Daily Bread for Nov 5, Luk 21-22

Today’s readings are Luk 21-22.

Luk 21:20-24 prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The events in these four verses appear to be the near-term effects of the prophecy. Luk 21:25-28 are clearly end-time events. However, we should be careful not to assume that all the events depicted in this passage are end time events. Jesus says "this generation" will not pass away until these things happen. He means the generation alive when the words were spoken (we'll hear more about this later in the narrative). It is probably more accurate to think of these prophecies as something more like, "this generation will see the fall of Jerusalem. Once that happens, the events leading to the end will be set irrevocably in motion.

Luk 22 is replete with thought-provoking details. 

In Luk 22:3, we hear that Satan entered Judas. Does this make Judas a puppet, acting against his will? No! It makes Satan one who takes advantage of an already evil heart. Remember, Judas was a thief (Jon 12:6). Furthermore, in Luk 22:5, we see Judas "consented" and actively "sought an opportunity to betray him." God is divinely sovereign over Judas's betrayal, having prophesied it before it happens. Yet, Judas's actions are a sobering example of human responsibility for our own behavior and decisions. This is another example of divine election and human responsibility rolled into the same verse.

Rather than reading into Luk 22:29 the idea of the disciples receiving geographic kingdoms, as some do, it is probably more accurate to read that they will reign with Jesus in His kingdom.

In Luk 22:31, Simon is told that Satan has "demanded to have you that he might sift you like wheat."  The first thing we should see is that both times we see "you" it is plural. Jesus is speaking of all the disciples, not just Peter. The inference here is that Satan has successfully requested that all the disciples be put-to-the-test in the same manner wheat is sifted. Satan wants to do harm here. But sifting wheat removes impurities and unwanted particles leaving useful grains. Passages like this always must be filtered through Rom 8:28 which tells us that God uses all things for our good and his glory, even things Satan asks and receives of God. This is like Job's situation. Satan asked permission to afflict Job. God gave it to him. Then God used the affliction to refine Job.

In Luk 22:66-71, the chief priests and scribes ask Jesus if He is the Christ, seeking to condemn Him. He says, in vs. 70, "You say that I am." In vs. 71, they say, "We have heard it ourselves from His own lips." They have not heard it from His own lips. In trying to manipulate Jesus into saying something they can use to condemn Him, they lie and end up condemning themselves instead.