REPENTING AND LIVING IN THE LIGHT

Passage: Luke 11:29-36

Key verse: 35

NIV

The Sign of Jonah(A)

29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign,(B) but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.(C) 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom;(D) and now something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah;(E) and now something greater than Jonah is here.

The Lamp of the Body(F)

33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.(G) 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,[a] your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,[b] your body also is full of darkness. 35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 11:34 The Greek for healthy here implies generous.
  2. Luke 11:34 The Greek for unhealthy here implies stingy.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Sign of Jonah

29 (A)When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, (B)“This generation is an evil generation. (C)It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as (D)Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 (E)The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and (F)condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, (G)something greater than Solomon is here. 32 (H)The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and (I)condemn it, for (J)they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, (K)something greater than Jonah is here.

The Light in You

33 (L)“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is (M)the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is (N)bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 (O)Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, (P)as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. The sign of Jonah (29-32) Jesus called his generation wicked for asking for a sign to prove that he was from God (16). Jesus promised only the sign of Jonah. This could refer to Jesus' coming from death to resurrected life, as Jonah came out of the fish's mouth (see Mt 12:4 ). Yet Luke seems to emphasize people repenting after being preached to, just like the Ninevites' response to Jonah's warning (Jonah 3:4-5). Jesus' audience was worse than the Ninevites and the Queen of the South (1Ki 1 :1,8). We don't need a sign; we need to repent and seek wisdom. 2. The lamp of the body (33-36) Light is meant to be lifted high to shine on all. The word of God is a light (Ps 119:1 5). Jesus is the light of the world (Jn 8:12). To confess our sins is to walk in the light (1Jn 1:6-9). Healthy, generous eyes come from accepting Jesus by repentance and faith. We let the light of God in by believing in Jesus and his word. Unhealthy, stingy eyes reject Jesus and remain in darkness.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I confess and repent of my sins of darkness. Forgive, cleanse and heal me anew, so that I walk in the light of your love and truth today.

One Word: Repent and come to the light