The people in the room cared very much about the law and about their place in society. Most in the room were confident that they were right with God. It is in response to this outburst recorded in verse 15 that Jesus tells this parable about the invited guests not responding to the master’s invitation. Verse 16 begins, not with Jesus affirming this declaration but with an indication that Jesus responded unexpectantly. To this triumphant remark, Luke records, “but He (Jesus) said to him.”

The invitation to come to salvation is present. But the invitation alone is not enough. The invited must come to the event. To be saved, you must do more than acknowledge that Jesus saves. You must come to Jesus.

The simple truth of this passage is a call to repent. This was the singular message of John the Baptist’s preaching. This was the theme of Jesus’ preaching. And this is the call of every faithful preacher of the gospel to this day.

We live in a world that values things. The sales pitch is always the same, “more things equal more happiness.” We like to hear that we “need” more things, or we “deserve” more things. So often, the temptation to judge our own value or success by the number of things we have collected overwhelms us. And as a result, we pursue an unattainable goal to have enough. The tragedy of all this striving for more is that we invest our resources, talents, and efforts in the attempt to attain things that will never be able to hold the value that was spent pursuing them.

There are riches that brings blessing, but these are not recognized by the world nor celebrated by men. The true treasures that bring true blessings are the things of the Lord. Seek after true treasure and being rich toward God.

Jesus tells these two parables in response to his disciples asking Him to teach them to pray. First Jesus gives an example prayer in verse 2-4 then He tells two stories to illustrate how we are to approach God in prayer and how God responds to our prayer.

As we consider this passage, I want you to see that we are to approach the Lord in prayer like children, that God will answer your prayer, and that the Lord’s heart toward His children is to give good gifts.

Are you justified by your own actions or are you justified by the merciful salvation of Christ? Are you concerned with how much you must do to be right or are you overwhelmed by the limitless mercy expressed through the cross of Christ?

Dear friend – all those who have known the limitless, overwhelming fountain of the mercy of God that flowed through the veins of Jesus on the cross will “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself”

At the first light on Sunday Mary and Mary make their way to the tomb to do the unpleasant task of anointing the dead body of Jesus with strong spices to compete against the putrid stench of decay. The scene that they encounter is anything but what they expected to find. The stone is rolled away. An angel sits on top of the stone announcing the resurrection of Jesus. The Roman guards are so frightened they are literally frozen with fear. The angel tells the two Marys that they are to go and tell the disciples that Jesus has risen from the grave and that He is going to meet His disciples in Galilee.

They depart immediately, with both fear and great joy, to report what they had experienced to the disciples. On their way they meet Jesus. It is in this meeting that Matthew records the first words spoken by the savior after the resurrection.

In this passage we have witness of the last words of Jesus on the cross. They are words of despair and agony. But in this very dark and sad moment there is a display of amazing grace – Jesus is giving His whole life and bearing the whole weight of sin so sinners might be totally redeemed.

Peter was the leader of the disciples in many ways. He led them spiritually. He led them in devotion and faithfulness. He led them in his willingness to sacrifice for Jesus and His kingdom. These things are certainly admirable. But late in the evening as he witnessed the trial and humiliation of Jesus, he fulfilled the prediction of Jesus – denying him three times before the rooster crowed. The third denial was especially low in that to make himself believable he cursed and cussed.

When Peter denied Jesus the third time it was the lowest moment in his life and ministry. But in this moment to total failure, he would learn a truth that changed the course of his life and allowed him to be used greatly for the gospel and God’s kingdom.

The events of this passage begin the night of trials before the Jewish religious leaders who would then turn Jesus over to the civil authorities to be crucified. These events would not go as either side had thought they would. Jesus does not resist. He surrenders Himself. He is surrenders willingly because He is fulfilling His mission of being the suffering servant obedient to the will of God for the redemption of sinful man.

Nations rise and fall. Leaders and rulers rise to power, but all succumb to death and are no more. Not so with Jesus. He was crucified but rose again. Not so with those who follow Jesus. Hated and opposed by the world but empowered by the God of all creation the church stands – not in the power of men but in the power of God. The gospel witness and the faithful church is preserved in every generation and in every situation according to the will of God. Preach Jesus in season and out of season. Preach Jesus when the gospel is well received and when it sets the world in a rage.

The question of “lawfulness” is not the only question faithful Christians must ask. Certainly, this is important – and if something is unlawful then no Christian should even consider it. But lawfulness is only the basic question – for one to grow in spiritual maturity and faithfulness you must ask is it helpful and dose it distract from faithful obedience.

This passage is part of Paul’s teaching on the armor of God – that you may be familiar with. As he describes all the “equipment” a Christian needs – belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, sandals of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit – he gives the most attention to prayer (three verses 18-20).

Let us consider what Paul teaches us about prayer. Four times he uses the word “all” in his instruction on prayer. Prayer is not something that is an extracurricular activity. For Christians, prayer is part of our all in all. We are a people of prayer, who pray, and pray for all things at all times.

The cancer that is consuming the church today is a lack of concern for the danger of sin and the consequences sin brings. The cancer grows in our homes and in our personal lives as we grow comfortable with things, we know are wicked and contrary to the will of God, but we justify their presence by saying that they “are not that bad.” Or we find false comfort in the knowledge that others tolerate the same in their homes.

This cancer grows in our nation as well – as our nation grows ever more comfortable with open rebellion against the goodness of God’s created order and God’s authority to declare what is right and wrong. The great evil of our day is abortion. From this flows related evils of euthanasia, genocide, and human trafficking. If any life is not sacred, then no life is sacred.