REPENT AND HAVE 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.”

Read full chapter
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.”

Read full chapter
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)

The Jews wanted Jesus to prove who he was by giving a sign from heaven. Jesus called them a wicked generation. Why were they wicked? Jesus gave many 'signs' by the miracles he did, the healings he gave and the words of God he taught. But the Jews were blind to him. They refused to see God in Jesus. Jesus then gave two examples. He would give one sign—the sign of Jonah. As Jonah came out of the fish’s mouth in three days, so Jesus would be raised from the dead. The Queen of the South and the people of Nineveh would be saved because they listened to God’s people. Would the Jews listen? Do we look for signs, or do we repent and seek God?

2. The Lamp of the Body (33-36)

The Queen of the South and the people of Nineveh repented and listened to God’s word because they saw the light in God’s servants. Light is not meant to be hidden but exposed to everyone. The light drives away darkness. God’s word gives light that drives away darkness.

Prayer: Lord, help me to repent my sin and accept your word. Help me to walk in the light and be a light to others.

One Word: Repent and be a light