Luke 11:33-54
Sermon Notes:
1) Be careful lest the light in you be darkness, 33-36
2) Be careful to practice true justice from the heart, 37-42
3) Beware of loving the praise of men, v.43
4) Be careful that you’re not an unmarked grave, 44
5) Be careful that you serve others, instead of burdening others, 45-46
6) Be careful that you don’t approve of (or imitate) others’ evil, 47-51
7) Be careful that you don’t hinder others from knowing Jesus, 52
8) Beware of harming or vilifying Jesus, 53-54
Reflection questions:
1. Read v.35 and compare it to 1 Corinthians 10:12 (consider reading 1 Cor 9:24-10:13). Who is “anyone who thinks he stands”? Is God trying to scare us or encourage us by these words? Make note of the following verse (1 Cor. 10:13), as well.
2. Of v.42, Phil Ryken says, “They calculated their offerings down to the last decimal point. Somewhere in all of their obsessive arithmetic, the Pharisees had lost the joy of giving generously to God” (Phil Ryken, Luke: Reformed Expository Commentary, 1: 623-4). What’s wrong with this picture? What does Paul say about our attitude in giving in 2 Cor. 9:7? Why is Paul talking about generosity at all in 2 Corinthians 8-9? For what or whom is he trying to raise money?
3. How do the Pharisees and Scribes/Lawyers respond to Jesus’s woes and accusations? Why does the narrator’s silence tell you about their actions? Compare their response to the following verses: Job 40:8; Isaiah 6:5; Luke 18:9-14, especially v.13.