LUKE LESSON 26
We will begin this lesson in Luke 9:51 "And it came to pass, when
the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his
face to go to Jerusalem,"
Jesus was not trying to avoid Jerusalem or the cross. He had a job
to do, and He was determined to do it, even unto the cost of His life.
"Steadfastly" means that He was determined.
Luke 9:52 "And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and
entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him."
The orthodox Jews of this day really thought of the Samaritans as
a very bad race of people who were lost. The Lord did not feel this
way and ministered unto them, as well. these messengers are probably
James, John, and perhaps Peter, The Scripture does not say. We do know
that special jobs such as this, He sent His three trusted disciples
on, ordinarily.
Luke 9:53 "And they did not receive him, because his face was as
though he would go to Jerusalem."
This feud between the Samaritans and orthodox Jews continued and
was heated on both sides. We see, here, that these Samaritans turned
Jesus down for coming to minister, because He was headed for the
temple in Jerusalem where they had been forbidden to worship.
Luke 9:54 "And when his disciples James and John saw [this], they
said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven,
and consume them, even as Elias did?"
We see here that James and John (sons of thunder) are insulted for
Jesus when these Samaritans refuse Him and His message. They are
highly angered that anyone would refuse to listen to Jesus, James and
John saw Jesus transfigured and know that He is more than man. Their
anger is not for themselves, but for Him. They are relating these
people to the prophets of Baal. These Samaritans were believers in the
first 5 books of the Bible. They believe in Jehovah, so they could not
be classed with those who worship Baal. Fire of God or wrath comes on
those who worship false gods. Elijah came against Baal, not against
those who worshipped Jehovah.
Luke 9:55 "But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not
what manner of spirit ye are of." Luke 9:56 "For the Son of man is not
come to destroy men's lives, but to save [them]. And they went to
another village."
Jesus is the Saviour of the world, not the Destroyer. Jesus healed
and delivered, He did not destroy. Jesus had the spirit of love, not
hate. Jesus never was pushy. When they refused Him in Samaria, He just
went to a Hebrew village close by.
Luke 9:57 "And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a
certain [man] said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever
thou goest."
The zeal of a new convert is beautiful, but sometimes they do not
take time to weigh the cost before they jump. This man has received
Jesus in his heart and is set on fire to follow Jesus. Let's see in
the next verse how Jesus handles this zeal without offending the man.
Luke 9:58 "And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of
the air [have] nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay [his]
head."
Here Jesus tells the man of His uncertain future. He says I do not
have a headquarters where we rest at night. We are wanderers and might
stop anywhere for the night. There are very few creature comforts
following Jesus.
Luke 9:59 "And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord,
suffer me first to go and bury my father."
Jesus will not allow us to look back longingly at our old life
once we have put our hand to the plow. This man, unlike the man
before, has caught the Lord's attention, this man is called of God to
be a worker for the kingdom message.
Luke 9:60 "Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but
go thou and preach the kingdom of God."
This is a very strange statement to the world, but what Jesus is
saying is there is no hope for salvation for someone who is already
dead. This man has been called to preach and bring people to a
knowledge of God out of darkness and into the Light of life. His call
is to make alive, not to bury dead people. The Lord is telling this
man that his duties at home are nothing compared to the call upon his
life. The Lord looks upon the heart, and He sees great potential in
this man. Time is running out and this man must be about the Father's
business. The difference in this man and the previous man is that
Jesus can see inside of each of them. The first man had a superficial
type of belief that would not stand up under hardship. The second man
was a set aside, called man of God with deep roots who Jesus knew
would bring many into the kingdom of God.
Luke 9:61 "And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but
let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house."
When you follow Jesus, you must turn your back on this old worldly
life. Many times, we must give up old friends. Families are often
times separated by one person who gets saved. The family does not want
to stop drinking, lying, cheating, having parties, and the such. When
you are saved, your way of life changes. Your family and friends, if
they are not saved, are still living in sin. The two cannot mix.
Sinners and the saved have nothing in common. When God calls us, we
should not confer with others whether it is right or not. The call is
on you, not them. This would trouble Jesus that this man can't really
make up his own mind.
Luke 9:62 "And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to
the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
This reminds us of Lot's wife who was warned not to look back when
God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. God sent an angel to get them out of
the city safely. In other words, he delivered them. Lot's wife looked
back longingly at the old life. God cannot use people who will not
look ahead with Him. Abraham never looked back to Ur of the Chaldess
when God sent him on his journey. In fact, Abraham never built a
permanent house again. He dwelt in tents, He moved when God told him.
Abraham was looking for a city not made with human hands. He was
looking for that everlasting city of God. Jesus tells this man, here,
that he is not fit for the kingdom of God, if he has begun to work for
God and then turns again to his evil life he had before.
Luke 26 Questions
1. Jesus set his face steadfastly to where?
2. What does "steadfastly" mean here?
3. Where did Jesus send messengers to make ready for Him?
4. Who were these messengers, probably?
5. Who was a religious enemy of these people?
6. What answer did they send Jesus?
7. Which disciples were angered by this?
8. What did they suggest that Jesus do to them?
9. Who was the Old Testament prophet they mentioned as an example for
Jesus?
10. What special thing did James and John see that is still fresh in
their memory?
11. What part of the Bible do the Samaritans believe in?
12. What was the difference in these people and the ones Elijah called
down fire on?
13. What did Jesus do to them for their suggestion?
14. He said ye know not what ________ye are of.
15. What is Jesus to the world, instead of a destroyer?
16. What two things did Jesus do instead of destroy?
17. When they refused Him in Samaria, what did He do?
18. The man that said, "I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest"
was showing what?
19. How did Jesus discourage him from following without hurting his
feelings?
20. Jesus turns to another and says what?
21. What did the man reply to Jesus?
22. Jesus tells him to let the ______ bury the _______.
23. What job did Jesus send him to do?
24. In verse 61. what did the man want to do first before he follows
Jesus?
25. Who are some of the people we sometimes lose when we follow Jesus?
26. Why can't you go back and fellowship with them?
27. What do sinners and the saved have in common?
28. Jesus said no man was fit for the kingdom if he did what?
29. Whose wife looked back and turned to a pillar of salt?
30. Who left his homeland looking for a city which was not made with
human hands?
31. What did he dwell in?
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