Luke 11 - Did You Know You Can Ask God for the Holy Spirit?

Luke 11 - NIV

Enduring Word Commentary - Luke 11

Luke 11 Verses 1-5 

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Note there is a pattern to prayer that can help us. There are no rigid rules about prayer, but if Jesus taught this to the disciples, it is worth our time to learn and practice the model he gave us. Note the prayer is simple. There are five main petitions.

When you pray remember God is holy. God is holy, but when we pray we need to remember to come into his presence with reverence. While prayer is a conversation with God under the influence of the Holy Spirit, we are also coming into the presence of an awesome and powerful Creator.  

We pray for God’s kingdom to come. Other versions add that it will come on earth as it is in heaven. How exciting it is to know our prayers can cause God’s kingdom, his rule and reign, to come to this world. Powerful!

Give us each daily our daily bread. This reminds us to not worry about tomorrow but trust that God will give us what we need (not necessarily what we want) each day. One of the most popular sayings in 12 step programs like A.A. is,  “Just for today", or "one day at a time!". Addicts and alcoholics only need to rely on God to save them from their addiction one day a time. When an alcoholic thinks they will never ever be able drink again, it sets them up to drink again.

Forgive us of our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Note the assumption is we will confess our sins, which are many, on a daily basis. It is not as if Jesus’ death doesn’t cover all of our sins on the cross, but we are commanded to confess them on a regularly. Note the Lord’s expectation is we will forgive others with the same grace we have been given. When we don't extend others the same grace has given us, it shows we really don't understand the depth to which Jesus has forgiven us. 

Finally, Jesus reminds them not to be led into temptation. God doesn’t tempt anyone, we are led into temptation when we follow our sinful desires. God can’t keep us from walking into temptation and acting on it. But we can pray not to be led into it and then not seek to find it.

Verses 5-8

Jesus shows his heart for those who pray. Unlike the person who might be aggravated by a friend knocking on his door at night, Jesus is willing to listen and hear our prayer at any time.

Jesus also encourages boldness and to persist and not give up in our prayers. Prayer is active and continuous not passive and stagnant.

Verses 9-13

Jesus encourages them to be bold and persistent in prayer and to pursue and act on the answers God gives. Notice the pattern of asking, seeking, and knocking is a progressive desire on our part to discovering God’s answer to our prayers.

Jesus reminds them that God’s heart is to answer their prayers like a good father would, not withholding what is good for them. Luke adds something when says, “How much more will the Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him

Did you know you can ask God for more of the Holy Spirit? Every day I ask God to fill me with the Holy Spirit for the day. Paul tells us without the Holy Spirit we can do nothing. Galatians 5

Verses 14-16

Jesus cast a demon out of man who was mute, because of the demon’s influence on his speech. Note demons have real power to afflict us. When Jesus cast out the demon, the people accused him of doing it through "Beelzebub", which was a name for the "prince of demons".

Verses 17-23

Jesus explains why this is an illogical claim. Why would Satan be against himself? That makes no sense. The only way he could cast out a demon, is if he has a greater power than the demon. Jesus' power over the demonic realm was evidence of the kingdom had come on earth as it is in heaven. I.e. In heaven there are no demons and they have no power except what has been given to them. 

This is why you either are for Jesus or against him. The miracles undeniably showed who Jesus was. One cannot just moderately believe in Jesus. He didn’t give us this option, nor did he intend to.

Verses 24-28

Just because he cast out the demon did not mean the demon would not seek other places to cause havoc. If they house he left did not fortify itself from spiritual attack, the same demon would come back. Jesus urged them to protect themselves from demons. If a person leaves themselves open to demonic oppression or is delivered them dabbles in the demonic it will be worse than before. In Ephesian 6 Paul teaches about the armor of God, which protects one against our enemy, the evil one.

Verses 29-32

The sign of Jonah was that he was in the belly of the whale of three days, and then saved by God by being spit up on dry land. It was a foreshadowing of Jesus being in the tomb for three days and being raised to new life.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, it was proof he was the Messiah. Signs of judgment were given in the Old Testament, like Jonah to the Ninevites. The Ninevites did not repent at the preaching of Jonah even with the supernatural way he was saved. This is why they were judged severely.

In the same way every person has been given knowledge of Jesus’ resurrection, so we are without excuse on judgment day. No other song will be given to humankind except Jesus.

Verses 33-36

The light shines greatest in the darkness. It is only useful if it shines and is not hidden. Those seeking a sign have been given the light in Jesus. In John, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world, but people prefer darkness over the light!” Many people prefer to live in darkness without Jesus, and Jesus will never force anyone to accept him. Jesus will always be the light of the world even to those who choose to open their eyes. The light will always be shining if they choose to return to it. 

Six Woes

Verses 37-41

The context is Jesus was at the home of a Pharisee. The Pharisee noticed Jesus had not washed his hands before the meal. It was time for Jesus to confront the self-righteousness of the Pharisees. To do this he gave six woes.

Jesus points out the Pharisees were like dishes, which were clean on the outside, but dirty on the inside. The Pharisees may have seemed to be religious, but Jesus sees the true condition of their hearts.

First Woe

The Pharisees were so legalistic on issues like tithing, that they focused on tithing even on the mint and other herbs in their garden, but neglected those in need around them. It wasn’t that tithing is bad, but they needed to show their obedience in more important matters.

Second Woe

The Pharisees were very concerned about their image and social status, so they made sure they sat at the most important places at the table. In short, they were very prideful.

Third Woe

The Jews whitewashed their graves so someone would avoid becoming defiled by touching them. NIV Study Bible p. 1563 But the fact of matter was people weren’t coming closer to God under their leadership. They were pushing people away from them

Fourth Woe

The Pharisees loaded the heavy demands of the Law on the Israelites' backs, but didn't do anything to help them carry it. Jesus said in Matthew 11, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light!". The Law was never meant to be a burden to us. It was meant to free us from things that cause harm to us and others. But the Pharisees yield the law as an instrument of control. They wielded a heavy hand and did nothing to apply to it to themselves. 

Fifth Woe 

The Pharisees acted like they venerated the prophets by building the prophets, yet they would kill Jesus who was the greatest prophet of all. The same spirit which caused their ancestors to kill the prophets was at work in them when they killed Jesus. 

Sixth Woe

The sixth woe Jesus pronounced was that the Pharisees failed to give other the knowledge that they had been entrusted to by God. Their legalistic approach moved the people from experience of a relationship with God to one of fear and obligation. They themselves had no knowledge of God, so they certainly did not have the ability to bring others to a place they had never been.