Luke the beloved physician wrote how Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and unto him that smites you on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that takes away your cloak forbid not to take your coat also”, and in chapter six and verse thirty of his book Luke shares how Jesus said, “give to every man that asks of you” where we read:
Give to every man that asks of you; and of him that takes away your goods ask them not again.
The verse reads, “Give to every man that asks of you;” Luke began with the words, “give to every man” or “grant, supply, furnish and deliver to each, all, the whole and everyone whether male or female” “that asks of you” which means “who desires, requires, begs or craves from Jesus' disciples”. Luke shared how Jesus told the disciples who were listening to Him that they should “supply and furnish” goods to people who were “craving and wanting things” from them.
The verse continues, “and of him that takes away your goods ask them not again.” Luke added the words, “and of him that takes away your goods” which means “and pertaining to the person whether male or female who removes and carries off Jesus' disciples' belongings” “ask them not again” or “do not demand, require or exact back the goods as due”. Luke shared how Jesus told the disciples listening to Him they were not to “demand back” any of their “belongings” which were “removed and carried away” from them.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see two more directives from Jesus concerning people who want things from His disciples and those who “take” things from His disciples. Jesus said His disciples were to “supply” people who asked them for things with what they ask, and they were not to “demand back” things which were “taken” from them by others. This way of living is quite contrary to the normal life, and we can imagine the mindset of the people who heard Him say these things. The idea again is that these things are temporary, and the Kingdom of God is eternal. Jesus' disciples were not to “trade” the “spiritual” things for the “physical”, and because people tend to want to “keep” everything they have and “demand” back anything that is “stolen or taken” from them, Jesus' way comes in direct conflict with the normal way to life. God's Kingdom is only obtained through a personal relationship with His Son Jesus Christ, and those who yield their lives to Him will not only be challenged by what Jesus said, but also be able to obey Him through the power of His Holy Spirit.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “as you would that men should do to you, do you also to them likewise”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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