Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 11:14-36 "THREE ASSESSMENTS"
Day 152 – Luke 11
Text: Luke 11:14-36
THREE ASSESSMENTS
Luke recorded three assessments of the generation living in the days of the Lord Jesus in his gospel. Let’s take a look at these three assessments:-
1. With reference to John the Baptiser Luke 7:31-34
a) Some had rejected John because of his strict and eccentric ways. Luke 7:33
b) They then went on to reject Jesus because He appeared “too free and easy”. Luke 7:34
2. With reference to the healing of the demoniac boy. Luke 9:41-42
a) The Disciples were included in this rebuke.
b) The people just did not have the kind of faith that Jesus expected to see in them.
3. With reference to the crowds that demanded “a sign” from Jesus . Luke 11:29-32
a) They had also voiced their doubts concerning the source of power in the life of Jesus.
b) They had sinisterly suggested that Jesus was in league with demons.
THREE STERN REBUKES
Let us take a more careful look at these three assessments. They reveal much about Jesus, and the multitudes as well.
A. The People
1. The multitudes (in general)
2. The religious leaders (Scribes, Pharisees etc)
3. Sometimes, even the Disciples were rebuked
B. The Problems
1. The shallowness of the people
a) They were like children.
b) Worse, they were like spoilt and pampered children who were very willful .
2. The lack of spiritual maturity
a) They still lacked faith.
b) They also lacked knowledge and discernment.
3. The vindictive and wicked spirit of some
a) They stooped to maligning Jesus .
b) They were recalcitrant and defiant.
WHAT ABOUT OUR PRESENT GENERATION?
Is our present generation any better than that of the Lord Jesus Christ? If we were honest with ourselves, we would have to conclude that we are NO BETTER! It might even be possible to suggest that we are worse than the generation of the Lord Jesus Christ!
1. There is a general lack of interest in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, or in His Gospel of salvation.
2. There is much confusion as to who Jesus really is! Many cannot bring themselves to believe that He is both Son of Man and Son of God!
3. Many continue to abuse and even blaspheme the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ!
4. Few follow Jesus as His Disciples!
5. The lack of genuine faith in Jesus is most obvious!
6. The number of religious people who have attacked the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Scriptures is alarming!
The words of the Lord Jesus spoken when He walked on the earth appear to be quite applicable to the modern generation…
“O faithless and perverse generation…”Luke 9:41
“This is an evil generation…” Luke 11:29
PAUL’S PROPHETIC WORD
The Apostle Paul wrote with great depth of insight, when he penned these words prophetically…
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,
Boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
Unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers,
Without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
Traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure
Rather than lovers of God.
Having a form of godliness but denying its power…”
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“Always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge
Of the truth…”
2 Timothy 3:7
Many who live in this century boast of the advancement that has been made in so many fields of learning. Yes, man has increased his knowledge many times over! There is indeed an explosion of knowledge in almost any given field of research.
Knowledge however does not seem to have improved the human spirit in any significant way. The problem of war has not been resolved. The crime rate in most countries remains very high. Spiritual darkness continues to be rampant!
The words of the Apostle Paul are indeed sobering and downright gloomy! He was not just being pessimistic. He was just being very realistic in his assessment of his generation and ours too (prophetically). He merely echoed the words of the Lord Jesus when He assessed the multitudes on three separate occasions! Let us take time to examine our own hearts! Are we part of the “evil generation?” Or, happily, have we become Disciples?