Luke Part 2 Week 18

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 11:52 

⁵² “What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.” 

Jesus continued to warn the religious leaders of judgment to come. Not only were these religious leaders not going to enter the Kingdom of God, but they were also preventing others from entering. What a serious charge this was for those who boasted in their heritage and took pride in trying to keep the Old Testament law. 

REFLECT 

How is it with you? Is it your desire to take as many to heaven with you as possible? 

RESPOND 

Have you heard the expression, “The greatest thing you can do is take others to heaven with you; the worst thing you can do is to keep others from going to heaven”? You take others to heaven with you by telling them about Jesus and the need to believe in Him as Savior. 

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 11:53-54 

⁵³ As Jesus was leaving, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees became hostile and tried to provoke him with many questions. ⁵⁴ They wanted to trap him into saying something they could use against him. 

Notice the attempt of religious leaders to mention things that can be used against Jesus. That is the same today. Some who stand behind pulpits do not really believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus. Some reject that God decides what is right and wrong. It is not decided by those who deny a miracle-working God.  

REFLECT 

Do you know what your pastor believes about the resurrection of Jesus from the dead? 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend and read what the apostle Paul said the “gospel” is. There were four main points in his message in 1 Corinthians 15:3-9 introduced by the Greek word hoti literally meaning “that.” That Jesus died, that He was buried, that He was raised from the dead on the third day, and that He was seen by many eyewitnesses. Writing about AD 55, Paul was saying in effect, “If you don’t believe me, go ask the eyewitnesses,” most of whom were still alive at that time. 

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 12:1 

¹ Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy.” 

Notice what Jesus considered the “yeast” of the Pharisees to be. It was their “hypocrisy.” This word was used of actors at the time. Some would even wear a mask to indicate they were someone they were really not. A “hypocrite” is someone who is acting. Judas, who betrayed Jesus, was acting. None of the other disciples were suspicious of him.  

REFLECT 

Perhaps you feel unworthy of Jesus’ love and sacrifice for you. Everyone is unworthy; that is why Jesus needed to die for all. 

RESPOND 

Ask a friend to join you in reading Mark 14:17-19. This occasion was at the “last Supper” before the crucifixion of Jesus and each disciple wondered if Jesus was referring to him. Even Judas asked the question alluding to Jesus as “Rabbi” (see Matthew 26:23-25). 

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 12:2-3 

² “The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. ³ Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!” 

In spite of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, Jesus warned that someday everything would be revealed. This statement was letting everyone know that someday there would be no secrets when they stood before God.  

REFLECT 

Determine to live with a thankful heart for all that Jesus has done for you. Seek to forgive others as you have been forgiven (see Ephesians 4:31-32). 

RESPOND 

Read Hebrews 4:12 that indicates even today the Word of God, “exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Be sure to be engaged in reading or listening to the Bible at least four times a week so it can have a significant impact on your life. Talk about this with a friend. 

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 12:4-5 

⁴ “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. ⁵ But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.” 

Some in that day—as some in this day—faced the possibility of death for claiming to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Jesus told His listeners that their greatest fear should be what God would do to unbelievers: He would throw them into hell. The Greek word used for “hell” is geenna, sometimes written as “gehenna,” which referred to the lake of fire.  

REFLECT 

Do these statements from Jesus help you to be grateful for what He did for you when He died on the cross for your sin? By believing in Him you are delivered from all condemnation (see John 3:16-18). 

RESPOND 

There are two key judgments in the future. Whichever a person goes to will depend on a decision made in this lifetime. Those who know Jesus as Savior will have their good works judged, according to 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. Those who reject Jesus in this life will have their evil works judged, according to Revelation 20:11-15. According to Hebrews 9:27, there is no second chance for salvation after one leaves this life.