Luke Chapter 11: Advent
Luke 11 highlights Jesus’ teaching on prayer. We get Luke’s version of The Lord’s Prayer, followed up with teachings on persistence and trust. Interestingly, we read about Jesus being challenged as to the source of His power and He used that opportunity to point to God’s greatness. Jesus calls out the people who were looking for a sign, as well as those living hypocritically convinced they were in the right. The chapter ends with a detail from Luke that these encounters were bringing Jesus’ conflicts with the religious leaders to a climax.
As you read, pay attention to the dichotomies we see in terms of good and evil, light and dark. Take note of how Jesus responds to different kinds of people based on the different circumstances and needs.
You can read today’s chapter by clicking here.
Reflection Questions:
- What motivates the disciples to ask Jesus about prayer at this point?
- In Jesus’ model prayer, what two concerns related to God come first? Why? What personal concerns then follow?
- What does the parable in verses 5-8 teach about prayer?
- How does the crowd react to Jesus’ miracle in verses 14-16?
- What is Jesus conveying in verses 24-26? To whom is it addressed? Why?
- What is the sign of Jonah? What is Jesus’ point?
- Jesus gives a teaching on light and dark in verses 33-36. What does the light represent? The eye? Body? Darkness?
- What is the purpose of the woes that Jesus proclaims? What was His point?
- What do you think Jesus hoped to accomplish with those harsh sayings?
- How did the Pharisees and other religious elite respond to Jesus?
Prayer: Dear Lord, reading about the woes pronounced on the religious leaders of the day is chilling. Forgive me for the times I have acted like a pharisee and withheld the grace from others that I so desperately need and enjoy. Help me in my prayer to see the darkness in the world, as well as the darkness within me, and keep me heading toward the light. I ask this in the name of the One who is the Light of the World. Amen.