9: Early Galilean Ministry (Lk 5:27-6:11)

I.       The Basics

A.     Setting

In the previous passage, we noticed that Jesus’ ministry had begun to draw the attention of the religious leaders (5:17). This lesson examines the controversies that took place. The scribes and Pharisees first directed their complaints at the disciples, and eventually at Jesus Himself. In the final controversy, Jesus initiated an action that challenged the beliefs of His accusers. Through each incident, their resistance continued to build up until they finally plotted against Him.

B.     Key Verse

            “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (5:32).

            “And He said to them, ‘The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath’” (6:5).

C.     Did You Know…?

1.      Levi (5:27) is another name for Matthew (Mt 9:9).

2.      Showbread/consecrated bread (6:4): lit. ‘bread of the face’, i.e. bread set before the face or presence of God (Ex. xxv. 30, xxxv. 13, xxxix. 36, etc.)… The showbread consisted of twelve baked cakes, made of fine flour, each containing two-tenths of an ephah… These were set in two rows, six to a row (ma’areket, Lv. xxiv. 6).^4/1183

II.    Observation

A.     Outline

(5:27-32)

(5:33-39)

(6:1-11)

B.     Key Words/Phrases

III. Segment Analysis

A.     5:27-32

1a. Why is it remarkable that Jesus chose Levi to be a disciple?

1b. What does this tell us about the nature of God’s calling?

2a. Levi seemed to respond to the Lord’s calling without effort. But suppose you were Levi, what would it take for you to take such a momentous step in your life? What obstacles may hinder you from following the Lord?

2b. What can you learn from Levi’s experience about discipleship?

3a. Why did the scribes and the Pharisees complain?

3b. In what ways do we sometimes think and act like the scribes and the Pharisees in this story?

4a. Who are the righteous and those who are well?

4b. Who are the sinners and the sick?

4c. What is the irony in Jesus’ statement?

4d. What do Jesus’ words teach us about how to receive God’s grace?

B.     5:33-39

5. What is the point of the question about fasting (33)?

6. Explain the analogy in 34-35.

7. What is the purpose of fasting? How had the scribes and Pharisees misunderstood the purpose?

8a. What do the new garment and new wine refer to? What are the old garment and old wineskin?

8b. Why are they incompatible? What is the meaning of this parable?

8c. Explain verse 39.

C.     6:1-5

9. By defending what the disciples did, was Jesus abolishing God’s command to keep the Sabbath?

10. What point did Jesus illustrate by citing the story of David?

11. What does it mean that the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath?

12. What lesson can we learn here about the spirit of observing God’s commandment?

D.     6:6-11

13a. Were the Pharisees genuinely interested in keeping God’s command? What was their reason for watching Jesus closely?

13b. We may sometimes also watch other people closely the way the Pharisees watched Jesus. What does this reveal about ourselves? How should we correct this attitude?

14a. How did Jesus’ question in verse 9 point out the mistake of the scribes and Pharisees?

14b. Why did Jesus look around at them all after asking them the question? (10)

15. Why were the scribes and Pharisees filled with rage?