PT-2 “Mercy Extended to All” (Luke 9:52-56)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11/12/2026 10:02 AM

My Worship Time                                                              Focus:  PT-2 “Mercy Extended to All”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                  Reference: Luke 9:52-56

Message of the verses:  “and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him.  But they did not receive Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem.  When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”  But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”  And they went on to another village.”

            In lasts night’s SD there were many, many verses that I copied and pasted into that SD, actually I only quoted one paragraph from John MacArthur’s commentary, and so today I will pick up from where I left off last night.

            “Jesus needed to teach His Disciples the inclusive character of the gospel of mercy, and the first incident on their journey to Jerusalem provided such a teaching opportunity.  Surprisingly, the Lord chose to travel through Samaira, which most Jews took great pains to avoid doing.  Jews traveling from Galilee to Judea would cross to the east side of the Jordan River, travel south through Perea, and then recross the river at Jericho and go up into Judea.  Those who did travel through Samaria carried their own food so as not to have to eat food defiled by the unclean and despised Samaritians.

            “The animosity between the Jews and the Samaritians dated by several centuries before the time of Christ. After the northern kingdom (Israel) was defeated by the Assyrians, the ten northern tribes of

Israel [were] carried away into exile from their own land to Assyria…[and] the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon from Cuthah and from Avva and from Hamath and Sephar-vaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the sons of Israel.  So they possessed Samaria and lived in its cities. (2 Kings 17:23-24).

“Those Gentile foreigners intermarried with the Jews who had not been deported, forming a nixed race know as the Samaritans (the name derives from the region and capital city of the northern part of the divided kingdom, both called Samaria).   The new arrivals brought their idolatrous false religion with them (2 Kings 17:29-31), which became mixed with the worship of the true God (vv. 25-28; 32-33).”

(2 Kings 17:29-31)

“29  But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in the shrines of the high places that the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities in which they lived. 30  The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, 31  and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.”

(vv. 25-28; 32-33, 41)

“25  And at the beginning of their dwelling there, they did not fear the LORD. Therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them. 26  So the king of Assyria was told, "The nations that you have carried away and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the law of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them, and behold, they are killing them, because they do not know the law of the god of the land." 27  Then the king of Assyria commanded, "Send there one of the priests whom you carried away from there, and let him go and dwell there and teach them the law of the god of the land." 28  So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel and taught them how they should fear the LORD.”

“32  They also feared the LORD and appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places. 33  So they feared the LORD but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.”

“41  So these nations feared the LORD and also served their carved images. Their children did likewise, and their children’s children— as their fathers did, so they do to this day.”

“Eventually the Samaritans abandoned their idols and worshiped Yahweh alone, after their own convoluted fashion (for example, the accepted only the Pentateuch as canonical Scripture, and worshiped God on Mt. Gerizim, not at Jerusalem).  This is the background of the Lord’s encounter with the Samaritan woman, recorded in (John 4:7-42).”

(John 4:7-42)

“7  A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8  (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9  The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10  Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11  The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12  Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock." 13  Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14  but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." 15  The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” 16  Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17  The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18  for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true." 19  The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20  Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship." 21  Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22  You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23  But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

 

25  The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26  Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

“27 ¶  Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28  So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29  “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30  They went out of the town and were coming to him. 31  Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32  But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33  So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34  Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 35  Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36  Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37  For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38  I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor." 39  Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40  So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41  And many more believed because of his word. 42  They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Spiritual Meaning for my Life today:  I can learn from this section above not to be prejudice against someone because who they are, but be ready to tell them the truth of the gospel so they too can receive Christ and be saved from their sins.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trusting the Lord to rid me of some things that need to be gotten rid of.

11/12/2026 10:34 AM

 

 

PT-1 “Mercy Extended to All” (Luke 9:52-56)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11/11/2026 10:30 PM

My Worship Time                                                              Focus:  PT-1 “Mercy Extended to All”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                  Reference: Luke 9:52-56

Message of the verses:  “and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him.  But they did not receive Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem.  When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”  But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”  And they went on to another village.”

            Let me begin by saying that this SD will take a number of days to complete as it is a little over three and a half pages long in John MacArthur’s commentary and he has many verse references that I will quote as I go through this section.

            He writes “In contrast to Matthew, whose focus is primarily on Jesus’ ministry to the Jewish people, Luke is much more expansive.  He described the universal scope of redemption and emphasized that salvation was available to everyone, not just the Jews, but also the Gentiles (cf.  Acts 10:34-48; 14: 24-27; 15:12-19).”

(cf.  Acts 10:34-48; 14: 24-27; 15:12-19)

 “34 ¶  So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35  but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36  As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37  you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39  And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40  but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41  not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42  And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43  To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."  44 ¶  While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45  And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46  For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47  “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.”

“He himself was a Gentile, and he wrote to Theophilus, (1:3), who was also a Gentile.”

(Luke 1:3)

“3  it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,”

“Not only did Luke view the gospel as being for all ethnic group[s, including the Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles, but also for all types of people within those groups, including women (even prostitutes), outcasts (including lepers), those possessed by demons, even despised tax collectors (cf. 7:36-50; 10:25-37; 15:11-32; 16:19-31; 8:2, 27-38; 17:11-19; 19:1-10).”

(cf. 7:36-50; 10:25-37; 15:11-32; 16:19-31; 8:2, 27-38; 17:11-19; 19:1-10)

“36 ¶  One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38  and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39  Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40  And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” 41  "A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42  When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?" 43  Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44  Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45  You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46  You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47  Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." 48  And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49  Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50  And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

“25 ¶  And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26  He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27  And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28  And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29  But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30  Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31  Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32  So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33  But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34  He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35  And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36  Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" 37  He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

“11 ¶  And he said, "There was a man who had two sons. 12  And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13  Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14  And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15  So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16  And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 17  "But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18  I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19  I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."’ 20  And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21  And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22  But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23  And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. 25  "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26  And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27  And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28  But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29  but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30  But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31  And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32  It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’"

“19 ¶  "There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20  And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21  who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22  The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23  and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24  And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25  But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26  And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27  And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— 28  for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29  But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30  And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31  He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’"

“2  and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,”

“27  When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. 28  When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” 29  For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) 30  Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. 31  And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. 32  Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33  Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. 34  When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35  Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 36  And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 37  Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38  The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,”

“11 ¶  On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12  And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13  and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14  When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15  Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16  and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17  Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18  Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19  And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

“  1 ¶  He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2  And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3  And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4  So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5  And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6  So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7  And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8  And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9  And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

“Luke’s emphasis on the gospel’s universal appeal is also evident in his genealogy of Jesus.  Matthew began his genealogy with Abraham, the father of the Jewish people, but Luke traced Christ’s genealogy all the way back to Adam, the father of the entire human race.”

11/11/2026 10:59 PM

PT-2 “Mercy Made Available” (Luke 9:51)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11/11/2026 8:57 AM

My Worship Time                                                              Focus:  PT-2 “Mercy Made Available”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                      Reference:  Luke 9:51

            Message of the verse:  “When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem;”

            This morning I will continue to look at what John MacArthur has to say about this verse, and he has many verses to help us understand what this verse has to say.

            “Immediately after the revelation of His glory and majesty at the transfiguration, the Lord warned His disciples. ‘Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men’ (9:44).  From the exaltation of the transfiguration, Jesus took the Twelve through the valley of humiliation that culminated in His death.  Although Jerusalem was only a couple of days’ walk from Galilee, Jesus did not go directly there.  But although He took months to traverse the region of Judea with a final stop in Perea (Luke 18; cf. Matt. 19-20; Mark 10), all the while He was inexorably on arriving in Jerusalem at Passover—the appointed time for the Lamb of God’s sacrificial death.”  There will be no verses quoted here as the verses seen are chapters.  “Along the way, Christ’s primary focus was not on the crowds, but on training the first generation of gospel preachers, the apostles whom He had chosen to carry on His ministry after He departed for heaven.

            “Sumpleroo (approaching ) literally means, ‘to be fulfilled,’ or ‘completed.’ God’s plan of redemption was to be fulfilled by Christs going to Jerusalem to die as a sacrifice for sin, and He always operated on a divinely prewritten timetable (cf. Luke 13:31-33; John 7:8, 30; 8:20).”

(cf. Luke 13:31-33; John 7:8, 30; 8:20)

“31 ¶  At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32  And he said to them, "Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. 33  Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’

“8  You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come."

“30  So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.”

“20  These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.”

“In Gethsemane Jesus rebuked Peter for his valiant but wrongheaded attempt to prevent His arrest, asking him, ‘How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?’  (Matt. 26:54; cf. v56; Luke 22:37).”

(Matt. 26:54; cf. v56; Luke 22:37)

“54  But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?"

“56  But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples left him and fled.”

“37  and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.”

“On the road to Emmaus after His resurrection, Jesus reminded two of His disciples, ‘All things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled’ (Luke 24:44).  Peter declared to the Jewish people that ‘the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled’ (Acts 3:18), while Paul told the Gentiles in Pisidian Antioch, ‘Those will live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither [Jesus] nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him’ (Acts 13:27).

            “Some limit ascension (lit., ‘lifting up’) to Jesus’ death on the cross, connecting this passage with His declaration, As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Many be lifted up’ (John 3:14; cf. 8:28; 12:32).”

(John 3:14; cf. 8:28; 12:32)

“14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,”

“28  So Jesus said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.”

“32  And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."

“But while the noun analambano is used of Christ’s (ascension) appears only here in the New Testament, the related verb analambano is used of Christ’s ascension in Acts 1:2, 11, 22, and 1 Timothy 3:16).  It seems that Luke’s use of the term here encompasses the entire sequence of events from the cross, through the resurrection, to the actual ascension into glory (Acts 1:9-11).”

(Acts 1:9-11)

“9  And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10  And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11  and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

            “Sterizo (determined) describes something that is fixed, immovable, or firmly established.  It expresses Christ’s unshakable, unwavering resolve to to Jerusalem and endure the shame of the cross with its suffering, rejection, and bearing of God’s wrath against sin.  In the words of the writer of Hebrews, Jesus ‘for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God’ (Heb. 12:2; cf. Phil. 2:9-11).”

(Heb. 12:2; cf. Phil. 2:9-11)

“2  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

“9  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10  so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

            “The heart of the Lord Jesus Christ’s mission was mercy, which Jude described as ‘the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life’ (Jude 21).  He was on a mission of mercy to Jerusalem to die as the only way undeserving sinners could receive divine mercy to redeem them from sin and eternal hell.”

Spiritual Meaning for my life today:  I am not sure that I understand all of how God chose to do the work of saving sinful men, but I do understand enough of it to know that for God’s reason He chose me in eternity past and then sent His Son to take my place on the cross in order be pay for my sin and then the Holy Spirit of God called me on January 23 of 1974 for salvation.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I am trusting the Lord to continue to give me the grace needed each day to continue living for my Lord as I continue to morn the death of my late wife, Sandra.

11/11/2026 9:40 AM

 

PT-1 “Merch Made Available” (Luke 9:51)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11/10/2026 8:54 PM

My Worship Time                                                              Focus:  PT-1 “Merch Made Available”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                       Reference:  Luke 9:51

            Message of the verse: “When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem;”

            I believe that this section will take me more than one day to get through it because of all the verses I have to look up.

            MacArthur writes “The phrase when the days signifies that an indefinite period of time has passed since the incident recorded in 9:46-50.  However this incident probably did not take place too long afterward.  It marks a major turning point in Luke’s narrative of Christ’s life and ministry.  Up to this point, Luke has focused on Jesus’ coming, detailing the angelic announcement of His birth to Mary, the account of His birth, the incident in the temple when He was twelve, His baptism by John, His temptation by Satan, and the first two and a half years of His ministry as Messiah, reaching its pinnacle at the transfiguration.

            “But at this point, the whole tenor of Luke’s gospel changes.  The focus is no longer on Jesus’ coming, but on His going.  The Galilean ministry is over, and He is on His way for the final time to His passion in Jerusalem;  Although the Lord would, in the few intervening months of His Judean ministry, make brief return visits to Galilee (eg.17:11-37), Galilee was no longer His base of operations.”

(eg.17:11-37)

“11 ¶  On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12  And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13  and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14  When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15  Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16  and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17  Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18  Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19  And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”  20 ¶  Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21  nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." 22  And he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23  And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. 24  For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. 25  But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26  Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27  They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28  Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29  but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— 30  so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31  On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 32  Remember Lot’s wife. 33  Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. 34  I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35  There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left." 36  37  And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

“Much of the material in this travelogue (cf. vv. 52, 57; 10:1, 38; 13:22, 33; 17:11; 18:35; 19:1, 11, 28-29) of Christ’s final journey to the cross (9:51-19:27) is unique to Luke’s gospel.  Of the other gospel writers, only John records features from the months in Judea (John 7-11).”

(cf. vv. 52, 57; 10:1, 38; 13:22, 33; 17:11; 18:35; 19:1, 11, 28-29)

“52  And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him.”

“57 ¶  As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

“1 ¶  After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.”

“38 ¶  Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.”

“22  He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.”

“33  Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’”

“11 ¶  On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.”

“35 ¶  As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.”

“1 ¶  He entered Jericho and was passing through.”

“11 ¶  As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.”

“28 ¶  And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29  When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples,”

11/10/2026 9:26 PM

Intro to “A Mission of Mercy” (Luke 9:51-56)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11/10/2026 7:58 AM

My Worship Time                                                              Focus:  Intro to “A Mission of Mercy”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference:  Luke 9:51-56

            Message of the verses:  “⁵¹ When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem; ⁵² and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. ⁵³ And they did not receive Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” ⁵⁵ But He turned and rebuked them. ⁵⁶ And they went on to another village.”

            I will begin looking at the introduction to this 32^nd chapter from John MacArthur’s commentary on the gospel of Luke by quoting his introduction to the verses above.

            “Mercy is a word filled with loveliness.  To say that someone is merciful is to pay them the highest compliments; it is to characterize them as loving, compassionate, tender, forgiving, selfless, caring, and protective.  In contrast merciless people are vicious, vengeful, deadly, destructive, hate others, and wish them only evil.

            “Both the Old Testament and the New Testament extol the value of mercy.  Proverbs 3:3 ranks mercy with truth—which God has magnified according to His name (cf. Ps. 138:2).”

(cf. Ps. 138:2)

“2  I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.”

“While divine truth is of supreme value, it must be balanced with mercy.  God is truth (Ps. 31:5; Isa. 65:16), but He exalts mercy to the degree that truth is exalted.”

(Ps. 31:5; Isa. 65:16)

“5  Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.”

“16  So that he who blesses himself in the land shall bless himself by the God of truth, and he who takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten and are hidden from my eyes.”

“If that were not true, His truth would instantaneously crush sinners.  Reflecting God’s mercy, believers are changed to speak the truth, not harshly or impatiently, but in love (Eph. 4:15).”

(Eph. 4:15)

“15  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,”

“Scripture also emphasizes the importance of mercy by linking it with justice (Hos. 12:6 NKJV; Zech. 7:9 NKJV).

(Hos. 12:6 NKJV; Zech. 7:9 NKJV)

“So you, by the help of your God, return’ Observe mercy and justice And wait on your God continually.”

“This says the Lord of hosts: Execute true justice, Show mercy and compassion Everyone to his brother.”

            “Mercy is also beneficial.  Solomon noted that ‘the merciful man does himself good, but the cruel man does himself harm’ (Prov. 11:17).  David expressed that same principle when he wrote, ‘How blessed is he who considers the helpless; the Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble’ (Ps. 41:1).  Daniel counselled King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘Break away not from your sins by doing righteousness and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, in case there may be a prolonging of your prosperity’ (Dan. 4:27).  In the Beatitudes Jesus said ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy’ (Matt. 5:7).

            “To show mercy is to imitate God (cf. Eph. 5:1), who is merciful.”

(cf. Eph. 5:1)

“¶  Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”

“David called Him ‘a God merciful and gracious’ (Ps. 86:15).  Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist spoke of ‘the tender mercy of our God’ (Luke 1:78).  Paul described God as ‘the Father of mercies’ (2 Cor. 1:3), who is ‘rich in mercy’ (Eph. 2:4), while the writer of Hebrews described the Lord Jesus Christ as ‘a merciful and faithful high priest’ (Heb. 2:17).

            “Christians are commanded to show mercy.  In Luke 6:36 Jesus instructed believers, ‘Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful,’ while James cautioned that those who fail to shoe mercy will face God’s judgment, since ‘judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment’ (James 2:13).

            “Mercy may be defined as unconditional love reaching out to meet a person’s need without thought of whether he or she deserves it.  It is compassionate kindness that does good to people simply because they are in need.  Mercy is activated by the suffering of others, and grants them loving-kindness because of their desperate condition.  The supreme New Testament illustration of mercy is the story of the prodigal son.  After squandering his inheritance by his profligate, sinful living, he was forgiving and welcomed home by his merciful father and extended mercy to relieve his terrible condition.  In an Old Testament illustration of jerky, 2 Kings 6:11-23 recounts the story of some Aramean soldiers whom Elisha struck with blindness and let captive into the city of Samaria.  The king of Israel wanted to execute them, but instead Elisha commanded him to prepare a feast for the soldiers and then set them free (vv. 22-23).  In a  world where vengeance is consider a virtue, the people of God must be characterized by mercy.”

(2Kings 6:11-23)

“11  And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?" 12  And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom."  13 ¶  And he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him." It was told him, "Behold, he is in Dothan." 14  So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15  When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" 16  He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17  Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18  And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Please strike this people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. 19  And Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he led them to Samaria. 20  As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, "O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see." So the LORD opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21  As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, "My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?" 22  He answered, "You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master." 23  So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.”

            “This passage records the first incident of the Lord’s lengthy journey to Jerusalem…Jesus seized the opportunity provided by a Samaritan village’s rejection of Him to teach His disciples a riveting and unforgettable lesson on mercy.  It is the perfect follow-up to the lesson on humility He had taught them in the previous section…Since only the humble are merciful.  Though this is a brief narrative account that never mentions the word mercy, it is implicit in our Lord’s attitude that He has come to extend this priceless treasure to those in desperate need, but do not deserve it.  As Jesus heads toward Jerusalem, I is to provide mercy by His death; as He enters a Samaritan village, it is also to extend mercy.”

11/10/2026 8:47 AM

 

 

“Pride Reacts With Exclusivity” (Luke 9:49-50)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11/9/2026 8:12 PM

My Worship Time                                                            Focus:  “Pride Reacts With Exclusivity”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                Reference:  Luke 9:49-50)

            Message of the verses:  “John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.”  But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.”

            John MacArthur writes “The second incident reveals that John at least was beginning to understand the Lord’s message.  In light of Jesus’ warning in verse 48 John wondered whether the apostles had acted properly in an earlier incident, and feeling some guilt decided to ask Jesus about it.  “Master, he said, “we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.”  Since this incident is not recorded in the Gospels, the identity of this man is not known.  “That he was not a phony exorcist like the sons of Sceva (Acts 19:13-14) is clean, since he was successfully casting out demons in Christ’s name; that is, consistent with His authority and power.”

(Acts 19:13-14)

“13 ¶  Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14  Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.”

“It was not an empty claim such as that in Matthey 7:21-23:

Now everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

            “Whoever he was, the apostles, pridefully jealous of their exclusive position, tried to prevent him from carrying on his ministry because he did not follow along with them.  In other words, he was not one of their group.  Why Jesus permitted him to do what he did is also not clear.  It may be that he would later be included as one of the seventy, who would have such power (Luke 10:17).”

(Luke 10:17)

“17 ¶  The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”

“In any case, he provided another  lesson for Jesus to use to teach the disciples humility.

            “Jesus confirmed John’s doubt about how they had handled the situation, and said to him, “Do not hinder him.”  The Lord removed any doubt that this man was a genuine disciple, since He would never have forbidden the apostles to rebuke a false teacher.

            “Pride promotes exclusivity, but humility promotes unity.  We cannot embrace those who claim to be Christ’s but do not preach the truth of Christ.  However we must embrace all who both name the name of Christ and also speak His truth, whatever organization they belong to. Christians must have the attitude of Paul, who rejoiced when the truth was proclaimed—even when those preaching it were cruelly hostile to him (Phil. 1:15-18).”

(Phil. 1:15-18)

“15  Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16  The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17  The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18  What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,”

            “Jesus closed this section with the axiomatic statement, “He who is not against you is for you.”  There is not middle ground between truth and error; between sound doctrine and heresy.  Every person is either for Christ, or against Him.  Later in Luke’s gospel, the Lord repeated this saying, this time relating it directly to Himself:  ‘He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters’ (11:23).  Only those who teach the truth can be embraced as fellow servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.

            “Pride is not a virtue, but the source of all sin.  It must not be excused or justified, nor can it heinousness be downplayed.  The sobering truth is that it that ‘everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; assuredly, he will not be unpunished’ (Prov. 16:5), since ‘a proud heart…is sin’ (Prov. 21:4).  But the blessed promise is that although ‘God is opposed to the proud [He] gives grace to the humble’ (James 4:6).”

11/9/2026 8:48 PM

 

“Pride Reverses Reality” (Luke 9:48b)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11/9/2026 9:20 AM

My Worship Time                                                                       Focus:  “Pride Reverses Reality”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                     Reference:  Luke 9:48b

            Message of the verse:  “for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great”

            Once again we will be looking at a very short SD, and then in this evenings SD it will not only be a little bit longer but it will be the last one in this chapter of John MacArthur’s commentary.

            He writes “Pride drives people to exalt themselves, push their agendas, fulfill their ambitions, and receive praise from others.  But how fallen minds think is the reverse of spiritual reality, as Jesus told the apostles, the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great (cf. Matt. 23:11-12).”

(cf. Matt. 23:11-12)

“11  The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

“Spiritual wisdom, which equates greatness with humility, is counterintuitive; it is the opposite of the way the world, both secular and religious thinks.  The truly great in the heavenly kingdom are not honor, but those who humbly defer to others, considering them more important than themselves and looking out for their interests (Phil. 2:3-4).”

(Phil. 2:3-4)

“3  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

“It is the humble, not the proud, that God will exalt (1:52; 14:11; 18:14; Matt. 23:5-12; James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6).”

(1:52; 14:11; 18:14; Matt. 23:5-12; James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6)

“52  he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;”

“11  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

“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."

“5  They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6  and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7  and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8  But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9  And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10  Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11  The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

“10  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

“6  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,”

Spiritual meaning for my life today:  In an earlier SD on the subject of pride from this chapter of MacArthur’s commentary I quoted a section from Isaiah 14, which speaks of Satan’s pride, which is what caused him to fall.  Ezekiel 28 also speaks of Satan’s fall.  So when Satan fell from the position that God gave him when he created him that was the first sin in God’s universe.  Satan continues to use this in our world today because he was behind the fall of man when both Adam and Eve fell into sin which means everyone who is fathered by man is born a sinner, thus will be full of pride.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord to convicted me when I fall into the sin of pride so that I can confess my sin to the Lord and depend on the Holy Spirit to keep me from the sin of pride.

11/9/2026 9:43 AM