O Unbelieving and Perverse Generation!

Luke 9:37-45

Key Verse 9:41a

This passage teaches us God’s true greatness despite men’s truly perverse conditions. 

 

1. Compare the scene described in verses 37-40 with the scene on the mountainside in verses 28-33. How are they different? 

** The difference is between that of perfect hell and perfect paradise.

2. Think about what the father said in verses 38-40. Verse 39 says that it was a “spirit” which caused the boy to suffer. What does the word “spirit” indicate about the nature of the problem the boy had? What can we learn here in praying for the youth of this generation?

** Man’s problems are more spiritual than physical. We can easily understand this by comparing men with animals. Animals do not suffer from problems such as manic depression because they are not created to be spiritual beings. But men are spiritual beings. When man’s spirit becomes disorderly, so his condition also becomes disorderly.

** 1) We need to help them more spiritually than physically.

2) Combine the word “spirit” with “evil” in v. 42. Then we learn that morality makes a difference, that is, either causing man’s life to be a perfect kingdom of hell or a perfect kingdom of God. So we need to teach young people to live a life that is moral and virtuous.  

2) Specifically in order to help them grow morally and spiritually we need to teach them the Bible, for it enables man to keep the spiritual order right. For example Genesis teaches us that we need to live by faith in God, and obey His commands. Then, God provides us with all things necessary. 

3. In verse 41 we find the word “unbelieving” first, and then the word “perverse”. How are the two conditions related to one another? 

** They are related together like mother and son. First you go unbelieving, then to end up living a life which is perverse. The word perverse is suggestive of disorderliness or inversion of order, that is, turning the creation order upside down. But Jesus came to turn everything right side up. 

4. Think about Jesus’ rebuke in verse 41 saying, ‘[H]ow long shall I stay with you and put up with you?” What does this rebuke indicate about the kind of life we are expected to live? 

** Jesus expects us to live by faith in the Lord, so we would function as God’s agents/stewards/stewardesses, functioning as Jesus does, so that Jesus would not have to come to our help all the time. Didn’t Jesus give us the universe with the command to rule over it and subdue it?

5. Consider the good work Jesus performed for the boy and his father (42-43). Jesus healed the boy by “rebuking” the evil spirit. What does the word “rebuke” or “evil” (in “evil spirit”) tell us about the way to overcome the problem of evil spirits? (Ezekiel 14:6; Acts 3:19; James 4:7)

** We need to resist evil and flee away from it to God’s righteousness. We find the same message in different expressions such as repent and turn to God, etc. 

6. In verses 44 and 45, even as people marveled at the greatness of God, Jesus predicted that he would be betrayed into the hands of men. What do Jesus’ words indicate about: 1) the condition of fallen men; and 2) God’s true greatness?

** All men remain perverse.

** Despite man’s perverse condition, the Lord God chose to love them by sending Jesus who came to substitute himself to receive punishment which is due us. 

The end

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