Sermon Outline

 

The Gospel of Luke comments on the questioning by the Teachers of the Law (ch 12) by saying: "Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops."  

 

Discussion/Study Questions

a. Do they shut the debate down to save their plot to kill him before the votes on the council go Jesus' way?

b. Is Jesus again allowing the Teachers of the Law to make his own points? 

c. Are they beat? Have they given up? 

 

2. Does his claim to know that some of them "are not far from the kingdom of God" an insult (meaning they are not in the kingdom), or an encouragement that they are close to attaining true salvation? 

 

3. When they stop their questioning, Jesus continues his offensive push forward. Why does the crowd listen to "him with delight?" 

a. Are they learning and enjoying a new teaching?

b. Are they having fun watching a good fight/ debate? 

c. Are they enjoying watching the pious authorities getting humbled?   

 

4. The poor widow may have given "all she had to live on" as a freewill offering, as opposed to the temple tax or the sin offering collection. 

a. What does that mean for our lives, motivations, and ministries? 

b. What does it mean to give our lives above-and-beyond the law's requirements?   

c. How does her gift tie in with the teacher of the law's "wise" response in v32-33?