Day 280, October 7 Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Luke 6:17-49; Luke 7:1-10; Matthew 8:5-13; John 4:46b-54; Luke 7:11-17
Protégés. Be Careful Who You Follow!
Who was your favorite teacher? Why? Was he funny? Challenging? Well-informed? An excellent communicator? Persistent? Did the teacher make some personal investment in your life? Why did you want to be like him? Why did you want to be his star pupil, his follower, one of his protégés?
Don’t follow bad examples
The Pharisees, Scribes, and Sadducees were the teachers in Jesus’ day, but they taught one thing and lived another. Jesus informs his disciples, “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40, NIV). This is a sobering thought for conscientious leaders, parents, and teachers—do we want our followers to be like us?
In today’s Bible reading (Luke 6:17-49), we see the great communicator, Jesus Christ, teaching masses of people who come to hear him. Bible scholars and students debate whether Luke’s record of the account is the same event as the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, which we read in our last Bible study. Luke’s account omits Jesus’ teaching about the Jewish Law mentioned in Matthew’s account. This is because he writes to a non-Jewish (Gentile) audience.
Question whom you follow
In Luke’s account, Jesus wants the crowds to question whom they are following. The religious leaders follow the legality of Moses’ Law but fail to interpret it with justice and mercy. A genuine relationship with God is necessary for a right interpretation of the Scriptures.
Because the religious leaders reject Christ, they are blind to the truth. How can spiritually blind leaders lead their disciples into solid convictions? They can’t. They will allow their followers to build their spiritual lives like houses built on uncertain, sinking, and shifting sands of opinion. Jesus Christ, however, provides a firm foundation of the truth.
To whom will we give our allegiance? How do we know who is speaking the truth, and who is living a lie? Jesus tells us to watch their deeds and listen to what they say (Luke 6:43-45). Do they do good or evil? Do they speak what is right?
Follow examples of true faith
The account of the Centurion is written in three of the four gospels. From the multiple texts, we might conclude that this is one person whom God wants others to follow as an example. This Commander is a man of faith. He sends for Jesus to heal his servant because he believes in him (the religious leaders don’t). The Centurion takes Jesus at his word and is rewarded for his faith. Whom will we copy? Will we follow a bad example of religion without a relationship with God, or will we be Jesus’ protégés and copy the faith he praises?
Discussion
How can we know who we should follow, spiritually?
What impresses the Lord?
Focus Verses
Titus 2:7-8 (NIV)
In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
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Looking Ahead: Why should we believe Jesus? Is he worthy of our trust? Join us for our Next Lesson, called Faith or Skepticism.
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