INTERNET BIBLE STUDIES Luke Lesson 29
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Luke Chapter 22:31-71

 Memory verses for this week:  Josh 3:5  And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you. 

Introduction: We continue our study of the book of Luke this week as we continue in last half of chapter 22.   Last week, we began our study with the study about how Judas betrayed Christ to the Chief Priests.   Jesus gathered his disciples together in the upper room as he instituted the Lord’s Supper.   The disciples argued about who would be the greatest in the kingdom, and Jesus rebuked them and told them the greatest would be those who serve.   He further promised that each of the twelve apostles would sit on a throne judging the twelve tribes of Israel in the Millennial Kingdom.

 

I.  Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial 

Luke 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

Luke 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 

Jesus declares that Satan desired to have Peter that he might sift him as wheat.   I think that we can honestly say that Devil wants to tear all of us apart and sift each of us.   If Satan does sift us, he can shake us up badly and all that is left is the chaff.   We need to not give him any foothold in our lives.   Jesus tells Peter he had prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail.  While Peter may have failed the Lord, we can be sure that his faith did not fail.   Satan is powerful, but no match for our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Luke 22:33  And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

Luke 22:34  And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. 

Sometimes the Lord allows some of his best servants to fail terribly to show them their weakness.  Without Christ, we are nothing and can not accomplish anything for the cause of Christ.  But when we work as branches out of the true vine, we can do great things with God’s help.  The Lord knew Peter far better than he knew himself. And He knows us better than we know ourselves.   Peter says that not only would he not deny the Lord, but he was willing to even go to prison and die if it was needed.   And I believe he meant what he was saying.   Jesus told Peter that before the cock crew, he would deny him three times.  

Luke 22:35  And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

Luke 22:36  Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

Luke 22:37  For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

Luke 22:38  And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough. 

Jesus questions the disciples as to whether they lacked anything when he sent them forth without money or extra clothing.    He asked if anything was lacking, and they all agreed that there was nothing lacking.   Amazing how God can provide for us when we have no idea how it will come.   God promises to take care of his children, and he always does.   King David in the Psalms said he had lived many years, and had never seen the righteous forsaken.   God is faithful to His children. 

Psa 37:25  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 

Jesus warns them that tough times are about to be upon them.  If they put our Lord to death, be sure we will not be popular with the world.   Jesus warns them to take the money they had and to buy a sword because battles were looming on the horizon.   They tell Christ that they have two swords among the twelve, and Jesus says that it is enough.    Two swords among 12 men was not many, but with God on their side, it was more than enough. 

Matthew Henry said this about these verses concerning Christ’s warning. 

They must therefore expect troubles, and must not think now to have such an easy and comfortable life as they had had; no, the scene will alter. They must now in some degree suffer with their Master; and, when he is gone, they must expect to suffer like him. The servant is not better than his Lord. [1.] They must not now expect that their friends would be so kind and generous to them as they had been; and therefore, He that has a purse, let him take it, for he may have occasion for it, and for all the good husbandry he can use. [2.] They must now expect that their enemies would be more fierce upon them than they had been, and they would need magazines as well as stores: He that has no sword wherewith to defend himself against robbers and assassins (2 Co. 11:26) will find a great want of it, and will be ready to wish, some time or other, that he had sold his garment and bought one. This is intended only to show that the times would be very perilous, so that no man would think himself safe if he had not a sword by his side. But the sword of the Spirit is the sword which the disciples of Christ must furnish themselves with. Christ having suffered for us, we must arm ourselves with the same mind (1 Peter 4:1), arm ourselves with an expectation of trouble, that it may not be a surprise to us, and with a holy resignation to the will of God in it, that there may be no opposition in us to it: and then we are better prepared than if we had sold a coat to buy a sword. The disciples hereupon enquire what strength they had, and find they had among them two swords (v. 38), of which one was Peter’s. The Galileans generally traveled with swords. Christ wore none himself, but he was not against his disciples’ wearing them. But he intimates how little he would have them depend upon this when he saith, It is enough, which some think is spoken ironically: "Two swords among twelve men! you are bravely armed indeed when our enemies are now coming out against us in great multitudes, and every one with a sword!’’ Yet two swords are sufficient for those who need none, having God himself to be the shield of their help and the sword of their excellency, Deu. 33:29.  [i] 

 

II.  Jesus in the Garden 

Luke 22:39  And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

Luke 22:40  And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

Luke 22:41  And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 

It was Jesus’ custom to retire from time to time to a garden on the slope of the mountain called Gethsemane when he came into Judea.  The disciples follow him into the place called the mount of Olives.   When Jesus entered into the little garden of Gethsemane, he told the disciple to pray that they be not led into temptation.   And after this, he goes about a stones cast further and knelt down and prayed.   When you look at how much and how long Jesus prayed, it makes me realize that I don’t pray nearly as much as I should.   I tend to try and pray before meals and at bedtime, but Jesus spent hours at times praying to the Heavenly Father.    The bible tells us to be in prayer constantly with God. 

1 Th 5:16  Rejoice evermore.

1 Th 5:17  Pray without ceasing.

1 Th 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Th 5:19  Quench not the Spirit.

1 Th 5:20  Despise not prophesyings.

1 Th 5:21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

1 Th 5:22  Abstain from all appearance of evil. 

Luke 22:42  Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Luke 22:43  And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

Luke 22:44  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 

Notice what Jesus prayed.  He asked that the cup of suffering for our sins might pass quickly.   He was not asking for a way out of the death he had made a pact to deliver in the council halls of God.   The plan of salvation was not an after thought with God, but it was planned from the beginning that the son would come in the flesh, live a sinless life, and then go and die on Calvary for the sins of the world.    Jesus was simply in agony, and was asking ‘If it be possible”, that he go quickly to the cross as was planned.  Note his words in verse 42… but “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”    Jesus was always seeking to do the perfect will of God. 

John 10:17  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

John 10:18  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. 

 

John 19:9  And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

John 19:10  Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

John 19:11  Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. 

Jesus was in such great agony that God sent an angel to strengthen Him.  The angel coming emphasizes the reality of him being just a man here on earth… one tempted in all points like us, yet without sin.   In the garden, it says in verse 44 that he sweated as it were great drops of blood.   No one understands the depths of anguish Jesus went through to redeem us from the curse of the law.

 

Luke 22:45  And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

Luke 22:46  And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. 

Note that when Jesus arose from prayer, he was in perfect peace and calmness of spirit.   He comes to the disciples and finds them sleeping for sorrow.   These men did not understand why Jesus had to die, and it was with heavy hearts that they waited for his crucifixation.   Jesus tells them to rise and pray.   They were about to face their supreme test. 

Believers Study Bible said this about the disciples sleeping for sorrow. 

“Sleeping from sorrow” means that the disciples are exhausted from the emotional demands made by the prophecy of Jesus’ death and the difficult future facing them.  [ii]

 

IV.  Jesus Betrayed by Judas 

Luke 22:47  And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.

Luke 22:48  But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? 

Judas had told the soldiers and high priests that he would point out the Lord by kissing Him.    This was a kiss of betrayal.   Jesus was not surprised by his actions, and says unto him “Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?”  You know this had to hurt inside to know Jesus knew what you were doing, and to have your evil actions revealed to the other disciples. 

Luke 22:49  When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

Luke 22:50  And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

Luke 22:51  And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. 

One thing you can say about the disciples, they were ready to fight for the Lord.  The Lord never intended for the two swords they brought with them to be used for His defense.  They were for the disciples after his death.   However wrong it was, Peter lashes out with a sword and cut off the right ear of the high priest’s servant.  Jesus tells them “Suffer ye thus far.”   And then he healed the ear of the man.   Here are people coming out to take Christ to town and ultimately put Him to death, and yet in this hour, He shows love and compassion against His enemies.   Jesus set an example that we should all follow.   His instructions in Matthew are full of love and compassion towards all men. 

Mat 5:38  Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

Mat 5:39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Mat 5:40  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

Mat 5:41  And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Mat 5:42  Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Mat 5:43  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Mat 5:45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Mat 5:46  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 

Luke 22:52  Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?

Luke 22:53  When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. 

Jesus asks them a question.   Why had they come out to get him as a thief with swords and staves?    Every day he was in the temple teaching, but they didn’t arrest Him then.   Why was that?   Because His time was not yet.   But now, the time had come for him to die and for Satan to appear to have won a battle.   But that is all it was for Satan,  an appearance of winning.   After three days and three nights, Jesus came out of the grave victorious over death, and by His sacrifice, we too can have eternal life. 

John 7:6  Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.

John 7:7  The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

John 7:8  Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast: for my time is not yet full come.

 

Luke 4:28  And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

Luke 4:29  And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.

Luke 4:30  But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

 

In Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, he said this about verse 3. 

I was daily with you in the temple—Alluding to the four preceding days, during the whole of which he taught in the temple, see Luke 21:37, and Matthew 21:17.

This is your hour, and the power of darkness—That is, the time in which you are permitted to unrein your malice; which ye could not do before, because God did not permit you; and so perfectly are ye under his control that neither you nor the prince of darkness can proceed a hair’s breadth against me but through this permission: see at the end of the chapter. What a comfortable thought is it to the followers of Christ, that neither men nor demons can act against them but by the permission of their heavenly Father, and that he will not suffer any of those who trust in him to be tried above what they are able to bear, and will make the trial issue in their greater salvation, and in his glory! 

 

V.  Jesus Arrested and Peter’s Denial 

Luke 22:54  Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

Luke 22:55  And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

Luke 22:56  But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

Luke 22:57  And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. 

Suddenly the faith of the disciples is not what it had been.  It says they took Jesus to the high priest’s house, and Peter followed afar off.   That is how we sometimes are as Christians.   We want to be part of the winning side and be on God’s side, but when we need to take up our cross and fight a battle, we tend to kind of hang back and let others do the witnessing and the work of the Lord.   We should not be this way, but always about the Master’s work.  Bible says we should always be ready to give an answer to every man that asks us for the reason of our hope. 

1 Pet 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

1 Pet 3:16  Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

1 Pet 3:17  For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 

It is important to note that there were not supposed to be meetings carried on at night, but things were supposed to be done in the light.  But the trials and accusations give to Christ were not done by the law nor done fairly in any stretch of the imagination.    It says that Peter comes in with the group and kneels down next to the fire to warm him.   A certain maid in verse 56 accuses Peter of being one that was with Jesus.   He adamantly denies this which was his first denial. 

Luke 22:58  And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. 

A man later on charges that Peter was one that was with Christ, and Peter claims he was not.    His words were “Man I am not.”    No one wanted to associate themselves with Jesus now or they might be imprisoned or killed also.   This was the second denial. 

Luke 22:59  And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.

Luke 22:60  And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

Luke 22:61  And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Luke 22:62  And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. 

Roughly an hour after his second denial, another accuses him of being with Jesus because he was a Galilaean.    Peter again denies and says “Man I know not what thou sayest.”   And after this third denial, the cock crew.   In the record of this account in Matthew, it said that his speech betrayed him, and he trying desperately to disassociate himself from the Lord began to curse. 

Mat 26:73  And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

Mat 26:74  Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. 

Can you imagine the feelings that went through Peter when the Lord turned and looked upon him.   Just earlier in this day, Peter had said he not only would not deny, but he would go and die if need be.   And I believe with all my heart he meant those words.   It says in verse 62 that he went out and wept in repentance.   This goes to show us how weak we can be when we are alone and trying to battle with Satan.    Without the Lord, we are no match for Satan.  Not even the angels are able to battle effectively against Satan. 

Jude 1:9  Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

 

VI.  Jesus Before the Sanhedrin Council 

Luke 22:63  And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.

Luke 22:64  And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? 

The Sanhedrin council was the supreme religious council in Israel and was made up of the 70 most noted elders.   Jesus is brought before this group and was mocked and smote upon.   They blindfolded him and struck him in the face and in mockery asks him to prophesy as to who smote him.   What is amazing, He could have told them, but in the plan of God, He kept his peace. 

Luke 22:65  And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

Luke 22:66  And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,

Luke 22:67  Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:

Luke 22:68  And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.

Luke 22:69  Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

Luke 22:70  Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.

Luke 22:71  And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth. 

Jesus is falsely accused of many things.   They directly ask Him if he is the Christ, and he tells them that even if He told them, they would not believe.  He then tell them that one day they would see Him coming on the right hand of the power of God.    They accuse him of blasphemy for saying this.   But He was telling the truth.   After the seven years of tribulation, Jesus will come in great power and glory and establish His kingdom here on earth. 

Mark 13:24  But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

Mark 13:25  And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

Mark 13:26  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

Mark 13:27  And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

 

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Prov 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 

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[i]Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) 1997.

[ii]W.A. Criswell, Believer’s study Bible [computer file], electronic ed. , Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1991 by the Criswell Center for Biblical Studies.