PT-4 “The Blessed” (Luke 6:20b-23)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/18/2026 10:06 AM

My Worship Time                                                                               Focus:  PT-4 “The Blessed”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                              Reference:  Luke 6:20b-23

Message of the verses:  “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.  Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied.  Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.  Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.  Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.  For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.”

            It is my desire to finish this section as it has taken longer than I thought it would and the reason is that I have been quoting many verses in order to help everyone to better understand what these verses mean.

            Now Jesus’ prediction came to pass as the apostles faced persecution from the Jewish authorities as seen in Acts 4:1-22; 5:17-40, which I will not quote here because of the length of those verses.  The church as a whole was also facing persecution as seen in Acts 8:1, 3); Herod murdered James, the brother of John (Acts 12:1-2); Stephen was martyred (Acts 7:58-60); Paul’s life amply fulfilled the Lord’s words about him to Ananias, “I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:16; cf. 2 Cor. 11:22-23); and eventually as noted in earlier SD’s most of the apostles were martyred for their bold preaching of the gospel.  This still goes on in today’s world, all around the world, and it will come to conclusion during the last half of the tribulation period where millions will die for the cause of Christ, but then after the tribulation period ends with the second coming of Christ I don’t see any more of this kind of persecution as I look at the remaining chapters of Revelation.

            Now one would think could think that one would be fearful and despondent with all of these persecutions comes, Jesus commanded believers to be glad in that day and leap for joy.  MacArthur writes “The phrase in that day indicates that persecution will not be the constant lot of believers, but will happen occasionally.  Acts 2:47 describes a time when the church had ‘favor with all the people’ (cf. 5:13), while 9:31 records another time when ‘the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.’ Peter informed his readers that  trials last ‘a little while,’ and only happen ‘if necessary’ (1 Peter 1:6).”

(1 Peter 1:6)

^“6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various ^[trials,”

            “When they do face the world’s hostility, believers are to regard it as a time to be glad, to completely carried away to the point that they even leap for joy.  The reason for such exuberance on the part of persecuted believers is twofold.  First, they rejoice because they know that their reward is great in heaven.  To properly handle trails and opposition, Christians must have an otherworldly perspective.  They must keep in mind, as Paul wrote to the Corinthians, that ‘momentary, light afflictions is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the thing which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal’ (2 Cor. 4:17-18; cf. Rom. 8:18).

(cf. Rom. 8:18).

“18  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

“It was that heavenly focus that allowed the apostles, after having been beaten by the Sanhedrin, to leave ‘the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name’ (Acts 5:41).  Paul and Silas, having been beaten and put in the stocks at Philippi, nevertheless were ‘praying and singing hymns of praise to God (Acts 16:25).  Paul told the Colossians, ‘I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do not share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in fulling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions’ (Col. 1:24).  Enduring suffering and hostility is a mark of genuine saving faith (Matt. 10:22; 24:13).”

(Matt. 10:22; 24:13)

“22  and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

“13  But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

            MacArthur concludes this section by writing “Not only their future reward in heaven, but second their association with the heroes of faith of the past should motivate believers to joyously endure hostility.  They are in the noblest of company, for in the same way, Jesus declared, their fathers used to treat the prophets (cf. Luke 11:47-51; 13:34; Acts 7:52; Rom. 11:3; 1 Thess. 2:15; James 5:10).

(cf. Luke 11:47-51; 13:34; Acts 7:52; Rom. 11:3; 1 Thess. 2:15; James 5:10)

“47  Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. 48  So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49  Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ 50  so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, 51  from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation.”

“34  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”

“52  Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered,”

“3  “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.’”

“15  who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind”

“10  As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.”

Spiritual Meaning for my Life Today: I have to say that I have never physically suffered for the sake of the Lord but if that does happen my prayer is that I would not betray my Lord.

My Steps of Faith for Today: I am trusting in the Lord to be able to help my wife get through this next week before she receives treatment to help her endure the issues she is having with cancer.

7/18/2026 10:53 AM  

 

 

 

 

PT-3 “The Blessed” (Luke 6:20b-23)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/17/2026 8:33 PM

My Worship Time                                                                               Focus:  PT-3 “The Blessed”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                              Reference:  Luke 6:20b-23

Message of the verses:  “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.  Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied.  Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.  Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.  Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.  For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.”

            I want to pick up from where I left on in last this morning’s SD and see how far I can get this evening.

            I am picking up from where I left off this morning, which is counting from the third main point from MacArthur’s website.

            “Those who mourn will not only be comforted (Matt. 5:4), but will even laugh, expressing the joy, relief, and freedom of the forgiven.  Psalm 30:5 promises, ‘Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.’  In Jeremiah 31:13 God promises, ‘I will turn their mourning into joy and will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow.’  At His second coming the Lord Jesus Christ will ‘comfort all who mourn…in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting’ (Isa. 61:2-3; cf. 35:10; 51:3, 11).”

(Isa. 61:2-3; cf. 35:10; 51:3, 11)

“2  to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3  to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.”

“10  And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

“3  For the LORD comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song.”

“10  Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over?”

            “The final Beatitude is perhaps the most paradoxical and, from the human perspective, most incomprehensible of all.  The first three describe how the repentant sinner views himself; the fourth describes how the world see him.  The Lord used four verbs, hate, ostracize, insult, and scorn so sum up the vitriol, hostility, and animosity poured out on His disciples by the unbelieving world.  This fourth Beatitude indicates that the work of the first three has been accomplished.  Genuine salvation has occurred, and the disciples’ changed lives are an evident rebuke to all.  The world’s hostile reaction to Christ’s followers is evidence that they are among the blessed, since the world does not reject its own.

            “The underlying reason for sinners’ hatred, ostracism, insults, and scornful denunciation of the name (Christian) that believers bear as evil is because of their association with the Son of Man.  The Lord elaborated on that truth in His charge to the Twelve before sending them out to preach (Matt. 10:16-33).”

(Matt. 10:16-33)

“16 ¶  "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17  Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18  and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19  When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20  For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21  Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22  and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23  When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24  "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25  It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. 26  "So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27  What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28  And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32  So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33  but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

“In verse 16 Jesus likened the opponents they would face to vicious wolves (cf. Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:29).”

(cf. Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:29)

“  15 ¶  "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

“29  I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;”

“He further cautioned the apostles that they would be severely punished in the courts and synagogues (cf. 2 Cor. 11:24), including being put out of the synagogue (John 9:22, 34; 16:2), and by rulers (Matt. 10:17-18).”

(cf. 2 Cor. 11:24)

“24  Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.”

(John 9:22, 34; 16:2)

“22  (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.”

“34  They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.”

“2  They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.”

(Matt. 10:17-18)

“17  Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18  and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.”

“Families will be divided when some members identify with Christ (v. 21; cf. Luke 12:51-53).”

(v. 21; cf. Luke 12:51-53)

“21  “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. ”Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.”

“51  Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52  For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53  They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’”

“All of this hatred will be directed at believers because they name the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (vv. 23:24-25) whom the unbelieving world hates (John 15:18-19; 16:33).”

(vv. 23:24-25)

“22  "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!”

“24  "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25  “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. ”Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.”

(John 15:18-19; 16:33)

“18 ¶  "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

“33  I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.’”

7/17/2026 9:19 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

PT-2 “The Blessed” (Luke 6:20b-23)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/17/2026 10:27 AM

My Worship Time                                                                               Focus:  PT-2 “The Blessed”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                              Reference:  Luke 6:20b-23

Message of the verses:  “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.  Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied.  Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.  Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.  Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.  For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.”

            I want to pick up from where I left on in last night's SD as I kind of left in an awkward place.  I will begin with a quotation from MacArthur’s commentary.

            “Such an acknowledgment of spiritual deficiency was unthinkable to the proud, self-righteous people of Israel.” (Make sure you go back to the previous SD on this section to help you better understand what I’m writing about now.  “They saw themselves as the spiritual elite, whose good works, religious observances, and Abrahamic ancestry had earned them entrance to God’s kingdom.  The Lord completely overturned that self-serving assessment.  In reality, they were like the people in the Laodicean church, who said, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and [did] not know that [they were] wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked’ (Rev. 3:17).”

            Now the promise to the spiritually destitute is that theirs is the kingdom of God.  MacArthur then adds “the present tense verb is indicates that more than just the future blessings of the earthly millennial kingdom are in view.  Believers enjoy now the kingdom blessings of ‘righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit’ (Rom. 14:17).  They are ‘heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17), and possessors of the kingdom blessings of eternal life, grace, mercy, forgiveness, joy, hope, security, comfort, peace, love and righteousness.”

            Now MacArthur begins to write about a second mark of the blessed, and that is hunger.  Let us look at Matthew 5:6 and then make a few comments on it.  “6  "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”  From this verse we can see that the hunger is not physical hunger, but having a hunger and thirst for righteousness.  There is a lack of righteousness and thus there has to be a hunger for it.  MacArthur writes “It is an  intense, deep, all-consuming longing for acceptance with God.  The picture is of impoverished, starving spiritual beggars, longing for the righteousness that they cannot obtain on their own.  The psalmist described this yearning for God when he wrote, ‘As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God’ when shall I come and appear before God?’ (Ps. 42:1-2).  In a similar vein David wrote, ‘O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; my soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water’ (Ps. 63:1).”

            Now the blessing pronounced on the spiritually hungry is that they shall be satisfied.  Chortazo (satisfied) literally refers to fattening animals, which will eat until they cannot eat any more.  When used of humans, it means to eat one’s fill, or to be completely satiated.  Those who truly hunger for righteousness will be fully satisfied.  Psalm 34:10 promises that “they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.”  The most beloved of all Psalms opens, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want’ (Psalm 23:1).  In Jeremiah 31:14 God declares, “My people will be satisfied with My goodness’ (cf. Ps. 107:1-9; Isa. 25:6; Luke 12:37; 13:29).

            I will now take the time to look up these verses before I begin to quote MacArthur again as he will next look at the third Beatitude.

(cf. Ps. 107:1-9; Isa. 25:6; Luke 12:37; 13:29)

“1 ¶  Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 2  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble 3  and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. 4  Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; 5  hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. 6  Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7  He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. 8  Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 9  For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.”

“  6 ¶  On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.”

“37  Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.”

“29  And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.”

            “The third Beatitude pictures the blessed as those who weep now.  This is the emotional breakdown that follows recognition of spiritual bankruptcy and lack of righteousness.  These mourners view themselves as the poor, prisoners, blind, and oppressed (cf. 4:18), and are burdened, disappointed, fearful and hurting.  Theirs is the sorrow of repentance, of which James wrote:  ‘Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you’ (James 4:9-10).  It is the ‘sorrow that is according to the will of God [which] produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation’ (2 Cor. 7:10).”

(2 Cor. 7:10)

“10  For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”

            Lord willing, I will continue looking at these verses in this evening’s SD.

Spiritual Meaning for my life today:  One of the things that I have noticed in my walk with the Lord is that living the first 27 years without knowing the Lord caused a lot of sinful habits, and even today some 52 + years later it seems that the world, the flesh and the devil still remind me of this old life and it causes a spiritual fight to go on.  Having more spiritual weeping over my past is something that I need.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trusting the Lord with all that is going on in my life dealing with my wife’s cancer has brought some very wonderful things that the Lord has put into motion in my life.  Knowing that people, many people are praying for our family, and having my family around me most everyday means so much. 

“He Giveth More Grace”

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase

To added affliction He addeth His mercy

To multiplied trials He multiplied peace

 

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure

His pow’r has no boundary known unto men

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again

 

When we have exhausted our store of endurance

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done

When we reach the end of our horded resources

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

 

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure

His pow’r has no boundary known unto men

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again

 

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

7/17/2026 12:07 PM

PT-1 “The Blessed” (Luke 6:20b-23)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/16/2026 9:34 PM

My Worship Time                                                                               Focus:  PT-1 “The Blessed”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                               Reference:  Luke 6:20b-23

Message of the verses:  “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.  Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied.  Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.  Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.  Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.  For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.”

            Tonight I begin looking at the verses above with the help of John MacArthur’s commentary so that we will become more understanding of these verses to help us grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jeus Christ.

            Let us begin by looking at the first characteristic of those who are blessed and that is that they are poor.  The word in the Greek for poor is Ptochos, and this derives from the verb ptosso, which means, “to cringe and cower in fear.’  This describes those who are utterly destitute and entirely dependent on others for support,  These people are at the bottom rung of the social scale.  While the Bible commends helping those in need as seen in the following verses (Lev. 25:35; Deut. 15:7-8; Proverbs 19:17; Isaiah 58:6-7; Gal. 2:10), poverty itself is not a blessing.  Now I want to take the time to quote this list of verses.

(Lev. 25:35; Deut. 15:7-8; Proverbs 19:17; Isaiah 58:6-7; Gal. 2:10)

“35  "If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you.”

“7  "If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, 8  but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.”

“17 ¶  Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.”

“6  "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”

“10  Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”

The truth is that in Proverbs 30:8-9, a righteous man asked the Lord to preserve him from poverty so that he would not be tempted to steal and thus profane the name of the Lord.

            However Jesus was not teaching that those who are materially and economically poor are thereby blessed.  In the parallel account of the sermon, it indicates the Lord was speaking of those who are “poor in spirit” (Matt. 5:3).  The blessed are those who understand their spiritual poverty and the bankrupt condition of their soul, mattering not how much or how little wealth they have.  They acknowledge that they are bankrupt in righteousness and have absolutely no spiritual resources with which to obtain God’s favor, and that salvation cannot be by good works, morality, or religious rituals.  What we are writing about is actually the key to understanding what the Bible teaches us on how a person can be saved.  You truly have to realize that you are born lost in a relationship with God, and then you must tell the Lord this truth, and then after that realization of being lost you must accept the offer of salvation Jesus offers.  Jesus is able to offer you this salvation because of what He did on the cross as He paid for your sins, but you must accept His forgiveness to be saved.  Religious rituals are like the repentant tax collector in Luke 18:13, who “was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, say, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’” (cf. Pss. 34:18; 51:17; Isa. 57:15; and 66:2)

(cf. Pss. 34:18; 51:17; Isa. 57:15; and 66:2)

“18  The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.’

“17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

“15  For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

“2  All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”

Jesus described such people in Luke 4:18 as poor, captives, blind, and oppressed, and proclaimed the gospel of God’s forgiveness, grace, and mercy to them.”

(Luke 4:18)

“18  "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,”

Please all who read this SD pray for my wife who is battling cancer and is on hospice care.

7/16/2026 10:25 PM

 

PT-6 Intro to “The Character of a True Christian” (Luke 6:20-26)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/16/2026 9:20 AM

My Worship Time                                Focus:  PT-6 Intro to “The Character of a True Christian”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference: Luke 6:20-26

            Message of the verses:  “²⁰ And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are ^[a]you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. ²¹ Blessed are ^[b]you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. ²² Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. ²³ Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to ^[c]treat the prophets. ²⁴ But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. ²⁵ Woe to you who ^[d]are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. ²⁶ Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to ^[e]treat the false prophets in the same way.”

            It is my desire to finish this introduction to these verses in this morning’s SD as I continue to quote from John MacArthur’s introduction.

            “Jesus’ message shocked and outraged the self-righteous religious people of Israel.  This was not what they expected from their Messiah.  They imagined that He would be pleased with their righteousness and religious ritual, and welcome them into the kingdom.  Instead, Jesus scathingly denounced them as hypocrites (Matt. 23:1-33), and compared them unfavorably to the despised outcasts of Jewish society (Matt. 21:31-32).”  I will only quote Matthew 21:31-32 as Matthew 23:1-33 will be too long for this SD.

(Matt. 21:31-32)

“31  Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32  For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.”

“His message was unacceptable and intolerable, leading His nation to reject and murder Him.

            “Luke presents a condensed account of the Sermon on the Mount, which Matthew 5-7 recorded in more detail.  However, neither gospel writer recorded everything Jesus said on this occasion.  (Although the Lord undoubtedly repeated the themes of this sermon throughout His ministry, the Sermon on the Mount is one continuous message, preached on one occasion, and not a collection of Jesus’ sayings.)  Even Matthew’s longer account can be read in about ten minutes, and the Lord surely preached much longer than that.  There are minor variations in Matthew’s and Luke’s accounts, but those are to be expected in the process of translating (the Lord spoke in Aramaic and Matthew and Luke wrote in Greek) and condensing Jesus’ message.  (For a defense of the view that Matthew and Luke recorded the same sermon see William Hendriksen, Exposition of the Gospel According to Luke, New Testament Commentary [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1978], 334-335; D. A. Carson, Matthew, in Frank E. Gaebelein, ed.  The Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984), 8:125-26.) 

            “Jesus closed this sermon by dividing those who hear (or read) it into two groups…He likened those who hear and obey His teaching to a man who builds a house on a solid foundation of rock.  Such people are untouched by the storm of divine judgment (John 5:24).  On the other hand, those who reject His teaching are like a man who built his house on the sand.  They will be swept away to damnation by the flood of divine judgment (John 3:36).”  I will now quote these verses in the order seen above.

(John 5:24)

“24  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”

 (John 3:36) 

“36  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

            “Jesus had the same two groups in view as He opened His message, describing them with the terms ‘blessed’ and ‘woe.’ Makarios (‘blessed’) refers to those in most beneficial, favored position, who experience the true well-being that comes from a right relationship with God. Quai (‘woe’) refers to those in the worst, most unfavorable condition, who experience the calamity, disaster, and damnation reserved for the wicked.  Everyone falls into one of those two categories; there is no middle ground.

            “The Lord’s use of these terms was not a wish, nor was He merely praying for God’s blessing or cursing on people.  On the contrary, they are absolute statements of fact; divine verdicts rendered by God’s authoritative judgment.  The concept of divine blessing and cursing was well-known to Jesus’ audience from the Old Testament (cf. Deut. 27-28).

            “Luke’s account of the Beatitudes reveals four blessings bestowed on the righteous, and four woes pronounced on the wicked.  Each blessing has a promised benefit connected to it, while each woe has a corresponding threat.  As noted above, the blessings and woes seem backwards from the perspective of self-righteous sinners.  But the Lord’s words paint His composite portrait of the blessed and the cursed.”

Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I surely am thankful for the blessings of the Lord, as I know that I do not deserve those blessings, but because Jesus Christ took my place on the cross in order to bring salvation to me I will receive these blessings from the Lord.  It was all about Him, doing for me what I could not do for myself.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trusting in the Lord to give mercy to my wife as she battles cancer, and thankful to the Lord for all the many, many people who are praying for her and for me too.

7/16/2026 10:18 AM

 

PT-5 Intro to “The Character of a True Christian” (Luke 6:20-26)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/15/2026 9:07 PM

My Worship Time                                Focus:  PT-5 Intro to “The Character of a True Christian”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference: Luke 6:20-26

            Message of the verses:  “²⁰ And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are ^[a]you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. ²¹ Blessed are ^[b]you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. ²² Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. ²³ Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to ^[c]treat the prophets. ²⁴ But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. ²⁵ Woe to you who ^[d]are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. ²⁶ Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to ^[e]treat the false prophets in the same way.”

            I continue in what may be a very long section in John MacArthur’s introduction to the verses above, and I have to say that this introduction will be very long as I quote the verses that MacArthur brings up in order to best understand the passage.

            “Foundational to all of Jesus’ teaching was His commitment to the absolute authority of Scripture.  As the inspired word of God (Matt. 15:3-6), the Scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35).

(Matt. 15:3-6)

“3  He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4  For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5  But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” 6  he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.”

(John 10:35)

“35  If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken”

“In fact, it would be easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for any part of God’s law to be altered (Matt. 5:18).”

(Matt. 5:18)

18  For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”

“Scripture is the rule of life (Matt. 4:4), and those who obey it are blessed (Luke 11:28).”

(Matt. 4:4)

“4  But he answered, "It is written, "’Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’"

(Luke 11:28)

“28  But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’’

            “The Beatitudes recorded in this passage are a prime example.  From the human perspective, it seems foolish to say that poverty, hunger, sorrow, and rejection are the producers of blessings, and riches, satisfaction, happiness, and honor.  But as God incarnate, Jesus authoritatively defines who is blessed and who is cursed.  What He said on this occasion and throughout His ministry demanded a paradigm shift of monumental proportions. Sadly the Jewish people, especially the religious leaders, refused to think outside the narrow box of first-century Judaism.  To this day the world, like them, continues to reject Christ’s message.

            “As noted in the previous chapter of this volume, the crowd that gathered to hear the Lord preach this sermon consisted of three groups: the apostles, the uncommitted, curious crowd, and the disciples.  Luke’s note as He began to preach Jesus  turned His gaze toward His disciples indicates that the Sermon on the Mount is directed primarily at them (Although the woes were addressed to the crowd in general).  The disciples were at various levels of commitment and understanding, but they followed Jesus and considered Him their teacher.

            “Despite the claims of some, the Sermon on the Mount is not a statement of ethics, but a sermon on salvation.  Trying to apply the principles in this sermon apart from regeneration is futile.  Since He came ‘to seek and to save that which was lost’ (Luke 10:10), salvation was central to the Lord’s teaching.  At the outset His public ministry ‘Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’’(Matt. 4:17).  He taught that people are sinners, lacking the power and resources to deliver themselves, and thus are slaves to sin (John 8:34).” 

(Matt. 4:17)

“17  From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 

(Luke 10:10)

10  But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say,

(John 8:34)

“34  Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”

“The only way to escape divine judgment (cf. Luke 13:1-5) is through repentant faith in the Son of God (John 3:16-18, 36; 5:24; cf. Luke 18:13-14).” 

(cf. Luke 13:1-5)

“34  Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”

(John 3:16-18, 36; 5:24; cf. Luke 18:13-14)

“16  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

“36  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

“24  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.’

“13  But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’’

“It is not outwardly religious, superficially moral people who are saved, but rather people overwhelmed with their sinfulness, who cry out to God for forgiveness and mercy.”

7/15/2026 9:34 PM

 

 

 

PT-4 Intro to “The Character of a True Christian” (Luke 6:20-26)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/15/2026 10:16 AM

My Worship Time                                Focus:  PT-4 Intro to “The Character of a True Christian”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                  Reference: Luke 6:20-26

            Message of the verses:  “²⁰ And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are ^[a]you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. ²¹ Blessed are ^[b]you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. ²² Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. ²³ Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to ^[c]treat the prophets. ²⁴ But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. ²⁵ Woe to you who ^[d]are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. ²⁶ Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to ^[e]treat the false prophets in the same way.”

            I continue in what may be a very long section in John MacArthur’s introduction to the verses above, and I have to say that this introduction will be very long as I quote the verses that MacArthur brings up in order to best understand the passage.

            “The Lord presented Himself as the only way to God (John 14:6; cf. 10:7-9).”

(John 14:6; cf. 10:7-9)

“6  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

“7  So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8  All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9  I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”

“He claimed to be the bread of life (John 6:35, 51), the good shepherd, who lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:11), the light of the world (John 8:12: 12:46), and the resurrection and the life (John 11:25).”

the bread of life (John 6:35, 51)

“35  Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

“51  I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’’

the good shepherd (John 10:11)

“11  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

the light of the world (John 8:12: 12:46)

12 ¶  Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’’

“46  I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”

the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)

“25  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,”

“The Father sovereignly draws to Christ (John 6:37, 39, 44) those who will be saved through repentance (Mark 1:15; Luke 5:32; 13:3, 5; 24:47) and faith in the Son (John 1:12; 3:14-18, 36; 5:24; 6:40).”

draws to Christ (John 6:37, 39, 44)

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

“39  And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.”

“44  No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”

who will be saved through repentance (Mark 1:15; Luke 5:32; 13:3, 5; 24:47)

“15  and saying,, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’’

“32  I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.’’

“3  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

“5  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

“47  and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

faith in the Son (John 1:12; 3:14-18, 36; 5:24; 6:40)

“12  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,”

“14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15  that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 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. 17  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

“36  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

“24  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”

“40  For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.’’

“They will receive eternal life (John 3:15-16) and spend eternity in heaven (John 14:2-3).”

(John 3:15-16)

“15  that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 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.”

(John 14:2-3)

“2  In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Spiritual Meaning for my life today:  I have to say that I appreciate how John MacArthur adds these verse references in his commentary on the gospel of Luke.  These mean much to me, and it shows me that the Holy Spirit is the One who is the Author of the Word of God.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I am trusting the Lord to give peace to my wife and all of our family as we are trying to serve the Lord by serving my wife as she suffers with the cancer that has invaded her body.

7/15/2026 10:59 AM