Bible Discussion — Luke 10

February 27, 2008, 1:00 pm; posted by
Filed under Bible, Chloe, David, Erin, Steve  | No Comments

This week, Bweinh.com looks at the next chapter of Luke, Luke 10.

We also welcome a few visitors from David’s home Bible study — and work with a joint entry from Chloerin!

Genesis: 1-4 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-18 | 19-22 | 23-26
27-29 | 30-32 | 33-36 | 37-39 | 40-43 | 44-46 | 47-50
Exodus: 1-4 | 5-8 | 9-11 | 12-14 | 15-18
19-22 | 23-26 | 27-30 | 31-34 | 35-40
Romans: Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 | Ch. 4 | Ch. 5 | Ch. 6 | Ch. 7 | Ch. 8 (I)
Ch. 8 (II) | Ch. 9 | Ch. 10 | Ch. 11 | Ch. 12 | Ch. 13 | Ch. 14 | Ch. 15-16
Luke: 1:1-38 | 1:39-2:40 | 2:41-3:38 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

 
INTRODUCTION:
David:
In this chapter, Jesus says some things that never make it into the world’s conception of the all-loving gentle teacher from Galilee, while sending his followers out to extend His power to the lost.

 
SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER NOTICED BEFORE:
Chloe/Erin:
Even though Jesus sent the 72 out with instructions to preach, perform miracles, etc., they were surprised to find that they could drive out demons in Jesus’ name. What more (or less) did they expect, I wonder?

Rachel Clancy:
We always preach a balance in spiritual things, but Jesus seems to disagree when Martha asks for help from Mary. When Jesus is here, forget everything but Him!

Steve:
I don’t ever remember reading verses 23 and 24. Jesus references men like Socrates, Job, and David, who had longed to know the fullness of reason and religion, to reason with God as a man speaks to a friend, and tells these fishermen and tax collectors from backwater Israel that they had been given the ultimate honor — to see the things so many had longed, and would long, to experience.

David:
After the disciples are rejected, they are to tell the people, “Be ye sure of this, the kingdom of God has come near you!”

 
BEST BAND NAME FROM THE PASSAGE:
Ian Clancy: The Very Dust
Steve: Trample
Rachel: Two Pence (none the richer); Lambs Among Wolves
David: Babes
Erin/Chloe: twoBYtwo

 
STORY IT REMINDS YOU OF::
David:
Preaching in the jail in Watertown. If no one in a cell block wanted to listen to what I had to say, I moved on without hesitation, because somewhere in that 70-inmate jail, someone was hurting and looking for something. I never wasted much time disputing with mockers.

Chloe/Erin:
I always think of the Good Samaritan in terms of Veggie Tales. “We’re busy, busy, shockingly busy! We’d love to help but, we can’t!”

 
DEEP THEOLOGICAL MEANING:
David:
The priest came “by chance” upon the wounded man, and then eliminated the only impetus to help (proximity) by moving away. We don’t need divine appointments to help someone; just finding ourselves near them when tragedy strikes is enough.

Erin/Chloe:
Are we much more like Bethsaida and Capernaum than we’d care to admit? The miracles, messages, and good news given us often fall on deaf ears — while our Nineveh (the developing world) sees revival.

Steve:
Sodom and Gomorrah, Tyre and Sidon, these classic examples of debauched sin in Jewish history, were mentioned by Jesus as less likely to be punished on the day of judgment than good Jewish towns that refused to listen to the Gospel. Those folks in Abraham’s day didn’t have the chance to hear Jesus preach, and apparently God is going to somehow take all that into account. But those who hear the Word are responsible for how they respond.

 
RANDOM THOUGHT:
Ian:
Is this two-by-two thing where the Jehovah’s Witnesses get the idea?

Rachel:
Jesus tells the disciples to shake the dust off their feet when they meet rejection. No pleading, no second chances, just move along.

Steve:
Verse 29 said that the lawyer “wanted to justify himself” when he asked Jesus to define “neighbor.” I’m sure that’s true, but it would have been my follow-up question too, because, after all, Jesus could have said, “Love everyone as yourself.” The point of the commandment isn’t to limit its scope, but I understand the reason for the question. Impossible to improve on Jesus’ answer, though.

 
VERSE TO REMEMBER:
David, Chloe, Erin, Steve:
10:27 — “So He answered and said, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.‘ ”

 
PORTION YOU WOULD MOST LIKE EXPLAINED IN HEAVEN:
Rachel:
Verse 16 — but only because my tongue kept stumbling over the 4 “despiseths,” rendering them unintelligible.

Steve:
That bit about Satan falling from heaven like lightning. I’ve never been terribly comfortable with the traditional conception of Satan’s fall, what with him leading a rebellion against God and all, because it seems to have its basis in a couple verses of poetry from the Old Testament, and not much else. So I want to know what Jesus meant here.

Erin/Chloe:
So, did Martha change? Did Jesus’ instruction sink in?

 
LESSON TO TAKE AWAY:
Steve:
Jesus rejoiced that the mysteries of the Spirit had been hidden from the wise and learned, and revealed to little children. For all the benefits we get from study and learning, we need to ensure that the process does not warp our minds and keep us from simple trust.

David:
A good lesson would be to not rejoice because the demons are subject to us, but rather because our names are written in heaven. There is no place for spiritual pride, but gratitude and humility are always acceptable to God.

 
GENERAL RESPONSE TO THE PASSAGE:
Steve:
The verse about the harvest and workers is always used to encourage Christians to do something about missions. I think it’s interesting to note that Jesus preached to the workers AS they were going. There really is no getting around the fact that we are called to exactly the same ministry as these 72, and those 12 — to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.

David:
Jesus shows again that when needs are increased, He doesn’t make some mystic Santa Claus-type effort to somehow visit everyone by himself. Instead He selects 70 human beings and sends them out with His power and authority.

 
CONCLUSION:
David:
After sending out disciples, Jesus arms them by teaching them how to pray in the next chapter.


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