Luke 9

Disciples sent on an outreach mission verse 1- 6

Then HE called HIS twelve disciples together

and gave them power and authority over devils

and to cure diseases

AND HE sent them to preach the kingdom of God – and to heal the sick

and HE said unto them

Take nothing for your journey – neither staves – nor scrip – neither bread

neither money – neither have two coats apiece

And whatsoever house you enter into – there abide – and thence depart

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

And they departed – and went through the towns – preaching the gospel

and healing every where

Herod was perplexed verse 7- 9

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

and of some – that Elijah had appeared

and of others – that one of the old prophets was risen again

AND Herod said

John have I beheaded – BUT who is this – of whom I hear such things?

and he desired to see HIM

Feeding of the five thousand verse 10- 17

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

And the people – when they knew it – followed HIM

and HE received them

and spoke unto them of the kingdom of God

and healed them that had need of healing

And when the day began to wear away – then came the twelve

and said to 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 the desert place

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

FOR they were about five thousand men

And HE said to HIS disciples

Make them sit down by fifties in a company

And they did so – and made them all sit down

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

AND they did eat – and were all filled

and there was taken up of fragments that remained

to them twelve baskets

Peter’s confession of identity of Christ verse 18- 20

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?

They answering said – John the Baptist

but some say – Elijah and others say

that one of the old prophets is risen again

HE said unto them

But whom say you that I am?

Peter answering said – The Christ of God

Jesus tells of HIS death verse 21- 22

AND HE straitly charged them

and commanded them to tell no man that thing

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

Jesus identifies a follower verse 23- 27

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

FOR whosoever will save his life shall lose it

BUT whosoever will lose his life for MY sake

the same shall save it

FOR what is a man advantaged – IF he gain the whole world

and lose himself or be cast away?

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

of the holy angels

BUT I tell you of a truth – there be some standing here

which shall not taste of death

till they see the kingdom of God

Mount of Transfiguration verse 28- 36

And it came to pass about an eight days after these saying

HE took Peter and John and James – and went up into a

mountain to pray

And as HE prayed – the fashion of HIS countenance was altered

and HIS raiment was white and glistering

And behold there talked with HIM two men – which Moses and Elijah

who appeared in glory – and spake of HIS decease which

HE should accomplish at Jerusalem

BUT Peter and they that were with HIM were heavy with sleep

and when they were awake they saw HIS glory

and the two men that stood with HIM

AND it came to pass

as they departed from HIM

Peter said unto Jesus

Master – it is good for us to be here

and let us make three tabernacles

one for YOU – Moses – Elijah

not knowing what he said

While he thus spoke – there came a cloud – and overshadowed them

and they feared as they entered into the cloud

AND there came a voice out of the clouds saying

This is MY beloved Son – hear HIM

AND when the voice was past – Jesus was found alone

and they kept it close

and told no man in those days any of those things

which they had seen

Demon-Possessed man healed verse 37- 42

And it came to pass – that on the next day

when they were come down from the hill

much people met HIM

And BEHOLD – a man of the company cried out

Master – I beseech YOU – look upon my son

for he is mine only child

AND lo – a spirit takes him – and he suddenly cries out

and it tears him that he foams again

and bruising him hardly

departs from him

AND I besought YOUR disciples to cast him out

and they could not

AND Jesus answering said

O faithless and perverse generation

How long shall I be with you and suffer you?

Bring your son hither

AND as he was yet coming – the devil threw him down – and tare him

and Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit – and healed the child

and delivered again to his father

Jesus tells of HIS betrayal verse 43- 45

And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God

BUT while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did

HE said unto HIS disciples

Let these sayings sink down in your ears

FOR the Son of man shall be delivered into

the hands of man

BUT they understood not this saying – and it was hid from them

that they perceived it not – and they feared to ask HIM of that saying

Followers are to be like little children verse 46- 48

Then there arose a reasoning among them – which of them should be greatest

and Jesus perceiving the thought of their heart – took a child

and set him by HIM – and said unto them

Whosoever shall receive this child in MY name receives ME

and whosoever shall receive ME receives HIM that sent ME

FOR he that is least among you all

the same shall be great

Power in the name of Jesus verse 49- 50

And John answered and said

Master – we saw one casting out devils in YOUR name

and we forbade him – BECAUSE he followed not with us

And Jesus said unto him

Forbid him not – FOR he that is not against us is for us

Disciples wanted to call fire from heaven verse 51- 56

And it came to pass

when the time was come that HE should be received up

HE steadfastly set HIS face to go to Jerusalem

and HE sent messengers before HIS face

and they went – and entered into a village of the Samaritans

to make ready for HIM

AND they did not receive HIM

BECAUSE HIS face was as though HE would go to Jerusalem

AND when HIS disciples James and John saw this – they said

Lord – will YOU that we command fire to come down from heaven

and consume them – even as Elijah did?

BUT HE turned – and rebuked them – and said

You know not what manner of spirit you are of

FOR the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives

but to save them

AND they went to another village

Cost of following Jesus verse 57- 62

And it came to pass – that – as they went in the way

a certain man said unto him

Lord – I will follow YOU whithersoever YOU go

AND Jesus said unto him

Foxes have holes – and birds of the air have nests

BUT the Son of man hath not where to lay HIS head

AND HE said unto another

Follow ME

BUT he said

Lord – suffer me first to go and bury my father

Jesus said unto him

Let the dead bury their dead

BUT go thou and preach the kingdom of God

AND another also said

Lord – I will follow YOU

BUT let me first go bid them farewell

which are at home at my house

AND Jesus said to him – No man – having put his hand to the plow

and looking back – is fit for the kingdom of God

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 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. (3142 “testimony” [marturion] means witness, to be testified, or providing direct knowledge about a person or event)

DEVOTION: Jesus is training HIS disciples in ministry. This chapter is as full as the last with training. HE had only three years to train them before HIS death. HE warned them repeatedly of HIS upcoming death.

We find HIM sending out the disciples for ministry. They were to go from house to house in villages and present the Gospel or Good News.

In each village they are to stay in a house that would invite them in. If the people of the house would not accept their message, they were to shake the dust from their feet as a sign of this rejection. It was to be a witness against them because they had rejected the truth of God.

Jesus gave them power and authority to do great things during the presentation of their message. Can we imagine people seeing all the healing and still rejecting the message concerning Jesus? Yet, there were people who didn’t want to listen to the message. There were people who didn’t want Jesus in their villages. There were people who knew all that Jesus did and yet they rejected him.

The disciples were to not take things with them for their trip. All their needs were to be provided by the people they ministered too. Their clothes were provided. Their food was provided. All their money was to be provided. Their sleeping arrangements were to be provided. Wow what a step of faith on the part of the disciples to do this.

Later in the chapter the disciples learn how God can provide food for a great amount of people from a small amount of food. They learn that to be the greatest they had to act like little children of faith. They learned that they had to take up their cross daily and serve the LORD. They also had to learn that not everyone who was not part of their group was outside of God’s group. They needed to learn that they were not to be judgmental to some people who rejected the message they gave.

We live in a time when many are questioning the Word of God. They are questioning who Jesus really was. They are questioning all the beliefs of Christianity. We have an opportunity to share our faith with those who are around us. There are many who will not accept our witness. There are some who will. Jesus told his disciples to shake off the very dust from their feet as a witness against the city or village that rejected Christ. There are people that we will witness to that will not only reject our witness and reject our LORD. There comes a time, we are told, in the timing of God where HE gives them up to a reprobate life. Should we give up on people easy? NO!!

We do have to move on from people who not only say no and don’t want to listen to our witness. The disciples moved on. Our responsibility is to share our faith with people in our world. There reaction is between them and the LORD. Let’s keep on witnessing for the LORD, no matter what happens.

CHALLENGE: Don’t give up too soon on people. Some have prayed for many years for individuals to become followers. I have been praying for over twenty years for some men to become followers: Darwin and Tony are still left. Two have said they believe.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 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.(593 “rejected” [apodokimazo] means disallow, disapprove, repudiate, regard as unworthy, or unfit.)

DEVOTION: Jesus confused the doctors of theology at age twelve in the Temple. HIS parents came back to get HIM and all HE said was that HE had to be about HIS Father’s business.

HE continued to teach crowds throughout the country. HE answered the questions of the Pharisees and other religious leaders. They didn’t understand how HE could be so wise not going to their school of theology.

Jesus explained to the disciples that HE was going to Jerusalem to suffer and die on the cross. In this gospel Luke adds some other details to what HE had to say to them. He gets into more detail with the statement that Jesus was unfit by all of the religious leaders.

Today we have religious leaders who deny the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ. This means that HE didn’t die for our sins. The Bible says that HE did. There are religious leaders that don’t even talk about sin today from the pulpit. So there is no need for someone to die for our actions.

Our nation is watching the laws change to call evil good and good evil. With this happening we find that our world rejecting the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible. The major problem is that many of the churches are going alone with our government instead of the Bible.

Disapproving of the teachings of those who are faithful to the Word of God will result in final judgment for these leaders whether religious or political. We are facing a battle over our faith today.

Jesus faced HIS battle with the religious leaders and they thought they won. The reality is that HE won and they lost. We need to realize that we are winning even when we seem to be losing because we are on the winning side. We will be losing some of the inning in the game but the outcome is sure. The LORD is still in control. HE is still on the throne. HE doesn’t need the approval of the doctors of theology in HIS day.

CHALLENGE: Don’t let people who think that we are unworthy to lead because we believe the truth of the Word of God. Trust in the LORD to encourage your heart to stay the course.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring your son hither. (430 “suffer” [anechomai] means bear with, forbear, endure, to sustain, to endure something unpleasant or difficult whether on one’s own behalf or on behalf of someone else, or to accept a complaint.)

DEVOTION: Jesus had given the disciples power and authority to serve HIM. They were sent

out with these things to confirm they were from God with a message from God to the children of Israel.

People came to the disciples with physical problems. This time it was a demon possessed boy that needed the demon or fallen angel removed from his body. The disciples couldn’t do it.

Why couldn’t they do it? Jesus had told them that power comes from prayer and fasting. Once prayer and fasting was practices they had the power available if they only believed. Their problem was that they kept doubting their power and doubting who Jesus Christ really was.

Jesus made a statement that is still true today. HE has to put up with us. HE is with us every step we take if we are HIS disciple. Once we become a follower we are HIS disciple. If we are HIS disciple we have power to do amazing things through HIM. HE required belief, prayer and fasting.

Most believers are not willing or able to manifest this power because they are unwilling to have enough faith to move mountains. If the LORD gives you a gift and you use it for HIS glory great things can happen in your ministry.

CHALLENGE: God can do the impossible. HE will do it when we are obedient to HIM regularly. Are we manifesting HIS power in our work for HIM?

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: 50 And Jesus said to him, Forbid him not for he that is not against us is for us. ( 2967) “forbid” [koluo] means hinder,prevent, to stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state, withhold, or to deny or refuse one a thing.)

DEVOTION: Division is present with us all the time. The disciples found a group of people that were casting out demons in the name of Jesus but wouldn’t come with the twelve disciples.

They thought only they had the power from God to cast out demons. They asked Jesus, what they should do with these people. They wanted to tell them to stop.

Jesus told them not to forbid them because they were doing this good work in HIS name. HE said that those who are not against them was on their side.

Today we have many people who are fighting over doctrine or teaching that is given in their churches. They would like everyone to have the same music as they have. They would like every church to have the same order of service that they have. Some people want to go from one city or state and go into another church just like their church. They feel that if it has the same name on the door it should be the same. This is not true today.

We have many churches with different beliefs but the same beliefs regarding major doctrines. We are not to condemn the churches that have the same basic doctrines but the ones who don’t hold to these basics. The ones that hold to the same basic doctrines will be different but the same regarding the Gospel, the deity of Christ, belief in the Godhead of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and that final judgment is going to be given to those who don’t follow Jesus Christ in a lake of fire for eternity with the devil and his angels to name a few.

There are still good churches in many different groups that look different but are basically the same. Study the church to see what is happening doctrinally.

CHALLENGE: If they stay true to the Word of God you can attend and support that church. If not, leave and find one that teaching truth.

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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)

Jesus takes disciples to desert place verse 10

Jesus praying alone verse 18

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)

Looking up to heaven verse 16

Jesus blessed fish and bread verse 16

Jesus praying alone verse 18

Jesus goes into mountain to pray verse 28, 29

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

Gospel verse 6

Elijah verse 8, 19, 30, 33, 54

Moses verse 30, 33

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

Jesus comes again in Father’s glory verse 26

Father speaks from cloud verse 35

` HIM that sent Jesus verse 48

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

Feeding of the five thousand verse 11- 17

Christ verse 20

Christ of God verse 20

Son of man verse 22, 26, 44, 56, 58

Suffer verse 22

Rejected verse 22

Killed verse 22

Raised on third day verse 22

Countenance changed on mountain verse 28

Raiment white and glistering verse 28

Accomplish in Jerusalem verse 31

Glory of LORD verse 32

Jesus verse 33, 36, 41- 43, 47, 50, 58, 60, 62

Master verse 33, 38, 49

Beloved Son verse 35

Healing of man’s son verse 38- 43

Delivered to hands of men verse 44

Perceiving thoughts of disciples verse 47

Casting out devils in Jesus’ name verse 49

Lord verse 54, 57, 59, 61

Warning of Jesus verse 57- 62

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

God verse 2, 11, 20,27, 43, 60, 62

Kingdom of God verse 2 , 11, 27, 60, 62

Mighty power of God verse 43

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Devils – demons verse 1, 49

Holy angels with Jesus when he comes again verse 26

Unclean spirit – devil – fallen angel verse 39, 42

Casting out devils verse 49

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Herod the tetrarch verse 7, 9

Samaritans verse 52

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Not receive disciples verse 5

Reject Jesus verse 22

Gain whole world but lose self verse 25

Ashamed of Christ verse 26

Faithless verse 41

Perverse verse 41

Thinking of greatness verse 46

Looking back verse 62

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Disciples verse 1, 54

Power verse 1, 43

Authority verse 1

Cure verse 1, 2, 6, 11, 42

Preach verse 2, 6, 60

Apostles verse 10

Suffer verse 22

Rejected verse 22

Deny himself verse 23

Take up cross daily verse 23

Follow verse 23, 59

Save verse 24, 56

Truth verse 27

Hear verse 35

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

John (the Baptist) verse 7, 9, 19

Elijah (Elias) verse 8, 19, 30- 33, 54

Old prophets verse 8, 19

Bethsaida verse 10

Elders of Israel verse 22

Chief priests verse 22

Scribes verse 22

Moses verse 30- 33

Jerusalem verse 31, 51, 53

Church (New Testament people of God)

Twelve disciples verse 1, 12, 14, 16, 18

Apostles verse 10

Peter verse 20, 28, 32, 33

John verse 28, 49, 54

James verse 28, 54

Disciples verse 40, 43

Disciples didn’t understand verse 45

Last Things (Future Events)

Kingdom of God verse 2, 11, 27, 60, 62

Risen from the dead verse 7, 8

Come in HIS own glory verse 26

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QUOTES regarding passage

9:57–58. A man approached and wanted to follow where they were going. Jesus’ response was that a person desiring to follow Him must give up what others consider necessities. Jesus had no home of His own nor did His followers. They were on their way to Jerusalem where Jesus would be put to death.

9:59–60. Jesus called the next man with the same words with which He had called His disciples (5:27). The man’s reply that he first wanted to go and bury his father has been variously interpreted. Some maintain that the man’s father was dead already. It would seem strange if that was the case for he would certainly have been engaged in the burial procedure already. It is more likely that the man’s father was ready to die. His request was to let him wait just a little while before following Jesus. Perhaps the man also wanted to receive the inheritance from his father’s estate. Jesus’ response, Let the dead bury their own dead, implies that the spiritually dead can bury the physically dead. The point was that proclaiming the kingdom of God was so important that it could not wait. Of course if the man had left and followed Jesus, it would have caused a scandal in the community. But that was less important than proclaiming the kingdom and following the Messiah. A disciple must make a radical commitment.

9:61–62. The third man simply wanted to go home and say good-by to his family. Elijah had allowed Elisha to do this very thing when Elisha was plowing (1 Kings 19:19–20). Jesus’ words underscore the fact that His message of the kingdom of God was more important than anything else—even family members. The message and the Messiah cannot wait. Jesus’ message was more important than Elijah’s message and demanded total allegiance. Jesus’ servants should not have divided interests, like a farmer who begins plowing and looks back. Since Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, the man had to make up his mind right then as to what he was going to do. Interestingly Luke did not record the outcome of any of Jesus’ conversations with the three men. (Martin, J. A. (1985). Luke. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 232–233). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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Lack of discipline (vv. 57–62). Three men could have become disciples, but they would not meet the conditions that Jesus laid down. The first man was a scribe (Matt. 8:19) who volunteered to go until he heard the cost: he had to deny himself. Apparently he was accustomed to a comfortable home.

The second man was called by Jesus (what an honor!), but he was rejected because he would not take up the cross and die to self. He was worried about somebody else’s funeral when he should have been planning his own! Jesus is not suggesting here that we dishonor our parents, but only that we not permit our love for family to weaken our love for the Lord. We should love Christ so much that our love for family would look like hatred in comparison (Luke 14:26).

The third man also volunteered, but he could not follow Christ because he was looking back instead of ahead. There is nothing wrong with a loving farewell (1 Kings 19:19–21), but if it gets in the way of obedience, it becomes sin. Jesus saw that this man’s heart was not wholly with Him, but that he would be plowing and looking back (see Gen. 19:17, 26; Phil. 3:13–14).

No wonder the laborers are few! (Luke 10:2)

It would appear that what Jesus taught His disciples and the multitudes had done them little good. They lacked power, love, and discipline, and they grieved His heart. If we today lack these spiritual essentials, we can never truly be His disciples, but they are available to us from the Lord. “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, of love and of self-discipline” (2 Tim. 1:7, niv).

Are we a joy to Jesus Christ, or are we breaking His heart? (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 209). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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In the next section we have our Lord once more laying down principles of discipleship which are applicable throughout the entire period until He returns again in power and glory. We read, “It came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto Him, Lord, I will follow Thee withersoever Thou goest.” Here was a man who was evidently attracted by the grace of Christ. He came to Jesus apparently of his own accord, and declared his readiness to be identified with Him, but the Lord Jesus immediately tested him by saying, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head.” It is as though He would say to this professed disciple, “If you follow Me you must not expect earthly gain; I do not promise an easy time down here; I do not guarantee temporal comforts. I have no home Myself—I, who came from heaven—I am walking through this scene as a stranger and I have no certain dwelling-place, nor have I earthly riches to bestow upon My disciples; so if you are going to follow Me, it means a life of self-denial, of self-abnegation all the way.

Does this nullify what we have been noticing in connection with the previous verses? Not at all! For there is no happier life in this world than the life into which one enters when he takes his place in fellowship with Christ and goes through this scene as a stranger and a pilgrim.

Conditions of discipleship have not changed, they are still the same as of old. To follow Christ does not insure one a life of comfort and ease. Savonarola well said, “A Christian life consists in doing good and suffering evil.” The more faithful we are to Christ the more we may have to suffer from the world, but we can go through this in fellowship with our rejected Lord, and find a joy in sharing His rejection that the soul can never find in the enjoyment of the world’s favor. In this instance we do not know whether the man went on with the Lord or whether he turned disappointedly away.

To another Jesus said, “Follow Me,” and the one addressed replied, “Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.” But Jesus, as it were, said, “You must not put anything first. My claims are paramount to every other.” This man said, as it were, “Yes, Lord; I love You, and I will be ready to follow You some day; but I have an aged father, and I cannot leave him until he passes away and I bury him; and when that takes place I will be prepared to follow you.” The Lord answered, “Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.” In other words, it is as if He had said, “If My message has touched your heart and soul; if I have won your trust and confidence; if you feel a divine call to represent Me in Israel, do not wait until family circumstances change. Begin immediately to tell others what God has done for you and what He can do for them.”

I am afraid sometimes many of us have answered the Lord the way this man did. We have allowed the claims of kindred to come between us and the work of Christ; but it must be Christ first, then everything else will follow in its right place.

A third man came up and said, “Lord, I will follow Thee; but …” Stop there for just a moment. This little word of three letters has robbed many of their souls and hindered them from giving their lives to Christ. Is it hindering you? What is the “but” you have in mind? “I will follow Thee; but”—I cannot give up this, or that, or something else. Is that it? “I will follow Thee; but”—I cannot yield wholly to Thee on some particular point. What is the “but” that is hindering you? This man said, “Lord, I will follow Thee; but”—I must return and settle things up with the folks at home; I am not ready to follow You yet; I must go and talk it over with them first. He had to learn that the claims of Christ were paramount to every other. Jesus said to him, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Oh, that we might all realize this more and more, and that Christ might ever have the preeminent place in our hearts and lives! (Ironside, H. A. (1947). Addresses on the Gospel of Luke. (pp. 324–326). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)

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b. The Discipleship Question (9:57–62)

The next incident teaches us not only the character of our discipleship but also the cost of our discipleship. Financial considerations can be a hindrance (9:57–58). A certain man called out to Jesus as He was passing by, “Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.” Perhaps this man had visions of a soon coming kingdom and positions of prosperity and power to be doled out by the Messiah to His men. If that was the case, the Lord quickly disillusioned him.

“Foxes have holes,” Jesus said, “and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” In Matthew’s account of this incident, the volunteer was a scribe, an educated man of the upper middle class. As a group, the scribes were hostile to Jesus because He totally rejected their false traditions (Matt. 8:19). Evidently, this man was prepared to give up a great deal to be enrolled as a disciple of Jesus. The Lord, however, saw the weak spot in this man’s soul. Privation, not promotion, was all that Jesus offered. He was on His way to crucifixion, not coronation.

Then, too, family considerations can be a hindrance to discipleship (9:59–60). Looking over the thronging crowds, Jesus picked out a man and gave him a special call. “Follow me,” He said.

The man replied, “Suffer me first to go and bury my father.” Perhaps this man had been hovering on the brink of a decision for some time. Jesus forced him to declare himself. He had his excuse ready: he had family responsibilities. It is likely that the man’s father was not yet dead. But even if the man’s father was newly dead, the man was still resisting. The Jews in that hot climate buried their dead within a day. But that was not the end of it; the mourning period dragged on for ten days. By that time, all sense of urgency as to discipleship might well have evaporated. Then would come the reading of the will and all of the involvement in the distribution of the property, arrangements for the widow, maybe, and all of the other activities. All of them were legitimate concerns—but not for a disciple. The Lord was not against treating one’s parents with honor; He was against its becoming an excuse.

“Let the dead bury their dead,” He declared, “but go thou and preach the kingdom of God” (9:60).

Moreover, formal considerations can be a hindrance to discipleship (9:61–62). Luke introduces us to another volunteer. “I will follow thee,” he said, “but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.”

Jesus said, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

It was not just a matter of saying good-bye—even the stern prophet Elijah permitted that (1 Kings 19:19–21). Elijah read Elisha’s heart just as Jesus read this man’s heart. Elisha had no willingness to dillydally and delay. He was following the plow when the great master, Elijah, called him. Within the day, he had made a fire of his plow and a holocaust of his oxen and was hard on the heels of his new lord. The man here in Luke’s story might well have been secretly hoping that his family would talk him out of all of his notions of being a disciple. He was already looking back even while volunteering to go forward. Nobody can plow a straight furrow when he keeps looking back.

The fatal flaw in the last two men leaps out at us. Both of them said, “Me first!” Any man who wants to start his discipleship with such words simply does not qualify. Come the first hard test, and he’d be off, heading for the family or the farm. (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Gospel of Luke: An Expository Commentary (Lk 9:57–62). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)

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Ver. 57. And it came to pass, as they went in the way, &c.] From one village of the Samaritans, to the other; though if this is the same history related in Matt. 8:19 it was as Christ went from Capernaum to the seaside, in order to go to the other side of it; and must be inserted here, without regard to the order of time: a certain man said unto him; if the same as in Matthew, he is there said to be a Scribe; Lord, I will follow thee, wheresoever thou goest. The Arabic and Ethiopic versions read these words by way of question, Lord, shall I not follow thee wheresoever thou goest? see the note on Matt. 8:19.

Ver. 58. And Jesus said unto him, foxes have holes, &c.] Both the words of this man to Christ, and Christ’s answer to him, are exactly the same as in Matthew, which makes it look as if it was the same history; though it is not improbable, that Christ might be accosted in the same manner by another person, at another time and place, and return a like answer to each; see the note on Matt. 8:20.

Ver. 59. And he said unto another, follow me, &c.] According to Matthew, one of his disciples, who had attended him some time, and whom he now called to the ministerial work; see the note on Matt. 8:21. The Ethiopic version reads, another said to him, shall I not follow thee? but without any foundation: they are certainly the words of Christ, directed to another person, at the same time he met with the former: but he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father; see the note on Matt. 8:21. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 590). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

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FROM MY READING:

Old Testament WORDS for Today by Warren W. Wiersbe

What a childish thing to ask a dignified priest to do! There are several of these unusual ministry events in the book; I call them “action sermons.” The exiles in Babylon were so blind to God and his ways that the prophet had to treat them like children and demonstrate the truth as well as declare it. He “played” war and also “played” barber (chap.5). His most costly “action sermon” was when his wife died and he was not allowed to mourn (24:15-27). These “actin sermons” remind us that the life of a witness is an important part of the message of the witness. No matter how strange God’s instructions may seem, we must accept them and obey them, for “the foolishness of God is wiser than men” (I Cor. 1: 25). (p. 170-1)

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Treasures from the Greek New Testament by Kenneth S. Wuest

(I Peter 1: 3, 13) One result of being born from above is that the believer has a lively hope. The word “lively” is from the Greek word which speaks of the life principle. It is the word used when the inspired writers speak of eternal life. The word “lively” in the Greek text is not an adjective but a participle. A participle is a verbal adjective, having the action of a verb and the descriptive powers of an adjective. The word “hope” is described by an action. The word “lively” is an excellent translation. The margin give “living.” But it is more than a hope that is alive. It is actively alive. This hope is an energizing principle, a spontaneous, overflowing, buoyant thing. It is a hopefulness, a spirit of optimism, a looking ever upon the bright side of things, a looking forward to only that which is good, an expectancy of continued blessing and joy. It is the opposite of that fear of the future which grips some many hearts. This Christian optimism, this exuberant hopefulness, leaves no room for worry. This lively hope should be the normal atmosphere of every Christian heart. (p. 21- 2)

In view of the fact that the Holy Spirit is producing in the Christian’s heart that buoyant spirit of hopefulness, it is the responsibility of that Christian to put out of his mind everything that would disturb that Christian optimism which always hopes for the best and always looks on the bright side of things. The believer can do that by the same power of the Holy Spirit which produces this lively hope. This is what we mean by a carefree mind. (p. 23)

The words “be sober” in our translation refer to the mental self-control and calmness. The words “hope to the end” do not refer to the length of time this hope is held, but to the quality of this hope, a hope that is a perfect, unchangeable one. The hope in verse three is a subjective one, being an inner hopefulness, the normal Christian attitude towards life, whereas the hope of verse thirteen is an objective hope, resting itself upon some future happening, here the glorification of the believer at the return of the Lord into the air. (p. 23)

The normal Christian life lived in the fullness of the Holy Spirit is a life in which a supernaturally produced Christian optimism and a carefreeness of mind make possible the most efficient use of our spiritual faculties, used to the glory of God. Do not allow Satan to rob you of this precious heritage. (p. 24)

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1 Thessalonians 4
Paul informs the Thessalonians regarding the Lord Jesus Christ’s second coming.
INSIGHT

Death is a mysterious, unavoidable experience. For the most part a fearful and foreboding process, death is a common factor in human experience: We live to die. Understandably, the most profound question human beings ask is: What happens when we die? Death is fully addressed in the Scriptures – and the answer is one of the most satisfying answers in the Bible: “The dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (vv. 16-17). (Quiet Time)

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THE ULTIMATE TEST
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.
1 John 4:2
The most important test is conformity to scriptural teaching. “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.” How do I know that this is a spiritual test? All I know about Him, I put up to the test of Scripture. Indeed, you get exactly the same thing in the sixth verse of 1 John 4 where John says, speaking of himself and the other apostles, “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” The first thing to ask about a man who claims to be filled with the Spirit and to be an unusual teacher is, does his teaching conform to Scripture? Is it in conformity with the apostolic message? Does he base it all upon this Word? Is he willing to submit to it? That is the great test.
Another test is the readiness to listen to scriptural teaching; to abide by it is always a characteristic of the true prophet. You will find that the other man rather tends to dismiss it. “Ah yes,” he says, “but you are legalistic, you are just a theologian. I have experience, I have felt, and I have produced this and that.” The tendency is not to abide by the teaching of Scripture but to be almost contemptuous of it; that has always been the characteristic of those who have tended to go astray. Read the history of the Quakers, and you will find that such an attitude became a prominent feature—the inner light rather than the objective teaching of Scripture itself.
A Thought to Ponder: The most important test is conformity to scriptural teaching.

(From The Love of God, pp. 23-24, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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The Bible itself clearly teaches that salvation, important and wonderful as it is, is not an end in itself but is rather a means to the end of glorifying God (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14) (p. 48)

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The essence of dispensationalism, then, is the distinction between Israel and the church. (p. 48)

(Dispensationalism by Charles C. Ryrie)

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