Today’s passage: Luke 22:1-23

Helpful thoughts:

• Satan was at the Last Supper.  None of the other disciples had a clue.
• According to verses 16 and 18, we will celebrate the Passover with Christ in the Kingdom!
  • Every year the Jewish people have celebrated Passover since the Last Supper has been an annual confirmation of their rejection of Jesus as their Messiah.
• The bread and the wine represent the body and blood of Jesus, which was given for us.  This is substitutionary atonement.  Christ suffered the wrath of God in our place.
• We do not participate in the Lord’s Supper to receive grace.  If we think we can be saved because of the act of drinking or eating, we are working to earn our righteousness.  Christ commanded this to be done in remembrance of Him.  His work on the cross paid the price of our sin once and for all.
• Christ’s shed blood ratified the New Covenant.  Old Testament saints looked forward to the promise of God’s Messiah.  We look back to the fulfillment of that promise.

Questions to consider:

1. If Jesus’ death ensured Satan’s defeat, why would he have sought Jesus’ arrest and death?  What does Satan’s role in his own demise show about the power of sin, the lies that it speaks, and the sovereignty of God even over those who would try to fight against Him?
2. Why is the Jewish celebration of Passover today an act of rebellion and rejection?  What should they be celebrating?
3. According to this passage and 1 Corinthians 11:26, what is the purpose of the Lord’s Supper?  In what way does this ordinance communicate a similar truth to baptism, but in an ongoing way, among the church?  What are people affirming they believe when they observe the Lord’s Supper?

Today’s passage: Luke 21:29-38

Helpful thoughts:

• The generation that will not pass away is the generation that sees the “leaves” indicating that “summer” is near.
• God’s words will never pass away.  You can count on them today.  You can count on them forever.
  • He is righteous.
  • He is all-knowing.
  • He is unchangeable.
  • He is faithful.
• The cares of this world cannot prevent us from the work Christ has called us to do.
  • Dissipation refers to the crumbling apart of our lives that results from our sin (Specifically things like drunkenness).
  • No matter how bad things get, what people need most is the grace of God for salvation through faith in Christ.
    • We are the ones who must tell the world.

Questions to consider:

1. Will this world ever be “fixed” before Jesus comes?  How does a verse like John 16:33 along with this passage give us hope and purpose in trying times?
2. When there is great temptation to worry, what is our way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13)?  What has Christ called us to do in the midst of this world and for the benefit of lost souls?
3. Who does the world want everyone to run to for peace and refuge right now?  How many answers are they giving?  How are they going about disagreeing with each other?  Why is the LORD the only way, truth, and life?  Whose cause are you giving the most attention to, effort, resources, time, etc.?

Today’s passage: Luke 21:10-28

Helpful thoughts:

• Being brought before kings in persecution is an opportunity.
  • “For my name’s sake” is a reminder that when Christians are persecuted, the One the persecutors really hate is Christ.
  • Those who truly believe in Jesus “will not perish, but have eternal life.”  In the time of persecution, God will give us grace to persevere, to bear up under the load.
    • The phrase, “Not a hair of your head will perish” should not be understood to mean that nothing bad will happen to us.  Temporal bad things can and will.  But our eternal life in Christ will only be expressed more beautifully in the face of persecution.
• Jesus is not going to return after everything gets good enough for Him to come back.  They will get worse and worse, like increasing labor pains (Matthew 24:7-8).
• Jerusalem was “desolated” in A.D. 70 by the Romans.
  • We are still in the “time of the Gentiles” and will be until Christ returns.
• There will be no mistaking when Christ truly returns.  The glory that it will bring is worthy of our close attention and hopeful expectation.

Questions to consider:

1. A desire for things to get “better” is completely natural.  How do we sometimes err in our definition of “better”?  When will things truly be better and who will bring that about?
2. How does our faith in the return of Christ give us strength and hope to persevere/endure during the midst of hardship in this life?
3. Why does the true Christian shine the light of Christ in persecution?  What desires rule the hearts of true Christians, and non-Christians, that come to the surface in their actions during attack?

Today’s passage: Luke 21:1-9

Helpful thoughts:

• The legalistic teaching and perspective of the people had brought about the idea that giving money to the Temple was a means of purchasing blessing.  The rich had money to spare, this woman did not.  Yet, being taught that her giving was necessary to secure blessing, she gave all she had.
  • Compare this with the principle of what Jesus had just said in Luke 20:46-47.  The religious leaders were happy to devour this woman’s well-being for their own selfish gain.
• It is easy to be distracted and allured by the beauty of temporal things.
  • Man’s attempt to get to heaven or find happiness our own way (An act of rebellion against God) has produced many “beautiful” wonders around the world.  If these offerings and noble stones at the Temple were given to purchase blessing, then man’s rebellion against God was the very thing that was producing and increasing the visible beauty.
• Christ is coming again!  There will be wars.  Disturbing things will happen.  Christ will return exactly when God wills.  Do not be terrified.

Questions to consider:

1. Was Jesus saying that it was precious that this woman gave the rest of her money or was He rebuking the people who put it in her head that she should?  How does the “purchase of blessing” teaching compare to the prosperity gospel teaching of sowing “seed money” today?
2. What are some things that man would call beautiful that God sees far differently?  What shapes our minds to find things beautiful?  How can we grow in seeing and valuing true beauty?
3. How can we grow in seeing that we are not led astray (Verse 8)?  Should we start getting our act together when we see a war starting or when there is a pandemic or should we be ready for Christ’s return every day (Matthew 24:44)?

Today’s passage: Luke 20:19-47

Helpful thoughts:

• The Jewish leaders had an evil plot that required evil actions and they carried them out.  The ends justified the means.  They knowingly sinned and justified it.
  • Even in their falsified attempts, they could not find any fault in Jesus!
  • Even though Jesus caused them to marvel, their minds were already made up.  They wanted Him dead.  They refused to believe that the Son of David, the Son of God was right in front of them.
• Jesus responded with his own question to the religious leaders, except his question would have led to life if they had heard and repented.
  • Had one of the religious leaders received the compliment from verse 39, they would have left happy.  Jesus is not into empty praise.  He does nothing “for a pretense”.
• Death ends marriages but it doesn’t end our existence.  God is the God of the living.  Abraham, Moses, David, Peter, Paul, and every other person in history who puts their faith in the promise of God’s grace through the sacrificed Messiah is and/or will be worshiping the LORD forever!
• And…pay your taxes.

Questions to consider:

1. What had these religious leaders already decided before they asked these questions?  It is often better to ask questions than to make accusations…however, is it possible to sinfully manipulate people with your questions?
2. If you find yourself being motivated often in the same way that the scribes are (The praise of people), what do you need to do?  Why does a heart of worship for God bring exceedingly more joy and freedom than pleasing people?
3. Who are those who will be considered worthy to attain to that age, where we will live forever like the angels and as the children of God?  What makes us worthy?  What makes others not worthy?

Today’s passage: Luke 19:45-20:18

Helpful thoughts:

• The Jews had hoped the Messiah would come to Jerusalem to drive out the Romans.  Instead, He drove out Jews who were abusing the Temple and sought true worshipers.
• The Jewish leaders understood the things Jesus was saying in this passage.  However, they told Jesus He was wrong and they were more interested in the people thinking highly of them than they were interested in the people thinking highly of God the Son.
  • One does not simply disagree with God.  To disagree is to rebel.  The rebellion of these leaders was evidenced in this passage by their desire for the praise of man.  Their reason for waiting to destroy Him was because the people looked like they would oppose such a thing.
• Matthew 28:18-20
• In the parable, Jesus told these religious leaders exactly what they wanted to do and why they wanted to do it.  They wanted Jesus dead because they wanted His glory.  But, the death of the Son brought righteousness to all who believe…and judgment to all who reject.
  • Psalm 118:19-24

Questions to consider:

1. Why is the fear of man so dangerous?  How does it hurt our walk with Christ?
2. If the prophets were beaten, imprisoned and even killed, and if Jesus was beaten and crucified, should we expect the world to think highly of us? (John 15:18-19, John 16:33)
3. There are many popular verses from the Psalm 118 passage linked above.  To what person, day and accomplishment are they referring?

Today’s passage: Luke 19:28-44

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus entered Jerusalem on the day the Law required the Passover lambs be selected (Exodus 12:2-6).
• Zechariah 9:9 – “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
  • Some of the people in this crowd who were heralding the coming of the King were truly believers.  Most however, were simply expecting freedom from Rome and the rise of Israel.  On the outside, it might have been hard to tell the difference.  (Isaiah 53:3-4)  It is possible to use words of esteem without truly esteeming the King.
    • Words of worship without truth and repentance are not worship at all.  (John 4:23)
• The stones would cry out in judgment against Israel for her rejection of Messiah.  Jesus’ statement in verse 40 was a claim to deity and a word of judgment.
  • Rome destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and according to Jesus’ words, this was a judgment for their unbelief.
  • The peace Israel needed was not with Rome.  They were at war with God.

Questions to consider:

1. Whose coronation did the unbelieving Israelites truly desire?  Why did they reject Jesus?  Why was there “worship” not only empty, but also rebellious?
2. In what ways was Jesus’ divine omniscience on display in this passage?
3. What are the “things that make for peace” that Jesus spoke of in verse 42?  What had He entered Jerusalem to do?  Why was this entry into the city “Triumphal” and who will share in the triumph?

Today’s passage: Luke 19:1-27

Helpful thoughts:

• Zacchaeus’ salvation was evidenced by repentance.
  • He didn’t share his changed life with those who were grumbling to earn their favor.  They had no authority and were unrepentant themselves.  Zacchaeus spoke to his Lord and Savior.
  • You have to know you are lost before you can be found.
• The wicked servant directly disobeyed clear orders, he blamed his master for his disobedience and called his master a thief.
• Every one of the people in this account were under the sovereignty of the Master and King, whether they wanted to be or not.
  • Some of them served their master faithfully and were rewarded.
  • Some of the people openly voiced their rejection.
  • Some (At least the one) acted like they were serving the master but were not.
    • These second and third groups were both characterized by this statement, “these…who did not want me to reign over them.”

Questions to consider:

1. When Jesus became Zacchaeus’ Lord, whose opinion was Zacchaues concerned about?  Who did he try to please?  In doing good to others and making things right, who was he truly worshiping?
2. Is there a single soul on the face of the earth who will not have to answer to God?  Do we get to choose who is in charge?  Who needs to hear the Gospel?
3. How does 1 John 1:5-9 agree with this parable?  What was the wicked servant trying to do?  What was his end?  What will happen for those who truly repent and follow Jesus?

Today’s passage: Luke 18:31-43

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus sacrificial death was not a change in plans.  God had revealed His plan and purpose for the Messiah in His Word.  Israel had this all in writing in the Old Testament.
• The disciples’ view of the coming Messiah matched that of the vast majority of Israel (Straight to the end…skipping the death, burial and resurrection).  They would not understand until God graciously opened their “eyes”.  (Luke 24:44-49)
• You can also read about Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52.
  • Bartimaeus referred to Jesus as the Son of David and as “Lord”.  He knew and believed.  Bartimaeus “saw” before he could see.
  • He also threw his cloak behind when he was being led to Jesus.  This was likely the only thing he owned.  What he did have, he left behind to follow Jesus.
  • The fact that Mark names him shows that the early church was probably familiar with who he was.  He followed Jesus continually.
  • When Jesus said, “You faith has made you well.”  He uses the word not for healing, but for salvation.  Bartimaeus faith didn’t make his eyes get better.  Jesus did that.  Bartimaeus faith was a gift from God that brought salvation.

Questions to consider:

1. Where should we look if we want to know what God is going to do and to know what He wants us to do?  Where was the information the Jewish people were missing?  How does abstaining from the Scriptures prevent the Spirit from teaching us?
2. Why did it seem easier for the blind man to leave his possessions behind than the rich young ruler?  How does one penny compare to a million dollars?  How does one penny compare to a million dollars (Which you can only possess for 70-80 years) when compared to the infinite worth of eternal life in the presence of God as a joint-heir with Jesus Christ?
3. What role does your faith in God’s future gracious promises have in how you choose to spend each day?

Today’s passage: Luke 18:15-30

Helpful thoughts:

• Having faith like a child doesn’t mean you are innocent and ignorant.  It means you realize you are helpless and hopeless without the intervention and leadership of someone who you trust to care for you.
• The rich young ruler did not come to Jesus like a child.  He came like a business man ready to make a contract.
  • Furthermore, his valuation of his righteousness was wrong.  “No one is good except God alone.”
• A person who needs saving cannot save themselves.  That is impossible.  There is only one who has the authority and the righteousness to save us.

Questions to consider:

1. What does it mean to be “saved”?  What does the word “saved” imply?  Who is hopeless and in need of rescue lest they perish?  Who is the rescuer?
2. What happens to my level of appreciation (Thanksgiving) of God the more highly I think of myself?  What happens to the level of hope I have in the life to come the more highly I value the treasures of this world?
3. Did the apostles leave their homes in order to earn salvation or did the apostles leave their homes because they had been saved and therefore had a new value system?  (Matthew 16:15-17)