{"id":236,"date":"2013-05-01T19:39:51","date_gmt":"2013-05-02T00:39:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/?p=236"},"modified":"2013-05-01T19:40:36","modified_gmt":"2013-05-02T00:40:36","slug":"the-attacks-begin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/?p=236","title":{"rendered":"The Attacks Begin"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lesson 11<\/p>\n

The Attacks begin<\/p>\n

Luke 5:27-39<\/p>\n

Me- I have not said it in a while but this section is only an example of the opening of the lesson.\u00a0 You may insert your own personal experiences here.<\/p>\n

I am sure that there is not a single one of us who does not feel he or she has been rejected or attacked at some point.\u00a0 Sometimes they are unprovoked. There have been other times when we may have actually brought them on ourselves.\u00a0 One such experience occurred many years ago when I was still working. Having worked in purchasing for a number of years, I believed I understood how that function could benefit an organization if done properly.\u00a0 For some reason that I do not understand to this day upper management did not agree with me.\u00a0 It was a struggle the entire time I stayed with them to try to do my job.\u00a0 At one point my director even told me that the organization did not care how other companies did things that the practices in place at that time were not going to change.\u00a0 She even went so far as to hint that if I wanted to see things done differently that I should look for another job. A side note: Since I have retired some of my ideas have been put into place. They have organized in such a way as to allow Purchasing to operate as it should.<\/p>\n

We-<\/p>\n

The church can be guilty of rejecting and attacking as well.\u00a0 All over this country and even in our own church this has gone on.\u00a0 Many times it will focus on the Pastor.\u00a0 A church will call a new man to come to be its spiritual leader.\u00a0 Especially when a church has plateaued or is declining we expect the new person to come in and do whatever is necessary to turn things around.\u00a0 Sadly, when he begins to monkey with the ways things have always been then some in the congregation begin to criticize his ideas and may attack him personally.\u00a0 He may be viewed as a great preacher but no one hears what he has to say because he has stepped on that which is sacred to that body.<\/p>\n

Eventually he will either weather the storm, choose to leave or be voted out. No matter what happens there are deep hurts and scars left in the lives of everyone concerned that will take a long time to heal.\u00a0 The worse scenario is that all of the conflict may lead to a church split or its demise.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the last two lessons we have seen Jesus healing those who were rejected by society because of their physical condition.\u00a0 Today we will get a picture of a different type of rejection leading to an attack on Jesus.<\/p>\n

God-<\/p>\n

Luke 5:27-28<\/p>\n

Luke wrote that Jesus noticed Levi.\u00a0 Notice may not be a strong enough word to picture what actually took place.\u00a0 Jesus was probably familiar with Levi (Matthew).\u00a0 On that particular day He looked at Levi intently.\u00a0 He would have watched him as he went about his task of collecting taxes for the Roman government.\u00a0 One may even wonder if Jesus had taken note of the way he handled his business. Could he be one who was actually honest in his transactions?\u00a0 His tax booth was most likely located along the shoreline of the Sea Of Galilee.\u00a0 He was there to collect taxes from the fishermen as they came in from their work.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It is strange that Jesus would want Levi to follow Him as a disciple.\u00a0 The fact that Levi was a tax collector would make him one of the most despised men in all of Israel.\u00a0 Tax collectors were appointed by the Romans to collect the taxes due them.\u00a0 Today they would be considered a person who had purchased a franchise. Once he had paid for the privilege he was allowed to charge any amount of taxes he desired.\u00a0 Anything over the amount due the Romans would go into the pockets of the tax collectors.\u00a0 Most of them thus would become wealthy men at the expense of his fellow countrymen. They therefore were rejected and outcast in society, not unlike a leper.<\/p>\n

To Levi Jesus issued a simple command, \u201cFollow Me.\u201d He immediately left the tax booth and the taxes he had collected and followed after Jesus.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. What made Jesus take notice of Levi?\u00a0 (He would be out of place in a place of fishermen.)<\/li>\n
  2. What attributes might Levi have possessed that would have caught the attention of Jesus?<\/li>\n
  3. What was his primary responsibility? (To collect taxes for the Roman government)<\/li>\n
  4. How would the people feel about such a man?<\/li>\n
  5. Why? (Because most of them abused the position and used it as a way to get wealthy.)<\/li>\n
  6. In what way was Levi like the leper and paralytic? (He would have been one rejected and an outcast of society.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Luke 5:29<\/p>\n

    As would be expected, Levi wanted to share the good news with those who may have been his colleagues.\u00a0 He invited both tax collectors and a group of individuals called sinners. More than just being a party, he wanted them to have an opportunity to hear experience being with Jesus. From Luke it is learned that it was a large crowd.\u00a0 This may say something about Levi.\u00a0 Apparently he was well respected among those with whom he worked and associated.\u00a0 With his own he was not an outcast.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Why would Levi invite those he did to the celebration?<\/li>\n
    2. Who were in attendance?<\/li>\n
    3. Why did he invite tax collectors and sinners?<\/li>\n
    4. What does the fact that it was a large crowd say about Levi? (He was well respected by his peers.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Luke 5:30<\/p>\n

      The Scribes and Pharisees would not have attended such a celebration.\u00a0 They had no respect for those in attendance.\u00a0 Anyone who did not walk in their circle were held in contempt and totally disregarded.\u00a0 Notice that they did not confront Jesus personally but went to the disciples to register their complaints. \u00a0They could not understand why a man who was a rabbi would associate with the dregs of society.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Why would the Scribes and Pharisees not attend such a celebration?\u00a0 (They would never associate with sinners.)<\/li>\n
      2. Why would religious leaders avoid and ignore such people? (They would become ceremonially unclean to be involved with them. Never would they have done the things that Jesus did in healing a leper or paralytic even if they had the power to do so.)<\/li>\n
      3. How were the actions of the Scribes and Pharisees, like the way we often handle conflict? (We do not approach the person with whom we have a conflict but go to others to complain.)<\/li>\n
      4. What was their problem with Jesus?<\/li>\n
      5. How much like the Pharisees are we?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Luke 5:31-32<\/p>\n

        Jesus did not let others answer for Him. He used a short parable to speak to the issue.\u00a0 On the surface it appears that His response indicates that the reason that the religious do not hear what He has to say because they are righteous men and He as the physician came to bring healing to those who were sinners.\u00a0 Underlying what was said, He was dealing who those who were lost but claimed that they were righteous.\u00a0 The Scribes and Pharisees saw themselves as one who the righteous ones and everyone else were sinners. In reality the religious leaders were in need of the great Physician and were no different from those they claimed were sinners.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Why did Jesus not allow others speak for Him? (At that point the disciples did not even understand fully who He was.)<\/li>\n
        2. How should we handle conflict that may involve us?<\/li>\n
        3. How did Jesus respond?<\/li>\n
        4. What was He really saying? (Only those who are self-righteous see themselves as not needing forgiveness.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Luke 5:33-36<\/p>\n

          The religious leaders then tried a different tactic.\u00a0 Instead of criticizing Jesus directly they decided to get at Him through the actions of His disciples.\u00a0 According to the claims of those men both they and John\u2019s disciples followed the tradition of fasting.\u00a0 They wanted to know why the disciples did not do the same.\u00a0 What they were saying was, you have not taught your disciples to follow the law, what kind of teacher are you?<\/p>\n

          Jesus responded with a parable.\u00a0 He equated what was happening to the Jewish marriage which was a time of celebration and joy.\u00a0 While the wedding celebration was going on, those with the\u00a0\u00a0 bridegroom would not find it necessary to fast, which was a sign of contrition, because of the happiness all around them.\u00a0 In the words of Jesus there would come a time following His crucifixion and before His resurrection that the disciples would feel the necessity to fall down before God because of the uncertainty of their future.\u00a0<\/p>\n

          Sadly, the Scribes and Pharisees had abused every facet of their religion.\u00a0 Fasting was certainly one of those situations.\u00a0 They did this act and other things they primarily did to show how pious they were.\u00a0 They would even put white powder on their faces so others would know that they were fasting.\u00a0<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Having failed in the previous effort to discredit Jesus what was their new tactic?<\/li>\n
          2. Why did they invoke John into their argument?<\/li>\n
          3. What were they trying to prove about Jesus by making the claim that the disciples were not following the tradition of the Jews?<\/li>\n
          4. Why did Jesus not answer their question directly but told them a parable? (He did agree with them that the disciples did not fast.)<\/li>\n
          5. Why did He then use a parable to answer their claims?\u00a0 (To diffuse their reasoning.)<\/li>\n
          6. How had the Pharisees used the practice of fasting?<\/li>\n
          7. What picture did Jesus paint for those who were with Him?<\/li>\n
          8. What does this parable say to you?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Luke 5:36<\/p>\n

            Jesus then told the men two more short parables that dealt with the idea that they were following a dead religion that would get them nowhere.\u00a0 The first spoke to the idea that would be familiar to them. They understood that you could not sew a piece of cloth that was not previously washed and shrunken onto an old garment that may have been washed a number of times.\u00a0 To do so would cause the old garment to have a larger tear. It was a picture of trying to patch the new teaching into an old practice of religion.<\/p>\n

              \n
            1. Why did Jesus consider the Jewish religion dead? (It was based on an ideology of works leading to salvation.)<\/li>\n
            2. Why did Jesus use a parable to explain where the Jews were going wrong?<\/li>\n
            3. Why can you not patch the gospel of grace into a religion based on the works?<\/li>\n
            4. Why does the religion of the Old Testament not work for mankind?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Luke 5:37-39<\/p>\n

              To emphasize the point He told another parable which is basically the same but using a different example.\u00a0 In that parable He spoke of new and old wineskins. Old wineskins cannot hold new wine because the gas from the fermentation process would cause the skins to burst.\u00a0 Only new wine can be put into new skins.\u00a0 Again He was trying to tell them that the teachings of the Old Testament were not for a new day. Sadly, the final picture Jesus paints is that those who believe as the Scribes and Pharisees believed did not want to hear the radical teachings of Jesus.\u00a0 Man loves the status quo especially when it comes to religion.<\/p>\n

                \n
              1. Why did Jesus tell the same parable in two different ways?\u00a0 (To emphasize the point of the good news He was bringing to man.)<\/li>\n
              2. What did the final words of Jesus mean?<\/li>\n
              3. Why do we have trouble with change?<\/li>\n
              4. What kind of change did Jesus bring to the world?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                You-<\/p>\n

                  \n
                • Every opportunity you have look around to see who may be potential leaders in the church.<\/li>\n
                • Be careful that you do not judge someone because of their appearance.<\/li>\n
                • Remember the Bible says if you have a problem with someone you are to deal with them personally and not through someone else.<\/li>\n
                • Do not get caught up in the status quo when it hinders the growth of God\u2019s kingdom.<\/li>\n
                • Be deeply committed to Christ and do not just put on an act to impress others.\u00a0 God sees through that kind of person.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  We-<\/p>\n

                  The church is to be the place where outcasts and those who feel rejected by those around them can find a place where they are accepted and loved.\u00a0 We have seen three examples of different people from varied backgrounds who came to Jesus and received healing in both body and spirit.\u00a0 It is interesting how Jesus called all kinds of people to be His disciples.\u00a0 Most of us if we were trying to put a leadership team together would select individuals who had nothing in common.\u00a0 Like every church it is important to remember that we do not decide who becomes a follower of Christ.\u00a0 Every person comes to Jesus with the same needs.\u00a0 We are all sinners who need the saving power of Jesus.\u00a0 He is the unifying force in everyone\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

                  To continue with this idea, those who look down on others and reject them see others as inferior to themselves. \u00a0It is so easy to become self-righteous because do the right things and no the nomenclature, when our hearts may not be truly in tune with God. \u00a0Humility leads to the realization that we are equal and Christ must do a work in all of hearts. \u00a0Let us look at others in the same way that Jesus did and His church will grow spiritually.<\/p>\n

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                   <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                  Lesson 11 The Attacks begin Luke 5:27-39 Me- I have not said it in a while but this section is only an example of the opening of the lesson.\u00a0 You may insert your own personal experiences here. I am sure that there is not a single one of us who does not feel he or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-luke"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=236"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/236\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":238,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/236\/revisions\/238"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}