Really Ready? Then Repent!
Luke 12:49-13:9 – February 06, 2022
Luke 12:49-53. Most of us are familiar with the saying, blood is thicker than water, but Jesus is telling Israel (and us) that the cross is thicker than blood. Matthew 10:37 has a parallel passage, Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Here not worthy means: does not deserve to belong to me, i.e. is not worthy to be my disciple.
Additionally, it may also meean “is not worthy to participate in the kingdom” (to be undeserving of Jesus is to be undeserving of the kingdom he brings).
Luke 12:54-56. Yes! They are hypocrites, especially the Pharisees and the Scribes and the Law Givers and anyone else familiar with Isaiah. Jesus is clearly saying, I am here and I am the unmistakable sign.! Go back 700 to 800 years when in Isaiah 7:14, we read, Therefore the Lord himself will give you] a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Luke 12:57-59. You only have a little time before you will have to have your debt paid! Your debt to God, get it paid, sooner rather than later. This is truly urgent, do not wait until one minute prior to midnight. And then find out the train has already gone, already left the station. Jesus is saying this is urgent. Do not wait!
Question: Are we taking Jesus’ message as seriously as we should? Are you taking Jesus’ message as seriously as you should? Reflecting on this question: Is there anything keeping you from taking Jesus seriously?
Are we confident of being reconciled to God? Are we?
Luke 13:1-5. Notice what Jesus does here. He turns the focus from the question of “Why did this happen” to a new question, “What does this mean to me?” Then He makes the answer clear, we must all may die at any time, therefore repentance must be a priority. Right? Wrong for it must be the top priority, the number one priority.
It is so important He says it twice, But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
Guzik writes (noting the ancient Greek grammar) that in 13:3 and 13:5 there are two types of repentance and that both are essential. In 13:3, we have a continuing repentance and in 13:5 we have a once and or all repentance.
This is nothing new. Matthew 4:17, and Mark 1:15, and Luke 5:32.
Luke 13:6-9. What fig trees are growing in terms of people? Those who have repented, those who have accepted Christ. For those people, how patient is God? The parable gives us three years without bearing fruit. And then gives a second chance, one more year to bear fruit with special treatment … loosening the soil around it and fertilizing it to see if it will bear fruit.
IF NOT, then will come a day of reckoning.
What fruit does God expect?
So, what is the fruit of repentance? Turn to Galatians 5:22-23 to find out, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Conclusion/Bottom Line.
Time runs out and it can run out when we least expect it.