THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

This program of daily Scripture studies is designed to help you in daily honoring God with adoration.

Each day, Monday through Friday, a Scripture with commentary is posted.

We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the prior Scripture studies by book and chapter, just clik

HERE.

Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of Genesis through Malachi are
now available in hard copy for $17.50. (Smaller books are only $9:50) Just mail your request for COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to:

Bruce McGee
P.O. Box 1627
Columbia, LA 71418

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE STUDY
LUKE

1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

Some prove their insincerity, or perhaps fakery, in faith by having great money but giving small.
Some prove their sincerity and genuineness in faith by giving generously though they have little.

How much MORE could God DO with the church, if He had more to WORK with!
We EXEMPLIFY our love for Jesus, not by how much we give; but by how much we give in proportion to what we have!

5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Jesus took this opportunity to explain that their focus should be on the spiritual and not on the physical.
Yes, there are things beautiful in this world - many things. And we certainly should recognize them.
But, the Christian's focus should be on spiritual things.

Jesus was not making less of the beauty of the temple, He was making more of the temporal nature of things, and how we should be constantly reminded that only spiritual things last.

As discussed earlier (See Matthew 23:37-39), Titus came in 70AD and destroyed Jerusalem. In that destruction, every stone of the temple was broken or removed!

There are many beautiful churches in the world today. And we certainly admire the dedication and devotion of saints who have given to build them. However, what is more important is the souls that either come or don't come to church! All that is in this temporal world shall be burned away! But how many shall enter the "New Jerusalem?"

I have had the privilege of traveling to other countries and visiting many churches there. Some of them are nothing but poles, thatch roofs and dirt floors! They are just as effective in the spiritual work of evangelism and education of the saved! Yes, I admire the great cathedrals - especially their great glass work and stone work. But the more important work is preparing for the time when these things shall be gone, and only what is done for Christ shall matter!

Jesus' statement certainly changed the focus of the people! They were graphically reminded of "the end," and began to wonder about how and when.

7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

I think it is very important to begin with Jesus' FIRST statement: "Take heed that ye be not deceived!"

Deceit is the trickery of the devil. Satan is condemned to the "lake of fire and brimstone" where he shall be "tormented day and night for ever and ever." (Revelation 20:10)

Satan will do anything he can to deceive people! Those who have not Christ, those who believe not the Word of God, can easily be led astray.

But through faithful study, diligent prayer, and determined effort ministering for Christ, His people CANNOT be deceived! ((See Mark 13:23-24))

At times, Christians may become wobbly, but by taking heed they won't fall down! The truly converted are "born again" by the "incorruptible Word of God" ( 1Peter 1:23), and "sealed in the Spirit" ( Ephesians 1:13), and they shall not be deceived by the trickeries of the devil!

However, Christian, remember Jesus said "TAKE HEED! Be LISTENING and LEARNING!
And the FIRST thing to "take heed" of is IMPOSTERS!

Jesus said many would come proclaiming they were "Christ" (Messiah, Savior).
Do NOT follow any person on earth claiming to be Christ!
Instead, "LOOK UP" (See vss 27-28).

10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

The disciples listening to Jesus in that day SAW all the things in verses 9-12 happen!!
After Jesus' ascension, they were persecuted tremendously!
But, when they were questioned, God gave them "a mouth of wisdom!" (vs 15)

Those same disciples saw verses 16-17 happen in their lifetime too!
But not ONE hair on their head PERISHED!
They may have DIED...and some of them died being horribly tormented.
Their hair may be dissolved in the ground NOW.
But when Jesus comes again, it will all be RESTORED!!!

And those disciples left us a "testimony" (vs13)!!
Faith in Christ REALLY WORKS!!
It worked for them, and it will work for you!!

Patience! The Greek word here is hupomone.
It means enduring with gentleness and even cheerfulness.
We overcome situations and circumstances by ENDURING them.
Remember, Jesus said, "...he that endureth to the end shall be saved." (Matt 10:22)

In other words, if you are SAVED, you can ENDURE!
Because God's Holy Spirit dwells WITHIN!
He gives you both faith and strength!

20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

"During the destruction of Jerusalem, by the Roman armies, thousands upon thousands of Jewish people ran!
They HAD to run, or be killed! Christian Jews were included! Many ran to Pella, "a town in the territory of Gilead;
according to Eusebius, it is beyond the Jordan, 6 miles (10 kilometers) from Pella, on the mountain road to
Gerasa; site unknown but may be modern `Wadi Yabes.'"
(from The Online Bible Thayer's Greek Lexicon and Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Copyright © 1993,
Woodside Bible Fellowship, Ontario, Canada. Licensed from the Institute for Creation Research.)

Titus had originally determined he would starve Jerusalem to death. But the affairs of Rome, concerning other areas of the world, demanded his presence in Rome itself. Thus, he took Jerusalem by storm, and some escaped.
God has a way of ordering the affairs of this world to benefit His people, even in the most difficult of times!

Again, may I say, those disciples listening to Jesus in THAT day, saw all these things happen in their lifetime!

But we are to "LIFT UP" our heads!!
We are to be "looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.." (Heb. 12:2).
It is in HIM and Him ALONE that "our redemption draweth nigh!"

When they were stoning Stephen, he said, "..I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." (Acts 7:56)
And, one day soon, we may see Christ coming in "a cloud with power and great glory!"

29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

Here is an earthly example of a heavenly truth!
It is not a parable. It is an example from an earthly tree.
When the buds come out on the limbs of the fig tree, you know that summer will soon be coming.
And, when you see things happening as described before (vss 8-28), you know Christ is soon coming!

As we look around the world, we see many of those things happening NOW!
Just as Christ's disciples saw them after His ascension.
We should hold onto the fact that Christ is "SOON coming!!"
It could be TODAY!
We should LIVE each day as it were THAT day!

The Bible proclaims this truth:
"For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven." (Ps 119:89)

Let me say that what Jesus pointed out was and is IRREFUTABLE!
What He says comes from the mouth of God - the ONLY Living, Loving, TRUE God!

34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Those are two actions of faith which every believer needs to PERSISTENTLY PRACTICE!
WATCH! and PRAY!
Be alert, and stay in contact with God!

This is the ONLY way to counteract laziness, lethargy, apathy, circumstances and situations!

Be careful to note that the day of Christ's appearing COULD come "upon you UNAWARES!"
WATCH! and PRAY!
Be alert, and stay in contact with God!

Our PURPOSE is to be "accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man!"
We may not escape death. For we may die before He comes. However, by watching and praying, we shall escape the "sting of death!" For we know in HIM lies our forgiveness and eternal salvation!

37 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

In Luke 19 we learned about Jesus' "Triumphant Entry" to Jerusalem.
As He entered Jerusalem, all the people hailed Him!
Then, He went to the temple. He chased out the moneychangers.

And, Luke 19:47-48 says he taught DAILY in the temple.
Luke adds here (Lk 21:37-38) that Jesus went out at night and stayed in the Mount of Olives.
But each morning of that fateful week, He returned to teach the people.

That's why we are to be "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb 12:2)

He was FAITHFUL "unto death"!
And, to us He promises a "crown of life" if we shall do the same ( Rev. 2:10).