hanks

6. What kind of "wages" does God offer harvesters today for their labour? (10:7) Jesus told His disciples to accept hospitality graciously because their work entitled them to it. So, there was no need to feel guilty about the accommodation, food and drink their hosts provided – it is part of their deserved wages. Workers for the gospel deserve to be supported, and it is believers’ responsibility to make sure they have what they need. There are many ways we can support those who serve the Lord. We can start by paying them an adequate salary. We need to show our gratitude for the work they do, as well as supporting them emotionally. It would be nice to lift their spirits with special surprises now and then. They need to know that we are giving to them cheerfully and generously.

5. Why is God the main recruiter? What is our instruction when we need more workers? (10:2c) God is the main recruiter because it is His harvest. Although the Lord is sovereign over the harvest process, we are given the privilege to join Him in His harvest! And it is God alone who empowers believers with the necessary qualities needed to carry out the task of harvesting His “field”. He equips, qualifies, and ordains those He sends out. Sometimes He thrusts them out almost forcefully, for not all are immediately willing. Moses and Jeremiah being two examples. Prayer is one of the best and most powerful means of helping forward the cause of Christ in the world. So, when we need more workers, we are instructed to pray that our Lord would compel more workers to become available, since it is God alone who can raise up and send the labourers required to work among souls.

4. Why are the workers few? (10:2b) What kinds of things have kept you in the past from being active in the harvest? It seems that the need has always been greater than the work-force. This is probably because believers are so busy keeping their head above water. The pressures of work and keeping up with the Joneses is too much, that there is no time or concern for spiritual things. I’m without excuses. I have not done anywhere near enough that I could have done for the Lord. Besides work pressures and raising a family, I did serve on many church councils as an elder, but I’m ashamed to say that I feel sometimes that I was not directly involved enough in the harvest.

3. In what sense is the harvest plentiful in Jesus' day? (10:2a) Is the harvest plentiful in your area of the world? How do you determine that? As it was then, so ever increasingly is it true today that the field is large - it is the world! Jesus Himself said “The field is the world” (Mat 13:38). At the very moment when the Lord spoke these words, He was in the midst of a harvest field containing the souls of Samaritan men and women. He was telling the disciples that a great work of in-gathering lay before them, and that they should give themselves to it immediately and diligently. He was teaching them that the fields were already white for harvest, and the time to get to work was now. So today, the Lord says to those of us who are believers, “Lift up your eyes, and look at the fields.” The harvest is indeed plentiful in my area of the world. Not only in my country where the need is extremely great; with our country having turned its back on the Lord. But even in my family, my town, my street, and even my immediate neighbour, there are lost souls all around. They need to hear the gospel, for none can be saved if they don’t know of Him? "How are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard?" (Rom. 10:14). They need to hear the open invitation to repent and put their trust in Jesus Christ (Matt 11:28; Luke 14:23), promising that if they do, they will be forgiven of their sins and receive life everlasting, which only Christ Himself can give.

2. What are the strategic purposes behind Jesus' decision to send out the Seventy? What is He trying to accomplish? The 70 were sent out to preach immediately, and mainly where Jesus Himself was about to come. They were to go into the villages and towns, and prepare the way for His coming, and He equipped them with His power and a vision to reach all people. They were appointed for a different purpose from the apostles.. The apostles were to be with Him; to hear His instructions; to be witnesses of His miracles, His sufferings, His death, His resurrection and ascension, that they might then go and proclaim all these things to the world. There was an urgency to get the message out to the villages Jesus had decided to visit. Jesus would be going to the Cross in less than a years’ time. The 70 would be the forerunners to Jesus, they would prepare the people for Jesus’ message, so that when Jesus arrives the groundwork would have been done. Jesus could now concentrate on His healings and His message about His kingdom. Jesus was trying to evangelise as many as humanly possible, and as efficiently as humanly possible. We see our Saviour’s deep and tender concern for people’s everlasting welfare. It made no difference that some of the territory would have many Gentiles living there. This just goes to show that Jesus loves all, be they Jews, Samaritans, or Gentiles, they were all part of His loving concern.

1. Why does Jesus pair up the disciples as He sends them out? (10:1) What application does this have today? Jesus got His disciples to go in pairs for practical reasons (Ecc 4:9-12). There was also much wisdom in sending them in this manner. To be valid witnesses two or more people were required (Deu 19:15). "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses" (2Cor 13:1). There are advantages of fellowship and partnership, and they can help and encourage each other. Also, there is protection against an attack. One can easily be overpowered, but two can usually resist an attack. Going into a hostile environment they will be able to sustain and comfort each other. It can be tough and very discouraging when you go on your own. Later this pattern was followed by Barnabas and Saul are sent out together on their missionary journey (Act 13:1-3); and that afterward Paul and Silas are together “commended by the brothers to the grace of God” (Act 15:40). And let us not forget Barnabas and Mark (Act 15:39), Judas and Silas (Act 15:27), Timothy and Silas (Act 17:14), and Timothy and Erastus (Act 19:22). The 70 were sent because there was much work to be done and there was less than a year left before the Cross. The above can be used as a template for us today.

6. Is Jesus speaking in hyperbole (using exaggerated speech and examples) here? If so, what is the value of hyperbole for a teacher? If Jesus is using hyperbole, does that mean we don't have to take His words seriously? Most of the time we intuitively recognize hyperbole - when a writer or speaker consciously exaggerates something to emphasize a point. Jesus words spoken in this passage we are studying, seem more like metaphors to me, since there is no exaggeration here, to my mind at least. "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head" (9:58). "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God" (9:60). "No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God" (9:62). I think I’ve got it wrong. Anyway, not being a language expert, as hyperbole they definitely help us to better understand the meaning Jesus is teaching us. Jesus often uses exaggerations to make a point. I believe this was a common way of speaking in His day. Jesus always knows what is better for us, and when He does speak in hyperbole we are to listen even more seriously, because it will be something He wants us to take note of and understand fully. Coming back to verse 9:62, the metaphor refers to the hard work of discipleship, with no turning back; otherwise, one is not fit for the kingdom of God. Not fit is not referring to salvation but to service only. Jesus always said exactly what He meant, and meant exactly what He said. It is up to us to understand Him, then our concern about the extreme language disappears.

5. What characteristic is absolutely essential for ploughmen? What trait is absolutely necessary for disciples? (9:62) For both the ploughmen and disciples alike, total commitment is essential, and there is to be no looking back. Once started there must be determination to continue until completion. Practically, it is difficult to plough a straight row if one is looking behind rather than forward! The cost is clear and the cost is high. Paul wrote about his spiritual walk with Jesus, to forget about those things left behind, not only sins and failures, but also his natural privileges, attainments, and successes. And reaching forward to those things which are ahead: namely, the privileges and responsibilities of the Christian life, whether worship, service, or the personal development of Christian character (Php 3:13-14). Jesus warns that excessive concern for family ties, that is looking back, will not have the kingdom as the top priority. Discipleship cannot be double-minded. Total commitment also means not having a way of retreat, that is to quit, left behind, in case things get tough or don’t go their way. Like having a safety net – just in case. We can then easily go back to our previous lifestyle.

4. What's wrong with the man wanting to say good-bye to his family first? (9:61) Here the man also puts his interests first. “Lord … me first”. He offered to follow Jesus and then wants to first say good-bye to his family. He has got his priorities mixed up. There should now be prompt and complete obedience to our Lord Jesus. If one wants to truly follow Jesus, He has to become everything to us – total dedication. As we studied earlier (9:23), Jesus said "Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me." We are talking about the Creator of the universes, but also our Saviour, our Redeemer, who cares for us, and loves us

3. What does Jesus mean when He says that the dead should bury the dead? What's the point? (9:60) Jesus means that the spiritually dead, that is unbelievers, should bury the dead. In other words, the (spiritually) dead (unbeliever) should bury the (physically) dead, for believers have more important work to do in responding to the gospel. The spiritually dead can bury the physically dead, but they can't preach the gospel. We as disciples should not be doing tasks that unbelievers can do – we have much more important work to do. Believers are to make sure that their principal occupation should be to advance the cause of Christ on earth. Jesus was emphasizing to the man that wanted to bury his father first, that to follow Him requires extraordinary sacrifice and total commitment. The point is that once we make the decision to follow Jesus we must deny self, worldly pursuits, comforts, and do the Lord’s work.

2. Why is Jesus so hard on the man who needed to bury his father before following? (9:59-60) The man said let me first go …, putting his own desires and interests first. He is allowing something else to take precedence over Christ’s call. Most probably the man’s father has not died, if this was so he would have been attending to burial arrangements. I think he was using his father as an excuse to delay following Jesus. Following Jesus has a cost. Instead of living self-centred lives we are to live Christ-centred lives. Instead of asking how every action will affect ourselves, we must be careful to assess how it will affect Christ and His glory. Jesus rebukes him for his double-mindedness and his hesitancy and delaying tactics in following Him. In following Jesus, we need to deny dead, worldly pursuits and comforts, and do the Lord’s work.

1. What does it mean to live your life as a sojourner? Why is a sojourner mentality required for disciples? (9:58) Jesus asks the man, in effect, whether he knows what it means to follow Him. Does he know that in following Jesus he has to live a life of a sojourner, giving up all the comforts and conveniences of life. To be a disciple, there can be no hinderances in following Jesus, and for this to happen a sojourner mentality is required. Also, one has to understand the implications of discipleship – self-denial, sacrifice, service, and suffering. We find this in Jesus’ wandering from place to place, Judea rejects Him (John 5:18), Galilee casts Him out (John 6:66), Gadara begs Him to leave (Mat 8:34), Samaria refuses Him lodging (9:53). In the same way, we are sojourners here on earth – this world is not our home. We are just passing through and must be prepared to move on when our heavenly Father calls us home.

5. What group or groups of people do you have the most trouble loving? How can the Lord help you love them? No problems here. We are made in the image of God. I’m definitely not a racist. I respect all denominations. However, I might not agree with certain cultures, but then again I don’t expect people to accept my culture. I love ALL who love my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, but not always their deeds.

4. Jesus' rejection by a Samaritan village is only recounted by Luke. What were Jesus' disciples to learn when Jesus rebuked their plan to call down fire upon the village? What are we disciples today to learn from it? The disciples reaction to destroy the village by fire from heaven came from Elijah who destroyed by fire those who were opposing God’s work. Jesus, on the other hand, called for tolerance. The implication is not that it was right to oppose Jesus and His followers. The Samaritans who rejected Jesus would be judged for their rejection. However, there were more important things to take care of. Jesus had to move along toward Jerusalem. Today, we can learn from this. When others reject or insult us we are not to retaliate; even sometimes it can be very hard not to. No ways can we ask or expect God to fight our personal battles. And it’s not for us to judge others we must leave that to God.

3. What, do you think, was the disciples' real motive in stopping the exorcist? Why did Jesus rebuke them? The disciples real motive for stopping the exorcist was that he was not one of their followers. They had not been unable to cast out a single evil spirit, but when they saw a man who was not one of their group casting out demons, they told him to stop. Besides having their pride hurt, they were jealous. Jesus rebuked them for their intolerance, and narrow-minded view. There is no room for such jealousy in the spiritual warfare of His Kingdom. They were not to see themselves as God’s exclusive representatives. Rather they should have rejoiced that the power of God was being manifested on earth by others as well. If they manifested that attitude, it would show that they were truly trying to be of service to the Messiah.

2. Why did Jesus ask a little child to stand beside Him on this occasion? Strictly from these verses in Luke and nowhere else in the Bible, how does receiving a child in Jesus' name require humility? How does this sort of humility relate to the disciples' sin? Jesus took a child and stood him at His side to correct the disciples’ pride. In Jesus’ day, a child under 12 had no status. Jesus was showing that His disciples must welcome and be kind to those whom society regarded as unimportant. Not only was this child not unimportant; by receiving ones such as this, Jesus’ disciples actually receive Him and the Father who sent Him. This shows us God’s concern for every person, no matter how unimportant our society may regard him or her. This sort of humility shows the disciples that if they think they are great, their focus is wrong. The only thing that makes them “something” is their association with Jesus, and that isn’t because of anything good/great in them, but only because of His undeserved grace.

1. What real human need did the disciples distort when they vied for who would be the greatest? Why does a legitimate need get distorted? How should this need be met? The real human need the disciples distorted, was their need of a robust relationship amongst each other. They were going out into a hostile world and what they needed most during this time was to be strong together for the task at hand. They needed to be unified and supportive of each other. Instead, they were arguing about who would be the greatest. Relationships are based on loving sacrifice and service, and selfless giving of themselves to others. So, we get their legitimate need of a strong relationship being distorted and destroyed by their pride. Pride focuses on self and is indifferent, as well as being judgmental and critical to others. We start thinking of ourselves as being greater and superior to others, and this grasp for greatness has the same effect among people today, causing disunity, disharmony, and jealousy. It is therefore disruptive and the most common destroyer of relationships. The opposite of pride is humility. Our care for others is a measure of our greatness. How we have expressed our care for the helpless, the needy, and the poor is how Jesus measures our greatness.

5. How is it possible to overdo rebuking as a leadership style? How is it possible to be too light on rebuking? Besides knowing how to give a rebuke they must know when enough is enough. By overdoing it, it can become counterproductive with more damage done than is necessary. More damage done to the soul instead of destroying the sin. At the same time, a too light rebuke might not have the desired effect. People may respond angrily to any rebuke when their sin has been found out, or they love to sin, or their pride has been hurt.

4. What is the necessary preparation for a Christian leader to be able to rebuke those in his or her charge appropriately? Only Church leaders who are known to be truly wise and humble should be chosen if someone needs to be rebuked. Rebuking is only good when it is given with good intentions and when it is given wisely. A Christian leader should acknowledge the person who submits to a rebuke in a spirit of humility. This submission displays a sign of true wisdom, for we know that there is nothing more painful to one’s spirit. This reminds me of Prov 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger”.

3. Up to this point in your life, how have you usually responded when you have been rebuked by parents, teachers, employers, spouses, spiritual leaders, etc.? What has been healthy about your response? What has been unhealthy? We have all needed to be rebuked at some time in our lives, and my response has not always been a healthy one. Especially before I came to know the Lord. When I was young, I responded negatively without thinking. As I have grown older, and hopefully with a little more wisdom and insight, I have always thought and analysed the rebuke before responding. Initially I always looked upon a rebuke in a negative way, not realising that it was for my benefit, Then again, there are ways of rebuking. Those done in love and humility almost always results in a healthy response. Jesus rebukes us in love and always for us to grow spiritually.

2. We can't be other-worldly and still be able to communicate to our generation. How can we be "with" them but not "of" them? How can we both identify with our generation and still live differently? We are physically here on earth with our generation, but as Christians we are members of Jesus’ kingdom which is not of this world (John 18:36). Meaning that we will experience all the horrors and tragedy of this life, but this is not our life (Philippians 3:8-14). This will all soon pass and we will be in heaven with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ forever. We can identify with our generation because once, like them, we were ruled by sin, but now we live differently. Thankfully, through mercy and grace, we are being changed into the image of Christ, and our interest in the things of the world are becoming less and less as we mature in Christ. Our lives should now be characterized by the fruit of the Spirit - love, moral purity, patience, and peace … (Gal 5:22-23). This will enable us to shine brightly in a dark and depraved world, and be an effective witness to the power of God’s Word. It is a difficult ongoing struggle, but by persevering and with the help of the Holy Spirit, our victory over sin and temptation comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

5. How have your own spiritual experiences influenced your Christian life for good or ill? I have only had positive spiritual experiences. As I think back, over more than 80 years, through good and bad the Lord has always been alongside. When I’ve made bad decisions, He helped me minimise the damage. He has also been with me with all the good times. I Live in a country with a high crime rate, and He brought me through a near fatal episode. And so, I can go on and on. The greatest blessing one can have is a relationship with Jesus, to be in fellowship with Him. To be able to acknowledge Him in all we do! All these experiences has only strengthened my faith and trust in my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

4. What is the place of eyewitness experience of God's glory alongside of the Word of God in our lives and witness as Christians? Which is more important to us? To others? What is the balance? Luke uses eyewitness accounts to add to the accurate account of Jesus’ life, His teachings, and His ministry. Being part of the Word of God, these eyewitness accounts give us another dimension, another picture of God’s glory and what He is doing. For example, the transfiguration of Jesus gives us a glimpse that this fallen world is not our final home. There is more to come, Come Lord Jesus, Come! From experience we know that eyewitness accounts can be very inconsistent and, all too often, shockingly inaccurate. I believe that the Word of God is the only absolute truth in this world, being God speaking to us, and therefore, all eyewitness accounts, included in the Bible, are to be believed totally as an accurate description of what occurred. And for this reason, serves as a supportive part of Scripture, helping us to understand better, and giving us better insight.

3. Do you think Jesus needed the transfiguration Himself? I think that for Jesus the experience of the transfiguration was one of comfort and strengthening. Comfort from His Heavenly Father (9:35), and also, honour and glory, as Peter mentioned in 2 Pet 1:17: “He received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased." One can understand that Jesus would often pour out His heart to the Father in prayer, and that He would do this especially now, since He knew the agony that soon awaited Him in Jerusalem. And this transfiguration prepared our Lord to face with courage His bitter trial, by reminding Him of the Father’s constant love (9:35), and of the glory that would follow His suffering (Heb 12:2). Jesus speaking to Moses and Elijah talked about His decease which He was about to accomplish (9:31), but also that the humiliation will be followed by exaltation, and death by resurrection – ending on a positive note.

2. Why did the disciples need to see Jesus transfigured before them? The Transfiguration revealed Jesus’ glory, and would certainly, strengthen the faith of the disciples, particularly Peter who had so recently confessed Jesus to be the Son of God. It must have been so meaningful to him; receiving this assurance just after confessing his faith. Peter believed, confessed his faith, and then received assurance. Jesus had told His disciples earlier that first they must believe, and then they will see the glory of God revealed in Him (John 11:40). And this is what happened. We know that it had a huge impact on John, for many years later he recalled this event as the Spirit guided him to write: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). And, in his Gospel, John often emphasizes the deity of Christ and the glory of His person. Then there was God’s voice telling them to listen to Jesus: “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him" (9:35), which they did not always do. These three disciples were given a preview of the splendour which the Lord Jesus will have when He comes back to the earth and reigns for a thousand years.