“No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light.”

In the parable of the Lighted Lamp, the Lamp describes Jesus Christ who is the Light. Like the lamp that is a source of light in darkness, Jesus is the only resource available to those who are given eyes to see. He is the only one able to make a true difference to those who repent and believe in him.

The light of Jesus Christ is supernatural. In heaven, God’s light will illumine the day and the night will go away with all other natural lights no longer needed (Rev. 22:5). Unfortunately, sinners mistakenly think that the lights of this world are enough to find peace. But only the light of Christ is able to bring peace and make the sinner’s heart different.

Whoever has the light of Christ will reflect him in their lives and they shine forth his light to those around them. Christians are lamp stands and do not self-radiate their own light. They reflect Christ’s light.

“The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light,”

At the conversion of every believer, they begin to see clearly and their blurry vision as sinners dissipates. When regeneration occurs by the Holy Spirit, conversion follows from being spiritually dead to being made alive to God. Conversion changes the heart and manifests the Christian’s new allegiance to Christ in outward change. Consequently, conversion leads to ongoing transformation as the Christian grows to be more like Christ.

The transformation is a result of the heart change and the heart’s expression is the eye or the body. The inner man is given spiritual eyes that are different from the physical eye of the body. The inner man is given the ability to discern and think of how to glorify God as they are given a new heart. God dwells in the believer. He continues to enlighten the Christian by manifesting himself and his truths through Scripture, which continues to sanctify the inner man.

In the prior life before Christ, the sinner remained in darkness and did not want the light. Their lampstand was void of any light. But having been delivered from darkness and into light, the light is given and will shine forever. In Paul’s conversion, the light of Christ only shone on him and his spiritual eyes were opened even though his physical eyes could no longer see (Acts 9:3-5, 8).

The difference between the unbeliever and the Christian is the believer’s conversion that leads to true transformation. The life of the truly converted must be radically different. It is different from behavioral modification because the heart is changed. Paul changed drastically from when he was Saul to the point where the Jews plotted together to put him to death (Acts 9:23).

The only thing that can make the sinner different is to be given a clear eye that makes the body full of light. The heart change leads to a life that is eternally transformed to be godly and righteous, reflecting the Holy One, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

When the eye is clear, the Christian is given the gift of contentment to live a simple life of devotion to God, his word, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer (Acts 2:42). In addition, the Christian focuses on the things of the Lord because they become singularly fixed on glorifying Christ through faith. Their lives become more encouraged by the love of Christ and lead a life to loving him alone.

“but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness.”

The Lord is referring to the wicked generation of unbelievers. But this text can also be applied to some believers who use their freedom to still disobey. Without walking with Christ, the heart can lead to darkness and make sinful decisions that result in consequences even for believers. The self or circumstances must not rule over biblical truth. When this persists, one might need to reassess if their heart has been truly converted because only a life of misery results. Repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can only provide true light that gives understanding leading to obedience and sanctification.

Jesus had proven continually that He was the prophesied Messiah through countless miracles and teachings. However, the Israelites and Pharisees demanded one more sign from Jesus to prove who He was. He had just healed a blind man but it was not enough. Jesus lays into them calling them a wicked generation with no hunger or thirst for the truth. They have no excuse to reject Him because they have seen so many signs. Even the lepers were healed, which was a very specific and telling sign of the Messiah. Yet they did not believe and they did not change. This is why Jesus says they will have no sign but the sign of Jonah.

We all know the story of Jonah, the angry and bitter prophet, who was swallowed by a big fish for three days and vomited back on the shore. This was the sign of Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus claimed to Mary and Martha, “I am the resurrection”. The resurrection is the foundation of Christianity. All other doctrines flow out of the resurrection. We have life because of the resurrection. The resurrection is the ultimate sign by which our faith rests. Apostle Paul made it his mission to tell the world Jesus is alive (Acts 25:19). The resurrection is the sign of Jonah is greater than all the other signs and definitively declares Jesus is the Messiah.

Jesus also compares this generation to the Queen of the South who traveled to see Solomon. She was the least privileged and least likely to seek God and yet when she heard from Solomon she believed. The Jews have all the privileges. They had their Jewish background and upbringing. They didn’t have to travel but Jesus came to them. They got to witness Jesus in person day after day. Solomon had a heavenly wisdom recognized by everyone (1 Kings 4:29-30,34). The Queen of the South traveled a great distance just to hear this heavenly wisdom. She realized that she needed to hear the truth of God, she needed to know how to be saved. Yet even though they heard Jesus preaching the gospel perfectly for over three years right in their own city, they remained unchanged. Behold, Jesus is greater than Solomon. The Queen was saved by hearing from Solomon. The Queen is no longer condemned but will condemn those who did not listen. If the Queen was saved by hearing Solomon, then what excuse is there when we have heard Jesus who is greater. Jesus perfectly explains who Yahweh is.

Jonah is the foreshadowing of Jesus. Jonah preached the same message of repentance and warned the people of Nineveh. Jonah is a herald of Jesus Christ. Through Jonah, we learn that there is salvation in no one else but Jesus alone. He is the only and perfect Savior. The message of Jonah is fulfilled in Jesus. When we fail to see Jesus as He is then we fail at any chance to know who God is. Jesus is the last and final opportunity for salvation.

This is how God saves, through the preaching of Jesus and the gospel which leads to repentance. Jonah preached and the people of Nineveh repented. The people of Nineveh were Gentiles, just like the Queen of the South, yet they repented. The Jews hated any mention of Gentiles being saved so this must have infuriated them. But preaching is inflammatory. People will either repent or reject. The Ninevites, the gentiles, the unworthy, heard Jonah’s message and repented. The Jews hated Jesus’ preaching and tried to kill him. They couldn’t see the point Jesus was making. That He is greater, he is the complete and consummate picture. Solomon and Jonah were a picture and sign towards Jesus. He is the real deal. He is the Word in flesh, fully man, fully God, displaying God’s glory and He preached the Gospel directly to them (John 1:1-3,4). Jonah was a servant of Jesus. Jonah was sent and so was Jesus, but Jesus is the original. Jonah versus Jesus is beyond comparison. Jonah was a man but Jesus is God.

Jonah’s message was local and limited. It only applied to Nineveh. But Jesus’s message is universal for all men everywhere for all time. It is the heavenly gospel that has the power to save (Galatians 1:11-12). Jonah preached a message of doom and legalism. They had to correct their outward behavior unless they would be destroyed. But Jesus’ message is one of grace and compassion. Jesus changes your life from within by the power of His grace. That grace is received by repentance. By God’s grace, you are able to repent. Repentance leads to change which can only happen by God’s grace. “Repentance is a heartfelt realization of how dreadfully I have failed all through my life, to give God His rightful place in my heart and daily walk.” – A. W. Pink. From the beginning, God has been calling men to repentance. The faith of Abraham and Moses all began with repentance. Today we must heed the same message of repentance. (Mark 1:15; Romans 10:9) Without repentance we cannot be saved, without repentance, Jesus is not our Lord.

Many fail to repent biblically and only appear to be Christian. True repentance leads to leaving our sins and becoming more like Christ. Once you repent then you pursue obedience also known as sanctification. The true Christian seeks to be holy. Additionally, Jesus leaves us with His comforting presence. Today is a day of salvation because Jesus is here. This wicked generation has no interest in Jesus who died on the cross. They refuse to believe. But God is gracious to save. In Jesus, we have everything we need to know and believe. We simply need to trust and repent and God will give abundantly.

The passage reflects on the sovereignty of God as depicted in the Exodus narrative, particularly focusing on the confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh during the Ten Plagues. These plagues, intended to display God’s glory and power, serve a dual purpose: to judge the wickedness of the Egyptians and to deliver the Israelites from bondage, ultimately leading them to the promised land of Canaan where they can worship Yahweh freely.

Central to the discussion is the concept of God’s absolute sovereignty, which means He has ultimate authority and control over all things. This idea can be unsettling to many in the modern world who cherish personal autonomy and struggle with the notion of a deity who exercises such unrestricted power. Despite this discomfort, the text emphasizes that God’s sovereignty is not just a doctrine but a fundamental aspect of His identity as Yahweh.

In the narrative, Yahweh explicitly states that He has hardened Pharaoh’s heart. This hardening is crucial because it ensures that Pharaoh continues to resist Moses’ demands to release the Israelites, thereby setting the stage for the subsequent plagues and demonstrating God’s power over earthly rulers and circumstances. Despite God’s active hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, the text clarifies that this does not imply God causes sin. Rather, it underscores His sovereignty in orchestrating events according to His divine plan.

The passage addresses theological challenges posed by God’s sovereignty, such as reconciling His control over events with the existence of evil and human free will. It argues that God’s sovereignty does not negate human responsibility or excuse sin but rather works in conjunction with it to fulfill His purposes. Even in the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, God remains just and holy, using Pharaoh’s actions to display both His wrath and His mercy.

Moreover, the narrative stresses that God’s sovereignty serves a redemptive purpose. By demonstrating His power through the plagues and the subsequent deliverance of the Israelites, God reveals Himself as the sovereign Savior who acts for the salvation of His people. This theme underscores the broader biblical narrative where God’s actions throughout history, including in the Exodus, point toward His ultimate plan of redemption through Jesus Christ.

The passage concludes by urging readers to embrace and acknowledge God’s sovereignty, not just for theological reasons but also for personal salvation. It encourages a deeper relationship with Yahweh, emphasizing that knowing God is the most profound and fulfilling pursuit one can undertake. The story of Joseph forgiving his brothers despite their betrayal serves as a poignant example of how God, in His sovereignty, can turn even evil intentions into opportunities for redemption and life-saving grace.

Overall, the passage from Exodus and its theological reflection emphasizes God’s sovereignty as a foundational truth that shapes both the biblical narrative and the Christian understanding of God’s character and actions in the world. It challenges readers to trust in God’s wisdom and goodness, even in the face of difficulty and uncertainty, knowing that His sovereign plan ultimately leads to salvation and reconciliation with Him.

The major purpose for Jesus performing miracles is to prove what He said is what He meant and to verify who He is. The people had accused Him of being the son of Joseph and Mary implying He was not the Messiah. In Luke 11:29-32 Jesus explains that what He has done is enough to prove that He is the Messiah. He has cured so many diseases and performed so many miracles. Ironically the people responded with such great joy that those very signs actually became an indictment against them (Luke 10:10-15). They have been privileged and spoiled to witness these miracles, so much so that others would have already repented if they had experienced the same thing. Yet instead of repenting, they accuse Jesus of being a servant of Satan. The same can be said of the modern American church. We are extremely blessed and materially spoiled but we are dead in spirit, complaining and asking for more signs.

In Luke 11:31, Jesus continues comparing this generation to the Queen of the South in the time of King Solomon. Jesus says I am superior to Jonah and Solomon. I am more than a prophet or a king, I am the Son of God, the promised Messiah.

The Queen of the South is the Queen of Sheba. Jesus says she will rise up at the judgment. This judgment refers to the judgment of the great white throne at the end of time. The fact that she will rise means she became a believer and was saved. She will condemn them doesn’t mean the Queen is the judge for only God is the judge. However, it does mean she will not be condemned herself and she will shame those who are. She was not a Jew but an idol-worshipping Gentile woman. Originally she was the most condemned. She didn’t see any miracles but by hearing the wisdom of Solomon she became a believer and saved. What an accusation against patriarchal and traditional Jews. The Queen of the South not only avoided condemnation and shamed those who are condemned, but will also receive a great reward (Luke 11:31). Salvation is more than avoiding condemnation and hell but a heavenly reward with Jesus Christ.

How was the Queen of the South saved? She made an effort to go see Solomon. We don’t know where exactly she came from but we can assume she came from a very far place that took a great time to travel. As a Queen, she left her domain and responsibilities, which required great effort and sacrifice, to hear the wisdom of Solomon. In contrast, we don’t have to travel far or sacrifice much to hear the word of God. In comparison, we have no excuse. Where is our effort to know God? We have so many resources readily available to us. If we wanted to know God we easily could but so many of us don’t put in even the slightest effort.

The Queen of the South desired to hear about Yahweh from Solomon (1 Kings 10:1). The Bible says people are saved by hearing the Gospel. The Queen wanted to hear true wisdom from Solomon. Indeed, Solomon truly was a wise man of wisdom who had received divine wisdom from God when he was a child. He wrote three books of wisdom in the Bible (Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes). Solomon tells us that “The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; Ignorant fools despise wisdom and discipline” (Proverbs 1:7)

After hearing from Solomon, the Queen believed and responded with praise to God and blessing towards Solomon (1 Kings 10:9). This is why rejecting Jesus is inexcusable. Jesus declares “Behold, something greater than Solomon is here.“ Even though Solomon was supernaturally gifted with knowledge and wisdom beyond normal men, he was still just a mortal and local king who had many faults and sins. Jesus is the King of Kings, fully God, and full man. Jesus is perfect, mighty and never failing; to Him be the glory and the might forever and ever (Revelation 1:5-6). Jesus is the supreme ruler of all creation (Colossians 1:15). If Jesus is your King, then you must surrender and listen to Him. His words and ways are our blessing and truth (Mark 1:8).

Solomon is one of many sons of David but Jesus is the Son of David (Mark 10:47), the promised Messiah. He is the true Savior of His people and the eternal King. Without Jesus, we cannot see the light. We are blind in our sins, but in Jesus, we can see (John 9:25). Jesus provides for our most fundamental needs. He gives us salvation and freedom from our sins through the love and grace of God. We do not need health wealth or worldly wisdom. These do not satisfy us because they don’t meet our real needs. We need Jesus! In Jesus, we have all the wonderful blessings of God.

Jesus is the source of wisdom. If you don’t have Jesus then you are not wise despite how much knowledge you have. Wisdom is the ability to see reality as God sees it. That is only possible in Jesus Christ because Jesus is wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption personified (1 Corinthians 1:30). We are not wise on our own, but every Christian has access to all the wisdom in Jesus (Colossians 2:3). The smartest and brightest in the world are foolish without Jesus. The atheist is a fool because they deny God (Psalm 14:1). Jesus came to earth to explain who God is, our Heavenly Father who is full of grace, truth, love, and power. The wise believe in Jesus and trust His words.

There is also the unrealistic fool found in 1 Corinthians 1:18 who perish in their foolishness. They reject the crucifixion as God’s means of salvation. They think the cross is a nice gesture and Jesus was a nice man and a good teacher. But they do not realize that there is no other way to escape the wrathful judgment of God towards sinners and be forgiven except through the cross. This is the reality of salvation.

The independent fool does not depend on the cross but depends on their own works and religion (Matthew 7:21-23). They have confidence in their own deeds versus what Jesus did. They rely on their tradition when they possess no hope or life.

The head knowledge fool only appears wise but lacks obedience. They know the truth in their head but do not live it in their heart. It is merely lip service and not true wisdom. Jesus obeyed to the point of death. He not only spoke the truth but obeyed.

There is also the Christian fool. “O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken”. The Christian knows what the Scripture says but they fail to trust in God. The wise Christian lives according to every word of God in every circumstance. Jesus went through every moment according to the Scriptures (Matthew 26:51,56).

The world is a flood of worldly wisdom. However, they are lost without Jesus Christ. He is superior to Solomon because He is real and genuine and everlasting. He is with us. Listen to His Word through the Scriptures. Ask the Lord in prayer to reveal Himself to you.

Jesus’ ministry was full of signs and wonders that pointed to him as the Christ and Savior. This discourse of Jesus in Luke 11 concludes that there is no more excuse as he laid out clearly that he is the only way to the Father. Jesus states how evil this generation is and how it eagerly seeks a sign, not out of a genuine heart of wanting to believe in Jesus, but rather to find a way to dismiss and reject Jesus as the Savior and Lord he is.

“This generation” Jesus alludes to implies the wicked and evil people. It does not speak specifically of the people during Jesus’ time but speaks of people in general. These people actively seek evil and what is harmful just as the people continually committed evil during Noah’s time leading to God’s judgment (Gen. 6:9, 11). God’s solution to these evil and wicked people is his judgment and punishment. Jesus indicted these people as they did not seek forgiveness and salvation. These people sought to entrap and destroy Jesus.

Moreover, “this generation” describes all sinners since Adam and unbelievers today who find any excuse to push away Jesus Christ. The Apostle John made it clear that those who believe in Christ are not judged but those who do not believe are judged and indicted already because they did not believe in Jesus Christ (Jn. 3:18).

So what sign did these evil sinning people seek that Jesus states (v. 29). First, we must define what a sign is. A sign is something significant and points to something. Jesus showed many signs and wonders to point to himself as the promised Messiah, the God-incarnate, and Savior (Jn. 10:24-25). Despite the many signs, the evil people say they are inadequate and continue to demand more. These people might be religious and externally upright, but they lack the regeneration to the heart and completely miss the source of the sign, Jesus Christ.

The sign that these people sought was a different Messiah who fit their idea of who would rescue them from the Romans and their current state. They wanted a Messiah who was a conqueror and a warrior. They sought any other sign but the one that Jesus continued to show through the gospel. Jesus continued to declare that he must suffer and die so that sinners can be saved. They refused to believe in this kind of Messiah and rejected him. In the end, what the evil generation is guilty of is that they have no more excuse for their unbelief. Jesus has demonstrated sufficiently to believe and be saved.

Jesus showed that no other sign was necessary and exposed their delay to surrender and believe in him. He, then, goes on to show the perfect and final sign; that is, the sign of Jonah (v. 29b-30). Jesus said, “For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation” (v. 30). Not only does Jesus recognize Jonah as a historical figure but he points to his death and resurrection in drawing a comparison between himself and Jonah (Matt. 12:40).

What happened to Jonah? Jonah was swallowed up by a big fish and remained in the belly of the fish for three days and spat out. In the same way, Jesus is pointing to his death on the cross and being raised up on the third day.

Jesus is the Son of Man. The God who became man and offered up himself as a sacrifice for many so that they would avoid judgment and wrath of God.

In other words, the Son of Man would be punished by God just as Jonah was as he refused to obey God. But just as Jonah was rescued, Jesus pointed to his resurrection. His resurrection is the final act that would bring eternal salvation to all those who would repent and believe in him.

Everyone wants to be blessed. The good news is that every Christian is blessed. Legend says that Alexander the Great visited the homeless philosopher Diogenes one day who was enjoying lying in the sun and said he would grant any wish. Diogenes replied, “Stand out of my light” implying he didn’t need anything Alexander could offer. Later, Alexander the Great said if he wasn’t Alexander he would want to be Diogenes because Diogenes was so content and happy. Diogenes didn’t need or want anything, he considered himself blessed. What does it mean to be blessed? Who is truly blessed? Is it the rich, powerful, and famous? One thing is true, we all want to be happy.

Many people are mistaken about being blessed, like the woman who proclaimed blessing towards Jesus. Jesus gently corrects her and clarifies what true blessing is. It is trusting and obeying God’s word. This is the only true blessing, nothing else.

One characteristic of the blessed is that they are sure of their blessing. They do not consider themselves blessed according to other people’s standards. What other people call blessed is not true blessedness because they are never satisfied. Riches, health, and other worldly blessings are not true blessings because ultimately even with those things you still stand condemned as a sinner. How can you be blessed and condemned? Like Esau, you are deceived and call yourself blessed when you are not (Genesis 33:9).

There are also those who have a carnal heart and are not satisfied with God’s blessing. They seek more and desire more. The truly blessed understand God’s true blessing in Jesus Christ and are fully satisfied in Him (Philippians 3:4-8). Apostle Paul understands that Jesus is everything and that without Jesus we have nothing. How blessed the believer is because we have the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3). The blessed have their sins forgiven, the old is gone and new has come, and they have been restored in Jesus (Romans 4:7-8). The true blessing is only found in Jesus and it is all the blessing we need. This blessing is not given or obtained through the world. It is only obtained by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our faith and hope is in the resurrection! Our faith is a gift of heaven from God.

Another blessing the believer has is God’s ear which means God hears our prayers (1 John 3:21-22). We get the right to ask and it is God’s duty to answer. We are able to bring our matters to God and God actually responds to us. This is our blessing! Don’t hesitate to use it because God is waiting and ready to hear and answer our prayers.

We also have God’s peace and joy. Even though we are going through a hard time and the world is in chaos, we have peace. Jesus gives us real peace because He experienced the world and overcame it (John 16:33). Our peace is not theoretical but actual. We have peace with God and the peace of God. God is the God of peace and He is with us, therefore His peace is with us as well.

Some Christians might never experience anything pleasant in this world no matter how righteous and obedient they are. But that doesn’t mean they are without blessing. Those who do not experience blessings on earth will experience true blessing in eternal life (Hebrews 11:39-40). Be assured that if you are a Christian then you are blessed.

The means of our blessing is the Word of God. The Bible is the common denominator of all blessings. Jesus is the central figure of Scripture and Scripture reveals Jesus to us. Hearing the Word of God spiritually in our hearts results in knowing more about Jesus. Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory who reveals God the Father to us (Hebrews 1:1-3). So we need the Word of God to know God and it is only by the Word of God that we are blessed.

The word of God is certain and it reveals the will of God. If we are to follow God’s will then we must listen to God’s Word. Jesus says to be blessed we must hear and obey God’s word. This is because God guides us in His word. Therefore the blessed seek God’s will in His word (Psalms 1:2-3). We must strive to know the mind of God by reading the Bible like a man digging for treasure.

The blessed live a life of obedience. In fact, the supreme mark of blessing is obedience. If we are holy, sanctified, and beloved then that means we are being obedient. The world only knows how to obey themselves but the Christian obeys God. The singular mission of the blessed Christian life is obedience to God. “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it”. “To keep God’s commandments is to obey them, and the primary, the fundamental thing in obedience is the desire of the heart; and it is on the heart that God ever looks.” (A. W. Pink) Every true believer loves Jesus Christ and therefore would obey His commands. Love leads to obedience. This love is more than sweet affection but a devotion to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in obedience. Obedience therefore is an existential matter. A Christian’s identity and blessing is based on love from God and love for God which is in obedience to God’s commands.

We must also remember that salvation is not a matter of our works and blessing is not a matter of our labor. (Luke 5:5,8; Romans 10:9) When Jesus is truly Lord in your heart and you love Him then you will obey. From that moment we will continually pursue a greater obedience in Jesus Christ. Obedience is striving to enter through the narrow gate. How do we strive continually, how can we fulfill the roles of Christian, husband, father, and worker while obeying? Often these roles seem to conflict with our obedience. We must pray. Jesus prayed because He needed to pray (Hebrews 4:15, Hebrews 5:7). Jesus sought the Father in every temptation and trial. Jesus knew the way to obey was through prayer.

In Jesus we are assured of our blessing, we are blessed through the Word of God, and we are blessed with obedience sustained by prayer. God is the one who blesses. Be confident of the true blessing found in obedience to Him.

In this world, the two most beautiful words in any language are “Jesus Christ” because he is the source of true blessing. Without Jesus, there is no true blessing. What seems like a blessing this world offers is merely fool’s gold. In today’s text, we see a woman raising her voice saying that the womb that bore and breasts that nurses Jesus is blessed (v 27). We see Catholicism praising Mary even today. But Jesus said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it” (v 28).

Religious men attempt to find blessing in this world through means other than through faith in Jesus Christ. Some of the ways they seek blessing or success is through moralism or legalism. Moralism deceives men because they seemingly keep the law but it is dangerous as it produces hypocrisy. They become hypocrites as they externally pursue good but their hearts are still sinful. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, moralistic people are actors and pretenders of being good. Only through Jesus Christ, they are made righteous and find true blessing.

The word “blessed” means to be happy or blissful in the original Greek. This blessing possesses an internal joy that goes beyond any circumstance. However, Scripture describes blessing as true joy in all circumstances because they have Jesus Christ. Another way to understand blessing biblically does not only constitute the emotional aspect but to realize God’s supernatural favor. It is more than how you feel. It is more about how God knows what we need most and that he is the provider. Moreover, God gives assurance and security that he is able to handle anything pertaining to faith and life for the Christian. Ultimately, God blesses the believer’s heart with salvation and ongoing sanctification by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus describes the truly blessed in the Beatitudes from his Sermon on the Mount. He says, “Blessed are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the lowly, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt.‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬-‭5‬). This was in stark contrast to what the Jewish customary thinking was that is revealed by the woman in the crowd who attributed Jesus’ success to his mother nurturing and raising him.

This Jewish thinking also implies cultural Christianity today. A mark of a cultural Christian is a continual struggle of their faith year after year because the Holy Spirit is absent. They are also dependent heavily on circumstances rather than leaning on the word of God. They might use the name “Jesus” but what is lacking is true heart transformation. In the United States, more than 75% of evangelical Christians deny Jesus is Lord and more than 85% think that all humans are inherently good.

True success and blessing are manifested in the few words of Jesus in today’s text: “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it” (v 28). From God’s perspective, this is a true blessing. Beyond obedience to God’s word, there is no true blessing or success. What Jesus is also implying here is that we can be blessed as he is as we put our faith in him and live a life of obedience.

Hearing the word of God to understand our sin and depraved state before God is the start of blessing as the Spirit awakens the soul. Hearing also entails seeking the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness and ongoing desire to be saved. Ultimately, hearing the word of God is understanding the need for the gospel of Jesus Christ. True blessing only comes from the gospel as it produces repentance and faith in Jesus.

Jesus is the only answer to man’s problem of sin and death. There is only forgiveness and redemption in Jesus Christ! Only in him is there reconciliation with God. Once reconciled, obedience is possible. In this order, true blessing and success are experienced.

Warfare has changed greatly from ancient times. What has stayed the same is that warfare relies on the high ground, having vantage points and pinpointing the enemy. During the Korean Civil War, there was the punch bowl battle where they fought intensely over three hills which were crucial strategic points on the battlefield. Whoever took those hills would have an advantage in the war. It is the same in the heart of a man where there is a battle going on between Jesus and Satan. Whoever has control of your heart will have control of your behavior and life. The Christian’s heart belongs to God because we believe in our heart that Jesus is Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9). We are told to guard our hearts and examine who sits on the throne of our heart if it is God or Satan (Proverbs 4:23). Who is in your heart? It is either Jesus or demons. There are no neutral hearts. By this parable, we know that our behavior reveals who is in our hearts. Jesus is showing us how our hearts lose to the demons.

Luke 11:24 “When the unclean spirit goes out of a man.” This man is reminiscent of the man who was healed in Luke 11:14, who had experienced the grace and power of God. The man in the parable has tasted the heavenly gift of God yet his heart remains unchanged. (Hebrews 6:4-5). Ten lepers were healed by Jesus but only one returned to thank Him while the other nine remained unchanged in heart. This sort of story is also common in our churches which are filled with those who experience God and change morally but have not surrendered to God and transformed inwardly. Eventually, they scatter because they are truly not with Jesus and serving Him as Lord (Luke 11:23). They might be physically present in the church community but they are not participating in their heart. They are nominal Christians who are only Christians in name and appearance but they lack true faith and repentance and a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus might be outside the door knocking but He has not entered yet (Revelation 3:15-17). The nominal Christian lacks the inner qualities of a true Christian.

Social Christians also fall under this category. They believe in justice and freedom and the ideals of God but only in the realms of society and government instead of their personal faith. They can understand and pursue these aspects of God because we are all under God’s common grace who works his judgment and righteousness in the world. However, there is no middle ground, you either belong to God or Satan (1 John 5:19). Being a social Christian does not mean your heart belongs to God.

Jesus continues, “the demon passes through waterless places.” The waterless place is a desert with no life. Satan is constantly wandering, seeking for those to consume and take over (Job 1:6-7). Satan targets the nominal, the moral, and the ones who desire truth in anything. Men will look for all sorts of salvation except in Jesus Christ. They are the lifeless desert Satan passes through.

After wandering the demon says he will return to his former home. He finds the heart empty because it has not been occupied by Jesus. What a foolish man! He has filled his heart with everything in the world but Jesus. The room looks very attractive to the demon, it is clean and put in order. What this really means is that the heart is full of wickedness (Mark 7:21-23). They might be very disciplined, more disciplined than anyone else, and they might be principled, more principled than anyone else. This is exactly the kind of heart that a demon loves most because it is a wicked heart wrapped in moralism, a mere change in behavior pretending to be righteous.

Satan loves morality without Christ. He loves hypocrisy. Moralism is more dangerous the immorality. Those who are moral deceive themselves with a false sense of security. Those who are religiously moral do not seek Christ because they think they don’t need Christ. This was the condemnation against the self-righteous Pharisees (Matthew 23:15). Satan loves the moral man because a moral man doesn’t realize they are sick and dying. Remember Jesus didn’t come to call the moral but the sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32; 1 Timothy 1:15). We must confess we are sinners. The greatest enemy of the true gospel is moralism. It is correct, that Christians should be moral and obey God but obedience comes after we repent and believe in Jesus. Do not be deceived, we cannot be saved by morality!

Morality will never work because a moral change is superficial (Matthew 23:25-28). The leaves might be green but the root is rotten. Like the Pharisees, the outside of the cup is clean but the inside is dirty, the outside looks nice but the inside is dead. Only the true Christian is transformed inside and out by the power of the gospel. By the gospel people’s hearts are made alive resulting in an outward change of life also. Behavior modification can appear to be true change but they falsely worship in their hearts. A person can even deceive themselves and others that their change is true and genuine because it appears that way. Their change is affirmed and recognized by other Christians. Satan loves the behavior modified.

We can discern the behavior modified by their preferences. They seek the artificial and are satisfied with actions that feed their emotions. They use the Word for their emotional benefit. Their change is short-lived and constantly changing again. True change is consistent and persevering because it is wrought by the Holy Spirit. True change starts with being dead to self (self-denial). Without denying yourself you cannot change. It is God who must change us and He changes us through repentance. God is sovereign and every situation He ordains is an opportunity for our repentance and change. True change is through the Holy Spirit who must dwell in your hearts. Jesus promised it is better for us that the Holy Spirit would come and dwell in us, teach us, strengthen us, and change us. Therefore we must seek the Holy Spirit if we are to change from the inside.

“Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself.” (Luke 11:26) There are now eight spirits. This is much worse than before. Why? Because that heart was empty. Without Jesus, the heart is utterly empty. Many will try to fill their heart with so many wicked and foolish things in order to satisfy their emptiness. All their attempts always end up in a worse situation. That’s why we see it getting worse and worse in our society today and no man, no president, no policy, and no ideology will improve it. Our country and all people are cursed (2 Kings 23:26-27). God has pronounced his judgment on our world today by leaving it to a reprobate mind. Morality will not save us. However, God will not abandon His chosen. God still has His people and He will save them through Jesus. So you must decide who you believe in and serve. If you wish to be transformed then be saved by repenting and believing in Jesus Christ.

Someone like Rahab is the unlikeliest person who would be mentioned among the faithful servants of God such as Abraham, Noah, and Moses. But because God saved Rahab and used her for his purposes is mentioned by the Hebrews author. It was not Rahab who was special and set apart, but rather that God saved her out of many and gifted her with saving faith. Without saving faith, it is impossible to draw near and please God (Heb. 11:6). And what is attributed to her saving faith is God’s grace toward an undeserving sinner as it is with all Christians then and now (Eph. 2:8).

God miraculously saves the depraved sinner. The world only deserves God’s justice and punishment because of our sin of unbelief. No one deserves to be saved by God, but by his grace, he chose some to be redeemed. Salvation is a gift of God that is given to those whom he has elected. One of the elect was Rahab.

Even though all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), Rahab was a harlot and considered the worst of the worst sinners from man’s perspective. She was sexually immoral. But God still demonstrated his own love and showed mercy and grace to forgive her of her sins. By grace, Rahab was elected by God before the foundation of the world. None of God’s elect dies before they are converted (Ralph Venning).

Rahab was supposed to perish with the disobedient but was saved by faith (v. 31). The disobedient, in general, are those who have heard the gospel but refuse to believe and reject God (Jos. 2:10-11). Even though many do not believe and die in their unbelief, Rahab believed and was saved.

What set apart Rahab’s faith from the rest of those who were disobedient? Her saving faith began with hearing and understanding God’s word and the gospel (Jos. 2:11). She heard and knew who Yahweh was because the Holy Spirit helped her to understand. Conviction and salvation are possible as the Spirit quickens the heart and soul. This saving knowledge and faith transforms the heart and mind from loving sin to loving God. Spiritual understanding does not happen with our own will and might but by the Spirit alone (Zec. 5:5-6).

Even though two people hear the same gospel message, the Holy Spirit must be at work to give life and faith to the spiritually dead. Reading many books, listening to countless sermons, or anything intellectual cannot save a person. Despite who we are and what we do, it is only the Holy Spirit who saves and gives life.

Sinners are not saved by works, but by faith that acts. Rahab welcomed the spies in peace. Rahab not only welcomed the spies as strangers but considered them as brothers. Saving faith always results in deed and obedience. One of the main ways a believer obeys the Lord is by sharing their transformed life with others. Not being ashamed of the gospel and declaring to as many people is the calling of all Christians. Another way to obey is to pursue fellowship with God and other believers because faith does not stand alone. Those who are saved desire to share their lives and grow in faith together with the church (Acts 2:46).

By faith, Rahab also was bold and courageous because she knew God was with her. Rahab risked her life because she believed in finding rest in God and his providence. Rahab believed and knew the rewards God would give to those who were faithful. God does not forget and brings blessings to those who are faithfully obedient to him and his will. Some of the rewards given to believers are adoption and eternal life. This motivated Rahab to live by faith.

Just as the Lord transformed Rahab’s life by gifting her saving faith in his eternal plan so that she would live faithfully in obedience to his will, the same God has gifted the same saving faith to Christians today. Therefore, let us also live by faith and obey God and his word in all circumstances. No matter how small or big, God’s saving faith enables all believers to obey and give him glory.

Few things have remained the same throughout the centuries. One of those things is the potter’s wheel. Even now you can buy a potter’s wheel on Amazon which is similar to the first ones ever used. The same is true for faith. The faith of our fathers in the Old Testament is the same faith we have now.

In Hebrews 11:29 we see one generation under Moses pass through the waters of the Red Sea by faith. Forty years later the next generation, under the new leadership of Joshua, the Bible says the same words, “By faith”. Usually with new leaders and a new generation, things would change. However, Joshua and this generation practiced the same faith as Moses and their parents’ generation. Many things change over time. Even science has changed. The way science is used, applied, and trusted has changed drastically in our generation. The church has also changed. She has become more seeker-sensitive and more secular. This change is wrong and dangerous. Our faith must not change and we must live by faith alone in God. We are warned by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul that some will fall away from the faith, in other words, apostates (1 Timothy 4:1). Therefore we must continually live by faith, the same faith of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus Christ.

Our faith is unchanging because Jesus Christ, the object of our faith, is unchanging. The faith repeatedly referred to in Hebrews 11:2-29 for each generation was faith in Yahweh. God does not change so faith in God does not change either (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8). God is always faithful, always has been, and always will be.

Even though Moses died, God did not change His plan or promise (Joshua 1:1-2). Joshua was instructed to obey the same word that God had given to Moses. Our faith is also grounded in the same word given to Moses. We have the same word of God and so our faith is the same. Though everyone is different in how we talk or look, we are all the same in our sinful nature. (Titus 1:2,12). We are all alike in our unfaithfulness, but God is unchanging in His faithfulness. Therefore our faith must be Him.

God never lies. 1718 prophecies in the Bible and not even one prophecy has ever failed, including the hundreds of Messianic prophecies about Jesus Christ. His truthfulness qualifies Himself as worthy of trust and faith. He never changes His truth over the centuries for a thousand years is like one day to God. If God’s truth never changes then our faith is also unchanging.

Why do we still need faith? Because men are still sinful. Without faith, no one can be saved. We all stand condemned. The whole humankind needs faith or else they will perish. Archaeologists found a two-thousand-year-old plaque complaining that the teenagers of that generation were problematic. It’s a familiar complaint of every generation. The solution to every generation’s problem has also remained the same: faith (Genesis 15:6). From the beginning, faith in the gospel of Jesus is the only way to be saved.

The gospel is the universal truth for all people in all nations for all time. Faith does not change from place to place or situation to situation (Acts 16:30). This is because believing in Jesus Christ is the only solution to man’s damnation. We need the gospel above all else. It is absolutely essential for all men everywhere. Many great men have tried to find salvation elsewhere but all have failed. Only Jesus is the light of the world and we must follow Him if we are to be saved (John 8:12). So our faith must be in Jesus just like the days of old.

The Israelites in Hebrew 11:30 were a new generation and they faced the city of Jericho. Jericho was a large and impressive fortress. If they were to dwell in that land, the Israelites had to conquer Jericho. How could they conquer such a formidable city? Only by the power of God. Archaeologists have discovered that Jericho’s walls had fallen outward, not inward. This shows that the walls did not fall by invasion but by some other force. The impregnable fortress of Jericho fell by faith.

Man’s dilemma never changes. We might think that the 21st century is different. We are much more educated and technologically advanced. Shouldn’t we have moved on to greater things? But we face the same problems. We are also facing our own Jericho’s. It might be our personal sin, an idol, our enemies, or our circumstances. We know for sure Satan is our enemy, prowling around like a lion, waiting to devour us. Our fights are not physical but spiritual. We must face and defeat our enemies by faith. We need faith more than ever. Without faith, we cannot persevere to the end. The Christian walks by faith, not by sight. There are no other means God provides for the believer but faith alone. In whatever we do we give glory to God through faith lest we sin (1 Corinthians 10:31, Romans 14:23).

Faith is daring. The Israelites had to be committed and risk their lives to conquer Jericho. When they crossed the Jordan River to face Jericho there was no turning back. Behind them was the wilderness and Egypt. They could only move forward and face the enemy. With an attitude like Jacob, they did not let go of their faith until they were blessed.

Faith is obedient to God’s instructions. God had instructed them to march around the walls of Jericho for seven days. On the seventh day after they had finished marching, they were to blast their trumpets and shout. No matter how you look at it, these instructions seemed foolish. Unsurprisingly, obeying them resulted in insults and embarrassment. This is a common experience among believers who obey God’s word. The world finds Christians very foolish. Not only did the Israelites obey God’s instruction but they obeyed them exactly. They did not alter or compromise on the orders. For seven days they were disciplined and kept quiet. They didn’t question or complain. They were disciplined to avoid the ways of sin and diligently obeyed God’s word (Psalm 1:1-2). By faith, they waited for God’s appointed time. God could easily have destroyed the walls on the first day. It was for His glory that God commanded seven days. We don’t have to be anxious but simply wait for the will of God to be fulfilled (Habakkuk 2:3). Jesus tells us that we must wait prayerfully while our patience is sustained by His grace and presence (Luke 18:1).

By faith, we have great expectations for God. If we obey and wait faithfully then we can also expect God’s word to be fulfilled as He promises. We expect great things because our God is able and willing (Romans 8:32). God has already given us a great salvation, and He will give us all things. But we need faith that trusts and expects. At the very least, we will receive beyond what we expected in heaven, and even on earth. Our God does not leave faith unrewarded. Listen to Joshua after he had conquered the land by faith. “As for me and my house we will obey Yahweh” (Joshua 24:15).