* "The Lord's Prayer" was made possible by "The Artsy Bible Study".
>1. What does it mean that Jesus prayed?
* Luke 11:1a "One day Jesus was praying in a certain place."
* Matthew 6:9-13 places the Lord's Prayer in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus taught this prayer before, but obviously the disciples seldom prayed it and perhaps never prayed it. Thus, they forgot. There is a slight possibility that this disciple was not at the Sermon on the Mount.
* Jesus came to his Father for direction, strength, comfort, and help.
* "One day" -Luke may not be following chronological order.
* "was praying" -The original Greek is "proseuchomai" meaning communication with a deity. "Supplication" and "worship" are included in the definition.
* "in a certain place" -By saying Jesus was praying in a certain place it indicates that he prayed there often and before.
* Prayer in the Bible involves the dialogue between God and people, especially His covenant partners. (Holman Bible Dictionary).
* There are many variations in the manuscripts. in this prayer; but they seem to have proceeded principally from the desire of rendering this similar to that in Matthew. Attempts of this nature have given birth to multitudes of the various readings in the MSS. of the New Testament. It should be remarked, also, that there is no vestige of the doxology found in Matthew, in any copy of St. Luke's Gospel. (Adam Clarke's Commentary)
>What request did his disciples make of him?
* Luke 11:1b "When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.'"
* "When he finished" -The disciples were nearby. Jesus had not gone alone to an unknown location. This time the disciples saw him praying. A conversation can be assume to begin because they saw him praying.
* "one of his disciples said to him" -The one who asked is not stated. Since John the Baptist is mentioned we can assume it was one of them that was with John for at least a little while. The person who asked this is apparently not identifying themself as one of John's disciples.
* "Lord" -"Krios" in the original Greek often translated into English in most translation as "Lord".
* "teach us to pray" -This indicates that the disciples, though all Jewish men seldom if ever prayed. Some, if not all would have gone to Hebrew school where one would think prayer would have been taught. Apparently, prayer was not a topic taught in Hebrew school nor much of a topic during the Sabbath meeting in synagogue.
* "John" -John the Baptist. Several of the disciples went to listen to John. (John 1:35-37)
>Why? (When had they seen Jesus pray before? (9:18, 29, etc.)
* Luke 9:18 "Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, 'Who do the crowds say I am?'"
* Luke 9:29 "As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightening."
* They had seen John and his disciples pray as well as him pray. They too wanted to learn how to pray. They obviously had not or at least not much.
* John delivered to his disciples a particular form of prayer; and he did so, in my opinion, because the time required it. The state of affairs among the Jews was, at that time, exceedingly corrupted. Every thing connected with religion had so miserably fallen, that we need not be surprised to find few among them, by whom prayer was offered in a proper manner.
Besides, it was proper, that the minds of believers should be excited, by prayer, to hope and desire the promised redemption, which was at hand. John might, therefore, have collected, out of various passages of Scripture, a certain prayer adapted to the time, and approaching more nearly to the spiritual kingdom of Christ, which had already begun to be revealed. (Calvin's Commentaries)
>Why did they mention John's disciples?
* Some of them had been with John the Baptist. (John 1:35-37)
* They had seen John preach and raise up disciples.
* They had seen John teach his disciples to pray and how to pray.
>2. What are the prayer topics Jesus gave? (2-4)
* Luke 11:2-4 "'Father, hallowed by your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.'"
* "Father, hallowed by your name" -A formal salutation, not a prayer topic.
* Prayer topics include:
1) Your kingdom come.
2) Give us each day our daily bread.
3) Forgive us our sin.
4) Lead us not into temptation.
>Which ones are about God's concerns, and which are about our personal needs and problems?
* The first two are God's concerns. The last two are about personal needs and problems.
>3. How does Jesus teach us to address God?
* "When you pray, say: 'Father...'"
* Conversations with God His Father were an essential and desired part of Jesus' life. For three years, his disciples watched him pray in solitude. John the Baptist also prayed and taught his disciples to pray. Now Jesus's disciples asked him to teach them how to pray.
Elsewhere, Jesus taught them when and where to pray. He also gave them examples of what not to do when praying. Here, he started by giving them an example of what to pray about.
"Father..." God is my loving Father. He gives and maintains my existence. He is the breath of life. He provides substance. He disciplines me. He teaches me. He is always with me. Most of all, he loves me, as all righteous fathers do. All he does is based on love. God my Father so loved me that he sent his one and only Son to die for me. As was done for me, so I should do to others.
My heavenly Father is holy. Holiness is being perfect, transcendent, and pure, thus evoking adoration and reverence. My holy Father, God evokes respect, reverence, and awe. He is frightening beyond belief. He is perfect power, wisdom, existence, and perfect love and beauty. My Father, God is life, the desire of all mankind. God is ecstasy perfection.
My Father is invincible. He has an everlasting kingdom beyond human imaginations of holy perfection. His kingdom has been coming and will continue to come. No power in heaven, earth, or hell can prevail against my Father's kingdom. He is always advancing. He is never retreating. His perfect love cannot be denied.
God is, always has been, and always will be my Father.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 11:1-2.
>What does it mean to call God "Father"?
* It means that we can have a personal 1-to-1 relationship with God as one would have with a perfect human father.
* God is not an abstract force or power or the all of nature. He is not inanimate or abstract.
>What does this teach about our basic relationship with him?
* It means that I look to God as my Father. It means he looks at me as his son.
* God is loving, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, long suffering, and forgiving in his dealing with me.
* God disciplines, trains, and raises me up to be like his one and only true Son, Jesus.
* It means I can look up to him with respect, pride and awe.
* It means I can complete trust him and have absolute faith in him.
>What does it mean that we all call him Father? (Matthew 6:9, "our")
* Matthew 6:9 "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven...''"
* It means that physically all people in the world are my brothers and sister.
* It means that spiritually all true Christians are my brothers and sister. We are all seen as the same in God's eyes. He treats us in the same way.
* It means we should love one another as a brother or sister.
* It means we should respect one another as a brother or a sister.
* It means we should help one another as a brother or a sister.
>4. What does "Hallowed be you name" mean?
* "Hallowed be your name"
* Hallowed means to make or regard as holy; to sanctify and/or considerate.
* This is on the personal, church and world level.
>What does it man practically to honor or glorify God's name? (John 17:4; and 1 Peter 4:13)
* John 17:4 "'I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.'"
* 1 Peter 4:13 "But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."
* On the personal level to bring honor to God with our life, words, actions, hearts, and all of us.
* At many times this means that we not bring honor to our self.
>What does it mean to dishonor his name? (Romans 2:24)
* Romans 2:24 "You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.'"
>5. What does it mean to pray "Your kingdom come"? (Matthew 6:10)
* God's kingdom is a spiritual kingdom. It is where ever God's rules. God rules with justice, righteousness, gentleness, mercy and love.
* This prayer is on a personal, church, and world (historical) level.
>What does it mean personally?
* In the personal life it means that Jesus come into my heart, that he may rule there.
* It means that we make Jesus the King and Lord of our life.
>For the world and history?
* On the church level it means that God's kingdom may spread to other people all acrost the world on a 1-to-1 personal basis.
* On the world (historical) level is means Jesus to come again as he promised and establish his rule over the world instead of Satan's rule who is not prince of this world.
* "The Angelus" was made possible by "The Artsy Bible Study".
>6. What is the first petition about our personal needs?
* Luke 11:3 "''Give us each day our daily bread.''"
* Daily bread is what ever is needed to maintain our existence.
* This is both spiritual and physical.
* On the physical level it may be food, water, ect.
* On the spiritual level it is Jesus. Jesus said, "'Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.'" (John 17:3) And "In him was life, and that life was the light of men." (Jn. 1:4) Jesus is the word of God. (Jn. 1:1,14) So the Bible his words are our spiritual food. "'The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.'" (Jn 6:63b)
* Jesus continues teaching his disciples the topics that are important to pray about. He had mentioned these prayer topics including a few more during The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:9-13). "Give us each day our daily bread," is stated both times./p>
God is the one who gives me food including physical bread. The Lord God gave the Israelites a substance to eat that was like unleavened bread while they were in the desert after they left Egypt. The Israelites called it manna (Exodus 16:31). Manna came with eating instructions that included only collecting enough for each day except Friday and Saturday (Sabbath). On the Sabbath, no bread would appear on the desert floor, so they were to take a double portion on Friday./p>
After Jesus fed the 5,000 who sat all day to listen to his teaching he left them. They followed because they wanted more free food. They asked for manna like their forefathers had been given (John 6:30-31). "Jesus said to them, 'I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world... I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:32-33, 35)/p>
Jesus is life. In him is the life of men. Without him I am dead. Without Jesus in me, I will die and my body will decay. With Jesus I am. Without Jesus, I am not.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 11:3.
>Why "daily"? (Proverbs 30:8b-9a; Ex 16:14-21)
* Proverbs 30:8b-9 "...give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may becaome poor and steal and so dishonor the name of my God."
* Exodus 16:14-21 "'This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.' The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed.''"
* Deuteronomy 8:2-3 "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD."
* Just as we daily need bread and food, daily we need spiritual food which is communion with God.
>What does it mean to pray for "our" daily bread?
* It means that we should pray for others needs not just our own.
>7. What is the second petition about our personal need?
* Luke 11:4a "'Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.'"
* "And forgive us our sin" is a direct word-for-word translation from the original Greek, "Kai aphiemi hemin hemon hamartia" (a transliteration). There are no extra words and no excluded words. To appreciate what is being asked of God, I need to understand and accept that I possess sin (hamartia). So, what is sin? What is hamartia ("Chata" in Hebrew.)?
"Hamartia" and "chata" literally mean "to miss the mark". When these words are used to describe sin, they mean that the person has missed the mark that God has established for the person's life and being. It does not mean that I discover who I am, sin and all, and accept that this is how I was made and intended to be. I was not made to sin, that is I was not made to miss the mark. Rather, I chose sin. I chose not to live to God's potential and intent for me. Sin is choosing to miss the mark I can hit. And that mark is good. God's mark for me is not bad, wrong, or misfortune. God's mark for me is goodness and good accomplished. All humans except Jesus missed God's personal mark for them. Therefore, sin is more than violating God's law.
Sin this like this. I create an item to do something specific and good. My creation is perfectly made to accomplish my intent and that intent is good for the item I created. I give that device the ability to make choices. From the beginning, the item makes choices that keep it from meeting the good intent that it was made for. The choices rotten the device to a point where it is incapable of completing its good and perfect intended purpose. The device missed the mark and in the process destroyed itself.
When I say, "And forgive me my sin" I am asking for absolution and to be made right again.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 11:4
>Why is it important to ask for forgiveness?
* Without forgiveness of sin we remain in a state of having a broken relationship with God. At the end of this worldly life we will go to hell.
>How can we receive the grace of forgiveness? (John 3:16; Matthew 1:21; John 1:29
* John 3:16 "'For God so loved that world that he sent his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.'"
* Matthew 1:21 "'She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, becaues he will save his people from their sins.'"
* John 1:29 "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'"
* Through the blood of Jesus.
>Why must we forgive others? (Matthew 18:21-35)
* Matthew 18:21 "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?""
* Matthew 18:35 "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
* Because God forgave us many sins.
* Jesus taught his disciples what to pray, including asking God for the forgiveness of sins against him (4a). Then he taught them to tell God, "...for we also forgive everyone who sins against us." The original Greek reads, "...for we forgive everyone who is indebted to us," which is like Matthew 6:12, "...as we also have forgiven our debtors." Sin is a debt, to be either paid back or as Jesus teaches to be pardoned. If someone sincerely apologizes and asks me to forgive them, then I am to forgive.
We are not making a request for a debt against me can only be forgiven by me. Rather, Jesus intends me to declare a statement of truth, a confession that am doing to others what was done unto me. Jesus used several parables to get this message to sink into thick skulls and hard hearts. Many messages have been given on love; God's love, and how I am to love. Well, one way I am to love is to forgive others.
Jesus makes it clear, the two go hand in hand. I should not ask for forgiveness and then not forgive others. If I am expecting God to forgive me, then I better forgive those who owe me. Not only is forgiving others good for others but forgiving others is good for me. For one thing, it teaches me just how hard forgiving me is for God. And in some cases forgiving a debt someone owes me could be similar to sacrificing that which I love. Can I so carelessly ignore God's sacrifice to forgive me?
>8. What is the third personal petition?
* Luke 11:4b "''...And lead us not into temptation.''"
* "lead"
* "not into temptation"
>Why should we pray not to be led into temptation? (1 Peter 5:8; and 1 Corinthians 10:12)
* 1 Peter 5:8 "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
* 1 Corinthians 10:12 "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!"
* Jesus taught this prayer to his followers, those seeking to learn from and follow him. After Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist he was full of the Holy Spirit. Luke 4:11-12 states, "Jesus... was led by the Spirit into the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry." Perhaps Jesus was thinking of this when he taught his disciples to pray, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." (Some old manuscripts do not have the last half of that verse.) The period of temptation was hard.
God does not tempt (James 1:13). The devil and those who follow him are the tempters (Matthew 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5). Temptation's power over me is only when I have an evil desire. If I had no evil desire, then I could easily resist temptation. Temptation would have no power over me. If an evil desire remains in my soul, then I can fall when tempted (James 1:14).
Maturity in the Lord contains the moral strength to resist sin. Defeating the tempter is resisting sin which is hard. Adam and Eve did not resist temptation's allure. Their desire led to sin, and their sin led to death (James 1:15). Growth to maturity continues when I am tempted and resist its allure. I fight off the evil desire in my soul. When I pass the test, the evil desire is reduced in power over me. Do not entertain the evil desire in my mind. If I do, then the power of evil increases. Then, when tempted I am less likely to resist that which destroys soul, body, mind, family, and society.
II. The Spirit of Prayer (5-13)
* The illustration by an unknown artist and commissioned by The Providence Lithograph Company in 1903 is now in public domain. This card was used in Bible Sunday School to aid in teaching children. Luke 11:9 is called "Golden Text".
>9. What does the parable in verses 5-8 teach about the effectiveness of bold and persistent prayer?
* Luke 11:5-8 "Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.' "Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
* "'yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.'"
* Boldness and persistence can create annoyance in humans. We cannot annoy God. Rather, he is moved by faith that keeps trying.
* After Jesus taught his disciples topics to include in their conversations with God he told some parables. The first concerns a friend who comes asking at midnight for food to serve to an unexpected traveling friend. He is not asking for selfish things. He is asking so he can help another.
"Yo, neighbor," he calls as he bangs on the door and repeatedly rings the bell. "Open the door man. I know you are home." He looks in the window. Across the street, a light turns on a porch. "Come on man. Open the door. I need food, three loaves of bread will do. My buddy showed his face at my door, stopping while on a journey. He's hungry and I do not have anything to give him, not even leftover pizza crust. You and I ate up all my food at the game party on Sunday."
An answer comes over the door speaker. Another light turns on across the street. "Stop ringing the bell fool. The security system is set, the doors are all locked and the kids are down for the night. Leave me be. They got school tomorrow and I gotta go to work early. Leave me be. I cannot give you anything." The friend at the door rings the doorbell a few more times. "I am not leaving till you give me the food." His friend inside gets up and supplies what is asked for.
Jesus makes the point of this parable in verse 8. The man inside would not give him what he requested because they were friends. Yet, he was forced to give what was requested because the friend urgently pressed the point to annoyance. He was persistent.
Therefore, keep asking again and again, and continue in prayer. Apostle Paul wrote, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:18)
Listen to the above comments on Luke 11:5-8.
>What are the instructions and promises in verses 9 and 10?
* Luke 11:9-10 "'So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.'"
* "ask... seek..." -Both require us to do something. If we do not ask, how can we expect to receive?
* I ask for what I wish, seek for what I miss, and knock for that from which I feel shut out. Jesus gives assurance that I will receive, find, and the door will be opened. The point in these two verses is confidence and faith in God.
I have owned a coo-coo clock for many years. The other day, I was changing the time after a long vacation trip when the hour arm snapped off. It flew quicker than my eye could see. I heard, "Ting," for it hit something somewhere in the direction I logically believed it had flown. I did not see it, but believe it went that way.
Not much was in the direction I logically concluded it flew. However, when I looked and looked again it was not to be seen. Still, I cannot find it. Every once in a while I know I will look for it again in the hope that it can be found. The clock will not be whole and correct until it gets its hour arm back on. I cannot be sure that I will ever find the coo-coo clock hour arm.
However, Jesus wants me to be sure that I will get what I ask God for. I just need to be persistent in faith. I am reminded of the Syrophoenician woman who was persistent in asking Jesus to heal her daughter of demon possession. "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." (Matthew 15:27; Mark 7:28)
Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 11:9-10.
>What do verses 11-13 teach about God and prayer?
* Luke 11:11-13 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
* He gives us what is good for us.
* He loves us.
* Prayer is like talking to a good human father.
* Jesus' teaching in these three verses is among the best that illustrates prayer is a religious word that means personal communication with God, my Father. The communication is similar to that of a father with a child. It is not business communication. It is not a drama or a play. It is not a political or legal exchange. Prayer is an exchange between parent and child, creator with creation, exulted with blessed. Prayer is personable, emotional, honest, logical, and open communion.
Jesus is conveying to his disciples to have prayer boldness, persistence, and assurance that God answers his children. Jesus' teaching is that if a loving human father who has flaws and sins (evil from God's perspective) gives good gifts when asked, then how much more will my Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?
The Lord's prayer in verses 2 through 4 does not include asking for the Holy Spirit. Yet, here Jesus is saying God will give the Holy Spirit if I ask. The Holy Spirit is the highest gift that God the Father can give. As fish and eggs sustain physical life, so the Holy Spirit sustains spiritual life in a very personal, loving, and powerful way. Ask and you will receive. Be persistent and wait for the Lord to supply. The disciples would not receive the Holy Spirit until Pentecost, four to six months from this moment.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 11:11-13.
>About the best gift God wants to give us if we ask?
* "how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!'"
III. Jesus and Beelzebub (14-28)
* Titled "Exorcism of Mute Demon", this illustration from a book by Luther, Martin, 1483-1546 is now in public domain. The book's title is "Biblia, das ist DJe gantze H. Schrifft Alten und Newen Testaments, Deutsch / D. Martjin Luthers ; Mit dem Anhang des dritten und vierdten Buchs Esra, Wie auch dritten der Maccabeer ... vor wenig Jahren von der Theologischen Facultät zu Wittenberg wie aus Herrn D. Jacobi Welleri, Weiland Churfürstl. Sächs. Ober-Hoff-Predigers vorhergesetzter Vorrede an den Christlichen Leser zur gnüge erhellet, von neuem übersehen und darauff in gross Quart gedruckt, Nun aber durch GOttes Gnade zum erstenmahl in diss bequeme leserliche Format treulich nachgedrucktet und eingerihtet. Auch durchgehends mit eingedruckten grossen alle durch einen Kunstreichen Maler gantz neu gezeichneten und von berühmtesten Künstl. gestochenen Kupfern gezieret"
This woodcut illustrating by Matthias Scheits' (c. 1630-1700) is depiction Jesus casting out a demon, enabling a mute man to speak.
Courtesy of the Digital Image Archive, Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University: http://www.pitts.emory.edu.
>10. Why were some amazed at Jesus' and others condescending? (14-16) Who is Beelzebub?
* Luke 11:14-16 "Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed.
15 But some of them said, "By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons."
16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven."
* Matthew 12:24-37 record a similar if not the same event. Mark 3:20-30 records Jesus being accused of being possessed by Beelzebub and teaching this on a different occasion.
* "a demon that was mute" -The demon would not allow its host to speak.
* This is not the first time Jesus was called Beelzebub. Jesus is recorded telling his disciples, "A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!" (Matthew 10:24-25)
* "Beelzebub, the prince of demons" -The original Greek is "Beezeboul" or "Beelzeboul" (a transliteration). The word is of Chaldee origin, a name of Satan meaning the "Baal (lord) of the fly", properly, the lord of the dung pile where flies come from. Baal-ze-bub was a special deity of the Ekronits.
* "demons" -The original Greek is "daimonion" (a transliteration), also "dae-mon" or "dai-mon" of Greek mythology, where it is the name of an inferior deity, such as a deified hero. Late Latin is "daemOHn" refering to a spirit, a non-corporeal being. Being only spirit a demon can enter the body of a human and animals such as when some asked Jesus to be driven into pigs. Existence in a body is better than a spirit not being in a body because a body can intact with space/matter creation. Created spirits cannot interact with space/matter creation. There is a natural world and a spiritual world (1 Corinthians 15:35-50).
* Jesus had been driving out demons for three years. So did the twelve and the seventy-two when he sent them out. Now a great crowd followed him. The religious leaders were jealous. Their pride and pay were hurt. They attacked Jesus's character and ministry. They claimed, "By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons." (15; Matthew 12:24) Other people tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. (16) They believed and spread the gossip that Jesus was a fraud, not sent by God, and working with evil forces.
The very people God chose to be a witness to the world opposed Jesus every chance they could. They had no evidence that their statements and beliefs were true. They relied on their religious institutions and propaganda to keep them in the people's favor.
I must always examine my heart to see why I say what I do and why I do what I do. The religious leaders believed God called them to instruct and lead the people. As their power and influence increased, so did pride and fear increased in their soul. Pride and fear began controlling their actions. Good intentions not rutted in the work God has established will drive a person to oppose God's work.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 11:14-16.
>How is asking for a sign like this wrong? How did Jesus show that the Pharisees' thinking was nonsense? (17-20)
* Luke 11:17-20 "Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.
18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub.
19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you."
* "Jesus knew their thoughts" -A gift of the Holy Spirit that some of the prophets exhibited.
* "Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom" -Satan has a kingdom. A kingdom is comprised of followers and/or people under his power and domain. In this sense, Satan is a king, or proper a lord.
* "I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub." -Jesus is addressing the silly repeated statement of the jealous religious leaders.
* "by whom do your followers drive them out" -Jesus did not say whether the followers of the Pharisees (Matthew 12:24) actually drove out demons, but they claimed to drive them out by the power of God, and Jesus claimed the same. So to accuse Jesus of using Satanic power was implicitly to condemn their own followers as well. (NIV Study Bible)
* The illustration by an unknown artist is now in public domain. The date is January 24, 1909. The Sunrays cards are 3 x 5 inches (76 x 127 mm). This card was used in Bible Sunday School to aid in teaching children. Luke 11:28 is the cited passage. The back has Bible study commentary, questions, and answers. The cards were published quarterly, at ten cents per year, by The General Council Publication House, 1522 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA. The cards were "entered at the Post-Office at Philadelphia as second-class matter".
>What should have Jesus's work signify to them? (20)
* "Jesus knew their thoughts"
* But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you."
* Jesus is full of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit knows everyone's thoughts to the deepest crevices, the dark hidden places, thoughts that haunt our every moment, and the soul's joy. So, Jesus knew the thoughts of those who came to him. Jesus knows every thought through the Spirit right now.
The jealous and fearful religious leaders were attempting to rationalize their objections to Jesus with the opinion that Jesus was driving out unclean spirits by Satan. They could not accept that Jesus had authority over all spirits because he was the Messiah and the Lord of Israel, the heavens, and all the earth. Jesus points out the ridiculous assumptions they made about the kingdom of Satan.
Jesus first tells the religious leaders and all who want to hear that Satan leads a kingdom. If Satan drove out those who followed him he would cause division that would turn into insurrection and civil war that would eventually end the kingdom of Satan. If Satan gave power to Jesus, who opposed him in every way, Satan would be supporting an attack on himself through his enemy.
Secondly, Jesus points out that some of their followers had driven out demons. Jesus did not say whether the followers of the Pharisees actually drove out demons, but they claimed to drive them out by the power of God, and Jesus claimed the same. So to accuse Jesus of using Satanic power was implicitly to condemn their own followers as well.
Jesus firmly states that he drives out demons with the finger of God. This is nothing for God Almighty. Jesus' word is the finger of God.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 11:17-20.
>Who is the strongman who is stronger than the devil?
* Luke 11:21-22 "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.
22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils."
* "strong man" -Satan is the first strong man in this parable.
* "someone stronger" -Jesus is the second strong man in this parable.
* Jesus teaches through a parable that he has ultimate power. Jesus attacks Satan who also has power. Jesus overpowers Satan and utterly defeats him. Thus, Jesus rescues people from Satan's evil rule. Satan never wins.
Addressing the religious leaders, Jesus also teaches that a person is either against him or for him. Neutrality does not exist. The one who does not intentionally support Jesus opposes him. Is a person who goes to church, but does nothing in the kingdom of God neutral? No.
I was captive in Satan's dungeons. Jesus defeated Satan and rescued me. He brought me into his fold and made me a citizen of the kingdom of God. Jesus always wins. Why would I return to the dungeon?
Listen to the above comments on Luke 11:21-23.
>11. What does verse 23 mean?
* Luke 11:23 "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters."
* "He who is not with me" -Perhaps referring to the leaders who came and went. But most definitely referring to those who do not practice what he taught.
* "he who does not gather with me" -Harvest people.
* The one who does not intentionally support Jesus opposes him, making neutrality impossible. Even the worker in 9:50, whom the disciples described as "not one of us," was apparently a believer, acting in Jesus' name, and Jesus did not condemn him. (NIV Study Bible)
>In the parable what does the evil spirit do to a man? (24-26) What is the result of an unrepentant heart? How does this parable illustrate the root problem of the self-righteous and legalistic Pharisees?
* Luke 11:24-26 "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.'
25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.
26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first."
* "evil" -Anything that is not of God is evil.
* "I will return" -A heart that does not have Jesus in it through the Holy Spirit is susceptible to demon possession.
* "seeking rest" -A evil spirit is always conflicted. However, living in a human is better than wondering around naked.
* Jesus's parable illustrates what will happen to a person and society that does not have God's presence after it has been freed of demons. Jesus continues to address the comment that he drives out demons with the power of Satan.
When asked Jesus will drive out a demon. That is only the beginning of a life's restoration. A person's actions and thoughts must be cleaned up and kept clean. I need to keep my side of the street clean. Most importantly one must allow God and his word to dwell in the heart. The Spirit of God will live in the heart if allowed.
When the Holy Spirit lives in the heart, a demon will not enter. Satan cannot creep in, stay in, and plant thoughts in the brain if the Holy Spirit dwells. Oil and water do not mix. Satan will constantly bombard a person from the outside, but he will never live where the Holy Spirit dwells.
However, when the evil spirit returns and finds the Holy Spirit is not allowed in, it will bring seven more wicked with it to dwell in the same person. The person has a relapse and life spirals down again. All improvement is lost. Yet, hope remains for God through the grace offered because of Jesus will forgive again when a heart is humble and asks for help a second and third time.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 11:24-28.
>How did a woman have the wrong concept of being blessed?
* Luke 11:27-28 "As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."
28 He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
* "As Jesus was saying these things" -Seems she interrupted Jesus.
* "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."
* We are very prone to bless persons from external privileges, and the favors of Divine Providence, which do not at all change or affect the hearts of those to whom they are given; but God looks with another eye upon persons. Christ doth not here deny his mother to have been blessed; her cousin Elisabeth (Lu 1:42) had pronounced her blessed amongst women, and the angel had before called her highly favored, and told her that she had found favor with God. But our Savior here declared that her blessing did not so much lie in that her womb bare, and her paps gave suck to him, as in that she was one who heard and kept the word of God; for he pronounces all such as did so principally blessed. Nor must we separate what God hath put together; the blessing is not pronounced to those who barely hear the word of God, the blessed and the unblessed pariter adeunt, pariter audiunt, they may go to church together, and hear the word together, but the blessing is to those that hear the word of God, and keep it. See Jas 1:22-23. The word to some that hear it may be a savour of death unto death. The soul that through grace is made obedient to the will of God, is a more happy soul than the virgin Mary was, considered merely as the mother of Christ, without the consideration of her faith and holiness. (Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible)
* What our Lord had just said about the danger of a relapse after a superficial repentance (v. 26) struck the woman as so true to life (probably through some unfortunate experience in her own family), that she was moved to express her appreciation of His teaching openly. Christ does not deny that His mother is blessed, but declares that to hear His words and obey them, and so to be brought into spiritual fellowship with God, is blessing infinitely greater. (A Commentary on the Holy Bible: The One Volume Bible Commentary.)
