Luke 4:4,8,12 - “...it is written...”

When faced with the mighty temptations of Satan, our Lord Jesus - our example whose steps we are supposed to follow (I Peter 2:21) - quoted the word of God to the tempter. It saddens me deeply to see week after week in Bible class, and daily in discussions, both electronic and vocal, how little scripture today’s Christians can quote - or even paraphrase. Temptations of the devil come at every one of us daily. Is it reasonable to suppose that we are meeting them in the best way possible if we don’t know what God has said about each one? Jesus found scripture the best response to evil. How can you win the battle against the evil that is all around you if you don’t know the Bible?

Luke 9:25 - “For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”

Perhaps the wording of Matthew 16:26 or Mark 8:36 are more familiar, but by either rendering Jesus’ words ought to provoke in us the awareness of our coming judgment. We sometimes hear this preached in the context of being lost ourselves after having preached to others. That may be a fitting application, but it is not the context in which Jesus spoke. Jesus had just admonished denying self to follow Him (v. 23). He spoke of bearing one’s own cross, which is the sacrifice we make of personal interests and desires. He said, “if you want to follow me, here’s how you do so.” Following Jesus all the way into Heaven requires giving up fleshly pleasures and worldly comforts. Which of your plans for today will you forsake in order to give some service to Jesus instead?

Luke 10:26 - “He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?”

“A certain lawyer” had “stood up, and tempted” Jesus, “willing to justify himself.” His question wasn’t sincere; he apparently thought himself already an heir of eternal life. Nevertheless, the answer was scripture. The answer was scripture when Satan had earlier tempted Jesus (Matt. 4 & Luke 4). The answer was scripture when the jailer sincerely asked Paul and Silas the way to salvation. Today the answer is scripture every time the question concerns life, death and beyond. The answer isn’t the church, the preacher, the programs, traditions, buildings, assemblies or the latest methods and gimmicks for attracting people. If Christians today don’t look beyond all that - look back to the Bible for the plan and the rules - even those who think that they are heirs of eternal life will be denied an inheritance when that last Will and Testament (Heb. 9:13-17) is read in the Judgment day and compared with their lives (Rev. 20:12).

Luke 11:28 - “But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”

In what way are people “blessed ... that hear the word of God and keep it”? Of course, the route to Heaven must pass through these gates, but is Heaven the only blessing? Look at the moral state of modern society. Brutal brawls in the arena of games, lavish lying and criminal corruption in business and politics, unabashed undress in movies and television, and even mass murder over toys and recreation space all are the result of rejection of the righteousness which is learned from the word of God. Some don’t keep the word now because they have chosen to refuse the guidance of God, but most don’t keep the word today because they were never taught it growing up. Now our society is doing even more to ensure that this and future generations of children will hear even less of God’s word, and will be taught to disdain it even more. If the church doesn’t increase evangelism, it votes to let others mold society. And then what will the world of our grandchildren be?

Luke 11:42 - “But woe unto you, Pharisees! For ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”

The word “phariseeism” has a distinct meaning to us, and no one who understands it wants to be identified by the term. But our customary use of the term refers to man’s relationship with man. Jesus spoke also of the relationship that the Pharisees had with God, and some of that might come closer to characterizing some of us than we even realize. Preachers, and others who give their “full time” to service in the kingdom can become so focused on duties, responsibilities and deadlines that we can lose sight of the purpose for it all. In the struggle through books, files and search engines while trying to complete a lesson plan, we can forget that it’s not a job - it’s a commission. Do you find yourself thinking of how brother A or sister B will respond to this lesson, and forgetting that that soul - and you - will one day stand before God to give answer for the use of time and the thoughts of the heart? Do you spend so much time on “church work” that you never get around to doing the work of the church (seeking the lost)? You don’t want to be like the Pharisees; let’s restore the zeal for evangelism that was in the first generation of the church.

Luke 24:14 - “And they talked together of all these things which had happened.”

On the day that Jesus rose from the tomb, two of his disciples, only having heard the news but not having seen the evidence (22-24), went from Jerusalem to Emmaus. As they traversed the nearly seven-mile route they occupied their time in discussion of the amazing news of Jesus. From the angelic announcement of His impending birth and His subsequent birth of a virgin (Luke 1:26-33; 2:1-7), through His childhood commitment to the word of God (2:49), the appearance of the Holy Spirit at His baptism (3:22), His miracles (John 20:30-31), and the astounding authority of His teaching (Matt. 7:28-29), to His patience in suffering (27:14) and finally to His triumph over death (28:6) Jesus, beyond controversy, lived a life worthy of discussion. More than discussion among His disciples, the life of Jesus, and the culmination of God’s plan in Him, demands proclamation to every soul on earth. That proclamation is made in the ubiquitous presence of the Bible such that every person can hear it in a language he understands. But true disciples of Jesus cannot but involve themselves in speaking this Good News wherever they can find a hearing ear. If it is true that “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 7:21), what is there in the Bible that shows that I will not be barred? Do I care enough about Him to talk of Him?