Discovering the Light of listening and being Salt (Luke 8-14)

In Being Salt and light, not intellectual or behavior I discovered the Gospel of Matthew has Salt and Light together; Matthew 5:13-16  but the Gospel of Luke has Light explained in a greater context, in relationship with God (Luke 8:10-18, 11:33-36) and Salt (𝐋𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝟏𝟒:𝟑𝟒-𝟑𝟓)

Luke 8:16–18 Light for all to see, learning by listening and results in abundance (Luke 8:15) or ruin (Luke 8:12-14). Notice Luke 8:10 says "secrets of the kingdom of God" and Luke 8:17 says, "Nothing secret will not be known" 

Luke talks about light quit a bit. 

• "Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” - Luke 1:78-79
• Simeon's Holy Spirit filled praise (Luke 2:25-35): "He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” Luke 2:32

Light of listening and bearing the cross (Luke 8:1-9:45)

Greatness is a welcomed child in Jesus name (Luke 9:46-62)

Jesus authorizes 72 workers into his Fathers fields (Luke 10:1-24)

Jesus teaches how faith listens and works with God (Luke 10:25-11:13)

Jesus Christ exposes Satan, sin, and a right relationship with God (Luke 11:23-12:21)

•  Light isn't hidden, it can be seen by all who enter the house, the eye provides light for your body, healthy filled with light (Luke 11:33-36), in the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see (Matthew 5:16)

Jesus explains how faithful, sensible servants seek the Kingdom of Heaven (Luke 12:22-59)

Jesus teaches about repentance and turning to God (Luke 13)

Jesus requires humble, devoted follow through from Disciples (Luke 14)

• Parable of the Lost Coin: “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? - Luke 15:8
• Rich, shrewd, dishonest rascal are more shrewd than children of the light - Luke 16:8
• For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be on the day when the Son of Man comes. Luke 17:24
• The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. Luke 23:45

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Jesus requires humble, devoted follow through from Disciples (Luke 14)

A) Jesus demonstrates healing on the Sabbath, humble exalted by God (Luke 14:1-24)

B) Jesus teaches following him means 100% yes and costs your whole life (Luke 14:25-33)

C) Being salt is flavorful for soil and manure piles (Luke 14:34-35)

 Luke 14:1-6) Sabbath, Lead Pharisee's home dinner, "healing permitted?", then Jesus healed a man

7-11) People try and sit in place of honor, Jesus advice: take the lowest place, then someone will honor you in front of others

 - Saying, "Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, those who humble themselves will be exalted"

12-14) Invite people to luncheon/banquet who can't pay you back

15-24) "banquet in the Kingdom of Heaven?", servant told guest it was ready but they made excuses, so the master invited poor, lame, crippled, blind but still had room so servant urged anyone they could find

25-27) Crowd followed Jesus, "If you want to be my disciple, by comparison you must hate everyone else, including your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.

 - Saying, "If you don't carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple"

28-30) Don't begin until you count the cost, otherwise you might complete only the foundation before running out of money - everyone would laugh at you

31-33) Kings have counselors, how can 10k defeat 20k? Delegations discuss terms of peace

 - Saying, "So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own."

34-35) Salt is good for seasoning, flavor, soil, manure pile

 - saying, "Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!"

 - Luke 8:4-10) Parable of sower and soil, means “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’"

Luke 8:11-15) Seed: God's word, on hard hearts (devil), rocks (immature), in weeds (distracted), fruitful (honest, good heart, patience)

 - "Success" where failure would have been better

 - Intercessory Faith, believe in God on behalf of another

 - Guidance controls the path, giving counseling while guiding

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Jesus teaches about repentance and turning to God (Luke 13)

Luke 13:1-5) Pilot murdered/tower Siloam fell, "worse sinners?", "no, repent of your sins AND turn to God"

6-9) story of the disappointing fig tree 3=nothing, gardener, 1 more year of special attention, if nothing then - cut it down

 - Tree identified by its fruit - Luke 6:44

 - Seeing leaves on a tree shows summer is near, in the same way, we see the kingdom of God is near - Luke 21:29-32 (turmoil, fear, and persecution are opportunities to tell about Jesus - Luke 21:13,14 - Standing firm wins your souls Luke 21:19)

10-17) Jesus heals woman crippled for 18 years by an evil spirit on Sabbath, synagogue leaders object, Jesus rebukes and shames them

18-21) Kingdom of God is like tiny mustard seed planted in a garden, grows into tree birds nest, yeast permeated through dough

22-30) "few be saved?", "Work hard to enter God's kingdom, don't do evil"

 - True repentance is not knocking and pleading, saying "Lord, open the door for us!", it's not about eating with Jesus and seeing him teaching in the streets. It's knowing God intimately and him knowing you intimately. 

31-35) Pharisees warn "go, Herod Antipas wants to kill you", "Tell him I'll stay casting out demons, healing until third day I will accomplish my purpose" 

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Jesus explains how faithful, sensible servants seek the Kingdom of Heaven (Luke 12:22-59)

Key verses:

 But seek his kingdom, and these things (food, clothing, possessions) will be given to you as well. Luke 12:31

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, Luke 12:34-35

 Luke 12:22-34) Don't worry about everyday life, life is more than food/clothes, God cares for you, seek the Kingdom of God above all else, he will give all you need.

 - Thinking about life, relationships, and the kingdom of heaven Jesus said, "Look at the birds" - Luke 12:22-34

 - Idolatry inflates something to function as a substitute for God, God's X-ray to your heart is your checkbook register

 - See how God provides and makes beauty in nature and the kingdom (Luke 12:22-34)

Luke 12:35-38) Be dressed for service, keep your lamps burning - ready for master to return

 - Rags to Riches, how the Holy Spirit changes us everyday

39-40) Son of Man will come when least expected

41) Peter, "for us or everyone?"

42-48) "faithful, sensible servant takes ownership, knows and does the masters work, much given/entrusted even more required - reward good job: in charge of all he owns"

 - Lamps with Joyful oil (Matthew 25:4, Psalm 45:7)

 - Words of wisdom from some awesome elders

49-56) Jesus came to bring fire (Holy Spirit) to earth (Luke 3:16), but must go to the cross first (Luke 9:44-45), yet hypocrisy prevents you from knowing this present time. (Luke 11:37-12:3)

 - Division from empty way of ancestors (1 Peter 1:18, Freedom Luke 4:18), a clean knife cut ( Holiness is freeing; evidence is a joy and peace at heart (Isaiah 35:8-10)

 - Adoption into God's family, Repentance means forsaking the old you, to renounce and abandon iniquity

 - Works the Holy Spirit does in the believers life

 - Misunderstanding trials threatens our faith

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Jesus Christ exposes Satan, sin, and a right relationship with God (Luke 11:23-12:21)

 Key verses: 

“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. Luke 11:23

Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” Luke 11:28

“What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden...For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.” Luke 11:46,52

 The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.  Luke 12:2

“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a (rich relationship with God/rich toward God.).” Luke 12:21

Jesus heals and teaches about demons and our choices (Luke 11:23-36)

Jesus has a meal with Pharisees, teaches how greed, self-deception and hypocrisy ruin lives (Luke 11:37-12:3)

Jesus teaches how our relationship with God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) is essential (Luke 12:4-21

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Jesus teaches how faith listens and works with God (Luke 10:25-11:13)

A) Eternal life comes to those who love God and show mercy to people (Luke 10:25-37)

B) Listening to God's Word is the only thing worth our concern (Luke 10:38-42)

C) Jesus teaches about our role and God's role in Prayer (Luke 11:1-13,John 16:16-33)

Luke 10:25-28) Religious expert, "what should I do to inherit eternal life?", "Love Lord your God heart, soul, strength, mind, neighbor as yourself"

 - Love (Agapēseis) God, Love (Agapēseis) People

 - 10 types of people, those who understand binary and those who don't

Luke 10:29-37) "who is my neighbor?", your neighbor (includes non-believer and enemies who are left for dead by the world, . (Matthew 25:34-36) Feed the hungry, give water to thirsty, give clothing to naked, care for the sick, visit the imprisoned

 - Those belonging to Christ live by the Spirit, not selfishly (Romans 8:1-16)

 - My neighbor is about opportunity not geography (James 2:1-13)

Luke 10:38-42) Martha welcomes Jesus, in preparation for big dinner is distracted away from Jesus, Mary was focused on Jesus teaching, the only thing worth being concerned about.

 - James affirms Jesus words on who we should live to become

C) Jesus teaches about our role and God's role in Prayer (Luke 11:1-13,John 16:16-33)

 - Poetry communicates more with less, searching our hearts (Romans 8:26-27)

 - Seek then follow: God wants to go camping with you Isaiah 40:22

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Jesus authorizes 72 workers into his Fathers fields (Luke 10:1-24)

 Luke 10:1-2) Jesus appointed 72 others, sent two by two everywhere he was going, "Harvest plentiful, workers few, ask Lord of harvest to send workers

 - Jesus demonstrates how bringing people to faith can nourish us

3-4)  lambs among wolves, no money, bag, extra sandals, don't stop on the road

5-7) enter a home, "may God's peace be on this house", a blessing for peaceful, stay, accept hospitality

8-12) Town welcomes, eat, heal sick "Kingdom of God, has come near you", unwelcomed, "dust from our feet, warning you, Kingdom of God has come near. (Sodom)"

 - Abram demonstrates living by faith, Lot and Sodom a lifestyle of disaster (Gen 13-14)

 - Covenant of circumcision, Abraham washes feet receiving the promise (Gen 17-18:15)

 - Abraham intercedes before Sodom is destroyed with Lot's wife (Gen 18:16-19, Luke 17:32)

13-16) Woe, sorrow awaits you, towns who reject miracles, blessing, repentance, God's message, God's people, God himself

17) seventy-two returned joyfully, "Lord, even demons obey/submit in your name"

18-24) I gave you authority, overcome power of enemy, rejoice in heaven, full of joy/Holy Spirit - praise Father, Lord of heaven and earth, revealed to children, pleased, everything committed/entrusted to Jesus, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see"

 - Eyes that see, ears that hear and heart that understands

 - So cool Luke shows me the parable of Sower and teaching extended through experience and time

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Greatness is a welcomed child in Jesus name (Luke 9:46-62)

Luke 9:46-50) Disciples argue about greatness; "welcome children in my name", "least is greatest", "not against you is for you"

51-56) Samaritan village wouldn't help, bigots toward Jerusalem; James/John fire from heaven to destroy them? Jesus rebuked them - move on.

 - Harboring bitterness is the opposite of repentance. Our words are disproportionately powerful, inherently evil James 3:1-8, and contrasting impactful James 3:9-12 (it can do things not possible in the natural world). But God's first act of salvation is to give us a new tongue. James 3, Exodus 4:10-12, Acts 2:1-4. James is about spiritual maturity

 - John wrote so you would believe in Jesus, Son of God

57-62) "3 Professions, desire to follow Jesus", "Son of man has no place to lay his head"/"Follow me", "need time for elder father", "go, proclaim the kingdom of God"/"Let me say goodbye to family", "plow forward, don't look back"

No man having put his hand to the plough] He who would make straight furrows must not look about him (Hesiod, Works and Days, 11. 60). The light ploughs of the East, easily overturned, require constant attention.

fit] Rather, well-adapted. By way of comment see Luke 17:32; Psalm 78:9; Hebrews 10:38-39. The general lesson of the section is, Give yourself wholly to your duty, and count the cost, Luke 14:25-33. Christ cannot accept ‘a conditional service.’ Neither hardship, nor bereavement, nor home ties must delay us from following Him. Is it more than a curious accident that the last four incidents illustrate the peculiarities of the four marked human temperaments—the Choleric (Luke 9:51-56); the Sanguine (Luke 9:57-58); the Melancholic (Luke 9:59-60); the Phlegmatic (Luke 9:61-62)? - Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

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Light of listening and bearing the cross (Luke 8:1-9:45)

 A) Jesus teaches about the light of listening, hear God's word and do it (Luke 8:1-21)

 - Jesus demonstrates his power over nature, demon-possessed people, life/health (Luke 8:22-56)

B) Jesus gives power to disciples, healing, cast out demons, feeding 5,000 (Luke 9:1-17)

C) Jesus begins teaching about the cross, transcending time (Luke 9:18-45)

Luke 8:1-3) Jesus, apostles & disciples bring good news of kingdom of God everywhere

4-10) Parable of sower and soil, means “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’"

11-15) Seed: God's word, on hard hearts (devil), rocks (immature), in weeds (distracted), fruitful (honest, good heart, patience)

 - Eyes that see, ears that hear and heart that understands

16-18) Light is for all to see, everything concealed is seen in the light of listening, be careful how you hear and be given more (fruitfulness)

19-21) Jesus family hear the word of God and do it

22-25) Woke Jesus rebukes the wind and waves resulting in calm, "where is your faith [confidence in Jesus]?"

26-33) Before the encounter Jesus commanded unclean spirit out of the man (29), demons acknowledge Jesus as Son of God (28), Jesus asks for name and gives permission for Legion to enter herd of pigs.

34-39) herdman interpret the miracle as a terrible waste of money, spreading like gangrene to everyone so they asked Jesus to leave them, so Jesus does and commands the healed man to proclaim all God has done for him.

 - Tale of two cities, no one is neutral with Jesus

 - I think I found a new life verse: Luke 8:39, Money, the power of God's word and dreams

40-56 ) Jesus heals Jairus' daughter and another woman to teach about expectations (Luke 8:40), faith (Luke 8:48,50), and reactions to events (Luke 8:52,53,56)

 - An interesting contrast,  the demon-possessed man is told to tell everyone (Luke 8:39), but parents not to tell what happened (Luke 8:56), personal testimony over witnessing? I wonder about this young girls life, reminds me of Gram Seed (from Alpha "What should I do with the rest of my life?")

 - Prayer is intimacy with God that leads to the fulfillment of His purpose

Luke 9:1-6) Jesus gives disciples power and authority to cast out demons, heal all diseases and tell everyone about the kingdom of God - so they began (Luke 9:6 a new life verse)

7-11) Herod and people speculate Jesus's identity, crowds followed to Bethsaida, kingdom of God, healing

12-15) Twelve; send them away for food, Jesus; you give them something to eat, with a work breakdown plan

16-17) 5 loaves, 2 fish - prayed thanks, all satisfied, 12 basketfuls of leftovers

 - Jesus Feeds 5,000+ and Promise we will do more

18-20) Jesus, private prayer, w/disciples crowds say but, who do say I am? God's Messiah

21-22) Son of Man must suffer rejection, killed, on the third day raised to life

 - Three Days, recurring theme in the Bible for changing your heart

23-27) Jesus; Desire discipleship? Deny yourselves, take up cross daily, follow me - give your life to save it - some here will see kingdom of God before they die (i.e. not Judas).

 - Give up your own way (Luke 9:23), carry your own cross AND follow me (Matthew 16:24, Luke 14:27, Mark 8:34), worthy (Matthew 10:38). The Cross of Christ is the wisdom and power of God (1 Cor 1:17-18),

 - To carry our cross and follow him means we do the same with our lives: he took our wrong-doing upon himself (Galatians 3:13), hostility is gone (Ephesians 2:14,16), desire and sinful nature nailed to Jesus Cross (Galatians 5:24), for our Salvation (Galatians 5:11, 6:12,14), humble obedience to God (Philippians 2:8), he reconciled everything to himself (Colossians 1:20), canceled the record of charges against us, disarming devils (Colossians 2:14-15)

 - Carry your cross and follow Jesus in conduct: Philippians 3:18, "For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ." - rejecting the Son of God (Heb 6:6), no good fruit in ministry except the personal fruit of understanding means everything (Heb 6) - Trust God to grow as we water and sow (Hebrews 6:4-12, 1 Cor 3:5-9)

 - Remaining in Jesus brings relational consequences with God and people

 - Personal Holiness is being honest with God daily

 - The Cross for a Believer

28-30) Eight days later Peter, John, James to mountain, in prayer face/clothes bright as lightning, glorious splendor Moses and Elijah

 - Offerings that won't spoil: Honey and Salt

31)  They spoke about his departure (decease, exodos), which he was about to bring to fulfillment (accomplish) at Jerusalem. (happened with us will happen with you  Deuteronomy 34:5-6; 2Kings 2:11)

- Jesus eternal reign over all enemies began at his ascension

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Heb 12:1-3)

32-36) Pillar of cloud envelops them "this is my Son, whom I have chosen, listen to him", they kept it secret (Luke 9:21-22)

 37-40) next day, crowd, only son, "spirit seizes him", screams, convulsions, foaming mouth, disciples couldn't drive out, persistent-destroying him

41-43) "unbelieving, perverse generation", Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed boy, amazed greatness of God

44-45) Listen carefully, Son of Man delivered into hands of men, didn't understand, hidden from them afraid to ask

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Language reveals truth that saves lives (sets prisoners free to live righteously) - Luke 4:18

Isaiah 61:1-3;Luke 4:16-21; 2 Cor 1:1-11; 1 Peter 4:19
Jesus came proclaiming liberty, recovery our sight, and granting us freedom. While we suffering greatly we are comforted greatly. Our affliction is for the comfort and salvation of YOU - we don't hide this truth from you - we've despaired even of living another day, and know our time is short. Yet we've trusted in God who raises the dead and he delivered us here and now and will in the future. Jesus taught us to pray and prayer is something we can do right now to receive God's help in our time of need.

Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. - 1 Peter 4:19

Luke 4:18 has some words that aren't in Isaiah 61:1, "recovery of sight to the blind" is nestled in between "To proclaim liberty to captives" and "And freedom to prisoners;"
 - Reminds me of being blind in a dark cold cave. Recovery of sight, description of sunlight, the warmth, and pointing the way out is how freedom is given to prisoners.
 - I was studying "History of color" from great courses. Recovery of sight has to do with language and definition. In cultures that don't have a word for "blue" when asked to draw the sky, they'll use black crayon even while the blue crayon is present.
 - 1 John 3:2 explains sight restoration: "Jesus Christ...we will see him as he really is."
 - Restoring sight to the blind is a huge theme in scriptures: (Matt 11:4-5 (NIV), Isaiah 35:5 (NIV), Isaiah 29:18 (NIV), Isaiah 42:6-7 (NIV), Isaiah 42:16 (NIV),  Psalm 146:8 (NIV),  Isaiah 6:9-10 (NIV),  Isaiah 42:18-20 (NIV),  Isaiah 44:9 (NIV), Isaiah 56:10 (NIV), Isaiah 59:9-10 (NIV)
 - Blessed will see God (Matt 5)

Isaiah 61:3
When we have clear vision, understanding it's a grant or gift, it's physically life-changing. Like oil is physical but gladness is an abstract idea. A mantle of praise is clothing ourselves in praise instead of a "spirit of fainting". All this results in being called "oak of righteousness" the "planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified". In a previous study I saw new context around this scripture:

Lord God is "clothed" in righteousness, bringing justice and salvation for his own

• Isaiah 59:17; The Lord put on righteousness as his armor, wore the helmet of salvation and clothed himself with robe of vengeance and wrapped himself in a cloak of divine passion (to bring justice)
• Isaiah 61:10; Overwhelming joy in the Lord God! He dressed me with clothing of salvation and a robe of righteousness
• Isaiah 63:1-3 The Lord's clothing stained red, announcing your salvation - the Lord has power to save! (Revelation 19:13)

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