You Want Me to Do What? Part 1

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting December 17 to study Luke 6:20-49 (or as far as we can get).  This is Luke's "Sermon on the Plain".  Like the "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew 5 through 7, it can be very difficult to receive.  It teaches a completely different perspective on living than human cultures have developed.  Other religious views (like Buddhism) have approximated this sort of view without actually going this far with it.

As you read this passage through, I want you to really fight the urge not to take these teachings at face value.  Think, "This is what Jesus wants me to do, and how He wants me to think." I really, truly, want you to take it seriously.  With that perspective, take notes, jot down questions, go through it a few times.  You may get angry, in fact there could be a whole range of emotions that you discover with this passage.

Once you've been through it yourself, go back through it with a commentary or two.  You will, no doubt, find some rationalization in commentaries.  Where you do, see if you can work past their rationalizations.  Try and maintain a sense of plain meaning with this text.  Only after you have been through the passage yourself, and then through with some commentary go through again with the questions below.

• The "Beatitudes" start with the actual poor instead of the "poor in spirit" as in Matthew.  Why do you think the social/economic category of "poor" would be so important for Luke?
• The next is aimed at the hungry, how might this be different from "poor"?
•  The next is aimed at those mourning, but what they mourn is not mentioned.  Why do you think Luke would use this as a category without narrowing it down based on what is being mourned?  Notice the range of explanation in commentaries.  That usually means that no one really knows.
• The fourth is about how others outside the fellowship of faith treat you.  This is very similar to the final Beatitude in Matthew 5.  How much of this do you think the disciples had to deal with during Jesus' ministry?
• Go back through the four "Beatitudes".  Why are the poor "Blessed" or happy?  Why are the hungry blessed?  Why are the mourning blessed?  What value is there in being mistreated for our faith?  In each case, what is Luke pointing toward?  Why do you think we don't we hear more of this today?
• Go through the "Woes" the same way as the "Blesseds".  Why the rich as a category, why the "well-fed", why the "laughing"?  Ask the same questions about them we did of the blesseds above.
• The sets of four "Happy" and "Woe to" statements are aimed at social/economic categories of people.  What does this tell you about how God views these categories?
• Jesus says to "Love your enemies" and moves on to explain how: do good to those hating you, bless the ones cursing you, pray for the one abusing you, turn the other cheek, give more than asked, do not resist a demand.  How does all this feel to you?  What is your emotional response?  Why do you think that you respond/feel that way?
• Jesus' underlying reason for His charge to love your enemies is to treat others how we want to be treated (v.31).  What does this tell you about how Jesus views your "enemies"?  How do you feel about that?
• Jesus then proceeds to explain how His followers are to be different from "sinners".  If we do merely what they do, there should be no expectation of a benefit from God.  How do you feel about that?  Why do you think you feel that way?
• Look up "kind" from verse 35 here. Really consider the fist (I.) definition listed.  Read that statement of Jesus replacing "kind" with "useful".  Now read Jesus' final explanation of how we are like God when we behave and think this way.  How do you feel about that, and why?
• In the Hebrew Scriptures, there's no exact quote from verse 36.  But look at this phrase repeated in Leviticus over and over:  Leviticus 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7,26; 21:8.  How do you think these two phrases might be related, or could they be?
• The next section, especially verse 37 is often quoted, but not necessarily understood.  Look up 1 Corinthians 4:3-5 and 1 Corinthians 5:3, 9-13.  Based on Paul's understanding of 'judging others', what do you think Jesus means here?
• Consider the context with verse 37.  The next set of statements has to do with forgiveness and giving.  Why do you think Jesus would connect that with judgement? How does this connection help you better understand judging others?
• Jesus moves through four reciprocating attitudes toward others.  In each case do you view the reciprocation coming from God or other people?  Why did you choose whichever one you chose?
• Jesus then threads blind leading blind, disciples and teachers, and beams versus splinters in the eye.  We have probably heard a lot of these taken on their own, but what connection do you see between blind leading blind and disciples being above teachers?  How about disciples being above teachers and helping someone with a splinter when you have a beam in your own eye?  What's the connection there?
• Why do you think Jesus is telling them these parables?  Jesus is a power radiating healing machine as He tells them this.  Would they really think that they're smarter than Him?  Who is this for, and why is Jesus telling them?
• Fruit shows the kind of tree...how do you see this related to the blind leading blind, disciples and teachers, and board-eyed splinter helpers?
• From the treasury of the heart the mouth speaks.  This is related to fruit, but also to the previous parables.  Again, what do you see as the connection?
• Jesus wraps up with obedience and what it looks like for disobedience.  How do you see this connected to the previous "fruit/words" point, and the three parables?
• If Jesus is so adamant about obedience at the end, then how should we approach the treatment of the poor versus rich from the beginning?  What about the treatment of enemies?

I can't imagine there being no AHA moments from this.  I don't think I even need to list out how to process it as such.  You know what to do...

Choosing Followers; Giving Marching Orders

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting December 3 to study Luke 6:12 through as far as we get.  We probably won't get much further than the choosing of the Twelve.

Seeing the choosing and the immediately following sermon as connected ties who was chosen to the 'job description' for the position.  These can be disconnected, but I believe in Luke's mind they are very closely connected.  The main reason is that, between them, the distinct grammatical element of "Now it happened..." (v.1), or "And it came to pass..." found in verse 1 and 12 is missing in verse 17.  This construction also appears in verse 6 but is left untranslated in nearly every translation due to a textual variant leaving it out.  Luke has used this structure nearly every time he transitions from one event to another.  So that it's missing in verse 17 is something to consider.

If you're still awake, go ahead and read through the remainder of the chapter.  Keep in mind that this passage generally parallels Matthew 5 through 7.  Reading them together is helpful, but can also be confusing.  Matthew doesn't connect the sermon to the selection of the Twelve, but does mention the disciples.  He also has more than double the amount of sayings of Jesus; many of which do not occur in Luke at all (others are located in other places in Luke).

But we may not get further than the distinct differences between the different lists of the Twelve this week.  For comparison, these lists are found in Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, and Acts 1:13 (also by Luke).  Some name differences, like two, are easy to reconcile.  Others can be, but some can't. So work through them, but also be ready to accept that we just simply don't know.

The order of study should be to read the passage first, jotting down your own thoughts and questions.  Only after you have studied on your own should you look at other sources.  Let the Spirit lead you first so He can point out to you the areas He wants to work on in your life; your own AHA moments.

After you have a good handle on the passage, let me shake it up a little as you go through the questions below.  These only go through the selection of the Twelve and the setup for the sermon.

• What does it reveal to you about the Trinity that Jesus has the need to pray all night before He selects the Twelve?
• Jesus selects twelve of His disciples and designates them apostles.  Considering that the word apostle basically meant "emissary" or simply "someone on a mission for someone else", why do you think this designation was used here?
• Andrew, the brother of Peter makes the top, right behind his brother. In Matthew he's in the same place, in Mark though he's buried in the middle.  Since Mark gets his material from Peter, why do you think he would put Andrew so much lower?
• At least Andrew is in every list.  In Luke, who is this other "Judas" (see also John 14:22), and where is Thaddeus?  And why does no one include Nathaniel (see John 1:45)?
• Consider the other lists.  What do you think about differences in order?
• In Matthew 5, the sermon occurs on a mountain (Matthew 5:1).  Here Luke has Jesus descending to a "level place".  Considering the content similarities why do you think that the "places" are different?
• Luke has Jesus working as He speaks.  He's healing, and people are being healed just by touching Him.  Luke mentions that the power to heal is radiating from Him.  Why do you think this element of the setting is important for the content of the sermon?
• People came from Tyre and Sidon, not just Jerusalem and Judea.  Look Tyre and Sidon up on a map.  Do you think that there were Gentiles in the group?  Why do you think the possibility might be important to Luke?

After going through the questions, consider your observations, what you've read in commentaries, and whatever you been able to glean from the questions above.  What AHA moments have you discovered in this passage?  What actions do you need to take in light of what you've discovered?