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Lesson 41

Dinner Guests

Luke 14:1-24

As far as I can remember I have never sat at the head table for any event.  That place has always been designated for those who were putting on the affair or honored guests.  I have to my previous statement back.  One time when I was in high school I along with some other students sat at the head table.  Although as not as well-known now the Kiwanis Clubs were a pretty important organization.  Every year they selected a number of students to be members of the key club.  Those who were chosen were nominated by the school because of grades.  Whether I truly deserved it or not somehow I managed to become a member and attended a banquet in our honor.  We had to wear a suit and tie.  The only thing I remember about the whole affair was the delicious rolls they served.  Other than that one occasion I have always sat with everyone else wondering what I would be like to be up from of all those people.  Maybe I will never know but in a way the most important thing is to know that I am going to be part of the Lamb’s wedding feast.

James wrote of a situation in which the wrong motive was given for honoring someone.  If someone was to come to church who had great possession, prestige, power and position they were invited to sit in the best seats while the less fortunate were relegated to the back seats. (See James 2:1-4) There is a real danger that we neglect the very ones for whom Jesus came to save because we are too conscious of the physical trappings of some people.  Those are those who need healing that we might choose to ignore.  There are others who we need to help to learn some humility.  Jesus has given us the answers to every one of these issues.

Luke 14:1

How Jesus happened to be in the home of the Pharisee is unknown.  It is obvious from what Luke wrote that He was not an honored guest.  If He had been invited by the man it was for one reason only.  He was being watched very closely by the religious leaders with the hope they much catch Him in some act by which they could bring accusations against Him.  Most likely they wanted to do something which in their eyes would be a violation of the Law.

1. Why would the Pharisee invite Jesus into His home?
2. What was the significance about the fact they were eating on the Sabbath Day? (Any other day the Pharisees would have disregarded Him.)
3. What did they hope He would do?
4. How do you treat new people?
5. What do you want to find about them?

Luke 14:2-3

They did not have to wait long for something to occur.  There was a man who was suffering from a swelling of the body due to the accumulation of serum in the body.  The term used in Luke was dropsy.  The modern medical term is edema.  As has been seen before why would the Pharisee who was obvious unfit to even worship in the Temple into his home? One possible reason was to trap Jesus into healing the man on the Sabbath. Jesus did not immediately healed the man.  He began by asking them a simple yes or no question.  Was it permissible or proper for a person to be healed on the Sabbath Day?  Their answer would be a true indication of how they viewed the Jewish religion i.e. the law.  Did they care more for God’s children or their precious law? 

1. Why did Jesus delay in healing the man? (He wanted to use it as a teachable moment for the religious leaders.)
2. Why was His question so revealing of the Jewish religion?
3. How could they possibly answer the question and still have control of the situation?
4. If the man was a plant how did Jesus turn the situation into a defining moment for the Jews?

Luke 14:4

Were they refusing to answer because they did want Jesus to have any credibility with the people? It was pretty much a no win situation for them. Once He determined they were not going response, He turned His attention to the man.  The man whom the Pharisees would not touch was held in the grasp of Jesus.  He healed the man and sent him away.  No longer would he be a distraction.

1. Why did the Jews refuse to response to Jesus?
2. What did their refusal say about them?
3. Why did Jesus heal the man knowing what the consequences might be? (In spite of them He had come to earth to heal mankind of physical and spiritual conditions.)
4. Why did Jesus send the man away after healing him? (He needed to give His full attention to the Jews and did not need the distraction that would come with such a healing.)
5. What answer are we to give when Jesus calls us to a specific ministry of providing for others?

Luke 14:5-6

Once again He turned His attention back to the religious leaders.  He asked His host and the others there what they would do for the animals they owned on the Sabbath.  The implication was there that they would provide for the basic needs of their possessions.  In this verse He formed into a rhetorical question.  In Luke 13:15 He put the same scenario before the religious leaders after healing the woman.  In both cases they could not answer because to do so would show them as uncaring and unfeeling men.

1. Why did He again ask the question about giving the animals nourishment? (He wanted them to face the importance of caring more for those who were Abraham’s children than the animals even it was done on the Sabbath.)
2. From their silence what can we conclude about the men? (They did not want to admit that Jesus was right.)
3. How would their answer incriminate them?
4. What questions might Jesus put to us regarding those who have tried to become a part of the church but were not encouraged by others?
5. What are the basic needs we are to meet of those who come into the church?

The following parables are all directed at the religious leaders.  Everything they did was to promote themselves.  In the book of Esther Haman displayed the same kind of attitude.  As will be seen there are always consequences for the actions taken by any individual.

Luke 14:7-10

As has been seen many times before Jesus was a keen observer of people.  Their actions conveyed their lifestyles.  He noticed that certain people were jockeying for the best seats at the wedding feast.  These were people who thought very highly of themselves and believed that others should also understand how important they were.  Jesus turned that whole practice on its head.  Rather than taking the best seats and possibly being humiliated when someone of greater stature arrived and having to give up the place of honor start in the back of the room.  If the host then should move that person into a better seat everyone would notice.

This was the problem with the Pharisees. Everything they did was for show and to receive the adulation of the people.  They prayed out loud on the street corners.  Fasted in a way that it was obvious that they were being contrite.  Even in the giving of alms they made sure everyone observed that they were doing.  This was the kind of performance Jesus condemned over and over.  In last week’s lesson He spoke of those who were last on the social register would be welcomed into God’s kingdom while those who thought they were saved would find themselves as outsiders in the kingdom.

It is interesting that this was not the first time that in Scripture that this issue was addressed. In Proverbs 25:6-7 Solomon admonished the people to take care how they behaved in the presence of the king.

1. To whom was Jesus directing the parable?
2. What did He notice about the guests at the event He was attending?
3. In what ways have you observed this kind of attitude in the church?
4. How have you handled be honored?
5. What is the consequences of false pride?
6. In what way did Jesus turn the practice on its head?
7. What can you do to keep this kind of thing happening in your life?
8. Who is the one who truly gives honor to each of us?
9. In what ways does He do it?
10. Why would Solomon deal with the same situation as is found in Proverbs 25:6-7? (The nature of man had not changed in approximately nine hundred years.)

Luke 14:11

Only Jesus could have made the statement about the consequences of one who promotes himself.  He was the total opposite of those who exalted themselves.  Here was God’s own Son who had given up His place beside His Father for a while as Creator of the whole universe to become like man. (See Philippians 2)  In Matthew 20:28 Jesus shares His feelings of why He came to earth.  He said that He came to serve not to be served.  Those who exalt themselves have the attitude of being worthy of being served by others and that they know what is best for all others. Jesus very strongly states that the men are doomed to failure.  The pages of history are full of those who were once great but ended in dismal defeat.  A whole study could be made on the men and women of the Bible who were humiliated because of their actions.  Jesus had hope for some of mankind.  His words were comforting to those who understood the true nature of God and man’s position before Him.  He said, “He who humbles himself will be exalted.”  The man or woman who thinks more of God and others will receive the praise of the Father.

1. What are the words of judgment are to be found in this verse?
2. What examples come to mind that affirm these words?
3. How you be sure that you will receive praise from the Father?
4. What is the danger for us in this verse?
5. What are examples of false humility that would negate the meaning of these words?
6. What is true humility?
7. Why does God like a humble person so much?

Luke 14:12-14

Jesus spoke of true hospitality.  To show that one truly cares about others he should not just have gatherings with those who could reciprocate in kind.  He should invite those who would be considered unfit to be a part of upper class receptions.  By doing so he would truly be blessed.  It is almost like giving Christmas gifts to family and friends.  Gifts of like value are passed back and forth.  A good example is the exchange of gift cards.  Jesus said to give to those who cannot do the same.  Rather than receiving a repayment for your actions in the present age it will be placed in your account where the treasures cannot be destroyed.

1. Who are the people you normally invite to your parties or other events?
2. Why do you invite those particular people?
3. How can we do what Jesus instructed His host to do?
4. Who are those you know that cannot reciprocate when you do something special for them?

Luke 14:15

There was at least one person at the meal that understood what Jesus was saying.  He saw that it was not what one receives now that is important but being a part of God’s kingdom in the future.

1. How does one receive the kind of blessing the man spoke about?
2. What have you done to make sure you are part of God’s kingdom in the future?

Luke 14:16-17

This is the third of three pictures Jesus painted about the relationships of different groups of people with the Father. Each one is built around a dinner of some type or another.  In this case the host, God, gave a big dinner.  He invited many to the feast.  One after another came up with some excuse for missing out on the meal. It was important to note that all of those invited well ahead of time that the date for the dinner had been set.  Each excuse given showed a disregard and disrespect for the host giving the party.  They said:

• Land had been bought which needed to be checked out.
• Yoke of oxen had been bought and needed to be inspected.
• I just gotten married and cannot come.

Those invited represented the Jews who had for most of their history had rejected the host and disobeyed the Father. The response of the host to those who had turned their back was to close the door on the opportunity to be part of what He was offering.

1. Why did Jesus use the picture of the dinner? (It is a time of joy, fellowship and fulfillment.)
2. What do you think about the excuses of the men who had been invited?
3. How did Jews reflect the attitudes of the invitees?
4. Why do we not have any excuse for not responding to God?  (The message has been available for as long as man has been on earth.)
5. What will those who reject the message find at the end of their lives? (That God is real and they were mistaken.)

Luke 14:21-23

Although the Jews have rejected the opportunity to become part of God’s kingdom through His Son for whom the dinner was given, He did not cancel the feast.  He had His servants, the prophets and apostles to issue an invitation to those who had been denied access to Him by the Jews.  The door of opportunity to hear the gospel was given to the Gentiles who had been waiting to hear it.  Even with all who have entered into the kingdom there is always room for more. 

The host then sent others out to encourage those who did not believe they were worthy to be a part of God’s family to come into the feast. They are to be found in all of the out the way places of the world.  Many in third world countries believe they have been completely forgotten by God.  He was telling the slaves that no one should be considered beyond His reach.

1. What opportunity did the rejection by the Jews of the gospel give to the rest of us?
2. Who were the slaves that He sent out?
3. What does His command to the prophets and apostles of every generation say about God?
4. Who has God forgotten?
5. If a person does not come to the part who is to blame? Why?
6. Who are those that God still wants us to tell about Him?
7. Who is beyond His reach?

Luke 14:24

The last statement by Jesus at the end of the trilogy pointed out how devastating for the Jews that they rejected the invitation of God. They would find their seats at the table taken by those that they had considered not to be fit to be part of their idea of God’s kingdom.

1. Why was this statement so devastating to the Jewish mindset? (They thought that they could anyway they desired and still be part of God’s family.)
2. What has been their fate throughout history?
3. What was their attitude to those who are now part of God’s family?
4. Why is it important that you do not live as you have exclusive rights to God?

    

• Consider all those who come into the church who have needs of different kinds.  For each of them be part of the healing they need and not a hindrance.
• Although it is difficult for man, learn that those who have true humility can serve in the way that Christ did.
• Understand that everyone that God brings into our presence is important to Him and needs to be treated with kindness and great interest.
• Never make excuses when ask to be part of God’s kingdom, serving Him when He calls.
• Consider your life.  Have you made the decision to make sure you are included in God’s kingdom?

In the church there are all types of individuals.  In this trilogy we have just studied there are Pharisees and the physically sick.  We need to do everything possible to minimize the influence of those who are self-centered who do not care for the needs of others. God intends for the church to be a place of healing.  In the parable wanted us to develop a spirit of humility. We are to be thankful for the position in His kingdom He has provided for us.  He is the One who opens the doors of opportunity to be leaders and servants in the church. We do not need to promote ourselves only to be servants.  Finally, we have been invited to participate in the feast at which Jesus is the host. We dare not miss out on finding ourselves at the table.  To reject the invitation will cause us to miss out on the eternal life He offers to each of us.  Chapter 13 started out with the narrow gate and ended with a dinner that can only be attended by those chosen by the host to be there.  Like the church it will include a very diverse group of people.  Thankfully, He has invited us to be a part.

  

 

 

 

  

Lesson 40

Focus on the Narrow Way

Luke 13:22-35

Probably one of the most difficult things that I do is to focus on any one task for a very long time.  That is one reason I find myself reading three or four books at one time. Even magazine articles are usually longer than I would like.  To stick with anything very long I almost have to make a conscious decision to follow through until whatever I am doing is complete.  As you would expect this sometimes leaves projects half done because I move on to something else.  Variety is kind of the name of the game with me.

There is one area of my life that cannot be treated in this way.  It is my daily walk with the Lord.  Paul said it best in Philippians as he spoke of the relationship that each of must maintain with Christ. He wrote that we are to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil. 2:12)  This relationship is not to be treated haphazardly but with all seriousness and every fiber of our being.  This is difficult but the reward in the future is certainly worth it.

Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger wrote a book some time ago called the “Simple Church.” The theme of the book was to point out how bogged down churches can become by trying to be everything to all people.  They concluded that it is impossible to accomplish that task.  What happens over a period of time is a church starts and never stops programs trying to satisfy the needs of those in attendance or those it is trying to attract. Eventually, it no longer has a clear idea of the reason it even exists because everyone is too busy trying to maintain the organization it has created.  It loses the focus of sharing and living out the gospel in a world that is chaotic at best and lost at the worse.  Rainer gave a clear picture of how to address the issue.  They were to:

• Clarify the vision
• Move everyone along the path to accomplish sharing the gospel
• Align everything it does to carry out the vision
• Focus on the ministries that fulfill the vision of the church.  Add only those ministries which allow for this to occur and eliminate those programs that become barriers to serving God.

The danger for the church is that even trying to remain as a Simple Church may cause to expending all of our energy on doing so and still miss the reason God started the church in the first place.  We can become so busy doing our works that we forget that what is truly important is the salvation that God has given to us through the work of His Son.  Unless everything we do is to glorify Him and now bring attention to ourselves we are wasting time.  The church is all about the gospel, the event of Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection.  This is the narrative that the world so desperately needs to hear.

Luke 13:22

Jesus was making His way to Jerusalem for the last time.  As He had done ever since He began His ministry He continued to teach as He passed through each city and village along the way.

1. Why was this time so important to Jesus? (He was heading towards Jerusalem and His crucifixion.)
2. Why did He not just go straight there? (People still needed to hear the message He had to share?
3. Who was audience? (Both those in the city and village.)
4. How would His message vary?  (Those in the different environments would have different needs.)

Luke 13:23a

Luke does not give the nationality of the individual who approached Jesus.  In all likelihood it was a Jew.  On the surface his question would appear to be from one concerned about his own salvation.  What he was really asking was there going to be any others saved besides Jews and their proselytes. The few to which he was referring were of course Jews. They were not sure that any Gentile would have the opportunity to be saved.

1. Why did it make any difference who the man was who approached Jesus? (The Jews held and an exclusive attitude about salvation.)
2. How much was his question life what we might have asked Jesus? (At that point the only salvation that was available was the one to come at the end of time for the Jews.)
3. What would have been his attitude about Gentiles? (Gentiles were not candidates for salvation.)
4. Who are those we might view as being like the Gentiles?
5. Why was the man’s approach completely different than that of Jesus?

Luke 12:23b-24

The answer Jesus gave him would have been totally unexpected. It was not the clear response that would have affirmed the man’s understanding of salvation.  It was not just a matter of belonging to a particular people that guaranteed eternal life. If fact even went way beyond any idea that the man may have had.  First, Jesus indicated who would be found in His kingdom.  It was those who agonized over the decision to follow Him.  Each man must come to the place where he understands that the narrow way is a metaphor for Jesus, Himself.  He truly is the only way to salvation.  In John 14:6 He told His disciples, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life and no one come to the Father but through Me.”  In or to enter each person Jew or Gentile would have faced the reality of his sinful life and the need for forgiveness.  From Jesus’ answer it is clear He was not talking about a onetime event but a continuing growing in the faith.

Secondly. There are those who think they have salvation who have never been saved.  They have done all the right things and may even have been members of a church for a long time but have never made the decision to follow Christ. Jesus was talking specifically about the Jews and Jewish leaders who kept all of the laws externally but who had never had a change of heart. 

1. What answer did the man expect?
2. How did the answer of Jesus shatter any false security the man may have had? (Salvation comes only by the act of repentance and willingness to follow Jesus in a new relationship.)
3. What did Jesus mean when He stated that to find salvation one must strive for it?
4. What did the metaphor of the narrow door mean?
5. In what way was the answer the man received different than he expected?
6. What did Jesus mean by striving to enter the narrow gate? (It is agonizing over your sinful life and making the decision to follow Him.)
7. How have we watered down what Jesus was saying?  (Many do not wrestle with the decision as He was calling man to do.)
8. How have we weakened this idea of the struggle it takes to come into a relationship with Jesus? (Because our lives do not often reflect the momentous decision of coming to Jesus on His terms.)
9. What are the characteristics of those who think they are saved but are not?

Luke 13:25

There is going to come a time when man will no longer have the opportunity to find salvation. For many it will be the day when the church is raptured.  For others it will be the second coming of Christ.  Jesus was saying that man must make the decision to follow Him while there is still time. His next words should have struck fear into the hearts of those who heard them.  Those who choose to reject Him will be treated as complete strangers.

1. What is the importance of not waiting to make a decision to follow Jesus?
2. What happens when the door of opportunity is shut?
3. When is the door closed on those who have not become followers of Christ? (One’s death, the rapture, the second coming of Christ and the final day of judgment.)
4. What have you done to be assured that you are not found on the outside of the door looking in?
5. Why was Jesus giving the warning? (He wants all to be saved)
6. How will Jesus view those who reject Him?
7. How does that statement make you feel?

Luke 13:26

With His next words Jesus anticipates that the people will try to justify why they are worthy of salvation.  He indicated that all of His teaching had not changed their lives at all.  They heard what He had to say and was in His presence during times of celebrating the fact that He was in their towns. It may seem like a play on words, but they knew of Him but did not truly know Jesus and why He came into their lives.  He may have taught what they needed to hear but their hearts were still wrapped up in the fact that they did not need what He taught because they had the Law of Moses as the directive for their lives. 

1. How did cut off any argument they might have in response to His words? (He told them what they were thinking before they had a chance to argue with Him.)
2. What was at the core of the way they would have answered Jesus? (They did not need to follow His teachings because they had the law.)
3. Why was that type of reasoning not good enough? (Salvation is based on grace and not works.)
4. How was it possible for the people to think they knew Jesus when they really did not? (It is easy to know facts about someone but never really know the person.)
5. How can we be in church or around true followers of Christ and miss the heart of the gospel?
6. Why do so many who attend church miss the heart of the gospel message?
7. In what ways can we get caught up in the belief that we are good enough to be saved or are self-sufficient?

Luke 13:27

There is but one verdict to be issued against those who reject Jesus.  He sends them away from Him.  Even though they thought they were righteous because of their status as Jews, Jesus condemned them as evil doers.  Their fate rather than the paradise they expected was to be in place of eternal separation and punishment.  Many today that death brings the end to consciousness.  Jesus however indicates that all who suffer the judgment He described will be aware of those righteous men like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in their rightful place in God’s kingdom.  The acute awareness of their own failings will cause weeping and gnashing of teeth.  They will realize that there is no place in God’s kingdom for them and they will be thrown out.

1. What is the verdict that will be handed down to those who reject Jesus?
2. Why did Jesus proclaim those Jews to be evil doers?  (The law cannot justify any man.)
3. What did Jesus make clear about what will occur in the future for evil doers?
4. What do you say to those who think that death will bring about the end of consciousness?
5. What does it say about eternity? (Each person will spend eternity either in heaven or hell.)
6. What will be the worse punishment for those who reject Jesus? (They will be aware of what they missed.)
7. What examples did Jesus give of those who are enjoying the fruits of God’s Kingdom?
8. What does it say to us today? (God is the Father of the living both past and present.)

Luke 13:28

The very people that the Jews thought would be fuel for the fires of hell will be those who will be welcomed into God’s kingdom.  Of course He was speaking of the Gentiles who would be from every land and every people.  They will enjoy the fellowship with Him for eternity.  Jesus spoke of two categories.

• The Gentile who were originally excluded from God’s kingdom will find a rightful place there. (See Ephesians 2)
• The Jews who were given every opportunity but because of their rebellion and disobedience found themselves on the outside looking in. (See Romans 11) 

1. Who were those who were last but would find themselves first?
2. Who were those who were first but would become those who found themselves last?
3. What is your place in the kingdom of God?
4. What has provided you with possibility of finding yourself there?
5. What kind of attitude would move you to the back of the line?
6. In what ways were the Jews to be excluded?

Luke 13:31

It is almost as if Jesus had hardly gotten the words out of His mouth condemning the Jews when some Pharisees brought a warning to Jesus.  Luke wanted his readers to understand that even before the resurrection there were some of the religious leaders who had accepted His teachings. John affirms this truth in chapter 12:42 when he spoke of a number of the Pharisees believing in Him. In contrast Herod expressed the sentiments of most of the other leaders with his threat to kill Jesus.

1. What does the response of the Pharisees tell us about the power of the teaching of Jesus?
2. How did their feelings contrast with others like Herod?
3. Why would Herod desire to have Jesus killed? (He may have seen Him as a threat to his own power and to please the Jews.)
4. How did
5.  John 12:42 affirm what we have seen here in Luke?

Luke 13:32

Jesus had some strong words for Herod. He called him a fox. William Barclay wrote in his exposition on Luke that the word fox carried with it three ideas, all of them negative.  He said that one with those characteristics was:

• Sly
• Destructive
• Worthless and insignificant

This man with his threats would not deter Jesus from completing His mission.  His goal was to arrive in Jerusalem and be crucified as He and His Father had planned from before creation.  Like those who had gone before Him He must be perish in the vicinity.  Until that moment he would continue to cast out demons and heal those in need.

1. By going to Jerusalem what did it show about the character of Jesus?
2. What was Jesus’s feeling about Herod?
3. What characteristics defined Herod Antipas?
4. Why was it important for Him to travel to Jerusalem? (A prophet must be killed in Jerusalem.)
5. What did Jesus plan to do until His crucifixion?
6. In what ways have you shown courage in the face of adversity?

Luke 13:34-35

This lesson started with a man asking about eternal life.  Jesus gave a clear picture of those who would be saved and those who would spend eternity separated from Him.  Most of the Jews had chosen to hold on to the idea that only they were worthy of salvation because of their status as the chosen people of God.  It had to be pointed out to them that to reject Jesus would bring the judgment they did not expect to receive.  Luke finishes with Jesus lamenting over the fact that the Jews as represented by Jerusalem had killed prophets and stoned those sent with a message of warning from God.  Now the Son of Man was there and they were about to do the same to Him.  Rather than gathering themselves under His care they were rejecting the One who had come to give them Life. 

Their future, because they rejected God’s Son would be filled with desolation and exile.  About forty years after Jesus spoke those words His prophecy came true.  In 70 A.D. the Romans came to Jerusalem and destroyed it.  Most of the Jews were dispersed throughout the known world.  They would not return in great numbers until 1948 when the present state of Israel was established.  Jesus did, however, as Paul had in Romans, ended with a promise for the people.  When Jesus would return they would acknowledge Him and proclaim, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.  Godly is not through with His people.  They will in the end times once again fulfill their role as God’s chosen people and become the priests He originally intended them to be. 

1. What was Jesus’ final words concerning the Jews as represented by Jerusalem?
2. What do you see that what was really in the heart of Jesus as He prophesied about Jerusalem?  (There was a deep sadness in His heart.)
3. What would Jesus say if He were to stand outside of Chesterfield County?
4. Even closer to home what would He say about our relationship to Him?
5. How have we carried out the mandate He gave in the Great Commission?
6. What kind of judgment will He pronounce against the church today?
7. How about every level of society? 

• Look at Scriptures that speak of the ongoing battle in which you find yourself against the domain of the devil?
• What do you understand about the word striving to enter the narrow door?  Have you experience that kind of wrestling in your personal walk with Christ?
• Pray that you will not be one on the outside looking in when the Day of Judgment comes.
• Understand that Christ has called you to witness to all types of people.
• Read about the history of the Jews to see how God has dealt with those who have rejected His Son.

The church is both inclusive and exclusive.  We have a mandate to reach the lost so that they will be included in God’s kingdom.  The exclusion comes when people try to say they are Christians without truly believing in Jesus Christ as the only way to eternal life.  We hear false teachings that have deceived people into a false sense of security.  Jesus said that those individuals will be left outside of His kingdom.  Sadly, many today believe that the person ends at death and is no more.  The Scripture is clear that each of us will spend eternity somewhere.  Life is a struggle against an evil and perverse world.  Jesus said He is the only way to life and victory over evil.  Let us work at understanding what salvation means for each of us and work at it with fear and trembling as Paul wrote in Philippians.  Thankfully we are not in the battle alone.  For greater is He who is with us than he who is in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson 39

A Call to Repentance

Luke 13:1-20

In my life there are many thing for which I have asked forgiveness.  This lesson would be way to long for me to mention many of them.  The one example I would like to share happened fifty some years ago. There was a young Episcopal minister of whom I was very fond.  I have spoken of him before and the admiration I had for him.  A couple who did not attend our church said they saw him drinking and they did not feel that was right.  I agreed with them and probably said things that I should have left unsaid.  If he knew about what I had said he never spoke about it to my knowledge.  He would have had every right to condemn me for my conversation.  To me his behavior reflected the grace that Jesus extends to all of us. It certainly was not my place to judge him.  Even though just a teenager there were things I had done for which I was not proud.

Just before my mother, brother and I moved from North Carolina to Richmond he called me to his house.  I do not remember what was said but both of us were sorry to part ways.  Then he gave me a gift which I still have to this day.  It was the Celtic cross that he wore each Sunday on the outside of his vestments.

There are two regrets that I have. The first is that I did not the opportunity to ask his forgiveness.  The second is that I did not keep in touch with him after I moved away.  I guess that fifteen year old boys do not think to do that type of thing.  Over the years I have wondered where he might be.  Facebook and other tools have not brought me any success.  At this point all I can say is I will see him in heaven.  Thank you Mr. Smith for all the compassion and love you showed to a teenager who needed them.

One of the obvious characteristics of a church in need of repentance is its attitude toward guest who attend services.  There are many churches who have been studied over the years who have thought they were the friendliest one around.  They may give all appearance of being welcoming, when in reality they are only care about those who are already attending.  It is hard to break into that kind of body because they are quite satisfied with what they have.  Unless the church is willing to change and be accepting of others it will eventually dry up and die.  Christ welcomed all kinds of people into His kingdom.  He called each of them to repentance.  If we do not have the attitude of Christ we are in need of confessing how we have fallen short of living for Him.  No church is perfect, but everyone can be one full of forgiven people who want to show the way to forgiveness through repentance.

Luke 13:1

It was brought to the attention that Pilate’s had killed a number of Jews as they offered a sacrifice at the Temple. In light of the answer Jesus gave to those who shared the information that they possibly thought they deserved what they had gotten.  Quite often riots took place during feasts in Jerusalem.  The men killed may have been zealots who hated and were hated by the Romans.  The soldiers would use any reason to punish the Jews.  There is another factor that might have come into play.  The Judeans may have looked down on the Galileans as an inferior people who had been killed because they were evil men.

1. Why did the Jews bring the killing of the Galileans to the attention of Jesus?  (To justify their position as superior to the Galileans.)
2. Why would Pilate have the Roman soldiers attack the people? (He hated the Jews and would use every opportunity to punish them.)
3. Why would the Galileans protest against the Romans? (They hated the Romans as much as the Romans hated them.)
4. Why did those from Judea believe that the death of the men was justified?  (They believed God punished the wicked.)

Luke 13: 2-3

Jesus put His answer in the form of a question as He often did.  He wanted to know if those particular men were any worse than all others who lived in Galilee.  The Jews were included in His call to the people to repent.  Also included but unsaid was the fact that all men Jew or Gentile must repent or suffer eternal separation from God.

1. Why did He put his answer into the form of a question? (He wanted them to see clearly their own position before God.)
2. What did the Jews believe happened to one who sinned? (They might meet the fate of the Galileans.)
3. What did this say about the attitude of the Jews which was completely bogus? (They were not punished as those Galileans were because they were God’s chosen people.)
4. How can we get trapped into this same kind of mindset?
5. What did Jesus’ answer say about us? (We all stand in the need of repentance.)

Luke 13:4-5

The table was then turned on the Jews.  Jesus told of another episode that included the death of eighteen people when the tower of Siloam fell on them.  He wanted to hear from them if they thought those Jews who were killed were any worse that all of the others who not killed.  Again He included every man when He told them that the Jews needed to repent in order to keep from perishing.

1. Why did Jesus then speak of the event which included the death of some Jews?
2. Were they guilty of sin that brought about their death?
3. What would both events say about God if He had  purposely caused the death of those people in that way? (He was an arbitrary and capricious who discriminated against men at will.)
4. What do we know about God and His Son?

Luke 13:6-9

The parable of the fig tree was a picture of Israel and its history and future because it had refused to repent and obey God.  The comparisons are:

• The fig tree was Israel who God had chosen to be His people.  Their tasks were to obey God and to be His witnesses throughout the world.
• The fertile soil of course was the land of Israel itself. The people were planted in the Promised Land.  It was described as a land full of milk and honey. That depiction was verified when the spies reported back in the book of Number it was a fertile land.
• The lack of fruit pictures an apostate people who continually disobeyed God and were not fruitful.  Sadly, they often took up space in a land that was supposed to produce much.
• The three years represents the years that God tried to draw His people to Him by sending those prophets who called the people to repentance.
• The vineyard keeper is Jesus who came on the scene for a final call to the Jews to repent and turn back to the Father.
• To reject Him would bring about dire consequences as the history of the Jews proves.  It was less than forty years when the Romans came and destroyed the city in A.D. 70.  The Jews have yet to fully recover from those days.  Even today the nation is very secular in its thinking.  It will take the tribulation to awaken the people to the need to repent of their sins and turn to Christ.  Thankfully their greatest achievements still lay in the future when God will redeem His people.

   

1. What was the problem that Jesus was addressing in this parable? (The continual rebellion and apostasy of the people.)
2. How much are we like Israel today?
3. What is in our future if we continue down the path we are travelling?
4. How can it be turned around?
5. What is God calling us to be today?

Luke 13:10-13

At that point the popularity of Jesus was still great with the people.  Being a rabbi he had been invited to speak in one of the synagogues in Perea, which was beyond the Jordan.  As He was speaking He saw a woman in need of healing. The healing of the woman in the synagogue may not seem to have any connection to the judgments expressed in the previous chapters.  There is a definite tie in as will soon be seen. Once again Jesus violated the traditions of the Sabbath by healing the woman who had been doubled over for eighteen years.  He called to the woman to come to Him before all those in attendance and said, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.” She began glorifying God for what He had done in her life.

1. Why was Jesus still popular with the people?  (They were not caught up in all of the controversies but were there to hear Jesus and receive healing?
2. Why did Jesus once again violate the traditions of the Jewish religious leaders? (Compassion for people was more important than rules and regulations.)
3. Why was Jesus able to heal the woman? (She was willing to come to Him in all humility and trust.)
4. From what have you been freed?
5. Why do you know that this has occurred?
6. How do you identify with the woman both in her coming to Him and glorifying of God?

Luke 13:14

As would be expected there was a totally different response from the synagogue leader.  There was no gratitude or compassion on his part for the fact that a fellow human being had been healed by Jesus.   He became quite indignant that the healing had occurred under his watch and on a Sabbath Day in particular.  Jesus was informed in no uncertain terms that He had to do miracles on a time schedule which did not include such activities taking place on the Sabbath. His attitude reflected the heart of Israel found in the parable of the fig tree.  They were in bondage to their traditions and rules and missed Jesus and what He came to do for them.

1. How did the synagogue leader respond to what Jesus had done?
2. What did his response show about him?
3. In what ways do we sometimes display the same kind of attitude?
4. What should be our primary concern in the church? (The genuine needs of the people both physically and spiritually.)
5. In what ways do our own traditions sometimes get in the way of what God calls us to do?

Luke 13:15-17

Quickly, Jesus addressed the heart of the issue.  He called those with the same attitude “hypocrites.” He then gave them a practical example of their hypocrisy.  They felt a need to feed and water their livestock on the Sabbath but had no compassion for the woman who had suffered so greatly.  After hearing the message of Jesus and seeing His works they were unwilling to turn from their false practices and beliefs.  Calling them to hopefully see things differently He called attention to the woman once again.  He pointed out that unlike the animals for which they had such concern she was a person made in the image of God and part of His chosen people through Abraham.  Surely, she deserved to be released from bondage more than animals needed to fed and watered.  “His opponents were being humiliated” but definitely did not have a change of heart.  Meanwhile the people rejoiced over all they had just witnessed.

1. Why did Jesus call the religious leaders hypocrites? (They did not live what they preached.)
2. Why did Jesus use the example of the livestock to make His point? (It suited them to take care of what belonged to them.)
3. How was the woman different? (Made in the image of God and a daughter of Abraham.)
4. How does the description of the religious leaders sometimes fit the way we act?
5. How, from what is about to occur in the not too distant future, did being humiliated affect the religious leaders in Judea and Jerusalem?
6. What other results would have been preferable?
7. Why do we need our faults pointed out to us?
8. How do you hope this will be done?
9. What should be our attitude?

 

Luke 13:18-20

As He concluded His time in the synagogue, Jesus told two additional parables both of which carried the same theme.  Something small and insignificant as a little mustard seed grows into a bush large enough to provide resting place for the birds of the air. His second example is the effect that leaven has on the dough in which it has been hidden.  Small acts done in the name of God impact the world and changes the environment in which a person lives the domain of God’s control and influence. Care must be taken that the influence be from God and not men like the religious leaders who sought followers for their way of life away from true commitment to Jesus.

1. What are some of the things that we consider insignificant that have greatly influenced your life?
2. What did Jesus mean by those things that were viewed as unimportant?
3. What did Jesus mean by talking of the kingdom of God?
4. In what ways have you given your complete life to Jesus so His kingdom can be a lived in you?
5. What the things that influence your life?
6. Who has impacted your life?
7. In what ways have that influence been beneficial or destructive?

    

• As you meditate on God’s word this week think particular about those things in your life for which you need to repent.
• Do not allow time to pass before making amends with someone whom you may have hurt by your actions or words before you no longer have that opportunity.
• Approach Jesus with a humility that allows Him to free you from whatever is binding you.
• Be discerning when considering the influence things or people may have in your life.
• Allow God’s kingdom to so permeate your life that you want to live for Him only in His kingdom

The last several lesson have carried in them both warnings and promises for the church.  We are to take great care in following the words written in God’s word.  Paul spoke in Acts of those  within the body who seek our destruction through false teachings.  We must be on guard against those who teach one thing and live a completely different lifestyle.  Christ condemned such behavior and we should do the same.

It is important for us to impact the world in the same as the small mustard seed and leaven did.  Everyone one us start out as infants in the faith but are called to grow and mature.  The first step is to repent of those things in our lives that keep us separated from Him.  It is fitting that He finished this time with that call. With all the strength within us we are to be the kind of church where anyone can see the kingdom of God present.