Luke 17-24

Questions

2009

Chapter 17 – Forgiveness and Faith

Jesus has just finished telling the story about the rich man and Lazarus.  The rich man asked Abraham to send someone to his brothers to warn them not to sin, to avoid the place of torment (Hades) he was in.  Jesus follows up on this story with teaching about sin, Faith and the Christian’s duty.

1. What might be an example of Jesus’ meaning in verse 1?  (A) Many of us are aware of the public ___________ of certain Christian leaders who fall into sin and are exposed and ridiculed.  Sin always involves more than one person.  The __________ for the one leading someone into sin will have far reaching ___________.  This applies to each of us, and even if one’s sins are not exposed here on earth, there will be a ____ to pay.  Anything that leads one away from the path of faith, of devotedness, and of holiness is a _________ block.
2. What is the correct procedure to follow to avoid falling into the sin of unforgiveness?  (A) (1) If a Christian is wronged by another Christian, first ________ the offender in his heart (Eph. 4:32).  (2) Go to the offender and rebuke him _______.  If he __________, then tell him he is forgiven.  Even if he sins repeatedly, then says he repents, he should be ________.  If a private rebuke does not prove effective, then the person who has been wronged should take one or two ________.  If he still does not listen, the matter should be taken before the _____.  Failure to listen to the church should result in excommunication.  It does ____ mean that we stop ________ and trying to ______ our brother/sister!
3. The thought of forgiving seven times in one day presented a difficulty, if not impossibility, to the Apostles.  They felt they were unable of such a display of grace.  What do they ask of Jesus?  What is His response?  (A) A great question – “We need _____  ______.  Tell us _____ to get it!  (V.5).”  He answers that they need faith as small as a mustard seed.  In other words, it is not the _______ of faith, it is its’ ________.  It was not matter of getting more faith, but of using the faith they had.
4. Ultimately, the reason we don’t forgive is our pride and self-importance – our unwillingness to be a servant to one another.  Jesus tells them a story of the master/servant relationship.  It is the story of how a “bondslave” must act.  Explain in your own words.  (A) A bondslave is one who ________ gives himself in ________ to his master – he gives ________ and asks _______ in return.  So it is with a bondslave of Christ.  He/she belongs to Him – spirit, soul, and body.  In the light of Calvary, nothing they can ever do for their Savior is sufficient to ____ Him for what He has done.  So after he has done everything ___________ in the NT, he must still admit that he is an unworthy servant who has only done what his _____ is (10).  Maybe that is why so many are Christians in name only!  Are you ready and willing to be His bondslave – body, spirit and soul?  How you answer this question means everything!
5. The story of the cleansing of the ten lepers is one of the attitude disciples (us) should have in view of the coming kingdom.  What is the correct attitude?  (A) All ten lepers are cleansed, but only one returns to _______ Jesus.  He falls on his knees, ______ and __________ Him (15,16).  This lack of gratitude of the other nine was typical of the _______ of His ministry by the Jews.  They accepted those things Jesus could do (feed and heal them), but didn’t accept Him as their Savior.
6. Jesus teaches on the Second Coming – The Pharisees ask a question that is as valid today as it was then – “When will the kingdom of God come (20)?”  How does Jesus answer?  (A) He had been teaching that the kingdom was at hand, but it isn’t ushered in with miracles and signs.  He says, “The Kingdom of God is ______ you.”  It is within your reach – it is _______ here for you; all you need to do is __________ that He, Jesus, is the Messiah.  To the disciples, He spoke of the Kingdom as a _______ event – the Second Coming.  He warns that before He comes again, the days would be like those in the day of Noah, given to eating and drinking, all good in themselves, but they ________ Christ from their lives.  This Second Coming would be in ________ – “Whoever clings to this life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will save it (33).”  Unbelieving people will be judged for their unfaithfulness to the Lord.

Chapter 18 – Prayer

These next verses include two of Jesus’ parables about prayer.  One was addressed to the disciples (vv.1-8), and the other (vv.9-14) to “some who had great confidence and scorned everyone else.”

1. It is easy to understand the story of the unjust judge and the persistent widow.  She kept asking for justice and he gave in to stop her nagging.  For him, it wasn’t about justice at all – it was only to put a gag on her.  Why does Jesus end the story with “But when I, the Son of Man, return, how many will I find who have faith (v.8)?”  (A) This widow had great ____ that if she kept on asking, she would receive what was ______.  Jesus’ question is rhetorical – He knows the answer and is making the point that, when He returns, _____ faith will be comparatively rare.  The period before His return will be marked by persecution, apostasy, and unbelief.
2. The story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector is really one about justification by faith.  If Justification can be defined as “The act of God whereby He declares (not makes) the believing sinner righteous (in right standing) In Christ, based on the finished work of Christ on the cross”, how does the story show this to be true?  (A) It shows perfectly how a sinner who is utterly devoid of personal righteousness (that is, nothing good in and of himself) may be declared ________ before God instantaneously through an act of _________ faith.  The Pharisees trusted in their own (imperfect) righteousness, but human righteousness, even that of the most religious of the Pharisees, falls far _____ of the divine _______ (the Father).  Sinners are justified when God’s perfect righteousness is _______ (the Son’s _________ placed on a sinner, while the sinner’s sins are placed on Christ) to their account.  It was only on that basis that this tax collector (or anyone else) could be saved!  Heavy stuff, but this is what Christianity is based on!
3. The Pharisee “prayed with himself” (v.11-12) and said in his prayer that he fasted twice a week and gave tithes.  Isn’t that a good thing?  (A) The fasting was more than was Biblically required, but it showed that, by bragging about his own works, the Pharisee revealed that his ______ ____ lay in his not being “as ___” as someone else.  It is not “how bad, or good, you are, it is _____ about the finished work of Christ and your _______ in that.

Chapter 19 – Jesus and Zacchaeus

Jesus enters Jericho and comes upon a chief tax collector named Zacchaeus.  We see an unusual sight indeed – a rich and influential man running before the crowd and climbing a tree, leaning out on a branch to catch a glimpse of Jesus.  Jesus knew who he was and invited Himself and his party to Zac’s home for dinner (yes, I spelled it right!).  Zac replies immediately with great excitement and joy.  The Greek word for “joy” denotes an attitude of joy accompanying faith and salvation.  Think about it – if you were a despised sinner and an outcast among your people, how would you have reacted to Jesus’ invitation to dine with him?  If you haven’t yet accepted Christ, how do you react now, knowing He calls you and wants to be with you?

1. Zac stands up and makes a speech, declaring that he would give half of all he had to the poor and would make restoration fourfold to all he had wronged.  How does this compare to the story of the rich young ruler in chapter 18?  What does Zac do that is right in God’s eye?  (A) He ______ wanted the people to know that his time with Jesus had ______ his life, much like our confession of faith in _______.  In ________ to the rich young ruler, he parted with much of his wealth.
2. Jesus said (v.9), “Today salvation has come to this home, for this man has shown himself to be a son of Abraham.”  Did Jesus imply that giving to the poor had saved Zac?  Did receiving salvation relieve him from making restitution for all the wrong he had done?  Did being a “son of Abraham” (a Jew) automatically save him?  (A) Being a “son of Abraham” meant more than natural descent; it means that Zac exercised the same kind of __________ _____ in the Lord that Abraham did.  Salvation didn’t come to Zac’s home because of his charity and restitution – these things are the ______ of salvation.  Making restitution is a true __________ to grace that requires one to make good the wrong he has done.
3. The Parable of the Ten Servants – tells us much of what is expected of his followers, and this includes present day believers.

q      Who is the nobleman and where is he going (v.12)?  (A) He is ____ and He is returning to ______ to be ______ and crowned Lord of All.  He would return someday to set up His Kingdom on ______.

q      Who are the ten servants and what do the “ten pounds of silver (a Mina) represent?  (A) The servants represented His _______ and they are given a Mina each to do _______ until His return.  While there are differences in the ______ and _______ of the servants, there are some things, which are in common – sharing the gospel, representing Christ to the world, prayer, and service.

q      Who are the people who hated Him?  (A) The ________ nation.

q      What does v.15 say to you?  (A) The Lord is seen returning to set up His Kingdom on earth.  Then He will _______ with those to whom He gave the money.  Believers of this present age will be reviewed as far as their ______ is concerned at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  This takes place in heaven, following the Rapture.  The faithful Jewish _________ who will witness for Christ during the Tribulation period will be reviewed at Christ’s Second coming.  This is what is primarily seen in this section of scripture.

q      What do the “rewards” that the King dispenses represent?  (A) Faithful _____ is apparently linked with ______ in Christ’s Kingdom.  The extent to which a disciple will rule is determined by the measure of his ______ and self-_________.

q      What happened to the third servant?  (A) His Mina was taken _____ and given to the most profitable servant.  He suffered a loss of _______, but no other punishment.  What a shame it is to here someone say something like “I know I am going to heaven, but I may have to clean toilets when I get there.”  God offers us so much and all He asks is our willingness to use the gifts given us.

7. During Christ’s Triumphal entry (vv. 28-38), the crowd shouts, “Bless the King who comes in the name of the Lord!  Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven (v.38).”  What was significant about this?  (A) They shouted “Peace in ______”, not “peace on ______” – There could not be peace on earth because the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, had been ____ and would be slain.  There can be no peace when one rejects his Savior.

Chapter 20 – The Authority of Jesus Challenged

Can you imagine what it would have been like to sit at the feet of Jesus when He taught at the Temple?  All the majesty of God’s house and its history, coupled with God Himself in human form –wow!  And some day we’ll be able to do just that!  But back then, the Jewish leaders challenged His authority to teach His Gospel.  He answered a question with a question forcing the Jews to reveal the darkness of their hearts.  “The baptism of John – was it from heaven or from men (v.4)?” 

1.     How did this reveal their motives?  From where did John’s authority come? 

(A) If they answered that the authority came from _____, then why didn’t they obey, repent, and receive their Messiah.  If it was from _____, they might stir up the crowds because of John’s great popularity.  Jesus answers that He would not tell them where His authority came from either.  It should have been obvious.

2.     Where did John's and Jesus’ authority come from?  (A) The authority to teach comes from the _____ _____.  It is ___ based on someone’s seminary background or theological degrees, or where one was ordained – it is a _____ from God.

3.     The rejection of the Messiah by Israel is such a prevalent theme in the gospels that Jesus tells yet another parable concerning it (vv.9-16).  What is His message?  Who are the players.   (A) _____ is the vineyard owner who leased the vineyard (____) to vinedressers (the _____ of the nation).  He sent servants (His _______) to gather fruit from the vinedressers.  The fruit the prophets sought to gather are those _____ called to repentance and faith.  The leaders rejected the prophets and finally God sent His _____ to reap the harvest, but true to their past history, the leaders (vinedressers) wanted exclusive rights as leaders and teachers of the people.  They dragged Him out and _________ Him (v.15).  So it is with Him.

4.     What does Jesus say the owner of the vineyard (God) will do?  (A) V.16 – “I tell you - He will come out and ____ them all and lease the vineyard to ______.”  ***NOTE: The “others” does not refer to those “others” on the TV show LOST!  It may refer to the Gentiles or to a regenerated Israel in the last days.

5.     Verses 17-18 speak of a stone that the builders (the Jewish leaders) rejected.  Who is the stone and what is His warning?  (A) These verses are from a Messianic Psalm 118:22, which speaks of ______.  Like so many other OT passages applied to Christ, it proves that He was Jehovah ________.  God gave Him preeminence by making Him the chief cornerstone, a stone that is indispensable and in the place of greatest honor.  His two comings are depicted in v. 18 – His ____ coming as a stone on the ground; men stumbled at His _________ and ________, and they were broken to pieces for rejecting Him.  In the second part of the verse, the stone is seen falling from heaven and grinding ___________ to powder.

Chapter 21 – The Doom of Israel and the Second Coming

As Jesus teaches in the Temple, He sees a poor widow drop two mites into the treasury.  He is so impressed by this self-less act that He comments on it.  What does it say to you?  (A) The rich gave from their __________, but she gave the ____ the livelihood she had.  And people complain about tithing???  Can you imagine what God thinks?

1. As the disciples marveled at the beauty of the Temple, Jesus warned them that all that they saw would be destroyed.  They ask Him when it would be.  He warns them to not let anyone mislead them (v.8).  Mislead them how?  (A) The admonition remains today.  So many false teachers spread their untruths and self-serving messages in churches, on TV and on the radio.  Some predict the exact day of His coming, but He says only the Father knows.  What we must do is be ready!  What did He warn the Jews of?  (A)  He spoke alternately of the destruction of the _______ in A.D. 70 and then of the ___________ that would precede His _______ Coming.  It is the law of double reference – His predictions were to be _____ fulfilled in the near future, but would have complete fulfillment at the time of the _______ period.  The Temple would be destroyed in A.D. 70 but would once again be re-built and then destroyed prior to the setting up of His earthly Kingdom.
2. Verse 12 begins, “But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution…” – this is probably the period between the time of this message and the future Tribulation.  He warns them that many will die as martyrs for Christ and, v.20 –“By standing firm, you will win your souls.”  How would this win their souls?  (A) It simply means that those who patiently ______ for Christ rather than turn away during times of ________ prove the ______ of their faith.  Those achieve the final aspect of salvation, namely, _______ – the final ________, changed in body, spirit and soul.  We will be like Jesus, conformed to His image.
3. What do all of the signs mentioned in vv. 5-36 tell us?  (A) They tell us that God is in _______ and that His perfect ____ is in place and already written.  Believers are to watch and pray, not that they will be judged for their sins, but that their _______ to unbelievers may be powerful and life changing.

Chapter 22 – The Son of Man’s Passion and Death

The chapter begins the mention of two Jewish Feasts, the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  What do they signify?  (A) The Passover celebrates God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt.  The Feast of Unleavened Bread begins on the day after Passover and commemorates Israel’s hurried departure from Egypt and the hardships they suffered.  They left in such a hurry that they could not let their bread rise.  These Feasts are important because they symbolize God’s ever-present love for Israel, made especially more significant because Jesus was now on His way to the cross for them.  Jesus died at the exact time that the Passover lambs were slain in preparation for the Passover meal.

1. The time is at hand for His last meal with the apostles.  It had been a tumultuous year for them, changing from lowly fishermen, tax collectors, etc., into the chosen ones of God to carry on His kingdom work.  Discuss the importance of the meal.  (A) Christ’s death the following day fulfilled the ________ of the Passover meal.  It was both a memorial of the ______ from Egypt, and a prophetic type of _________ of Christ. 
2. He took bread, thanked God for it, and broke it, saying, “This is my body, given for you.  Do this in remembrance of Me (v.19).”  He took a cup of wine and said, “This wine is the token of God’s New Covenant to save you –an agreement sealed with the blood I pour out for you (v.20).  What did the bread and wine represent?  What is the New Covenant?  (A) The bread represented His _____, which would shortly be broken and sacrificed for them.  The wine spoke of His ______, which would be poured out on Calvary.  The cup of wine represented a ___________ made primarily with Israel, once again sealing God’s promise to His chosen people that they would be forever His.  _____ was required to seal a covenant and it was the blood of Christ that was shed to seal if for eternity.  The Covenant will be made final at the end time.
3. Some denominations claim that this breaking of bread and drinking of the cup is today the actual _______ taking place every time communion is offered.  This supposed miracle is called transubstantiation.  In fact, it was a Hebrew metaphor, symbolic because His actual body – yet _______ –was before their very eyes.  It was against Jewish law to eat blood.  His sacrifice was ____ time, for ____ sin and does not need to be repeated.
4. The disciples prove once again that they do not really understand what is taking place.  After the meal, they argue among themselves as to who would be the greatest in the coming kingdom (v.24). How does Jesus respond?  (A) He admonishes them by saying that in this world, true greatness was the very _______ of man’s idea.  Those who would be great must take the place of the _______ rank.  He tells them that He is their servant and that true leaders must be ___________.
5. Jesus prays in on the Mount of Olives – what strikes you about His prayer? In saying, “Your will be done, (v.42)” is Jesus (a) helplessly submitting to fate?  (b) Admitting defeat before a power that beat Him?  (c) Bitterly resigning Himself to the inevitable?  Or (d) Quietly trusting in God’s love?  (A) In every chapter of the Gospels, we see Jesus doing only the ____ of the Father.  He is facing unbearable pain and suffering, already carrying the _______ of our sins, yet willing to die for them.  What do you mean when you pray, “Your will be done?”
6. Jesus is arrested and brought before the elder’s council.  The leaders ask Him outright if He is the Messiah (v.67).  What is His answer?  (A) He tells them in effect that it was _______ to discuss the matter with them.  In their hearts, they had to know that indeed He was the Messiah.  Is He your Messiah?

Chapter 23 – His Trial

Jesus now stands trial before the Judean governor, Pilate.  The Jewish leaders had made up their minds that He was guilty and that He must die. 

1. How do they show their true heart?  (A) Verse 2 states their charge against Jesus – leading them to ruin because He taught the people ____ to pay ______ to Rome (quite the opposite was true), and that He claimed to be the _______, a _____.  He rightfully claimed that He was indeed the Messiah, but never claimed to be their political king.
2. Pilate and Herod find no fault with Jesus, yet Pilate turns Him over to the Jews.  Why?  (A) Three times Pilate found Jesus “not guilty,” (v.22), but he feared an _______ of the Jews, attempting to overturn Roman rule.  This actually happened and the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70, just as Jesus had prophesied.
3. Jesus is lead away to be crucified.  Great crowds followed and in the crowd were women who mourned Him.  He tells them not to weep for Him, but to weep for themselves.  Why?  What does v.24 mean?  (A) He is saying that the time will soon be upon them when such _______ will take place that they will wish for the mountains to fall on them and that barren women, before considered ____, would be considered fortunate.  He is talking about the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and her people.  ___ is the green tree, and unbelieving _______ is the dry.  If the Romans heaped such shame and suffering on the sinless, innocent Son of God, what dreadful punishment would fall on the _________ murderers of God’s beloved Son?
4. As Jesus hangs dying on the cross, He asks the Father to forgive His murderers, because they do not really know what they are doing.  Does He feel that they deserve forgiveness?  (A) 1 Cor.2: 8 says, “For if they understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”  However, He had made it very clear that He was the promised ________ whom they had long awaited.  Their stubborn and ____ hearts were no _____ for their sin.  It still is not today!  But Christ’s prayer, even while they were mocking Him, is an expression of the endless ________ of divine _______.  Forgiveness is for all who believe.
5. What does v.43 say to you?  (A) Jesus ______ the repentant thief, that very day he would be with Jesus in __________.  All the man had to do was believe!

Chapter 24 – The Resurrection

Jesus died that Friday that we know as Good.  The work is now done, the blood sacrifice for sin offered and accepted, sins forgiven, Satan defeated.  His body was laid in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea that same evening, according to Jewish law, he a council member and believer in Christ.  All of this was done to fulfill the prophesy of Isaiah 53, which speaks of His death and burial.  His body was prepared for burial with linen wraps and a hundred pounds of spices and aloes.  The women followers of Jesus did not completely trust Joseph and Nicodemus (who had provided the spices and aloes), and determined to use their own burial preparations.  However, the Sabbath began at sundown Friday evening and they had to wait until its end at sunrise Sunday morning to complete the ritual.  What follows is the single most important event in human history.  Jesus is raised from the dead and with His Resurrection, all of the prophesies in the OT are fulfilled.

1. What things did Jesus say must be fulfilled (vv.44-48)?  (A) He told the disciples that ____ things must be fulfilled which were written in the ___ of Moses and the ______ and the ______ concerning Him.  He opened their eyes so that they might understand the Scriptures.  It was written and so it was necessary for the _______ (the Messiah) to ____ and to _____________ the third day, and that __________ and ________ of sins should be preached in His name to _________, beginning at Jerusalem.  They were to be witnesses that these things were fulfilled.
2. How were they to be witnesses to the world of these things?  (A) There is only one way, through the _______ and ___________ of the Holy Spirit, soon to be given at _________ as promised by the Father (see Isaiah 44:3; Ezekiel 36:27; Joel 2:28).  The Spirit empowers us to do the same.

Jesus must now return to Heaven to assume His role as Lord of All.  His Ascension into heaven forty days after the Resurrection filled the apostles with joy as they worshipped and praised Him.  Finally, they understood all the things Jesus taught them and they returned to Jerusalem and spent all of their time in the Temple praising God.