Luke Part 1 Week 30

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 7:28-30 

²⁸ “I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater than he is!” ²⁹ When they heard this, all the people—even the tax collectors—agreed that God’s way was right, for they had been baptized by John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God’s plan for them, for they had refused John’s baptism. 

John the Baptist had a privileged position as a prophet because God used him to announce the coming of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who have the privilege of being in the Kingdom of God, however, are even greater than John. Those who had been baptized by John agreed that God had been right in all He did. The religious leaders rejected God’s plan.  

REFLECT 

Have you had to admit that God’s ways were right even though you first thought they were questionable? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about always admitting that God’s ways have been right even though they were questioned at first. Think of examples about how you thought at first that God should work but He chose another way that turned out as the best way. 

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 7:31-32 

³¹ “To what can I compare the people of this generation?” Jesus asked. “How can I describe them? ³² They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t weep.’” 

Jesus likened the generation in which He was living to be like spoiled children. They did not like the people’s response to anything they did. They were like the religious leaders who were frustrated because people were not following all of their religious rules—some made up and not found in their Scriptures. 

REFLECT 

Have you found joy in the simplicity of the Bible and doing what honors Jesus? 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in following Paul’s advice in Colossians 3:23. Although written to those serving others; it applies to every believer. 

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 7:33-35 

³³ “For John the Baptist didn’t spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ ³⁴ The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ ³⁵ But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.” 

“For” has the sense of “Because.” Jesus explained how the religious leaders could not be satisfied with the way people lived, no matter how they lived. Yet, “wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.” This shows the importance of noticing the way a person lives, not just going by what they say. 

REFLECT 

Does the way you live give a testimony to others? Even without talking about Jesus, people can see a difference in your life and language. 

RESPOND 

Perhaps you have heard the comment, “Be a witness. Use words if necessary.” Of course, it is realized that if the message of salvation is not given by someone, a receptive person would not know of the need to trust in Jesus as Savior. The message must be given by someone. Is it by you? 

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 7:36-38 

³⁶ One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. ³⁷ When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. ³⁸ Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. 

It was strange that a Pharisee would ask Jesus to have dinner with him. It was stranger yet when an immoral woman came in. She used expensive perfume, and after wiping her tears from Jesus’ feet, “she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.” What do you think the Pharisee would think about this? 

REFLECT 

Have you ever done anything expensive that others marveled at your devotion for Jesus? This might have involved things other than money; it could be time or a career change to be more effective in leading others to Jesus.  

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in discussing Colossians 3:15. The word “rule” was used in the first century in the sense of “umpire.” The verse seems to say, “Let the peace of God call the decision in your life.”  

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 7:39-40 

³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” ⁴⁰ Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied. 

The religious pride of the Pharisee came to the surface. He thought Jesus would not let a sinful woman show devotion to Him by doing what she did. As usual, Jesus knew the thoughts the Pharisee was thinking. Jesus said He had something to say to him. The Pharisee encouraged Him to go on. 

REFLECT 

The Pharisee did not know what he was doing to open himself up to what Jesus had to say to him. As you read the Bible are you sometimes brought up short by what it says? 

RESPOND  

Talk with a friend about the practice of reading the Bible, or listening to it, at least four times a week. How has that made a difference in your life? Many have been helped by doing so.