
Twice a week we come together to discuss a portion of the scriptures. Join us as we explore God’s word.
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Luke 12:8-12
8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Discussion Question
What lessons are being delivered by Jesus?
Discussion Summary
Verses 8, 9: To acknowledge Jesus means understanding that his authority and power to work miracles comes from God. The religious leaders of the day attributed his power to Beelzebul in Matthew 12:24 and in Luke 11:14-23.
To acknowledge Jesus means to see his role as The Son of Man from Daniel 7:13,14.
To acknowledge Jesus before the angels of God is also connected with Ephesians 3:8-12.
Verse 10: Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is the end of a thought process that begins with hypocrisy. Only after someone has experienced the Holy Spirit can they truly blaspheme against it. Hebrews 6:4-6
The parallel scripture in Matthew 10:32 shows that this principle, that people are judged according to what knowledge they have been given, applies during God’s Kingdom. This is also illustrated in the trespass offerings the Israelites sacrificed. People sacrificed the animal they were able to afford. Leviticus 14:21.
The word “forgiveness” is from the Greek word aphiemi which means to let go of a debt absolutely.
Verses 11, 12: We have an example of how the Holy Spirit can give you the words when you are called to witness in Acts 6 & 7. In these chapters Stephen, the first martyr, is called before the religious leaders to give an account of his beliefs.
We are not to think that we should just wait for a miracle to happen when we are asked a question about our beliefs. “Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15. Also see 2 Timothy 2:15.
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Luke 12:1-7
1 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed or hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. 4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Discussion Question
What lessons are being delivered by Jesus?
Discussion Summary
General Lesson: Jesus tells his disciples to avoid hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is a disconnect between hearts and actions. If the disciples’ hearts are good, they will have good actions. Fear should not prevent them from acting in concert with their hearts.
The message of the Kingdom of God will go forth and be made plain. Those who reject that message will persecute those who believe in it. The disciples are not to fear when confronted with persecution as they realize the extent of God’s care over them.
Verse 1: Leaven is a good metaphor for hypocrisy as it can work in the dough for a time without detection, it can impart its own flavor profile into the dough, and it puffs up the dough doubling it in size. I Corinthians 5:6-8
Verses 2,3: We want what we say, what we do, and how we act to be the result of what is in our hearts. I Thessalonians 2:4
Verses 4,5: There is an improper fear of the Lord that would make us obey him only because otherwise he will punish us. A proper fear of the Lord makes us obey him because we fear displeasing him. We don’t want to presume upon his mercy. Psalm 19:9; Psalm 34:9; Proverbs 9:10; 1 John 4:18; Acts 5:1-5
Verses 6,7: God is watching our lives down to the smallest details. “Casting all your anxieties on Him because he cares for you.” I Peter 5:7 (ESV)
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Luke 11:45-54
45 One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” 46 And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. 48 So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ 50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. 52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.” 53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, 54 lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say. (ESV)
Discussion Question
In verses 37 to 54, Jesus condemns two classes of religious leaders. He points out specific practices that have hindered belief in him.
Why did these specific practices of the lawyers (scribes) hinder belief in Jesus?
Discussion Summary
“Woes” or judgments were next pronounced upon a new class of religious leaders. Jesus was identifying the problems that the doctors of the law, the experts in the Hebrew Bible had which hindered their belief in him.
Verse 46:
Religious practice had become so exacting that it was perceived in a negative rather than in a positive way. Jesus’ way was different as he said in Matthew 11:29,30 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and by burden is light.”
Verses 47-51:
The prophets of the Hebrew Bible had warned that religious practice meant little in God’s sight if the people’s hearts were not right. The religious leaders did not listen to the prophet’s words, instead they built elaborate graves for them after they had died. In effect, they were applying the prophets’ messages to the past. They were not celebrating their life but celebrating their death.
Verses 52-55:
The religious leaders had great knowledge of the Hebrew Bible. They should have been sharing that knowledge with the people. Two examples of proper sharing of knowledge are found in Nehemiah 8:5,6 and Malachi 2:7. Instead, the religious leaders discouraged the people from believing in Jesus’ miracles and words.
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Luke 11:37-44
37 While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. 38 The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you. 42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.” (ESV)
Discussion Question
In verses 37 to 54, Jesus condemns two classes of religious leaders. He points out specific practices that have hindered belief in him. We’d like to look at this section over two weeks dealing with each class separately.
Why did these four specific practices of the Pharisees hinder belief in Jesus?
Discussion Summary
Reminders to read these “woes” in conjunction with:
- Acknowledgment that the leaders had a legitimate role. Matthew 23:2
- Some of the religious leaders were sincere. John 3
- These leaders were not living up to their professions of holiness. Isaiah 29:12
Jesus pronounced “woes” or judgments against the leaders. He was identifying specific problems (selfishness, pride, hypocrisy, ambition) that hindered belief in him.
- Verses 39-41: The focus on outward rituals makes one blind to the need for inward spirituality.
- Verse 42: Tithes were to be collected for those who did not have “jobs” – the religious leaders. Insisting on taking from the poor to give to those who were not as poor defeats the purpose.
- Verse 43: To those in positions of authority, there is always a danger of developing pride.
- Verse 44: Those in positions of authority are accountable if they lead people astray by focusing on the wrong things.
Jesus still gave constructive ways for the religious leaders to self-correct:
- One way to translate verse 41 is “cleanse what is within, then nothing will be unclean.” (Moffat Translation) In other words, fix your motivation for your actions.
- Another way to translate verse 41 is “give away rather its contents as alms, and all will be clean for you.” (Anchor Yale Bible Translation) This recommendation is similar to Luke 18:18-23.