Bible in one year 1/25/2022 Luke 11-12 By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Bible in one year 1/25/2022 Luke 11-12

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; pastoral ministry & counseling

 

Chapter 11 Jesus teaches how to pray

        “ He said to them, “ when you pray say: “ Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, Give us each day our daily bread, Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.”” (Luke11:2-4)…

So I say to you: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you, for everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke11:9-10)

 

Rejection by the nation 

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined and a house divided against itself will fall.” He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters. (Luke11:17, 23)…“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”(Luke11:28)…

No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamps shines on you.” (Luke11:33-36)

 

Rejection by Pharisees and Lawyers

          When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised. Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But give what is inside the dish, to the poor and everything will be clean for you. (Luke11:37-41)    

Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue, and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it.” (Luke11:42-44). 

One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.” Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them. Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your forefathers who killed them. So you testify that you approve of what your forefathers did; they killed the prophets and you build their toms. Because of this, God in his wisdom said, “I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute. (Luke11:45-49)

Therefore, this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all. Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering. (Luke 11:50-52)

When Jesus left there, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, waiting to catch him in something he might say. (v.53)

 

Chapter 12 Instruction in the light of rejection 

Concerning hypocrisy,

Jesus began to speak first to His disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed for the roofs.” (Luke12:1-3). I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes. I will you, fear Him. (Luke12:4-5).

            Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Luke12:6-7)

            I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.(v.8) But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God. (v.9) And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. (Luke12:8-10)

            When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spriit will teach you at that time what you should say. (v.11)

           

Concerning covetousness 12:13-34

           Someone in the crowd said to him “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:13-15).

And he told them this parable:

 The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, what shall I do? I have no place to store my crops. Then he said, “This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, “you have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink and be merry.”” (Luke12:16-19) 

 But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” (Luke12:20-21)

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. (Luke12:22-23)

Consider the ravens: They do not sow or read, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? (Luke12:24-26)

Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is ho God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan would runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.  But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. (Luke12:27-31)

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ( Luke12:32-34) 

Concerning faithfulness

Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamp burning, like men waiting for their master to return form a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him…you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Luke12:35-36,40). 

Theological Implication 

1)                  In chapter 11: 41 refers to the contents of the cup and to the items on the platter (v.39); these signify what was in the heart of the Pharisees. They had covetousness within their heart; hence, they were full of extortion and wickedness (v.39). Therefore, the Lord commanded them to give as alms what they were coveting in their heart, that all things might be clean to them. 

2)                    In Chapter 12:6 mentioned about five sparrows. Sparrows were so cheap that, though they sold two for a cent (Matt.10:29), a fifth one was thrown in for the price of four. Yet, the infinite God is concerned for each one. Our heart is attached to our treasure. If we lay up for ourselves treasures on earth, it will be difficult for our heart to be in heaven or to be for our beloved Lord and His interest.

 

 

Bibliography,

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.