Between the Lines

Luke

Some of the passages that are not covered here are because they also appear in Matthew and Mark; therefore refer to that section for further clarification.

vs. 17 + 20 “tradition” (cf Matthew 5:1)

Throughout the New Testament Jesus is seen to sit down when speaking. This was the tradition. Here Jesus stood up to read the passage in Isaiah and then sat down to teach unlike traditions of today where the speaker stands to speak.

Look where He is now in Hebrews 3:1 - having completed His work He is now sat down in a position of honour, power and authority at His Father's right hand.

v. 30 “timing”

Here again we see like several passages in the Gospels where Jesus was somehow able to escape from those trying to kill Him (see John 8:59 as an example) simply because it was not time for His death. Who knows how this happened we simply do not know except to acknowledge that He knew when His time would come to die.

One of the many miracles we usually overlook. Note John 13:1 and Luke 19:44 and even Galatians 4:4 - God's timing is perfect. It was for His first coming and the time clock stopped when "messiah was cut off" (Daniel 9), and we can be sure His timing will be perfect for His second coming also. The question we should be asking ourselves is whether we are watchful and always ready.

v. 9 “curiosity rather than faith”

It seems that Herod was just as interested in the talk about Jesus as the rest of the population. This is explained later in Luke 23:8 in that Herod wanted to see a miracle. It might also be that Herod was afraid of Jesus. Note he comments that “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” If I beheaded him then he can’t be alive again. I must surely check to make sure. A guilty conscience perhaps?

Regardless of Herod’s motives, guilt of what we have done, fear of Christ, curiosity in His teaching will not save us and it didn’t save Herod. The world says, "Seeing is believing" as that's what they think, and Herod wanted to SEE a miracle. Yet what would it have proved or done for him bearing in mind Luke 16:29-31?

v. 27 “some not tasting death”

It is suggested here that Jesus was referring to Peter, James and John who would witness the transfiguration a few days later. He couldn’t say all, of course, because Judas would no longer be with them. (Also seen in Matthew 16:28 and 17:1)

v. 43 “power of God”

Interestingly, the crowd was not amazed at the power of Jesus, but of the power of God. This begs the question why people thought His power came from Beelzebub? Though to be fair it was the leaders who said that (Matthew), apart from Nicodemus (John 3), but they ALL realised that it was supernatural.

v. 10 “blaspheming against the Holy Spirit”

For a more complete summary of this topic please refer to my paper of eternal security. However, it’s worth relating this passage to that of Matthew 12:24-28 (also chapter 9:24) and Matthew 12:31-32. These passages have cause enormous amounts of debate and discussion through the years. We note that in Matthew 12:31-32 Christ declares that anyone blaspheming against Himself can be forgiven and yet against the Holy Spirit it cannot be forgiven.

Firstly, we must ask what sin against the Holy Spirit was specified. This appears to be because they were claiming that Christ had ‘an unclean spirit’ (Mark 3:30). They not only acknowledged it but believed that He was under the working of the devil and what He did was by the power of the devil. The likelihood was that they knew otherwise but were so steeped in their own traditions and self-imposed power that they were unprepared to listen to their own consciences.

Secondly, we must ask whether this sin can occur today. The sin Jesus referred to He referred specifically to the Pharisees. There is mention within Scriptures of a sin that evokes death (Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26-27; and I John 5:16) but this is debatable as to whether it exists within the same context. I am not too sure whether this type of sin exists today. If it did it would have to contain at least the following.

1. A sin that is not committed ignorantly.

2. A sin that is knowingly committed against the Holy Spirit.

3. A sin involving apostasy?

4. It would appear from the Pharisees actions that persecution would also be a factor.

5. Unrepentance.

Also, consider the following points:

1. Christ was empowered by the Holy Spirit while on earth; everything He did was in total dependence upon Him! (From His baptism we can see this…)

2. Once again there is the recognition that it was supernatural power.

3. If you read Matthew 12 you will note that Jesus is specific in speaking the generation of that day. This was of course in relation to their rejection of Him (remember He was empowered by the Holy Spirit). It is thought that that generation came to an end in AD 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem, God's punishment on the city and them.

4. We know that today people have blasphemed God (the person of the trinity not being specified) and then are saved… A person may utterly reject Christ and yet in time be saved so this would appear not to be the unpardonable sin.

5. The sin that would not be forgiven was the Pharisees claiming the power of Christ to be demonic, and we know that destruction did eventually come to them and their city.

6. It is of interest that during the tribulation people will blaspheme God and worship the beast, they will refuse to hear God, recognise His intervention and judgements and repent. In fact they will all turn to fight together against Christ at the end…

7. A true Christian can never be implicated in this sin - God the Holy Spirit indwells them and it is impossible to be guilty of an unpardonable sin. (And a lie of Satan if you believe it…)

8. Cf Romans 1 - "given over" - God gives people over to their insatiable appetites…

9. It is much like the days of Noah when the Holy Spirit was speaking to the hearts of men (note His ministry in John 16:7 - 11) and they may become hardened (like Pharaoh) so God gives them over to their own desires, confirming that hardening… they will no longer hear Him.

10 Also of interest… as in the days of Noah… the earth will again be like this…

Whether this is a sin that exists today and one that we can be guilty of I leave to the reader to decide. I would certainly welcome insight and opinion of this passage.

v. 31”an act of kindness?”

At first it may appear that the Pharisees were doing Jesus a favour by warning Him away so that Herod would not kill Him. However, this does not appear to be the true motive of the Pharisees. They either wanted to trap Him themselves or they just wanted rid of Him to some other place. They especially didn’t want Him going to Jerusalem and therefore tried to persuade Him of the dangers in doing so.

Jesus, however, as we know was not deterred by anything and carried out His plans regardless of the attempts of the Pharisees and through them Satan.

This would be totally out of character with the Pharisees. Maybe Herod even put them up to it? (and why He said go and tell that fox… nb fox = spoiler).

Others think they did want Him to go to Jerusalem so he would be arrested.

v. 37 “the gathering of vultures”

This is indeed an interesting one and again there has been some debate as to its meaning. It is thought in some cases that this refers to the numerous signs of the end times. So as one vulture flies there is not much chance of a dead body, but when there are many the chances increase. Thus it is argued that one sign of the end times may not be too significant, but many suggest that the end is eminent.

Matthew 24:28 also mentions this phrase and some thing this refers to the coming of the Son of Man to destroy Jerusalem which as He says in the previous verse will be sudden like lightening. Those who take this stance consider the carcass to represent the Jewish nation and the eagles or vultures (depending on which book) to be the Roman armies. Job 39:30 says of the eagle that ‘where the slain are, there he is.’

Perhaps the clue in this case lies in the Matthew passage as the following verse tells of the tribulation. This would suggest that the first suggestion is the more accurate as it follows in the same vein of thought.

This takes place at the end of the tribulation period when the armies gather to fight and then all turn against Christ Himself (Revelation 19:21). Matthew 24 and Luke 17 are tribulation passages - the disciples are looking for a Kingdom, at that point in time they had no clue about a Church Age and the church is not in focus. They wanted to know when their Kingdom would come. There are signs we can take on board for today, but primary interpretation shows that this teaching was for the Second Coming = physically to the earth (not to the air to rapture His church) for judgement.

v. 3 “Satan and Judas”

Some have questioned whether Judas was saved or not and I think here provides evidence that he wasn’t. Further evidence is shown in his lack of repentance after his sin. Although he returned the money he did not seek forgiveness and this was more like guilt. So much guilt, in fact, that he killed himself.

The mere fact that Satan entered Judas would indicate Judas wasn’t saved as those who are saved can never be claimed by the devil. Jesus had the opposite effect on those who were possessed by Satan or his angels in that they ran from him and came out of those they possessed.

It is thought that the motivation behind Judas’s betrayal, other than money, was a wish to force Jesus’ hand and make Him use His power to prove He was the Messiah. Regardless of his motives, Judas has received pity, hatred and sorrow from people through the ages in the part that he played in God’s great design.

Consider also John 13:27. Note that we are all children of Satan until saved and then indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Judas however as a child of Satan gave himself over to his control, he was never saved. Judas and the Anti-Christ are the only two whom the Bible refers to as the "sons of perdition" and in whom Satan dwelt and will dwell.

Repentance = a complete turn around and not:

Remorse (emotions) as being sorry…
Regret (intellect) as knowing I did wrong, but…

It is:

Recognition (will) - that is recognition of sin and a forsaking of it.

Sadly we read of no repentance here, and anyway Jesus said it was a sorry day that he was born. Jesus offered him the sop (significant), but he did not take it, instead he went out - and it was dark, spiritually, not just literally. I don't believe he was lost because he committed suicide, but he committed suicide because he was lost and under the control and power of Satan, having accomplished his evil desires and purposes. Woe betide those not indwelt by the Holy Spirit and under His control.