Luke Part 2 Week 22

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 12:45-46 

⁴⁵ “But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? ⁴⁶ The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.” 

Jesus continued to make the analogy between a master returning home and the Son of Man returning. Those expecting Him will be rewarded, but those not expecting Him will be punished. One must not make each point in a parable represent some doctrinal truth. What could be expected in the earthly situation is not necessarily the embodiment of some spiritual truth. Some suggest an alternate reading of “cut the servant in pieces” is “severely scourge him.” 

REFLECT 

Think how bad it will be for those who have rejected Jesus when He returns. 

RESPOND 

Some people act as if they will never have to give account to God for their actions. They do not believe what 2 Corinthians 5:10 says. They will face Jesus someday, however, and give account whether they think so now or not. Philippians 2:9-11 indicates that even unbelievers will have to someday bow the knee and confess that Jesus is Lord.  

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 12:47-48 

⁴⁷ “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. ⁴⁸ But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.” 

There will be different degrees of punishment at the time of the judgment. The wrong-doer who is unknowledgeable will not be as severely punished as the one who clearly understood what is required and refused to believe. Observe the truth that applies to many today, “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.” 

REFLECT 

Think about the ways God has blessed you. Do you consider you have been “given much”? 

RESPOND 

Join with another believer and talk about being given much in comparison to what so many in the world have. Do you realize that God requires more of you because you have been given much? What are some ways you are doing more because you have been blessed? 

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 12:49-51 

⁴⁹ “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! ⁵⁰ I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. ⁵¹ Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!” 

For some who think Jesus came only to bring peace, this passage says otherwise. Jesus knew that a horrible death awaited Him, and He wished it were already over. His presence and what people believe about Him and His teaching has divided people since the time He was on earth.  

REFLECT 

Think of how the burden of Jesus’ future suffering and death weighed on Him.  

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about how one can look beyond a trial to the relief of being on the other side of it. Read Hebrews 12:1-4 to be reminded how thinking about what Jesus went through should encourage believers today.  

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 12:52-53 

⁵² “From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against. ⁵³ ‘Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’” 

It is sad when a nation is split apart but sadder still when families are. In some parts of the world there are even honor killings when a child turns to Jesus in faith. How is it in your home? Does your immediate family and extended family think alike about Jesus and believing in Him for salvation? 

REFLECT 

Pray for harmony in your family about believing the same spiritual truths about Jesus.  

RESPOND 

With a friend read Matthew 10:34-39 for a passage similar to Luke 12:52-53. The Hebrew idioms were ones of contrast. Your love for parents and relatives should seem like hate in contrast to the extent of your love for Jesus.  

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 12:54-56 

⁵⁴ Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right. ⁵⁵ When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is. ⁵⁶ You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times.” 

Jesus rebuked the crowd. They were wise enough to predict what the weather would be in a few days, but they did not know how to “interpret the present times.” Notice that Jesus did not say they did not know how to interpret “future times.” He was referring to what they were seeing at the present that was significant.  

REFLECT 

As you look at world events now, do you understand how they may point to the future? 

RESPOND 

In the Old Testament there were those who understood the signs of the times for Israel. See 1 Chronicles 12:32 that tells about the tribe of Issachar. Read also 2 Timothy 3:1-5 that shows what it will be like in the last days of the Church age that will conclude with the rapture of believers (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Talk with a friend about whether you are seeing these conditions now, which would indicate we are living in the last days even though no one knows the exact day Jesus will return.