A Study of the commands from our Lord, Jesus the Christ

Week 18, March 28th

Yesterday, Sunday, March 27th, the church celebrated Easter Sunday. Jesus' Resurrection. Our Father gave His Son, Jesus, so I can be reconciled to the Father, forever, by believing.

When Jesus cried out "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" (see Matthew 27:46 (NASB), that was the last time a believer would ever cry out to the Father that way. That signaled the veil of the temple to be torn from top to bottom (see Matthew 27:51 (NASB). When the LORD tore that veil asunder, He gave me free access to come before the throne of GOD, cleansed, by the BLOOD of JESUS, of ALL unrighteousness and NEVER EVER to be separated from GOD, my Father.

Before you read the rest of this week's blog consider this: Our LORD gives and gives and gives. Giving is inherit in the Father's nature. As we freely give, we demonstrate to the rest of the world our Father's nature.

This week's Tour Stop: the command to "Give". I am going to return to the format from week 11:
- List the command
- List the person or persons commanded
- List whether the command was obeyed
- List the benefit promised or realized

The command is "Give" and Jesus gave the command in two different verses: Luke 6:30 (NLT) and Luke 6:38 (NLT) .

"Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back." Luke 6:30 (NLT)

"Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." Luke 6:38 (NLT)

These commands were given to the Jesus' disciples (see Luke 6:20 (NLT)). Individuals who, when asked, would proclaim Jesus as the Son of the living GOD (see Matthew 16:16 (NASB)).

Was the command obeyed by Jesus' disciples? Hard to say; Peter states in the Book of Acts "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!"

When you read that story in Acts 3:2-6, the lame man, from birth, was asking for money and Peter gave the only thing he had to give. "In the Name of Jesus, walk."

Note: the lame man did not receive what he asked for and Peter gave the only thing he had.

Did Peter follow the command found in Luke 6:30 (NLT) ?

YES!!! You are to GIVE what you have to give. You are to OBEY.

And that brings us to this question: When someone asks you for something, what is the "something" you will give? How will you obey this command?

While preparing for this tour stop, I was listening to a series of podcasts from Tom Shrader (see Ownership). Tom reminded me that GOD owns everything (see Deuteronomy 10:14 (NASB)) . “Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it."

Tom goes on to explain the LORD only transfers possession of the "something" you or I might have to give.

And, the LORD is going to hold us accountable for whatever we eventually might give when asked. (see The Parable of the Talents) .

It is interesting what the LORD says after the command in verse 38, "So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?" (Luke 6:46-47 (NLT))

Jesus is calling us to obey. If I call Jesus LORD and don't obey, I am like the son in who hears his Father's command to work in the vineyard, says he will, but never goes (see Matthew 21:28-31 (NASB)).

It is by giving that we demonstrate obedience.

BUT

Before you start giving away everything, remember this:

We are called to be GOOD stewards of all that the LORD has transferred possession to us: Time, Energy, and Money. As Jesus reminded His disciples: "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give." (see Matthew 10:8 (NASB)) .

So this command is not about giving "your stuff" to someone; This command is about obeying the LORD and being a good steward of the "stuff" the LORD has entrusted you with.

Here is the take away: Listen to the request, then take the request to the LORD. Ask the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will guide you. This is a promise from GOD. (see John 14:26 (NASB)) .

If you have any other questions for me please send me an email

If this link does not work for you my email address is 'burtonmark@cox.net' with the subject line of 'Week 18'. I would love to hear from you.

The tour continues next week with a look at the command to something NOT to someone from the Gospel of Mark.

Below are some additional thoughts about the command to "GIVE" and verses that I may use in the future. ENJOY.

The Greek word that Jesus used for "Give" is "didōmi" Strong's Number G1325 which matches the Greek δίδωμι (didōmi), and occurs 414 times in 376 verses in the Greek concordance of the NASB.

"GIVE". There are no limits placed on this command. You are commanded to "Give".

How much of GOD's money, time and energy am I spending on myself?

I was bought at a price (see 1 Corinthians 6:20 (NASB)) .

To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. Matthew 13:12

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?fn Is anything worth more than your soul? Matthew 16:26

“A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. Matthew 24:25, Luke 12:42

To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Matthew 25:29, Mark 4:25, Luke 8:18

And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? Luke 16:12

“‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Luke 19:26

Return to:
"and teaching them to obey... Main"

"Weekly Entries - Table of Contents"

"Top of Page"