Read Luke 11:29–36
Questions from the Scripture text: What kind of crowd is there in Luke 11:29? What does Jesus call their generation? Why? What sign does he say will be given? To whom was Jonah a sign (Luke 11:30)? Who will be a similar sign to His generation? Who will rise with that generation at the judgment (Luke 11:31)? What will she do then? What had she done in her time? To hear whom? But Whom are that generation not hearing? Who else will rise up with this generation at the judgment (Luke 11:32)? And do what? At what did they repent? At Whose preaching is that generation not repenting? What does no one do to a lit lamp (Luke 11:33)? Why? What does Jesus call “the lamp of the body” in Luke 11:34? What is true “when your eye is good”? What is true “when your eye is bad”? Unto what are we to take heed (Luke 11:35)? How does Luke 11:36 summarize/reiterate this point?
The last time we heard the illustration of the unhidden lamp was in Luke 8:4–18 and the lesson that we must take heed how we listen to the Scripture. Here in these eight verses, we have the same lesson, with the warning of the exceedingly deep darkness into which they plunge who refuse to submit to Christ’s Word as light (Luke 11:33-36).
Truly, the resurrection of Jonah must have been a great sign unto the Ninevites and instrumentally used of God in bringing them to repentance. But the New Testament is an even greater marvel. It comes from the pens of apostles of a Man (a GOD-Man!) who was in the belly of the earth for three days and nights (Luke 11:29, cf. Matthew 12:39–41)… and is now seated on the throne of Heaven, from whence He has poured out His Holy Spirit.
So, let us heed the warning here. For if Nineveh and the queen of the South, by their heeding the wisdom of lessers, would condemn Christ’s generation for failing to listen to Him… then, if we do not listen to His preaching of His own Scriptures by His Spirit using His servants to proclaim what was written by His apostles… will not Nineveh and the queen of the South also condemn us at the judgment?
We must accept the Bible’s truth. We must have our thoughts corrected and reshaped by it. We must have our affections judged by it and accordingly rejected or stirred up. We must have our decisions, desires, and motivations determined by it. We must love it, treasure it, feed upon it, and delight in it. It is the very words of our Redeemer King! And there is none great as He.
It is through this type of hearing His Word that He has appointed it to be a lamp unto our feet and light to our path, granting light to your whole being (Luke 11:33, Luke 11:36, cf. Psalm 19:8; Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 6:23; 2 Peter 1:19).
Oh, dear Christian, when you read your Bible, when you have family worship, and especially when you hear the Word faithfully preached in the holy assembly on the Lord’s Day, take heed how you hear! Take heed how you hear!
When do you receive Christ’s Word? What are you doing with it? How can you improve?
Suggested songs: ARP119N “Your Word’s a Lamp” or TPH119N “Your Word Sheds Light upon My Path”
No comments:
Post a Comment