The Surprising God

This post exegetes Luke chapter 15 providing context for the Gospel reading on 9/14/25. the 14th Sunday after Pentecost. Insights are drawn from Warren Wiersbe ("The Bible Expository Commentary"), Howard Marshall ("New Bible Commentary") and Robert Farrar Capon ("Kingdom, Grace, Judgment").  "The Return of the Prodigal Son" (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction The scribes and Pharisees will eat publicly only with those they consider “righteous” (like themselves!). But here comes Jesus who not only welcomes and teaches “tax collectors and sinners,” but openly shares meals with outcasts like these! Jesus has come not to shun the outcasts and rejects, but “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). And so the scribes and Pharisees turn against Jesus. In response (and to help his disciples share his love for the lost), Jesus, in Luke 15, tells parables about a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. The third parable is the...

This post exegetes Luke chapter 14 providing context for the Gospel reading on 9/7/25, the 13th Sunday after Pentecost. Insights are drawn from Warren Wiersbe ("The Bible Expository Commentary") and Howard Marshall ("New Bible Commentary"). "The Meal in the House of the Pharisee" by James Tissot (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction In keeping with Jewish custom, Jesus was often invited into someone’s home for a meal following Sabbath synagogue services. Sometimes Jesus was invited by a host seeking to honor Jesus and learn more of God’s truth. But often, Jesus was invited home by a host wanting to find a way to criticize and condemn him. In Luke chapter 14, a leading Pharisee invites Jesus to dinner with the intent of entrapping Jesus. But Jesus turns the table and exposes the falsity of the thinking and living of the host, of other Jewish religious leaders at the meal, and of the crowd that follows Jesus afterward. Let’s join Jesus in reject...

This post exegetes Hebrews chapter 13 providing context for the Epistle reading on 8/31/25. the 12th Sunday after Pentecost. Insights are drawn from Warren Wiersbe (The Bible Expository Commentary) and F.F. Bruce (The Epistle to the Hebrews). "The Miraculous Draft of Fishes" by Raphael (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction In Hebrews chapter 11, we are given examples of faithful people. In chapter 12, we are given exhortations to persevere in the faith.  Now in chapter 13, we are given ‘real-world’ examples of living by faith in Jesus. Here we find the ethics or life-style of a Jesus-follower. Of course, Christians are not ‘yellow pencils’, nor are they perfect; but in their lives you will find certain defining characteristics. This chapter gives four: they love others, are responsive to church leadership, are given to worship, and are yielded to Jesus. Because temptation, lethargy and other factors tend to strip believers of these characteristics, this concludi...

This post exegetes Hebrews chapter 12 providing context for the Epistle reading on 8/24/25. the 11th Sunday after Pentecost. Insights are drawn from Warren Wiersbe (The Bible Expository Commentary) and F.F. Bruce (The Epistle to the Hebrews). Olympics marathon runner (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction: run with perseverance  Hebrews 12:1 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews chapter 12 is about persevering in the faith.  The author wants this book's readers to “run with perseverance the race marked out” for them (Heb 12:1b).  For most Christians this “race” is a marathon with many obstacles. Because it’s long and hard we can be tempted to “grow weary and lose heart” (Heb 12:3).  Because the original Jewish Christian readers of Hebrews were being persecuted, they were tem...

This post exegetes Hebrews chapter 11 providing context for the Epistle readings on 8/10 and 8/17/25. the 9th and 10th Sundays after Pentecost. Insights are drawn from Warren Wiersbe ("The Bible Expository Commentary") and F.F. Bruce ("The Epistle to the Hebrews"). Introduction Prior to chapter 11 in Hebrews, we learn that Jesus is the Superior Person (chapters 1-6), with the Superior Priesthood (chapters 7-10).  These truths form the basis for the Christian faith, namely allegiance to and trust in Jesus only. This faith is Superior Faith because it is greater than that offered by the old covenant. Because they were being persecuted for their trust in Jesus, the original Jewish Christian readers of this book were tempted to return to the inferior faith of the old covenant. It’s easier for all of us to trust in the known and visible than to trust in the invisible realities of God.  Hebrews chapter 10 ends with this exhortation (Hebrews 10:38-39):  My righteous one ...