Theophilus is the name or honorary title of the person to whom the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles are addressed. It is thought that both the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles were written by the same author, and often argued that the two books were originally a single unified work

The name “Theophilus” is actually a joining of two Greek words, theos and phileo, which mean God and love respectively. Thus the combination would be Theophilus or “lover of God.” If this is true it could refer to either an individual or a group of people who loved God.
He was the High Priest in the Second Temple in Jerusalem from 37 to 41 CE according to Josephus’s Antiquities of the Jews.

The Gospel of Luke was written with the intention of leading Theophilus, a lost man, to faith in Christ. He became intentional by presenting the claims of Christ to him in written form so that Theophilus could have a clear understanding of all he needed to know about Jesus.

His name appears only two times in Scripture and both times in the writings of Luke (Luke 1:3, Acts 1:1). It is uncertain what role in the early church he played but he is noteworthy in the thinking of Luke for he directs both the Gospel account and the Acts account to Theophilus.
Various suggestions have been offered as to the identity of Theophilus. It is suggested that he is an actual person, perhaps a patron, of Luke and his work. Some have wondered if Luke was commissioned by Theophilus to prepare a record of both Jesus and the beginnings the church that bears Christ’s name (Romans 16:16). Cadbury notes that Theophilus was a common name for Jews and dates to at least the third century BC So it is unlikely we can determine much from the name itself.

He was the son of Annas and the brother-in-law of Caiaphas before whom Jesus was tried. The date of service was likely completed before Luke’s writings and therefore he probably should be discounted as the intended recipient.

Another High Priest named Mattathias ben Theophilus served from 65-66 AD and was overthrown in the time immediately before the destruction of Jerusalem. In his case, Theophilus is actually the name of his father, the aforementioned priest. His service also appears to come too late to have been the recipient.
Theophilus may have been a name given to the earliest believers in Jesus.
This seems an unsatisfactory conclusion for such naming conventions are generally foreign to the New Testament. But perhaps even more difficult is the context of Luke 1:3 where the reference is to “most excellent Theophilus.” In every other New Testament usage, the phrase, e

Luke 14:15-24

The “great banquet” symbolizes the kingdom of God. In our culture it indicates that it would be a grand event. It would be a time of grand entertainment for those attending.: one to make reservation (RSVP) and the other to announce that the banquet was beginning.

The first group invited symbolizes the religious leaders of Israel. These are the people that we expect to attend because they appeared to be the most intellectual. Surprisingly, the first group refuses to come into the kingdom of God. While they are invited, they pull back at the sight of the feast and offered excuses as to why they could not attend.

After the first group refuses, a second group is invited. This group consists of the outcasts of society—the poor, disabled, blind and lame. These people in the city (are Jewish), but are the people one would least expect to attend because they appear to be unworthy. This group comes at once and enjoys the blessings of the kingdom of God.

After being told that the second group has come and there is still room, a third group is invited. This group consists of people out in the “highways and hedges” in verse 23 and avoided by Jews. These people are outside the city are Gentiles and most unlikely people you would find at a Jewish banquet.

Like the second group, this group comes at once and enjoys the blessings of the great banquet (the kingdom of God). Then, the announcement comes that the original invitees will never share in the kingdom of God.

The man at the feast said, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” . Jesus replied with the parable and, said, “Yes, those who are in the kingdom of God are blessed and you can only enter by grace. Those who are full of pride will be offended by grace and will not enter, but those who are humble will be thankful for grace and will enter.”

The man at the feast was looking forward to the blessing of eating bread in the kingdom of God, while he did not realize that he was feasting with the King. He spoke of the kingdom as a far, future event, but Jesus taught that it “is at hand” or soonest.

This parable is very interesting because the excuses given are inappropriate. The first group invited had been told to prepare for the banquet. While they did not know when the banquet would will happen, they were supposed to be ready.

For the first to make an excuse about buying a field, the second to make an excuse about buying five yoke of oxen, and the third to make an excuse about being married; they are sending the signal that they have changed their mind and do not want to come.

The people at the feast would have known this and immediately recognized the foolishness behind these excuses. They were thinking, “You cannot attend the banquet because of a business or because of your family? That is ridiculous, go to the banquet!”

Why did Jesus tell this parable at this time? He did so because He was talking to people who were offended that a disabled man had been healed, they seek as “elite guest” , and they refused to be friends with outcasts. The people at the feast could recognize the foolishness of the people in the parable but were unable to recognize their own.

We, in 2020, often recognize the foolishness of the people at the feast, but are unable to recognize our own.

Freedom and democracy are great gifts that many of us take for granted. The price paid to provide those blessings was so high. Most of the time, we approach our freedom with a sense of entitlement, I deserve this, I am owed this, this is my right, etc.

To be invited to be a heir of God’s salvation and all that its requirements is a gift from God’s mercy and grace, not something that we are owed. To turn down God’s grace, to turn away to his invitation of salvation, is to invite disaster and to insult the One who paid such a high price to give us this opportunity.

If you were saved by grace, why would you want to continue by your works? The same grace that saved you, sustains you. God’s invitation is from the heart. God’s love, like a generous banquet, is for all. The banquet are to be filled by people who might not expect an invitation. All are invited to prayer, to love and to worship Jesus.

God bless your heart.

Luke 10:38-42 

Why is sitting at Jesus’ feet the one necessary thing? 

There are reasons why we should make sitting at the Lord’s feet the main priority in our life.

One of the reason is the WORD providesus with the very wisdom of God that weneed for all of life’s decision and direction. 

God has given us “everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3) in His Word. The Scriptures “are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:15-17)

Another reason is the WORD puts us in communion with the living Lord of heaven and earth. 

Mary’s sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to His Word implies a communion or fellowship of her spirit with that of the Lord.  

We need to remember that the point of spending time in the Word and in prayer is not so that we can check it off on our Goals Chart. The point is to meet with the Lord, to commune with Him as Mary did, as we sit at His feet, listening to His word. 

Another reason is the WORD puts all oflife’s pressures in proper perspective. 

Note that sitting at Jesus’ feet is something Mary chose to do. It won’t happen accidentally, because there are too many other things, many of them good things.

It’s not something you choose once for life and it’s settled. You have to keep choosing it over and over again, day in and day out, by saying no to other things so that you can say yes to this one necessary thing.

So the bottom line is, Jesus says that sitting at His feet and listening to His word is the one necessary thing for those who follow Him. You know that if you did this well and consistently it would have significant positive results in your relationship with God and with others.

Knowing that this would make a difference, will you begin to do it today and will you do whatever it takes to do it consistently from now on? If you will, you are choosing the good part, which shall not be taken away from you. Grace to you.

Matthew 13:44-46

Jesus often used parables to teach what the kingdom of God is like. This week, we’ll look at a parable in which Jesus told how much the kingdom of God is worth.

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure that was hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again. He was very happy. So he went and sold everything he had. And he bought that field. – Matthew 13:44
We are not sure what this man was doing in someone else’s field. Maybe he was a hired helper for the man who owned the field, or maybe he was just passing through. Whatever the reason he has , he found an amazing treasure, maybe similar to the diamond. He was surprised! Suddenly, the man knew that the treasure was so valuable. He was full of joy over this discovery. He went home and sold everything he owned: his house, his furniture, his jewelry, his sheep and goats. Then he took all the money that he has, and he bought that field. Clearly, the treasure in that field was worth more than everything else that the man owned.
When the man found the treasure, he could have covered it up, he did not forget about it even he’s busy. The treasure was too great to forget about! The man was so excited to know that he could possibly own that treasure. He probably cant sleep at night thinking about the treasure. Notice that the man sold EVERYTHING. He was left with nothing. He knew that the treasure was better than his home and his belongings. The treasure was so important to him, that he joyfully gave up everything else in the world to gain that treasure.

The point of these two parables is the great value of being a part of God’s kingdom. Jesus is not pointing out what we must give up to enter His kingdom. He is telling us that it is worth more than everything else. Both men gladly, joyfuly gave up everything else to claim their new found treasure. Jesus makes it clear that we should not let anything keep us from entering the kingdom of God. And when we know the value of what we have as members of the kingdom, shouldn’t we share it with everyone we know?
Our treasure, our immeasurably better treasure has no limit! As we learned, the kingdom of God will grow and grow! Jesus wants it to grow! He promises that it will grow – and God ALWAYS keeps His promises! God wants ALL people to believe in Jesus and enter into His kingdom.

                The Gospel according to Matthew comes first in our New Testament. Matthew’s central theme is promise and fulfillment: God’s promises in the Hebrew Scriptures to bring salvation to his people Israel and to the whole world are being fulfilled with the coming of Jesus the Messiah. The Church’s response to this joyful news should be to go into all the world and make disciples of Jesus the Messiah

The genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. The genealogy introduces Jesus as the “son of Abraham” and the “son of David,” meaning he is in the lineage of two of the most significant people in bible.

God called Abraham to leave his homeland, to go to a place he would show him. God made a covenant with Abraham, promising to create from him a great nation ,to give him the Promised Land and through his descendant to bless all nations of the earth.

It is through the salvation available through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection that all nations would be blessed.God made a covenant with David, promising him that his dynasty would be established forever and that one of his descendants would reign on his throne forever.

They represented was not just a return to the glory days of Israel’s reign under David and Solomon. It was a promise for the restoration and renewal of all of creation. When Matthew presents a genealogy tracing Jesus’ lineage through David and Abraham, he is making sure that Jesus is the Messiah and Savior of the world. While Israel repeatedly failed to obey God, Jesus remains faithful and obedient.

As the Servant-Messiah and Son of God, Jesus represents the nation Israel and succeeds where they failed. He will now fulfill Israel’s Old Testament covenant.

More symbolic we can see in Matthew’s portrayal of Jesus as a new Moses. As Moses went up to Mount Sinai to receive Israel’s first covenant, written on tablets of stone, so Jesus delivers his Sermon on the “Mount” to inaugurate the new covenant. As Moses’ face was glowing when he came down from his encounter with God on Mount Sinai . Jesus to fullfil what Moses started, starting the new covenant and bringing the law given to fulfillment.

These examples reveal that Matthew uses many titles for Jesus in his Gospel, including Messiah, King, Lord, Son of God, Son of Man, Son of David, Immanuel, etc. All of these have their roots in the Old Testament and point in one way or another to the theme of fulfillment and the coming of the kingdom of heaven.

                The Gospel according to Matthew comes first in our New Testament. Matthew’s central theme is promise and fulfillment: God’s promises in the Hebrew Scriptures to bring salvation to his people Israel and to the whole world are being fulfilled with the coming of Jesus the Messiah. The Church’s response to this joyful news should be to go into all the world and make disciples of Jesus the Messiah

“This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham,” followed by a detailed genealogy of 41 generations! The genealogy introduces Jesus as the “son of Abraham” and the “son of David,” meaning he is in the lineage of two of the most significant figures in biblical history.

God called Abraham to leave his homeland, to go to a place he would show him. God made a covenant with Abraham, promising to create from him a great nation ,to give him the Promised Land and through his descendant to bless all nations of the earth.

It is through the salvation available through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection that all nations would be blessed.God made a covenant with David, promising him that his dynasty would be established forever and that one of his descendants would reign on his throne forever.

They represented was not just a return to the glory days of Israel’s reign under David and Solomon. It was a promise for the restoration and renewal of all of creation. When Matthew presents a genealogy tracing Jesus’ lineage through David and Abraham, he is making sure that Jesus is the Messiah and Savior of the world. While Israel repeatedly failed to obey God, Jesus remains faithful and obedient.

As the Servant-Messiah and Son of God, Jesus represents the nation Israel and succeeds where they failed. He will now fulfill Israel’s Old Testament covenant.

More symbolic we can see in Matthew’s portrayal of Jesus as a new Moses. As Moses went up to Mount Sinai to receive Israel’s first covenant, written on tablets of stone, so Jesus delivers his Sermon on the “Mount” to inaugurate the new covenant. As Moses’ face was glowing when he came down from his encounter with God on Mount Sinai . Jesus to fullfil what Moses started, starting the new covenant and bringing the law given to fulfillment.

These examples reveal that Matthew uses many titles for Jesus in his Gospel, including Messiah, King, Lord, Son of God, Son of Man, Son of David, Immanuel, etc. All of these have their roots in the Old Testament and point in one way or another to the theme of fulfillment and the coming of the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 7:24-29

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ And the rain fell, and the ^[c]floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.²⁶ Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.²⁷ The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

²⁸ When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching;²⁹ for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

All religions around the world claim that Jesus was a good teacher. However, Jesus challenges the idea that He is not just a good teacher.

What does He say? He says the person is wise, “who hears these words of mine and acts on them.”

Jesus doesn’t beat around the bush here. He says that if we don’t obey His words we are like a foolish man.

This closing story in Jesus’ sermon on the mount is pure common sense. Everyone knows that it is wiser to build a house on solid rock than on sand. And everyone knows that no one can stop storms from coming, rain from falling, or wind from blowing. We all know the story of the Three Little Pigs.

Jesus speaks with all authority. If we don’t obey the words of Jesus, if we don’t faithfully follow His teachings, we are like the foolish man. We will not stand.

We often think that we’ve “settled” when we buy a house at the beach. We’re still surprised when storms reveal the sandy foundations upon which we have built our lives. We’re are shocked in how quickly the devastation happens, and how long the recovery process takes.

During pandemic, storms assail us and we suffer. That is why we must be obedient to what Jesus has told us. Jesus wants us to put into action what He has said. We need place to our full trust in Him, in all things.

He’s calling us to change. He’s calling us to choose.

Make a choice today about where your foundation will be built. 

Let’s build our foundation on Jesus and His teachings.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. Glory to God!

Mark 9:14-32

Jesus had just been encouraged by God on a mountaintop, and three of his disciples—Peter, James, and John—had been allowed to watch. The disciples saw the power and glory of God in Jesus as never before. They saw Jesus’ clothing become dazzling white. They saw Moses and Elijah, prophets of Israel from ancient times, talking with Jesus. They heard words from heaven: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (Mark 9:7). The impact of all this was overwhelming.

But when they came down the mountain, the disciples faced a problem. A troubled father had brought his demon-possessed son for healing, but the disciples who had stayed behind were powerless. They cannot drive it out. The evil spirit made the boy unable to hear or speak, and it threw him to the ground grinds his teeth. The father of the boy, was so desperate. The disciples couldn’t help, but they turn to Jesus.

“Bring the boy to me,” said Jesus, and he commanded the spirit to leave and never return. The spirit shook the boy violently, and came out. Jesus lifted the boy to his feet, and the boy stood up.

“Why couldn’t we do that?” the disciples later asked.

When the disciples asked Jesus why they could not cast the troubling spirit out, Jesus was clear that they had not prayed. They had depended on themselves to help this boy, when Jesus wanted them to depend on him.

Then Jesus taught them a great lesson about prayer, it shows dependence on God not on oneself. Which calls for faith in the power of God. Power doesn’t reside in the person praying or in the act of praying itself. Power comes from God through faith in Jesus.

‘I have compassion on the crowd – is this true for me? Do I care that many people are tired, anxious, unsure of the future, uncertain about what life is meant to be about? Am I compassionate to others?
How can one feed these people?

The disciples looked and saw their lack; Jesus asked them to look again and see the possibilities. The disciples have not yet understood all things are possible with Jesus, even though Jesus performed a similar miracle a little while earlier.

Jesus loved to share meals with everybody no matter who they are and what they are. Mark tells us that Jesus wanted to ensure that every one of his listeners that day would reach their earthly home safely.

At an ordinary human level, we are given a glimpse of Jesus’ tender concern for the crowd. They have left their homes, followed him into the desert, and remained with him for days. He is full of compassion, being very conscious of their tiredness and of hunger of these people.

We think of how Jesus has compassion on us and wants to feed us. He sees the distance we have come and wants to give us strength. The loaves of the people fed the crowd. Jesus uses what we can give to him in his service We can work with what we have, and experience His presence .

He speaks his word through us and loves the world through us. All belivers are called to be missionaries in the sense of sharing God’s unconditional love with others.

May we continue to offer the little “loaves” we have, give everyone endless compassion and watch as they are transformed by Jesus.