Luke Part 3 Week 17

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 21:32-33 

³² “I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things have taken place. ³³ Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.” 

There are differences of opinion about the meaning of “generation” in this passage. Some take it to mean the generation that saw Israel become a nation in 1948. Those born that year would be 75 in 2023. The word can also mean “nation” and the Jewish listeners may have thought the nation would be wiped out; Jesus assured them that was not true. Others take “generation” to mean the ones who see these signs Luke is writing about just before Jesus returns to earth.  

REFLECT 

Whatever the meaning of “generation,” we are much closer to Jesus’ return now than when Luke wrote these Scriptures.  

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about praying for your loved ones to realize they need to be ready for the return of Jesus. No prophecy needs to be fulfilled before Jesus catches believers up to heaven (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Those left on earth then will go into the seven-year Tribulation. But no one has a guarantee of living until that time.  

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 21:34-36 

³⁴ “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, ³⁵ like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. ³⁶ Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.” 

Some may think they are not guilty of “carousing and drunkenness” but what about “the worries of this life”? Some are so occupied with earthly concerns they do not think about truths relating to eternity. The old expression is not true that said, “Some are so heavenly minded they are no earthly good.” Followers of Jesus are citizens of heaven as well as citizens of earth. 

REFLECT 

While you are concerned about the things and people of this world, are you also concerned about the things of heaven? 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in reading what the apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:3-7 about believers being true soldiers of Christ. Verse 4 in this passage says “Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.” As someone has said, “There is nothing wrong with having a business as long as the business does not have you.” 

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 21:37-38 

³⁷ Every day Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and each evening he returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives. ³⁸ The crowds gathered at the Temple early each morning to hear him. 

This passage reveals that as Luke wrote this the place to go to reach Jewish people was in the temple. Later the apostle Paul followed this practice of going to the Jew first, but when his teaching was rejected he went to the Gentiles. The people went to the temple early to hear Jesus teach. Scriptures available in the earthly days of Jesus were what is now called the Old Testament. Those are the Scriptures Jesus was teaching. 

REFLECT 

Do you realize the importance of the Old Testament in helping you to understand the New Testament? 

RESPOND 

With a friend read Isaiah 53 to see what a Jewish person can read and realize it is referring to Jesus, the Messiah, meaning the same as Jesus Christ. 

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 22:1-2 

¹ The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is also called Passover, was approaching. ² The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction. 

Notice the masses were pleased with what Jesus was doing and saying, but the religious leaders were not. The leaders wanted to kill Jesus but were afraid of the crowds following Him. These leaders were desperate to think of a plan as to how they could arrest and kill Jesus without opposition from the crowds. 

REFLECT 

As you watch television and listen to some preachers on the radio, do you sense some are not believers in what the Bible teaches?  

RESPOND  

Remember to do as the Bereans did during Bible times. Read Acts 17:10-12 to see what they did when Paul and Silas came to their area to teach. Encourage a friend to do the same when listening to a speaker new to you. 

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 22:3-6 

³ Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, ⁴ and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. ⁵ They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. ⁶ So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around. 

This is a pivotal turning point. The religious leaders wanted somehow to capture Jesus and now Judas Iscariot comes to them with a plan. “Judas” was a common name so something is usually said about this Judas in the context to identify he was the one who betrayed Jesus. Notice the religious unbelieving leaders were “delighted” with Judas being willing to do this and agreed to pay him for doing so.  

REFLECT 

Do you know of any religious leaders who do not believe the core values taught in the Bible? If so, do not be one of their followers. 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in reading 1 John 4:1-3. What Jesus taught is revealed in the four gospels. Compare any Bible teacher with what is taught about Jesus. Anyone who denies Jesus is God, was Virgin born, died a substitutionary death on the cross for mankind, and is coming again should be rejected as a false teacher.