotten; useless

CONSIDER
On the surface, Volkswagen appeared to be a company deeply rooted in both innovation and environmental responsibility. Their clean diesel vehicles were praised worldwide for reducing emissions, winning accolades and the trust of millions. But in 2015, a shocking truth was discovered – Volkswagen had secretly installed software to cheat emissions tests, allowing their cars to pollute far beyond what they claimed. In reality, the vehicles were emitting up to 40 times the legal limit of pollutants. The company had deliberately deceived regulators and the public for years, all while maintaining an image of ethical innovation. The brand looked healthy and “green” on the outside—but inside, there was deliberate deceit and moral decay.
Jesus’ words in Luke 6:43 remind us that appearances can deceive, but true character cannot be hidden forever. He tells us that “no good tree bears sapron (rotten, useless) fruit, nor again does a sapron tree bear good fruit.” Before its fruit is produced, it can be tough to tell if a tree will produce good fruit or bad. Jesus’ use of sapron calls us to examine our own lives—are we cultivating roots in God’s transformative Word, or are we more concerned with how other people are living? Eventually, the fruit of our lives will reveal the truth of our hearts, not only to others but to ourselves as well. May we seek not just to appear righteous but to be truly transformed by the gospel so that what flows from us is good, lasting, and pleasing to God.

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This is what repentance will look like this week:

for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. – Luke 6:44 ESV

GREEK
γινώσκεται/ginōsketai: is recognized, is identified

CONSIDER
As a church, Centerway holds a deeply held belief in the power of being genuine. In fact, we value this trait so highly that it is the subject of one of our Because & Therefore statements:
Because we’ve been awarded grace… we value AUTHENTICITY… therefore we honestly do life together, don’t try to hide our mess, and don’t lead second rate versions of our one and only life.
And while being authentic doesn’t give us a pass to treat people poorly, it does help create a safe environment for people to be honest with themselves, others, and God. To be known, then, is an important step in being shaped into who God has genuinely made us to be.
We can try to hide our mess, but covering up the truth is not sustainable in the long run. Jesus said it perfectly when he taught “each tree ginōsketai (is recognized, is identified) by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.” An apple tree could pretend to be a mango tree until its fruit ripens. A peach tree could try to convince others it was a lemon tree, but before long it will be betrayed by the fruit it bears. The Greek phrase used here implies personal experience; a tree is known by the close familiarity those around it have with the fruit it produces. So, as a community, we have a choice – keep our distance and hope people are fooled into thinking we have it all together, or risk vulnerability and allow others to see our authentic selves. The good news is that our Creator knows us so well that he proactively sent his Son Jesus to atone for the rotten fruit of our depraved hearts. May we experience the freedom that comes from repentance and joyfully lean into gospel-centered community, unafraid of being transparent as we honestly do life together.

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This is what repentance will look like this week:

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.- Luke 6:45 ESV

GREEK
περισσεύματος/perisseumatos: excess beyond the expected boundary or limits

CONSIDER
In Mark 8 we read of a time when Jesus was teaching a group of over 4,000 people. Desiring to feed them, Jesus instructed his disciples to distribute seven loaves of bread and a few small fish to the enormous crowd. Miraculously, this small amount of food not only fed the people until they were satisfied, but the disciples also collected seven baskets full of leftovers. This good gift of mercy could not be mistaken for anything short of a miracle – Jesus provided an abundance of food where there was once only meager provisions.
The beauty of the gospel, in part, rests in the truth that we are simultaneously more wicked than we could imagine and yet more loved than we ever dare dream. Left to our own devices, we are unable to earn the perfection of a sinless life, and therefore all deserve the penalty of death and eternal separation from God (see Romans 3). But Jesus paid the penalty for our sin on the cross and rose victorious out of his borrowed tomb! Now our new hearts can be filled with his goodness, and a mark of whether this transformation has gripped us is how we use our words. Jesus said it this way: “Out of the perisseumatos (excess beyond the expected boundary or limits) of the heart his mouth speaks.” This greek noun is the same one used by Mark to tell us that the disciples collected seven baskets of leftovers. Perisseumatos is the result of being unable to contain the excess of what a person has, so the condition of our hearts will spill out through the words we say. Much like fruit reveals what type of tree is being cultivated, the things we say are a dead giveaway for our spiritual health. Jesus’ point isn’t that good people will never say bad things. Rather, he is saying that one way a changed person will recognize their need for repentance is by of the words coming from their mouth. As we reflect on what repentance will look like this week, let’s take the time to examine what our words reveal about the condition of our heart.

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This is what repentance will look like this week:

He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. – Luke 6:48 ESV

GREEK
ἐβάθυνεν/ebathynen: beyond what one assumes is necessary

CONSIDER
During the California Gold Rush, R.U. Darby and his uncle thought they had found gold—and for a moment, they had. The men invested in mining equipment and started digging in Colorado, hoping to strike it rich. After discovering a promising vein of gold, they dug some more, but the vein disappeared. Discouraged, they gave up and sold the mine and equipment to a junk dealer. But that buyer hired a mining engineer who studied the land and discovered that the gold vein had merely shifted slightly. Just three feet from where the Darby men had stopped digging, the new owner struck one of the richest veins in Colorado history.
The Darby’s story has become a cautionary tale to not give up in the difficult moments so that riches can be found. But what if the thing a person is digging for is far greater than riches? In Luke 6:48, Jesus speaks of a wise builder who “dug ebathynen (beyond what one assumes is necessary) and laid the foundation on the rock.” It wasn’t a quick or easy process, but it gave the house a foundation that could withstand any storm. Wealth may give off the sense of stability, but it is often one storm of recession, political upheaval, or bad investment from being washed away. This bedrock is crucial to developing our spiritual lives. Surface-level faith won’t hold up when life gets hard. Jesus invites us to display obedience to what he says, and as we give our “yes” to him, our lives will be grounded on the Rock. The storms will surely come, but if we’ve done the hard work of digging ebathynen until we’re on the solid foundation, we’ll stand firm when they do.

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What next step will I take to ensure I’m spiritually prepared?

He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. – Luke 6:48 ESV

GREEK
προσέρηξεν/proserēxen: burst against abruptly

CONSIDER
On August 10, 2020, a sudden and violent derecho (super storm) swept across the Midwest, leaving a path of destruction hundreds of miles long. With winds reaching 140 mph, it flattened homes, crushed grain silos, and decimated over 10 million acres of crops in Iowa alone. What made it so devastating was how quickly it formed—many people had little to no time to prepare. Even with modern radar and warning systems, this storm developed quicker than the word could spread. Entire communities that looked peaceful just hours before were left reeling. It was a brutal reminder that storms in life often come without warning, and when they do, the strength of our foundation becomes vitally important.
In Luke 6:48, Jesus said that the hard work of digging to get to a solid foundation was worth the effort. “When a flood arose, the stream proserēxen (burst against abruptly) that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.” This Greek verb speaks to both the storm’s ferocity and the speed with which it approaches. Sounds a lot like our lives, doesn’t it? Life’s storms will come, whether sudden loss, hardship, or crisis. The question is not if, but when. The strength to withstand them doesn’t come from appearances or good intentions; it comes from depth. When we take time to build our lives on the bedrock of Christ’s finished work, we may still face fierce winds—but we won’t be shaken. Our house will hold because our foundation is secure.

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What next step will I take to ensure I’m spiritually prepared?

But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” – Luke 6:49 ESV

GREEK
ῥῆγμα/rhēgma: complete deconstruction
μέγα/mega: the largest measurement possible

CONSIDER
What next step will I take to ensure I’m spiritually prepared? For many, that next step is simply facing the reality that spiritual preparation really matters. As Jesus taught the importance of a solid foundation, he warned that “the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the rhēgma (complete, total destruction) of that house was mega (the largest measurement possible).” Notice that Jesus doesn’t attribute the utter annihilation of the building to shoddy materials or poor external features. The rhēgma of that house was mega because the foundation was unable to sustain its weight. When we neglect our spiritual foundation, whatever we attempt to build with our lives will inevitably crumble when a large enough storm comes our way. Worse still, if we trust in our own strength to weather the storm, it’s like using the best tools and investing in the finest supplies, only to see it all swept away. By taking our next step toward Jesus, we’re spiritually preparing to build on the solid foundation of the gospel. And as we do, we’ll find everything we’ll need to combat the fear, anxiety, and despair that often comes when a storm approaches.

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What next step will I take to ensure I’m spiritually prepared?

Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. – Luke 7:2 ESV

GREEK
ἔντιμος/entimos: immeasurably precious

CONSIDER
Did you hear the one about the billionaire who bought a banana for $6.2 million? Shockingly, this isn’t the opening line of a joke, but the beginning of an actual news story. Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan created an installation titled “Comedian,” in which he duct-taped a banana to a wall. Justin Sun, who is a digital entrepreneur, purchased the work and then ate the banana to “complete the decentralized cycle” of the piece. You and I may not consider a six-million-dollar banana a worthwhile investment, but this cultural stunt is yet another vivid example of the truth that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Whether it’s a fridge that proudly displays scribbles on scrap paper from a child or a garage that holds an old model jalopy with decades of memories, our lives are often filled with examples of mementos that are far more valuable to us than anyone else. The centurion in this week’s passage has a servant that would likely fit this description. In a culture that considered bondservants disposable, this Roman officer found his servant entimos (immeasurably precious). This Greek adjective indicates value on a personal level, not on a scale of usefulness. Like a parent who would prefer to display a child’s artwork instead of something more universally favorable, the centurion finds this servant favored and beloved. He asks Jesus to heal this one (who others would have considered mere property) and Jesus is moved to compassion, not because of his external works but because of his internal faith. Jesus knows how much the centurion cares for his servant, but looks past his cultural record and instead acts as a result of this man’s genuine trust. Today, resting in God’s authority looks quite similar. Jesus sees the beauty of faith, not the external realities that others see. May we trust him in every area of our lives because of what Christ has done, and may the truth of the gospel change us from the inside out.

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In what area of my life will I rest in God’s authority?

And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. – Luke 7:6 ESV

GREEK
σκύλλου/skyllou: annoy yourself, create a self-inflicting wound; lit. “skin yourself alive”

CONSIDER
Leadership expert Peter Drucker once said, “Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things.” In other words, how things are being done and what things are being done both matters if you want to move the needle in a particular area. To a Roman centurion, efficiency was often a matter of life and death. Their orders needed to be communicated in battle as clearly and quickly as possible or else the enemy might gain an advantage that could turn the tide. In this environment, even a small amount of wasted time and energy would be painful to experience. This is the reality that the centurion in this week’s passage communicated to Jesus. The Roman officer sent friends to Jesus with a message: “Lord, do not skyllou (annoy yourself, create a self-inflicting wound), for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.” Because this man was a Gentile with much spiritual baggage, he knew that he was unworthy to have a Jewish Rabbi visit his home. But the centurion also knew that Jesus could be effective in healing his servant with just a word, and invited him to refrain from any unnecessary work to do so. Imagine the level of faith that this request demonstrates! Because he understood authority, he trusted that the orders Jesus could give from afar would be just as effective as if the Rabbi did the annoying work of traveling the entire way to his home. We, too, can rest in God’s authority in a similar way this week. One way to do so is to trust that the finished work of the cross is both effective in covering our sins and efficient in providing complete forgiveness. Walking in that truth will provide a level of rest that nothing else can!

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In what area of my life will I rest in God’s authority?

And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.- Luke 7:10 ESV

GREEK
ὑγιαίνοντα/hygiainonta: in complete, balanced health

CONSIDER
When the apostle Paul taught about divine protection in Ephesians 6, he compared faith with a shield that could absorb the firepower of our greatest spiritual enemies. He admonishes us to put on the shield of faith “in all circumstances” (Eph. 6:16 ESV) so that the evil one will be rendered powerless to enact his destructive will in our lives. To Paul, faith in Christ was potent enough to change the outcome of the supernatural battles we face with the unseen world.
If anyone wanted Paul to provide proof that faith had that kind of power, he would only need to point to the centurion in this week’s passage. Jesus was called upon to heal this man’s servant. Although we do not know what led the servant to become sick to the point of death (v. 2), we do know that our spiritual adversary’s job description is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). The centurion’s faith was so robust that he believed Jesus need only say the word from afar and his servant could be healed. When the men who spoke with Jesus returned home, they found the servant hygiainonta (in complete, balanced health). This verb is where we get our English word hygiene, and in Greek, it specifically refers to being totally healthy in any and all areas of life. So the faith of this Roman officer was perceived by Jesus, and it led to an all-around healing. When faith was exercised, whatever the enemy had intended for evil was met with the life-giving power of God! And as we rest in God’s authority this week, the faith we display promises to be powerful enough to thwart the enemies’ plans for our lives as well.

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In what area of my life will I rest in God’s authority?

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” – Luke 7:13 ESV

GREEK
ἐσπλαγχνίσθη/esplanchnisthē: was compelled to take loving action; lit. “to have one’s insides yearn”

CONSIDER
The technical term is analepsis, but just about all of us know this literary device as a flashback. In chapter 4, Luke recorded that Jesus had referenced the Old Testament prophet Elijah, and the story in this week’s passage seems to be doing something similar. Both Elijah and Jesus encounter a widow. Both widows have a child – a son – who each die and leave their mother reeling. And both sons are miraculously healed through the power of God. But there is one glaring difference between the two narratives. In 1 Kings 17, Elijah felt compelled to take the boy into a room where he could spend time crying out to the Lord privately to heal him. But Jesus saw the widow weeping and immediately healed her son publicly, right in the middle of the gathering crowd. Luke made a point to tell us that “when the Lord saw her, he esplanchnisthē (was compelled to take loving action) on her.” The Greek verb denotes a visceral reaction to what someone is feeling internally. Esplanchnisthē quite literally means to have one’s bowels yearn, which in antiquity were the seat of a person’s emotions. Jesus is seen as the greater Elijah because the healing he enacted was done in the midst of a crowd with just a word – no waiting or private ritual involved. And this greater Elijah would soon provide the ultimate healing, not just for one desperate person, but for us all. One of the beautiful things about the gospel is that the same compassion that caused Jesus to heal this widow’s pain led him to the cross to heal our wounds, too. We were guilty of breaking our relationship with God, and yet Jesus saw us in that brokenness and was compelled to act on our behalf. We had nothing to offer in exchange for this gift, yet Jesus joyfully chose to endure the cross anyway (Hebrews 12:2). If we have experienced the power of that kind of compassion in the past, where in your life will you pray for God’s compassion this week?

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Where in my life will I pray for God’s compassion?

And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. – Luke 7:15 ESV

GREEK
ἔδωκεν/edōken: bestowed, granted

CONSIDER
Because God gave us everything we value GENEROSITY… therefore we are open-handed and happily go above and beyond with our time, our talent, and our treasure. We steward our spiritual gifts and serve. We are contributors not consumers.

As a church we believe that God’s kindness is so powerful it can change our very identity – from self-focused consumer to selfless contributor. When we recognize that everything we have is a gift from our Heavenly Father, we are more apt to respond with generosity ourselves. The life changing kindness of God was on display in this week’s passage, as Jesus raised a widow’s son from the dead. Luke points out that Jesus was moved with compassion for this woman, and simply spoke a word to bring her child to life. The text records that “the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus edōken (bestowed, granted) him to his mother.” The implication in Greek is clear – edōken is a verb that shows possession. This grieving mother had lost a child, but just when it looked as if death would possess him forever, the Lord of creation miraculously reclaimed him as his own! This reality is reminiscent of gospel truth. All of us were dead in our trespasses and sins until God made us alive together with Christ (Ephesians 2:1-5). His compassion on us means that we have all that we need, and are now free to live open-handed with our abundance.

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Where in my life will I pray for God’s compassion?

Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” – Luke 7:16 ESV

GREEK
Ἐπεσκέψατο/Epeskepsato: has purposely shortened the gap between

CONSIDER
In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus told a parable to his disciples about people who had compassion for the king and visited him when he was sick. Those people were welcomed into the kingdom of God. Confused, they wondered aloud when this actually happened, since they didn’t recall the king needing someone to come check on him or provide some practical relief with their presence. Jesus’ response in Matthew 25:39 was profound – “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” The word used in Matthew to describe the tangible compassion that was given when visiting the sick is the same word used in today’s verse. When Jesus raised the widow’s son to life, the crowd exclaimed “God epeskepsato (has purposely shortened the gap between) his people!” The crowd witnessed a miracle so profound that they recognized God had done something about the distance between him and us. And in that intentionality, he both expressed his love and showcased his power to rescue. Epeskepsato implies that God didn’t raise the dead merely because “he was in the area.” He deliberately went to where broken people needed healing. God still does this today. The Spirit is at work in our world, counseling us when we are headed in the wrong direction (John 14:16) and pointing lost people to Jesus (1 John 5). Thank God that through Jesus his compassion and his presence are inextricably linked!

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Where in my life will I pray for God’s compassion?

calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” – Luke 7:19 ESV

GREEK
προσδοκῶμεν/prosdokōmen: are we to focus in anticipation on

CONSIDER
To many, Mr. & Mrs. Doolittle were easy to overlook. Life in Elmira, NY in the early 20th Century wasn’t often newsworthy, and they both had physical issues that left one bedridden and the other wheelchair-bound. But Civilia Martin recognized them as “true saints of God” because of their unwavering faith in his goodness. Civilia’s husband Walter once asked what the secret was to their bright hopefulness, to which Mr. Doolittle quickly replied, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” That simple statement so profoundly moved Civilia that it led her to author her most recognized hymn. “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” has impacted millions of believers since it was first sung in 1905.
The source of the Doolittle’s hope was easy to spot once Civilia and Walter were focused on it. They weren’t simply passive observers – they actively sought to discover it. That kind of focus is what John the Baptist articulated having for the Messiah in Luke 7. While in prison, John sent his disciples to Jesus to ask him “Are you the one who is to come, or prosdokōmen (are we to focus in anticipation on) another?” For John, anticipating the Messiah wasn’t a passive activity. Knowing Jesus’ identity as Savior was worth putting forth any amount of effort to see clearly and know definitively. And while it’s true that John was in prison and awaiting execution, it is imperative that all of us seek to know the Lord this clearly. Every one of us will spend our lives focusing on something – the truth of the gospel is that when we seek Christ above all else, we will recognize his grace and glory all around us.

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What lie do I need to replace with the truth of the Gospel?

In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. – Luke 7:21 ESV

GREEK
ἐχαρίσατο/echarisato: he graced with; he benevolently granted

CONSIDER
Imagine you show up to work and the CEO of your company calls an emergency meeting to talk about the company’s dire financial situation. You notice that the boss drove up in a brand new luxury vehicle that the business paid for but keeps insisting that cutbacks are necessary in order to survive. When challenged about the expenditure, he tells his employees, “These cuts don’t apply to upper management.”  How long do you think the company (or any decent employee) will last in that environment? It’s likely that the answer is not very long.
Human history is full of examples of leaders with an entitlement mentality. Whether it’s King George III, Marie Antoinette, or Tsar Nicolas II of Russia, we don’t have to dig too deep into the history books to find those who believed the rules didn’t apply to them. When John’s disciples found Jesus at the request of their master, he was healing the physical and spiritual diseases of society’s marginalized people. Not only did the Messiah display incredible humility in this moment, his actions remind us that there is no room for an entitlement mentality in our lives. Luke records that “on many who were blind echarisato (he graced with; he benevolently granted) sight.” Derived from the Greek word for grace, echarisato expresses the truth that even the senses that we easily take for granted are a free gift! Jesus wasn’t forced to provide sight to the blind because they deserved it; he graced those who were blind with the free gift of sight. If we could understand this fully, we would approach everyday as a gift, with a hope and peace that could not be conjured up by ourselves. The truth of the gospel is that the only One in history who was rightfully entitled to everything instead chose to give it all up for humanity.

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What lie do I need to replace with the truth of the Gospel?

And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. – Luke 7:22 ESV

GREEK
εὐαγγελίζονται/euangelizontai: are gospelized; are confronted with the good news

CONSIDER
What lie do I need to replace with the truth of the Gospel? One of the most pervasive lies in our culture today is the false belief that money is either ultimately good or ultimately evil. Although the vast majority of us would not be considered “poor” when compared to the rest of the world, we can easily believe that a few more dollars in our pocket would save us from tension, anxiety, strife, toil, and (seemingly worst of all) boredom. But the truth of the matter is that none of those things will ever change in our lives if we don’t understand where true joy can be found. The Psalmist said it best: “in your presence there is fullness of joy” (Ps. 16:11). It can seem as if society’s finest perks are only available to cultural influencers, but the gospel declares that the hope of eternity is accessible to everyone. Regardless of how much or little we have, the Good News is that God has made a way for sinful humans like us to enter into his presence and be completely forgiven. In fact, Jesus said in today’s verse that one of the marks of the Messiah’s arrival was that “the poor euangelizontai (are gospelized; are confronted with the good news).” Because of the finished work of Jesus, access into the Holy of Holies is not reserved for the social elite or financially savvy. It doesn’t take owning the newest stuff or nicest house for the King of Kings to take notice. God drew near to us through Christ his Son, and provided the ultimate rescue for anyone who would call upon the name of the Lord. Regardless of what our bank statements look like, this remarkable truth is good news indeed!

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What lie do I need to replace with the truth of the Gospel?

When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? – Luke 7:24 ESV

GREEK
ἐξήλθατε/exēlthate: did you disrupt your comfort and travel

CONSIDER
The crowds who went out to see John the Baptist weren’t trekking into the dry, dusty wilderness just to be entertained. They weren’t chasing a sideshow or looking for something lighthearted to fill their afternoon. Jesus highlighted this with a bit of irony when he asked them, “What exēlthate (did you disrupt your comfort level and travel) into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?” This Greek verb is active and indicates putting forth effort to leave the comfortable and familiar. In other words, Jesus was asking, “Did you really expend all that energy just to hear someone who wavers with every breeze of opinion?” Of course not. They were drawn to John because he was bold, unwavering, and unafraid to speak the truth that Jesus was the Messiah. His appearance may have been strange, and his words hard to swallow, but his message was far from shallow or safe. It challenged people. It stirred hearts. And it demanded a decision, either to reject Jesus as the promised Christ or to fully embrace him in a way that would change everything. There was no in-between. That same challenge comes to us today. We may not be standing in a desert, but we are still faced with the truth that pushes us beyond convenience and ease. Jesus calls us to step away from the comfortable and convenient and into the wilderness, to hear a message that cuts through the safe and asks for our whole heart. Are we willing to disrupt the familiar in pursuit of what matters most?

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What will I offer to God that may seem insignificant to others?

I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”  – Luke 7:28 ESV

GREEK
μικρότερος/mikroteros: tiniest; least in significance

CONSIDER
Today, he’s considered a wise and humble paradox, but in the 17th century, Brother Lawrence was often simply thought of as insignificant. This monastic cook had no official title, performed menial tasks, and lived in near obscurity. Yet his simple devotion to practicing God’s presence in the everyday moments that accompany scrubbing pots and sweeping floors has left a spiritual legacy that has inspired generations. His book “Practicing the Presence of God” has impacted millions of Christians in the nearly four centuries since it was first written. Though he may have seemed like the “least” among his peers, Brother Lawrence’s quiet intimacy with God became a testimony to the upside-down nature of the kingdom.
In Luke 7:28, Jesus made a startling statement: “I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is mikroteros (tiniest; least in significance) in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” At first glance, this seems like a paradox too. How could anyone be greater than John the Baptist, the fiery prophet who prepared the way for the Messiah? But Jesus is pointing to a radical truth: greatness in God’s kingdom isn’t based on public impact or prophetic stature but on one’s relationship to Jesus. Even the “least” – those overlooked, unknown, or seemingly insignificant – can hold a greater position because they are living on this side of the cross, beneficiaries of the full revelation of God’s grace through Christ. What we have at our disposal often seems insignificant or unimpressive, but as we offer it to the One who died in our place, it becomes infused with Gospel power and can be leveraged by an omnipotent God for his glory and our joy!

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What will I offer to God that may seem insignificant to others?

Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.” – Luke 7:35 ESV

GREEK
ἐδικαιώθη/edikaiōthē: is vindicated, acquitted, exonerated

CONSIDER
There must have been so many thoughts running through his head as he saw the boy. This prodigal son left a while ago, demanding his inheritance early and essentially declaring his father was worth more dead than alive to him. Now here he was, still a ways off, but nonetheless walking up to the house. He looked thinner than when he left, and he seemed to be moving with a posture of humility. How would the dad respond? Would he greet the prodigal with anger, resentment, or defensiveness? Surprisingly, this father didn’t wait for his son to get to the door, but instead ran to his son and embraced him with grace and forgiveness (see Luke 15:11-32).
In Luke 7:35, Jesus responded to critics who found fault with both John the Baptist’s austerity and Jesus’ own warmth toward sinners. He says, “wisdom edikaiōthē (is vindicated, acquitted, exonerated) by all her children.” Jesus here teaches that the fruit of one’s life will reveal what is truly wise. The prodigal son’s story is a powerful example of this. At first, the younger son’s decision to take his inheritance and leave seemed foolish and reckless, while the older son’s obedience looked like wisdom. But when the younger son hit rock bottom and returned home humbled, it was the father’s mercy, not the older brother’s moral superiority, that revealed true wisdom. It’s easy to judge decisions in the short term, especially when grace feels scandalous and undeserved. But Jesus reminds us that real wisdom is not always neat or popular. It can often look like a father running toward a broken son or a Savior dining with sinners. So rather than rushing to condemn or categorize, we’re invited to wait and watch as God’s wisdom does what it always does: restores the broken places of our lives. Wisdom may be misunderstood at first, but in the end, her children will speak for her.

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What will I offer to God that may seem insignificant to others?

and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. – Luke 7:38 ESV

GREEK
κλαίουσα/klaiousa: uncontainable, audible emotion

CONSIDER
One of the 16 Fundamental Truths of the Assemblies of God centers around the salvation of man: Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. The good news is that God has made a way for us to be saved by the blood of his Son. The bad news, however, is that so many of us default to the mindset that we can only find salvation if we earn it. As a result, we can be easily crushed by the reality of our imperfection. The woman in this week’s passage had felt this weight before. A notorious sinner, she understood her guilt and recognized there was nothing she could do in herself to fix the damage caused by her sin. But her actions demonstrated that she also knew the power of God’s salvation through Jesus the Messiah. Luke records that “standing behind him at his feet, klaiousa (uncontainable, audible emotion), she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.” All of us have been there – so overwhelmed with emotion that it spills out both vocally and tearfully. This woman saw Jesus, remembered how much she had been forgiven, and klaiousa, was moved to anoint his feet. Her actions did not earn her salvation; they were merely a response to the truth that her only hope was in the room. As we set out to take spiritual inventory of our lives this week, may this woman’s actions remind us that our biggest need has already been addressed by the One who promises to be with us through any storm we could face.

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When will I take spiritual inventory of my life?

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” – Luke 7:39 ESV

GREEK
ἐγίνωσκεν/eginōsken: would have intimate familiarity with

CONSIDER
In a small town in the heart of the Finger Lakes, neighbors Maria and James sat on their porches one late afternoon when they saw a young boy climb through the window of a vacant-looking house down the street. To James, it looked like clear-cut trespassing. “That kid is breaking in,” he said, shaking his head. “This generation is never up to any good.” His conclusion was swift, shaped by past experiences and unfounded assumptions. Maria, however, paused. She recognized the boy from her work at the local school. The boy was quiet, often unkempt, and usually alone. Rather than assuming the worst, she walked over to check on him. What she found broke her heart: the boy hadn’t broken in to steal or vandalize. His parents had left him locked out again with no key, no phone, and nowhere else to go. He was simply trying to find safety in the only place he could.
In Luke 7:39, when a sinful woman wept at Jesus’ feet and wiped her tears with her hair, the Pharisee watching said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he eginōsken (would have intimate familiarity with) who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” The Greek verb used implies knowledge that comes from relationship, implying that if Jesus had any awareness of this woman’s situation, he would have identified her as a sinner. But Jesus did know her. And he saw what the Pharisee couldn’t: a repentant heart, not a disgraceful past. Like the man watching from his porch, the Pharisee judged the surface, missing the deeper story unfolding right in front of him because of his imperfect perspective. Jesus invites us to look past our assumptions and see people through eyes of mercy. When we slow down and choose compassion over suspicion, we begin to see with the heart of the gospel.

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When will I take spiritual inventory of my life?

When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” – Luke 7:42 ESV

GREEK
ἀγαπήσει/agapēsei: would go to the greatest lengths for

CONSIDER
Can we force people to love? The question itself seems ludicrous. If someone proposes marriage and the other person flat out rejects them, our jaws would drop if that person proceeded to twist the other person’s arm until they changed their mind. And yet in John 13 Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another.” How is it possible that Jesus can command us to love? The answer will help us take spiritual inventory of our lives.
Jesus tells a parable in Luke 7 in which two people are forgiven debts, with one debt ten times larger than the other. He then asks, “When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them agapēsei (would go to the greatest lengths for) him more?” Jesus is clear that the one who was forgiven more would have their heart drawn toward the forgiver in a more significant way. It turns out that love in this context isn’t blind or uncontrollable; it’s based on the recognition of what we deserve. If we believe we are entitled to certain privileges and expect to receive the perks available to others, we agapēsei ourselves at the expense of others. However, if we recognize the immense debt we owe and understand that Christ has paid it in full, our hearts will be bent in the direction of what moves God’s heart to compassionate action. Taking spiritual inventory, then, could involve making a list of the spiritual debt we once owed, and then rejoicing in the work of the cross with a heart of worship. This exercise will prove that the command to love each other isn’t a mandated burden, but a joyful expression of our freedom!

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When will I take spiritual inventory of my life?