⁴⁰ A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. (NKJV)

My thoughts:

-Disciples are not above their teacher

-Blessed life comes by Being- having God like character

-Describes the type of character attributes listed in the Sermon on the Mount

-Luke’s version: Jesus focused on our attitude toward: circumstances (Luke 6:20-26), people (Luke 6:27-38), ourselves (Luke 6:39-45), & God (Luke 6:46-49)

-True Happiness= Faith in God, Love towards others, honesty with ourselves, & Obedience toward God

-Our outward words/actions need to show Christ. If they don’t, then our hearts don’t show Christ. We need to speak/show Christ whenever we can, not just when we are asked what we believe.

BEC NT-

We cannot lead others where we have not been ourselves, nor can we be all that our master is. The more we strive to be like Him, the more we realize how far short we fall. Nothing blinds a person like pride (“Lay Down My Pride”-J)

Believers do sin, but the witness of their words & works is consistently good to the glory of God. In terms of ministry, servants of God who are faithful will produce themselves in people who are in turn true to the Lord (2 Timothy 2:2)

What comes out of our mouths shows what’s in our heart

¹⁷ When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. (NKJV)

My thought:

Some doubted-check to see if Thomas had touched hands & side yet or if more than 11 may have been there

BEC NT:

Since Jesus has all authority, we may obey w/o fear. He is in control because of His death & resurrection

Christianity is a missionary faith which is demanded by the very nature of God as He is love & is not willingly that any should perish.

¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.  (NKJV)

My thought:

-Creating disciples= Teaching them all of God’s commandments and the heart intent of the law as well as servant leadership

²⁷ Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” (NKJV)

BEC NT:

Peter saw contrast between wealthy& poor

Jesus gave them a marvelous promise of rewards in this life & in the next

Anything forsaken would be returned a hundredfold

Essentially an investment instead of sacrifices not all dividends would be received in life.

Is possible to do God’s will but have a wrong heart

Serving for benefits only misses the purpose of serving. We miss His best blessing for us.

“Trust Him unreservedly & believe that He will always give what is best.”

¹³ When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”  ¹⁴ So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”  ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
¹⁶ Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  ¹⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  ¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
¹⁹ And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”  ²⁰ Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.  ²¹ From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.  ²² Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”  ²³ But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”  ²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  ²⁶ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  ²⁷ For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.  ²⁸ Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”  ¹ Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; ² and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.  ³ And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.  ⁴ Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  ⁵ While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”  ⁶ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.  ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”  ⁸ When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. (NKJV)

16:13-20=Messiahship

16:21-23=Atonement

16:24-28=discipleship

17:1-8=Eschatology

Bible Exposition Commentary NT:

                           2 approaches to life:

Deny yourself                                  Live for yourself

Take up your cross                        Ignore the cross

Follow Christ                                    Follow the world

Lose your life for His sake          Save your life for your own sake

Forsake the world                          Gain the world

Keep your soul                                Lose your soul

Share His reward & glory            Lose His reward & glory

To deny self is not equal to deny things

To deny self= give yourself wholly to Christ & share in His shame & death

To take up cross is not equal to carry burdens/problems

To take up cross= identify w/ Christ in His rejection, shame, suffering, and death

Suffering leads to glory

Suffering: example= What Christ went through before His death.

²⁴ A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.  ²⁵ It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!  ²⁶ Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.  ²⁷ “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.  ²⁸ And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.  ³⁰ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  ³¹ Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  ³² “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  ³³ But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.  ³⁴ “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  ³⁵ For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; ³⁶ and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’  ³⁷ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  ³⁸ And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  ³⁹ He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.  ⁴⁰ “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.  ⁴¹ He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.  ⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” (NKJV)

Do not fear those who can kill the body only-fear Him who is able to destroy both soul & body in hell (Him = God/Christ)- Matthew 10:28

Bible Exposition Commentary NT:

vv.32-3 Disciple: Walk & Talk must go together

vv. 40-2 Need for faithful disciples, believers who will learn from Christ and live for Him

¹⁶ Bind up the testimony, Seal the law among my disciples.  (NKJV)

BEC OT:

“True disciples of the Lord received God’s word and treasured it in their hearts.”

Isaiah willingly waited patiently for God’s word to be fulfilled.

My thoughts:

-As disciples we need to be patient for God’s timing.

-Reflection Question: How are you at letting God be in control and waiting for His perfect timing instead of your own?

⁴ “The Lord God has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned.  ⁵ The Lord God has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away.  ⁶ I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.  ⁷ “For the Lord God will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.  ⁸ He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me.  ⁹ Surely the Lord God will help Me; Who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; The moth will eat them up.  ¹⁰ “Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness And has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord And rely upon his God.  ¹¹ Look, all you who kindle a fire, Who encircle yourselves with sparks: Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled– This you shall have from My hand: You shall lie down in torment. (NKJV)

Bible Exposition Commentary-OT:

“His mind was submitted to the Lord God so that he could learn His work & His will. Everything Jesus said & did was taught to Him by His Father.” He prayed to the Father for guidance & meditated on the word.”

My thoughts:

-Disciple- Servant’s submission to God in every area of his life & service-total surrender of will to God.

-Can’t love someone to Heaven.

-What if God is supposed to be in control? !!!!!!

¹ “Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins.  ² Yet they seek Me daily, And delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness, And did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God.  ³ ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ “In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers.  ⁴ Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high.  ⁵ Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the Lord?  ⁶ “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?  ⁷ Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?  ⁸ Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.  ⁹ Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, ¹⁰ If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.  ¹¹ The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.  ¹² Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.  ¹³ “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the Lord honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, ¹⁴ Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (NKJV)

My thoughts:

-Disciple(ship) We need to be authentic on the inside out not just showy. We need to do things for God’s glory not man’s approval.

-We need to be Christians first-authentic & willing to follow God wherever He leads-e.g. the disciples/apostles of Acts.