Luke

Chapter 11

Luke 11:1-4
1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

This is Christ’s model prayer! It is now known as the Lord’s Prayer! The actual lord’s prayer or prayers may be found in John chapter 17, and Christ’s prayers in Gethsemane (Matt. 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22) prior to His crucifixion.

This prayer contains all that is essential to an effective prayer-life for mankind. If the prayer is heart-felt, it shall bring what is good to the one praying that model prayer. If it is just recited, it will have little or no effect! Recitation without proper conviction is a waste of time!

Luke 11:5-13
5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

After teaching the model prayer, Christ asked them, “Which of you has a friend who comes to you late at night and asks, ‘Lend me three loaves (of pita bread), because, a friend of mine has come to my home, and I have nothing to feed him?’

“And, your friend may say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door locked, my family is already in bed, and so am I! I can’t get up now and give you anything!’”

Jesus continued, “Your friend may not want to get up and help you, but because he is a friend, and because of your insistence (Gr. anaideia-ἀναίδεια), he will get up and give you what is needed? Because of that I say, ‘Ask (Gr. aitete-aitete), and it shall be given you! Seek (Gr. zeeteite-zhteite), and you all shall find! Knock (Gr. krouonti-krouonti), and it shall be opened to you!’

“All (Gr. pas-pas) who earnestly ask receive, and whoever earnestly seeks righteousness finds it, and to whomever persistently knocks, to him it shall be opened.

“If a son asks for bread from his (earthly) father, will his father gives him a stone? Or, if he asks for a fish will his father give him a fish, or a serpent?

“Or, if your son asks for an egg, shall you give him a scorpion?

“If you all, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them who ask Him?”

God gives to those that from their needs ask!

But, who shall ask?

That is the question that many have asked over the centuries.

Those who ask God for grace and confess or declare that Jesus is Lord receive all the good that God has planned for His children!

The fact is that God adds to the Church those whom He has chosen to be His children!

Men do not add souls to the Church! God does!

Luke 11:14-26
14 And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.
15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.
17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

Once, when Jesus cast a demon pout of a man who could not speak, the result was that the man spoke and the people there wondered how He did it!

Many today try to mentally figure out how miracles work. Such things may not be mentally discerned. Such discernment comes through the Holy Spirit! Many, if not most do not know that the human being does not work the miracle, God does! The human being is just standing there!

However, in this case and in all miracles performed by Christ, God the Son actually did the miracle!

While it is true that Jesus laid aside His Godliness while ministering on earth, it is also true that God the Holy Spirit led Him continually and guided Him every step of the way!

The spiritually ignorant proposed that Jesus did this miracle through the power of Satan, while others sought another sign!

Those who seek signs will never have their fill of the miraculous, nor will they ever accept a sign from God!

The greatest miracle is salvation!

This time, Jesus addressed the issue telling them, “Every kingdom that has deep conflict within becomes desolate! And, a house divided shall fall!”

Oddly, Satan is divided and because of that he shall fall! He will cast out any of his own demons that he thinks stand in his way of spiritual oppression!

Further, Jesus asked, “If Satan is at odds with himself, how shall his kingdom succeed?

“So, how can you say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub (Satan)?”

Jesus further explained, “If I cast out demons though the power of Satan, how do your sons do it? Your sons shall judge you in this matter?

“However, if by the finger of God I cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God has come to you!

“When an armed strong man guards his palace, his goods are safe!

“But, when one who is stronger comes along, and overwhelms him, that one takes all the strong man’s goods, throws him out, and divides his possessions!

“He that is not with me is against me: and he that does not gather with me scatters.”

Jesus told His followers, “When an unclean spirit leaves a man, that spirit walks through dry places, trying to find rest, and finds none! Finally that unclean spirit says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’

“And, when that unclean spirit returns he finds the home swept, cleaned, and well arranged.

“Then he, goes out, and gathers seven other spirits who are more evil than he is, and takes them back to his home. And, the final condition of the man is worse than the first!”

The time to acknowledge Christ is when you are clean of all satanic oppression!

Some people think that they may wait for a better opportunity, but that opportunity never comes!

Luke 11:27-28
27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.
28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

As Christ told them all that a woman among them shouted, “Blessed is your mother!

However, Jesus responded, “Yes but, even more blessed are those that hear the word of God, and keep it!”

Biblical hearing requires a positive response!

Jesus acknowledged that Mary was a blessed person, BUT she is not divine as Roman Catholics now believe! The cult of Mary has taken control of the Roman Catholic church!

Mary was a nice Jewish girl chosen by God for a specific task! She is no more or less divine than any person chosen by God to perform a specific task!

The “eternal virgin” story is a made up by those who were led by Satan to lie! Mary needed salvation in Christ Jesus just as you and I need it! Mary is not a co-redemptrix, nor has she been resurrected as Roman Catholic mythology teaches!

Luke 11:29-36
29 And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.
31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
32 The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

As the people were gathered closely together, Jesus said, “This is an evil generation! They seek a sign, but no sign shall be given, except the sign of Jonas the prophet!”

Do you seek signs and wonders? Or, do you seek Christ? The ultimate sign is the three-day period that Christ Jesus gave leading to His resurrection!

He said, “Jonah himself was a sign to the Ninevites! The Son of man is a sign to this generation!”

Jonah was a sign of Christ just as Christ is the sign of the resurrection of those who believe!

Christ continued, “The queen of the south shall rise up in judgment this generation, and condemn it, because she traveled a great distance to hear the words of wisdom from Solomon! Now, One greater than Solomon is here!

“The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment against this generation, and shall condemn it, because they repented because of Jonah’s preaching! And, One greater than Jonah is here.”

The cross is the centerpiece of human history! Jews were looking back to Abraham when they should have looked forward to Christ Jesus! Christians are ever looking up in anticipation of the return of our Lord and Savior!

Jesus told them, “No man, lights a candle and then puts it in a secret place! Instead it is put on a candlestick, so that people may see the light!”

To light a candle and then hide it would negate the reason for the candle! Those who are truly part of the Church have a dominate purpose! We are to shine in proclaiming the Gospel of Christ Jesus!

Then He said, “The eye is brings light to the body!

“Therefore, when your eyes are properly focused your whole body also is full of light!

“But, when your eyes are focused on evil, your body is filled with darkness.

“Make sure that whatever is in you is not darkness!

“If your entire being is full of light with no darkness, your entire self is filled with bright light, and it gives light like a candle!”

Focus on Christ Jesus! His light shall illumine us and we shall illumine those around us!

Luke 11:37-52
37 And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.
38 And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
40 Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
43 Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.
44 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.
45 Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.
46 And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
47 Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
48 Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.
49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

As Jesus spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to come to eat at his home. So, Jesus went to the Pharisee’s home to eat with him.

The Pharisee was amazed when Jesus did not wash before eating! In that Jesus broke the Levitical law, but not part of the Ten! That washing of hands was according to the letter of the law, but now we look to the Spirit of the Law! Some may be clean to a great degree and yet find their part in the Lake of Fire because their hearts are infected with sin!

At that Jesus told him, “Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but their inward parts are full of sins that spoil!

“You all are foolish! Didn’t He Who made the outside also make the inside?

The heart, not the mind, is the key that which is good or evil!

Prov 23:7a For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:

“Give alms of what as you have, and so all things are considered clean to you!

Jesus then pronounced grief on the Parisees! “Because, you all tithe mint and rue (a plant used in medicines of that day), and all manner of herbs, and yet disregard God’s judgment and the love! These things ought to have been done without leaving the others undone!

“Grief to you Pharisees, because you love the places of human honor in the Synagogues, and public greetings in the markets.

“Grief to you, scribes, Pharisees, and other religious hypocrites, because you are as hidden graves and the men that walk over them are not aware of them!”

Then one of the lawyers spoke up and asked Jesus, “Master, are you insulting us too? Can you believe it, the leaders were so spiritually stupid that they did not know they were being insulted!

As you see, Jesus did not spout love and peace to all he met!

Jesus answered, “You lawyers?

“Absolutely!

“You loaded society great burdons with none of you can carry!”

Further, Jesus admonished the Jewish leadership, “You all build wonderful tombs for the prophets, and yet your fathers murdered them.

“You know that and yet condone the evil deeds of your fathers! They killed them, and you built their tombs!

“Therefore, I will send prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall be slain and persecuted so that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the creation of the world, may be required (Gr. ekzeeteethee-ekzhthqh) from this generation!

“The blood of Abel and of Zacharias, who was murdered between the altar and the Holy of Holies, shall be required of this generation!

“As for you, theologians, you have taken away the key of knowledge! You all would not go in yourselves, and you prevented others from entering!”

The fact is that even today, some supposed Preachers of righteousness so twist the truth that it is of little value! They do not trust and do their best to cause others to distrust our Lord!

Luke 11:53-54
53 And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:
54 Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.

Then the theological teachers and Pharisees began to criticize the Son of God! They repeatedly asked Him about many things!

In their depravity they tried to trap Him into giving an incorrect teaching! Today, some in churches (lower case c) also deny the truth about the Truth! Some who attend Church are Christians, while others are Pretenders!

Chapter 12

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