Merry Christmas!

We are moving away from our study in Luke for the Christmas season. We will be studying Ephesians begining in January and will complete our study in Luke in the weeks leading up to Easter...The Passion of Jesus for Everyone!

During the Christmas season, you might like to revisit the very first few posts that cover the Christmas story.

Here is the Christmas Message from last year's coverage of Luke 2:
http://jesus4everyone.blogspot.com/2012/01/week-3-december-23-24-2011-shepherds.html

Week 41 "Not One Stone"

Video Notes:

·       What in life and the world is permanent and what is temporary?

·       Look at some of these massive stones…We can tell the original Herodian stones by their bordered edges. In fact the largest quarried stone in the world is located a couple of hundred yards north from here.

·       The disciples, and the Jews of their day, thought the Temple would stand forever… they were wrong. Jesus said that not one stone of the Temple would be left upon another, and it happened just the way He said. When the Romans tore down the temple in AD 70, they pushed the great stones of the Temple, the walls, and even the pedestrian arch that once was above us here, down into this street. You can see the impact they left.

·       In recent years this section has been excavated and the great stones were left where they fell as a reminder of the destruction of the temple.

·       What in our lives do we think is rock-solid, permanent? Where do we place our trust?

Text: This week we’re covering Luke 20:45-47 and all of Luke 21 which covers Jesus’ answers to the disciples’ questions about the future of the Temple, Jerusalem, and Israel, as well as the promised return of Christ. It is a section that is a good one to try to match up Jesus’ answers with the right questions. Also, making an outline as you work through this section is also helpful. Interestingly, Jesus speaks very practically into their situation about things that would happen in their generation. I the process of speaking to the concerns of the disciples, he speaks great advice to us as well.

Other passages to read: We encourage you to read "horizontally" in these passages that are parallel or provide background information to our text from Luke 20:

·           This whole passage is paralleled : Matthew 24:1-51; Mark 13:1-3

·           Widow’s Gift: Mark 12:41-44; 2 Kings 12:9 (origin of offering box)

·           Persecution of the Church: Matthew 10:17-23; Acts 22:19; 26:9-11

·           City Surrounded: Luke 19:43-44

·           Watch Yourselves & Stay Awake: Matthew 25:13; 26:41; Romans 13:11-14; Gal. 6:1; 1 Timothy 4:16; 1 Peter 4:7; 2 John 1:8.

·           Daily in the temple: Matthew 21:17; 26:55; Mark 11:19; John 8:1-2.

Points to ponder: In your study this week, you might want to think about one of these questions:

·         What does this short pericope about the widow’s gift teach us about giving?

·         Why was Jesus more concerned about the opposition his followers would face than about the destruction of the temple?

·         What really is the disciples question and how does Jesus answer?

·         Several things are said to be “near” in this chapter. What are they and how is this important?

·         What does Jesus mean when he says, “for my name’s sake”?

·         How does v. 14-15 translate into the way we live? What does this challenge us to do or not do?

We try to answer these questions on the Jesus4Everyone blog in the next week’s post.

Questions to ask ourselves: The following questions are intended to help us move towards greater personal application of what we learn about Jesus…

·         How do I approach my giving to the Lord? It is worship or something else?

·         What do I consider to the most important and permanent thing in my life (other than God)? How would I handle its loss?

·         How should I react to what I hear, see, and read in the news this week?

·         What would I need to change in my life if I was to face persecution for my faith?

·         If Jesus promises to give us an appropriate answer in moments of trial, when do I take time to listen to the Holy Spirit speak to my current situation?

Pastor Randy’s Sermon Notes: "The Comings of Jesus"

Read Luke 21:5-36

• Listen to God’s Word

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” (v 33)

• Live in anticipation of His coming

“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” (v 28)

• Look for opportunities to live and love like Jesus

“But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.” (v 13)

Quotes and Commentary:

This week I am providing my own textual outline of this passage in an effort to help us follow the thrust of Jesus teaching on this subject and not miss his practical directives. Also, my interpretive comments are [blue text in brackets]

1. The Widow’s Offering

·         She gave all she had

·         They gave more, but less, out of their abundance

·         their offerings literally adorned the outside walls of the temple (the golden vine) which would be destroyed in 70 ad.

·         Her offering adorned the temple of her heart for God’s eternal pleasure.

2. Destruction of the Temple Foretold (5-11)

·         “Not one stone left on another” v.6 [Our Video focus]

·         v. 7 Two Questions

o   When will these things be?

o   What will be the sign? [“signs” are a short-term confirmation of a long-term prediction. So signs should have been expected to be seen by that audience…in their generation.]

·         Answers & Warnings:

o   Don’t be led astray

§  Many false prophets claiming to be Jesus

o   Don’t go after them [Don’t follow them]

o   Don’t be terrified at the news [wars and rumors]

·         They must take place

§  The end will not be at once

·         There will be wars

o   nation     à nation

o   kingdom àkingdom

·         There will be great earthquakes

·         There will be famines & pestilences (diseases)

o   in various places

·         There will be terrors & great signs

o   from heaven

3. Persecution of the Church Foretold (12-19)

·         v. 12 But before all this...they will:

o   lay hands on you

o   persecute you

o   deliver you up

§  to the synagogues

§  to the prisons

·         Even by parents, brothers, relatives, friends (16)

o   brought before kings & governors

§  for my name’s sake

o   This is your opportunity to witness

§  Settle it in your mind

§  Not planned out in advance

·         [not looking for trouble]

·         [not depending on yourself]

·         [not seeking to escape]

§  Spirit-provided defense

·         adversaries cant withstand

·         Adversaries can’t contradict

§  Some of you will be killed

o   All hate you

o   Not a hair of your head will perish [nothing about you will be lost]

4. Destruction of Jerusalem (20-24)

A.   Jerusalem surrounded

o   Flee to the mountains

§  Desolation has come near

·         Inside cityà depart

·         Outside cityà do not enter it

§  These are the days of vengeance [for what?]

·         Fulfilling all that is written

Parallel structure here:

A. Lament for pregnant & nursing women

B. there will be great distress upon the earth

[earth/land often used to refer to Israel]

B’                               wrath against this people

        C. They will fall by the sword

        C’ They will be led captive

B.   Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles

o   Until time of Gentiles is fulfilled

[Fulfilled=like a cargo ship that has been filled and is ready to sail.

Like Noah filling the ark. Now the Ark is Christ.]

5. 2^nd Coming of Christ Foretold (25-28)

·         Signs in sun, moon, and stars [signs in Bible are always in the short term]

·         On earth distress of nations in perplexity

o   roaring sea and waves

·         People fainting with fear and foreboding

·         Powers of heaven shaken (see v. 11)

·         They will see Jesus coming in a cloud

o   Power & great glory [OT allusion to the Shekinah]

·         Now when these things begin to take place…

o   Straighten up

o   [Look up] Raise your heads. Why?

§  Your redemption is drawing near

6. Parable of the Fig Tree—not just a Fig Tree (29-33)

·         you see for yourselves and know…

·         This generation will not pass away

o   Until all has taken place. [Need to take seriously Jesus’ time reference]

7. Watch Yourselves (34-36)

·         Watch yourselves

o   [it is possible for the heart to be weighed down by]

§  dissipation—what waters down my life

§  drunkenness—what numbs my life

§  cares of this life—what strangles my life

o   Day comes suddenly like a trap

o   Day comes upon all (the whole earth)

·         Stay awake at all times

o   Praying for strength to escape

§  the things which will take place

§  to stand before the Son of Man

8. Sunrise, Sunset (37)

·         Every day he was teaching in the temple

·         Every night on the Mt. of Olives

·         Early Morning “classes”

o   the people came to hear him

o   coming to “hear” him is better than coming to “see” him (Herod)

Previously on Ponderable: In your study the last couple of weeks, you might have thought about and answered these questions that were posed. Here are some of my answers to these questions:

• Why was Jesus warning the people about the scribes at this point? Because they were hypocritical, making a public show of their spirituality while privately being greedy, proud, and abusive.

·         What was wrong with the scribes giving? What made it wrong? First of all it was in order to be noticed. Secondly, it was defiled because they were oppressing “widows” and God takes justice very seriously as well as looking on the heart. Thirdly it was deficient in that it was given out of their excess, in essence costing them nothing.

Week 40 "What Jesus Saw"

 We have no video this week as we added this lesson back in to our schedule.

However,  we do have one for next week all ready to go!

Text: This week we’re covering Luke 20:45-47 and Luke 21:1-4 where Jesus calls out the scribes for o seeking personal honor and advantage at the expense of widows in contrast to the offering of the widow’s two mites.

Other passages to read: We encourage you to read "horizontally" in these passages that are parallel or provide background information to our text from Luke 20:

• This whole passage is paralleled : Matthew 24:1-51; Mark 13:1-3
• Widow’s Gift: Mark 12:41-44; 2 Kings 12:9 (origin of offering box)
• Other Giving passages Referenced: Malachi 1:6-10; 2 Corinthians 8-9

Points to ponder: In your study this week, you might want to think about one of these questions:

• Why was Jesus warning the people about the scribes at this point?
• What was wrong with the scribes giving? What made it wrong?
• What does Jesus mean by “greater condemnation”?
• What does this short pericope about the widow’s gift teach us about giving?
• Why does Luke place this pericope about giving here?

We try to answer these questions on the Jesus4Everyone blog in the next week’s post.

Questions to ask ourselves: The following questions are intended to help us move towards greater personal application of what we learn about Jesus as we ask them of ourselves…

• Is there something I do because I like the recognition I get as a result?
• How do I seek places of honor in my life?
• Is there some way that I take advantage of others for my own gain? If so, then what steps will we take to change our behavior this week?
• How do I approach my giving to the Lord? It is a duty, a burden, an after-thought, a special occasion only, or is it a vital part of my worship?
• Why might Jesus look up at my giving?

Pastor Randy’s Sermon Notes: "What Jesus Saw"

• Read Luke 20:46-47
• Read Luke 21:1-4

1.       Jesus see’s the plight of the widow

• Oppressing widows and devouring their homes is an egregious offense in the sight of God.
• “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27)

2.       Jesus See’s Our Giving

Five Things You Can Do With Your Money:

·         Spend it à me

·         Repay debt à me

·         Pay taxes à America/we

·         Save it à me

·         Give it à God & Others

Four Ways to Give:

·         Tip

·         Tithe

·         Spirit Prompted Offerings

·         Sacrificially

Three Step Financial Plan:

·         Give

·         Save

·         Live

3.       Jesus See’s the Heart Behind our Giving

·         Read Luke 12:31-34

·         Where is our heart?

Quotes and Commentary:

Here are a few observations I have made from this story of the Widow’s Offering:

o   Their giving was motivated by an external appearance of righteousness.

o   Her giving was motivated from an internal reality of worship and trust.

o   She gave all she had

o   They gave more, but less, for it was out of their abundance.

o   Their offerings literally adorned the outside walls of the temple (the golden vine) which would be destroyed in 70 ad.

o   Her offering adorned the temple of her heart for God’s eternal pleasure.

N.T. Wright comments,

The scribes measure their own value by the length of their robes, the flattering greetings in public, and the places of honor at worship or at dinner. They are living by one scale, but God will measure them by the true one. Privately, they are using their legal skills to acquire legacies from widows who have nobody to speak up for them. Their religion is a sham, and God sees it. By contrast — another time when the scale of measurement works the opposite way to what people would expect — the poor widow who gave all she had into God’s treasury had given more than the rich people who gave what they could easily afford…

Because God’s way of measuring reality is not our way — because it was always his intention that David’s Lord should become David’s son — it is also his desire that the same attention be given to the questions of human behavior and integrity, on large and small scales, as we give to the questions of defining and defending the faith. (Wright, Luke for Everyone, [WJK, 2004] 249)

Here is a note about the ornamentation on the front of the Temple, that came from the offerings of the rich.

The Herodian Temple was decorated with the national symbol of Israel…a huge golden vine. According to the Mishna, the doorway of the temple was flanked by two square-shaped pillars each formed of ten cubes measuring four cubits on the sides. On these two pillars rested …five oaken beams, separated from each other by square stones set on a line with the pillars. It was a reproduction of the triumphal arches then so common in the east. Upon the immense trellis, or grille, stretched a golden vine, of which the grapes, according to Josephus, were of the height of a man. He adds that it extended almost [40 feet across the top] (from north to south) and that its top was [100 feet] from the ground. Tacitus also speaks of this vine.

Here is a wonderful description by Edersheim about Jesus' observing the widow's gift in the temple that day:

And as Jesus so sat on these steps, looking out on the ever-shifting panorama, His gaze was riveted by a solitary figure. The simple words of St. Mark sketch a story of singular pathos. 'It was one pauper widow.' We can see her coming alone, as if ashamed to mingle with the crowd of rich givers; ashamed to have her offering seen; ashamed, perhaps, to bring it; a 'widow,' in the garb of a desolate mourner; her condition, appearance, and bearing that of a 'pauper.' He observed her closely and read her truly. She held in her hand only the smallest coins, 'two Perutahs,' and it should be known that it was not lawful to contribute a less amount. Together these two Perutahs made a guadrans, which was the ninety-sixth part of a denar, itself of the value of about sevenpence. But it was 'all her living,' perhaps all that she had been able to save out of her scanty housekeeping; more probably, all that she had to live upon for that day and till she wrought for more. And of this she now made humble offering unto God. He spake not to her words of encouragement, for she walked by faith; He offered not promise of return, for her reward was in heaven. She knew not that any had seen it - for the knowledge of eyes turned on her, even His, would have flushed with shame the pure cheek of her love; and any word, conscious notice, or promise would have married and turned aside the rising incense of her sacrifice. But to all time has it remained in the Church, like the perfume of Mary's alabaster that filled the house, this deed of self-denying sacrifice. More, far more, than the great gifts of their 'superfluity,' which the rich cast in, was, and is to all time, the gift of absolute self-surrender and sacrifice, tremblingly offered by the solitary mourner. And though He spake not to her, yet the sunshine of his words must have fallen into the dark desolateness of her heart; and, though perhaps she knew not why, it must have been a happy day, a day of rich feast in the heart, that when she gave up 'her whole living' unto God. And so, perhaps, is every sacrifice for God all the more blessed, when we know not of its blessedness. (Edersheim, Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, 741-742)

Previously on Ponderables: In your study the last couple of weeks, you might have thought about and answered these questions that were posed. Here are some of my answers to these questions:

·         What “things” were the priests concerned about, what was prompting them challenge Jesus authority? You should have been able to find at least three “things”: His Triumphal entry (19:28-39); the subsequent driving out the merchants from the temple (19:45-46), and teaching the people daily in the temple (19:47). He has set up shop in the temple as though it was his house. Hmmm.

·         In what ways is Jesus’ parable in vv 9-16 similar to Isaiah 5:1-6 and in what ways is it different? I answered this to some extent on the SOAP journaling blog. “This parable is a close parallel to Isaiah 5:1-6 and would have been a parable that Jesus’ listener would have been very familiar with. They would have understood right from the beginning that the vineyard was a symbol that represented Israel and that the ending of the story in Jesus’ telling boded badly for them… We see here in Jesus’ expansion of the Song of the vineyard he has the noble owner of the vineyard not only sending servants (can we see the OT prophets?) repeatedly demonstrating great patience with his renters, but he sends his Son. But after his rejection and death, the renters will be destroyed and the vineyard given to others.” Here is a comparison chart from Kenneth E. Bailey’s Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, page 414.

Elements	Isaiah’s Song of the Vineyard (and its allegorical symbols)	Jesus’ Parable (and its allegorical Symbols)
Owner	the Lord of hosts	God
Vineyard	house of Israel	Israel
Vines	men of Judah	--
Benefits anticipated from:	the vineyard	the renters
Expectations	good grapes	part of the crop
Consist of:	justice and righteousness	??
Yield	wild grapes (bloodshed and cry of pain)	no share given to the owner and there are beatings, insults, and bloodshed.
Result	vineyard is to be destroyed	vinedressers to be replaced.

·         Why does the vineyard owner show such patience? The key is not the wicked tenants as most editorial comments title this section but on the character and claim of the Noble Vineyard owner. Especially in light of Isaiah 5 where God asks the people to judge between him and his vineyard and asks the question, “What more could I have done?” Well in light of the NT our answer to the question in Isaiah 5 would be that God could have sent his son.

·         Why does he send his son? Is he naive or does he know what will happen ahead of time? Oh, he knows, and knows that it is the only hope. As Bailey says so well, “the vineyard owner's hope is that the violent men in the vineyard will sense the indescribable nobility of the owner who sends his beloved son alone and unarmed into the vineyard in response to the violent acts they had committed against the owner's servants.” (p. 418) And later he summarizes this concept, “The reprocessing of anger into grace. The vineyard owner does not respond to the renters with force or violence. Rather he chooses incarnation with its total vulnerability. To do this he must reprocess his anger into a costly demonstration of unexpected love/grace. That incarnation implies forgiveness for those who accept his offer of love.” (p. 425)

·         What might be a better title for this parable? “Parable of the Noble Vineyard Owner”

·         When those listening say, “Surely not!” in v. 16, to what are they referring? The reaction from those listening was emphatically opposed to such an ending. Were they denying that they would kill the Son, or rejecting the idea that the land of Israel could pass to others? Perhaps both depending on who was answering. Sadly, like Peter’s denial of Jesus’ mission to go to the cross, those that denied this message’s fulfillment would see it come to pass not 40 years later.

·         In v. 18 what is Jesus talking about? Jesus answered them with a parable based on Psalm 118:19-28 and Isaiah 8:14, a passage the Jewish leaders would have been very familiar with. Is it somehow better to be broken than to be crushed? Yes it is. The idea is the brokenness of humble repentance as opposed to the crushing weight of final judgment. We can humble ourselves or be humbled and the first option is much to be preferred!