Sunset church of Christ, Shreveport, LA; Sunday Adult; November 28, 2004 Page One

Luke Chapter Nine

v.1-2 “¹Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. ²And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.”

Jesus calls the twelve to him and prepares them to go out on what man has commonly called the “Limited Commission.” Limited in that, at this time, they were to go to the Israelites only. He gave them the power and authority to heal diseases and cast out devils in order for them to be able, as he did, confirm the source of their message – God. They were to preach the kingdom of God; the same message that John the Baptizer and Jesus, himself, had preached.

v.3 “³And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.”

Then Jesus tells them something that we might find to be strange. They are to take nothing for their journey. What lesson do you think there was in this instruction? Would it be that they were being taught to depend upon God; place their faith in God to the extent that they would launch out leaving their very living for Him to provide? Take no staves, nothing to protect themselves with, nor scrip (translated “wallet” in the ASV), no bread, no money, not even an extra coat to protect themselves from the elements. How were they to live? Jesus tells us.

v.4-5 “⁴And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. ⁵And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.”

Whenever you go into a village, town or city go into someone’s house and abide there. Again, God will provide. But he also gives them instruction concerning what they must do if they find themselves not welcome. When they encounter this problem and leave that city; they are to shake the dust of their streets off their feet as a sign or testimony against them and their lack of hospitality to God’s messengers. Do we have an example of this being done in later records? Yes, Paul, first in Antioch of Pisidia and then later with the Jews in Corinth:

Acts 13:51 “⁵¹But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.”

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Luke Chapter Nine

Acts 18:6 “And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.”

v.6 “⁶And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.”

These twelve then left the place where Jesus was located and went throughout the region of Galilee preaching Jesus and healing the sick, just he had told them to do. Matthew records that they were not to enter the cities of the Samaritans (Matthew 10:5) or Gentiles. Mark tells us that they preached that men should repent and that they cast out devils and healed the sick (Mark 6:12-13).

v.7 “⁷Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;”

Herod hears of Jesus preaching, teaching and healing and probably also of the work of his disciples. Where is Herod ruling and spending most of his time? As “tetrarch” he is ruling about a fourth part of a Roman province, the part known as Galilee, Samaria and Perea. He made his headquarters at Tiberius, located in Galilee on the west bank of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus and his disciples are working in Galilee. He has killed John by this time and some are convinced that Jesus is John raised from the dead. If Herod is superstitious, as most were then, he may even be just a little uneasy about this man he doesn’t understand.

v.8 “⁸And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.”

But Herod is hearing all kinds of speculation regarding who this man is; who, with his disciples, is preaching, teaching and healing all manner of illness in Galilee. As we noted, some thought that he was John the Bapitzer, raised from the dead, others Elijah or one of the other prophets. Again, as we have noted several times in earlier studies, some are misapplying prophecy and saying the Elijah has been raised from the dead. Prophecy found in:

Malachi 4:5-6 “⁵Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: ⁶And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

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Luke Chapter Nine

v.9 “⁹And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.”

Herod knows that John won’t be returning as he had him beheaded; and he wonders just who this man is; this man about whom he is hearing these reports and he wants to see him.

v.10 “¹⁰And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.”

When the twelve return from their journeys throughout the region of Galilee they come to Jesus and report to him concerning their activities. Where is Bethsaida? East of the Jordan just a little north of where it runs into the Sea of Galilee and the place that Peter, Andrew and Philip are from. What is a desert place, a place were there is no water? Not in most Biblical usages, but rather a deserted place; a place were there are normally no people. Jesus is trying again to gain some privacy with his apostles but the people just won’t allow that to happen.

v.11 “¹¹And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.”

The people followed him. When they get to the place were he is; he receives them; teaches them and heals their diseases.

v.12 “¹²And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.”

The day has about come to an end. The twelve apostles are concerned about this multitude of people and want Jesus to send them away so that they can go to the towns and villages in this region and get something to eat and a place to stay. They are in a deserted place and there is nothing readily available. The stage is set for one of the miracles that Jesus performed that is recorded in all four of the gospel accounts.

v.13 “¹³But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.”

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Luke Chapter Nine

Jesus tells the twelve, you feed them. In other accounts of this occurrence, Philip is addressed directly. But they don’t have the means to feed all these people. In John 6:5-7 Philip says that all that they could buy would not even be enough. So in surveying what was available they find that five loaves and two fishes are available. There is far too little to feed 5000 men “BESIDES WOMEN AND CHILDREN” (Matthew 14:21). At a ratio of one child and one woman for each man there would be over 15,000 people present and there were probably more than that number.

v.14 “¹⁴For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.”

Jesus has his apostles organize the people so that they could be fed by sitting them in groups of 50 each.

v.15-17 “¹⁵And they did so, and made them all sit down. ¹⁶Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. ¹⁷And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.”

After he has them organized so that they can be served, Jesus takes the loaves and fish that are available, prays, breaks the bread and gives it to his disciples to serve. The Holy Spirit tells us through the pen of Luke that they ate, all were filled and the leftovers gathered up equaled twelve baskets. So they start out with a quantity of food that is probably less than a peck (1/4 of a bushel), feed probably 15-20,000 people and gather up what we could visualize as twelve bushel of leftovers. Just as the manna provided to Israel in the wilderness, just like the meal and oil provided to the widow in Zarephath (I Kings 17:9-16) to feed herself and Elijah, God has provided the means to feed this multitude.

v.18 “¹⁸And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?”

Who do people say that I am? They have moved to a deserted place, probably so that Jesus could teach them without interference. Mark and Matthew tell us that he is near Caesarea Philippi, which is in the extreme northern end of Galilee. The timing is such that they may have gone there because the people wanted to take him by force and make him King (John 6:15). So Jesus asks the question, who do men or the people say that I am?

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Luke Chapter Nine

v.19 “¹⁹They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.”

The disciples give the same answers that had perplexed or confused Herod earlier in this chapter. Some think he’s John the Baptist, and I don’t see how because they both lived and preached at the same time, some think he’s Elijah, again applying or misapplying Malachi 4:5-6 and others think that he is one of the old prophets sent back to Israel again.

v.20 “²⁰He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.”

So Jesus asks them, “WHOM SAY YE THAT I AM?”. Peter give the correct answer. He is the Christ, the Messiah, that one promised by God from the very beginning of time, the one planned by God to redeem the souls of men. Matthew and Mark give a more detailed account than Luke and we’re very familiar with Matthew 16:16-19 where Jesus reveals God’s plan for the church, the called out that belong to Christ.

v.21-22 “²¹And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing; ²²Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.”

He charges them straitly, directs them strictly that for the present time they are not to tell anyone that He is the promised Messiah. The time has not come yet. There are many things yet to happen that are part of God’s plan for man’s redemption. The elders, chief priests and scribes, the doctors of the law and the religious leaders of the remnant of Israel will reject him; he must suffer many things and then be put to death and raised the third day. But the time for that part of God’s plan to happen hasn’t come yet and they are to let these events unfold as in God’s own good time. Then he teaches them some of the things that men will have to endure as God’s children.

v.23-24 “²³And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. ²⁴For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”

If any will follow me; he must first deny himself, how?

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Luke Chapter Nine

Matthew 6:33 “³³But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

God first, others second, ourselves last. There are no high positions in God’s Kingdom, there are no places of ease, comfort and honor, there is no earthly wealth or power to be obtained but there will be daily crosses, life will frequently be hard, you won’t be feted by men. In fact Paul records his life like this:

I Corinthians 15:30-31 “³⁰And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? ³¹I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.”

We are very fortunate in our generations that we don’t have to stand in jeopardy every hour or risk death daily in order to serve the God of heaven. This is not true everywhere in this world, even today.

But who ever shall save his life; whoever shall place himself ahead of God in that he will not serve him in order to save his physical life will lose it; not this life but the life that is to come in eternity and whoever will lose his life for the sake of serving God will save the life that is to come in eternity.

v.25 “²⁵For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”

Again a scripture and concept with which we’re very familiar; the record that we remember best and probably can quote is:

Matthew 16:26 “²⁶For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Isn’t it absolutely amazing what people will trade their souls to have? I’m not talking about great riches; I’m not talking about big houses, fancy sports cars and all those things that normally come to mind. I’m talking about telling a lie to keep from having to accept responsibility, putting alcohol into our bodies, or using tobacco, something that will ruin our health as well as cost us our souls. I’m talking about sleeping in on Sunday morning instead of worshiping God, giving our time to the idiot box instead of studying God’s word; and we could go on and on. What do we gain? We gain nothing of substance, nothing lasting, nothing beyond perhaps the pleasure of the moment and for what? We trade our souls, our relationship with the God of heaven and our eternity with Him for things that are, basically, worth nothing.

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Luke Chapter Nine

v.26 “²⁶For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.”

For whosoever shall be ashamed of me….How is it that we could be ashamed of Jesus? Do we face the trials, persecutions, and the possibility of loss of our lives today as they did in the first century? Of course not, then why would we deny God? You say we don’t. How many people have you the Word of God to recently, any yesterday? How about the day before, last week, this month? Why not? That isn’t the same, you say, but isn’t it? What was the admonition given to the Hebrew brethren?

Hebrews 5:12 “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.”

v.27 “²⁷But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.”

There are some standing there that will not taste death until the kingdom of God has come. Mark 9:1 says that it will come with power. In the face of this testimony by the Son of God, why is it that there are so many of the denominations and some of our rebellious brethren that teach that the kingdom of God has not come yet? Of course, it had not come at the time that Jesus spoke but it did come on the day of Pentecost after his ascension.

v.28 “²⁸And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.”

About eight days later. Luke is very precise in his record of the time; we don’t know the significance of the timing but it’s given to us by inspiration. They are still in northern Galilee in the mountains near Caesarea Philippi, probably on one of the peaks of Mount Hermon. Jesus has taken the three, Peter, James and John and gone to pray.

v.29-30 “²⁹And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. ³⁰And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:”

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Luke Chapter Nine

As Jesus prayed his countenance changes. Luke does not use the word transfigured but Matthew and Mark both do. His garments become a dazzling white, Mark says “EXCEEDING WHITE AS SNOW” and Matthew “AS WHITE AS THE LIGHT.” The closest comparison that I can make from my experience is to think of the sun reflecting off pure white snow. It generates a white so bright and so intense that it is blinding to look at and can make you blind with extended exposure.

During this occurrence, two men came to talk to him; Moses and Elias or Elijah; the lawgiver and a major prophet, the prophet who never died but was taken up to heaven by horses and a chariot of fire in a whirlwind. (II Kings 9:11)

They have somewhat to say to him about things that were to come.

v.31 “³¹Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.”

They talk to him about what is to happen to him in Jerusalem, his suffering, his crucifixion, his death, burial and resurrection. Lest we forget, Jesus in addition to being the Son of God is also in the body of a man, a man who has the same feelings, fears, and fleshly weakness that we have.

Hebrews 4:15 “¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

v.32-33 “³²But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. ³³And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.”

Peter, James and John are asleep. As we will study again when Jesus is in the garden at Gethsemane while he prayed the apostles slept. When they wake they see him in his glory and they also see Moses and Elijah with him and recognize them, know who they are. This prompts the impulsive one, Peter, to make a statement. He wants to build three tabernacles, three buildings of worship, one for Christ, one for Moses and one for Elijah. But this is not according to God’s plan is it? First of all, the lawgiver and the prophet are not to be worshiped. Secondly, it was never in God’s plan to have more than one body or called out group of people that are his; the body that is the church.

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Luke Chapter Nine

Colossians 1:18 “¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

And, as if we didn’t already know that, the Holy Spirit by inspiration tells us that Peter doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He also receives some immediate correction that he never forgets.

v.34-35 “³⁴While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. ³⁵And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.”

A cloud surrounds them, the same kind of cloud that we find overshadowing Mt. Sinai (Exodus 24:16) and that overshadowed the tabernacle (Exodus 40:38). As this cloud surrounds them the disciples are afraid. They are in the presence of God, they may not realize that just yet but in a few seconds there will be no doubt. They are going to get some very direct instructions. “THIS IS MY BELOVED SON; HEAR HIM.” No longer are the precepts of Moses to be heard and followed, no longer are the prophecies to be what governs their, and our, lives but the words of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

v.36 “³⁶And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

When the voice has spoken they now see Jesus standing alone. His visitors have vanished and the cloud is gone. What does it mean to keep “it CLOSE”? It means that they didn’t tell anybody, not at this point in time. But Peter never forgot this lesson and used it to prove the majesty and deity of Jesus.

II Peter 1:17-18 “¹⁷For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. ¹⁸And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.”

v.37 “And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.”

After the transfiguration Jesus and his disciples come back down out of the mountain, or hill as Luke calls it, and again the crowds of people gather.

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Luke Chapter Nine

v.38-39 “³⁸And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. ³⁹And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.”

A man comes out of this company of people begging Jesus to help him with his son. He has an evil spirit, a demon, that has control of him. It is a modest request, nothing that Jesus hasn’t done several times before. But this time there is a difference.

v.40 “And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.”

This man had brought his son to Jesus disciples, apparently the nine that stayed behind when Jesus, Peter, James and John went into the mountain and they could not heal him. Why not? Jesus had given them this power when he sent them out to teach. Jesus says because of a lack of faith.

v.41 “⁴¹And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.”

Even though Jesus had given these men power over evil spirits, either they distrusted this power, distrusted the commission given them or they did not exert themselves as they should have. They were apparently tentative, hesitant, and without confidence in what Jesus had told them.

v.42. “⁴²And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him, And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

The demons demonstrated his power over the child even as he is being brought to Jesus. He throws the child down, tears him, injuries him in some manner but with a word Jesus dismisses the demon and heals the child.

v.43-44 “⁴³And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples, ⁴⁴Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.”

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Luke Chapter Nine

The people were amazed, stood in awe of the power of God. They knew that Jesus disciples could not heal this boy, but Jesus demonstrated the complete power that he had over all things in this world But Jesus has some words for his disciples. The time is coming when he is to be delivered into the hands of those who will crucify him; his time here on this earth is coming rapidly to a close. The Syriac and Arabic translations read: “LET IT SINK DOWN INTO YOUR HEARTS..” reminding us that the word of God does us no good unless we let it soak into our hearts and heads.

v.45 “⁴⁵But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.”

What Jesus is trying to tell them just doesn’t agree with what they are thinking. In the next few verses they dispute among themselves about their role in his kingdom to come. They’re looking for a physical kingdom. They don’t understand him being delivered up to anyone. His meaning is hidden from them, not because of God didn’t want them to understand but because it didn’t mesh with what they thought.

v.46-47 “⁴⁶Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. ⁴⁷And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,”

Ambition, honor, preeminence, superiority, sins that are common among men are not strangers to Jesus disciples either. Jesus is going to rule as a king over a kingdom; these men want a part in that kingdom, but unfortunately they don’t understand the kind of kingdom that Jesus will build. He’s not going to take over the world and rule from Jerusalem, not at this time, not ever; his kingdom is
”NOT OF THIS WORLD”. John 18:36

Jesus uses a little child to demonstrate to his disciples the mindset they should have:

v.48 “⁴⁸And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.”

They (and we as well) are to be of the mind of a little child; humble and quiet, not effected by the pomp, grandeur of high titles of this world. We must be willing to be least, we must be willing to be servants, we must be willing to absorb, shrug off the jibes and insults of this world, and always continue to press forward living the life of a child of God. This will make us great in the only place where it is important, the kingdom of God.

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Luke Chapter Nine

v.49-50 “⁴⁹And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. ⁵⁰And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.”

John brings to Jesus a situation concerning someone who is casting out demons in His name but he’s not of the twelve, not even of the seventy, apparently someone who has never been associated with them. They forbad him from acting in Jesus name because he was not of them, not of their fellowship. Matthew Henry in his commentary on Luke takes this example one step further and uses it to justify the notion that there are disciples of Jesus Christ in denominations. Is this a valid observation? If not, why not? Because there is no denomination that does not teach or practice those things that are contrary to the word of God. We have no indication that this is the situation here. In fact, every indication is that this man was teaching, preaching exactly as God would have him teach and preach otherwise he would not have had power over evil spirits.

v.51-52 “⁵¹And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, ⁵²And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.”

The time has come for Jesus to go to Jerusalem and bring his earthly ministry to an end. He sets himself, determined to carry out the rest of his mission. He sends messengers ahead of him to make provisions for him and his disciples. But these Samaritans were not of the mindset as the Good Samaritan where they?

v.53-54 “⁵³And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. ⁵⁴And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?”

These Samaritans do not extend their hospitality to Jesus, why? Because he was set to go to Jerusalem, he’s going to the Passover as all good Jews did and they aren’t going to help.

James and John, the sons of Thunder (Mark 3:17), John also known by men as the apostle of Love have a very unloving idea. Let’s just bring fire down on this village like Elijah did the captain and fifty men that were sent to bring him in.

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Luke Chapter Nine

II Kings 1:10 “¹⁰And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.”

v.55-56 “⁵⁵But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. ⁵⁶For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.”

The zeal of these apostles is misplaced isn’t it? Jesus turns, we can almost hear the disgust in his voice, pride, passion and personal revenge have no place in his kingdom. This suggestion is totally opposed to the lesson just taught concerning being as a little child. They go to another village.

v.57 “⁵⁷And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.”

As they go on their way to Jerusalem a man comes to Jesus and commits to follow him wherever he goes. This is the first of three different people who Luke records having conversation with Christ. He makes Jesus a very large promise, not knowing that Jesus is going to his death.

v.58 “⁵⁸And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”

Jesus simply tells this man that he cannot expect to have the material things of this world is he persists in his pledge to follow him.

v.59-60 “⁵⁹And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. ⁶⁰Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.”

Jesus takes advantage of the opportunity to tell another man to follow him. But he refuses; first he must go and bury his father. We don’t even know whether his father was already dead, he may have only been on in years. The man says let me go and take care of my father until he is dead, then I will follow you. Jesus doesn’t accept this excuse, does he? Let those who are dead in sin bury those that are dead physically. We have a higher priority in this life.

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Luke Chapter Nine

v.61-62 “⁶¹And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. ⁶²And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Jesus encounters the third man and bids him to follow but he has another excuse. He wants to go and tell his family goodbye. Elisha was allowed to do something very similar (I Kings 19:19-21) but Jesus rebukes this man telling us that anyone who purposes to follow Christ and looks back is not fit for the kingdom.