Lucas 9

Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin

Lucas 9

Spurgeon reminds us that "Behold is a word of wonder; it is intended to excite admiration. Wherever you see it hung out in Scripture, it is like an ancient sign-board, signifying that there are rich wares within, or like the hands which solid readers have observed in the margin of the older Puritanic books, drawing attention to something particularly worthy of observation." I would add, behold is like a divine highlighter, a divine underlining of an especially striking or important text. It says in effect "Listen up, all ye who would be wise in the ways of Jehovah!" And a man from the crowd shouted (boao), saying, "Teacher (didaskalos), I beg (deomai) You to look at (epiblepo) my son, for he is my only boy (monogenes) - The father was asking Jesus to show special attention to his son, much like a doctor would to his patient, and indeed he was addressing the Great Physician Jehovah Rapha: (Jehovah Rophe) The LORD our Healer. It is likely the father chose the verb epiblepo because his son had evidence of the demon's torment (bruises, frequently thrown in the fire). In Mt 17:14 the man calls Jesus Lord (kurios) which MacArthur suggests could be a reference to Jesus' deity, but it does not always have that connotation for it is translated simply as "Master" some 50 times in the NT. In this context however Lord could well signify Jesus' deity, as One who had power over the demons, something His disciples had lacked in this incident. What is of note is that the father's appeal is clearly as expression of his faith, weak as it was. Notice that Jesus responded to even his weak faith. THOUGHT - O, how we need to take heart from this story for we also too often (especially when being storm tossed by one wave of adversity after another) are weakened in our faith and yet the lesson from this father is that we should beg Jesus for His aid in our time of need (cf Heb 4:16-note). There's an old Motown song by the Temptations entitled "Ain't to proud to beg," and that should be the life long song of every believer! Shouted (994)(boao from boé 995) means raise a cry, call or shout of joy, pain, etc, by using one’s voice with unusually high volume. In several of the NT contexts (and many more of the Septuagint = LXX uses) crying out was in the context of one seeking help or assistance. Some uses mean simply a loud cry but in some of these situations the cry reflects a state of agitation. Boáō is used 12 times in the NT (Mt. 3:3; Mk. 1:3; 15:34; Lk. 3:4; 9:38; 18:7, 38; Jn. 1:23; Acts 8:7; 17:6; 25:24; Gal. 4:27). Boao is related to the verb boetheo used in the parallel account in Mark 9:22 where the father calls on Jesus to help (boetheo from boé = a cry, exclamation + théō = to run) means to run on hearing a cry in order to give assistance. Luke uses boao 7/12x in the NT - Lk. 3:4; Lk. 9:38; Lk. 18:7; Lk. 18:38; Acts 8:7; Acts 17:6; Acts 25:24; Teacher (1320)(didaskalos from didasko = teach to shape will of one being taught by content of what is taught <> cp didaskalía) is one who provides instruction or systematically imparts truth. The teacher teaches in such a way as to shape will of one being taught by content of what is taught. Luke's use of didaskalos - Lk. 2:46; Lk. 3:12; Lk. 6:40; Lk. 7:40; Lk. 8:49; Lk. 9:38; Lk. 10:25; Lk. 11:45; Lk. 12:13; Lk. 18:18; Lk. 19:39; Lk. 20:21; Lk. 20:28; Lk. 20:39; Lk. 21:7; Lk. 22:11; Acts 13:1 Beg (beseech, request, pray)(present tense = continually begging) (1189) (deomai from deo = to bind) means to ask for something with the sense of pleading, beseeching or begging. To request, to ask for with a sense of urgency and a presumed need. When used in the context of prayer deomai means to make petition, to plead, to ask in prayer, to implore (pray for earnestly) and emphasizes the existence of a need. Deomai is a strong way to ask for something - a leper imploring Jesus to heal him (Lk 5:12), a father's desperate plea to Jesus to cast a demon out of his son (Lk 9:38). To beg in English means to ask for earnestly, urgently or insistently. It implies more urgency than simply asking. Luke's uses of deomai - Lk. 5:12; Lk. 8:28; Lk. 8:38; Lk. 9:38; Lk. 9:40; Lk. 10:2; Lk. 21:36; Lk. 22:32; Acts 4:31; Acts 8:22; Acts 8:24; Acts 8:34; Acts 10:2; Acts 21:39; Acts 26:3 Look at (regard, pay special attention, look with concern) (1914)(epiblepo from epi = upon + blepo = to look) means to "look intently, to pay close attention to. To look in a negative sense by showing special attention to the "rich and famous" - Jas 2:3. To look attentively at with implication of personal concern for someone or something. This latter nuance speaks of God's loving care in Luke 1:48-note. The use in James also conveys the sense of caring too much about or being partial toward. These nuances are interesting to consider as you ponder Lot's wife turning to look back (Lxx = epiblepo) and turning into a pillar of salt (Ge 19:26, cf epiblepo by Lot in Ge 19:28) Epiblepo - 3x - Lk. 1:48; Lk. 9:38; Jas. 2:3 My only boy (3439)(monogenes from monos = alone + genos = birth, race, kind <> from ginomai = to come into being, to become) means that which is the only one of its kind of class or specific relationship and thus is unique or "one and only." The son of the widow of Nain was her only child; and Jairus' daughter was his only child. Only Luke notes the detail that the boy was his father’s only son (cf. Lk 7:12; 8:38). This expression "only begotten" expresses both uniqueness and the deep affection of the father for him (cf Abraham in Ge 22:1, 2). Not to mention that if his son dies, the family line will be terminated! Monogenes - 9x - only(3), only begotten(6). Lk. 7:12; Lk. 8:42; Lk. 9:38; Jn. 1:14; Jn. 1:18; Jn. 3:16; Jn. 3:18; Heb. 11:17; 1 Jn. 4:9 Luke 9:39 and a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams, and it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth; and only with difficulty does it leave him, mauling him as it leaves. KJV And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him. Lo (behold) not translated by NAS - Lk 4:35; 8:29; Mark 5:4,5; 9:20,26; John 8:44; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 9:11 Luke 9 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 9:37-45 - Steven Cole Luke 9:37-42 The Significance of Faith, Part 1 - John MacArthur Related Passage: Matthew 17:15 “Lord, have mercy (LUKE HAS "Teacher, I beg You") on my son, for he is a lunatic (selemiazomai = to be moonstruck, mentally out of control of oneself - only other use Mt 4:24 - "epileptics") and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 “I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” 16 “I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” 17 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring (present imperative) him here to Me.” Mark 9:17+ And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” The NAS does not translate the "behold" (idou) which is present in the Greek to grab our attention. The ESV is more accurate here "And behold, a spirit seizes him." Lk 9:39ESV Gilbrant - since Luke was a physician, it is interesting that he does not identify the boy's affliction as epilepsy (cf. Matthew 17:15NET - "has seizure"). Thus, Luke clearly is more concerned with the demonic aspect of the boy's condition (verse 42). (Complete Biblical Library) And a spirit seizes (lambano) him, and he suddenly (exaiphnes) screams (krazo) - Why does he suddenly scream? Because the demon was in control or possession of his physical faculties! Luke 4:33-36+ dealt with a man in the synagogue with a demon. Jesus Himself was accused of having a demon in Lk 7:33+. In Lk 8:27-39+ Luke recorded the famous incident of the Gadarene demoniac made well by Jesus. Luke's last record of Jesus casting out a demon was Lk 11:14+. THOUGHT - Beloved, is not this story a picture of the effect of the Evil One on the lives of so many people today who are caught in the grips of the power of the demons, especially in the drug culture where drugs open their minds to demonic oppression if not even overt possession. The answer for this boy was Jesus and He is still the answer for all men caught in the grips of sin, Satan and self. Are you boldly speaking forth the Gospel, telling men and women about the Great Physician? He is their only Hope for deliverance! (My Deliverer)

Lucas 9

Spurgeon - Morning and Evening - “Bring him unto me.” —Mark 9:19 Despairingly the poor disappointed father turned away from the disciples to their Master. His son was in the worst possible condition, and all means had failed, but the miserable child was soon delivered from the evil one when the parent in faith obeyed the Lord Jesus’ word, “Bring him unto me.” Children are a precious gift from God, but much anxiety comes with them. They may be a great joy or a great bitterness to their parents; they may be filled with the Spirit of God, or possessed with the spirit of evil. In all cases, the Word of God gives us one receipt for the curing of all their ills, “Bring him unto me.” O for more agonizing prayer on their behalf while they are yet babes! Sin is there, let our prayers begin to attack it. Our cries for our offspring should precede those cries which betoken their actual advent into a world of sin. In the days of their youth we shall see sad tokens of that dumb and deaf spirit which will neither pray aright, nor hear the voice of God in the soul, but Jesus still commands, “Bring them unto me.” When they are grown up they may wallow in sin and foam with enmity against God; then when our hearts are breaking we should remember the great Physician’s words, “Bring them unto me.” Never must we cease to pray until they cease to breathe. No case is hopeless while Jesus lives. The Lord sometimes suffers his people to be driven into a corner that they may experimentally know how necessary he is to them. Ungodly children, when they show us our own powerlessness against the depravity of their hearts, drive us to flee to the strong for strength, and this is a great blessing to us. Whatever our morning’s need may be, let it like a strong current bear us to the ocean of divine love. Jesus can soon remove our sorrow, he delights to comfort us. Let us hasten to him while he waits to meet us. Mark 9:19 Bring The Boy To Me - [Jesus] answered him and said, “. . . Bring him to Me.” —Mark 9:19 “I don’t believe in God and I won’t go,” Mark said. Amy struggled to swallow the lump in her throat. Her son had changed from a happy boy to a surly and uncooperative young man. Life was a battleground, and Sunday had become a day to dread, as Mark refused to go to church with the family. Finally his despairing parents consulted a counselor, who said: “Mark must make his own faith journey. You can’t force him into the kingdom. Give God space to work. Keep praying, and wait.” Amy waited—and prayed. One morning the words of Jesus that she had read echoed through her mind. Jesus’ disciples had failed to help a demon-possessed boy, but Jesus had the answer: “Bring him to Me” (Mark 9:19). The sun shone through the window at Amy’s side, making a pool of light on the floor. If Jesus could heal in such an extreme situation, then surely He could also help her son. She pictured herself and Mark standing in that light with Jesus. Then she mentally stepped back, leaving her son alone with the One who loved him even more than she did. Father, I lift my beloved to You, knowing that You love him even more than I do and You understand just what to do to meet his need. I commit him to Your care. Prayer is the voice of faith trusting that God knows and cares. Luke 9:42 While he was still approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father. KJV And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father. the demon Lk 9:39; Mark 1:26,27; 9:20,26,27; Revelation 12:12 healed the boy and gave him back Lk 7:15; 1 Kings 17:23; 2 Kings 4:36; Acts 9:41 Luke 9 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 9:37-45 - Steven Cole Luke 9:37-42 The Significance of Faith, Part 1 - John MacArthur Luke 9:42-43 The Significance of Faith, Part 2 - John MacArthur Luke 9:37-45 An Addendum of Faith - John MacArthur THE DEMON'S LAST EFFORT TO DESTROY THE BOY Here are the parallel passages in the synoptic Gospels of Matthew and Mark with the most complete description in Mark's account. It is surprising that the physician Dr Luke does not give as graphic a description as does Mark. Matthew 17:15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16“I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” 17 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once. Mark 9:20-27+ They brought the boy to Him. When he (THE DEMON) saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion (susparasso), and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth (aphrizo - only Mk 9:18, 20). 21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy (apollumi) him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” 26 After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up. Unlike Mark's version which has a longer record of the conversation between Jesus and the father, Luke (and Matthew) focus primarily on the cure. While he was still approaching - This "he" refers to the demon possessed boy. Mark adds several details not recorded by Luke "And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy (apollumi) him. But if (1st class condition - assumes following to be true - therefore was a manifestation of some degree of faith of the father in Jesus and His power over the demon) You can do anything (cf Jer 32:17, 27), take pity (splanchnizomai) on us and help us!” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” ("As to the 'if thou canst,' all things can (dunata) to the one who believes.") 24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:21-24+)