Lessons from Luke for Pilgrim Progress – Review of Chapter 19

Jesus knew exactly what he was doing all the time as well as what he would do. As a rule, people typically have no idea. The only hope people have is to put confidence in Christ – recognizing his authority, giving heed to what he has said to do, and faithfully serving him until he has come or life ends. Those who trust human or personal opinion will only find disappointment, loss, and final ruin. 

“Thy way, not mine, O Lord, however dark it be! Lead me by Thine own hand, choose out the path for me. Smooth let it be or rough, it will be still the best; winding or straight, it leads right onward to Thy rest. I dare not choose my lot; I would not, if I might; choose Thou for me, my God, so I shall walk aright. The kingdom that I seek is Thine; so let the way that leads to it be Thine, else I must surely stray. Take Thou my cup, and it with joy or sorrow fill, as best to Thee may seem; choose Thou my good and ill. Not mine, not mine the choice in things of great or small; be Thou my guide, my strength, my wisdom, and my all.” (Horatius Bonar)

Father, your ways are right. Teach me to trust you and your word regardless of what I may think. Then enable diligently to heed your word to the end. Amen.

Lessons from Luke for Pilgrim Progress – 19:45-48

And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

Upon entering Jerusalem, Jesus focused on the Temple, the divinely chosen center of faith and worship, and not the political center controlled by the Romans. Those expecting him as the Messiah to overthrow the Roman occupation must have become disappointed. However, for the sake of the kingdom of God, Jesus put the focus where it was most essential (2 Chronicles 7:14). He did two acts that shamed the entrenched religious leaders about matters that they approved and tolerated. One act was to drive out the profiteers who were corrupting the place of worship. The other act was his instruction of the people in truth that captivated the people. Therefore, the leaders were so incensed that they sought to ruin him, but at this point they could not find a way to do it.    

Father, teach me to focus on the right issues regardless of what others might expect or find offensive. Enable me to bring your word to bear on the concerns that matter to you and people need to hear. Amen.

Lessons from Luke for Pilgrim Progress – 19:37-40

As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Though the messianic expectation of the multitude of disciples was inaccurate, their rejoicing and praising the messianic power they had seen in Jesus were right and fitting. Their proclamation mirrored the angelic announcement to the shepherds “glory in the highest” (2:13-14) but with one major difference. The angels declared “peace on earth,” but the disciples  pronounced “peace in heaven.” In contrast, the Pharisees could call Jesus nothing more than “Teacher,” and they demanded that he correct his “disciples.” Jesus answered them that they ought to listen for if the disciples were silent, even the lifeless stones would cry out the same thing – the truth they were rejecting. Could the “stones” refer to the Temple structure at the coming of Messiah?

Father, may I ever acknowledge the truth of Jesus Christ, even if others proclaim it with limited, even misunderstood, understanding (9:49-50, Philippians 1:15-18). Amen.

Lessons from Luke for Pilgrim Progress – 19:32-36

So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road.

Everything Jesus said about obtaining the colt happened exactly as he had said it would. The inquiry and acquiescence of the colt’s owner to the Lord’s need of it implied something previously planned or an amazing providential generosity. They brought the colt to Jesus, put their cloaks on the colt, and sat Jesus on him. Did they remember the messianic prophecy (Zechariah 9:9)? Their recognition and expectation of Jesus as the Messiah were right, but they were not mindful of what had to occur before the Messianic victory as Jesus had taught (18:31-34). How blessed are those who recognize who Jesus is and give him his worthy recognition. However, human understanding is often short of the orderly outworking of God’s plan – first the cross, then the crown.  

Father, thank you for giving me the realization of who Jesus is … and what your full plan was for his Messianic victory through the cross to the resurrection and ascension. May I treat my Savior-King in a worthy way. Thank you for receiving the zeal of our people, even if it is presently misdirected from your unfolding plan. Recognizing the lordship of Jesus Christ can never be wrong, even if one’s understanding is presently limited. Amen.

Lessons from Luke for Pilgrim Progress – 19:29-31

When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’”

The preparation for Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem began. He gave strange directions regarding obtaining a particular animal. Evidently Jesus had made previous arrangements for the use of the colt. Yet still, he seemed to have an unusual knowledge about the details. Though his disciples were walking in a spiritual fog, he knew precisely all the issues needed as they unfolded. 

Father, comfort me with this confidence in your word when I walk in times of spiritual fog. Amen.

Lessons from Luke for Pilgrim Progress – 19:24-28

And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’” And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

Full diligence in the service of the King has an extra reward that the slothful, disobedient, and unreliable servant forfeits. Those who refuse to serve the King because of their opinion of him will – due to their inaction – find him to be worse than they thought. In an even worse way, the King’s enemies, who refused his rule over them, will suffer his capital wrath. Having told the parable, Jesus pressed on in his journey to Jerusalem.

Father, enable me to persevere in following and serving my King regardless of real or apparent opposition. The King will resolve all things well for those who so serve him (Hebrews 11:6). Amen.

Lessons from Luke for Pilgrim Progress – 19:20-23

Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’

The third “servant” was not a profitable one to the King. Two possibilities exist regarding the identity of this servant. First, he is a believer who suffers loss of reward (1 Corinthians 3:15). Second, he is not a true believer at all who suffers eternal loss (Matthew 7:21). In light of Judas among the Twelve, the second is more probable. What the third servant did that was evil was to act on his opinion of the king rather than to do what he was told to do. Human opinion is often mistaken and destructive if followed as a guide. Though this is used as a reason for wrong behavior, the King does not accept it as true. Such action is a wicked cover for disobedience, unbelief, and laziness. Ironically, instead of even investing what the King had given to him to gain interest, the evil servant hid it the sweat band of his face.   

Father, deliver me from such wickedness. May I trust you and do your will as you have revealed it to me and never as I imagine it. Amen.

Lessons from Luke for Pilgrim Progress – 19:11-14

As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’

Jesus’ emphasis on the kingdom of God and that “salvation has come” (19:9) stirred up those with and around him that its inauguration was near, especially since he was headed for Jerusalem. Therefore, Jesus told another parable how the kingdom would be established and how it would impact two different groups – his “called” servants and his “citizen” adversaries. His servants would continue to do his kingdom work while he was away. His adversaries would have no desire for him to return and reign over them. 

Father, this is how your kingdom and King have and will come. As one of your servants, may I be occupied with my assigned kingdom tasks until my service is complete or until the King returns. Amen. 

Lessons from Luke for Pilgrim Progress – 19:8-10

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.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Zacchaeus did what the rich ruler refused to do. His acts of self-denial and restitution did not save him, but they were clear and amazing indicators of his salvation. Jesus’ designation of Zacchaeus as a son of Abraham marked him as one justified by faith. The main distinction between the rich ruler and Zacchaeus was that Zacchaeus knew he was a sinner, lost, and in need of the Savior, whereas, the rich ruler only felt deficient, not lost, and in need of further instruction to save himself. Jesus declared the kind of people he came to seek and save – the lost.

Father, thank you that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. Thank you that you impressed that on me to realize my lostness and need of him. May that be the way I carry out the ministry you have given to me. Amen.

Lessons from Luke for Pilgrim Progress – 19:5-7

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.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

Notice the different reactions of the onlookers to the rich ruler’s rejection of Jesus (Luke 18:23-30) and to Zacchaeus’ reception of Jesus in these verses. How prone people are to prejudiced conclusions. Instead of marveling at Jesus’ graciousness toward Zacchaeus, they subtly accused Jesus of complicity with his sin. 

Father, may human estimations and reactions never surprise me. Keep me from prejudice and enable me to reach out to all, especially to those wanting to know Jesus Christ and even as unlikely as they may appear to be. Amen.