This was Christ’s response to those who questioned why he associated with sinners, even eating and drinking with them. He had come to call sinners to repentance. Those who thought themselves righteous, as the Pharisees did, would not answer the call. Only those who admitted their sin would hear and obey his call.
This is still Christ’s ministry. As the Father sent him, he sends us (John 20:21). Having repented of our sins and believed in Jesus, we are sent to call sinners to repentance too.
What would “defile the land?”
The blood of unatoned murder is a defilement of any land. Not just the murder itself, but the murder that isn’t justly punished. As the Lord told Cain after he murdered his brother, “Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground” (Gen. 4:10).
The Lord gave authority to human government to both limit and punish sin. As the apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, The ruler “does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” The Lord will not long dwell with a nation that does not execute justice.
The city of Capernaum embraced the ministry of Jesus. He made this fishing and marketplace crossroads, located on the northern end of the Sea of Galilee, His base of operations. The ruins of the synagogue in Capernaum still remain to this day, a testimony to the Word of Jesus which went out from there, and across the world. Those who heard His teaching were “astonished,” or as literally stated in the Greek, “thunderstruck.” Today, we might say, “blown away.”
There are still people groups and cities today that are ready to receive the Word of Christ and be astonished by it. All that is needed is for someone to go in the authority of Christ and preach there (Matt. 28:18-20).
David wrote of his strong desire to be “satisfied” and “joyful” in the Lord. He sought to bear the fruit of one who knew the “lovingkindness” (Psa. 63:3) of the Lord. The word “satisfied” speaks of contentment. David lifted his soul up to the Lord, determined to find a deep abiding contentment like one feels
Moses was a faithful servant to the Lord. He passed along “everything” that the Lord had commanded him to say to the children of Israel. He did not add to, nor subtract from, nor water down the Word of the Lord. He told them all, just as the Lord had said to him. The Lord commended him for this.
Where is the witness for Christ today that would say all that the Lord has told them? Where is the expositor that would preach the whole Word of God? Where is one that would be faithful like Moses in communicating everything that God has commanded?
Do you skip over names and places in your Bible reading? If so, you’re missing one of the richest parts of the Bible, namely, its historical and geographical rootedness. In these two verses, we see Luke’s careful research and historical accuracy on display. Wherever skeptics have cast doubt at the Bible’s historicity, it has stood the test of comparison to extra-biblical sources and to archaeological discoveries. The gospel of Luke is a historical masterpiece of its time.
Here’s an assignment for today: Look up all of the names, titles and places found in these two verses. Let your own research give color and shape to the time and setting of John the Baptist’s appearance on the scene. As you do this, ask the Lord to speak to you in your study and deepen your faith and understanding. The Word of God is true and powerful!
After a frantic, three day search, Mary and Joseph found twelve year old Jesus with the teachers in the temple. Mary asked why He had done this to them, causing them such worry, searching for Him. They didn’t understand Jesus’ reply at the time, but Mary continued to ponder such things in her heart.
Mary and Joseph and their entourage hadn’t even noticed that Jesus was missing from their company until they had gone well down the road to Nazareth. They went a whole day’s journey before they missed His presence. Then, they panicked as they looked for Him.
How many times have you headed out without Jesus? How many times have you gone a whole day without even missing Him? Where can we find Jesus? Where do we seek? Look to the Father’s business. You will find Him there. Wherever the Father is at work, Jesus will be at work with Him. Those who would be with Jesus, will follow Him in the Father’s work.
Two “beholds.” The “behold” of old Simeon pointed to the “behold” of Jesus on the cross.
When Joseph and Mary took eight-day old Jesus up from Bethlehem to Jerusalem to be circumcised, they were met in the temple by a man who was diligently waiting for the Christ. It had been revealed to him by the Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. As soon as he saw the Child, he took him into his arms and blessed him. Then, he turned to Mary and said, “Behold… a sword will pierce through you own soul.” Now, that’s a strange thing to say to the mother at a bris! “He’s a beautiful baby, but he will cause you to feel like a sword pierced your heart!”
Surely, the “behold” of Simeon must have flashed across her memory as she stood at the cross and heard her crucified Son say to her, “Woman, behold your son.” Jesus said this to Mary as he turned her care over to his disciple John. And to John he said, “Behold your mother.”
The Spirit had revealed this day to old Simeon and now Mary saw it with her own eyes, “Behold, the Christ who dies on a cross for the sins of humanity.”
Can you keep a confidence?
A gossip cannot be trusted. Their MO (Modus Operandi) is to tell everything they know and to add a little to the story to spice it up. If you know someone who is constantly telling you someone else’s secrets, then be sure not to tell them yours! But a faithful friend can be trusted.
Have you been snake bit?
There are three types of snake venom: Hemotoxic, which acts on the heart and cardiovascular system; Neurotoxic, which acts on the nervous system and brain; and Cytotoxic, which has a localized action at the site of the bite.
There’s another kind of venom that works on the spirit. It comes not from snakes, but from other people. It’s the venom of ingratitude. It’s the poison of grumbling. And it is more dangerous than most people realize.I think that the venomous nature of complaining must’ve been the reason the Lord sent serpents among the Israelites. He wanted to show them the dangers of ingratitude.
What is the anatomy of ingratitude?
– A heart that won’t wait on God.
– A mouth that speaks against God.
Why is grumbling against God?
– It questions God’s sovereignty (“Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?” v.5)
– It denies God’s provision (“For there is no food and no water” v.5)
– It rejects God’s grace (“Our soul loathes this worthless bread” v.5)
What is the cure for ingratitude?
1) Confess it as sin. (“We have sinned” v.7)
2) Pray that God would remove the venom of ingratitude. (“pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents” v.7)
3) Focus on God’s provision and be thankful. (“if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived” v.9).