“The Just Shall Live By Faith”

New King James Version                          Written by: David Hicks

 

Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

“Articles of Faith"

An Orderly Account Of The Greatest Story Ever Told

(A Study in Luke)

Chapter 8:16-25:

As we continue to visit the tireless work of the Lord in this chapter, we will begin with the continued theme of parables, then take a look at the Lord's great confirming power.

In Matthew's account of the parable of the sower, the disciples ask why He taught in parables. In both accounts there is no doubt that they wanted to understand the parable. On the other hand, parables were given to the rest because they truly didn't want to know or understand.

There have been many who have taught that the parables of Jesus were given to make it easier to understand His teaching. Yet, in this explanation of the purpose of parables Jesus Himself counters such a thought and specifies that to those who do not wish to see or understand they are bewildered by the parables.

Text #1:

Luke 8:16-18 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

Therefore Take Heed How You Hear: Since parables were given to discern between those who wanted to truly know the will of God and those who do not; His disciples should take great care in how they hear what He has to say.

Jesus did not come to hide His teaching!

Even that which His disciples would not completely understand at this time would only help them when the kingdom would be revealed.

Text #2:

Luke 8:19-21 “Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd. 20And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.”
21 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

His Mother and Brothers Came: In Mark's Gospel, we are told that His family came to Him because they thought He was out of His mind!

Mark 3:21 “But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”

Jesus however, would not tolerate interference in His commission to fulfill the will of God based on earthly relationships. This was the exactly what the Lord Himself taught:

Matthew 10:34-39 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; 36and ‘a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' 37He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

Also consider that He was well aware of why they had come to Him and was not to be deterred by their lack of understanding.

The Lord would also indicate that the relationships He would cherish was not based on blood relations, but on the relationships that adherence to His words would create!

Note: Yes! Jesus had siblings! At the birth of Jesus, He was presented at the Temple , according to the Law, as the first born of Joseph and Mary (Luke 2:22 -24). By this we know that Jesus was considered Joseph's first born, note:

Exodus 13:2 “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.”

We know by the fulfillment and teaching of scripture that Mary was a virgin and had not known her husband yet (“known” - to have had carnal knowledge of a man or woman). However, after the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary had a natural marriage relationship.

Matthew 1:25 “and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.”

This natural marriage relationship that began after the birth of the Lord begat brothers and sisters, note:

Matthew 13:55-56 “Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?”

Mark 6:3 “Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.”

We also know that before His resurrection, His brothers did not believe that He was the Son of God, note:

John 7:5 “For even His brothers did not believe in Him.”

After His resurrection however, they would be counted with the believers that were with the Apostles in Jerusalem , note:

Acts 1:14 “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”

In addition, we also learn that at least two of them would actively travel and preach the Gospel of Christ after the establishment of the kingdom, note:

1 Corinthians 9:5 “Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?”

In addition, James the Lord's brother would be considered a pillar in the church of Jerusalem (Acts 15:13-21; Galatians 1:19, 2:9). James and Jude (Judas) would also be the inspired authors of two New Testament books that bear their names.

Text #3:

Luke 8:22-25 “Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out. 23But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. 24And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”
Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. 25But He said to them, “Where is your faith?”
And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”

Also found in: Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41 .

Lake: The Lake is the Sea of Galilee . This body of water is also known as the Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1), the Sea of Chinnereth (Numbers 34:11), and Sea of Tiberias (John 6:1, 21:1).

Where is Your Faith?: As the storm came upon them, they displayed their natural tendencies to be afraid of want they knew could be life threatening; as any of us would have done. Yet; there is every indication, based on the question of Jesus that they should have known that while with Him nothing would happen to them. This demonstrated that they had little faith over their natural senses. However, they went and awoke Him, showing that they had a little faith in Him.

The Lord; however, expressed that they should have had complete faith in Him in order to overcome their natural senses.

Who Can This Be?: Up to this point they had witnessed the Lord perform miracles over the sick and demon possessed. All things that the prophets of God have done before. The Lord's complete command over nature caused them to reassess their understanding of His Divine claims.

We should not be surprised at their lack of understanding of the things in which they have witnessed and heard from the Lord. His coming in power was such a change from what they were familiar with and even from what they had come to understand about the Messiah from the teachings of the Rabbis. They would continue to have misunderstandings about the work of the Lord until they were given the measure of the Holy Spirit promised them by the Lord (see: Acts 1:7 – they still misunderstood the nature of the kingdom right up to the ascension of the Lord).

Note: Jesus rebuked the storm with a word and it obeyed. This is the same word by which the heavens and earth were created.

John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”

It is this same word that maintains the intricate balances necessary to keep all things in check for our existence to this very day.

2 Peter 3:5-7 “For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”

Next: “ Jesus Continues to Heal and Teach ”