Charges Against the Leaders, Part 2
Sermon 51 in Series
Luke 11:45-54
[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.
DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1. How were the Pharisees and lawyers/scribes related and distinct? How do the woes in this passage particularly address legal experts?
2. How did the lawyers demonstrate a lack of love for the people they instructed? How was their practice hypocritical?
3. In what ways can we fall into trying to push others to do things that we ourselves do not practice? How does this show up in our homes?
4. What does it mean to say that human based religion will crush you, but Christ will give you rest? How have you seen this play out in yourself and others?
5. What charge does Jesus bring against the lawyers in the second woe? How is this illustrated at the end of the passage?
6. How does the third woe relate to Jesus calling the Pharisees and scribes “blind guides” and “blind fools” in Matthew 23? How were they blocking the path to knowledge and life?
7. As we think about our own influence on others, how do we lead people towards Jesus rather than away from him? How can our example undermine our words?
References: Matthew 23:13-36 (corporate reading); Mark 7:5; Ezra 7:10; Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 9:32; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:8; Matthew 11:28-30; 23:3; Acts 7:51-52; Genesis 4:8; 2 Chronicles 24:20-22; Matthew 15:14; Romans 14:17.
