The Living Word: A Daily Devotional with Jeff & Dale from The Jenkins Institute

re you a good neighbor? That’s the real point of this parable. It’s not “who” is my neighbor (Luke 10:29), but am I a good neighbor towards everyone, no matter who they are? Jesus was not limiting who one’s neighbor is, but instead, be the kind of neighbor you ought to be towards everyone you meet. After telling the story, Jesus asked, “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor t...

The Samaritan shows considerable unselfishness. Look at four unselfish deeds the Samaritan did for this wounded man: First, he bound up his wounds. He may have shredded some of his own clothing to make the bandages. He might have carried the oil and wine for meal provisions or to supply his own injury needs, but instead used them on this hurt man. Second, he set him on his own beast, likely the on...

To be compassionate is to be sympathetic toward someone. Out of the Samaritan’s pity, he provided help. Being a good neighbor cares, even when it costs. The Samaritan went to the wounded man, poured oil and wine onto his wounds, and bandaged him. He was practicing the golden rule (Matthew 7:12). He was doing for this man what he would have wanted someone to do for him if he were in the same situat...

The Samaritan helped the man because he was hurt and needed assistance. He was going to be neighborly towards this man, whether he was a Jew or a Samaritan. He did not show respect for persons (cf. James 2:1). We might think that showing care towards someone of the same skin color, nationality, or religious convictions, or anyone who is not considered our enemy, is being neighborly. Jesus tells th...

ach person plays an important role in the overall message Jesus is teaching. First, look at the lawyer. He asked Jesus a question, “to put him to the test,” asking what one must do to have eternal life. Jesus responds by asking, “What does the Bible say?” The lawyer quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, and Jesus says, “That’s right.” “But he, desiring to justify himself,” asked, “Who is my...

Several days ago, I went camping with my two sons (ages eight and seven). We hiked to the top of a waterfall and followed the running water into the mouth of a cave. The deeper we walked into the cave, the darker it became. Thankfully, we had a few headlamps and a lantern to see the way. We explored and, because of the light, avoided tripping over rocks and stubbing our toes. The light exposed wha...

n every parable, there are lessons to be learned. In this parable, God tells Ezekiel to fill a pot with water, collect the choice cuts of meat from the best of the flock, burn the bones under the pot, and then bring it to a boil. Once this is complete, pile wood under the pot, dump out the meat and broth, then put it back on the fire and burn the scum out of it. One of the meanings of the parable...

In Ezekiel 24, God visualizes and explains their problem with a parable. In his classic work, "All the Parables of the Bible," Herbert Lockyer claims that there are more than 250 parables in the Bible. Lockyer says that the most common word for parable in the New Testament is parabole, which means “likeness,” or “resemblance.” Our Lord told many parables. There are estimates that he told...

By the time we arrive at Ezekiel 23, we learn that the people of God had a problem. As is always the case when people are away from God, the problem was a heart problem. Jesus spoke often of the importance of our hearts. “‘Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21, ESV). “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8, ESV). He told...

Throughout Scripture, servants of God have been commanded by their Maker to proclaim His Message in what we might consider to be odd circumstances. Jeremiah was told to go to the potter and obtain a clay pot, to take that pot and break it before the people of God as an illustration of their brokenness. God told Jeremiah not to get married or have children. Peter was given a dream about a sheet wit...

“The book of Ezekiel takes its title from the priest of the same name, son to a man named Buzi. Ezekiel’s priestly lineage shines through in his prophetic ministry; he often concerned himself with topics such as the tem

When I was a boy, I collected baseball and basketball cards. I would work during the week in hopes that on the weekend, my parents would take me to the Limestone County Flea Market, where booths would be set up with people selling all kinds of things. I would take the few dollars that I saved up that week and go buy some packs of cards. My favorite was the late 80s and early 90s Upper Deck cards.

I’ll confess, for years, I didn’t listen all that well. I would tune out most anything if my mind was thinking on something particular. Sometimes it was in innocence, at other times it was purposeful. I’ve tried to be a better listener. Especially now, since my hearing isn’t what it used to be.

My stomach turned as I watched the wheel of a trailer break loose and roll into a dry, mature field of wheat. As soon as it stopped rolling, the wheat ignited, and fire began to spread rapidly. Apparently, the wheel bearing had heated up as the driver was driving down the highway, and eventually, the entire wheel broke loose. That hot bearing immediately

It can be difficult to speak what is right when masses of people are going in the opposite direction. Being bold can open people up to criticism, rejection, and persecution. But God’s people are called to be bold and speak up for what is righteous.

Ezekiel pronounces judgment in Ezekiel 20 upon the southern kingdom of Judah because of their rebellion against God’s will. He uses figurative language to describe a fire being kindled and spreading throughout the land. It cannot be quenched and consumes every tree, both green and dry. 

We have come to the end of the week examining the parable of the growing seed (Mark 4:26-29). As the last devotional about this parable, I

As we have already seen through this parable of the growing seed (Mark 4:26-29), the seed, which is the Word of God, is to be sown on the earth. Like the farmer, we must do our part and take the time to “spread” the seed all around us. After all, “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:37-38, ESV)

A man was really struggling with patience. He was quick-tempered and easily flew off the handle at his family and friends. After talking with his preacher about his struggle, the man was encouraged to pray for patience. That night, the man decided he should take the preacher’s advice and pray to be more patient. He knelt by his bed and began to pray, “Lord, please give me patience and give it to m...

This week we are examining the parable of the Growing Seed found in Mark 4:26-29. Yesterday, we saw how the farmer scattered the seed. Jesus expects His disciples to be people who go about sowing the seed, the Word of God, in our daily lives. And while this is something we are called to do, many followers of Christ struggle to faithfully live out this important commandment.

Jesus loved to tell stories. Those stories called parables were moments where Jesus took something His hearers were familiar with and used it to teach a powerful spiritual lesson. In our Scripture reading today, Jesus used a parable unique to the Gospel of Mark to teach us the importance of the Word of God in growing the Kingdom.