College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Luke 12 - Introduction
Butler's Comments
Chapter Twelve
THE SON OF MAN ADMONISHING SPIRITUAL ALERTNESS
IDEAS TO INVESTIGATE:
1.
Why did Jesus liken the hypocrisy of the Pharisees to leaven (Luke 12:1)?
2.
How can anyone who speaks a word against the Son of man be forgiven (Luke 12:10)?
3.
What is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Luke 12:10)?
4.
Is it wrong to lay up treasure for oneself (Luke 12:21)?
5.
Does Jesus mean we should not care whether we have anything to eat or wear or a house to live in (Luke 12:22-34)?
6.
If the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect, why are there so many modern-day prophets who say they know when He is coming (Luke 12:40)?
7.
Are there to be degrees of reward and punishment (Luke 12:48)?
Applebury's Comments
CHAPTER TWELVE
Outline
A.
Luke told about Jesus-' warnings and encouragements for His disciples (Luke 12:1-12).
1.
The circumstances: Opposition of the Pharisees (1).
2.
The warning: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees (Luke 12:1-3).
a)
The leaven of the Pharisees is hypocrisy.
b)
Their hypocrisy would be exposed; nothing was covered up that would not be uncovered.
c)
The exposure would be complete: Things whispered in darkness would be heard in the light; things heard in the inner chamber would be shouted from the housetop.
3.
The encouragement (Luke 12:4-12).
a)
As friends, He told them of God's protective care (Luke 12:4-7).
(1)
Do not fear those who can kill the bodythe Pharisees were plotting His death.
(2)
Rather fear Him who has power to cast into hell.
(3)
God cared for the sparrows, but they were of more value than many sparrows.
4.
Another warning: Confessing and denying Him (Luke 12:8-9).
a)
Those who acknowledge Him before men, He will acknowledge before the angels of God.
b)
Those who deny Him, He will deny before the angels.
c)
One speaking against the Son of Man may be forgiven, but blaspheming the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
5.
Added encouragement when brought before authorities (Luke 12:10-12).
a)
Do not be anxious about what to say.
b)
The Holy Spirit would teach them in that very hour what to say.
B.
Luke told about the man who came to Jesus about his inheritance (Luke 12:13-21).
1.
The circumstances (Luke 12:13-15).
a)
He asked Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance with him.
b)
Jesus said, Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?
c)
Then He warned: See that you keep yourselves from all covetousness, for life doesn-'t depend on the abundance of your possessions.
2.
The parable of the Rich Fool which Jesus used to illustrate His point (Luke 12:16-20).
a)
A rich man's land produced well. He asked himself, What am I to do, for I have no place to store the harvest?
b)
He answered his own question, I-'ll build bigger barns and store the grain; then I-'ll say to myself, You have plenty for many years; take a good rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life.
c)
God asked a question, Fool, they are requiring your life from you tonight; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?
d)
Jesus said, That's the way it is with the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.
C.
Luke told how Jesus continued teaching His disciples the meaning of being rich toward God (Luke 12:22-53).
1.
He told them not to be anxious about food and clothing (Luke 12:22-34).
a)
God's care made it unnecessary (Luke 12:22-28).
(1)
Life is more important than food and clothing.
(2)
God cares for the birds and the flowers; how much more for you, O you of little faith?
b)
God's kingdom must have first place (Luke 12:29-34).
(1)
The pagans seek for these things, but the Father knows about your needs.
(2)
God's way: Seek His kingdom, and these things will be added unto you.
(3)
His encouragement: Fear not little flock, it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
(4)
His directive: Sell what you have, give alms; and you will have treasure in heaven.
(5)
The secret: Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
2.
He told them to be alert concerning the Lord's coming (Luke 12:35-48).
a)
It will be at an unknown time (Luke 12:35-40).
(1)
Be prepared as servants who have the lamps burning as they watch for master's return.
(2)
As no one knows when a thief may come, so in an hour that you think not, the Son of man is coming.
b)
It will be a time of giving rewards (Luke 12:41-48).
(1)
In response to Peter's question, He told about the reward for the faithful.
(2)
Then He told of punishment for the unfaithful according to their responsibility: many stripes, few stripes.
3.
He urged them to be aware of the purpose of His mission (Luke 12:49-53).
a)
It was like kindling a fire, but He had a baptism that He must undergo (Luke 12:49-50).
b)
He warned that He had not come to give peace, but division even between members of a family (Luke 12:51-53).
D.
Luke told how Jesus chided the multitudes for being unable to read the signs of the coming storm (Luke 12:54-59).
1.
Why can-'t you interpret this time? (Luke 12:54-56).
a)
They were able to read the weather signs.
b)
Why couldn-'t they see the coming storm about which He had just given warning?
2.
Why can-'t you make the right decision about the thing you face?
a)
He illustrated His meaning by showing that it is good sense to settle out of court before the case goes against you.
b)
He pointed out the impossibility of escaping after the decision has been rendered by the Judge.
Summary
The scribes and Pharisees continued their attack on Jesus after leaving the house where He had dined with the Pharisee. This became the occasion for His warning to the disciples. The false teaching of the Pharisees was like leaven, transforming all who came in contact with it into hypocrites like the Pharisees. But their hypocrisy was exposed by Jesus.
For the encouragement of the disciples, Jesus told them about God's protective care. He called on them to acknowledge Him even in face of all the threats of their enemies. He reminded them that the Holy Spirit would teach them what to say in the hour of need.
A man came to Jesus asking Him to tell his brother to divide their inheritance. Jesus told the story of the man God called a fool, He pointed out that life does not consist in possessions; the important thing is to be rich toward God. Jesus explained they could be rich in this way; it meant putting the kingdom of God first, for He said, where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.
Since life is temporary, it is necessary to be alert to avoid being caught unprepared when the Lord comes again. When He comes, He will reward the faithful and punish the wicked.
His mission was like kindling a fire. Already there was the struggle going on between members of one's own family over their relation to Him.
Jesus chided the multitudes for their inability to see what was about to happen to them. He urged them to agree with Him before it was too late, for there will be no escape from punishment on the Judgment Day for those who fail to acknowledge Him before men.
Questions
1.
What was the occasion of Jesus-' warning about the leaven of the Pharisees?
2.
What was it that had caused the crowds to gather at this time?
3.
Why did Jesus say that the leaven of the Pharisees was hypocrisy?
4.
What important lesson did Paul teach using the figure of leaven to illustrate it?
5.
How can leaven be used as a symbol of false teaching and also of teaching that is true?
6.
What effect does the truth of the Gospel have on those who hear it and obey it?
7.
What did Jesus do about the hypocritical teaching of the Pharisees?
8.
What did Jesus tell the apostles to do about what He taught them?
9.
Why did He say that they were not to be afraid of them that kill the body?
10.
Of whom were they to be afraid? Why?
11.
What lesson did He teach by calling attention to the sparrows?
12.
What lesson did He teaching by calling attention to the fact that the hairs of their heads were numbered?
13.
Why did Jesus demand allegiance from His disciples?
14.
What examples are given in the Scriptures of men confessing their faith in Him even in face of death?
15.
Why could a word spoken against the Son be forgiven when blasphemy against the Holy Spirit couldn-'t?
16.
What is this unforgivable sin?
17.
What would the Holy Spirit do for the apostles when they were brought before the authorities of the synagogues?
18.
How does God provide for the answers we may be called on to give today?
19.
What was the request of the man from the crowd?
20.
Why didn-'t Jesus do as the man requested?
21.
What important lesson did Jesus teach by the story of the man God called a fool?
22.
What foolish thing was the man doing?
23.
What was his fatal mistake?
24.
What does it mean to be rich toward God?
25.
What is one to do to become rich toward God?
26.
What did Jesus tell the disciples that would keep them from being anxious about food and clothing?
27.
What can anxiety to for life? What can-'t it do?
28.
What is the Father's concern about man's need for food and clothing?
29.
How does one seek first the kingdom of God?
30.
What did Jesus say about the heart and treasure?
31.
What is meant by Let your loins be girded?
32.
Why did Jesus liken His coming to a thief in the night?
33.
Why did Peter want to know if Jesus was talking to all or just to the apostles?
34.
How did He answer Peter's question?
35.
What is the lesson of the unfaithful servant?
36.
What about degrees of punishment?
37.
What did Jesus mean by casting fire upon the earth?
38.
In what way was it already kindled?
39.
What did He mean when He said, I have a baptism?
40.
What warning did Jesus give the crowds which He based on their ability to read the weather signs?
41.
What storm warnings should they have been able to see?
42.
What did He mean by saying that they should agree with their adversary?