Luke Part 2 Week 23

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 12:57-59 

⁵⁷ “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? ⁵⁸ When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. ⁵⁹ And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the very last penny.” 

Jesus was criticizing the crowd for not knowing how to discern the present times. Then He gave this example. They were not able to decide for themselves what was right in a legal matter. Because of their lack of wisdom they might be thrown into prison until they had paid the last of their debt. 

REFLECT 

Do you pray for wisdom about decisions that you face on a daily basis? 

RESPOND 

When faced with two options and you can only do one, read and put into action Colossians 3:15. The Greek word for “rule” in the first century was used for an umpire. You should let the peace of God call the decision in your life as you pray about the direction you should go. 

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 13:1-3 

¹ About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. ² “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? ³ Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.” 

Often when people hear of the suffering of other people they wonder if those who suffered were guilty of more sin than they. Jesus did not approve of such thinking. All people are guilty of sin and Jesus wanted the crowd He was addressing to repent and turn to God. The Greek word translated “repent” means “to change one’s mind.” It is not enough just to change your mind; it is also necessary to turn to God.  

REFLECT 

Do you know the truth of Romans 5:12 that all are guilty of sin inherited from Adam? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about the need to change one’s mind about Jesus and yourself, but also to trust in Jesus for salvation. Notice after Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus he was filled with “remorse,” but he did not turn to Jesus for salvation (see Matthew 27:3). 

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 13:4-5 

⁴ “And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? ⁵ No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.” 

Jesus brought up another example for His listeners to think about. Luke 13:5, which is a repeat of Luke 13:3, is considered by some to be the key verse in the gospel of Luke. This message was not just for the readers but for the world: repent or perish. It is assumed that after one changes his or her mind about self and about Jesus the decision would be made to turn to Him for salvation.  

REFLECT 

As you read the books in the Bible do you look for a verse that seems to be a key to the entire book? Perhaps there is a verse you could memorize that sums up the entire book. 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend and think of titles you can think of that summarize a particular chapter. Examples could be: John 3 is the salvation chapter, 1 Corinthians 13 is the love chapter, and 1 Corinthians 15 is the resurrection chapter. Some can think their way through a book of the Bible in this manner. 

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 13:6-7 

⁶ Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. ⁷ Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’” 

Jesus followed his examples with a story about a fig tree. A man had planted a fig tree and checked it for three years, but it never produced a single fig. It was useless and just taking up space so he wanted it cut down. Many Bible teachers take the fig tree to be symbolic of the nation of Israel. The religious leaders of the nation were rejecting Jesus as its Messiah. 

REFLECT 

Do you realize the importance of bearing spiritual fruit in your life? 

RESPOND 

See John 15:5-8 for what Jesus said about fruit bearing. See also Galatians 5:22-23 for the kind of fruit the Holy Spirit wishes to reveal through the believer in Jesus. 

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 13:8-9 

⁸ “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. ⁹ If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’” 

Jesus viewed the gardener as one pleading for more time before fruit could be expected. The Old Testament tells of prophets who had been sent to prepare the nation for the Messiah. How much more time should be expected before the nation would turn to its Messiah?  

REFLECT 

Think about those to whom you have witnessed and they think they have time to think it over. What if a heart problem or accident snaps them into eternity before they can decide for Jesus? 

RESPOND 

Meet with a friend and pray for loved ones who need to trust in Jesus for salvation. Read 2 Corinthians 6:2 for a reminder of the urgency for them to decide for Jesus.