Jesus Warns Against Unbelief

Topic: Signs
Passage: Luke 11:27–36

September 4, 2022

Commentary

 

As Jesus was speaking to the crowd He was interrupted by an emotional outcry from a woman who was present (v. 27). Evidently pleased by His teaching, she expressed how wonderful it must have been to be His mother. Jesus uses this incident to point out that the one who knows the Word of God and obeys it is more blessed than the person who happened to be a part of the physical family of Christ (v. 28). This certainly counteracts the worship of the Virgin Mary as it is taught by some today. Next we see the people asking Jesus for a sign, even though they have had an abundance of signs already. Jesus’ response was that no sign would be given but instead, He gave them three illustrations.

  1. Jonah (vv. 29-30;32) – The people of Nineveh believed what Jonah said, even if they had no physical evidence. With all the knowledge gained for 2000 years our response to Christ ought to be even more complete and wholehearted.
  2. Solomon (v. 31) – The  queen of Sheba traveled many miles to hear the wisdom of Solomon (I Kings 10),but here was the very Son of God in their midst, and the Jews would not believe His words.
  3. Light (vv. 33-36) – The lamp is Christ and the eye represents spiritual understanding. It is not enough that the light be shining externally; it must enter into our lives before it can do any good. The brightest sun can not help a blind man to see. If you have a hard time seeing God at work in your life check your vision. Is there any sin blinding you?

Application

 

It is good for me to know the signs of the times as given in the Bible but it is far more important for me to know and obey God’s instruction for daily living.

Luke 11:27– 36 (NET)

27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd spoke out to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”

29 As the crowds were increasing, Jesus began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it looks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon—and now, something greater than Solomon is here! 32 The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented when Jonah preached to them —and now, something greater than Jonah is here!

33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a hidden place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in can see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is diseased, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore see to it that the light in you is not darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, with no part in the dark, it will be as full of light as when the light of a lamp shines on you.”