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Luke 7:24-30

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18John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them,

19he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

20When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

21At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.

22So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

23Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

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24After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?

25If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces.

26But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

27This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

28I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

29(All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John.

30But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

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1)       Are verses 18 to 23 included in VisionCasting-Luke7.18-23?

o   Yes.

 

2)       Why are verses 18 to 23 included here?

o   They are included here to provide continuity of context.

 

3)       According to what Jesus said in verses 24 to 26 what was his assessment of John?

o   John was more than a prophet.

 

4)       According to what Jesus said in verse 27 who was the messenger that was prophesized to go ahead of him and prepare his way before him?

o   John was.

 

5)       According to what Jesus said in verses 27 and 28 what was John’s stature as a result of being the messenger that went ahead of him and prepared his way before him?

o   Among those born of women there is no one greater than John.

 

6)       Can the one who is least in the kingdom of God be greater than anyone else in the kingdom of God?

o   No.

 

7)       According to what Jesus said in verse 28 was his reference to John in the context of the kingdom of God and why?

o   No, because

§  The one who is least in the kingdom of heaven.

§  Cannot be greater than

§  John who is also in the kingdom of heaven.

 

8)       How then do we interpret verse 28?

o   The one who is least in the kingdom of heaven.

o   Is greater than

o   John who is the greatest man in the world.

o   This shows the superiority of the kingdom of heaven.

 

9)       But is John not supposed to be in the kingdom of God and why?

o   John was having doubt about Jesus being the Messiah or the Christ.

o   Regardless of

o   Having been the messenger that had

§  Gone ahead of Jesus.

§  And prepared his way before him.

o   John would be outside of the kingdom of God.

o   Unless

o   He

§  Put aside his doubt.

§  And acknowledged that Jesus is the Christ.

 

10)   According to verse 29 why did all the people, even the tax collectors acknowledge that God’s way was right when they heard Jesus’ words?

o   It is because they had been baptized by John.

 

11)   According to verse 30 how did the Pharisees and the experts in the law reject God’s purpose for themselves?

o   They had not been baptized by John.

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Luke 7:24-30

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