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Two Bits Media of Kansas City
Updated: July 16, 2007
Luke
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[C]2000-07 by Richard L Zorek
- Luke 1:3: Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, Theophilus' name means "Friend of God."
- Luke 1:5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zecharias, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Zacharias means "the Lord Remembers." Elizabeth is "My God is an Absolutely faithful one." These two, whose very names are affirmations of faith, were married.
- Luke 1:6: And they were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord." This does not imply they were sinless. They walked right before God and, of course, offered the proper sacrfices.
- Luke 1:50: And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation" If you fear God, His mercy is upon you.
- Luke 4:18-19: THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." If every sermon covered some of the things named here, you can be sure that someone would be getting his portion in due season.
- Luke 6:32: For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them The real test of love. Do you love those you have once hated, or even have reason to despise?
- Luke 6:44
"For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes".
And so we see that consistently throughout scripture, the symbolism of what the thorns represent is clear. Here they are false teachers who are the enemies of God's people and come bearing no fruit. Their defining characteristic is that they are thorns and bramble (brier) bushes, not a tree from which to get fruit. Here we see the same consistent "signification" of thorns and scourges as those who vex the Lord's people. Jesus says they were those of Satan bearing no fruit, not messengers of God. Likewise, these thorns which were sent to buffet Paul were not of God, but messengers of Satan. In the book of Hebrews, God speaks of those fallen away from Him..
- Luke 8:14: And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection." Jesus tells us this hearer didnt fall. He didn't go back to the world. No, he kept going. But he didnt bear any fruit.
- Luke 9:40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not." Some translations use the expression "they failed." The mission of the twelve in Luke 9:1-6 had involved power and authority over all demons.
- The time to show mercy is clearly taught by the parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:30-37). The Samaritan saw on his right hand a stranger in need and with all his might, the Samaritan gave aid and comfort. The Levite (or, modern churchman) passed by on the other side. Why? Well, obviously that's a question God doesnt bother to answer. Why doesnt matter; the churchman refused to give aid and the churchman's excuse is not given by God. What excuse can possibly be made?
- Luke 11:4: And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. One of the difficulties with that is the way it was translated and seems to imply that we need to ask God to not lead us into temptation. But as James wrote "let no man say when he is tempted that he is tempted of God!" A clearer translation might read "suffer us not to be lead into temptation."
- Luke 11:5-8: If this mans request was granted due to his peristence, even though it is inconvenient, then peristence in seeking what one really needs must pay off. The implication, then is, that if mere man will give when it is persistently sought of him, how much more God?
- Luke 11:9-10: And I say unto you, Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find: knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shll be opened. We are told to keep on asking. All three verbs are continuous. Jesus is not speaking of single activities but of those that persist. It speaks of an earnest intensity. Often our prayers are just wishes cast up to heaven and that is not real prayer.
- Luke 13:1-5: There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Jesus makes it plain that the victims had done nothing unusual to deserve their fates. They were the same as other persons. But Jesus does not stop there. He uses both tragedies to point to eternal truths relevant to everyone (Unless you repent...) He implies that we "bystanders" of catastrophe have as much to learn from the event as the victims. Catastrophe thus joins together victim and bystander in a call to repentance, by abruptly reminding us of the brevity of life.
- Luke 16:9: "And I say unto you, make to yourselves friends of the mammon of righteouness; that, when ye fail, they may recieve you into everlasting habitations." The word mammon is a Hebrew word meaning money or wealth; it is not in itself evil. It is man's use or abuse of it that is evil.
- Luke 17:10: "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." Having done all that He commands us as creatures, we must recognize that we have only done our duty. We can never build up credits with God."
- Luke 17:32: Remember Lot's wife" Hardness sets in-life loses its flavor, and all becomes dead.
- Luke 22:44: And being in anguish, he prayerd more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." Luke is the only gospel writer to mention the bloody sweat, possibly because of his interest as a physician. Sweating blood is a rare psychological phenomenon.
- Luke 24:49: "Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye...until ye be endured with power from on high." Jesus was saying, in essense, "If you try and evangelize in your own strength, you'll fall on your face in a short time. You can't do anything for me unless you're full of the Holy Ghost.
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This Page was first created on February 22, 2001.
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