PT. 1 “A True Hearer Listens Obediently” (Luke 8:19-20)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/16/2026 9:59 PM

My Worship Time                                            Focus:  PT. 1 “A True Hearer Listens Obediently”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference:  Luke 8:19-20

            Message of the verses:  “And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd.  And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see you.”  But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

            I am happy to look at these verses because they have always been somewhat of a mystery to me as to why Jesus said what He said about His mother and brothers.

            MacArthur writes “Both Matthew (12:46-50) and Mark (3:31-35) place this event involving Jesus’ mother and brothers earlier in His ministry, before the parable of the soils.”

Matthew (12:46-50)

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

Mark (3:31-35)

31 ¶  And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32  And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33  And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34  And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35  For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother."

“Luke places it here because it fits the theme of this section of his gospel, the importance of properly hearing the word.

            “As they usually are in the New Testament, Jesus’ brothers are associated with His mother, Mary (Matt. 13:55; John 2:12; Acts 1:14).”

(Matt. 13:55; John 2:12; Acts 1:14)

“55  Is this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?”

“12 ¶  After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.”

“14  All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”

“Contrary to the Roman Catholic dogma of Mary’s perpetual virginity, these are Jesus’ half-brothers, the biological children of Joseph and Mary.  The belief that Mary remained a virgin after giving birth to Jesus is foreign to the New Testament and the apostolic era, first appearing in the apocryphal literature of the second century.  To  avoid the obvious implication of the texts that speak of Jesus’ brothers (and sisters; Matt. 13:56), Catholics have argued that these were Joseph’s children from a prior marriage and hence Jesus’ step brothers.  “There is no evidence, however f such a marriage.  Further, if that were the case one of those older brothers would have been Joseph’s heir and hence the rightful king of Israel, not Jesus (Alfred Plummer, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel According to St. Luke, The International Critical Commentary [Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1922], 224).  All historical evidence points to both Joseph and Mary being young teenagers when they married, making a previous marriage and family nonsense.

            “Others have argued that these were Jesus’ cousins, not His brothers.  But adelphos (‘brother’) is never used in the New Testament in the sense of ‘cousin.’ In fact, the New Testament writers had a word available that specifically means ‘cousin’ (anepsios), and when Paul referred to Barnabas’s cousin Mark he used that word (Col. 4:10).”

(Col. 4:10)

“10  Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him),”

“Further evidence that these were Jesus’ actual brothers comes from Psalm 69).  In this messianic psalm Messiah says in verse 8, ‘I have become estranged from my brothers and an alien to my mother’s sons.’  Here ‘brothers’ cannot mean ‘cousins,’ or ‘step brothers,’ since the term refers to Messiah’s mother’s sons.”

            “The clear implication of such passages as Matthew 1:18 (‘before they came together’), 25 (‘kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son’) and Luke 2:7 (‘she gave birth to her firstborn son’)is that Mary and Joseph had norma sexual relations and produced children after Jesus’ birth.

            “Having arrived at the place where Jesus was teaching, Mary and His brothers were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. They had to [send] word to Him and [call] Him’ (Mark 3:31).  Their request to speak with Jesus (Matt. 12:46) was passed through the crowd (v. 47) and it was reported to Him, ‘Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.’

(Mark 3:31)

31 ¶  And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him.”

(Matt. 12:46)

“46 ¶  While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.”

(Mark 3:20-21)

“Mark 3:20-21) reveals that they were concerned about the massive crowds that followed Jesus everywhere, and fearful of the rising hostility of the Jewish religious leaders.”

“20  Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21  And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

“Having erroneously concluded that Jesus had taken leave of His senses (Mark 3:21), Mary and His brothers had come to rescue Him.  That Joseph does not appear here or anywhere in the New Testament after the incident in the temple (Luke 2:41-50) suggests that he was dead by this time.”

(Luke 2:41-50)

“41 ¶  Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42  And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43  And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44  but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45  and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46  After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47  And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48  And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49  And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50  And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.”

“Jesus’ assigning Mary into the care of the apostle John at the cross (John 19:27) further confirms that Joseph was dead.”

(John 19:27)

“27  Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.”

9/16/2026 11:19 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“A True Hearer Listens Fruitfully” (Luke 8:18)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/16/2026 10:37 AM

My Worship Time                                                        Focus:  “A True Hearer Listens Fruitfully”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                      Reverence:  Luke 8:18

            Message of the verse:  “So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”

            In an earlier SD, Jesus’ exhortation to take care how you listen is the theme of this entire section.  Specifically, Jesus warned that people must be aware that the consequences are serious.  Positively, whoever is a true disciple and has eternal life, to him more shall be given.  Now the good soil is marked by varying levels of productivity, however it invariably produces the fruit of salvation; as Jesus told the apostles gathered in the upper room, “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples” (John 15:8; cf. v. 16).

(John 15:8; cf. v. 16)

“8  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

“16  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

Constant production of fruit watered by the ceaselessly flowing stream of divine grace (John 1:16; cf. Eph. 1:3-8; 2:7-10; Phil. 1:11) marks true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

(John 1:16; cf. Eph. 1:3-8; 2:7-10; Phil. 1:11)

“16  For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

“3 ¶  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4  even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5  he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6  to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8  which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.”

“7  so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9  not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

“11  filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

            John MacArthur writes “But Christ’s promise of blessing for true disciples is balanced by His warning to false disciples that whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.  In the end, the false disciples lose everything.  All of their self-righteous works that they had counted on to bring them salvation will turn out to be nothing but rubbish (Phil. 3:8), vain things that cannot save (Acts 14:15).”

(Phil. 3:8)

“8  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”

(Acts 14:15)

“15  "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.”

“Like the wicked, lazy, unfaithful slave in the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30), they will be cast ‘into the outer darkness…[where] there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’ (30).

(Matt. 25:14-30)

“14 ¶  "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15  To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16  He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17  So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18  But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19  Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20  And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21  His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22  And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23  His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24  He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25  so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26  But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27  Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28  So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29  For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30  And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

Spiritual Meaning for my life today: I suppose that at times, many times, listening has been something that I need to do a better job of, as that is important.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I am trusting the Lord that when I go to this grieving class that I will take the time to listen to what others in the class are going through.  To be a good listener.

9/16/2026 11:07 AM

 

“A True Hearer Listens Authentically” (Luke 8:17)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/15/2026 10:08 PM

My Worship Time                                                   Focus: “A True Hearer Listens Authentically”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                       Reference:  Luke 8:17

Message of the verse:  “For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”

            I think it best for those who read this SD to start out by quoting from John MacArthur’s commentary as this first paragraph is critical for us to understand.  “Although commentators offer various interpretations of this statement, it seems reasonable to understand it as talking about authenticity; what a person is on the inside.  Because nothing is hidden that will not become evident, or to put in another way, there is nothing secret that will not be known and come to light, the true condition of the heart will eventually be revealed.  Generally speaking, time and truth go hand in hand.  Given enough time the truth comes out for men to see.  It is, of course, never hidden from God.

            “That principle is repeated throughout Scripture.  Jesus gave it again in Matthew 10:26.”

Matthew 10:26

26  "So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.”

“In the Old Testament David wrote that ‘the righteous God tries the hearts and minds’ (Ps. 7:9).  In Psalm 90:8 Moses said to God, ‘You have placed our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.’  Solomon closed the book of Ecclesiastes with the sober warning that ‘God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether is goo or evil’ (Eccl. 12:14).  In the New Testament Paul spoke of a ‘day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus’ (Romans 2:16), and noted that when ‘the Lord comes [He] will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts’ (1 Cor. 4:5).  In His message to the church at Thyatira Jesus said ‘I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds’ (Rev. 2:23; cf. Ps. 44:21; Jer. 11:20; 17:10; John 2:24-25; Acts 1:24; Heb. 4:13).”

(Rev. 2:23; cf. Ps. 44:21; Jer. 11:20; 17:10; John 2:24-25; Acts 1:24; Heb. 4:13)

“23  and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.”

“21  would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.”

“20  But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.”

“10  "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."

“24  But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25  and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.”

“24  And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen.”

13  And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

            “Jesus’ words evidently are a warning against hypocrisy, as an examination of the parallel statement in Luke 12:1-2 suggests.”

Luke 12:1-2

“1 ¶  In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2  Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.”

“In verse 1 the Lord ‘began saying to His disciples first of all, ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.’’  He cautioned His hearers to avoid imitating the Pharisees, who ‘say things and do not do them’ (Matt. 23:3); who ‘outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly…are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness’ (v. 28).  He exhorted them not to be like false disciples who call Him ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not obey Him (Matt. 7:21-22; Luke 6:46; who build their spiritual houses on the sand (Matt. 7:26-27).”

(Matt. 7:21-22)

“21 ¶  "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

( Luke 6:46)

“46  "Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”

(Matt. 7:26-27)

26  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."

            “All such hypocrisy will eventually be unmasked, because ‘there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden   will not be known’ (12:2).  Since that phrase in the context of chapter 12 clearly refers to exposing hypocrisy, it likely has that same meaning in the present passage.  In light of the coming judgment, Jesus  called for self-examination on the part of those who claim to be His disciples.”

9/15/2026 10:46 PM

 

 

 

 

“A True Hearer Listens Evangelistically” (Luke 8:16)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/15/2026 8:33 AM

My Worship Time                                             Focus:  “A True Hearer Listens Evangelistically”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                        Reference: Luke 8:16

            Message of the Verses:  “Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.”

            Let us begin by looking a Luke 11:33 “33  "No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.”  Matthew 5:15 “15  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.”  So we can see that Jesus used this simple parable or story in three different incidents.  Now the purpose of a lamp is to give light, thus no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed.  MacArthur writes “The terra cotta lamps used in Israel were shaped like a saucer, with a spout and a handle, and used oil and a wick to provide light.”  So to light a lamp and then put in under a bed, or even a container would be pointless, since doing so would extinguish the lamp.  So this shows that instead, lamps needed to be placed on a lampstand or a wall shelf so that those who come in may see the light.

            MacArthur goes on to write “While light in Scripture is often a metaphor for holiness (Matt. 5:14-16; Rom. 13:12), for truth (Psalms 36:9; 119:105, 130; Prov. 6:23; Acts 26:23; Eph. 5:9; 1 Thess. 5:5), and also for spiritual life in Christ (John 1:4), the specific feature the Lord communicated through this analogy is that genuine disciples do not hide the truth of the gospel.”  Now we will look at this verses in the order found in this sentence.

 (Matt. 5:14-16; Rom. 13:12)  (Holiness)

“14  "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

“12  The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

(Psalms 36:9; 119:105, 130; Prov. 6:23; Acts 26:23; Eph. 5:9; 1 Thess. 5:5) (Truth)

“9  For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.”

“105 ¶  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

“130 ¶  The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”

“23  For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,”

“23  that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles."

“9  (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),”

“5  For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.”

(John 1:4) (for spiritual life in Christ)

“4  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

“Peter described Christians as ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that [they] may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called [them] out of darkness into His marvelous light’ (1 Peter 2:9).  In his defense before Herod  Agrippa, Paul said that Jesus had sent him both to the Jews and to the Gentiles ‘to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in [Jesus Christ]’ (Acts 26:18).  Paul was thankful for the Roman Christians because their ‘faith [was] being proclaimed throughout that whole world’ (Rom. 1:8; cf. 16:19).”

(Rom. 1:8; cf. 16:19)

“8 ¶  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.”

“19  For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.”

“The apostle commended the Thessalonians because ‘the word of the Lord [had] sounded forth from [them], not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place [their] faith toward God [had] gone forth’ (1 Thess. 1:8).  Jesus likened true hearers of the word to a brilliantly lit city on a hill whose light cannot be hidden (Matt. 5:14).”

(Matt. 5:14)

“14  "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

“True conversion results in a desire for telling the gospel story.  Genuine disciples respond to the truth evangelistically; that is, they only take it in, but they also give it out.  Lack of zeal for sharing the truth may reveal that God’s work of salvation has not been wrought in the heart.

            “Jesus may also have had another issue in mind when He gave this analogy.  In Luke 8:10 He had told the disciples, ‘To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ As noted in the discussion of that verse in the previous chapter of this volume, that was an act of judgment on Jesus’ part.  Those who rejected the truth would have it hidden from them.  The disciples may have thought that they were to render the same judgments and decide for themselves who to present the truth to.

            “But it is not the believer’s place to make such a determination; only God knows a persons true spiritual condition.  Christians are responsible to obey the Great Commission and ‘make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit’ (Matt. 28:19; cf. Acts 1:8).”

(Acts 1:8)

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

“And when they were ready, Jesus would send the Twelve out to preach the gospel to all whom they encountered (Luke 9:1-6).  What He had explained to them in secret, the were to proclaim publicly (cf. Matt. 10:27).”

(Luke 9:1-6)

“  1 ¶  And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2  and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3  And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. 4  And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5  And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them." 6  And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.”

(cf. Matt. 10:27)

“27  What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.”

Spiritual Meaning for my life today:  It is my desire that those who read my Spiritual Diaries would first of all accept the forgiveness that Christ has paid for through His death, burial, and resurrection.  It is also my desire that those who are believers who read my Spiritual Diaries would “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to trust the Lord as I go through some really difficult times in my life, that He would strengthen me and that He would continue to give me more grace in order for me to get through these very difficult days.

9/15/2026 9:55 AM

 

 

 

 

 

 

PT-2 “Be Careful How You Listen” (Luke 8:16-21)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/14/2026 9:02 PM

My Worship Time                                                       Focus: PT-2 “Be Careful How You Listen”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference:  Luke 8:16-21

            Message of the verses:  “16“Now no one lights a lamp and covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see the light. 17For nothing is concealed that will not become evident, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”

19Now His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. 20And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.” 21But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

            Just so you know this is the introduction to these verses above.

            MacArthur continues, “But all too often Israel failed to listen to God’s word.  In Psalm 81:11-13 God lamented ‘ My people did not listen to My voice, and Israel did not obey Me.  So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart , to walk in their own devices.  Oh that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways!’  Isaiah 30:9 described the children of Israel as ‘a rebellious people, false sons, sons who refuse to listen to the instruction of the Lord,’ while in Jeremiah 13:10 God indicted them as a ‘wicked people, who refuse to listen to My words.’  ‘This has been your practice from your youth,’  God said in Jeremiah 22:21, ‘that you have not obeyed My voice’ (cf. 7:26; 11:10; 17:23; 35:17; 36:31; 40:3; Ps. 106:25; Isaiah 28:12; 66:4).

(cf. 7:26; 11:10; 17:23; 35:17; 36:31; 40:3; Ps. 106:25; Isaiah 28:12; 66:4)

“26  Yet they did not listen to me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers.”

“10  They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. They have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant that I made with their fathers.”

“23  Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck, that they might not hear and receive instruction.”

“17  Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered."

“31  And I will punish him and his offspring and his servants for their iniquity. I will bring upon them and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem and upon the people of Judah all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, but they would not hear.’"

“3  The LORD has brought it about, and has done as he said. Because you sinned against the LORD and did not obey his voice, this thing has come upon you.”

“25  They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the LORD.”

“12  My dwelling is plucked up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent; like a weaver I have rolled up my life; he cuts me off from the loom; from day to night you bring me to an end;”

“4  I also will choose harsh treatment for them and bring their fears upon them, because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not listen; but they did what was evil in my eyes and chose that in which I did not delight."”

“Not only rebellious Israel, but also all those who reject the truth are guilty of failing to listen to the Lord speaking in Scripture.  As Jesus pointed out in the parable of the soils, the people represented by all four soils hear the word (Luke 8:12, 13, 14, 15); what differentiates people is how they react to the truth they hear.” (I just finished looking at those verses in the last section, so won’t repeat it here.)

            “The kind of listeners people are reveals their spiritual condition.  Many make a superficial response to the Lord Jesus Christ, but He will one day say to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’ (Matt. 7:23; 25:11-12).  Jesus said that such are the ones who hear His words, but fail to act on them (Matt. 7:26).  When the flood of divine judgment comes, their spiritual houses, lacking a solid spiritual foundation, will be swept away (v. 27).  On the other hand those who hear Christ’s words and obey them are His true disciples (v. 24 cf. John 8:31-32, 47; 10:3-5, 16, 27; 1 Cor. 2:12-16).

(Matt. 7:23; 25:11-12)

“23  And then will I declare to them,, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

“11  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12  But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

(Matt. 7:26)

“26  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.”

  (Mat.25:27).

“27  Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.”

(v. 24 cf. John 8:31-32, 47; 10:3-5, 16, 27; 1 Cor. 2:12-16)

“24  He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,”

” 31 ¶  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

“47  Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."

“3  To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4  When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5  A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

“16  And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

“27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

“12  Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13  And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 14  The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15  The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16  “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

            “Jesus challenged those who identified themselves as His disciples, who were gathered around Him to hear His explanation of the parable of the soils, to take care how they listen.  He noted four ways in which true hearers listen to the word: evangelistically, authentically, fruitfully, and obediently.”

9/14/2026 10:00 PM

 

 

 

 

 

PT-1 “Be Careful How You Listen” (Luke 8:16-21)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/14/2026 9:44 AM

My Worship Time                                                      Focus: PT-1 “Be Careful How You Listen”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference:  Luke 8:16-21

            Message of the verses:  “16“Now no one lights a lamp and covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see the light. 17For nothing is concealed that will not become evident, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”

19Now His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. 20And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.” 21But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

            John MacArthur writes this in his introduction to these verses: “Listening is an important and often neglected skill.  Good listeners are good friends and make for good company.  They make good teachers and counselors.  Poor, on the other hand, want only to hear themselves talk, and even when they appear to be listening they often are only planning what they are going to say next.  Solomon described poor listeners as those who bring folly and shame to themselves by giving an answer without fully listening to the question (Prov. 18:13).  They cheat themselves out of the best in life’s relationships.”

(Prov. 18:13)

“13 ¶  If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.”

            “But while listening to other people has temporal value, listening to God has eternal significance.  Christ’s warning in verse 18, ‘Take care how you listen,’ is a constant theme in Scripture.  The command, ‘Hear the word of the Lord’ appears about thirty times in the Old Testament (e.g. 2Kings 20:1 7 ¶  "Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God.6; Ps. 50:7; Isa. 1:10; 28:14; 48:1; Jer. 2:4; Ezek. 18:25).”

(e.g. 2Kings 20:16; Ps. 50:7; Isa. 1:10; 28:14; 48:1; Jer. 2:4; Ezek. 18:25)

“Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the LORD:”

“7 ¶  "Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God.”

“10 ¶  Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!”

“14 ¶  Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem!”

“1 ¶  Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and who came from the waters of Judah, who swear by the name of the LORD and confess the God of Israel, but not in truth or right.”

“4  Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel.”

“25  "Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?”

“In such passages as Psalm 81:8; Isaiah 41:1; 46:3, 12; 49: 1, 51:1, 7: 55:2-3, and Jeremiah 11:4, 7; 17:20; 42:15 God exhorted His people to listen to Him.

(Psalm 81:8; Isaiah 41:1; 46:3,12; 49:1, 51:1, 7; 55:2-3, and Jeremiah 11:4, 7; 17:20; 42:15)

“8 ¶  Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me!”

“1 ¶  Listen to me in silence, O coastlands; let the peoples renew their strength; let them approach, then let them speak; let us together draw near for judgment.”

“3  "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb;”

“12  "Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, you who are far from righteousness:”

“1 ¶  Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.”

“7 ¶  Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: "Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."

“2  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3  Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.”

“4  that I commanded your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Listen to my voice, and do all that I command you. So shall you be my people, and I will be your God,”

“7  For I solemnly warned your fathers when I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, warning them persistently, even to this day, saying, Obey my voice.”

“20  and say: ‘Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter by these gates.”

“15  then hear the word of the LORD, O remnant of Judah. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: If you set your faces to enter Egypt and go to live there,”

“At the transfiguration God commanded, ‘This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!’ (Mark 9:7).  The repeated phrase, ‘Today if you hear His voice’ (Ps. 95:7; Heb. 3:7, 15; 4:7) further emphasizes the importance of listening to God.”

Spiritual Meaning for my life today:  To be a better listener!

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to trust the Lord as I and my family are going through some very rough seas currently.  Still grieving over the death of my dear wife, and then having my grand son almost loose his life in a motorcycle crash which did take part of his left arm and right leg.  He has had two surgeries with one more to go, and then a very long rehab to follow where he will have to learn to walk with prosthesis.  We all love the Lord and know that He cannot make any mistakes and can lean on Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

9/14/2026 10:59 AM

 

 

 

 

The Good Soil (Luke 8:15)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/13/2026 8:11 PM

My Worship Time                                                                                         Focus: The Good Soil

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                       Reference:  Luke 8:15

            Message of the verses:  “But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.”

            Well we finally get to the good soil, which is the only one that produces any grain.  This is in contrast to the first three soils, the seed in the good soil produces genuine salvation.  This last soil represents the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, one that is genuinely and truly good without duplicity.  They are those who understand the word (Matt. 13:23), accept it (Mark 4:20), and hold it fast in ongoing obedience (cf. Luke 11:28; John 14:15, 21; 15:10).

(Matt. 13:23)

“23  As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

(Mark 4:20)

“20  But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.’”

(cf. Luke 11:28; John 14:15, 21; 15:10)

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

“15 ¶  "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

“21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."

“10  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”

“Unlike the roadside soil, where the seed never penetrates, the rocky soil where it sprouts briefly and withers, and the thorny soil where it is choked out, the good soil is properly prepared.  The seed will grow into mature plants that bear fruit with the perseverance that marks genuine faith (see the discussion of perseverance above).  As noted above, those who abandon their profession of faith prove that it was never real.

            “Fruit encompasses the good works that accompany salvation (Matt. 3:8; John 15:16), including both attitudes (Gal. 5:22-23) and actions (Col. 1:10; Phil. 1:11).”

(Matt. 3:8; John 15:16)

“8  Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.”

“16  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

(Gal. 5:22-23)

“22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

(Col. 1:10; Phil. 1:11)

“10  so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

“11  filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

“Attitude fruit produces action fruit, and to attempt to generate action fruit apart from it results in legalism, such as that which the Lord condemned in the scribes and Pharisees.  As both Matthew’s (13:23) and (Mark 4:20) accounts reveal, there are varying degrees of fruitfulness.”

Matthew (13:23)

“23  As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’”

(Mark 4:20)

“20  But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold."

“All believers, however, will bear some genuine fruit (Eph. 2:10); fruitlessness is a mark of false, non-saving faith (John 15:2; cf. Matt. 3:10).”

(Eph. 2:10)

“10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

(John 15:2; cf. Matt. 3:10)

“2  Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

“10  Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

            “A proper understanding of this masterful parable should have a profound influence on how the church does evangelism.  Jesus taught that the variable is not the method or skill of the one presenting the gospel, or the message itself—the things that are frequently the focus of contemporary evangelistic methodology.  The variable is the heart.  More specifically, it is not the nature of the heart; in the Lord’s analogy all four soils are made up of the same dirt.  The determining factor in how people respond to the gospel is the influences that prevail upon and dominate their hearts.

            “Conviction, which prepares the heart to receive the gospel, is the work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8), and salvation itself is the work of God.”

(John 16:8)

8  And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:”

“But the Spirit’s work of conviction does not take place in a vacuum.  He uses the proclamation of the gospel message of sin and the need for salvation to do His convicting work in the human heart. ‘How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed?’  Paul asked rhetorically. ‘How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard?  And how will they hear without a preacher?’ (Rom. 10:14), since ‘faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ’ (v. 17)

            “Believers must present the full message of salvation and not merely focus on its blessings.  Before people can experience those blessings they must come to grips with the reality that they are sinners, facing God’s wrath and eternal judgment.  They must acknowledge that their only hope lies in the salvation He has provided through the sacrificial death of His Son.  Therefore Christians must explain sin to the lost before presenting God’s gracious offer of forgiveness.  As the Puritan pastor and theologian John Owen noted, those who would have their sous justified by grace must have their sins judged by the law (The Forgiveness of Sin [Reprint; Grand Rapids: Baker 1977], 60).  Only then will the hard soil be plowed, the rock bed broken up, and the weeds removed, preparing the good soil to produce the fruit of salvation.” (All enclosed quotes come from John MacArthur’s commentary on the gospel of Luke.)

9/13/2026 9:03 PM