Luke 20:45-47 Beware!
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: November 13, 2018 Luke 20:45-47
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
(Understanding the Text) Jesus was addressing this comment to His disciples, yet it was not a private conversation. It was said in the presence of the many people in the crowd that surrounded Him. He may have been in the temple courtyard teaching at the time. This probably took place on that last Tuesday before His crucifixion. This was His last chance to teach publicly, so the warning was for the disciples for after He was gone.
The scribes were the men who specialized in the reading and understanding of the scriptures. They were being condemned because they claimed to know and follow God’s law, but in reality they were misrepresenting God because of their arrogance and greed. In their arrogance they assumed honors were due to them because of their knowledge. They wore only the best quality clothes and expected to be recognized by everyone like rock stars and get the best seats, but their interpretations of God’s law were flawed and hurt God’s people. While they were busy reaping the benefits of their prosperity doctrine, they were also busy depriving poor widows of their money. They acted holy with their long prayers but their actions towards the less fortunate were the opposite of holy.
Guzik’s commentary says “The scribes represent a complete contrast to the picture of how a disciple should live – as a servant, as a child, as one carrying a cross. Jesus said we should notice what they do, as well as what they say – and especially that we should notice their destiny.”
(Revelation of God) Jesus condemns the scribes while He refused to condemn tax collectors and adulteresses. Why? Because the sinners did not keep other people from God, but the scribes’ actions and words deprived many people of God’s mercy. They were condemned for keeping others away from the God they claimed to serve. They tried to act as gatekeepers, and their stories of who God is kept others away from Him. They refused to humbly follow their Lord, and they kept others from following Him also. More than anything, God wants to connect with every human in a loving relationship. These people were depriving God of His chance to form relationships with His people.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that I must humbly interpret the scriptures for people who do not understand without interjecting any false representations of God into them. I must live my life humbly without pride or arrogance thinking that I know better than others. I must treat others consistently with how God views them. Before I can represent God to others, I have to first know Him myself. God, You know that I can’t do any of these things that I must do. Live in me and transform me so that I can live and think and feel as Your child rather than a fallen human.