Culture Of The Covenant Community Series

One of the things I love about Jesus is the way that He teaches. Now, in some ways, I would prefer a didactic, logical, clearly outlined type of teaching with points and sub-points that allow for a thorough understanding of a topic in a clear and succinct way- but that’s not the way that Jesus does it - and I love it, I love Him more for it. As we’ve seen throughout our study of Luke’s gospel, Jesus teaches in story and parable making His teaching memorable. He teaches based on life around Him - holidays, days of the week, circumstances in which He and His disciples find themselves. He teaches for life-transformation and not for information-transfer.

Last week, we got to observe Jesus and his disciples at the last supper before His betrayal and crucifixion. It was there that He instituted the ordinance that we call Communion. It was also there that Jesus mentioned that His betrayer was as the table with them. Luke notes at the conclusion of those verses: Luke 22:23 “And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.”

Their discussion about who would be the worst of them quickly shifted into who would be the greatest.

If you have your Bibles, open the to Luke 22. It’s on page 840 in the pew Bible. I do want to encourage you to have a copy of God’s word open as there are a few things that I’d like you to be able to see in the text.

In the midweek email, I asked you to read verses 24-30. We’re actually going to go a bit beyond that. As I have been studying this, it seems like the argument of the text expands beyond the initial pericope. There is more that Jesus needs to teach on the topics that we’re discussing today.

Luke 22:24–38 ESV

A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

“You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”

Before we look closely at this text today, I’d like to point out something that may not be as clear to us. Look in your Bibles at verse 29. In the ESV, the Greek word used there is translated “assign” - Jesus assigns to the disciples as the Father assigned to Him - a kingdom. In many ways, this Greek word is similar to what we might use in a will or a bequest. In fact other English translations note as much.

But that Greek word is the verb form of the word that is translated “covenant” in verse 20. In my Bible I circled both of those words and drew a line between them in order to help me see the correlation.

The translation of the Old Testament that Jesus likely used was the Greek translation - called the Septuagint. If you have a study bible, you may see this abbreviated as LXX. Many of the times that this Greek word is used in the Septuagint it’s translated as “make a covenant.” In other words, this is more than just a decree or an assignment, but something broader, more lasting, more devoted.