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STRAIGHT
TALK ABOUT THE KINGDOM
Luke 13: 18-35
Luke 13:18-21:
The Inevitable Dominance of God’s Kingdom. . .
So He was saying, "What is the kingdom of God like, and to what
shall I compare it? "It is like a mustard seed, which a man took
and threw into his own garden; and it grew and became a tree,
and the birds of the air nested in its branches." And again He
said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God ? "It is like
leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until
it was all leavened."
Luke 13: 22-30: The Surprise Ending in God’s Kingdom . . .
And He was passing through from one city and village to another,
teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. And someone
said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved ?"
And He said to them, "Strive to enter through the narrow door;
for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
"Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you
begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, 'Lord,
open up to us!' then He will answer and say to you, 'I do not
know where you are from.' "Then you will begin to say, 'We ate
and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets '; and
He will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you are from;
depart from me, all you evildoers.' "In that place there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and
Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves
being thrown out. "And they will come from east and west
and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the
kingdom of God. "And behold, some are last who will be first and
some are first who will be last."
Luke 13: 31-33: The Incidental Influence of Herod . . .
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him, "Go
away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You." And He said to
them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and
perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My
goal.' "Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and
the next day; for it cannot * be that a prophet would perish
outside of Jerusalem.
Luke 13: 34-35: The Predictable Judgment of Jerusalem . . .
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and
stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your
children together, just * as a hen gathers her brood under her
wings, and you would not have it! "Behold, your house is left to
you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the
time comes when you say, 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF
THE LORD !' "
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