Luke 15
THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP
1 All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

• Sinners - These are “the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame” from Luke 14:21.[1]
• Tax Collectors:

These were some of the most hated people in Israel, due to the nature of their work and their association with the Roman government.

• Tax collectors generally obtained their posts from Roman authorities through a bidding system.
• They often made sizeable profits by levying higher taxes than Rome required.
• Consequently, Jews regarded Jewish tax collectors as traitors and as members of the lowest level of society.
• The mention of tax collectors alongside non-Jewish people (v. 1) reflects not only their poor reputation, but also the scope of Jesus’ ministry to redeem all of humanity, including the outcasts of society.
• Matthew, one of Jesus’ disciples, was a tax collector, and Jews viewed his inclusion among Jesus’ disciples as scandalous (Matthew 9:9–13).[2]

• The Mishnah – Tohoroth 7:6 – Tax Collectors unclean
• This would be as scandalous as inviting one of today’s publicly recognized sexual predators over for dinner and posting Instagram pictures with them.

3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it?
- Shepherd doesn’t want to be irresponsible.
- The whole purpose of the shepherd is to watch the flock and keep from losing them.
- If the shepherd loses a sheep, he is financially responsible for that lost sheep.
5 When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, 6 and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ 7 I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.

• We must not make “every part” of the parable mean something, otherwise we will turn it into an allegory and distort the message.[3]
• There is only one allegory for the parable.
• It is in the last line…
• “The sinner who repented as compared to the “righteous” who don’t need repentance.
• This is a self-entitled righteousness.
• Mike Schnese?
  
  

THE PARABLE OF THE LOST COIN
8 “Or what woman who has ten silver coins,

• When a Jewish girl married, she began to wear a headband of ten silver coins to signify that she was now a wife.
• It was the Jewish version of our modern wedding ring, and it would be considered a calamity for her to lose one of those coins.[4]
• Her husband could potentially divorce her.

if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost!’ 10 I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”

• Once again, the point of the story is rejoicing over one who repents.
• One who can’t do this life on their own strength.

 
THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SON
11 He also said: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’
 - In other words… “I wish you were dead.”
So he distributed the assets to them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living. 14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. 15 Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

• Swine – Jesus cast demons into the swine
• Antiochus Epiphanes sacrificed a pig on the Temple altar and it had to be cleansed.

16 He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. 17 When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

• As compared to the lost sheep and the lost coin that were searched for by the shepherd and the woman.
• The son returned to the Father by his own choice because he remembered his Father’s goodness.
• True repentance involves the will (the mind and the emotions)—“I will arise … I will go … I will say …”
• If repentance is truly the work of God (Acts 11:18 - 18 When they heard this they became silent. And they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles.”[5]), then the sinner will obey God and put saving faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21).[6]
• Accepting the repentance causes us to get up and go.

But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.

• Deuteronomy 21:18-21 - 18 “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father or mother and doesn’t listen to them even after they discipline him, 19 his father and mother are to take hold of him and bring him to the elders of his city, to the gate of his hometown. 20 They will say to the elders of his city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he doesn’t obey us. He’s a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21 Then all the men of his city will stone him to death. You must purge the evil from you, and all Israel will hear and be afraid. [7]
• The people would not stone his son as long as he was embracing him.

21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

• At this point in the parable, the scribes and Pharisees felt confident that they had escaped our Lord’s judgment, for He had centered His attention on the publicans and sinners, pictured by the prodigal son.
• But Jesus continued the story and introduced the elder brother, who is a clear illustration of the scribes and Pharisees.[8]

25 “Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant. 27 ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’

• Warren Wiersbe says, “In my years of preaching and pastoral ministry, I have met elder brothers (and sisters!) who have preferred nursing their anger to enjoying the fellowship of God and God’s people.
• Because they will not forgive, they have alienated themselves from the church and even from their family; they are sure that everyone else is wrong and they alone are right. They can talk loudly about the sins of others, but they are blind to their own sins.”
• “I never forgive!” General Oglethorpe said to John Wesley, to which Wesley replied, “Then, sir, I hope you never sin.”[9]

 
31 “‘Son,’ he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” [10]

• You don’t have to be wealthy to enter into the kingdom of God.
• Pharisees believed that salvation was based upon works and wealth accumulated.
• Jesus was saying that it salvation is based upon the Father’s mercy alone.
• We could have killed that fatted calf any time… you just had to ask.
• The same man who told this story came here on earth as baby.
• The Son of God took on earthly flesh that Christmas morning.
• He verbally, physically and miraculously gathered his sheep.
• He was crucified, buried and rose again.
• Ephesians 2:1-10 -  1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously lived according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift--9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. [11]
  
  

[1] Stein, R. H. (1992). Luke (Vol. 24, p. 402). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Mt 5:46). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 234). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 234). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 11:18). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 235). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Dt 21:18–21). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 236). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[9] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 238). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[10] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 15:1–32). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Eph 2:1–10). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Luke 13
JESUS AND HEROD ANTIPAS
31 At that time some Pharisees came and told him, “Go, get out of here. Herod (Antipas) wants to kill you.”

• One of my commentaries says, “Despite largely negative portrayals of the Pharisees, not all of them were hostile toward Jesus.”[1] – HA!
• Trying to scare God… and manipulate circumstances.
• Herod Antipas is the same one who beheaded John the Baptist.

32 He said to them, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I’m driving out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work.’

• Rhetorical… Sarcasm… A fox had a cunning plan… But Jesus was fulfilling His Father’s plan…
• Herod wanting to kill Jesus was even part of God’s plan.
• One more parable told to the Pharisees.
• Referring to crucifixion, burial and resurrection.

33 Yet it is necessary that I travel today, tomorrow, and the next day, because it is not possible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem.

• Jesus knew He was going to die in Jerusalem.

 
JESUS’ LAMENTATION OVER JERUSALEM

• Is this “lament” in anger or anguish?

34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing (whose will?)! 35 See, your house is abandoned to you.

• Chloe had the flu this week and Mom was mom!
• 70 AD – Jews destroyed.

I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’!”[2]

• At some point, all the Jews (not just the Pharisees… but the nation as a whole) will proclaim Jesus as Messiah.
• Jewish leaders will call Jesus back… 2nd coming.
• Zechariah 12:10 - 10 “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at Me whom they pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for Him as one weeps for a firstborn.”[3]

 
Luke 14
A SABBATH CONTROVERSY
1 One Sabbath, when he went in to eat at the house of one of the leading Pharisees, they were watching him closely.

• Eating together after church is very Biblical!
• Jesus often got invited to homes after church…
• Jesus had spiritual discernment… knows the heart of man.
• Sometimes to teach… sometimes to spy, plot or gather intel.
• Keep your enemies close… goes both ways.

2 There in front of him was a man whose body was swollen with fluid.

• A man afflicted with dropsy. This is a painful disease in which, because of kidney trouble, a heart ailment, or liver disease, the tissues fill with water.[4]
• The Pharisees used this man to trap Jesus.
• They literally set the trap right in front of Jesus.
• They knew His heart was to heal. How could He not?
• Jesus has already healed at least seven other times on the Sabbath.
• On the Sabbath Day, He had cast out a demon (Luke 4:31–37), healed a fever (Luke 4:38–39), allowed His disciples to pluck grain (Luke 6:1–5), healed a lame man (John 5:1–9), healed a man with a paralyzed hand (Luke 6:6–10), delivered a crippled woman who was afflicted by a demon (Luke 13:10–17), and healed a man born blind (John 9)[5]

3 In response, Jesus asked the law experts and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”
 - Jesus knew this… it was for the benefit of the crowd.
 - If they said “no” they would be heartless.
 - If they said “yes” they would be lawless.
 - Jesus had now reversed their trap by asking them a question.
4 But they kept silent. He took the man, healed him, and sent him away. 5 And to them, he said, “Which of you whose son or ox falls into a well, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” 6 They could find no answer to these things.

• They “used” this man s “bait” for their wicked plan to trap Jesus and Jesus healed the man in the Sabbath? Which was worse?
• They were looking for evidence to convict Jesus as a “lawbreaker.
• Jesus gave them evidence that He was the Messiah.
• None of them could heal the man… but Jesus could.
• But that wasn’t important to them.

 
TEACHINGS ON HUMILITY
7 He told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they would choose the best places for themselves:

• Experts in management tell us that most people wear an invisible sign that reads, “Please make me feel important”.
• If we heed that sign, we can succeed in human relations.
• On the other hand, if we say or do things that make others feel insignificant, we will fail.
• Then people will respond by becoming angry and resentful, because everybody wants to be noticed and made to feel important.[6]

8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don’t recline at the best place, because a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host. 9 The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place.

• Civilization has always sat the guests based upon honor/stature/friendship.
• Weddings are a great example of this.
• You’ve just ranked your family & friends.

10 “But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ You will then be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

• Hang out in the back of the crowd and be careful not to judge those who go first.

12 He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors, because they might invite you back, and you would be repaid. 13 On the contrary, when you host a banquet, invite those who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind.

• In those days, the poor, maimed, lame or blind were kicked to the curb.
• Today, it is honorable and expected to protect the poor, maimed, lame or blind.

14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

• Jesus wasn’t against fellowship.
• Jesus was against the system established on who you invited… as to feel important.
• Open your eyes to be more inclusive.
• For the Pharisees, he was even suggesting the Gentiles.

 
THE PARABLE OF THE LARGE BANQUET
15 When one of those who reclined at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is the one who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”

• This guest was confident that he would be dining with Abraham, Jacob and the rest of the Jewish heritage.
• “Dilly dilly”

16 Then he told him: “A man (God the Father) was giving a large banquet and invited many. 17 At the time of the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’
18 “But without exception they all began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. I ask you to excuse me.’
19 “Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m going to try them out. I ask you to excuse me.’

• Like test driving a new car.

20 “And another said, ‘I just got married, and therefore I’m unable to come.’

• Having a new wife kept the men from the battlefield… but not from having dinner!

21 “So the servant came back and reported these things to his master. Then in anger, the master of the house told his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in here the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’
22 “‘Master,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there’s still room.’
23 “Then the master told the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, not one of those people who were invited will enjoy my banquet.’”

• The man eventually closes the door on the banquet.
• The Jewish nation refused to come to the banquet.
• So God invited the Samaritans and the Gentiles.
• And there is plenty of room for more!

 
THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS
25 Now great crowds were traveling with him. So he turned and said to them: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

• Bear his cross… one time
• Galatians 2:20

28 “For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
31 “Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.

• What do you want for Christmas?
• “I have everything I need.”

34 “Now, salt is good, but if salt should lose its taste, how will it be made salty? 35 It isn’t fit for the soil or for the manure pile; they throw it out. Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”[7]
Jesus has already informed his disciples many times that they/we are the salt of the earth.

[1] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Lk 13:31). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 13:22–35). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Zec 12:10). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 228). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 228). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 229). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 14:1–35). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

John 10
JESUS AT THE FESTIVAL OF DEDICATION
22 Then the Festival of Dedication took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter.

• One of the seven festivals that Matt talked about on Labor Day Weekend
• This is actually Hanukkah which starts next Tuesday, December 12 and lasts 8 days.
• It was never mentioned in the Old Testament but obviously is here in the New Testament and Jesus observed this celebration.
• It was a celebration that actually occurred between the testaments.
• Greeks defeated the Persians (Alexander the Great)
• In 167 B.C. a Greek ruler by the name of Antiochus Epiphanies set up an altar to Zeus over the altar of burnt offerings in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. He also sacrificed a pig on the altar in the Temple in Jerusalem. This event is known as the abomination of desolation.
• A year later, The Maccabees came in and defeated Anctiochus Ephiphanies and cleansed the temple.
• This rededication of Jewish faith and the temple is this Festival of Dedication. (Hanukkah)

23 Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon’s Colonnade

• Pictures
• All sides
• Probably protected by weather. (avg low in Dec is 43 degrees)

24 The Jews surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them.

• Jesus is basically saying, “I am always going to keep you in suspense because you simply choose not to believe.”
• You’ve dug in and chosen a side.
• How many times do I have tell you?
• You will always have two choices… Spirit or Flesh.
• You come to me… I am going to tell you the same thing every time.
• You come to me to get approval of your flesh
• You want to tell me your story and justification
• I’ve got one answer… follow the Spirit.

“The works that I do in my Father’s name testify about me. 26 But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.

• You have to know the Father to know His voice.
• Can you be distracted? Absolutely.

28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.

• There is no question about salvation here… it is about living life here on earth.

29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

• Security of the believer.
• We can know 100% that we have salvation.
• Your works will prove that.

 
RENEWED EFFORTS TO STONE JESUS
31 Again the Jews picked up rocks to stone him.
32 Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these works are you stoning me?”

• Jesus has done 3 Messianic miracles:
• 1) Healed a Jewish Leper
• 2) Cast a demon out of mute
• 3) Healed a man blind since birth

33 “We aren’t stoning you for a good work,” the Jews answered, “but for blasphemy, because you—being a man—make yourself God.”

• Jewish law required those guilty of blasphemy (saying they were God) would be killed.

34 Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, I said, you are gods? (Psalm 82:6 – men who have been given positions of Jewish leadership – delegated power… represented as small “g” gods) 35 If he called those whom the word of God came to ‘gods’—and the Scripture cannot be broken— (talking about the judges and the prophets) 36 do you say, ‘You are blaspheming’ to the one the Father set apart and sent into the world, because I said: I am the Son of God?

• Your judges had delegated authority
• But Jesus and His Father are one… not delegated authority

37 If I am not doing my Father’s works, don’t believe me. 38 But if I am doing them and you don’t believe me, believe the works. This way you will know and understand that the Father is in me and I in the Father.”

• It was simply a matter of examining the evidence honestly and being willing to accept the truth.[1]

39 Then they were trying again to seize him, but he eluded their grasp.
 
MANY BEYOND THE JORDAN BELIEVE IN JESUS
40 So he departed again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there.

• Perea - 10-15 miles east of Jerusalem.
• The Pharisees (Jews) would not follow Him there.
• Sanhedrin had no authority in this region
• Herod Antipas had authority here.

41 Many came to him and said, “John never did a sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there.[2]

• Geographically thinned out the crowds.

 
Luke 13
THE NARROW WAY
22 He went through one town and village after another, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem.

• This is Jesus’ last trip to Jerusalem.

23 “Lord,” someone asked him, “are only a few people going to be saved?”

• Jesus’s public ministry is coming to an end… and someone asks Him why He has so few followers.

He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and won’t be able

• The broad way is Law (Mishnah)
• The narrow way is Grace. (Rest in your works)
• “Make every effort” – Strive (Believe & Know)
• John 6:29 - 29 Jesus replied, “This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.”
• John 17:3 - 3 This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent—Jesus Christ.
• I strive to forget what I have been incorrectly taught.

25 once the homeowner gets up and shuts the door. Then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up for us!’ He will answer you, ‘I don’t know you or where you’re from.’ 26 Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you’re from. Get away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown out. 29 They will come from east and west, from north and south, to share the banquet in the kingdom of God.

• In a statement that would have shocked His hearers, Jesus alludes to non-Jews coming from all over the world to join the banquet in God’s kingdom[3]

30 Note this: Some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”

• You don’t always have to be right.
• It’s OK to let others go before you

It’s OK to say, “I am wrong.”

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 333). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 10:22–42). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Lk 13:29). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.