Luke 11
LORD teaches disciples to pray verse 1-4
when HE ceased – one of HIS disciples said to HIM
Lord – teach us to pray
as John also taught his disciples
And HE said to them – When you pray – say
Our Father which art in heaven – Hallowed be YOUR name
YOUR kingdom come
YOUR will be done as in heaven so in earth
Give us day by day our daily bread
And forgive us our sins
for we also forgive every one
that is indebted to us
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil
LORD gives example of persistent prayer verse 5- 13
And HE said to them
Which of you shall have a friend
and shall go unto him at midnight
and say unto him
Friend – lend me three loaves
FOR a friend of mine in his journey is
come to me and I have nothing
to set before him?
And he from within shall answer and say
Trouble me not – the door is now shut
and my children are with me in bed
I cannot rise and give you
I say to you
Though he will not rise and give him
because he is his friend
yet because of his importunity he will rise
and give him as many as he needs
I say to you
Ask – and it shall be given you
Seek – and you shall find
Knock – and it shall be opened to you
FOR every one that asks receives
and he that seeks finds
and to him that knocks it shall be opened
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father
will he give him a stone?
Or if he ask a fish
will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Or if he shall ask an egg
will he offer him a scorpion?
IF you then – being evil
know how to give good gifts unto your children
How much more shall your heavenly Father
give the Holy Spirit to them that ask HIM?
Someone says Jesus heals by the power of Satan verse 14- 16
And HE was casting out a devil – and it was dumb
and it came to pass – when the devil was gone out
the dumb spoke and the people wondered
BUT some of them said
HE casts out devils through Beelzebub
the chief of the devils
And other – tempting HIM
sought of HIM a sign from heaven
Jesus knew their thoughts verse 17- 26
BUT HE knowing their thoughts
said to them
Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation
and a house divided against a house falls
IF Satan also be divided against himself
how shall his kingdom stand?
BECAUSE you say that I cast out devils
through Beelzebub
IF I by Beelzebub cast out devils
by whom do your sons cast them out?
THEREFORE shall they be your judges
BUT IF I with the finger of God cast out devils
no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you
WHEN a strong man armed keeps his palace
his goods are in peace
BUT when a stronger than he shall come on him
and overcome him
he takes from him all his armor
wherein he trusted
and divides his spoils
He that is not with ME is against ME
and he that gathers not with ME scatters
WHEN the unclean spirit is gone out of a man
he walks through dry places seeks rest
and finds none – he says
I will return unto my house whence I came out
and when he comes
he finds it swept and garnished
THEN goes he and takes to him
seven other spirits more wicked than himself
and they enter in – and dwell there
and the last state of that man is
worse than the first
Jesus defined those who most blessed verse 27- 28
And it came to pass – as he spoke these things
a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice
and said unto HIM
Blessed is the womb that bare YOU
and the paps which YOU have sucked
BUT HE said – Yea – rather
blessed are they that hear the word of God
and keep it
Repentance necessary verse 29- 32
And when the people were gathered thick together
HE began to say
This is an evil generation – they seek a sign
and there shall no sign be given it
but the sign of Jonah the prophet
FOR as Jonah was a sign unto the Ninevites
so shall also the Son of man be to this generation
The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with
the men of this generation – and condemn them
for she came from the utmost parts of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon
and BEHOLD a greater than Solomon is here
The men of Nineveh shall rise up
in the judgment with this generation
and shall condemn it
for they repented at the preaching of Jonah
and BEHOLD a greater than Jonah is here
Eye can be full of light or darkness verse 33- 36
No man – when he hath lighted a candle – puts it in a secret place
neither under a bushel – BUT on a candlestick
that they which come in may see the light
The light of the body is the eye
THEREFORE when your eye is single
your whole body also is full of light
BUT when thine eye is evil
your body also is full of darkness
Take heed therefore
that the light which is in you be not darkness
IF your whole body therefore be full of light
having no part dark
the whole shall be full of light
as when the bring shining of a candle
does give you light
Hand washing ceremony neglected by Jesus verse 37- 38
And as HE spoke
a certain Pharisee besought HIM to dine with him
and HE went in – and sat down to meat
And when the Pharisee saw it
he marveled that HE had not first washed before dinner
Jesus contrast custom vs. law of God verse 39- 44
And the Lord said to him
Now do you Pharisees
make clean the outside of the cup and the platter
BUT your inward part is full
of ravening and wickedness
You fools – did not HE– that made that which is without
make that which is within also?
BUT rather give alms of such things as you have
and BEHOLD – all things are clean to you
BUT woe to you Pharisees
FOR you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs
and pass over judgment and the love of God
these ought you to have done
and not to leave the other undone
WOE to you – Pharisees
FOR you love the uppermost seats in the synagogues
and greetings in the markets
WOE to you – scribes and Pharisees – hypocrites
FOR you are as graves which appear not
and the men that walk over them
are not aware of them
Lawyer tells Jesus HE is offending them verse 45- 52
Then answered one of the lawyers – and said unto HIM
Master – thus saying YOU reproach us also
And HE
said
WOE to you also – you lawyers
FOR you lade men with burdens grievous to be borne
and you yourselves touch not the burden
with one of your fingers
WOE to you – FOR you build the sepulchers of the prophets
and your fathers killed them
Truly you bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers
for they indeed killed them – and you build their sepulchers
THEREFORE also said the wisdom of God
I will send them prophets and apostles
and some of them they shall slay and persecute
that the blood of all the prophets
which was shed from
the foundation of the world
may be required of this generation
from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zechariah
which perished between the altar and the temple
verily I say unto you
It shall be required of this generation
WOE to you – lawyers
FOR you have taken away the key of knowledge
you entered not in yourselves
and them that were entering in you hindered
Pharisees tried to provoke Jesus verse 53- 54
And as HE said these things to them
the scribes and Pharisees began to urge HIM vehemently
and to provoke HIM to speak of many things
Laying in wait for HIM
and seeking to catch something out of HIS mouth
that they might accuse HIM
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. (2250 “daily” [hemera] means daylight period, time, or twelve hours)
DEVOTION: The Bible informs us that each day has sufficient evil in it. We are not to be ones who plan ahead without asking the LORD regarding our plans. HE wants us to come each morning to HIM for direction for the day. We can plan but we have to say “if the LORD will.”
Most of the time many individuals who claim to be followers of the LORD thin what is going to happen will happen and God has nothing to do with it. They don’t consult God because they think that they can make their plans independent of God. They say no prayer like the disciple’s prayer to ask the LORD for guidance.
The LORD is specific regarding how HIS disciples were to pray. They were to pray for the LORD’S will to be done each day. They were to address the Father each time they prayed. They were give the Father reverence each minute of each day.
One believer told me that they believed “whatever will be will be” in a conversation. It seems that we live in a time period when we really don’t believe that God can change things. We don’t believe that pray matters. The Bible tells us to pray and yet most believers have so little prayer. Many don’t even pray for their meals each day. We have become a people that are not thankful for each thing that the LORD does for us. John the Baptist taught his disciples to pray. Jesus taught HIS disciples to pray. Pastors are to teach their people to pray. God still has not changed HIS mind regarding us communicating with HIM.
One person in one of the churches I preached in for a while told me that the Baptist way to pray is to address the Father through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name. It is not a Baptist way it is the Biblical way.
CHALLENGE: Either you believe in prayer and practice it or you don’t believe in it and don’t give any time to prayer. One is obedient and the other is disobedient and sinning.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 28 But HE said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it. (191 “hear” [akouo] means to listen, receive news, to give heed to, to understand, obey, or perceive)
DEVOTION: A woman lifted up her voice praising Mary for being the mother of Jesus. She praised her ability to feed Jesus while HE was a baby. She was excited that Jesus was born and helping HIS people know the plan of God. She was like most of us that talk before we think. She didn’t say anything wrong but she needed to be corrected by the LORD regarding what is the true blessing that we should look forward to in the future.
HE gave her instruction regarding what should get her excited. HE wanted her to be more excited about the ability to hear the word of God and practice it. It was not enough to just hear the word of God. Many people attend church and then leave without the word of God having any effect on them. They continue life as if they had never been in church.
The ones who are blessed are the ones who apply the word of God to their life and give example to others what Christianity is all about. It is not about churchianity it is about being a follower of Christ. The church and its people can let some people down but individual Christians can encourage those who want to know the truth and follow it.
CHALLENGE: Are you listening to the LORD? HE is trying to communicate with you through HIS Word and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
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: 32 The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas, and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. (3340 “repented” [metanoeo] mean to change one’s mind, to change one’s ways, feel remorse, am converted, to perceive afterwards, forethought, or new behavior)
DEVOTION: Jesus was asked for a sign to prove HE was the Messiah. The ministry HE had manifested before them was not enough for them. They wanted fire from heaven or something that would convince them that Jesus was who HE says HE was.
Jesus refused to give into their challenge. HE gave them some Old Testament examples of people who repented and those who didn’t repent.
HE called the present generation an evil generation. They were religious but not true followers of the LORD.
Then HE mentioned the ministry of Jonah to Nineveh where they repented after he preached to them. Jesus told them that a greater than Jonah person was present with them now.
Also the queen of south came to Solomon and a greater than Solomon was present with them.
HE makes the statement that the men of Nineveh will rise up in judgment of HIS generation. They will condemn it. Why? Because they would not listen to Jesus for HE is greater than any other prophet they have ever heard about or seen.
CHALLENGE: Listen to the LORD regarding repenting of your sins and not act like other generations of people who just ignored HIS teachings. Repentance is necessary.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 52 Woe unto you, lawyers! For ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. (2807 “key” [kleis] means has power to open and shut, denote power and authority of various kinds, or means of acquiring something)
DEVOTION: Jesus was dining in the home of a Pharisee. What an awesome responsibility the religious leaders had in Jesus day. They were the ones who could lead the people to follow the Messiah or reject HIM. Their choice was to reject Jesus as the Messiah. They didn’t want to lose their power with the government of Rome. They wanted the people to follow their traditions rather than the teachings of the Word of God.
The religious leaders were training the people to follow traditions that were going to keep them out of the kingdom of God. They were leading them away from God. They were preventing them from going into heaven when they died.
Jesus declared “woes” to them because they were on their way to Hell for eternity. They were going to receive the greater judgment because they were not only going to Hell themselves but leading others who thought they were headed in the right direction the wrong way.
The key to heaven was Jesus Christ. HE was and is the only way. The people that Jesus was talking to that day had a choice to make. Follow HIS teaching or the teaching of the religious leaders. The sad fact is that they chose the religious leaders.
Jesus confronted the religious leaders with the fact that it is not the external that is important but the internal. Jesus pointed out that the Pharisees looked good on the outside but inwardly they were evil. HE pointed out that they could tithe to the smallest grain of herb and miss the point of showing the love of God.
Right then a lawyer confronted Jesus with the fact that he was not only condemning the Pharisees but them also. Jesus told him that he was right. Jesus was condemning the religious leaders for their external religion. The true religion was on the inside and expressed in the outward actions. The Pharisee, scribes and lawyers wanted an external religion without any internal change. Jesus told them that they were full of darkness. He also told them that they were hindering people from getting into the kingdom. They had the power and authority in Jerusalem to train people correctly regarding God but they chose to not train correctly. They were the ones who were stopping people from coming into the kingdom of God and they were going to be judged for it.
Are we stopping people from entering the kingdom of God? Are we preaching an external religion only? Are we practicing an external religion only? It may be true that some of us are leading people away from Christ instead of toward HIM. We may be the only witness people see that represents Christ.
CHALLENGE: Watch out for an external religion. Examine our internal relationship with Christ. What do we see?
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Jesus prayed verse 1
Disciples prayer verse 1- 4
Lead us not into temptation verse 4
Forgive every one that is indebted verse 4
Ask – seek – knock verse 9, 10
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Tithe verse 42
Synagogues verse 43
Altar verse 51
Temple verse 51
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of God verse 28
Jonah verse 29, 30, 32
Queen of the south verse 31
Solomon verse 31
Preaching of Jonah verse 32
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Father is to be address in each prayer verse 2
Hallowed be name verse 2
Kingdom verse 2
Heavenly Father verse 13
Heavenly Father gives good gifts verse 13
Finger of God verse 20
Love of God verse 42
Creator: Foundation of the world verse 50
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Lord verse 1, 39
Teach disciples to pray verse 1
Tempting HIM verse 16
Knowing their thoughts verse 17
Son of man verse 30
Greater than Solomon verse 31
Greater than Jonah verse 32
Master verse 45
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Father gives the gift of Holy Spirit verse 13
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Kingdom of God verse 20
Word of God verse 28
Love of God verse 42
Wisdom of God verse 49
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
devil – demon verse 14
devils – demons verse 15, 19, 20
Beelzebub chief of the devils or demons verse 15
Satan = Beelzebub verse 18, 19
Unclean spirit – demon verse 24- 26
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Friend verse 5, 6, 8
Father verse 11
Children verse 13
Kingdom divided verse 17
Ninevites verse 30, 32
Queen of the south verse 31
Men of this generation verse 31
Men of Nineveh verse 32
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Sins verse 4
Yielding to temptation verse 4
Evil verse 4, 13, 29, 34
Tempting verse 16
Sign from heaven verse 16, 29
Trusting in armor verse 22
Against God verse 23
Wicked verse 26
Full of darkness verse 34, 35
Full of ravening verse 39
Wickedness verse 39
Fool verse 40
Love uppermost seats in synagogues verse 43
Hypocrite verse 44
Accuse verse 54
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Prayer verse 1, 2
Teach verse 1
Disciples prayer verse 2- 4
Daily bread verse 3
Forgive verse 4
Deliver verse 4
Ask – seek – knock verse 8- 10
Blessed verse 28
Hear Word of God and keep it verse 28
Repent verse 32
Preach verse 32
Full of light verse 34- 36
Give alms verse 41
Tithe verse 42
Love of God verse 42
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
John the Baptist verse 1
Disciples of John verse 1
Jonah (Jonas) verse 29, 30, 32
Wisdom of Solomon verse 31
Pharisee verse 37- 39, 42- 44, 53
Tithe verse 42
Scribes verse 44, 53
Lawyers verse 46, 52
Prophets verse 47, 49, 50
Abel verse 51
Blood of Zacharias verse 51
Key of knowledge verse 52
Church (New Testament people of God)
Disciples verse 1
Tithe verse 42
Apostles verse 49
Last Things (Future Events)
Heaven verse 2, 16
Kingdom verse 2
Kingdom of God verse 20
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QUOTES regarding passage
11:4 Forgive us our sins. The Matthean parallel has a more rhythmic “Forgive us our debts.” “Debt” was a well-known metaphor among Jews for sin, but since this religious sense may not have been understood by Gentiles, Luke used the actuality (“sins”) rather than the metaphor (“debts”). The prayer assumes the regular need for confession of sin, even as 1 John 1:9 does. The issue is not one of entrance into God’s people, i.e., salvation, but the regular cleansing from sin that each believer needs. The scene is not a courtroom where the final judgment is being pronounced (as in Rom 8:31–34) but a family setting in which a son or daughter confesses his or her sins (Luke 11:2), not to become or to remain part of the family but in order that nothing should spoil the relationship.
For. There is a condition attached, or more accurately an attitude required, for receiving divine forgiveness. The believer is forgiven not “because” of forgiving others but because of God’s grace in Christ. Humanity is forgiven by the death of Christ (22:20; Acts 20:28) for the lost (Luke 19:10), but the appropriation of that forgiveness is through faith. That faith, however, is not merely intellectual assent to certain doctrines but a combination of faith, repentance, confession, baptism, following Jesus, and as our text states, the willingness to forgive others. The hand that reaches out to God for forgiveness cannot withhold forgiveness to others (cf. Matt 6:14–15; 18:23–35; Mark 11:25).
We also forgive everyone. The present tense of this verb indicates that the believer is always to be ready and willing to forgive others.
Who sins against us. Literally indebted to us. Here it becomes evident that Luke used “sins” and “debts” interchangeably.
Lead us not into temptation. Compare 22:40 and especially 22:46. “Temptation” should not be interpreted as a reference to the Great Temptation (or tribulation) of the end time but to the ordinary temptations that every believer encounters in life. This is made clear by the lack of the article, i.e., “into temptation,” not “into the temptation.” The meaning of this phrase has been debated from earliest times. On several occasions in the OT, God put his people to a test, and the term “temptation” is used elsewhere in the NT to refer to a trial that is expected to have a positive outcome (Jas 1:12; 1 Pet 4:12–13; Rev 2:10). What Luke meant by temptation here, however, is something that might lead an unwary believer to sin and apostasy: “Do not allow us to enter into temptation that could destroy us” or perhaps, “Keep us from yielding to temptation.” It is also better to see the verb not as causative (“Do not cause us to enter into temptation”) but as permissive (“Do not permit us to enter into temptation”). (Stein, R. H. (1992). Luke (Vol. 24, pp. 326–327). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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“Forgive us our sins” (aphes hēmin tas hamartias hēmōn) uses the aorist tense (v. 4), which may refer to a single declaration of forgiveness, when all accounts are settled. More probably however, it simply describes a petition repeated as needed. The word “sins” is the familiar hamartia rather than the Jewish idiom “debts” (opheilēmata) in Matthew 6:12. Since the petitioner has called God “Father,” he is a believer, already justified and without guilt through the death of Christ. Therefore the forgiveness he must extend to others is not the basis of his salvation but a prerequisite for daily fellowship with the Father in the sense of 1 John 1:5–10. Conversely, one who does not forgive others may actually be revealing that he has not really known God’s forgiveness (cf. Luke 7:47).
“Lead us not into temptation [eis peirasmon]” does not imply that God might otherwise entice us to do evil. James 1:1–15 rules this out. God does, however, allow his people to be tested as to their faithfulness (see comments on 4:1–12 and the references there to Deut 6–8). The word peirasmos here probably means “testing” rather than “temptation” (i.e., to sin), though severe testing may he the occasion for one to sin. Further, there is a coming peirasmos that will severely try all those who undergo it, and this petition may have reference to that. In any case, the request is clearly for the Father to keep his children from falling away in the hour of trial, with a possible allusion to the temptation and fidelity of Christ. With this petition the Lord’s Prayer comes to a close, lacking, except in a variant (cf. Notes), the additional words in Matthew. (Leifeld, W. L. (1984). Luke. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, pp. 947–948). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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Pattern for prayer (vv. 2–4). We call this “The Lord’s Prayer,” not because Jesus prayed it (He never had to ask for forgiveness), but because Jesus taught it. There is nothing wrong with praying this prayer personally or as part of a congregation, so long as we do it from a believing heart that is sincere and submitted. How easy it is to “recite” these words and not really mean them, but that can happen even when we sing and preach! The fault lies with us, not with this prayer.
This is a “pattern prayer,” given to guide us in our own praying (see Matt. 6:9–15 for the parallel). It teaches us that true prayer depends on a spiritual relationship with God that enables us to call Him “Father,” and this can come only through faith in Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:14–17; Gal. 4:1–7).
Lyndon Johnson’s press secretary, Bill Moyers, was saying grace at a staff lunch, and the President shouted, “Speak up, Bill! I can’t hear a thing!” Moyers quietly replied, “I wasn’t addressing you, Mr. President.” It is good to remind ourselves that when we pray, we talk to God.
True prayer also involves responsibilities: honoring God’s kingdom and doing God’s will (Luke 11:2). It has well been said that the purpose of prayer is not to get man’s will done in heaven, but to get God’s will done on earth. Prayer is not telling God what we want and then selfishly enjoying it. Prayer is asking God to use us to accomplish what He wants so that His name is glorified, His kingdom is extended and strengthened, and His will is done. I must test all of my personal requests by these overruling concerns if I expect God to hear and answer my prayers.
It is important for Christians to know the Word of God, for there we discover the will of God. We must never separate prayer and the Word (John 15:7). During my ministry, I have seen professing Christians disobey God and defend themselves by saying, “I prayed about it and God said it was all right!” This includes a girl who married an unsaved man (2 Cor. 6:14–18), a fellow living with a girl who was not his wife (1 Thes. 4:1–8), and a preacher who started his own church because all the other churches were wrong and only he had true “spiritual insight” (Phil. 2:1–16).
Once we are secure in our relationship with God and His will, then we can bring our requests to Him (Luke 11:3–4). We can ask Him to provide our needs (not our greed!) for today, to forgive us for what we have done yesterday, and to lead us in the future. All of our needs may be included in these three requests: material and physical provision, moral and spiritual perfection, and divine protection and direction. If we pray this way, we can be sure of praying in God’s will. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 214–215). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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11:4 forgive us our sins: This request recognizes that sin is a debt to God that needs to be acknowledged on the basis of His mercy. we also forgive: The petitioner recognizes that if mercy is to be sought from God, then mercy must be shown to others. We need to adopt the same standard that we expect others to follow. do not lead us into temptation: This remark is often misunderstood as suggesting that perhaps God can lead us into sin. The point is that if one is to avoid sin, one must follow where God leads. In short, the petitioner asks God for the spiritual protection necessary to avoid falling into sin. (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 1274). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers)
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Ver. 4. And forgive us our sins, &c.] Beza’s most ancient copy reads debts, as in Matt. 6:12 see the note there: and which best agrees with the phrase indebted, after mentioned: for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; see the notes on Matt. 6:12, 13. The doxology there used, and the word Amen, are here omitted. Some of the petitions in this prayer are not delivered in the very same words as they are in Matthew. The three first petitions are word for word the same; for though the third petition is different in our translation, it is the same in the original. The fourth and fifth vary: in Matthew the fourth is, give us this day our daily bread; here in Luke, give us day by day our daily bread. The fifth in Matthew is, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; here, and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And these verbal variations, though the sense is the same, together with the omission of the doxology, and the word Amen, shew, that this prayer was not designed to be an exact form, and to be so used, but as a directory of prayer. I have, in my notes on Matt. 6:9, &c. shewn the agreement there is between the petitions in this prayer, and some that were made use of among the Jews; and have supposed that our Lord took notice of such petitions, which the good people among the Jews frequently used; and which he approved of, and singled out, and put them into the order and method in which they stand, with some alterations for the better, to be a directory to his disciples and followers. Which to suppose, I apprehend, does not at all countenance the making and using stinted forms of prayer; since the petitions used by good men among the Jews, were not used as forms of prayer, but what they were led unto by the spirit of God from common and constant experience to make use of; just as we may observe now, that good people in different parts, who use no form of prayer, nor have ever heard one another pray, and yet make use of the same petitions, and almost, if not altogether, in the self-same words, their wants, necessities, cases, and circumstances being the same; and these frequently returning, oblige to a repeated use of them, in the same words, or near unto them. And though forms of prayer might not be in use among the Jews in the times of Christ, yet it is easy to account for it, how Christ came to be acquainted with the petitions in general use with good men; since not only he is God omniscient, and knows all the prayers of his people, both in public and private; but, as man, must know what were used, by his attendance on public worship, and by the private communion he had with the saints and children of God. It must indeed be owned, that forms of prayer very early obtained among the Jews; and if not in Christ’s time, yet in the times of his apostles. There is frequent mention of the eighteen prayers in the times of Gamaliel, the master of the Apostle Paul; and of a nineteenth composed by one of his disciplesi, Samuel the little, who is thought, by some, to be Saul himself, whilst he was a scholar of his; and which is directed against the heretics, or Christians, as they were called by the Jews; and this easily accounts for, how the petitions of the ancient good men among the Jews came to be put with others into their forms of prayer, where we now find them. For that they should take these petitions from this directory of Christ’s, is not reasonable to suppose, considering their implacable enmity against him. Moreover, supposing, but not granting, that these petitions which our Lord took, and put into this order, for the use and instruction of his disciples, had been used by good men as forms of prayer, it will not justify the use of forms by any authority of Christ, or as being agreeably to his will; since it is certain, that however these petitions were used by good men before, our Lord never designed they should be used as an exact, precise form of prayer by his disciples; seeing there are several variations in them as here delivered, from what they are as they stand in Matthew; whereas, had they been intended as a stinted form, they would have been expressed in the self-same words: and moreover, to approve of here and there a petition, which for their matter are excellently good, and to approve of them all together, as a form, are two different things: to which may be added, that though there is an agreement between the petitions, as used by the Jews, and those our Lord directs to; yet there are some variations and alterations much for the better, which destroy the form of them. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 1, pp. 600–601). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
THE TEACHING OF THE ANTICHRIST
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 1 John 4:2-3
What is the teaching of the antichrist? It is not a denial of Christ—it is a misrepresentation of Christ; it is a teaching that either does something to Him or detracts something from Him. You remember how John put it; he said these people “went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be manifest that they were not all of us” (1 John 2:19). They were in the church. The antichrists had arisen within the Christian church; they said they believed in Christ. And yet, says John, their teaching is such that we can prove that they do not truly believe in Him.
Now this is a very important principle to grasp. Merely for people to say, “Yes, I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; I always have believed in Him” is not enough, until we have tested them further. The apostle Paul says that these people preached “another Jesus.” Ah, yes, they were preaching Jesus, but it was another Jesus; it was not the Jesus that Paul preached (2 Corinthians 11:4). They preached Christ, yes, but what sort of Christ, what kind of Jesus? That is the question.
Therefore we ask this question: How can we decide whether the teaching concerning Jesus Christ is true or false? And here the one answer is given perfectly clearly. Our ultimate authority, our only authority, is the apostolic teaching. That is the whole point of the first epistle of John.
A Thought to Ponder: The teaching of the antichrist is not a denial of Christ—it is a misrepresentation of Christ.
(From The Love of God, pp. 29-30, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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2 Thessalonians 1
Because God will avenge the righteous, we should be patient during times of persecution.
INSIGHT
“This world is not my home. I’m just passing through. If heaven’s not my home, O Lord, what would I do? The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.” We are not of this world; we are sojourners and pilgrims. This world will deal with us unkindly; we cannot expect it to be otherwise. If we insist on getting our meaning or justice in life only from what comes to us in this world, most of us will be gravely disappointed. Complete justice for us will come only “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels” (v. 7). (Quiet Walk)
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Messages from the Messiah’s Life: The Great Commandment
“Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew 22:35-37)
The Pharisees had come together to test how well Jesus understood the Mosaic law. They wanted Him to verify what the greatest law was since they prided themselves on knowing all there was to know about the law. After quickly and correctly quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5, Jesus then quoted Leviticus 19:18: “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:39-40).
When the Pharisees were quiet, Jesus asked them: “What think ye of Christ? whose son is he?” (Matthew 22:42). The Pharisees strongly promoted the false idea that the Messiah would come from the line of King David to put down the Roman rule and establish again the Davidic kingdom. This was critical to prove from the genealogical records the Jewish right to rule Jerusalem. The Pharisees immediately said to Him, “The son of David.”
Quoting Psalm 110:1, Jesus asked them: “How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying: The LORD [Yahweh] said unto my Lord [Adonai], Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?” (Matthew 22:43-45). This play on the Hebrew words in the psalm makes the Lord Jesus not the “son” of David but the Lord and Master of David.
In His earlier interaction with the Sadducees, Jesus silenced them with a single word (“am”). Again, He used just a single word (“Lord”) to answer the Pharisees.
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Wes Aarum writes (NY): I am once again going through the book of Revelation and the judgment that is soon going to fall on this world is almost unbelievable. I watch all that is happening in our world and from the Bible perspective you can see how things are setting up for the rule of the Anti-Christ. The Globalists want a one world ruler and they are soon going to have their wish. Our wonderful country is fast coming to an end but there is still hope that God, in His infinite mercy, will grant us one last chance before the Rapture. That one chance is a nation-wide Awakening that will sweep millions into the Kingdom. That of course will only happen in answer to Prayer. God gives us so many promises of what He can and will do if we will Pray! Dear Christians we have no excuse not to call on God for this miracle. I challenge you, yes I beg you, let’s determine in our hearts and make a covenant with our Heavenly Father that with His help we will become the Prayer Warrior He desperately wants us to be. II Cor. 5:10 is going to happen and when we stand before that throne how thrilled we will be if we have been that prayer warrior and we hear Jesus say to us “Well done thou good and faithful servant,….. enter into the joy of thy Lord.” .Matt. 25:21 This is ‘soul-winning through prayer. I start with asking God for a personal revival in my life and then when that is accomplished. I labor in prayer for the Christians and then the unsaved in our nation. God help all of us to determine to be that person God wants us to be and see Him sweep across our country with such conviction saints will get right with God and sinners will be converted. to Him. God bless all of you reading this!
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DAILY HOPE
Today’s Scripture
Numbers 26-27
Every decade the United States takes a census of all the people in America. The first Federal Population Census was taken in 1790 and has been taken every ten years since. The census is used for many purposes other than to count how many people are living in the country.
A census had been taken earlier in Numbers One. Israel was now commanded by the Lord to take a second census. This was to determine how many people were available to go to war that were over the age of twenty.
This new census would also allow Moses and the leadership to know how to allocate the land each tribe had been promised. The distribution of land was determined by the size of the tribes. The boundaries were expanded or reduced according to the numbers that were reported to Moses.
In a culture and period that was dominated by male leadership and ownership, it is surprising to have a section devoted to women who appealed for their own rights and ultimately granted an inheritance. The daughters of Zelophehad presented their case before Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the congregation to ask for their father’s inheritance. Moses takes it before the Lord and they receive their proper rights.
It is refreshing to see the Lord was responsive to needs regardless of gender even when it was contrary to cultural or normal traditions. God is a God of order and concerned for the less fortunate and underprivileged. This new precedent was established, allowing future cases to be settled. The Lord gave clear directions for transfer of inheritances and further secured the welfare of family inheritances from that time forward.
Having both foresight and tenacity to come before leadership over unknown issues takes courage. Living a life of faith requires both of these traits as we face issues and unknown trials ahead. Like Joshua and these women, let us “…Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
In Expectant Hope, Pastor Miller
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