Day 58

Luke 11:45–54 (NIV)

⁴⁵ One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.” ⁴⁶ Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them. ⁴⁷ “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your forefathers who killed them. ⁴⁸ So you testify that you approve of what your forefathers did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.

⁴⁹ Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ ⁵⁰ Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, ⁵¹ from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.

⁵² “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” ⁵³ When Jesus left there, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, ⁵⁴ waiting to catch him in something he might say.

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

What is the difference between what Jesus asks us to do and people who live by the law asks us to do?

How does what Jesus says in verses 49-51 come true in Jesus’ life?

Is there anything you do that keeps people away from God?

Notes

vs 45- So far Jesus indictments have been against the Pharisees. But some of the lawyers (ones who interpret how to follow the religious laws for today) are also there at the meal. Now one of them speaks up. What Jesus says to them also attacks us and what we do. The two groups though separate, worked together on deciding how to live the law.

vs 46- Jesus doesn't give them any slack either. He accuses them of so burdening the people with trivial and confusing interpretations of the law that they cannot follow God. (think of tax code in US) Not only do they do this, they also refuse to help! (if you cannot figure it out then too bad) Instead of leading people toward God they are leading them away from Him! Think of Matt 11:28 -30 for Jesus' view of handling belief in God.

vs 47-48 Jesus doesn't actually mean they are building tombs of the prophets. It is way of saying they put a great deal of honor in commemorating the prophets but in reality they are following what their forefather did in killing or persecuting the prophets because the prophets were not saying what the people wanted to hear. Jesus saying you would kill God's messengers today like your forefathers persecuted and killed the prophets of their day. (Think of the foreshadowing of Jesus’ statement. They will kill Him)

vs 49- God's wise choice was to send people to speak for Him but the people refused to listen (8:10-15) Jesus says You still refuse to listen (you are doing the same thing they did) and therefore their punishment will be your punishment. You are just as guilty as others who led the people astray (Ezek 34) (see 20:9-18 for parable with same point)

vs 50 - 51 You guilt runs as deep as time. Things haven't changed from the killing of Abel til today. You are guilty of all of it. It is all a rejection of God's message. We still are before we become a follower.

vs 52- Not only do the leaders choose to not follow God they also take opportunity away from those who want to enter. They are an obstacle to faith!

Why was Jesus so blunt? First he had to try to wake the leaders up from their complacency and their rush to hell. Second Jesus shows concern for all those that these leaders are hurting by their false teaching

vs 53 The most obvious reaction is that of these leaders. It is clear that they would oppose Jesus if they don't see their wrongs.