Persistent Widows and Humble Tax Collectors

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting October 13 to study Luke 18:1-14.  This passage is made up of two parables both with similar literary introductions.  They probably stand on their own, and Luke includes them here as separate elements.  From the remainder of the chapter we learn that Jesus is still heading south to Jerusalem, but that's all we know about the setting.

Read through both parables in at least two very different translations.  Note where the two sets of translators made very different choices.  Try reducing the point of each parable into one simple sentence (one sentence for each).  Make notes on the various elements, note questions and so on.

Once you have your own notes, look at the notes of other commentaries or study Bibles.  Revise your notes and questions as you like.  Only at this point go back through the passage with the questions below:

• Luke gives the point of the first parable as teaching to always pray without giving up.  These two parables are the only place Luke uses such a literary introduction.  How do you think this helps the reader (or listener) get the most out of the parable?
• The judge does not fear God nor respect people.  Why do you think such a person would be a "judge"?  Later Jesus refers to him as an "unjust" judge.  This is ironic, partly because of the comparison with God.  Why do you think Jesus would use such characters in a parable?
• If the widow knows the character of the judge, and has no leverage with him, why do you think she would persist in coming to him?
•  The judge, as we would expect, ignores her.  But his explanation of why he eventually listens to her is that she bothers him.  What do you think this says of God?  What do you learn here from this?
• Jesus then says God will act swiftly on behalf of His elect.  Consider again the intro to the parable.  If God is swift, why is the parable needed?
• Jesus then asks if He will find faith on the earth when He comes.  When do you think He is referring here?  Is this His return or when He passes through on the way to Jerusalem?
• In verse 9, we have a similar literary structure for the introduction to the parable.  There are two parts to the problem with the target audience.  Which one do you consider more severe?
• The prayer of the Pharisee is made up of what he says, but also his physical stance.  Why do you think our physical stance matters to God?
• The Pharisee prays a prayer of thanksgiving.  But considering what he is thankful for, who do you think he is really thankful to?
• The tax collector's physical stance is different.  What do you think his stance shows about his attitude here?
• Consider what the tax collector says.  He's not thankful but asks for something.  Without considering the detailed content, we might think that was presumptuous, but the content makes it clear he's not.  So how can prayer "structures" distract us from prayers that truly honor God?
• The result of each prayer was supposed to be justification (see v.14).  What do you think your prayers would sound like if this were your goal of prayer?  How often is justification your goal in prayer?
• Only one prayer of the two achieved the goal of justification.  Once again, the tax collector is the hero and the Pharisee is the antagonist.  Considering the make up of Jesus' traveling party, why do you think He would choose these characters?

There is plenty more we can discuss on Thursday.  Be sure to bring your notes.  And pray through this week.  That seems to be the consistent theme, pray.

Finding Party

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study meeting September 1 to study Luke 15 (since we didn't even touch it last week).  This chapter is made up of 3 parables about the rejoicing in heaven over repentant people.  The first two setup the third.

Read through these a few times.  Their familiarity, especially with the third will be the biggest barrier to really understanding them.  I found it very helpful to keep Luke 14:25-35 in view as you read through these parables because together they provide balance to the issue of evangelism, an intrinsic issue in these parables.

If you're only going to read it once, or focus on it once, do it with an unfamiliar translation.  Jot down things you notice, questions that come up, and details you don't remember quite that way before.  After making your own study, go back through with the questions below:

• After Jesus turns to the many crowds following Him and tells them how expensive it is to be a 'disciple', now "all the tax collectors and sinners" are following Him.  Considering the previous passage, how committed do you think these tax collectors and sinners were about following Jesus?
• Both the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble about all the tax collectors and sinners around Jesus and His close association with them.  What does that tell you about these two ends of the spectrum of "righteousness" among those following Jesus?
• Why do you think the Pharisees and scribes always seem to be around Jesus as well?
• Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep, explaining how the shepherd leaves the 99 in the fields to find the lost one.  And then finding celebrates with his friends and neighbors.  Jesus explains this to illustrate the celebrating in heaven over one repentant person.  So, what do you think is the point to those following Jesus?  Where are they in the parable?
• Jesus then tells the parable of the lost coin where the woman seeks diligently, and then celebrates with her friends and neighbors when she finds it.  Again the rejoicing in heaven is the explanation.  So where are the listeners around Jesus in this parable?
• Then the parable of the lost son.  Now there is a lot more detail.  The lost son repents for one thing (only found in the previous explanations).  The father goes out while the son is still far off, but how diligently is the father seeking the son, as in the previous two parables?
• The lost son is welcomed back and they throw a party.  The elder son is upset (like the Pharisees and scribes).  So, how do you think the father's explanation to his elder son clarifies the response of heaven, and what Jesus expects of the "righteous"?
• Consider again the cost of discipleship from the previous chapter.  How do you see that relating to these parables of rejoicing over finding lost?  How do you see "discipleship" related to elements of the parables or their explanations?

It is likely we won't get through all of chapter 15, but it's possible we will.  The "AHA" of this chapter should be easy since we spent so much time on this parable through that study.  But see what you can do tying the cost of discipleship to the parables, and what you learn from that?

Being A Neighbor

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting April 21 to study Luke 10:25-37 (The Parable of the Good Samaritan).  This is really familiar to nearly everyone, whether they know the Bible or not, they've typically heard of it.  In some ways, this makes it difficult to do what we do.  But in others, it makes it really easy.

Read through the parable in a few translations, looking for differences in word choice and sentence structure.  You will find little change in meaning, but wide variety in choice of words and sentence structure.  Jot down what you notice and questions you have about it.  It is sometimes helpful to look up the different words used for the same thing to see what nuance the translator chose over another.

After you've spent some time doing that, look through some commentaries.  These will answer some of your word-choice and other questions, but will create other questions.  Make more notes to bring to the group.

Once you've been through your own study, go back through with the questions below:

• In that day, a lawyer was one who studied Scripture and debated it.  So, why would this guy "test" Jesus?  What do you think he's up to?
• Jesus throws it back on him asking him what he thinks.  The lawyer gives the answer Jesus gives in Jerusalem when He's tested by the Pharisees.  What does this tell you about what Jews of the day thought about the "Greatest Commandment"? (see also Mark 12:28-34)
• Jesus agrees with the man's answer, so why push on? What was it about which this man needed to "justify himself"?
• Jesus launches into a parable.  In it, a common problem on the road to Jericho, a man is mugged.  Then three people come by.  Why do you think the priest and Levite would decline to help the man?  Keep in mind they are on their way to Jericho, not Jerusalem.
• The two obvious "heroes" aren't, and next comes the Samaritan.  The crowd probably booed at this point.  But he shows compassion.  Now what does the crowd do?  What do you think the Lawyer is feeling?
• Jesus is very detailed about the help the Samaritan gives.  Why do you think it was important to Jesus to be so specific?
• The care the Samaritan gives continues on, it's thorough, it lasts the rest of the day and beyond into the next.  Jesus is not giving any quarter on His definition of neighbor.  Besides the lawyer, what do you think the crowd around Jesus thought when the Samaritan is so thoroughly good?
• Jesus ends by asking the lawyer which of the three was a neighbor to the mugged one.  What do you think is the point of the "neighbor" being a Samaritan?
• The lawyer replies that the neighbor is the one who showed compassion.  But Jesus designed the story so that the lawyer would have to emulate a Samaritan.  Why do you think Jesus would make it more difficult on the lawyer?

After looking through this familiar parable in detail, what do you see as the application for you?  Where are those opportunities to show compassion around you?  And what will you do when you see another of these opportunities?

Ministering Women and Perplexing Soil

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting February 11 to study Luke 8:1-18, or as far as we get into it.  This is both familiar and troubling as a passage.  As usual, we will not be skipping anything including women in ministry with this one.  Jesus says some perplexing things about His ministry and how he does it and we're going to enjoy all of it.

Read through the passage several times, jotting down notes and questions.  What jumps out at you about the women, the parable of soils, the disciples questioning, and Jesus' explanation, both of this parable and why He uses parables in the first place?

After working through the passage on your own, then go back through with any commentary or study Bible notes you have available.  This should answer some questions, bring out new thoughts, and create new questions for you. Be sure to write those down and bring them all Thursday.  After you have your set of notes, go back through with the questions below:

• There's really no parallel for Luke's mention of the women ministering to Jesus.  I'm sure you found some interesting suggestions in commentaries, most of which had to do with how Luke seems to be interested in the rights of women and the poor.  But these women aren't poor, and they don't seem oppressed.  What do you think is Luke's point here, aside from his support for women and the poor?
• One of these women is "well-connected", but another the audience would simply know by name (Susanna - no explanation needed).  The common denominators among them all (named or not) is that they had been healed from something, and their ability to support Jesus and His disciples from their own resources.  What do you think those "common denominators" tell you about their character?
• The Parable of the Sower (or soils) (Matt. 13:1-9, Mar. 4:1-9, and Luk. 8:4-8) seems to be the "example" parable with which we're to understand the others.  It's really one of the few major parables that Jesus explains to His disciples.  Why do you think that this parable is the one the Gospel writers chose to explain instead of so many other options?  Why do you think John leaves it out completely?
• The first "soil" is the "path".  On this soil, Luke adds to the description of the others that the seed was "trampled".  He also adds the birds "of the air".  The word for "air" is also "heaven".  Why do you think this may have added some meaning for his audience?
• The second soil is "rocky".  In each instance, it's the shallowness of the soil.  Jesus explains this later, but notice that in Matthew and Mark the sun scorches it, but in Luke it lacks moisture.  Why do you think the difference might be meaningful for Luke, or is it?
• In the third soil, thorns, the wording is almost exact between all three writers.  Considering the other "deviations", why do you think this one needed no further "explanation" in Luke's presentation?
• The final soil is "good", and produces 100 times in Luke, but the other two offer 30 and 60 times as well (but in reverse order between Matthew and Mark).  Why do you think Luke left out the other two options?  Considering the explanation Jesus gives later, why not offer the other two production levels to Luke's audience?
• All three accounts include "The one having ears to listen, hear!"  What do you think this means?  Why do you think Jesus would challenge the crowds with it? And what do you think the crowds thought of it?
• All three accounts refer to Isaiah 6:9, but Matthew and Mark go on to include verse 10.  Read verses 1-8 of Isaiah 6 to get a sense of the setting of this passage.  What do you think Jesus means as He refers to this passage in Isaiah to explain why He speaks in parables?
• Another place we see minor differences in the accounts is in the explanation of the elements of the parable.  In all three, the "birds" are Satan who comes and snatches away the word sown.  But in none of them does Jesus say who the "sower" is, only in Mark are we told explicitly that the seed is the word of God.  So who do you think the sower is?
• In the rocky soil, the "hearers" receive with joy, but have no "root" and "stand apart" whenever trials come.  Considering the cost of discipleship for first-century believers, how likely do you think this possible "soil" was within the church?
• What sorts of "temptations" or "tests" do you face that push you to "put-up-or-shut-up" about your faith?
• The "thorns" choke the new growth. This is described as the cares, deceitfulness of riches, and desire for the stuff of "life".  The work for "life" is different than we normally find throughout the Christian Scriptures.  Look it up here.  This is the type of living where we get biology from, and refers to a strictly physical sort of life.  How do you see this sort of focus distracting you in your daily living?
• In the good soil, Luke describes the receptive heart with these two words, but both mean "good".  Normally translated as "honest", and the other "good" they are actually synonyms.  Look at the definition and uses listed under each.  What do you see as an essential difference in meaning, if any?
• Luke again makes little of how many times the crop reproduces, but he does emphasize perseverance.  That would mean, like the rocky soil, it had to endure "tests" or "temptations" but persevered.  What makes the difference in the ability to persevere?  How can you develop "root"?
• Next, the parable of the lamp on a stand.  This is located in Matthew as part of the Sermon on the Mount, but Luke and Mark put it here.  How does this parable help you understand the previous parable of the soils?

That should take us well through our allotted time.  Who knows, we may not even finish.  But think through the questions in terms of what "Awakens" you.  Be Honest about what you see about yourself in these parables.  What Action are you being led to take in response.