Digging for Spiritual Gems: Luke 19-20 (Week August 13-19)
The week of Aug 13 – 19Digging for Spiritual Gems
Lu 19:43: How were Jesus’ words fulfilled? (“fortification of pointed stakes” study note on Lu 19:43, nwtsty) Jesus’ words came true in the year 70 C.E. when the Romans, commanded by Titus, erected a siege wall, or palisade, around Jerusalem. Titus’ objective was threefold—to prevent the Jews from fleeing, to encourage their surrender, and to starve the inhabitants into submission. To provide materials for the construction of this fortification around Jerusalem, Roman troops stripped the countryside of trees.
Lu 20:38: How does Jesus’ statement strengthen our confidence in the resurrection? (“for they are all living to him” study note on Lu 20:38, nwtsty) Approved servants of God who die are still living from Jehovah’s standpoint, since his purpose to resurrect them is sure of fulfillment. Ro 4:16, 17.
What does this week’s Bible reading teach me about Jehovah?
Lu 19:28-36: Jehovah is the fulfiller of prophecies, for he foretold that his promised King would come into Jerusalem on a colt at Zec 9:9 “Humble and riding on a donkey, On a colt, the foal of a female donkey.” Yes, nothing can stop Jehovah promises from being fulfilled.
Lu 19:41-44: Jehovah fulfill the prophecies that his son Jesus spoke about Jerusalem destruction in 70 C.E. in every detail. We can be sure that all Jehovah words will be fulfill in every detail concerning the Kingdom.
Lu 19:46: It show Jehovah feel about those who try to contaminate the way he is to be worship for he see what we are doing because his name is involve. We are told at Jer 7:11 “this house upon which my name has been called become a mere cave of robbers in YOUR eyes? Here I myself also have seen [it]…”
Lu 20:16: Show that Jehovah has the right to repay the evil ones for their action for justice sake. That is what Jehovah has promise to do at 2Th 1:6 “it is righteous on God’s part to repay tribulation to those who make tribulation for you.” (2Th 1:7-9; Ro 12:19)
Lu 20:17: Jehovah loves mankind so much that he wanted to save them from sin and death, so he sent his only begotten Son to save us as shown at John 3:16. Now Jehovah has given Jesus the power to save mankind because he was faithful to the end and is our cornerstone to approach Jehovah.
Lu 20:21: Jehovah is the greatest teacher and he is the one who taught Jesus the truth and seen his Father was not partial. John 5:19. 8:28 12:49,50 ;Acts 15:34
Lu 20:37-38: Jehovah sees his faithful servants as alive even if they should die, since his purpose to resurrect them is a sure fulfillment in his eyes. Ro 4:16, 17.
Lu 20:47: We see the religious leader display of false holiness by “making long prayers.” Jesus said to pray in privacy, without vain repetition, and he gave them a simple model prayer. (Mt 6:6-8; John 14:6, 14; 1Pe 3:12; Mt 6:9-13)
What other spiritual gems have you discovered in this week’s Bible reading?
Lu 19:7-8: Jesus sees the potential for repentance in sinners. May we never judge people because of what we heard or what we know about a person, for it is Jehovah who sees the hearts, and their potential and knows if one can be a sheep.
Lu 19:10: Jesus loved those who were despised by others and was willing to show mercy to those. Jesus exercising mercy toward sinners is not condoning of their sins, but knew that people could change. May we do the same as we preach.
Lu 19:15-22: Shows that Jesus expected all to be diligent in serving to the best of their ability in the ministry. Each of us has our own circumstances that can allow one to do more for Jehovah, while another cannot do as much, yet both are look on favorably.
Lu 19:37-38: We see here that Jehovah and Jesus do not mind the disciples giving praise to their creator, whether they do it in witnessing to others or in song.
Lu 19:38: Jesus comes in Jehovah name by doing his Father will and speaking what his Father him to speak. John 4:34, 6:38, 8:28,38, 12:49.
Lu 19:39: May we learn not to be like those religious leaders of Jesus day, instead of looking for the good that Jesus and his disciples did, they were look for what they thought was bad or wrong. We are all imperfect and make mistake, so in love, look at all the good our brothers and sisters are doing.
Lu 19:47: The chief priests, scribes, and principal ones of the people hear what Jesus has done, and they respond with renewed efforts to have him killed. We can be sure they will do the same today to those who speak the truth about Jehovah and his son Jesus.
Lu 20:2, 8: Just like in Jesus’ day they question his authority of what he does, yet his works and teaching show his authority came from Jehovah. Likewise today Jehovah people get their authority form Jehovah’s Word like Acts 15:14 shows Jehovah has a people for his name and they do his will and glorified his name.
Lu 20:9-14: Another scriptures show that Jesus is not part of a trinity.The owner of vineyard is Jehovah (Isa 5:7), and the vineyard is the nation of Israel, and Jehovah sent his Son Jesus who the religious leaders killed. (John 17:3; 3:16; 13:16) two separate being one is doing the sending is greater than the one sent.
Lu 20:20: Haters of Jehovah will look for way to trap his people in words, just like they try to do with Jesus. They will look for ways to try to stop the truths about Jehovah and his son Jesus being made known as shown at John 15:20, 21. This is going on in 33 lands.
Lu 20:25: Jesus shows us that we must submit to authority of the government under which we live by obeying its laws, respecting its officials, and paying the taxes it levies. This authority is not absolute, for we cannot disobey God laws if they asked us to as shown at Acts 5:29.
Lu 20:35: Jesus show that there is going to be a resurrection and that it is going to be in the future with the words “For when they rise from the dead. This is what he taught all along at John 6:39-40,43, 54; 5:28-29.