“The Just Shall Live By Faith”

New King James Version                          Written by: David Hicks

 

Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

“Articles of Faith"

An Orderly Account Of The Greatest Story Ever Told

(A Study in Luke)

Chapter 9:51-62:

We have been occupied from the last lesson and into this lesson, looking into many of the characteristics of discipleship. We chased a rabbit or two in our last lesson, but there were some very important issues on meekness as a characteristic of discipleship. In this lesson, we are coming to an end in the Galilean ministry of the Lord; and He will continue to train His disciples as they travel towards Jerusalem concerning false ambition and pride.

Text #1:

Luke 9:51-56 “Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, 52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. 53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem . 54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”
55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them. ” And they went to another village.”

This is the same journey to Jerusalem that is recorded in John 7:10. From John's account, the Lord did not join the normal caravans of travelers which took a different Peraean route, but came to Jerusalem in private directly through Samaria . This additionally helps us understand what is transpiring in our text.

Time Had Come: The actual cause for His journey to Jerusalem was the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:1-9), which brought about an opportunity for His brothers to chastise Him.

The Feast of Tabernacles was the last of the sacred festivals under the Old Covenant. It began five days after the day of atonement (Leviticus 23:26-43; Deuteronomy 16:13-17), and lasted seven days. This took place in the Jewish month of Tishri, which corresponds with our late October or early November.

Jesus would go up to Jerusalem , not because His brothers demanded it, but because it was a mandatory feast of the Jews. In addition, Luke tells us that the time for Him to be taken up, had come! This accounts for everything He had told His disciples back in verses 21-22; 43-45, concerning His betrayal and death (even though some six months in the distance).

Sent Messengers: As the Jews traveled from the northern regions towards Jerusalem , Samaria would be inundated with travelers. The Lord sent messengers from among His disciples in preparation, so as to not tax the fickle hospitality of the Samaritans.

The messengers would relate that Jesus was coming, but that He was set for Jerusalem ; in other words He was not coming to bring them anything or any message. So, since He was not going to bring them anything as in John 4:1-42, they did not receive Him as a man of God.

James and John: Had the Lord come among them as before, on a missionary work, they would have received Him. However, being taxed by the crowds, they were less likely to receive one not traveling with the large groups, which would require special accommodations.

To James and John; refusing to receive or recognize a man of God was to refuse His claim and call down fire from heaven as Elijah had done (when Ahaziah had sent soldiers to bring Elijah to heal him – II Kings 1:1-16).

Is it any wonder why the Lord called these two brothers, “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17).

He Rebuked Them: Had He not just taught them to become like children in nature, to seek the lowest position to the master? To show His displeasure at their lack of understand the Lord would then add to that instruction the statement, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of”.

Since they had not sought the wisdom of the master in this issue, He would rebuke them and state that He was a Savior and not a destroyer (also see: John 3:17-21; Luke 12:35-48; 19:10). After His rebuking of the disciples, they would not trouble these Samaritans, but moved on to another village.

Text #2:

Luke 9:57-62 “Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”
58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”
But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”
61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”
62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Similar teaching to: Matthew 8:18-22 .

The casual reader often reads this instruction concerning the cost of discipleship and considers it a harsh taskmaster that one must be willing to bear in order to follow after the Lord. There is some truth to this concept; however, the precepts the Lord puts forth are designed to clarify the misconceptions of the kingdom of heaven.

The first man states emphatically that he would follow the Lord. The Lord's response indicates that he must have considered the wonderful parables of the kingdom, and like so many thought it to be an earthly kingdom and sought to have a place in it. The Lord's teaching would set strait the fact that earthly gain would not be a benefit of discipleship in the kingdom of heaven.

The second, having been instructed to follow the Lord, gave hesitation in stating he needed to go and bury his father first. The Lord's response was not callused towards his father's imminent departure, but recognition that he was not with his father at this time, so his concern was dedicated to shirking his call.

In the final example, as in the first two, the Lord would state that all conflicting obligations (perceived obligations) must be set aside to truly grasp the discipleship necessary to follow the Lord. All things in this life have a proper place and time if we remember one very important instruction:

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

It becomes an important note at this point to also recognize that this instruction comes before the Lord would send out the seventy disciples to preach the coming of the kingdom of God . This would be a very necessary attitude for these disciples of the Lord to know and practice in the work he would send them to do!

Next: “Sending out the Seventy”