Daily reading

Today’s reading is: Lk. 10; Jn. 8:21-59

Video

YouTube video

Luke Chapter Ten

  1. The service of the Seventy (Lk. 10:1-24).
    1. The Seventy may have actually been the Seventy-two.  The manuscript evidence for ἑβδομήκοντα (70) versus ἑβδομήκοντα δύο (72) is evenly divided.
    1. Although the Twelve are subsequently noted in the New Testament (Acts 6:2; 1st Cor. 15:5; Rev. 21:14), the Seventy are never again mentioned in Scripture.
    2. Many early Church traditions feature a number of people as being among the Seventy—but the Bible does not name a single one.

Alleged members of the 70: Agabus (Acts 11:28; 21:10); Ananias (Acts 9:10-19); Archippus (Col. 4:17; Philem. 2); Artemis (Tit. 3:12); Barnabas (Acts 4:36); Crescens (2nd Tim. 4:10); Joseph Barsabbas (Acts 1:23); Matthias (Acts 1:23,26); Parmenas (Acts 6:5); Prochorus (Acts 6:5).

  1. The parable of the Good Samaritan was an object lesson that the Lord provided for a lawyer who was putting Him to the test (violating Dt. 6:16) (Lk. 10:25-37).
    1. The entire parable answers the lawyer’s question: “Who is my neighbor?” (Lk. 10:29).
    2. The Lord’s question frames the true issue properly: “Who proves themselves to be a neighbor by virtue of the mercy they extend to anybody in need?” (Lk. 10:36-37).
    3. The issue isn’t who do I have to help, but do I have the heart of a helper?
  2. The Mary & Martha contrast is another example of Luke’s Gospel record, and his focus on Christ the man (Lk. 10:38-42).
    1. These sisters are introduced here, appear again when their brother Lazarus dies (Jn. 11:1-44), and appear once again after Lazarus is restored to life (Jn. 12:1-3).
    2. Martha’s error was not in the external activities she was doing, but in the internal mental attitude that had her “worried and bothered” (Lk. 10:41).
    3. Mary’s praise comes not for her external activity, but for her internal mental attitude that demonstrated good priorities (Lk. 10:42).

John Chapter Eight

(Outline continues from yesterday)

  1. Jesus preached an urgent salvation message to a religious crowd in danger of dying in their sins (Jn. 8:21-30).
  2. Jesus urged the newly-saved believers to abide in the Word and live the free life in Christ (Jn. 8:31-32).
  3. His critics replied with skepticism (Jn. 8:33), pride (Jn. 8:39), and anger (Jn. 8:41).
  4. Jesus hit them hard with the Truth: the Jewish leaders were Devil worshippers (Jn. 8:42-47).
    1. Their anger grew to outrage (Jn. 8:48,52,53,57).
    2. Jesus’ repeated statements of “I AM” prompted their attempted murder (Jn. 8:58-59).