Wednesday, November 11, 2026

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

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