Tower Bible and Tract Society - Research Paper Example

Tower Bible and Tract Society The good news according to Luke was an account primarily relating the events of Jesus earthly ministry. Its purpose was to present an accurate record in logical order. As suggested by its having a place in the bible canon, this record was also to benefit many other persons, both Jews and non-Jews. Whereas topical arrangement appears to predominate at times, this gospel follows a chronological order in general outline. The writer did not speak himself as an eyewitness of the events in the life of Jesus Christ. The Bible of Luke was written by Luke himself. It was written in Caesarea. The writing of this book was completed at around 56-58 C.E. (Common Era). The period covered by the events was from 3 B.C.E. (Before Common Era) to 33 C.E. Luke is a physician and a faithful companion of Apostle Paul. He is well educated which is apparent from his teachings. Luke became a believer of Jesus Christ sometimes after Pentecost of 33 C.E. The physician Luke has generally been credited of writing this account. From as early as second century C.E. there is written evidence in the Muratorian Fragment, the oldest known list of New Testament books, that this gospel is being attributed to Luke. Certain aspects of this gospel may also be viewed as pointing to a well educated physician as its writer. The vocabulary found therein is more extensive than that of the other three gospels - Matthew, Mark, and Acts. At times the descriptions of afflictions healed by Jesus are more specific than in the other accounts. It was evidently before writing the book of Acts that Luke completed his Gospel. Since he had accompanied Paul to Jerusalem at the end of the apostle’s third missionary journey, he would have been in a good position to trace accurately the things pertaining to Jesus Christ in the very land where the son of God had carried out his activity. Following Paul’s arrest at Jerusalem, and during Paul’s later imprisonment in Caesarea, Luke would have had many opportunities to interview eyewitnesses and to consult written records. So, it is reasonable to conclude that the gospel may have written at Caesarea sometimes during Paul’s confinement there for about two years (56-58 C.E.). The scripture passage found at Luke 11:1-13 was an event wherein Jesus was with his twelve disciples. While Jesus was praying, one of his disciples approached him and asked to teach them how to pray. Jesus taught them the model prayer or the Lord’s Prayer found at Luke 11:2-4. At verses 5-11, Jesus illustrates a man with a friend who goes to him at midnight and asked to loan him 3 loaves for his visitor coming from a journey. The man refused to give his friend for the reason that he was already in bed with his children. But because of the persistent knocking and asking what he wants the man rise up and gave what he needs. This is also the same for us, when we pray to god to give us our daily needs, and if we were not yet able to receive it, don’t stop praying, pray and pray and pray because our heavenly father will certainly give us. We have to persevere in prayer. As in the case of the three other gospels, Luke’s account provides abundant evidence that Jesus is indeed the Christ, the son of God. It reveals Jesus to have been a man of prayer, one who relied fully on his heavenly father. It contains numerous supplementary details, which when combined with what is found in the other three gospels. Context information: Let us examine the context of Luke’s passage. The verses being quoted were taken from New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Luke 11:1 One of the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. There are some prayers that God wouldn’t answer because it is not in harmony with God’s word, the Bible. James 4:3 explained that it is because they are asking for a wrong purpose to expend in their cravings for sensual pleasure. Luke 11:2 Jesus started to teach them how to pray. In opening of the prayer, it stated: “Father, let your name be sanctified. Let your Kingdom come”. At the Ten Commandments given by God to the Israelites found in Leviticus 22:32, it stated; “You must not profane my holy name, and I must be sanctified in the midst of the sons of Israel.” Also, we can read at Ezekiel 36:23 that the father of Jesus Christ, whose name is Yahweh or translated Jehovah, will sanctify his great name which was being profaned among the nations. “Let your kingdom come.” We should also pray to let the kingdom of God come to the earth. Why? It is because only this kingdom, which Jesus Christ will be the king, can bring true peace and happiness to us. This kingdom will bring back the paradise lost by our first parents, Adam and Eve. This kingdom can answer all the problems we face now like inflation, crime, sickness, old age, and death. When this kingdom comes, there will be plenty of food to eat (Psalm 72:16). No one will say “I am sick” (Isaiah 33:24). There will be peace in all parts of the earth (Psalm 46:8,9), crimes will be gone (Psalm 37:10,11), no more death (Revelation 21:34), and even the dead ones will rise back to life (John 5:28,29). Luke 11:3 “Give us our bread for the day according to the days requirements.” The psalmist king David had a great trust on God to give us our daily food. As Psalm 37:25 said “A young man I used to be, I have also grown old, and yet I have not seen anyone righteous left entirely, nor his offspring looking for bread.” It is true that the food we eat is really from God. He feeds us. He poured out rain for the plants to yield fruits, sunlight needed by plants, and air oxygen to breathe. It teaches us not to be over anxious as to what we are to eat or what we are to drink for the next day. The need for the day should be sufficient. It doesn’t mean that we don’t work for our living. We should work for it, but we should not neglect our spiritual worship and activities. Luke 11:4 “And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone that is indebt to us, and do not bring us into temptation.” God will forgive us our sins if we forgive those people who sinned against us. Ephesians chapter 4:32 said “but become kind to one another, tenderly compassionate, freely forgiving one another just as God also by Christ freely forgive you”. Our prayers would not be heard by God if we have anger in our heart. James chapter 1:13 said “when under trial, let no one say “I am being tried by God, for with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but along with the temptation he will also make the way out in order for you to be able to endure it. Luke 11:5-13 In these 9 verses of the gospel of Luke, Jesus Christ told his disciples about a man who have a friend. It begins, “Further, he said to them: “Who of you will have a friend and will go to them at midnight and say to him, “Friend, loan me three loaves because a friend of mine has just come to me on a journey and I have nothing to set before him. And that the one from inside says in reply, ‘Quit making me troubled. The door is already locked, and my young children are with me in bed; I cannot rise up and give you anything.' “I tell you”, said Jesus, “although he will not rise up and give him anything because of being his friend, certainly because of his bold persistence he will get up and give him what things he needs. Accordingly, I say to you, keep on asking and it will be given to you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone asking receives, and everyone seeking finds, and to everyone knocking it will be opened. Indeed, which father is there among you who, if his son ask for a fish, will perhaps hand him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he also asks for an egg, will hand him a scorpion? Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to you children, how much more so will the father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him?” Interpretations/Applications Jesus, being referred to as the greatest teacher, was sent to earth by his father. He teaches us how to pray, it was called the model prayer. Only prayers with harmony to God’s purpose will be heard by his father. If our prayers was not yet heard b God do not give up. We have to persevere in prayer because God is much more than earthly father. A son/daughter who ask something from his father will certainly receive what he wants, especially if he does the will of his father. 1. All Scripture is Inspired of God and Beneficial. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. New York. 1990. 2. Insight on the Scripture. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. New York. 1988. 3. Rose, Rev. Dudley C. Forgive Us Our What? A sermon preached at North Prospect Union United Church of Christ, Medford, Massachusetts. July 29, 2007. http://www.northprospectchurch.org/uploads/media/s070729.pdf. 04 May 2010 4. Teach Us to Pray (Luke 11:1-13). Luke: The Gospel of the Gentiles. Bob Deffinbaugh. http://bible.org/seriespage/teach-us-pray-luke-111-13 . 04 May 2010 5. The Muratorian Fragment. Bible Research. http://www.bible-researcher.com/muratorian.html. 04 May 2010 Read More