As Jesus is teaching, he is also demonstrating the power of God to heal and free people from demonic influence. More and more are coming but others begin to join the crowds. Some that would be his disciples and follow him, but also in Luke 5:17 “Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village”. Now, Jesus begins to speak to these who have come to judge his teaching as they have done through their history in Luke 11:49 “I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,”. But what Jesus came to deliver is a new covenant and an outpouring of his Holy Spirit for all that will accept him. Now, for us, a teacher, guiding us into all truth.
The Sign of Jonah
Luke 11:28-32
Jesus is recognized by more and more people and his message changes in Luke 11:29 “as the crowds were increasing”. In the early days, many of the people came to be healed and delivered. As news of Jesus teachings and miracles spreads, others come to be his disciples and still others, including Scribes and Pharisees come to test him. In
Luke 5:17 “And it happened that on one of the days as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was there in order for him to heal”.
Now Jesus reminds them of Ninevah (see Jonah 3:4) and the Queen of Sheba (see 1 Kings 10:1–2, 2 Chronicles 9:1) and how these recognized the work of the Lord in their midst. This also tells us that we will not only stand before the judgement seat of Christ, but there will be witnesses that will speak against those that refused to turn to righteousness.
Your Eye is the Lamp of the Body
Luke 11:33-36
Give as Charitable Giving the Things That are Within
I Will Send Them Prophets and Apostles
Luke 11:49-54
God doesn’t judge anything before the time. We aren’t judged when we have a thought, but when we take an action. It is the shedding of blood that is judged but that only comes after the word of the Lord has been rejected. This may seem harsh, that the Lord would allow some to be killed, but in the Lord’s righteous judgement, he will not condemn for what someone might do. So, in
Luke 11:49 “For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’”
But for us, through Jesus Christ, there is forgiveness of our sin and we are told in
2 Corinthians 10:4 “for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but powerful to God for the tearing down of fortresses, tearing down arguments 5 and all pride that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ”.
The Lords greatest power was exercised as Christ died for us and He raised Christ from the dead. When we accept this, the Lord gives us a new heart and his Holy Spirit and our thoughts are changed as we are being transformed into the image of Christ.
Everything You Have Said in the Dark
Luke 12:1-3
Fear the One Who Has Authority
Luke 12:4-7
The Holy Spirit Will Teach You
Luke 12:8-12
As Christians, we don’t need to know everything. We just need to know Jesus Christ and his plan for our salvation. But knowing him isn’t the only reason we are here. He also says, in Luke 12:8 “everyone who acknowledges me before people, the Son of Man also will acknowledge him before the angels of God”. There are times for us to tell others about the goodness of God and how he has changed our lives. It is good for us to write out our testimony as a way to gain some confidence and clarity in our own minds, and that will help us when we are teaching or speaking to a small group of willing hearers. Here though, Jesus is talking specifically about persecution. Here Jesus is talking about what you will say, not to your peers, but when you are brought in front of authorities, leaders, those that have power over you in
Luke 12:11 “But when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you should speak in your own defense or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what it is necessary to say.”
And what you will say may be something like Peter and John in Acts 4:1-31 or as Stephen responds in Acts 6:8-7:60.
Study Verses
- Luke 11:28-32 The Sign of Jonah
- Luke 11:49-54 I Will Send Them Prophets and Apostles
- Luke 12:8-12 The Holy Spirit Will Teach You
Today’s Reading
- Luke 11:29-54
- Luke 12:1-12
