Cheap Talk And Lame Excuses

Should we forget everything to follow Him, or is it a question of priority? What priority does God have in our lives? Let’s learn about excuses in Luke 9:51-62.

Denying Jesus in Others

Luke 9:46 Then his disciples began arguing about which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he brought a little child to his side. 48 Then he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.”

Luke 9:49 John said to Jesus, “Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn’t in our group.” 50 But Jesus said, “Don’t stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you.”

These verses are important to be included too, because they teach us not to condemn other denominations that believe in Jesus. As a lifelong Christ follower, I notice that even the best churches have major flaws, but we have the most important thing in common, a saving faith in Jesus.

Denying Jesus

Luke 9:51 As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. 53 But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. 54 When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 So they went on to another village.

How should we think about those who reject our Christian message? Jesus rebuked the disciples for desiring to punish them. They did not yet understand God’s grace and praying for enemies. Fires of judgment is reserved for the end of the age. Jesus’ first mission was to save, not condemn.

Cheap Talk

Luke 9:57 As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

Christians are pilgrims in a foreign land with no place to lay our heads, traveling to a sacred place. Freed from slavery, we wander in a worldly wilderness not yet having reached the promised land. We don’t always know our immediate destination, but we do know who is leading us.

Lame Excuses

Luke 9:59 He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” 60 But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.” 61 Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”

There is nothing wrong with burying a parent, but if it’s no excuse to delay following Jesus. What “good thing” are we using as an excuse to delay following Jesus? We can arrive at family events after church, tell sports’ managers that church comes first, be rested for Sunday mornings.

Are “family values” always “Christian values.” Jesus seems to challenge that idea. Burying a parent and saying goodbye to family are good actions. Jesus did not suggest severing family ties, but wanted to teach a valuable lesson. Many family values are Christian values, but they are not always the same.

Looking Back

Luke 9:62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

Some modern farmers are returning to plow with animals finding greater return on investment and happiness. To plow a straight furrow, a farmer can’t remove his hand from the plow or look backwards. As farmers in God’s field, we keep our eyes on Jesus and our hands on the plow.

Honoring parents has a very high priority in the Bible, but can family distract us from an even greater priority, Jesus? Let’s plow a straight line to God without wavering.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

2 Kings 2 or 1 Kings 19; Psalm 77 or Psalm 16; Galatians 5; Luke 9:51-62