Luke Reading (#31)

Take a few minutes to catch up and pray that God would bless you through the reading of His word.

Read Luke 11:14-32

[11:14] Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. [15] But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” [16] while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. [17] But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. [18] And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. [19] And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. [20] But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. [21] When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; [22] but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. [23] Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
[24] “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ [25] And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. [26] Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”
[27] As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” [28] But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
[29] When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. [30] For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. [31] The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. [32] The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Observation

• What was the demon like (v. 11)? What happened when Jesus cast it out (v. 11)?
• What are the different ways that people responded to Jesus’ actions (v. 14-16)?
• What are the two possible options for the source of Jesus’ power over demons (v. 19-20)?
  • What are the consequences if Jesus is casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul (v. 18)? Note: Beelzebul means “master of the house” and refers to Satan.
  • What are the consequences if Jesus is casting out demons by the power of God (v. 20)?
  • What illustration does Jesus use to explain his ministry of casting out demons (v. 21-22)?
  • What is Jesus’ conclusion to the question in v. 23?
• What happens when an unclean spirit goes out of a person and finds no rest (v. 24)?
  • What does it find upon its return (v. 25)?
  • What does it do (v. 26)?
  • What are the consequences (v. 26)?
• What did a woman say in response (v. 27)? How did Jesus reply (v. 28)?
• What two stories from the OT does Jesus use to illustrate his point (v. 29-32)?

Interpretation

• Why might some people think that Jesus was acting by the power of Beelzebul (v. 15)?
• What is Jesus’ point in v. 17-19?
  • Note: “your sons” probably is a way of saying “your followers”. It seems that the disciples of the Pharisees also tried to cast out demons.
• Explain the illustration that Jesus uses in v. 21-22.
  • Who is the strong man (v. 21)?
  • Who is the “one stronger than he” (v. 22)?
  • How is it a picture of his ministry and his relationship to Satan?
• It’s hard to understand the point of Jesus’ teaching in v. 24-26, but it seems that the point is summarized there at the end (And the last state of that person is worse than the first).
  • How does that connect to what follows in v. 27-28?
  • How do the stories in v. 29-32 connect to what Jesus is saying? What did both the people of Nineveh and the queen of the South (I Kings 10:1-13) do in response to God’s word?

Application

• How should Christians think about the devil? How can you cultivate an awareness of his activity in your life (so that you can fight against it) while not slipping into an unhealthy obsession?
• Verse 28 gives a lot of clarity to this (at times) confusing passage. At the end of the day, blessing comes to those who hear God’s word and keep it. What are the ways that you can put that into practice today?

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