Luke Lesson 12

Memory verses for this week: 2 Tim 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Introduction: We continue our study of the book of Luke this week as we begin chapter 9. In chapter eight we studied about Jesus preaching and healing in Galilee. We also covered the parables of the sower and lighted candle. Jesus stilled the waters and brought calm from the storm as he and his disciples traveled in a ship and had a storm come upon them in the middle of the night. We closed with the healing of Jairus’ daughter who was raised from the dead by Christ.

Luke 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

Jesus called his twelve disciples together and sent them out to preach the gospel. It is crucial that if a person is a pastor, he should be called of the Lord. We all should tell others about Christ, but only called men should be in the ministry. Jesus gave these 12 special apostolic powers that we can no longer do today. These men before this time could not heal the sick or cure any disease. But now, at Christ’s word, they had the power and authority over devils, and they could cure diseases and heal the sick. Most importantly, they were to go forth and preach the kingdom of God. We as a church still have the responsibility to preach the gospel today.

Luke 9:3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

Luke 9:5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

Jesus gave these 12 special instructions as to how they were to go forth. They were to take nothing for their journey. They were not to take a staff or a purse. No money, no bread, not even two coats were they to take along. They were to go into the cities and go to whoever would receive them. They were to abide for a short time and then depart. And if the people would not receive them, they were to leave the place and shake off the dust from their feet as a witness against them.

In the Believer’s Study Bible, I found these notes about shaking the dust off of your feet as a testimony against them.

9:5 Strict Jews, in order to avoid contaminating God’s holy land with the dust of profane places, performed the same symbolic actions of shaking the dust from their feet when they reentered their homeland after traveling abroad. The disciples are thus to disassociate themselves completely from those who reject them, thereby branding these as no better than heathens. [i]

Luke 9:6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

Note how the 12 disciples did not stand around and argue about the rules, but they immediately departed and went out and did as Jesus commanded. God is so much more pleased with us when we will but follow his commands. Obeying is much more preferred over sin offerings.

1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Heb 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

Heb 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

Heb 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Heb 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Luke 9:7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;

Luke 9:8 And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.

Luke 9:9 And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.

As the disciples go out in the Lord’s name, the name of Jesus was magnified and word come to Herod about all the things Jesus was doing. He was perplexed because some said the John the Baptist had risen from the dead. If you remember in our earlier study, that John had stood against the sin in Herod’s life when he accused him of taking his brother’s wife which was not lawful. But by a dance being done for the King by Herodias’ daughter, he promises her to give her whatever she asked. The girl asks her mother what she should ask for, and she says to ask for John’s head on a charger. So the King for his oath’s sake had him beheaded. Now he fears that he has risen back up and may bring harm to Herod. We should never forget the terror that a sinner lives in day by day. Always looking for and expecting judgment, because inside we know it is coming. But when Jesus saves your soul, he brings peace and sweet rest. Only by Christ can we have the peace that the world so desires.

Mat 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

Mat 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

When Simon answered the Lord, he said that some said that he was John the Baptist, some said Elias, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. But he knew that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. All who knew Jesus knew one thing for certain… this was no ordinary man. Even with the fear Herod felt, he still desired to see Christ. However, even though he says he does desire to see Jesus, there is no record of him ever sending an invitation for Jesus to come. It wasn’t until Jesus was about to be crucified did Herod meet him. This happened when Pilate sent Christ to Herod.

Luke 23:3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

Luke 23:4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

Luke 23:5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

Luke 23:6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.

Luke 23:7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

Luke 23:8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

Luke 23:9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

Luke 23:10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

Luke 23:11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

Luke 23:12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

Luke 9:10 And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.

Luke 9:11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

When the apostles return, they are excited about all that they had accomplished, and tell the Lord about it. In many places, they were evidently well received and treated wonderfully. After the work and mission they had been on, Jesus pulls them aside and takes them to a desert place called Bethsaida for a time of rest. If anyone ever questions whether we need vacation time, we need look no further than the instances in the New Testament when Jesus was always going out to a desert place. It is important that we don’t vacation all the time, because we need to be about the Father’s work. But after work, we are to rest. As they went to this desert place, many of the people heard about it and they go out to see the Lord. He did not reject the people, but it says in verse 11 that he spake unto them of the kingdom of God. And as Christ always did, he healed their sicknesses.

Luke 9:12 And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.

Luke 9:13 But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

We are not told how many women and children there were there on that day, but we are told that there were about 5,000 men. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could have 5,000 people gather today to hear about our Lord Jesus Christ. The twelve disciples ask the Lord to send them away to the villages since they had no food or lodging for them. It appears the people were so stirred by Christ’s teachings, that they were not concerned about their need for food. Many had come a long way from home and were hungry. In a spiritual nature, that is the state of the vast multitudes of our day. They are far from the heavenly home that God has for those who know Jesus as Lord and Savior. They are dying a spiritual death for want of true spiritual food. But if we will but come, Jesus will feed us with manna from heaven that He provides. No it isn’t the food like the children of Israel ate in the wilderness, but it is food for our souls. The Word of God provides us the spiritual meat that makes us strong.

The night was coming on, and Jesus asked them what they had. They said we have nothing but five loaves and two fishes. There was no way this would go about feeding a great multitude. But you know what… a little with God can go a long long way. You and I may not have much to offer in our service to the Lord, but when Jesus takes the little, he can do a lot with it.

Luke 9:14 For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.

Luke 9:16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

Luke 9:17 And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.

Jesus tells them to sit down in groups of fifty people in each company. And he blessed the food and brake it, and he gave to the disciples which took to the people. And what was amazing and miraculous was that they were all fed. All were filled and when they finished, they have 12 baskets full left. Did they have 12 baskets of fish and bread to begin with? No…

Jesus always does more for us than we need, and there always seems to be a bountiful supply.

Matthew, Mark, and John also record the feeding of five thousand. Notice that our Lord assigns His disciples an impossible task. They must learn, as we must learn, that He always commands the impossible. The reason is obvious—He intends to do the work. The Creator, who made the fish in the beginning and causes the grain to multiply in the fields, now by His fiat word creates food for the crowd. This may have been the first time many in this crowd ever were filled. The “fragments” which were left do not refer to what we might put in the garbage can. Rather, they were pieces of food which had not been served. God always provides a surplus. [ii]

Luke 9:18 And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?

Luke 9:19 They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.

Luke 9:20 He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.

We read the Matthew account of this earlier. When Jesus asks his disciples whom men say that He was, they answered and said some think he was John the Baptist, some Elias, some one of the old prophets. But Peter’s direct answer was the right one… The Christ of God.

Luke 9:21 And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;

Luke 9:22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

He charges them to tell no man that he was the Christ. We might ask why did he not want them to tell others at this time. There were several reasons.

Christ tells them about how we will suffer many things and be rejected of the elders, chief priests, and scribes. But after his death, he would be raised the third day.

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Luke 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Luke 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

Luke 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

To be a true disciple, we must learn how to die to self. The physical man wars daily with the Spiritual man, and we must learn to let the spiritual side win. Learning to die to self does not come easy.

We have a good example of denial over in Chapter 22 when Peter denied knowing Christ. We need to use this example to show how we should so deny ourselves that we almost disassociate with our physical man.

Luke 22:54 Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

Luke 22:55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

Luke 22:56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

Luke 22:58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.

Luke 22:59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.

Luke 22:60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

Jesus says we should take up our cross and follow after him daily. The cross always speaks of death, and that means bringing the human side of us down to the point of being in subjection to the spiritual man. Die to self and the world. If we want to truly save our life, we should lose it for the cause of Christ. One soul is worth more than all the riches in this world. There is nothing worth the value of one soul. The rich man in hell would have given everything he ever owned to be in the bosom of Abraham like Lazarus was. If we want to be with God one day, while we are still living, we must come to Jesus Christ for salvation. Jesus, and Jesus alone can save us. Jesus warns us to not be ashamed of the Word of God, but to stand up and let our position be known. If we are ashamed of Jesus and the Bible, it says he will be ashamed of us when He returns.

III. Concerning their sufferings for him. So far must they be from thinking how to prevent his sufferings that they must rather prepare for their own.

1. We must accustom ourselves to all instances of self-denial and patience, v. 23. This is the best preparative for martyrdom. We must live a life of self-denial, mortification, and contempt of the world; we must not indulge our ease and appetite, for then it will be hard to bear toil, and weariness, and want, for Christ. We are daily subject to affliction, and we must accommodate ourselves to it, and acquiesce in the will of God in it, and must learn to endure hardship. We frequently meet with crosses in the way of duty; and, though we must not pull them upon our own heads, yet, when they are laid for us, we must take them up, carry them after Christ, and make the best of them.

2. We must prefer the salvation and happiness of our souls before any secular concern whatsoever. Reckon upon it, (1.) That he who to preserve his liberty or estate, his power or preferment, nay, or to save his life, denies Christ and his truths, wilfully wrongs his conscience, and sins against God, will be, not only not a saver, but an unspeakable loser, in the issue, when profit and loss come to be balanced: He that will save his life upon these terms will lose it, will lose that which is of infinitely more value, his precious soul. (2.) We must firmly believe also that, if we lose our life for cleaving to Christ and our religion, we shall save it to our unspeakable advantage; for we shall be abundantly recompensed in the resurrection of the just, when we shall have it again a new and an eternal life. (3.) That the gain of all the world, if we should forsake Christ, and fall in with the interests of the world, would be so far from countervailing the eternal loss and ruin of the soul that it would bear no manner of proportion to it, v. 25. If we could be supposed to gain all the wealth, honour, and pleasure, in the world, by denying Christ, yet when, by so doing, we lose ourselves to all eternity, and are cast away at last, what good will our worldly gain do us? [iii]

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Prov 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Practice Random Acts of Kindness. Each act spreads, and many will be blessed.

[i]W.A. Criswell, Believer’s study Bible [computer file], electronic ed. , Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1991 by the Criswell Center for Biblical Studies.

[ii]J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1981 by J. Vernon McGee.

[iii]Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) 1997.

Luke Chapter 9:1-26