Lesson 4: the Gospel of Luke Chapter 5-6:1-6

Sisters at the Well: Study of the Gospel of Luke Lesson 4: Luke 5-6

Lesson 4: The Gospel of Luke Chapter 5-6:1-6

Reading Notes for Chapter 5: In this key chapter, Luke sets the stage for the conflicts that followed Jesus through his ministry. In the end, Jesus met just two types of people—those who accepted him and those who rejected him. As you read, ask yourself, what made these people accept or reject Jesus as the Messiah?

Day 1: Read Luke 5:1-11 and answer the following questions

1. a) Peter, who according to the gospel of John, was already a disciple of Jesus in a loose fashion, is by the incident of the draught (or haul) of fishes given a more definitive call to service. What are some of the “take-aways” from this miracle for anyone in Christ’s service?

b) What was the result of this miracle in the life of Peter, and also James and John?

c) Are there times in our own lives when we should “put down our nets” at Jesus’ word even though the circumstances would argue against it? In other words, are we sometimes asked to obey Christ’s commands when they don’t seem to make sense? Why should we do this? (Or if you would rather—answer with an experience of this kind from your own life.)

2 What are some things that an LDS woman today must forsake to follow the call of Jesus?

Day 2: Read Luke 5:12-26 Answer the following questions.

3. Pondering Question: Jesus heals a leprous man. Lepers were shunned and put out of the community because leprosy was contagious, and resulted in repulsive decay and loss of function. It was incurable then. How could the disease of leprosy be used as a symbol or metaphor for serious sin?

4. a) The leper says, “Lord, if thou wilt, you can make me clean.” Is the Lord always willing to cleanse us from sin?

b) What are some reasons that he does not always heal us of disease today?

5. a) Is it significant that Jesus touched the leper as he healed him?

b) What do we need to remember when we feel unworthy to come to Christ because we have sinned?

6. Verse 16 says he withdrew into a wilderness and prayed. Name some things you can deduce from this short verse about Jesus’ prayer life?

7. What is there to admire about the friends of the man who had palsy?

8. Jesus heals the whole person. How could telling the crippled man, “Thy sins are forgiven thee,” be a part of that kind of healing?

9. In v. 17 there is a list of the religious authorities who were present that day.

a) Where had they come from?

b) Why do you think they were there?

10. How does Jesus demonstrate his divinity to those present when the paralyzed man was healed?

Day 3: Read Luke 5:27-39 Answer the following questions:

Note: The word Pharisee means set apart, holy or separated. To the Jews, righteousness meant separation from anything unclean, including sinners and Gentiles.

11. a) Why was it shocking to the Pharisees that Jesus would call Levi (aka Matthew) to be his disciple and then eat at his house with other publicans? See Publican in the Bible Dictionary.

b) Jesus says, “I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Who thought they were righteous in this discussion?

c) Read Romans 3:10 & 23. Considering these scriptures, who was Christ talking about when he referred to “the righteous”? Or was he using sarcasm?

12. From the metaphor of new wine in old bottles, use the elements of this parable for matching:

Old Wine A. Christ’s teachings of the Gospel and His Commandments

New Wine B. A new religious institution—the church of Christ

Old Bottles C. The teachings of the Mosaic Law

New Bottles D. The religious structure of the Jews: Temple Sacrifices, Rabbis, Sanhedrin, Synagogues, etc.

13. CHALLENGE: Verse 39 says that people who are used to old wine, then drink new, say “the old is better.” What do you think this is a symbol for?

Day 4: Read Luke 6:1-16 Answer the following questions.

To understand the clash between Jesus and the Pharisees over the Sabbath day, one must understand how the Jews felt about the Law. Torah, the Jewish word for law, did not just mean the laws in the 5 books of Moses, it also meant the interpretations of the laws added by prominent rabbis over hundreds of years of history. Christ rejected these “add-ons” to the original, and also rejected rigid rule keeping as a religious goal. He taught that loving God and one’s fellow man were the overriding principles one should live by.

14. a) How did Jesus justify picking and eating corn on the Sabbath?

b) From Jesus’ remarks here, what should be the standard for Sabbath activities? Cite verse.

c) How do you keep the spirit of the Sabbath as taught by Jesus in this story?

15. Luke says more about Jesus’ prayers than any other gospel writer. What can you learn from verses 12 through 16 for your own life?