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Luke

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Self-justification

Luke 10:29

Most people like to think that they are 'in the right'.  Having failed to trap Jesus, the religious expert now found himself trapped when the Master told him that if he did everything right (including loving his neighbour), he would inherit eternal life (Luke 10:25-28).  But nobody, not even the most religious person, manages to get everything right: and the Jews interpreted the command to 'love your neighbour' as meaning - 'Be generous, but only to other Jews'. So, the theologian challenged Jesus to confirm his interpretation, although the text says that he 'wanted to justify himself'.

Missing the Point

Luke 10:30-37

The story of the Good Samaritan is well known even by those who have no interest in obeying Jesus.  It is assumed to be a tale of good over evil and to teach that moral spirituality is best shown by those who help others irrespective of social preferences.  And, in a small part, that is true.  But it was not the lesson which Jesus taught to the religious expert who was trying to justify himself (Luke 10:29).  

Priority Reaction

Luke 10:38-42

Two sisters welcomed Jesus into their home, but the way they treated Him was quite different.  It seems that the household had three people: Martha the older sister, with the younger Mary and their brother Lazarus (John 12:1-2).  Martha seems to have been ‘in charge’ of all practical arrangements and proactive (John 11:20; John 11:39; John 12:1-2).  She clearly believed that it was her duty to offer hospitality to their guest.  That was the typical Eastern social pattern.  It was most important to leave Jesus in the room while she prepared a meal.

A Life of Prayer

Luke 11:1

More than all the other Gospel authors, Luke writes about the prayer life of Jesus.  There are 22 references to Jesus’ prayer life in the gospel starting with His baptism (Luke 3:21) to His prayer on the cross that the crucifixion soldiers should be forgiven (Luke 23:34).  This evangelist-author was not one of the disciples surrounding Jesus, so he gained his information from interviews with eye-witnesses (Luke 1:1-4).  It was as though he asked, ‘What most impressed you about Jesus?’, and got the answer, ‘He was always praying!’  

Father First

Luke 11:2

It is always important that we know who we are talking to, otherwise we will not be able to relate properly.  Jesus taught His disciples to speak to God as a Father, and not a distant superior being or terrifyingly powerful force.  God is vastly superior to us and has great power, but He has the personality of a loving parent, who is our Creator, and wants us to communicate with Him as His children. However, Father God is also the King of everything and everybody and must be held in awesome respect ... not an easy tension to hold.  

Basic Prayer

Luke 11:3

Some people are reluctant to pray for their own needs.  They somehow think that it is selfish and God would not be pleased.  But this verse tells us that it is right to pray for the basic necessities of life: indeed, we should do so every day.  Of course, God knows that we need them (Matthew 6:32) but we should never take them for granted. Each day needs a fresh supply, like Manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4), and it is a part of Father God's kindness to provide them for us.

Getting Clean

Luke 11:4a

The biggest problem for human beings is sin.  Jesus said that no communication with God can avoid us facing up to our sin, and in the Lord’s Prayer Jesus said that we can and must ask the Father to forgive us.  The Bible uses a variety of descriptive words to identify different features of the sinful heart and sinful behaviour.  Firstly, sin is a wrong direction: missing the mark of perfection, or trespassing into areas God has forbidden.  Secondly, sin is deviating from the truth by bending, distorting or twisting it by what we think, say or do.  Thirdly, sin is rebellion against God and t

Don't Walk into Trouble

Luke 11:4b

This part of the Lord's prayer may seem strange.  Asking that God would not lead us into temptation almost presumes that God might do that!  There was only one person who He led into a direct encounter with the devil - Jesus Himself (Matthew 4:1).  But that was His purpose in coming to earth, to confront the Imposter Prince of this world, to deny his temptations, to give him notice that the days of his authority were numbered, and to demonstrate that death (Satan's greatest weapon) was useless at the resurrection.  That was Christ's job, and not ours.  Our task is to live in the victory whi

Praying Boldly

Luke 11:5-8

Many people feel unworthy to pray; they would prefer 'professionals' to pray for them.  Others feel incompetent in prayer: why should God respond to their clumsy requests?  Still others feel that as earlier prayers seem to have been unanswered, there is no point in persisting.  The same was true in Jesus' day.  So, after He had given the disciples a pattern-prayer (which we know as the Lord's Prayer in Luke 11:1-4; Matthew 6:5-15), He told this story to give them an idea of the dynamic in prayer.

Praying for an Answer

Luke 11:9-10

What great promises are contained in these verses!  The prospect of every prayer being answered should surely encourage us to talk to Father God more often and with increased expectation.  These words of Jesus ring with the finality of completion.  Indeed, Jesus said that God knows what we need even before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), and Isaiah 65:24 says that God answers even before we call.  But that is not everybody's experience, so what have we not understood?  

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