PT-5 Intro to “Receptivity to the Gospel: The Parable of the Soils” (Luke 8:4-15)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/9/2026 5:35 PM

My Worship Time     Focus:  PT-5 Intro to “Receptivity to the Gospel: The Parable of the Soils”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                               Reference:  “Luke 8:4-15”

            Message of the verses:  “4 Now when a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: 5 “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the sky ate it up. 6 Other seed fell on rocky soil, and when it came up, it withered away because it had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. 8 And yet other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as much.” As He said these things, He would call out, “The one who has ears to hear, let him hear.” 9 Now His disciples began asking Him what this parable meant. 10 And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest they are told in parables, so that while seeing they may not see, and while hearing they may not understand. 11 “Now this is the parable: the seed is the word of God. 12 And those beside the road are the ones who have heard, then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky soil are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and yet these do not have a firm root; they believe for a while, and in a time of temptation they fall away. 14 And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked by worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and virtuous heart, and hold it firmly, and produce fruit with perseverance.

            I will continue to quote John MacArthur’s introduction to the above section of Scripture.

            The first thing I want to say is that you please be in prayer for my family as my grandson was in a very sever motorcycle accident and has lost one leg and one arm, but the Lord has spared his life and no vital parts of his body, like organs and head injury’s did not happen, but it will be a very long road to recovery, and so prayer is needed.

            “Though Jesus made up such analogies all through His minis try, this parable marked a major turning point.  From this time on Jesus spoke to crowds only in parables (Matt. 13:34).  Now let me add something here that I hope will be helpful, and that is that the incident where the scribes and other rulers accused Jesus of doing his miracles in the power of Satan was the time when Jesus began to speak in parables, for this was the time when they blasphemed the Holy Spirit, and Jesus said that this was the unpardonable sin.  Now I will quote Matt. 13:34.

(Matt. 13:34)

“34  All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable.”

“That was a deliberate act of judgment on His part.  Those who would not believe now could not; the fools who hated knowledge (Prov. 1:22) were deprived of it.”

(Prov. 1:22)

“22  "How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?”

By presenting His teaching in parables, Jesus hid the truth from rejecting unbelievers and revealed it only to His faithful followers.  Without an explanation, a parable can mean anything or nothing; it is little more than a riddle.  The Lord’s veiling of the truth means that judgment had fallen on Israel so that they could not longer understand the teaching of their own Messiah.  Those who had rejected Him were fixed in the darkness they loved (John 3:19).

(John 3:19)

19  And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”

“Only the Lord’s disciples understood the parables, because only they received His explanation of them.  Mark’s account of this incident records that Jesus ‘was saying to [His disciples]. ‘To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise them might return and be forgiven’’ (Mark 4:11-12).

            “In this passage the Lord told the parable to the crowds, and then interpreted it in private to His disciples.”

9/9/2026 5:54 PM

 

PT-4 Intro to “Receptivity to the Gospel: The Parable of the Soils” (Luke 8:4-15)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/9/2026 8:45 AM

My Worship Time     Focus:  PT-4 Intro to “Receptivity to the Gospel: The Parable of the Soils”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                Reference:  “Luke 8:4-15”

            Message of the verses:  “4 Now when a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: 5 “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the sky ate it up. 6 Other seed fell on rocky soil, and when it came up, it withered away because it had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. 8 And yet other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as much.” As He said these things, He would call out, “The one who has ears to hear, let him hear.” 9 Now His disciples began asking Him what this parable meant. 10 And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest they are told in parables, so that while seeing they may not see, and while hearing they may not understand. 11 “Now this is the parable: the seed is the word of God. 12 And those beside the road are the ones who have heard, then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky soil are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and yet these do not have a firm root; they believe for a while, and in a time of temptation they fall away. 14 And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked by worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and virtuous heart, and hold it firmly, and produce fruit with perseverance.

            I will continue to quote John MacArthur’s introduction to the above section of Scripture.

            “Matthew’s account provides the setting for this parable.  On the day He told it, Jesus left a house (probably the one where His mother and brothers found Him [Matt. 12:46-50]) and went to the shore of the Sea of Galilee (13:1).”

(Matt. 12:46-50)

“46 ¶  While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 47  48  But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49  And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 50  For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’”

(13:1)

“1 ¶  That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.”

“Because of the large crowds that pressed Him, Jesus got into a boat and sat down to teach the people (cf. Luke 5:3), who stood on the beach (Matt. 12:2).”

(cf. Luke 5:3)

“3  Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.”

(Matt. 12:2)

“2  And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.”

“The large crowd consisted not only of people from the immediate vicinity, but also from various other cities.  Drawn by the rapidly spreading news of Jesus’ power over nature and the demonic realm, and His ability to heal any and all diseases and even raise the dead, they gathered to experience firsthand His powerful miracles and amazing teaching.

            “When the crowds arrived, the Lord spoke to them by way of a parable. Parabole (parable) means to put one thing alongside another for comparison.  Parables were a common rhetorical device employed by the rabbis.  Here, as He often did, Jesus put a story alongside a spiritual truth to make that truth more clearly understood.  While parables could be brief illustrations (e.g., 5:36-39; Matt. 13:31-32, 33, 44, 45-46), they could also be extended analogies, as is this one. Parables placed profound theological truth in familiar settings, making it vivid, interesting, unforgettable, and easily recalled.”

(e.g., 5:36-39; Matt. 13:31-32, 33, 44, 45-46)

“36  He also told them a parable: "No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37  And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38  But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39  And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’"

“31  He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32  It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’”

“33  He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was leavened.”

“44 ¶  "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

“45  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46  who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he and bought it.”

Spiritual Meaning for my Life today: On top of losing my wife to cancer a little over a month ago I got news this morning that my 20 year old grandson was in a serious motorcycle accident early this morning.  He lost an arm, and part of a leg.  God be miscible to our family.

9/9/2026 9:21 AM

 

 

PT-3 Intro to “Receptivity to the Gospel: The Parable of the Soils” (Luke 8:4-15)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/8/2026 9:12 AM

My Worship Time     Focus:  PT-3 Intro to “Receptivity to the Gospel: The Parable of the Soils”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                Reference:  “Luke 8:4-15”

            Message of the verses:  “4 Now when a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: 5 “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the sky ate it up. 6 Other seed fell on rocky soil, and when it came up, it withered away because it had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. 8 And yet other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as much.” As He said these things, He would call out, “The one who has ears to hear, let him hear.” 9 Now His disciples began asking Him what this parable meant. 10 And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest they are told in parables, so that while seeing they may not see, and while hearing they may not understand. 11 “Now this is the parable: the seed is the word of God. 12 And those beside the road are the ones who have heard, then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky soil are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and yet these do not have a firm root; they believe for a while, and in a time of temptation they fall away. 14 And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked by worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and virtuous heart, and hold it firmly, and produce fruit with perseverance.

            I mentioned in my morning SD that there is a list of verses to look at and MacArthur wrote the following to help me where he is going with this:  “Scripture describes such a heart as

.wicked (Proverbs 26:23) “23 ¶  Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.

.desperately sick (Jer. 17:9) “9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

.perverse (Prov. 11:20) “20 ¶  Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those of blameless ways are his delight.”

.evil (Gen. 8:21; Jer. 3:17) “21  And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.”

“17  At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the LORD, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart.”

.insane (Ecc. 9:3) “3  This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.”

.unclean (Jer. 4:14) “14  O Jerusalem, wash your heart from evil, that you may be saved. How long shall your wicked thoughts lodge within you?”

.deceitful (Jer. 17:9) “9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

.Disloyal (1 Kings 15:3) “3  And he walked in all the sins that his father did before him, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.”

.errant (Psalm 95:10) “10  For forty years I loathed that generation and said, "They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways."

.unrepentant (Rom. 2:5) “5  But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.”

.unbelieving (Heb. 3:12) “12  Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.”

.blind (Rom. 1:21) “21  For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

.deceived (Isa. 44:20) “20  He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?"

.hardened (Eph. 4:18) “18  They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.”

.proud (Prov. 16:5; 21:4) “5 ¶  Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.”

4 ¶  Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.”

.greedy (2 Peter 2:14) “14  They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!”

.foolish (Rom 1:21) “21  For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

.idolatrous (Ezekiel 15:3-4) “3  Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do people take a peg from it to hang any vessel on it? 4  Behold, it is given to the fire for fuel. When the fire has consumed both ends of it, and the middle of it is charred, is it useful for anything?”

.rebellious (Jer. 5:23) “23  But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away.”

.perverse (Ps. 101:4; Prov. 11:20) “4  A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.”

20 ¶  Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those of blameless ways are his delight.”

.stubborn (Jer. 5:23) “23  But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away.”

.dull (Acts 28:27) “27  For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’”

“All of those negative terms expose the depts of human depravity.”

9/8/2026 10:14 PM

  

 

PT-2 Intro to “Receptivity to the Gospel: The Parable of the Soils” (Luke 8:4-15)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/8/2026 9:12 AM

My Worship Time     Focus:  PT-2 Intro to “Receptivity to the Gospel: The Parable of the Soils”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                Reference:  “Luke 8:4-15”

            Message of the verses:  “4 Now when a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: 5 “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the sky ate it up. 6 Other seed fell on rocky soil, and when it came up, it withered away because it had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. 8 And yet other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as much.” As He said these things, He would call out, “The one who has ears to hear, let him hear.” 9 Now His disciples began asking Him what this parable meant. 10 And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest they are told in parables, so that while seeing they may not see, and while hearing they may not understand. 11 “Now this is the parable: the seed is the word of God. 12 And those beside the road are the ones who have heard, then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky soil are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and yet these do not have a firm root; they believe for a while, and in a time of temptation they fall away. 14 And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked by worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and virtuous heart, and hold it firmly, and produce fruit with perseverance.

            As per usual I will quote this introduction from the commentary of John MacArthur.

            I realize that I did not get too far in last evening’s SD, and I don’t think that I will get very far in this morning's SD as in MacArthur’s commentary which I will be quoting this morning he has a list of verses that I wish to quote, 23 is the number and so I which to do them all in one SD, but probably in this evening’s SD.

            “The parable the Lord related in this passage answers the question of why throughout redemptive history most people have rejected the gospel (Matt. 7:14; 22:14; Luke 13:23-24).

(Matt. 7:14; 22:14; Luke 13:23-24)

“14  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

“14  For many are called, but few are chosen."

“23 ¶  And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24  "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”

It is crucial to a proper understanding of evangelism, and reveals what kind of responses believers can expect when the present the gospel.  Jesus’ simple illustration provides profound and unforgettable insight into the subject of receptivity to the gospel.  He makes it clear that the issue is not the gospel message, nor is it the skill of methodology of those proclaiming it.  The determining  factor is the condition of the hearer’s heart.

            “The importance of the heart cannot be overstated.  ‘Watch over your heart with all diligence,’ counseled Solomon, ‘for from it flow the springs of life’ (Prov. 4:23).  Jesus noted that ‘the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart’ (Matt. 12:34), and warned that ‘the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart and those defile the man.  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication, thefts, false witness, slanders’ (Matt. 15:18-19; cf. Mark 7:21-23).

(Matt. 15:18-19; cf. Mark 7:21-23)

“18  But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.”

“21  For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22  coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23  All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.’”

            I believe it is best to stop here because of the large list of verses that are next in this section and so I will try and quote all of these verses along with the topics of them in this evening’s SD.

Spiritual Meaning for my life today:  Keep my heart cleans so that I can do the things that the Lord has planned for me to do.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I am trusting the Lord to give me peace as I continue this mourning process over the death of my wife.  No one can truly understand what the loss of a spouse does unless they have gone through it themselves.

9/8/2026 9:48 AM

 

 

 

 

PT-1 Intro to “Receptivity to the Gospel: The Parable of the Soils” (Luke 8:4-15)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/7/2026 8:33 PM

My Worship Time     Focus:  PT-1 Intro to “Receptivity to the Gospel: The Parable of the Soils”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                Reference:  “Luke 8:4-15”

            Message of the verses:  “4 Now when a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: 5 “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the sky ate it up. 6 Other seed fell on rocky soil, and when it came up, it withered away because it had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. 8 And yet other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as much.” As He said these things, He would call out, “The one who has ears to hear, let him hear.” 9 Now His disciples began asking Him what this parable meant. 10 And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest they are told in parables, so that while seeing they may not see, and while hearing they may not understand. 11 “Now this is the parable: the seed is the word of God. 12 And those beside the road are the ones who have heard, then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky soil are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and yet these do not have a firm root; they believe for a while, and in a time of temptation they fall away. 14 And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked by worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and virtuous heart, and hold it firmly, and produce fruit with perseverance.

            As per usual I will quote this introduction from the commentary of John MacArthur.

            “The good news of salvation is so inexplicably wonderful and glorious that words cannot express its magnificence.  Those who have experienced salvation’s blessings—forgiveness of sin (Acts 10:43) and freedom from its tyranny (Rom. 6:1-7); justification (Rom. 3:20-28); eternal life (John 3:16); peace with God (Rom 5:1); adoption into the family of God (Rom. 8:15); the indwelling (2 Tim. 1:14); filling (Eph. 5:18); and empowering (Acts 1:8) of the Holy Spirit; a clear conscience (Heb. 10:22); the hope of heaven (1 Peter 1:4); the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) revealed in the word of truth (John 17:17)—find it hard to understand how anyone could reject it.  After all, who would turn down eternal life in favor of eternal punishment?  Who would hold on to hell and reject heaven? Who would refuse everlasting joy and peace and in its place prefer instead misery and pain?”  Now I am going to quote all of these verses in the order that they are in in this paragraph.

(Acts 10:43)

“43  To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

(Rom. 6:1-7)

“1 ¶  What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2  By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4  We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5  For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6  We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7  For one who has died has been set free from sin.”

(Rom. 3:20-28)

“20  For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 21  But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22  the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24  and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25  whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26  It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27  Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28  For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”

(John 3:16)

“16  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

(Rom 5:1)

“1 ¶  Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(Rom. 8:15)

“15  For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

(2 Tim. 1:14)

“14  By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”

(Eph. 5:18)

18  And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,”

(Acts 1:8)

“8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

(Heb. 10:22)

“22  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

(1 Peter 1:4)

“4  to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,”

(1 Cor. 2:16)

“16  “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

(John 17:17)

“17 ¶  Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

9/7/2026 9:12 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The Scope of Jesus’ Ministry Was Limited Materially” (Luke 8:3b)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/7/2026 9:55 AM

My Worship Time                      Focus:  “The Scope of Jesus’ Ministry Was Limited Materially”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                       Reference:  Luke 8:3b

            Message of the verse:  “and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.”

            This morning I have come to the end of the 19^th chapter from John MacArthur’s commentary on the Gospel of Luke which covers the first three verses in the eight chapter of Luke.

            In yesterday’s SD we were looking at some of the women who were supporting the ministry of Jesus, and this morning we will see that in addition to the woman mentioned in my last SD there were many others, both men and women, that supported Christ’s ministry by contributing to their, speaking of Jesus and the Twelve, support out of their private means.  Jesus’ ministry depended on the small contributions of others whose lives He had changed, and I think that is still the pattern in todays Church.  The disciples had left everything to follow Him as seen in Matthew (19:27), and this included their professions (Mark 1:20; Luke 5:28) and their homes (Luke 18:28).

(Matt. 19:27)

“27  Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”

(Mark 1:20; Luke 5:28)

20  And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.”

“28  And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.”

(Luke 18:28)

“28  And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.”

MacArthur writes “Jesus Himself had ‘nowhere to lay His head’ (Luke 9:58), and at the time of His death owned nothing but the clothes He wore (Luke 23:34).”

(Luke 23:34)

34  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.”

“The meager contributions they received were generous enough that Jesus and the Twelve were able to contribute to the poor (John 13:29).”

(John 13:29)

“29  Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.”

“None of them personally prospered, as the frustration of Judas evidences (John 12:1-6).”

(John 12:1-6)

“1 ¶  Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2  So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3  Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4  But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5  “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6  He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.”

            “The Lord’s ministry demonstrates the biblical principle that ‘those who proclaim the gospel [are] to get their living from the gospel’ (1 Cor. 9:14; cf. Luke 10:7; 1 Tim. 5:17-18).”

(1 Cor. 9:14; cf. Luke 10:7; 1 Tim. 5:17-18)

“14  In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.”

“7  And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.”

“17 ¶  Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18  For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

“Therefore ‘the one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him’ (Gal. 6:6).  That does not repay believers’ debt to God.  The debt of sin they could never pay has been paid in full by the death of the Lord Jesus Christ (Col. 2:13-14) and they no longer owe it.”

(Col. 2:13-14)

“13 ¶  And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14  by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”

“But transformed by God’s grace Christians, out of love and gratitude, seek to imitate the sacrificial loving grace He bestowed on them.

            “The Lord Jesus Christ carried out God’s sovereign will, ministered where God placed Him, proclaimed God’s message, poured Himself into discipling a few faithful men, embraced both men and women from all walks of life, and depended on the contributions of those who had benefited from His ministry.  He is the perfect model for all those who serve Him in gratitude and love.”

Spiritual Meaning for my Life Today:  I like the statement that says that believers cannot do anything to gain their salvation on their own, but once they are saved then they are to support the church where God puts them.  I did not go to church for four years after I became a believer, but then after that I knew that God wanted me in a church.  I suppose that many unbelievers are saved in a church setting but that was not the case for me, however I was attending Bible studies at a Christian book store and had fellowship there for the first four years after becoming a believer.  I am thankful to the Lord for His patience that He had with me.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I am trusting the Lord to continue to guide me, to give me strength to just get up each morning and try to do what He is leading me to do for the cause of Christ.  I am going through the most difficult time in my life right now, yet I know that the homegoing of my dear wife was all in the plans of God, yet it has left a very large hole in my life, but I continue to trust the Lord to show me what the next steps will be in my life.

9/7/2026 10:54 AM

 

 

 

“The Scope of Jesus’ Ministry Was Limited Socially” (Luke 8:2-3a)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/6/2026 8:59 PM

My Worship Time                           Focus: “The Scope of Jesus’ Ministry Was Limited Socially”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                    Reference:  Luke 8:2-3a

            Message of the verses:  “and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna,”

            As we look at these verses, we can see that not only were there twelve men traveling with Jesus, but, surprisingly, also some women.  Now for a rabbi to have women accompanying Him was virtually unprecedented.  Like many others in the ancient world, the rabbis had a low view of women and so they refused to teach them.  Jesus’ action was politically incorrect; it flew in the face of conventional wisdom.  Given the lowly status of women in Jewish society, they had little influence they could use to help Him.  However despite that these women traveled with Jesus, though not necessarily all of the time, or all at once, they had been healed spiritually  of evil spirits and physically of sickness.  How many there were is not stated, but Luke names three of the many others who followed the Lord.  You can imagine that this entourage made Jesus socially unacceptable when measured by rabbinic standards.

            Mary who was called Magdalene and this was after her hometown of Magdala, which was on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee about three miles north of Tiberias, figures prominently in the accounts of the Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection (Matt. 27:56; Mark 15:47; John 20:1-18).

(Matt. 27:56; Mark 15:47; John 20:1-18)

“56  among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.”

“47  Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.”

“1 ¶  Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2  So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3  So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4  Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5  And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6  Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7  and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8  Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9  for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10  Then the disciples went back to their homes.

    11 ¶  But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12  And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13  They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14  Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15  Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16  Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17  Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18  Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord “—and that he had said these things to her.”

MacArthur writes “This is her only other appearance in the Gospels. (As noted in the previous chapter of this volume, she was not the sinful woman who anointed Jesus as the house of Simon the Pharisee [Luke 7:36-50]).  Nor does the fact that seven demons had gone out of her prove that she had lived an immoral life, since there is no necessary connection between demon possession and immorality.

            “Joanna was the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward (a high ranking official, possibly the manager of Antipas’ estate).  (Luke 23:55; 24:10), and probably the crucifixion as well.”

(Luke 23:55; 24:10)

“55  The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid.”

“10  Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles,”

“Christ’s influence reached into Herod Antipas’ household, as well as the tiny village of Magdala.  Another person close to Herod Antipas, Manaen, would later become one of the leaders of the church at Antioch (Acts 13:1).”

(Acts 13:1)

“1 ¶  Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.”

            “Nothing is known of Susanna, since Luke gives no information about her, and her name appears nowhere else in Scripture.

            “Jesus brought into the kingdom all whom the Father gave Him (John 6:37), men and women from every strata of live.”

(John 6:37)

“37  All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

“There were no limits on the scope of His ministry in that regard.  Women, including Elizabeth (Luke 1:5-25, 39-45, 57-60), Mary (Luke 1-2), Anna (Luke 2:36-38), Peter’s mother-in-law (Matt. 8:14-15), the widow of Nain (Luke 7:12-15), Mary and Martha (Luke 10:39-42; John 11:1-45; 12:1-8), the woman in the parable of the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10), the widow in the parable of the unjust judge (Luke 18:3-5), and the widow who offered her last two coins (Luke 21:1-4), played a role in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ that far exceeded their significance in contemporary Jewish society.”

            There are a great many verses in this last paragraph, and I have chosen not to copy and paste them because of the length it will make this SD. 

            It looks like tomorrow morning that I will be able to finish this 19^th chapter in MacArthur’s commentary and then in the evening begin with part of the introduction to the 20^th chapter.  It looks like it will take a number of SD’s in order to finish that introduction.

9/6/2026 9:32 PM