“One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up” (Luke 18:1, NLT). That story is sometimes referred to as the Parable of the Persistent Widow. “There was a judge in a certain town who didn’t fear God or respect people. And a widow in that town kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect people, yet becaus

What has been called “The Olivet Discourse” was Jesus’ sermon delivered to His disciples just a couple of days before His crucifixion. “While (Jesus) was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately and said, ‘Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’ ” (Matthew 24:3, CSB). To help His curious disciples understand what was unfolding, Jesus told the Parable of the Talents. “It is just like

David was the shepherd who faithfully kept his daddy’s sheep, protecting them from bears, lions and other dangerous predators (I Samuel 17:34-37). Decades later, as an old king, he could remember the ways that God led and protected him throughout his lifetime. He joyfully sang, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s

“Oh Lord, thank thee for allowing thy humble servant to graciously give so sacrificially to save thy destitute sinner from starving!” Note the humble-brag, the pious blarney. Lord, thank you for making me so good, so generous. Hog wash. Have you heard someone pray like that? I once heard a preacher pray three points, quote an unrelated poem, and offer a compelling invitation... I was going to walk out if he started the special music. With the super-spiritual religious leaders

Like the rat-a-tat-tat of a machine gun, Jesus told four parables in one blast. “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. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26-27, CSB). “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? Otherwise

One of the most famous parables taught by Jesus is the one we call “The Parable of the Prodigal Son.” The fifteenth chapter of Luke begins by setting the stage. “All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him. And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them’ ” (Luke 15:1–2, CSB). While the publicans and sinners were hungry to hear the lessons taught by the itinerate, miracle-working rabbi, the lawyers and leg

“Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables” (Matthew 13:1–3, CSB). One of the parables taught by Jesus was the short parable of the hidden treasure. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that

After Jesus commissioned Levi, a.k.a. Matthew, the tax collector threw a lavish party and invited his friends and coworkers. Jesus, of course, was the guest of honor (Matthew 9:9-10, CSB). Seeing this, the Pharisees became indignant. Why, they wondered, was Jesus cavorting with “tax collectors and sinners?” (Matthew 9:11, CSB). Disciples of John the Baptist, seeing the contrast between the joyful Jesus and the hyper-religious Pharisees, asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees fas

We will all stand before the Judge! Nobody is exempt. “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10, CSB). Jesus warned the Jewish religionists of this inevitable event, saying, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in y

Jesus said, “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1, NKJV). Judge not? A few verses later Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it” (Matthew 7:13–14, CSB). Which is the narrow way? Which is the wide way that leads to destruction? Obviously, one must judge! Again, Jesus said, “Be o