Bible In One Year Day 316 (Luke 9 - 10, Proverbs 26: 4-6)

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Day 316:  Absolute Surrender 

Agape Bible Study 
Luke 9 - 10 

Chapter 9

The period of their instruction having been completed, Jesus sent the twelve Apostles on their first mission to heal and proclaim the Gospel.

Luke 9:1-6 ~ The mission of the Twelve Apostles

Question: How has Jesus been conducting His ministry in the Galilee?
Answer:

1. He proclaimed the coming of the Kingdom
2. He taught the people and interpreted Scripture
3. He cured different illnesses and afflictions
4. He forgave sins
5. He purified the ritually unclean
6. He cast out demons
7. He had the authority to command nature
8. He raised the dead

Question: What do these "signs" of Jesus' authority reveal?
Answer: These signs demonstrate that Jesus is the Messiah promised by the prophets and that He is truly "God who saves," the meaning of His name "Jesus" "Yah'shua in Hebrew (Yehoshua in the 1^st century AD).

Question: What authority does Jesus give His disciples in their first mission and how do those spiritual gifts reflect His mission? See Lk 9:1-2 and Mt 10:5-8.
Answer: Jesus gave them the power and authority He has demonstrated in His mission:

1. To cast out unclean spirits (4:33-37, 41; 8:26-39).
2. To cure every disease and heal the sick (4:38-40; 5:12-16, 17-26; 6:6-10; 7:1-10, 17, 22; 8:40-56).
3. To proclaim the Kingdom of God (4:43; 8:1).

St. Matthew records that He also gave them the power to raise the dead and cleanse the impure, but he also gave them the command to only go to the "lost sheep of Israel" and not to the Gentiles (Mt 10:5-8).

Luke 9:7-9 ~ Herod Antipas' curiosity about Jesus' identity

Question: When did Herod kill St. John the Baptist? 
Answer: He beheaded St. John after his step-daughter danced for him at his birthday banquet. He promised the girl up to half his kingdom. Her mother persuaded her to ask for the head of John in retaliation for John condemning her as an adulteress. Herod will get his wish to see Jesus when Pilate tries to free himself from passing judgment on Jesus by sending Him to Herod Antipas.

Question: How many similarities can you find? Note the word "recline" is in all passages in the Greek text of the feeding of the 5 thousand and in the Last Supper in Matthew and Luke.
Answer: The Gospel writers used some of the same wording and in the same order:

The Feeding Miracle of the 5 Thousand	The Last Supper
1. It was evening when the meal took place (Mt 14:15; Mk 6:35; Lk 9:12)	1. It was evening when the meal took place *
2. They reclined to eat (Mt 14:19; Mk 6:40; Lk 9:14-15)	2. They reclined to eat (Mt 26:20; Lk 22:14 in Greek text)
3. Jesus blessed the food (Mt 14:19; Mk 41; Lk 9:16)	3. Jesus blessed the food (Mt 26:26; Mk 14:22; Lk 22:19)
4. He broke the loaves (Mt 14:19; Mk 6:41; Lk 9:16)	4. He broke the loaves (Mt 26:26; Mk 14:22; Lk 22:19)
5. Jesus passed the food to the disciples (Mt 14:19; Mk 6:41; Lk 9:16)	5. Jesus passed the food to the disciples (Mt 26:26: Mk 14:22; Lk 22:19)
Michal E. Hunt Copyright © 2013

*according to the Law the feast of Passover victim began after sundown (Ex 12:8; Mt 26:20).

This miracle feeding foreshadowed the first Eucharistic banquet at the Last Supper but it was not the same miracle:

1. It was not a sacred feast as in the eating of the Passover sacrifice at the Last Supper on the first night of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
2. The bread was barley bread (Jn 6:9) and not unleavened wheat bread of the Last Supper.
3. Fish was the meat of the meal and not the roasted sacrificed lamb or kid of the Passover.
4. The miracle of the Last Supper was the transforming of the bread into Jesus' Body, not multiplying material bread for a crowd.

The abundant miracle multiplication of the loaves and fishes distributed by the Apostles prefigures the feeding the Eucharist to the faithful of the world as Jesus makes the miracle present on Church altars to His ordained ministers who pass what was ordinary bread but becomes the Bread of Life to the Body of Christ "the Church throughout the world.

The Catechism interprets Jesus' miracle feedings of the five thousand and the four thousand: The miracles of the multiplication of the loaves, when the Lord says the blessing, breaks and distributed the loaves through his disciples to feed the multitude, prefigure the superabundance of this unique bread of his Eucharist. The sign of water turned into wine at Cana already announces the Hour of Jesus' glorification. It makes manifest the fulfillment of the wedding feast in the Father's kingdom, where the faithful will drink the new wine that has become the Blood of Christ (CCC 1335).

Luke 9:18-21 ~ St. Peter's profession of faith

St. Matthew tells us that this event took place in the extreme northern region of the Promised Land at Caesarea Philippi (Mt 16:13). In the Gospel of Matthew, Peter's declaration is more precise: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God," for which Peter receives Jesus' blessing (Mt 16:17-19) and the symbolic "keys" of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Luke 9:22-27 ~ The first prophecy of His Passion and the condition of discipleship

This is a turning point in Jesus' preparation for His disciples. From now on He will teach clearly about what they can expect so they will be prepared when He reaches the climax of His ministry. From the beginning He was fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah concerning the coming of the Messiah: healing the sick, casting out demons, giving hope to the downtrodden and broken hearted. But He will also be fulfilling Isaiah's prophecies of God's suffering servant who will die for the sake of His people (Is 42-53) "Because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; and he shall take away the sins of many and win pardon for their offenses (Is 53:12b).

Luke 9:28-36 ~ The Transfiguration of the Christ

The disciples and Apostles must have been frightened and discouraged after Jesus' prediction of His death. To give them a vision to grasp in their darkest hour when the prediction of His death is fulfilled, Jesus took three Apostles "Peter, James, and John "up a "mountain" to witness a manifestation of His glory that confirms He is the Son of God and that He will come again in glory when the suffering He predicted has been fulfilled. These three Apostles will also be taken apart from the others when Jesus faces His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Luke 9:37-43 ~ Jesus heals a boy with a demon

Jesus gave the Apostles the power to cast out demons (Lk 9:1). While Jesus, Peter, James and John were on the mountain, the other nine Apostles were continuing their mission to heal and preach the coming of the kingdom. Jesus tells them that their failure on this occasion is because of their lack of faith (Lk 9:41; Mt 17:19-20). It is a failure which reflects badly on their credibility as Jesus' ministers. Perhaps they were intimidated by the power of the demon. However, Jesus successfully casts the demon out of the boy.

Luke 9:44-45 ~ The second prophecy of His Passion

Luke's Greek audience would find it inconceivable that someone who was divine could be killed by men, just as the Apostles and disciples found Jesus' statement incredible. Perhaps it wasn't so much that they did not understand but that they did not want to understand. They had seen Jesus' acts of power and authority over demons. It was probably inconceivable to them that He would not exercise the same power and authority over mere men.

In these next two events we see rivalry and the sense of exclusivity that is the result of intolerance towards outsiders, actions that Jesus condemns as not being the proper conduct of true discipleship.

Luke 9:46-48 ~ Jesus' teaching on greatness in the Kingdom

Perhaps the separation of the three from the others and their privilege of witnessing Jesus in His glory in the Transfiguration experience has made the other Apostles uneasy about where they stand in the Kingdom of the Messiah.

Question: In the secular world, what was greatness based on?
Answer: In the secular world greatness was based on social rank, wealth, or a special ability.

Luke 9:49-50 ~ An exorcist using Jesus' name

John Zebedee, the "least" of the Apostles if Bible scholars are correct in identifying him as the youngest, has apparently not learned from the previous teaching. The man's success has evidently sparked the jealousy of the Apostles who were unsuccessful in casting the demon out of the boy earlier.

Question: What is Jesus' point in telling John and the others to let the man heal in His name?
Answer: The ministers of the Kingdom are not "exclusive" they are "inclusive." There is no room for jealousy in the spiritual warfare that is necessary to advance the Kingdom.

Chapter 9:51-62

Luke 9:51-56 ~ The departure for Jerusalem and the inhospitality of a Samaritan village

This is the turning point in Luke's Gospel as Jesus begins the journey to His death. His teaching ministry in the Galilee has come to an end, and Jesus now prepares Himself and His disciples for what Luke literally calls the days "of his assumption" in Jerusalem (verse 51, Fitzmyer, page 827). Luke's "travel narrative" of Jesus' final journey to Jerusalem is divided into three parts with the beginning of each part marked by the reference to Jesus going to Jerusalem and the third part beginning and concluding with the same reference just prior to His entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday:

1. Luke 9:51 - 13:21 ~ When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem (Lk 9:51).
2. Luke 13:22 - 17:10 ~ He passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem (Lk 13:22).
3. Luke 17:11 - 19:28 ~ As he continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee (Lk 17:11). After he had said this, he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem (Lk 19:28).

Instead of traveling down the eastern side of the Jordan River to avoid passing through Samaria, Jesus and His disciples are traveling the more dangerous route through Samaria on the way to Jerusalem. Only the Gospels of Luke and John record Jesus' dealings with Samaritans (Lk 10:30-37; 17:11-19; Jn 4:4-42). Once again we see Luke's focus on the universality of Jesus' Gospel of the Kingdom.

The term "Samaritan" was originally a geographic distinction for one from the city of Samaria, the old capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel founded by King Omri in the early 9^th century BC. After the 8^th century BC, it became an ethnic and religious name for the people who came to inhabit the region between the Galilee and Judea to the west of the Jordan River. The Jews despised the people known as Samaritans "at the worst as Gentiles who falsely claimed to worship the God of Israel at their illicit Temple on Mt. Gerizim or at best as half-breed Jews who were apostates from the true faith.

Luke 9:57-62 ~ The personal sacrifice of true discipleship

This next section Jesus gives three teachings to would-be disciples that are warnings to those who want to join Jesus' mission. The focus of the teachings is that one needs to count the cost of discipleship weighed against personal relationships and commitments. Three men express the desire to follow Jesus, but Jesus counters each man's spoken desire to follow Him with a warning on the cost of discipleship:

• Would-be follower #1: He makes a spontaneous and unconditional pledge of his allegiance. Jesus counters by telling him that in His mission He lives like a homeless wanderer with no home or family or any comforts. Even animals have more "creature comforts."
• Would-be follower #2: Jesus extends the invitation to discipleship, but the man places a condition on his acceptance, placing his family obligation to bury his father before Jesus' call. Jesus tells him that the importance and urgency of His mission to call mankind to the blessing of eternal life must take precedence over family obligations and calls for personal sacrifice. He tells him to let those in his family who aren't committed to the imminent coming of the Kingdom and who are dead spiritually to take care of burying the dead physically.
• Would-be follower #3: He also makes an emotional and spontaneous offer like person #1, but like person #2 he also adds a condition that recalls the request that was granted to Elisha when he was called to become Elijah's disciple (1 Kng 19:19-21). Elijah permitted Elisha to kiss his parents good-bye and to have a farewell feast with his family. But Jesus tells would-be disciple #3 that commitment to the Kingdom leaves no time for ordinary family affections and requires the sacrifice of placing the needs of the Kingdom above all human connections and affiliations. It is the time to move forward with God's plan for humanity and to not look back.

Question: In summary, what three sacrifices has Jesus called each would-be disciple to make?
Answer:

1. The sacrifice of personal security and comfort.
2. The sacrifice of family duties and obligations.
3. The sacrifice of parental connection and to separate oneself from one's past life.

Chapter 10

The episodes in chapter 10 present a series of contrasts:

• Lambs and wolves (10:3)
• Those who see and hear and those who do not see and hear = those who belong to Christ and those who belong to the world (10:16, 21-24)
• The childlike and the wise (10:21)
• Samaritan and Jew (10:29-37)
• Worldly service contrasted with spiritual service (10:38-42)

Luke 10:1-12 ~ The mission of the seventy/seventy-two disciples

Luke 10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy[-two] others... The chapter begins with the literal phrase "after these things;" it is a transition statement Luke uses frequently to show movement to a new focus or new event (see Lk 5:27; 12:4; 17:8; 18:4; Acts 7:7; 13:20; 15:16; 18:1). Some ancient manuscripts read "70" and others "72."⁽¹⁾ There is biblical precedence for the number 70:

1. There were 70 elders in the hierarchy of the Old Covenant Church (Ex 24:1, 9; Num 11:16, 24).
2. There were 70 male members of the family of Jacob who immigrated into Egypt (Gen 46:8-27; Ex 1:5; Dt 10:22).
3. The traditional number of the Gentile nations named in the Table of Nations in Genesis chapter 10 in the Jewish Masoretic text is 70, but in the Septuagint translation there are 72 (Green, page 412).

Luke 10:13-16 ~ Jesus' reproach for those who refuse to repentant

Question: As Jesus continues to address His disciples, why does Jesus pronounce a curse/judgment on the towns that witnessed His mighty deeds and still refused to repent? What is His warning? See Mt 3:1-2; Lk 3:2-3.
Answer: Repentance is part of the proclamation of the Kingdom. Anyone who refuses to acknowledge his sins and to repent cannot be at peace with God nor be welcomed into the kingdom in his sinful condition. Judgment will be more catastrophic for those towns who rejected God's messenger and His proclamation of the Kingdom than for those who perished by fire in the judgment on the ancient city of Sodom who never heard the Gospel message of salvation.

Of the three towns Jesus mentioned, the site of Chorazin has not been identified, but it was probably a town near Capernaum where Jesus' ministry was headquartered. The townspeople of Chorazin surely heard His teaching and witnessed many of His miracles. The town of Bethsaida was located at the northern tip of the Sea of Galilee and was the hometown of the Apostle Philip (Jn 1:44; 12:21).

Luke 10:17-20 ~ The return of the seventy [-two] disciples

The success of the mission is reflected in the disciples' joy.

Question: Why do the disciples say they have been successful?
Answer: They have been successful because they have ministered in Jesus' "name." It is through the authentic use of Jesus' name that they worked the same kinds of miracles Jesus works.

Question: What is Satan's mission? See Gen chapter 3; Rev 12:9; Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7 and Zech 3:1-2.

Answer: His mission, since His success in bring sin into the world, is to challenge the faithfulness of God's servants and to continue to lead men into sin. He also stands in the heavenly court as mankind's accuser.

Luke 10:21-22 ~ Jesus praises the Father and blesses the disciples

Jesus praises the Father (verses 21-22) and blesses the disciples (verses 23-24) who are eyewitnesses and sharers of His ministry at this critical point in salvation history.

Question: In what three ways has Jesus defined His relationship to the disciples? The third way ends in a special beatitude (verses 23-24). See verses 16-24 for your answer.
Answer:

1. They are His chosen emissaries (verse 16).
2. Because of their faith and their service, their names are inscribed in the Book of Life in heaven (verse 20).
3. They are blessed with a revelation of Him and His heavenly Father which elevates them above the prophets and kings of the Old Covenant as "children" of God (verses 21-24).

In the Old Testament the Israelites of the Sinai Covenant were called the "sons/children of God," but only in a collective sense. Now each individual disciple of Jesus Christ who is reborn through water and the Holy Spirit into the family of God becomes a child of the Almighty (Jn 3:3, 5).

Luke 10:25-28 ~ The greatest commandment

Question: What contrast did Jesus make in 10:21?
Answer: He contrasts the disciples as "children/childlike" as opposed to the "wise and learned" who oppose His teaching and proclamation of the Kingdom.

Question: What did St. Paul write about those considered to be "wise and learned" according to human standards? See 1 Cor 1:25-30.
Answer: He wrote that God does not measure wisdom and strength by human standards. He chose those (the Apostles and disciples of Jesus) who were not considered either wise or learned or influential by human standards to shame those who arrogantly believed they were superior in their understanding of God and the Law.

Luke 10:29-37 ~ The parable of the good Samaritan

Still wishing to test Jesus, the scholar asks for Jesus' definition of "neighbor." According to the Law in Leviticus 19:17-18, "neighbor" is defined as one's own countryman but verses 33-34 command the ethical treatment of foreigners living in the land of Israel. Jesus answers by telling a parable about an unfortunate man who was robbed and beaten on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. The contrast in this story is between the "righteous" Jews and the "heretic" Samaritan.

Luke 10:38-42 ~ Jesus visits Martha and Mary in Bethany

Question: What is being contrasted in this episode?
Answer: In this episode, two kinds of service to the Lord are contrasted "service in love of neighbor and service in love of God.

The scholar correctly identified the two greatest commandments as love of God and love of neighbor in Luke 10:27-28. It is the same teaching Jesus gives when questioned by the Pharisees and scribes (Mt 22:34-40 and Mk 12:28-31). Here the contrast is between Martha the attentive hostess and her sister the attentive disciple.

Question: Where did Martha and Mary live? See Jn 11:1 and consult a map of the Holy Land in the 1^st century AD.
Answer: They lived in the village of Bethany, on the east side of the Mt. of Olives which was located on the east side of Jerusalem.

Question: What was Jesus' relationship with the two sisters and their brother Lazarus? See Jn 11:5 and 12:1-2.
Answer: They were disciples who made Jesus welcomed in their home. Scripture records that Jesus loved Martha, her sister Mary and their brother Lazarus."

Three visits to the home of Martha and Mary are recorded in the Gospels:

1. The visit in Luke 10:38-42 as Jesus is traveling to Jerusalem.
2. The visit when their brother Lazarus dies in John 11:1-44. Jesus had withdrawn to the east side of the Jordan River because of the opposition of the priests and Pharisees of Jerusalem. He returns to raise Lazarus from the dead.
3. The visit that begins Jesus' last week in Jerusalem in John 12:1-11 when He and His Apostles have a Sabbath meal with the family.