THE SON OF DAVID, SON OF ABRAHAM, AND SON OF MAN

Return to Syllabus

LUKE 18:31-43
LUKE 19:1-10
Lesson #50
THE SON OF DAVID, SON OF ABRAHAM, AND SON OF MAN

• Memory Verse: Luk 19:10
• In our previous lesson we learned that wealth can keep you separated from a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ unless you humble yourself and set aside the things that the world values.
• The things of the world can keep you blinded to the value of spiritual things.
  • In this lesson Jesus heals a blind man.
  • In Luke chapters 17 and 18 Jesus having gone through Samaria was close to Jerusalem on his way to the crucifixion, but now He has come to Jericho.
    • We see in this that God has a special purpose for this slight diversion.
    • We see again that Luke’s Gospel is written placing certain important themes together to present Jesus as the perfect Son of Man.
      • Man in his sin and spiritual blindness is placed next to Jesus Christ, the perfect man without sin.
      • For man to overcome his sin and spiritual blindness, he must humble himself and repent of his sin to see Jesus for who He really is.
• Read Luk 18:31-34 Fulfilled prophecy
  • “…all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.” (31)
  • What are the things that must be accomplished?
    • Jesus’ birth through Mary, a virgin.
    • Jesus’ whole ministry for 3 ½ years on earth was to fulfill the prophecy in Isa 61:1-2a.
    • Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.
    • There are 333 prophetic details of Christ’s coming to earth in His first coming and His second coming.
      • He fulfilled all those necessary for His first coming.
      • We can therefore be sure that He will fulfill all those necessary for His second coming.
    • “For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:  And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.” (32-33)
      • Luke mentions only a few of the details that must be fulfilled in His first coming:
      • And yet these few details run through many Old Testament prophecies. Here are a few of them:
      • Psa 22:6-8,16 Psa 30:3 Psa 35:7,12, 15-16, 21 Psa 109:25 Isa 49:7 Isa 50:6 Isa 53:5,7 Hos 6:2
    • The probability that one man could fulfill all the prophetic details is a near impossibility, but with God no detail is left to fall through the cracks of time and His purpose unfulfilled.
  • In spite of the overwhelming proof that fulfilled prophecy tells us that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, many did not believe. (34) Sadly, the same level of unbelief and spiritual blindness exist today.
• Read Luk 18:35-43 Blind Bartimaeus
  • Read Mat 20:29-34 Blind Bartimaeus
    • Matthew and Mark also wrote about this miracle. However, Matthew speaks of two blind men healed while Mark and Luke refer only to one blind man.
    • Mark 10:46 gives us his name, Bartimaeus.
    • Why does Luke leave out the other blind man that was healed?
      • Bartimaeus is the more active of the two men.
      • Luke is concentrating on the statement made by this one blind man named Bartimaeus, whose name means = honorable son.
  • Luke tells us this event occurred in Jericho.
    • Why is that significant?
    • You should remember that Jericho was where Rehab hid the Jewish spies before the Israelites took possession of the Promised Land under Joshua.
      • Jericho is where the spies promised Rehab, a Gentile, salvation and security when the Israelites came to destroy the city. Her house was marked for salvation by a red cord in the window.
      • The red cord is a prophetic symbol of the blood of Christ that provides salvation and security to all those that believe in Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
      • With the destruction of Jericho a curse was placed on whoever rebuilt that city. (Jos 6:26)
        • King Ahab rebuilt Jericho. He and his wife Jezebel reaped that curse. (1Kin 16:33-34 1Kin 21:24-25)
        • In Jesus’ day, the city of Jericho was a resort area. The wealthy tax collectors lived there. They were like the Mafia of that day.
  • Bartimaeus catches Jesus’ attention by his statement, “Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.” (38)
    • What is so significant about this statement that in the midst of a crowd, it catches Jesus’ attention?
      • The title “Son of David” is a prophetic title for the Jewish Messiah that would come through the lineage of David. (Isa 9:7 2Sam 7:12)
      • Coming through the lineage of David means that the Messiah, Jesus Christ will reign as the King of kings.
    • This man had faith that Jesus came to fulfill the prophecies about the Messiah.
      • In a few days, as Bartimaeus continued to follow Jesus, he would see the Jewish Messiah die on the cross.
      • Bartimaeus was like many Jews who thought Jesus would establish his throne and kingship at His first coming to earth. (19:11) They did not understand God’s timing.
• Read Luk 19:1-10 Zacchaeus, the tax collector
  • The name Zacchaeus means = pure or holiness. But we will see that his life was far from pure.
  • “…Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.” (2)
    • Zacchaeus was not just any tax collector. He had other tax collectors working for him.
    • He had climbed the ladder of success and was at the top in position, power, and wealth.
    • It is interesting that his social, political, and financial position was heads above the others, but his physical stature was short.
  • This man wanted to see Jesus but he could not. Zacchaeus was just as blind as Bartimaeus!
    • His desire was so great that he put aside his power and prestige to do something so undignified as to climb a sycamore tree.
      • A sycamore tree is very difficult to climb because it has a slick bark.
      • A sycamore tree is also difficult because the first branches of the tree are high off the ground.
    • This action actually demonstrates to us his humble heart and desperate determination at this point in his life. We are going to see that his humble action came from a humble heart.
    • Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “…come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.” (5)
      • Notice that Jesus knew who this man was. He even knew his name.
      • We do not know how Jesus knew these things because the Bible does not tell us.
        • Perhaps Jesus knew the reputation and high position of a man known by everyone in that city.
        • Perhaps Jesus knew this man supernaturally being able to discern the heart of a man.
        • Or perhaps it is some of both.
  • Zacchaeus repents:
    • “And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” (8)
      • The word, repent, means to turn your life and heart around so you go in the opposite direction.
      • While the scripture does not use the word, repent, here, the actions of Zacchaeus fulfill the definition of the word.
    • Restitution:
      • We also see Zacchaeus promise restitution to those from whom he had robbed and extorted money.
      • We don’t often talk about restitution today, but restitution was part of the Law of Moses that was initiated by God. (Exo 22)
      • Exo 22:1 said restitution should be four times the damage done.
  • ^“ And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.” (9)
    • Zacchaeus received his salvation that day because of his repentance and his faith.
    • Zacchaeus is the last person to receive the promise of salvation before the crucifixion of Jesus.
      • How do we know Zacchaeus had faith?
      • Jesus said Zacchaeus was “a son of Abraham” meaning that Zacchaeus had part in the covenant that God made with Abraham. That covenant was a covenant of faith because Abraham was the father of faith. (Rom 4:16 Gal 3:7, 14)
        • Abraham was a Jew justified by faith.
        • The New Testament is clear to include Jews and Gentiles into the kingdom of God by faith. (Eph 2:11-14)
        • Rahab of Jericho was a Gentile saved by faith.
    • ^“ For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (10)
      • This statement by Jesus tells us His purpose for His first coming to this earth.
      • This seeking and saving the lost is what the crucifixion and resurrection accomplished for all who humble themselves, repent, and by faith receive Jesus Christ in the heart.
• Summary and application:
  • Our lesson began with the theme of fulfilled prophecy that tells us who Jesus is and what he came to do so that man could recognize Him when He came.
  • Spiritual blindness keeps man from recognizing Jesus Christ as God in the flesh. Just as Bartimaeus was physically and spiritual blind until Jesus healed him and interacted in his life, all men are blind to spiritual truth until they have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.
  • Bartimaeus saw Jesus spiritually as the Son of David, the Messiah, who would come to establish His kingdom on earth and reign as a King for 1000 years.
  • Zacchaeus humbled himself to repent before Jesus as a son of Abraham by faith because God promised that the Messiah would come through the Seed of Abraham (Gen 18:18).
  • Then to conclude our lesson, Jesus says that He is the Son of Man come to seek and save the lost.
    • The title the Son of Man was Jesus’ title for himself as He came to identify himself with man.
    • Luke stresses this title as Jesus Christ is the perfect man without sin.
    • The title was first spoken by the prophet Daniel about the coming Messiah in Dan 7:13.
    • Read Dan 7:13

Homework
Luke 19:11-27

• Application of Luk 18:31-43 and Luk 19:1-10
  • How would you describe who Jesus is to you?
  • Does your view of Jesus’ identity conform to what you learned about Him in this lesson?
  • How has this lesson changed your view of who Jesus really is?
  • What difference will this make in your life?
• Preparation for Luke 19:11-27
  • Read Luk 19:11-27
    • What do you think one pound represents in the parable? (Notice that all servants receive the same amount. Therefore, what is it that all believers receive equally?)
• Memory verse: Luk 19:26