LUKE LESSON 52
We will begin this lesson in Luke 22:1 "Now the feast of
unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover."
The Feast of Unleavened Bread lasted 8 days. Passover was
during this time. Leaven was symbolic of sin. Passover was a
remembrance of the night in Egypt when all of Egypt's firstborn died,
and God saved the firstborn of the Hebrews, because of the blood of
the lamb which was over their door. Death passed over the house,
where the blood was over the door, and did not enter. This Passover
would be remembered for all of eternity for the Lord Jesus is the
Passover Lamb.
Luke 22:2 "And the chief priests and scribes sought how they
might kill him; for they feared the people."
They could not just rush out, get Jesus and kill Him; because
the people would rise up in protest. Jesus had left Jerusalem and
taught in the rural areas for weeks before He entered Jerusalem on
Palm Sunday. At Passover time there were hundreds of thousands of
people extra in Jerusalem, Jesus had taught in the temple on Monday
and Tuesday after Palm Sunday. It seems large numbers of people came
to hear Him teach. These chief priests and scribes were jealous of
Jesus and that is really why they wanted to kill him.
Luke 22:3 "Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot,
being of the number of the twelve."
We see in this that one of the trusted twelve, Judas Iscariot who
traveled with Jesus and had opportunity to receive all the wonderful
gifts of the Spirit that came upon the other eleven, fell. His greed
for money opened him to the possibility to receive Satan within
himself. This spirit of Satan had to have Judas' permission to enter
him. As I said, greed caused this possession. Judas loved money
more than he loved God.
Luke 22:4 "And he went his way, and communed with the chief
priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them."
Judas had been with the others. When he became overcome by
Satan, he went quickly to the chief priests and captains to make his
terrible deal with them to betray Jesus.
Luke 22:5 "And they were glad, and covenanted to give him
money."
This is the 30 pieces of silver mentioned in other Scriptures.
Silver, of course, means redemption. Thirty is 3 times 10. Three
meaning God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Ten is
symbolic of world government. We see in the amount paid Judas
Iscariot that God is purchasing our redemption from the world. What
Judas meant for evil will be the greatest victory ever won by Jesus
for us.
Luke 22:6 "And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray
him unto them in the absence of the multitude."
Judas would catch Jesus away from the multitude and betray Him.
The first opportunity Judas got, he would send for these people to
take Jesus.
Luke 22:7 "Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the
passover must be killed."
Jesus is the Passover Lamb, and He is also the Unleavened Bread.
Unleavened means free from sin. Jesus is the Bread of life. As we
have said before, even "Bethlehem" where Jesus was born means house
of bread.
Luke 22:8 "And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare
us the passover, that we may eat."
This last supper that Jesus was to eat with his disciples was
what Peter and John were to go to prepare. This last supper would be
served in the upper room. Jesus, Himself, is the Passover Lamb and
will be crucified on the 14th day of Nissan which is Passover. The
Jewish day begins at 6 P.M. in the evening and goes to 6 P.M. the next
day. In Genesis, God established the evening and morning being a
day. He ate the same day He was crucified. He ate the Passover
supper just after 6 P.M. and was crucified later that day at
approximately 9 A.M. in the morning.
Luke 22:9 "And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we
prepare?" Luke 22:10 "And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are
entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher
of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in." Luke 22:11
"And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto
thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with
my disciples?"
Here again, the Spirit of God has undoubtedly gone ahead and made
preparations for Jesus and the disciples to have this room for the
last supper.
Luke 22:12 "And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished:
there make ready."
Here we see this is to be a large upstairs room where there would
not be a disturbance from the busy streets.
Luke 22:13 "And they went, and found as he had said unto them:
and they made ready the passover."
Little did these disciples know that their blessed Jesus was the
true Passover Lamb. Their making ready consisted of making sure there
was no leaven, getting special plates, and doing the things generally
done by the father of the home for Passover.
Luke 22:14 "And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the
twelve apostles with him." Luke 22:15 "And he said unto them, With
desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:"
Jesus calls this meal that they are partaking of the Passover.
As I explained earlier, it is possible that just after 6 P.M. on what
we would call Thursday evening, Jesus could have eaten Passover with
His disciples. At 6 P.M. that evening, Passover could have begun.
The next morning which would still have been Passover, they crucified
Jesus at the third hour (between 6 A.M.-9 A.M.) six hours later at the
ninth hour Jesus died. At the latest, it would have been 3 P.M.,
leaving plenty of time to get Him to the tomb before their Sabbath
began at 6 P.M. This way Jesus could have eaten Passover with the
disciples and yet was the Passover Lamb, as well.
Luke 22:16 "For I say unto you, I will not any more eat
thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God."
Jesus is eating Passover for the last time before His
crucifixion. The next Passover any of them eat will not even be
called Passover, but Communion. When the bread and wine are taken,
it will be in remembrance of the true Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ our
Lord. The kingdom of God that Jesus established was the church of the
living God.
Luke 22:17 "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said,
Take this, and divide [it] among yourselves:" Luke 22:18 "For I say
unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom
of God shall come."
In verse 18 here, it seems to be telling us that this is the last
of the Passover for the believers; because in verses 19 and 20, He
seems to begin Holy Communion.
Luke 22:19 "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake [it],
and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you:
this do in remembrance of me." Luke 22:20 "Likewise also the cup
after supper, saying, This cup [is] the new testament in my blood,
which is shed for you."
Jesus is saying in this communion that the old law of Passover is
being made the new covenant of His blood. What the law could not do,
Jesus' shed blood did: purchased our salvation. We have talked
throughout the Bible study how Jesus is the Bread. In fact, He is
the unleavened Bread. His body (free of sin) is symbolized by the
unleavened Bread. His blood is symbolized by the fruit of the vine.
When we take communion, we are remembering what great price Jesus paid
on the cross to save us.
Luke 22:21 "But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me [is]
with me on the table."
Judas was at the table taking Passover and communion with Jesus.
He was living a lie. He was already unfaithful to the Lord. Jesus
knew who it was.
Luke 22:22 "And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was
determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!"
The crucifixion of Jesus had been planned from the foundation of
the earth. God had foreknowledge of Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus,
but it was not pre-determined. Judas had of his own free will allowed
Satan to enter him. Judas did this through lust for money. The woe
spoken will soon be found out when Judas kills himself after he
betrays Jesus.
Luke 22:23 "And they began to enquire among themselves, which of
them it was that should do this thing."
No one knew but Judas and Jesus who this was. The disciples
might have killed Judas if they had known.
Luke 52 Questions
1. Verse 1 says the Feast of Unleavened Bread is called what?
2. What was leaven symbolic of?
3. What was the Passover celebrating?
4. Who wanted to kill Jesus, but feared the people?
5. What spirit entered Judas Iscariot?
6. Who did Judas meet with to plot against Jesus?
7. What did they covenant to give Judas?
8. What do the 30 pieces of silver symbolize?
9. When must the Passover lamb be killed?
10. Who is the Passover Lamb?
11. Who did Jesus send to prepare for the Passover meal?
12 What is another name this meal would be called by?
13. Where would this meal be served?
14. What day of the month is Passover?
15. At what hour of the day does the Jewish day begin?
16. At what hour was Jesus crucified?
17. At the very latest, what hour did He die?
18. How may hours were left to get Him in the tomb before the Sabbath?
19. Jesus wanted to eat Passover with His disciples before He _______.
20. How long did Jesus hang on the cross?
21. In verse 16, Jesus is eating Passover the last time and is
establishing what?
22. The kingdom of God symbolizes what?
23. In verses 19 and 20, Jesus teaches what?
24. The old law of Passover is being made what?
25. The wine symbolizes what?
26. This unleavened bread symbolizes what?
27. Whose hand was on the table with Jesus?
28 What statement did Jesus say about the one who betrayed Him?
29. In verse 23, what were they discussing?
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