Reading for November 7th

 Read Luke 14.25-35. In 14.25-35: Counting the cost. This section presents three severe arguments, with illustrations, pressing to a conclusion for repentance from all who hear (v. 35b). In verses 26, 27, 33: Whoever does not ... cannot be my disciple. Ex 32.25-29 and Deut 33.8-9 provide precedents from Israel's holy war traditions. Early Christian interpreters struggled with this passage, arguing against those who sought martyrdom, but recognizing that following Jesus could cost them their families, lives, and possessions. In 35b: See also 8.8, 10, 18. Comments or Questions..

Reading for November 6th

 DINNER DISCOURCES

In 14.1-35: Dinner conversations were famous teaching settings in the Greek and Jewish worlds. In Jewish and Christian tradition, the banquet becomes a symbol for who is chosen or invited to the heavenly feast. Dinner discussions recur throughout this larger section (see 15.1; 17.10) until Jesus' journey to Jerusalem explicitly resumes in 17.11. 

Read Luke 14.1-24. In verses 1.-6: The meal with a Pharisee is again a setting for dispute (7.36-50; 11.37-54) about the law. In verse 2: Dropsy is a condition of edema or retention of bodily fluids, which was perceived as defiling (see also 8.43-48). In verse 5: Even the most strict interpretations of Deut 22.4 would allow sabbath violations for the welfare of a child (see 13.16). In verses 9-10: Jesus' words reflect the traditional wisdom of Prov 25.6-7. In verse 11: Jesus places the exaltation and humbling in the context of his teaching (see 6.20-36). In verses 12-14, 21b-24: Jesus' inclusion of the crippled, the lame, and the blind challenges the purity code of Lev 21.17-23 in light of the judgment standards of the kingdom at the resurrection of the righteous (see also 6.23, 35, 37-38). In verses 23-24: Jesus' mission continues to provoke a divided response in Israel (2.34; 3.8; Acts 13.46; 18.6; 28.23-28). Comments or Questions..

Reading for November 5th

 Read Luke 13.31-35. In 13.31-35: Jesus' lament for Jerusalem. This prophetic word is shared with Matthew (23.37-39). In verses 31-32: Herod again, represents a threat (3.19-20; 9.7-9; 23.6-12), and a fox is an insulting name like "weasel." In verses 32-33: These verses are filled with the prophetic force of Jesus' yearning, will, and intention: I must be ... because it is impossible (see 12.50; 18.31). In verse 34: Israel's scriptures warn against killing the prophets (2 Chr 24.20-22; Jer 26.20-23; Lk 11.50-51). In verse 35: The phrase until the time comes anticipates Lk 19.38, when Ps 118.26 is recited by his disciples. Comments or Questions..

Reading for November 4th

 Read Luke 13.22-30. In 13.22-17.10: Jesus journeys toward Jerusalem. In 13.22-30: He prophesies the end. In verse 22: This verse reminds the reader of the journey Jesus began in 9.51-52 (see also 17.11). In verse 2 Strive here means "be disciplined" in accord with the values of the kingdom. In verse 26: We ate and drank with you implies intimate companionship. In verse 28: Luke includes all the prophets along with Israel's patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Mt 8.11) who gather for God's promised banquet (Ex 24.9-11; Isa 25.6-8). In verse 29: Scattered Israel will be gathered from east and west ... (Isa 11.11-16; 60.1-22). Comments or Questions..

Reading for November 3rd

 Read Luke 13.10-21. In 13.10-21. In verses 10-17: The bent woman. This is the third controversy about sabbath observance (6.1-5; 6.6-11, see also 14.1-6), and Jesus is again teaching in a synagogue (4.14-30, 31-38, 44). In verse 14-15: Deut 5.13 and Ex 20.9-10 prohibited work on the sabbath, but Deut 22.1-4 commanded help for a neighbor's ox or donkey. Jesus' contemporaries debated what "work' was rightly prohibited and what was required. In verse 16: Jesus' argument takes a classic rabbinic form, "So much more" should a daughter of Abraham deserve and require this special "work," healing (see 14.5). In verses 18-21 The hidden kingdom. These two parables or remarkable growth convey the living, dynamic sense of the kingdom of God fulfilling the promises (see Dan 4.10-12; Ezek 17.22-24; 31.2-9). In verse 21: Yeast is a surprising image because of its "uncleanness" (see 12.1). Comments or Questions..

Reading for November 2nd

 Read Luke 13.1-9. In 13.1-9: The time to repent. In verse 1: The phrase at that very time links this section with a warning unless you repent ... (vv. 3, 5) or if not, you can cut it down (v. 9). Pilate was famous for his violence against pilgrims in Jerusalem and disdain for Galileans (23.1-12). In verse 4: The fall or the tower of Siloam is otherwise unknown. Judgment also causes the innocent to suffer (see 19.41-44; 21.5-24). In verse 6: The fig tree and the vineyard were common images for Israel ( Jer 8.13; Hos 9.10; Mic 7.1). Comments or Questions..

Reading for November 1st

 Read Luke 12.35--59. In 12.35-59: Be ready! This is a collection of traditional saying on watchfulness (see also Mt 24.42-51; 10.34-36; 16.2-3; 25.1-13; Mk 13.33-37; 14.38). In the context of Luke's story, they anticipate Jesus' "visitation" of Jerusalem (19.41-44) as well as the last judgment. In verse 49: To bring fire to the earth is literally "to hurl" fire as in the judgment Elijah invoked (1 Kings18.36-40), but not yet (9.54). On Jesus' unfulfilled wish, see also 13.34; 22.42. In verse 50: For Jesus to be under stress is literally to be "constrained" in obedience until God inaugurates the baptism of fire (see 3.16; 24.49; Acts 1.5-8; 2.1-13). In verses 51-53 This division is the opposite of Gabriel's promise (1.17, but see also 2.34). In verses 54-47: People are able to  predict the weather and to judge what is right, but miss the chance to repent in the present time. Comments or Questions..