Luke 7 (7)

Pray Psalm 136.1-5.
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
For His mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
For His mercy endures forever:
To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His mercy endures forever;
To Him who by wisdom made the heavens,
For His mercy endures forever

Sing Psalm 136.1-4.
(Plainfield: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus)
Thank the God of gods and kings, for His love endures forever!
Let us our thanksgiving bring, for His love endures forever!
Wonders from Him abound; none other can be found
for whom our praise will sound, for His love endures forever!

Read Luke 7.1-50; meditate on verse 35.

Preparation
1. Who is wisdom?

2. Who are wisdom’s children?

Meditation
Jesus identified Himself as the Wisdom of God (v. 35). Unlike the pompous, strutting, holier-than-thou presumed keepers-of-wisdom in His day, Jesus proved, by the “children” He begot, that He is the true Wisdom of God, He is the great Savior of God’s people.

Even a cursory glance at Proverbs 8, where Wisdom speaks (don’t be put off by the feminine pronouns Wisdom uses; abstract nouns, like “wisdom”, are feminine in form in Hebrew), will point us undeniably to Jesus. Wisdom cries out and teaches on a high hill (Prov. 8.1, 2; cf. Lk. 6.12ff.). Wisdom teaches along the ways and in the entrance of the city, speaking excellent things and denouncing wickedness (Prov. 8.3-8; cf. Lk. 6.20-49). Wisdom blesses those who listen and obey (Prov. 8.32; cf. Lk. 7.1-10); gives life by the grace of God (Prov. 8.35; cf. Lk. 7.11-17); is the cure for sin (Prov. 8.36; cf. Lk. 7.36-50); exposes wickedness and pride (Prov. 8.12, 13; cf. throughout Lk. 4-7); and speaks the truth plainly for all to understand (Prov. 8.8-14; cf. Lk. 4.22, 32).

Jesus is the Wisdom of God, and this is proved by His “children” – a multitude of followers, sick people healed, the dead raised to life, demons sent packing, the prideful put in their place, the humble taught, sins forgiven, and the report of Him spreading throughout all the world. John had paved the way for Jesus, just as Isaiah had long ago prophesied (Lk. 7. 27; cf. Is. 40.1-3), and Jesus came to straighten the crooked places, smooth the rough ones, and bring the glory of God to earth (Is. 40.4, 5) in the Good News of God’s Kingdom and salvation (Is. 40.9-11). The Wisdom of God is Jesus. Such a great Savior!

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“But wisdom is justified by all her children” (Lk. 7.35).

As we bear the name of Christ (Ex. 20.7), now that we are His, we will either leave a fragrance of goodness (Lk. 7.38; Jn. 12.3) or a stench of hypocrisy (Lk. 7.39) in the nostrils of those with whom we come in contact. Our prayer must be that “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” (Ps. 23.6).

We have been given the most wonderful gift possible—the gift of Jesus Christ, and through Him, present and eternal salvation. We dare not squander or besmirch the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the Wisdom of God.

God has given us the Holy Spirit so that we will justify Jesus’ wondrous works to others. For this we were created, and for this we live. “Known to God from eternity are all His works” (Acts 15.18). “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (Jn. 1.12, 13).
“Beloved, now we are children of God…” (1 Jn. 3.2).

As His children, and beneficiaries of such a great Savior, God promises to be with us and teach us and guide us in the way He wants us to go, so that we will be pleasing children to Him. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” (Ps. 32.8).

All the way my Savior leads me; what have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy, Who though life has been my guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me; O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised in my Father’s house above;
When my spirit, clothed immortal, wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages, Jesus led me all the way.
This my song through endless ages, Jesus led me all the way.
(Fanny J. Crosby)

For reflection
1. What does it mean for you to be a child of the Wisdom of God?

2. With whom will you share the work of Jesus today?

3. Jesus is such a great Savior. How will you thank and praise Him today?

Let us study to prove ourselves children of Wisdom, by attending the instructions of God’s word, and adoring those mysteries and glad tidings which infidels and Pharisees deride and blaspheme. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Luke 7.35

Pray Psalm 136.6-26.
Thank God for His work of creation, providence, and redemption. Praise Him for delivering you from death to life through the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the Wisdom of God!

Sing Psalm 136.6-26.
(Plainfield: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus)
He the heav’ns and earth commands, for His love endures forever.
He made both by His own hands, for His love endures forever!
He Who the waters made, sun, moon, and stars obey,
sure in their paths each day, for His love endures forever!

Our redemption He has wrought – for His love endures forever –
by our Jesus’ suff’ring bought, for His love endures forever!
Down went our spirits’ foes, crushed by the Savior’s blows!
See! He before us goes, for His love endures forever!

When we languished in our sin, for His love endures forever!
He redeemed and took us in, for His love endures forever!
Rise we above our foe; blessings we daily know;
grace He will e’er bestow, for His love endures forever!

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.