Scripture Passages: Three Parables: Matthew 20:1-16, Luke 13:6-9, Matthew 13:24-30
Main Verse: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.—Luke 6:36
The Jewish world of Jesus’ day was a faith culture that desired to create order out of a chaotic world. They also sought to define themselves by their faith through asking the question, “How are we different from the world around us?”—focusing on which of the 613 commandments was most important. This delineation subsequently resulted in the creation of an “us versus them” mentality; and, we face the same challenge in our culture today.
When the Israelites (and we) begin to draw boundaries, they (and we) begin to think, “God is merciful to me and to people who are like me, but I want God to bring the others in line! I want His judgment to rain down on those creating chaos in my world.”
Jesus doesn’t fall victim to that kind of thinking. Rather, in the three parables we study this week, we are reminded of the depths of God’s divine mercy. And Jesus challenges us to “Be merciful, as your Father is merciful,” (see Luke 6:36).
To be clear: When we love our enemies, when we are merciful—forgiving, compassionate, and gracious—to people who hate us (and people we have real ideological differences with), we are walking in obedience to God’s command to love our neighbor.
Question: How are you internalizing Jesus’ challenge to be merciful just as your Father is merciful? Do you “grin and bear it,” or are you allowing the Holy Spirit in you to bring your heart’s desire in line with His Heart’s desire for all to be saved by grace?
Prayer Starter: Jesus, I want to obey You, and yet sometimes my desire to obey Your commands directly clashes with my anger towards others who, in my opinion, make stupid decisions and do foolish things. I feel __________, and I want _________, but I choose to submit my will and my desires to You today. I give you my hurt, my anger, and my frustration over _________. I invite You to forgive me, heal me, make me whole, and give me—through the power of Your Holy Spirit—a fresh compassion for others who don’t see things the way I do. I invite You to be patient through me with others, so that they can experience Your love for them.
Family Chat: Can you think of a person who is “mean” to you or doesn’t treat you fairly? How should you pray for them?
Take Action: Wrestle with God until your heart, your thoughts, your words, and your choices change.
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Scripture
“He replied to the one speaking for the rest, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar, didn’t we? So take it and go. I decided to give to the one who came last the same as you. Can’t I do what I want with my own money? Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?’”
– Matthew 20:13-15 MSG
In today’s devo, Nate asks us to entertain the offensiveness of God’s mercy. Jesus told a story where a man hired laborers to work all day for a denarius, a coin equal to a day’s wages. Multiple times that day, the owner returned to the town square, inviting men to come work for what was right. At the end of the day, starting with those who had only worked about an hour, he began paying each man a denarius, even those who had worked all day, leaving them offended.
Why did the men who worked harder get the same amount as those who had labored only an hour? The generosity of the owner. We have limited resources, so we operate from a scarcity mindset, but God is infinite; His mercy never runs out. You cannot earn the mercy and goodness of God; it comes only through Jesus. He paid for it, not me, not you.
Seeing the men’s offense, the land owner inquires, “Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?” We all have the opportunity to reject stinginess, scarcity, and offense and to, instead, share mercy like it will never run out. Today, let’s celebrate God’s generosity by telling others about it and sharing it by reflecting the generosity we receive from God to the people around us.
Question: Do you lean more towards a scarcity or a generosity mindset? Where do you think that comes from?
Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, forgive me for holding others to a standard that even I can’t measure up to. Fill me with Your presence, so that love and compassion flow out of me. And as I give Your love and mercy away today, I look forward to receiving Your continued and abundant blessing of more love to share!
Family Chat: Who is the most generous person you know? What makes them a generous person? Would your friends say you are generous?
Take Action: Choose to believe in the never-ending mercy of God and to share that practically through word or deed with others today.
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Scripture
Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
– Luke 11:11-13
In today’s passage, Pastor Bobby Hamilton compares prayer to the relationship between a child and their father. This comparison may not be easy for some, but today we hope you’ll be able to see the Father’s kind love toward you.
The grace in this teaching comes from the three words, “how much more.” Our heavenly Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, guiding us, and giving us wisdom and power to live this world! He is the God who lives inside of us, bringing us eternal life.
Your Father in Heaven is good. He gives more than you ask, He knows what you need, and He is willing to go all the way to meet those needs.
Question: How would you describe your earthly father? Can you relate to God as your heavenly Father?
Family Chat: Did you know that your relationship with your earthly parents affects your view of your heavenly Father? Talk through this with your family. Parents, share your experiences with your family.
Take Action: If you associate any negative thoughts, feelings, or memories with your earthly father, take some time today to pray through that with your heavenly Father. Work on forgiving your earthly father for any area where he may not have measured up for you.
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Scripture
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” -Luke 13:6-9
Today, Pastor Tim Powell walks us through the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree in Luke 13. There wasn’t a lot of mercy toward others in the hearts of Jesus’ audience. They were all about the wicked getting what they deserved, much like what we see in our culture today.
In this parable, the vineyard owner gave the fig tree a second chance to produce fruit. Similarly, we also serve a God of second chances! If it weren’t for the sacrifice Jesus made for us, we would all be in trouble. And if you’re not producing fruit, be encouraged that God still has purpose for you.
God has not given up on you, and His mercy is extended to you today—to move beyond being a consumer to becoming an active contributor in His Kingdom.
Question: Is there someone in your life that the Holy Spirit is prompting you to reach out and extend mercy to?
Prayer Starter: Invite God to show you any area of your life that should be producing fruit, whether it’s praying with a coworker, starting a life group in your neighborhood, serving at your local church campus, or something else!
Family Chat: Sometimes during family life together we need to extend more mercy to those we live. Discuss as a family what this can look like in your family.
Take Action: Make a move today based on what you sense the Lord directing you to do because of your prayer. Also, talk this over with your accountability partner.
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Scripture
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” – Matthew 13:24-30
In today’s teaching, we are reminded that sometimes we get frustrated with others’ slow development (especially as parents!), and even our own. In that, we can become too judgmental, thinking others (or we) should be further along spiritually than is reality.
But Marc challenges us to give it time. The purpose of today’s parable is to remind us that today is the day of God’s mercy. Jesus punctuates this truth, teaching that the householder—the father—is patient. As long as there is daylight, as long as we’re in the growing season, there is hope and there is mercy.
Question: What does it mean to be people marked by resurrection? Is there anything growing in your life that seemed like a good idea at first but over time has proven to be a weed and not wheat?
Family Chat: Do you sometimes think friends or classmates are “better than” you, or that you are “better than” them? What would Jesus say about that?
Take Action: Invite the Holy Spirit to uproot any weeds He has revealed and strengthen the roots of your wheat. Find small, unnoticeable ways to humbly serve others today, especially if you’ve been judgmental lately in your thinking towards them.
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Scripture
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. – Matthew 5:43-48
Today, Pastor Mark Pagley helps us understand one of Jesus’ most radical teachings in the Sermon on the Mount: “But I tell you to love your enemies.” He also reminds us that Jesus never commands us to do something that He also hasn’t equipped us to do. That includes praying for and loving people who persecute you, and praying for and loving people who you may think are your enemies.
Question: When was the last time you prayed for your enemy? This may be someone you know or maybe even someone you don’t know but you just don’t like—at all!
Family Chat: Today’s Question and Take Action are great to walk through together as a family.
Take Action: Spend some time today praying specifically for people you don’t like, people who hate you, and people you don’t agree with.
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