PRAYER AND CONFLICTS

LUKE 11 PRAYER AND CONFLICTS. 11:1-13. THE FIFTH TIME PRAYER IS MENTIONED:

11:14-54. CONFLICTS WITH THE PHARISEES:

14-16, The opponents claimed His power came from “the lord of the flies” and wanted a sign.
17-26, Jesus refuted their claims pointing out the evil of the demand for a sign [29-36].
Division brings weakness: Satan would never grant power to cast out demons because it would weaken his (evil) work.
Some followers of the Jews claimed they could cast out demons. When they judged Jesus, they judged their own people.
Finger of God: this is a small power for God.
Jesus is the Stronger One who overcame Satan, so chose if you are for or against Him.
To have known and done what is right and then turn back is more tragic than to have never known His grace.
27-28, It is better to do the work of God than to only feel good and talk about it.
29-30, Jesus’ enemies demanded another sign because they did not believe in Him. The sign of Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the earth.
31-36, The Queen of Sheba didn’t have the privilege of light. Those with a good eye can see Him clearly. Those with a bad eye remain in darkness. Truth rejected leaves only darkness.

37-44, The Pharisees were concerned about the outward matters but not inward holiness. Give from your heart. The Pharisees were concerned about the praise of people rather than the approval of God. The wrong example of the Pharisees led those who were unsuspecting into sin.
45-54, Lawyers were scribes who studied and interpreted the law. They made it burdensome to others but never kept it themselves. They made tombs for famous people of the past. Jesus says they are finishing the work of their fathers who killed the prophets. The wisdom of God would be prophecies. They were looking for ways to kill Him the same as they killed the old prophets. Abel (Genesis) to Zechariah (2nd Chronicles – the last book in the Jewish OT).