Search The Scriptures - Study 8 - Luke 3:1-22

Study 8 of "SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES IS: 

Luke 3:1-22

1.    What, according to the preaching of John, are the cause (verses 7-9, 16, 17), nature (verses 8, 10-14), and outcome (verses 3, 15-17) of repentance?

2.    What did Jesus’ baptism, and the voice from heaven, mean (a) to Jesus Himself, and (b) to the others present? Cf. Jn. 1:32-34.

3.    Consider the fearless honesty of John. Note also its result (verses 19, 20).

Notes

1.      Verse 1 The date is thus fixed probably as AD 28-29 See NDB p. 223.

2.       Verse 22.  The voice combines references to the Old Testament Messianic figures of the son of God (Ps. 2:7) and the suffering Servant of the Lord (Is. 42:1), thus, setting the tone of Jesus’ ministry. 

 I have copied the Bible verses concerning this study, for your convenience.

Luke 3:1-22

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,[a]
    make his paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled,
    and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall become straight,
    and the rough places shall become level ways,
6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruitsin keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees.Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics[b] is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we,what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”

15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

²¹ Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, ²² and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven,“You are my beloved Son;^[c] with you I am well pleased.”^[d]

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LESSON 7

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Search The Scriptures - Study 7 - Luke 2: 40-52

Study 7 of "SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES IS:

Luke 2: 40-52

1.     Verse 49.  What was the consequence in His life of Jesus’s unique relationship to God?  In what way does this truth apply to us, as son’s of God? Cf. Jn. 14:31

2.     How does the story illustrate the truths of verses 40  and 52?

 I have copied the Bible verses concerning this study, for your convenience.

Luke 2: 40-52

40 The Child continued to grow and become strong, [a]increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

Visit to Jerusalem

41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.42 And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; 43 and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, 44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. 46 Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48 When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “[b]Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I [c]have been anxiously looking for You.” 49 And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s [d]house?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which He[e]had made to them. 51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these[f]things in her heart.

52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and [g]stature, and in favor with God and men.

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LESSON 6

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Search The Scriptures - Study 6 - Luke 2:21-39

Study 6 of "SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES IS:

Luke 2:21-39 
What did the appearance of Jesus mean to Simeon and to Anna? What, according to verses 30-32, was to be the scope of His work? 

Verses 34, 35. What was to be the effect of Jesus's coming on different classes of people? What would be the cause  of men's failing and rising? Cf. 1 Pet.2:6-8

NOTES

1. Verses 21-34.  After the circumcision of the Child two rites had to be performed: first, His presentation to God (verses 22, 23: cf. Ex. 13:2); second, the sacrifice of purification for the mother (verse 24; Cf. Lv.12:2-8).

2.   Verse 25. 'Looking for the consolation of Israel':i.e., for the coming of the Messiah. Cf. verse 38 and 24:21.

 I have copied the Bible verses concerning this study, for your convenience.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

21 And when eight days had passed, [a]before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

22 And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every first born male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s [b]Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus,[c]to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 A Light [d]of revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”

33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and [e]rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was a prophetess, [f]Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in [g]years and had lived with her husband seven years after her [h]marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.38 At that very [i]moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Return to Nazareth

39 When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.

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LESSON 5

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Search the Scriptures - Study 5 - Luke 2:1-20

Study 5 of "SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES" IS: 

Luke 2:1-20

     1.     What may we learn from the circumstance of our Saviour’s Birth and the status of His first worshipers?

     2.     What do the Angel’s message and the rejoicing of the heavenly host teach us of the importance of the birth of Jesus?  How is the shepherds’ response to this message an example to us?

     3.     Verses 1-7. How do these verses illustrate that God controls all human affairs, effecting His own purpose through the free actions of men? Cf. with verse 4, Mi. 5:2

 I have copied the Bible verses concerning this study, for your convenience.

Luke 2:1-20

Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem

2 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all [a]the inhabited earth. 2 [b]This was the first census taken while[c]Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a [d]manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenlystood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is[e]Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a [f]manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men [g]with whom He is pleased.”

15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherdsbegan saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the [h]manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Marytreasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

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LESSON 4

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