LUKE LESSON 45

    We will begin this lesson in Luke 18:18 "And a certain ruler asked
him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

     The Scripture tells us here that a ruler asked Jesus, but it does
not tell us what ruler.  He called Jesus, Good Master.  Jesus is his
Master.  He has a valid question which should be the same question
every person asks at some time in their life.  What must I do to be
saved?

     Luke 18:19 "And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good?
none [is] good, save one, [that is], God."

     Notice that Jesus did not say He was not good.  He just said that
only God was good.  You could take it that Jesus is explaining in a
round about way that He is God the Son who took on the form of flesh
and dwelt among us.  No person on this earth is good.  Jesus is holy.
In fact, He said be ye holy as I am holy.  If we really look at this,
then we see who Jesus really is.

     Luke 18:20 "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit
adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour
thy father and thy mother."

     Jesus names a few of the ten commandments of God.  Jesus knew
which ones the man had kept without the man replying.  Jesus tells
him, you are educated in these things.  You already know the
commandments.

    Luke 18:21 "And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up."

     This is almost a bragging answer he gave here; as if he is saying
 to Jesus, I am a religious man who keeps all the laws.  In a recent
 lesson, we learned that Jesus does not want us proud.  We must be
 humble to receive eternal life.

     Luke 18:22 "Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him,
Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute
unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come,
follow me."

      This is not to be taken as a rule for every one to do to be
 saved.  The reason Jesus told this ruler this, is because he had put
 too much importance on his money and the prestige it brought him.
 His wealth had become a god to him.  This man's treasures were not in
 heaven, but here on the earth in his own possessions.  To follow
 Jesus then or now, a person must sometimes leave home, family, and
 things of the world.

     Luke 18:23 "And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he
was very rich."

     His riches meant more to him than God did.  This young ruler
should have done like Zacchaeus that we will read about in Luke 19.
Jesus didn't even have to tell him to give.  His heart was pure.  He
volunteered that 1/2 of his goods would go to the poor and anyone he
had cheated, he would restore them fourfold.  God does not mind you
having money.  Your wealth must not come between you and God.  You
must be quick to give to the needy and must not look down on those
less fortunate than you.

     Luke 18:24 "And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he
said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of
God!"

     A wealthy person has a difficult time making anyone their Lord.
They are in the habit of being lord and master themselves.  They do
not want to lose control of their life or their money.  Jesus will not
be your Saviour unless He can be your Lord, as well.

     Luke 18:25 "For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's
eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

     We see, here, something that seems impossible, but nothing is
impossible with God.  Rich men and women must humble themselves and
bow to Jesus.  They must make Jesus Lord of their lives to receive
Him, just as all the poor people do.  It is just a little harder for
the rich, because they have more to give up.

     Luke 18:26 "And they that heard [it] said, Who then can be
saved?"

    Most of these people here were Hebrews who knew of the great
wealth that many of the old patriarchs had.  It didn't displease God
then, why would it displease God now to have wealth.  Abraham had been
rich in gold, silver, and cattle.  David had been very rich.  The
difference is that their riches were blessings from God.  They were
not a stumbling block which kept them from the Lord.  A very good
example was Job who was very wealthy.  Satan took it all a way from
Job, and Job still blessed God.  God gave Job back even more than he
had originally, because He could trust him with the riches.

     Luke 18:27 "And he said, The things which are impossible with men
are possible with God."  Luke 18:28 "Then Peter said, Lo, we have left
all, and followed thee." Luke 18:29 "And he said unto them, Verily I
say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or
brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,"  Luke
18:30 "Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and
in the world to come life everlasting."

     Matthew and Mark deal with this very same subject.  All three of
them together give you a very broad idea of this.  The blessings that
the disciples then and Jesus' disciples today share is the tribulation
that goes along with the joy we have in serving Him.  The greatest
reward is the reward in heaven which brings eternal life.

     Luke 18:31  "Then he took [unto him] the twelve, and said unto
them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written
by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished."

     These twelve are the apostles; the chosen ones.  Jesus is headed
for Jerusalem and has begun to tell them about His crucifixion.

     Luke 18:32 "For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and
shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:"  Luke
18:33 "And they shall scourge [him], and put him to death: and the
third day he shall rise again."

     Jesus is telling them in detail what they can expect to happen to
 Him when they get to Jerusalem.  The Gentiles mentioned here are the
 Romans.  He tells them that He will be spit upon, whipped, and
 crucified.  He also tells them that He will rise again.

     Luke 18:34 "And they understood none of these things: and this
saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were
spoken."

     These disciples thought of Jesus as the most powerful force in
the world.  They could not comprehend Him being spit on and crucified.
He had escaped so many times.  They did not understand that this
crucifixion would be His greatest victory.  They had never experienced
anyone rising from the grave except Lazarus, and they just didn't
understand.

     Luke 18:35  "And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto
Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:"

     We have already dealt with this blind beggar being healed, so we
 will just touch briefly on it here.  It is in Matthew chapter 20 and
 Mark chapter 10, as well.  The only way a blind man could make a
 living was to beg.  Jericho is on the way to Jerusalem.

     Luke 18:36 "And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it
meant."

     We see, here, that a crowd was still following Jesus. It is only
natural that the blind man would ask what was going on because of the
great multitude following Jesus.

     Luke 18:37 "And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth
by."

     Everyone by this time had heard of the miracles Jesus had done.
This blind man was not deaf and he had heard, too.

     Luke 18:38 "And he cried, saying, Jesus, [thou] son of David,
have mercy on me."

     We see that this blind man was blind physically and spiritually.
He did not know that God was Jesus's Father.  Like so many, he thought
Joseph was His father.  He cried for mercy, anyhow.

     Luke 18:39 "And they which went before rebuked him, that he
should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, [Thou] son of
David, have mercy on me."

     This blind man would not be quieted.  He knew Jesus was his only
chance to see again.

     Luke 18:40 "And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto
him: and when he was come near, he asked him,"  Luke 18:41 "Saying,
What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I
may receive my sight."

     Jesus could not refuse his cries for help.  Jesus already knew
what his needs were, but He wanted him to ask Him for his sight.  The
Bible says we have not, because we ask not.  He asked.

     Luke 18:42 "And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith
hath saved thee."

     This could certainly mean that his faith had given him both
physical and spiritual sight because of the word "saved".

     Luke 18:43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed
him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw [it], gave
praise unto God."

     We can easily see that this man's whole life was transformed.  He
not only gained sight but was saved, as well, and went with the
multitude which followed Jesus.  He gave praise where praise was due.
He glorified God for this miracle.  The people praised God, as well.
They will soon forget all these miracles and run for their lives.






















                           Luke 45 Questions

1.  What question did the ruler ask Jesus?
2.  What did he call Jesus as he asked?
3.  Jesus said there is only one good who is -------.
4.  Which of the commandments did Jesus name to him?
5.  What did the man tell Jesus he had done from his youth?
6.  What sort of attitude must we have to receive eternal life?
7.  What one thing did Jesus tell him he lacked?
8.  Do you think this is required of everyone?
9.  Why was he required to do this?
10. Why was he sorrowful when Jesus told him what he must do?
11. What was different with this ruler and the rich man Zacchaeus?
12. Who did Jesus say would have a hard time getting to heaven?
13. What example did Jesus give to magnify the difficulty of the rich
    making it to heaven?
14. What did those listening ask Jesus?
15. What was the heritage of most of these people?
16. Name 3 rich Old Testament men who God loved.
17. The things which are ----- with men are ------with God.
18. What did Peter say to Jesus?
19. What did Jesus say would happen to those who gave up home and
    family to follow Him?
20. In verse 31, what was Jesus trying to prepare the disciples for?
21. What is something all the disciples of Jesus share that is
    considered by the Lord as blessing?
22. What things did Jesus tell the apostles would happen to Him?
23. Why did they not understand what He told them?
24. Near what town did they see the blind man who was begging?
25. When the blind man asked what was going on, what did they tell
    him?
26. What did the blind man call Jesus?
27. When the blind man cried for mercy, what did Jesus do?
28. In verse 42, what two things did Jesus say to the man who was
    blind?
29. Where did the man go when he received his miracle?