Gospel According to Luke

Chapter 11

Teach us to Pray

The chapter begins with the request by his disciples in prayer. What follows is Luke’s version of The Lord’s Prayer that is different from the version that is in common usage appearing in St. Matthew. The petitions are fewer. They number:

Father, Hallowed be your name. This is a first commandment and second commandment issue. God is to be honored above all things. His name is to be kept holy.
Your kingdom come
Give us each day our daily bread. Daily bread each day has been a serious issue since the time of the Exodus. Israelites received their Manna and quail each day. They were not allowed to store it up but needed to depend upon God everyday for all their needs.
And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. Matthew says, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. There is reciprocity present in both of these expressions; however, Luke has placed a slightly different spin on the prayer. Luke refers to the forgiveness of sins (our forgiveness of sins) as related to the release from debt for all of those who owe us. One is linked to the other. Forgiveness leads to forgiveness and release from debt. This reflects the “equalization” that appears in Mary’s song. He brings the mighty from their thrones and lifts up the lowly. He give the hungry good things and the rich he sends away empty. Luke portrays Jesus as the great equalizer. In Jesus the scales are tipped in the opposite direction.. What also appears in the reciprocity of the prayer for forgiveness is the reality that there is something expected from those who have received the goodness of God. Christianity is not a “free ride.” Though we receive the goodness of God “unconditionally” there remains the question as to what we will do with it. Will we take it and say thank you very much, and then proceed to live our lives as we see fit; or is there a return on the gift of God paid out to God’s children. The return that God looks for is how those gifts are used to support the people of God. There are dangers present when the gifts are kept for self. Look at chapter 16, Lazarus and the Right Man.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.

Prayer is about the persistence of asking. Jesus tells this small parable of the man who knocks on his neighbors door at night. The persistence wins the goal. God’s appeal in prayer is to keep praying with out ceasing.

Seek and you will find – all who seek find
Knock and the door will be opened – all who know the door is opened for them.

Jesus teaches with the example of father giving gifts to the children. What father would give a snack to the child who asks for a fish? What father would give a stone to the child who asks for bread? Here is the punch line in the parable, “how much will our heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask?” An important element in the teaching is about being conscious of what we’re asking for. What are the things of true value? Certainly, the Holy Spirit is of great value.

In Who’s Name do you Act

There is a challenge to Jesus’ authenticity and allegiance. The accusation is that Jesus is on the wrong side. His actions of exorcism are accredited to Beelzebul, the prince of demons. The source of their false accusations stems from Jesus’ actions being seem as contrary to God. Jesus simply does not appear to be doing things the way they have been taught God works. Understanding lies at the center of the wheel. The religious establishment is so sure that they have the right understanding of God’s will and God’s law that they are missing the presence of God in the human form of Jesus, the Messiah. Jesus had to return the volley, “Whose side are you on?” If I’m in league with the devil, whose team are you hitting for? Take note! Ask the question because if God’s hand is in action in my work (Jesus’), then “the kingdom of God has come near your.” Jesus also appeals to logic. Is it logical that I am casting out demons in the name of the prince of demons? Isn’t that defeating the purpose? Take a deep breath, “whoever is not with me is against me and whosever does not gather with me scatters.” The question is on the table. Which side are you on?

Jesus goes on to teach about the need for exorcism not to be the end of the road. What follows is of vital importance or when the house is cleaned out and the resident evil returns, if something has not taken place in filling the void, the human condition grows worse. It begs the question, what is going to fill the void? Resolution comes in the brief exchange. A woman blesses the womb that bore Jesus; Jesus however blesses the one who “hears the word of God and obeys it.” There is sought item to fill the void. The exit of the spirit is first, but what follows is that acceptance of Jesus and the obedience to God’s way that follows.

The Present Generation

Jesus teaches about the failure of hearing the word of God and obeying it. His discussion centers first on Jonah. This generation seeks a sign. Only the sign of Jonah will be given. What is the sign of Jonah? The story tells of Jonah’s refusal to do what God has asked, to go to Nineveh and call for the repentance of the people. God’s persuasion consisted of a three day stay in the belly of a fish, after which Jonah did what he was asked. Much to his surprise, the people of Nineveh hear to entreaty by God and they repent. The sign of the Son of Man is that he too would reside three days in the belly of the earth only rise again. The second issue is the Queen of the South who came to Solomon’s wisdom and returned to her home. Both of these foreigners, the Queen of Sheba and the people of Nineveh will be the judges because they heard the word and obeyed. The punch line in this narrative is the one who is greater than both these characters is present asking for the repentance of this generation which is not coming. Someone greater than Jonah is here and they are not turning.

The narrative about lighting the lamb and putting it in the cellar is the same argument as not repenting, not hearing the word and obeying, of being cleansed and not filling the house. Receiving the Lord and his presence calls for a change of heart without which the recipient is the worse off. Light, however, makes a change. When the light is lit and put on the lamp stand it lights the whole house. In like manner, when the word enters and is obeyed it changes the entire person. Entrance into the relationship with Jesus is meant to bring a change. What change has it made? The question looms over the horizon and needs to be answered for every individual. Has the change brought light and can the light be seen or has everything remained the same?

The Pharisees become the case in point. They possess the law, the word of God and appear to follow it to the letter. Jesus at their dinner table notes how they follow the laws of kosher to the letter. They do the cleaning and appropriate washing before dinner; however, Jesus questions their cleanliness by the greed and wickedness that he sees. Herein lies the real issue, is the change inward or outward? Is obedience to God inward or outward? The answer is crucial. Jesus cites several examples of the disparity between inward and outward:

Tithing mind, rue, and herbs – they fulfill their tithe, while neglecting justice and love of God.
They love the high places of honor
Jesus accuses them of being like unmarked graves on which people walk without realizing it. Their seeming greatness is nothing.

The lawyers are equally culpable. They who should know the law and lead people to obedience to God, instead make the tasks of the law so over powering that no one can bear them while not lifting a finger to help those who are struggling.

Jesus accuses them and their behavior as being equally culpable to the ancestors who killed the prophets for speaking out about their ungodly behavior.
Jesus considers the entire generation guilty of the death of not only the prophets of old, but the apostles who will be killed attempting to lead the people of God back into the ways of God.
Their crime is not entering by the way of obedience to God’s word, substituting for it the laws that produce burden, and then not allowing other to enter as well because they hold them captive to the same laws.

Thus begins the leading of the officials in the plot to kill him.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007