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The Gospel According to LukeChapters 9-10

GCBC Adult Studies

Week 6 –November 10, 2013

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Structure of Luke

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Luke Details… Date Written: ~ 60 AD (range 58-64) Original Audience: Theophilus – Possibly

Greeks who had heard of Jesus Not an eyewitness or Apostle, but a compiler

of accounts “handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses”

Purpose: “so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.” About 65 years after the birth of Jesus – a

carefully researched account is appropriate

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The King leads to the destination

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Study Questions1. What is the mission for the “twelve” in vss.

9:1-2, and where are they sent? 9:1-2 And He called the twelve together, and

gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.

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Study Questions2. In that culture, what did it mean to “shake the

dust off your feet” and where did the custom come from? 9:5 “And as for those who do not receive you, as

you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

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Study Questions3. Who was “Herod the

tetrarch” (vs. 9:7)? Tetrarch - “ruler of a quarter” Son of Herod the Great,

Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee and Peraea Herod Archelaus became

ethnarch (ruler of a peopel) of Judea

Herod Philip became tetrarch of eastern lands

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Study Questions4. In vs. 9:17 the term for “baskets” means

“personal lunchbox” – so what is the meaning of this verse? (I’d like to know…) 9:17 And they all ate and were satisfied; and the

broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve baskets full. kophinos; a basket – specifically a small Jewish basket

Some suggest this is to show that the Messiah can provide for the 12 tribes of Israel

Some suggest this shows that the Messiah will provide for the 12 apostles

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Study Questions5. How is Jesus’ statement in vs. 9:27 fulfilled?

9:27 “But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 16:28 “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

9:28 Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.

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Jesus’ statement in vs. 9:27 fulfilled 9:28-31 Some eight days after these sayings, He

took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

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Study Questions6. Why does Peter say “let us make three tabernacles” in

vs.9:33? 9:33 And as these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus,

“Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not realizing what he was saying.

Zechariah 14:9 And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one.

Zechariah 14:16 Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths.

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Study Questions7. Who is Jesus speaking of as “You unbelieving

and perverted generation” in vs. 9:41? 9:41 And Jesus answered and said, “You

unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” 9:37 On the next day, when they came down from the

mountain, a large crowd met Him. 9:40 “I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they

could not.”

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Study Questions8. In vss. 9:51-56 why would the Samaritans not

“receive Him” (and what does this mean), as he was headed to Jerusalem? 9:51-53 When the days were approaching for His

ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem; and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. But they did not receive Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem.

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Study Questions9. In vss 9:59-60 what does Jesus mean by

“Allow the dead to bury their own dead”? 9:59-60 And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But

he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”

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First let me bury my father Most commentators understand that bodies

were buried the day they died, so claim the man’s father was not dead, that Jesus was saying service takes precedence over family

Yet in Mark 7:9-13 He chastises the Pharisees for neglecting care of parents (as God commanded) because of Temple service

This would make the commonly assumed meaning in Matthew 8 inconsistent

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Actual 1st Century burial customs For about 100

years around this time some Jews had two burials, due to teaching of the Pharisaic rabbis

A body was placed in a tomb for a year until the flesh rotted off the bones

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Actual 1st Century burial customs Prior to about 50 BC old

bones would simply be moved to a smaller chamber within the tomb to make room for new bodies

Then came the Pharisaic obsession with purification in stone vessels, and their teaching about hierarchies and ranking in the coming kingdom Even today burial at Jerusalem is believed to assure a

good place in the Kingdom!

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Actual 1st Century burial customs Rabbinical teaching was that the rotting of the

flesh was atonement for sins After a year the bones were ceremonially

cleaned, placed in a purified stone ossuary with a burial ceremony said to assure the resurrection

This error may have come from Psalm 16:10 “Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay” combined with Ezekiel’s resurrection of dry bones.

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Actual 1st Century burial customs The Jewish writings of the time record the

Pharisees’ teaching in the comments of a man who had just completed the reburying of his father.

The man spoke of how “yesterday” he was in grief because his father was in lower sheol, but “today” after the ceremony he was rejoicing because his father’s resurrection was secure

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Honor your Father and Mother In Jesus’ confrontations (elsewhere) with the

Pharisees He calls them whitewashed tombs which are full of dead men’s bones.

Those who follow their corrupted way (the wide gate) would be lost, and their ceremonies to purify the dead are worthless

Rather than assume the man’s father had not yet died, consider that he may have been referring to the second, ceremonial burial a year after his death!

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Honor your Father and Mother (Matthew) Another of the disciples said to

Him, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.”

Luke adds (9:60) “but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”

The ceremony could not help the man’s father: it is the living who need to hear that the King is here!

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Study Questions10. In vs 10:1 it says He “appointed seventy

others” Who were they? 10:13 Now after this the Lord appointed seventy

others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. “Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.”

Also apostles – one appointed for a purpose

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Study Questions11. To whom is Jesus speaking in vs. 10:16

10:16 “The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”

10:2 And He was saying to them… The 70 “also” apostles

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Study Questions12. In vs. 10:21 Jesus contrasts two groups. In the

context, who are they? 10:21-22 At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy

Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

Trained scribes vs. untrained disciples

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Study Questions13. What is it that “prophets and kings” wished to

see in vs. 10:24? 10:23-24 Turning to the disciples, He said

privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see, for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.”

The Kingdom offered and announced by the Messiah

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Study Questions14. Does the exchange in vss. 10:25-37 indicate the

Lawyer had done what was necessary to inherit eternal life? 10:25-29 And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test,

saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

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Study Questions15. When Jesus answers Martha in vss. 10:38-42, does it

indicate criticism of her for her choices? Now as they were traveling along, He entered a

village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

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Next Week Read Chapters 11 & 12 Consider the Study Questions Work out answers yourself, then refer to

commentaries if desired.