Luke 22 Satan in the Temple

 

Luke 22 – Satan in the Temple

 

Judas was energized by satan when he made his agreement with the religious leaders. Satan is a liar and murderer (Jon 8:44), and he helped Judas with his deception. But satan deceived Judas as well, and the former disciple ended up a suicide. It is dangerous to make deals with the devil.

 

Satan already controlled Judas, but he had to ask for permission to “sift” the disciples and to tempt Peter (Job 1:12, 2:6). Satan is not all powerful and must obey the limits set by the Lord (I cor. 10:13). The apostles had experienced some great blessings that evening, but danger was very near. Be on your guard when you have had a rich spiritual experience, for satan is about to attack. And especially beware when you are trying to decide who is the greatest!

 

Jesus said to those who had come to arrest Him “But this is your hour, and the power of darkness”. Because He had prayed and was yielded to the Father’s will, Jesus was prepared for the arrest, but the disciples were not. If ever the work of Christ appeared to be ruined, it was in the garden; but that was when Jesus was doing His very best in the Father’s will.

 

Satan was in the courtyard to sift Peter in the council chamber to lead the men astray. His victory over Peter was only temporary, for the apostle, wept, repented, and was restored. His victory over the religious leaders was complete, for he blinded their eyes to the truth (2 Cor. 4:3-6) and they condemned their own Messiah.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible

Luke 21 Maintaining the Temple

 

Luke 21 – Maintaining The Temple

 

Many of the religious leaders were corrupt, but the temple was still the place where God put His name and where sincere people could worship Him. Jesus did not criticize the people for supporting the temple ministry (Matt. 23:1-3), but He did notice what they gave. The proportion, not the portion is important. Those who give “the widow’s mite” give their all, not their least. How a person gives indicates how much of their heart belongs to God. The widow gave far more than the rich.

 

Jesus sees with very different eyes; He recognized not only the temporary nature of human accomplishments but also God’s estimation of those accomplishments.

 

Even in Jesus’ day, many would-be messiahs appeared, attracting groups of followers, and then disappeared with the coming of persecution or the passing of time. By including this sign, Jesus was saying that as the time of God’s judgment approached, even more of these false christs would arise, and many people would be deceived (Eph. 5:6; 2 Thess. 2:3; I John 4:1).

 

While Christians will escape the tribulation itself, they will not escape the hardships that lead up to it, just as they are not exempt from the pain of living in a fallen world. God turns hardship and difficulty to good use in His kingdom. By relying on the Holy Spirit, these faithful believers will be able to speak like Jesus did when He confounded His accusers (Acts 6:10). While evil may prosper for a while, that time is short, but an eternity of glory with God lasts forever (Matt. 10:21).

 

As a boy of twelve, Jesus discussed the Word in the temple; and He spent the last week before His death teaching the Word in His Father’s house. He was hated by the religious leaders, and the temple was a den of thieves; but needy people were there, and Jesus taught them. He was quick to seize the opportunity, and the people were glad to hear Him.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah

 

Luke 20 Truth is Inconvertible

 

Luke 20 – Truth is Inconvertible

 

Despite their evasive and hypocritical reply, the leaders could not escape the past. They had rejected the ministry of John the Baptist, and that led to their refusal to trust Jesus Christ. You may forget your decisions, but they will not forget you. You may even try to bury them, but they will be resurrected to accuse you.

 

Nor could they escape future judgment. They would reject the Son and the Stone, and that would bring about their ruin. Christ either saves you or judges you; there is no middle ground. In the end God will see to it that He is fully honored by all of His creation, even those who opposed and killed Him.

 

The leaders even failed to escape present responsibility. In asking Jesus trick questions, they hoped He would say something they could accuse; but His answers only exposed their folly and increased their guilt. They were fighting a losing battle and would not surrender. The Scribes and Pharisees wanted Jesus to either declare an open tax revolt or publicize a pro-Roman platform. Jesus’ answer then and for today is to be loyal to the government but be more loyal to God. (Romans 13:7; I Peter 2:13-17).

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible, J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

 

Luke 19 The Day of Salvation

 

Luke 19 – The Day of Salvation

 

Jesus came to Zacchaeus, sought him, and saved him. Though He was surrounded by a great crowd of people, Jesus took time for individuals, and He even saw a man in a tree! He is still the seeking Savior, but now He uses our eyes and lips. Everyone has the opportunity for a defining encounter with Jesus. When He calls and people respond lives will be changed.

 

There are three possible relationships with the King. You can reject His rule and be an enemy, but that leads to judgment. You can accept His rule and be unfaithful, but that leads to loss of reward. Or you can accept His rule, do His will faithfully, and receive His reward. You are not to protect what He gives you but to invest it for His glory. Jesus’ followers are expected to use whatever gifts they have for the advancement of His kingdom. The number of gifts is not as critical as their faithful use.

 

What a tragedy that the Jewish nation did not know their own King when He came to the earth. Our Lord wept, for He saw the terrible judgment that was coming to the city and the people. Jerusalem had abandoned its faith, rejected the Messiah, and would be laid waste with terrible judgment.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

 

 

Luke 18 Confident Prayer

 

Luke 18 – Confident Prayer

 

If an unjust judge helps a poor widow, how much more will a loving Father meet the needs of His children? We have open access into His treasury (Rom. 5:2) and can claim His gracious promises (Luke 11:9-10), so we ought to pray with faith and confidence.

 

True prayer should humble us and make us love others more. We should be like children coming to a Father and not like attorneys bringing an indictment. If prayer doesn’t bless the one praying, it isn’t likely to help anybody else.

 

Although the young man had many good qualities, one of them was not spiritual understanding. He did not really see himself, Jesus, or the peril he was in because of his riches. The publican went away justified while the young man went away sorrowful. The Pharisee’s prayer was meaningless before God. The tax collector would spend eternity with God.

 

Little children do not come with self-important airs; they instinctively trust loving adults and come with open arms, exactly the traits that Jesus said people need if they wish to enter the kingdom of God.

 

The blind man was not to be stopped! He had his great opportunity, and he would not let it pass. Our Lord stopped, looked, listened, and healed! Jesus is not too busy to hear you. Just be sure you pray earnestly. The blind man received both his sight and his salvation through faith in Jesus.

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible and J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

Luke 17 Faith

 

Luke 17 – Faith

 

Faith is like a seed; it seems small and weak, but it has life in it, and if it is cultivated, it will grow and release power. We need faith for many areas of life.

 

We need faith to forgive. When people sin repeatedly, giving up on them is easy; but we must forgive them and trust God to work in their lives. We must be steppingstones, and not stumbling blocks.

 

It takes faith to serve, whether tending a field or a flock or preparing a meal. It takes faith to do the extraordinary, like moving a mountain.

 

We need faith to pray. The ten men believed that Jesus could help them, and He did. The Samaritan not only brought joy to Christ’s heart but received salvation from His hand. “Your faith has saved you!” when God answers your prayers, be sure to tell Him “Thank You!”

 

We need faith to be ready when He comes. The important thing is not to set dates but to be ready when He comes, for true faith leads to faithfulness. To look around at the increase in sin will discourage you, and to look back may destroy you, so look up and eagerly expect the Lord’s return today!

 

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

Luke 16 Being a Good Steward

 

Luke 16 – Being a Good Steward                                                Jan. 1, 2024

 

Stewards should use wealth for their masters’ good and not for their own pleasure,

(I Cor. 4:2). God wants us to enjoy His gifts (I Tim. 6:17), but He also wants us to enjoy them wisely. The wise and generous use of money yields much greater things in the future.

 

The man had a rude awakening: he had an account of his stewardship (Rom. 14:10-12; 2 Cor. 5:10). Then he learned to be wise and to invest wealth in people and the future. We do not “buy” friends, be we can make friends for the Lord by the wise use of money.

 

The world measures people by how much they get, but God measures them by how much they give. You cannot serve both righteousness and unrighteousness, what is greatest and what is least, what God honors and what He abominates. The Pharisees tried it, but it cannot be done. They tried to amass as much money and power as they could without concern for others, while camouflaging their greed with religious words and practices (Matt. 6:19)

 

The rich man did not go to Hades because he was rich; he went there because riches were his god. Abraham was a wealthy man, and yet he was in paradise. Money can help send people to heaven or it can help send people to hell. The Bible clearly states that all people, created in the image of the eternal God, will be alive somewhere forever, either in the presence of Almighty God, enjoying endless fellowship with Him, or in the torment of hell. Those are the only two possibilities.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible.