“Luke / Acts Week 6 – Feb 5-9”

Monday, February 05, 2024

Monday – Luke 5:33-39 A Question About Fasting
1. For the Pharisees, prayer and fasting were central acts of piety (cf. Mat 6:1-18; Luk 18:9-14). From their point of view, why is it unthinkable that Jesus and His disciples are feasting and not fasting?
2. Jesus’ responses paint the pictures of a wedding feast and the disastrous mixing of old with new. In your own words, what is He communicating about Himself and His gospel with these word pictures?
3. With v. 39, Jesus ends with a note of rebuke saying some will not give up the old for His new. Reflect on this truism, fill in the blank: I struggle with letting go of old _______________ for Jesus’ new _______________. Take time to pray, asking God for His strength to let go of the old and accept the new in Jesus.

Tuesday – Luke 6:1-5; 1 Samuel 21:1-9; 22:9-10 David and the Holy Bread
1. Before we explore Jesus’ defense of the disciples, let’s look at His mention of David. At the insistence of Jonathan, David immediately flees for his life (see 1 Sam 20:27-42). To what degree do you think David’s emotional state influences his decision to go to the tabernacle of God?
2. David concocts a cover story to help explain why he is alone and needs provisions. What three things does Ahimelech do to help David?
3. The only food available is the holy bread reserved for the priests (cf. Lev 24:5-6). After he attempts to preserve the sacredness of the bread, Ahimelech gives the loaves to David. Why do you think he does this?

Wednesday – Luke 6:1-5 Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath
1. Hungry, the disciples pluck grains of wheat, rub the husk off with their hands, and eat the kernel (cf. Deu 23:24-25). Why are the Pharisees criticizing Jesus and His followers for this simple action?
2. In the Pharisees’ mind, a person should go hungry rather than pluck grain on the Sabbath. How does this view of God’s Day of Rest, miss its true significance? What point did they miss from the account of David?
3. Jesus defends not only His disciples, but also His authority to let His disciples pluck and eat grain on the Sabbath. What does He claim? Why is His claim significant? 

Thursday – Luke 6:6-11 Jesus Heals a Man with a Withered Hand on the Sabbath
1. Picture the scene in the synagogue with Jesus, His disciples, the Pharisees, the man, and the crowd all coming together. Describe the mood, the people’s body language, the small talk, etc.
2. How do the scribes and Pharisees treat their rules as more important than people? Think of a time when you’re tempted to do the same. Based on what you’ve read, what would Jesus do in that situation?
3. Given that the Sabbath law is to bring rest to the weary (Exd 20:8-10; Deu 5:12-15), how do Jesus’ actions in this episode (and vv. 1-5) represent a fulfillment, rather than a violation, of God’s law?

Friday – Luke 6:12-16 The Twelve Apostles
1. Again, we find Jesus praying all before a pivotal movement (ref. 3:21; 9:18, 29; 11:1; 22:41). Do you think to pray like this? Why or why not? What would it take for you to spend the night in prayer?
2. From a “great crowd of His disciples” (6:17), Jesus chose twelve, whom He named apostles. Why twelve (cf. Luk 22:30)? According to Mrk 3:13-15, what is their initial mission?
3. These twelve men were quirky, at times inconsistent, and slow to grasp the implications of the gospel and yet, through Jesus, they changed the world. How does this truth encourage you in your day-to-day life as a Christian?

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