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Continuing our short studies in Luke, this week we are completing chapter 11. Please read verses 29-54 every day this week and, if possible use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 11:49-54 (The Message)
“That accounts for God’s Wisdom saying, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, but they’ll kill them and run them off.’ What it means is that every drop of righteous blood ever spilled from the time earth began until now, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was struck down between altar and sanctuary, is on your heads. Yes, it’s on the bill of this generation and this generation will pay. “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars! You took the key of knowledge, but instead of unlocking doors, you locked them. You won’t go in yourself, and won’t let anyone else in either.” As soon as Jesus left the table, the religion scholars and Pharisees went into a rage. They went over and over everything he said, plotting how they could trap him in something from his own mouth.’
During my years at college, there were a number of lecturers that were very, very good. Some were not so good. I remember one of them in particular because of his apparent disdain of students. I know it’s a strange thing to say but I really believe that he didn’t want anyone to learn anything from him.
He had a wealth of experience and I’m absolutely sure that he knew his subject, but boy, did he make it difficult for anyone sat in front of him in the classroom. Firstly, he would deliberately speak very quietly so only those sat in the first couple of rows could hear anything he said. Secondly, he would litter his lecture with stories and anecdotes that had nothing to do with the subject and yet tell us that the ‘key’ to understanding the topic was in interpreting the data provided in the lectures. He would also single out people that were struggling with the subject and ridicule them at length in order to waste lecture time. On many occasion, he would ask the same question over and over again even though it had been asked and answered several times in previous lectures. Our learning was in his hands and instead of allowing us to advance in our studies, we were actually being prevented from making progress.
Well, things are even worse than that as Jesus confronts the Pharisees one more time. He mentions awful events from the past and puts them squarely on their shoulders. He says ‘from Abel to Zechariah’. Meaning from the beginning until now. Every time a righteous person is killed, Jesus is saying that their blood is now on the heads of this generation. Many people consider this unfair, but it’s clear from scripture that responsibility increases with the years. Lessons should be learned from previous generations or their own guilt will be added to and also increase the severity of the punishment. Daniel says of Belshazzar, ‘you did not humble yourself even though you were aware..’
Jesus made things absolutely clear by stating that it’s not just the past that is catching up with them but they are completely guilty in their own conduct. ‘Instead of unlocking doors, you locked them’. Just like my lecturer who could have given us knowledge but instead chose to withhold it, Jesus said that the religious scholars were doing the exact same thing. He went even further by saying that they wouldn’t go in and won’t let anyone else in either. What a condemnation that is for so-called teachers. Despite the evil and the greed that is manifested, God’s wisdom and grace is intertwined throughout.
The punishment for all their sin and their wickedness would be borne by Jesus on the cross. What love, what grace, what forgiveness. “my sin, not in part but the whole was nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord O my soul”
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