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Week XX: Luke 11

Readings:

  • Luke 11

Resources:

Quiz:

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Material:

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  • A House Divided Cannot Stand (Taught by God: Chapter 6)
    • The Lord Makes a Logical Argument
      • You accuse Me of casting out demons by Satan
        • If this is true, then Satan as a divided kingdom
          • If this is true, his kingdom should have fallen
          • But we both know it hasn't fallen because souls are still captive in Satan's possession
        • Since it has not fallen, then it is not divided
      • If it is not divided, then I cannot possibly be in league with Satan
      • Thus, who am I in alliance with except God?
      • If I work by the power of God, then the finger of God displaces the kingdom of Satan
      • If Satan's kingdom is displaced, then the kingdom of God has surely come upon you
    • "Finger of God"
      • This word is only ever used one other time in the Scripture: Exodus 8:16-19
        • 16 So the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.’ ” 17 And they did so. For Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

          18 Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had said.

        • The Magicians were unable to replicate the miracle and thus conclude "this is the finger of God"
          • In the first two plagues, the magicians were doing the work of something other than the power of God (i.e. using demonic spirits) and they knew it!
          • But when, in the third plague, they couldn't replicate it, they knew that it was from God
          • The Lord uses the reference to make the same connection with the Pharisees... they know that if it is not from Satan, then it is from God.
    • The Unforgiveable Sin
      • In the Gospel of St Matthew (12:22-32), this miracle and explanation are followed directly by the Lord's statement about the Unforgiveable Sin. In the Gospel of St Luke, the Unforgiveable Sin comes later:
        • "And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven." (Luke 12:10)
        • To understand the unforgivable sin "Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit" we need to see it following this event
      • Two questions arise from this
        • What is this blasphemy that will not be forgiven? Is God not merciful and capable of forgiving any sins for which repentance is given?
        • Why is blasphemy against the Son of Man okay, but not the Holy Spirit? Is the Holy Spirit greater than the Son?
      • What is the blasphemy that will not be forgiven?
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      • Why is blasphemy against the Son of Man forgivable but not against the Holy Spirit?
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