27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
The Sign of Jonah
29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
The Light in You
33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”
Woes to the Pharisees and Lawyers
37 While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. 38 The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.
42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.”
45 One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” 46 And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. 48 So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ 50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. 52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”
53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, 54 lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say. Luke 11: 27-54 ESV
Luke 11: 27-54
As He said these things - Interestingly, in the context of this chapter, He had just left off teaching them about Satan's kingdom versus God's Kingdom, where God is the strong man, the One able to bind Satan. He has been correcting those who would claim that His power comes from Beelzebul, and He has started and will continue to teach on the dangers associated with outward reform that does not originate from inward transformation, and then this woman speaks up.
Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breast at which You nursed - Mary is called blessed, that is Scriptural, but what does that have to do with the present conversation?
…41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?… Luke 1: 41-43
…27to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.… Luke 1: 27-29
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” Luke 1: 46-55
Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it - Jesus brings everything back into focus, and the first thing is to hear, and the second necessary thing is to respond in obedience. The first action we are commanded to do is to believe what we hear, to believe in God and believe in His Christ. This is true blessedness because it is the same need for everyone, including Mary, not to give birth to the Messiah, but to believe on Him as the righteousness from above, to be reborn, everyone that comes to God must be born again. What the woman said is actually a form of compliment toward Jesus, for mother's received honor for having raised godly sons, but Jesus isn't teaching about that, and His own earthly mother needs Him to die for her just like everyone else. Jesus doesn't want compliments either, doesn't want to be ranked among other teachers, He is the only way, and so rightfully the focus needs to return to Him.
Notice that in contrast to moral "reformation" described in Lk 11:24-26, Jesus describes transformation, for only a person transformed by the Gospel of grace has the inner power to hear and observe the Word of God. We cannot observe the Word in reliance on our native (fallen, fleshy) power from within, but only by reliance on a supernatural from without, i.e., the power of God dispensed by His Spirit.
On the contrary, blessed (makarios) are those who hear the word of God and observe (phulasso) it - Jon Courson says "Although this woman draws attention to His mother—a position that could be claimed by only one, Jesus redirects her attention to His family—a position available to all (John 1:12)." Thus Jesus corrects the woman's statement by explaining that it is not hearers of the Word who are blessed but doers of the Word. He is not saying keeping the law merits God's blessing, for apart from union with Christ and filling with His Spirit, a human being can do absolutely nothing to please God when what he does emanates from his sinful, fallen flesh (See Ro 8:5-8+). The only way to observe the Word of God is to possess the indwelling Spirit, who energizes the desire and gives the power to obey the Word (see Php 2:13NLT+).
Jesus is "saying it is not enough to commend Jesus, you’re not necessarily with Me just because you commend Me, just because you honor Me, just because you respect Me." (MacArthur - Luke 11:24-28 The Danger of Moral Reformation) - Precept Austin
This generation is an evil generation - This is Christ's idea of telling the gospel, of evangelizing; it is to put men into a place of proper perspective regarding their standing. He is talking to the moral elite, to people who believed in the law, added to the law, thought they were righteous because of the law. These are people who do not take well to being called an evil generation. They think they keep Moses' law and then some, but they perverted it, and have created a legalistic system that is only concerned with outward moral appearance. It is hard to find someone more difficult to witness to than someone who goes to church, who is respected in some religious circle, whether atheist, "Christian", Jewish, Roman Catholic, Muslim, Buddhist, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness etc...
16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 17Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. 18For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.… Matthew 5: 16-18
…30But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”… Luke 5: 30-32
For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh - Jonah spent 3 days in the belly of a great fish, and he was greatly transformed by the stomach acids of the fish. He must have been quite a spectacle to the people of Nineveh, to whom he was sent to preach. Jesus is giving the call of repentance to this generation, and after His crucifixion He will go to the tomb, but on the third day He will rise from the dead.
Something greater than Solomon is here - Solomon was David's son who succeeded him to the throne, but Jesus is the Son of David, Messiah, the perfect King without flaw. They revered both David and Solomon, but Jesus is greater. People always bemoan the passing of the "good ole days", and Israel had known no greater time of peace and prosperity than in the times of Solomon. Everyone has an idea of utopia today, and I can remember times of less inflation not so long ago. I can remember a time in certain places where I didn't lock my doors, and a time when there was a lot more grass and fish in the Lagoons, and so we reminisce about the loss of morality, the loss of manners, but we moralist fail to be broken over our own sin. We miss our comforts, but we are not contrite, humbled, and we don't see ourselves as poor in spirit so we never mourn over the state of own hearts, we just wish that everyone was more like us, but Jesus is calling the moral elite self righteous. He sites people from heathen lands as being in better standing than them, the people of Nineveh, an enemy city where the prophet Jonah did not want to go, the Queen of Sheba, because she came not just to see the wealth of Solomon, but for wisdom. The people of Nineveh repented, but the people of Israel are telling the only Savior, the only means to be right with God, to go away, we don't you, we have our own moral code.
…43Jesus said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord’? For he says: 44‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.”’ 45So if David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how can He be David’s son?”… Matthew 22: 43-45
It will be wholly bright - The true light is there, but they can't perceive it or they refuse to acknowledge all the signs. He is the light, shining forth, but if you are blind then this is of no value to you, you have to have a healthy eye. Just as Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, so these blind Pharisees and lawyers were leading about their blind followers.
…15so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world 16as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.… Philippians 2: 15-17
…17Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word. 18Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law. 19I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me.… Psalm 119: 17-19
Thompson - remember the context. Many religious people were claiming they were right with God and at the same time they were calling Jesus Christ Satanic and demonic (11:14-15). These people were trying to convince others that they needed more proof that Christ was from God (11:16, 29).
John Stevenson - Jesus now turns to the illustration of light. We normally think of these verses in sort of a "stand alone" manner, but they should not be divorced from the context of this passage. The point has already been made that Jesus is speaking to a generation who is being condemned for its unbelief, even though they have had great exposure to the light....I’ve had the opportunity to go into some caves and caverns that were deep enough so that when you turned out the light, there was total darkness. At such times, it does not matter if your vision is 20-20 of if it is blurry, in both cases you cannot see. Light exists in order that you might be able to see.
Ritchie - the Lord God had given the Jewish people directly by the hand of Moses the law or truth of God's character and moral standards to live a life that would please him and bring joy to their lives. But they were to put that light ".on the lampstand, in order that those who enter may see the light [the truth of God]." - Precept Austin
The Pharisee was astonished - This was not part of the Mosaic law, but rather a tradition of the Pharisee's legalism. It is amazing what people site for their sense of righteousness.
Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the dish - This goes back to the last lesson of the house that was swept clean. You take great pains to count mint leaves, cumin and cardamom seeds, and therein you think you have integrity. You are moral people, people who don't cuss, "look at me, I'm a person of manners, I know where the fork, the spoon and the knife go in relation to the plate," that's not true, I always forget, but this was the extent of all their added traditions, their moral codes. It's funny, because I rarely, if ever have met someone without a code. My atheist friends have codes they live by, and their list is a bit different, but they still think it is a superior way to live. They don't tell the prostitute go and sin no more, like Jesus did, but rather, they say, follow your heart, it's your body, do what you will, what makes you happy. If you get pregnant with another little human being inside of you, well then they have a moral code for this too, some say it's not human, but all agree that it's moral and even compassionate to let you kill the child. Mormons are moral, Roman Catholics have all sorts of moral hoops you can jump through, brownie points you can earn, but God only looks for this one thing, His Son, and that light is only found in the broken and contrite. The person who cleaned the house of the one demon ended up with eight in the end. You have to be given a new heart, like the reformers say, reform without regeneration is futile, you will just be a "good person", with a moral standard, a philanthropist, a person checking off boxes on your way to hell.
…4because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me. 6In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight.… Hebrews 10: 4-6
In saying these things you insult us also - Hey, what you're saying to the Pharisees applies to us as well because we subscribe to that same system, and you're hurting our feelings.
Woe to you lawyers also - Jesus answer, you're right, it does include you too, and just like the Pharisees you are the most difficult people to save because you think you already are. You tithed, you gave alms, you loved your definition of "your neighbor", and you are related to Abraham. You cried when you were little at an Easter play, and you said a prayer in Sunday School a few weeks later, then your pastor wrote down your name in a registry which you mistook for the Lamb's Book of Life.
…21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’… Matthew 7: 21-23
From the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah - You received so much light, and even the light that said, "these men who are fathers killed turned out to be the real deal, and our fathers wicked." Your fathers hated the prophets of God because they called for repentance, but the words they used were not their own, they belonged to the One Who sent them, and now that One stands before you. Here's your chance, here's the Son, the heir, what are you going to do?
…36Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated. 38The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.… Hebrews 11: 36-38
You did not enter yourselves - You had the law and the prophets, the testimony of the temple, you new what the prophets foretold about Christ, and you knew that God looked at the heart, but you refused His invitation.
And you hindered those who were entering - You shut them up, and those that were coming you confused. You told them that this isn't the Christ, and appealed to traditions as though they were above God's word.
…39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.” 40At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them. 41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.… Acts 5: 39-41
To catch Him in something He might say - They were desperate to discredit Him because He showed them to be white washed tombs, full of rot and decay. He didn't honor their apostasy so they want to make Him out to be a blasphemer and a liar; they want to kill Him.
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