New Testament in a Year – Luke 21

The Widow's Offering - Luke 21:1-4

Understand It

• What did Jesus notice? (21:1)
• What were the rich people doing? (21:1)
• How did Luke describe the woman Jesus saw? (21:2)
• What did the woman do that Jesus noticed? (21:2)
• How were the motives of the rich different from those of the woman? (21:1-2)
• How did Jesus use this situation as an opportunity to teach His followers? (21:3)
• How did the woman "put in more than all the others" when her gift was much smaller than the gifts of the rich? (21:3)
• What was lacking in the gifts the rich people gave? (21:4)
• What had the poor widow actually sacrificed? (21:4)
• What principle of giving did Jesus communicate? (21:4)

Apply It

• What sacrifice of money could you make in God’s service?
• What besides money can you give sacrificially to others this week? How?

Signs of the End of the Age - Luke 21:5-38

Understand It

• What did the disciples say about the temple that prompted a prophecy from Jesus? (21:5)
• How did the disciples respond to Jesus’ prediction concerning the temple? (21:7)
• What did Jesus say could deceive Christians in the last days? (21:8)
• What signs of the end of the age did Jesus tell us to expect? (21:9-13)
• Why did Jesus advise His followers not to worry about what will happen to them? (21:14)
• What promises did Jesus give to His disciples? (21:18-19)
• What will be the result of "standing firm" in the last days? (21:19)
• Why will the "time of punishment" be necessary? (21:22)
• What signs will usher in the end of the age? (21:23-26)
• What should be the response of Christians to the many signs of the end? (21:28)
• For what purpose did Jesus tell the parable of the fig tree? (21:29-31)
• What final advice did Jesus give? (21:34-36)

Apply It

• What Christian can you meet with this week to pray for preparedness for the times to come?
• What can you do now to get ready for Christ’s return?
• Who is one unbeliever you can tell about the saving grace of the gospel? How?

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus - Luke 22:1-6

Understand It

• What event were the people anticipating? (22:1)
• Why was this event important? (22:1)
• What was the plan of the chief priests and teachers of the law? (22:2)
• Why were the religious leaders afraid of the people? (22:2)
• What motivated Judas to approach the religious leaders who wanted to get rid of Jesus? (22:3)
• In what way is Satan’s role in this story significant? (22:3)
• What did Judas and the religious leaders discuss? (22:4)
• How did the leaders respond to Judas’s willingness to betray Jesus? (22:4)
• What did Judas get in return for betraying Jesus? (22:5-6)
• How was Judas’s plan deceitful? (22:6)
• Why was it important for Judas to hand Jesus over "when no crowd was present"? (22:6)

Apply It

• What evidence of selfishness and greed do you see in your own life that could be remedied with the Lord’s help?
• How could you demonstrate today your own faithfulness and loyalty to a friend?

The Last Supper - Luke 22:7-38

Understand It

• What was significant about the day of Unleavened Bread? (22:7)
• What instructions did Jesus give to Peter and John? (22:8-13)
• Why did Jesus eagerly desire to eat the Passover with His disciples? (22:15-16)
• What did Jesus mean when He said, "I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God"? (22:16)
• What did Jesus instruct His disciples to do in remembrance of Him? (22:17-20)
• What did the cup represent? (22:20)
• Why did a dispute arise among the disciples? (22:23-24)
• What principle did Jesus promote in response to the disciples’ disagreement? (22:25-27)
• What did Jesus tell Simon about his future? (22:31-32)
• How did Simon respond to Jesus’ prediction? (22:33)
• How did Jesus warn His disciples of the difficult time ahead? (22:35-37)
• In what way did the disciples take Jesus’ instructions too literally? (22:38)

Apply It

• How will you prepare for Communion next time so that you will appreciate more the provision Jesus made for you?
• How can you serve others this week with an attitude of humility?

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives - Luke 22:39-46

Understand It

• What does this passage reveal about Jesus’ habits? (22:39)
• For what purpose did Jesus go to the Mount of Olives? (22:39)
• What instructions did Jesus give to His disciples? (22:40)
• Why did Jesus withdraw from His followers? (22:41)
• What does Jesus’ prayer reveal about His own character and His relationship with the Father? (22:42)
• What did Jesus want to avoid if possible? (22:42)
• What was Jesus referring to when He said, "Take this cup from me"? (22:42)
• How was Jesus strengthened at this difficult time? (22:43)
• How did Jesus confront His own anguish and dread? (22:44)
• What does this passage tell us about Jesus’ physical and emotional condition shortly before His death? (22:44)
• What did Jesus find when He returned to the disciples? (22:45)
• Why were the disciples so exhausted? (22:45)
• For what reason did Jesus advise His disciples to pray? (22:46)

Apply It

• In the next few weeks, what might you do to develop better habits of prayer and spiritual discipline?
• What particular area of your own life do you want to consciously submit to the Father’s will?

Jesus Arrested - Luke 22:47-53

Understand It

• Who was leading the crowd that approached Jesus? Why? (22:47-48)
• Why did Judas approach Jesus? (22:47-48)
• What actions of Judas were hypocritical and insincere? (22:47-48)
• How did Jesus respond to Judas’s greeting? (22:48)
• Why did Jesus reveal His identity to His opponents? (22:48)
• How did Jesus’ followers respond to Jesus’ arrest? (22:49)
• What motivated one of Jesus’ followers to attack one of the servants? (22:50)
• How did Jesus react when one of His disciples tried to protect Him? (22:50-51)
• How did Jesus show compassion even to His captors? (22:51)
• What emotions did Jesus show during this difficult time? (22:51-53)
• What did Jesus say to the religious leaders who had come for Him? (22:52-53)
• What did Jesus mean when He said, "This is your hour—when darkness reigns"? (22:53)
• In what way did Jesus submit to the Father’s will in this situation? (22:53)

Apply It

• In what situations do you want to be more sincere and forthright?
• In what areas of your life do you need to rely more consistently on the strength of the Lord?
• In what way could you prepare yourself now for future uncertainties?

Peter Disowns Jesus - Luke 22:54-62

Understand It

• Where did the events of this story take place? (22:54)
• What had happened to Jesus? (22:54)
• For what reason did Peter follow Jesus "at a distance"? (22:54)
• What do the actions of Peter in this story reveal about his personal character? (22:54-62)
• Of what did the servant girl accuse Peter? (22:56)
• How did Peter respond to the servant girl? (22:57)
• How many times was Peter accused of knowing Jesus? (22:56-59)
• How did Peter respond to the second and third accusations put to him? (22:58-60)
• Why did the third person suspect Peter was a follower of Jesus? (22:59)
• What happened when Peter denied Jesus the third time? (22:60-61)
• What caused Peter to remember Jesus’ earlier prediction? (22:60-61)
• What did Jesus do the third time Peter denied knowing Him? (22:61)
• Why was Peter so upset and bitter about his actions? (22:61-62)
• How did Peter respond to the realization that he had denied his Lord? (22:62)

Apply It

• What could you do this week to strengthen your stand for Christ in the face of pressure from others?
• In the future, how could you encourage another believer who has done something wrong but shows a willingness to repent?

The Guards Mock Jesus - Luke 22:63-65

Understand It

• In light of what had happened before this point, what was Jesus probably feeling? (22:63)
• Who had control of this situation? (22:63)
• How was Jesus treated by His guards? (22:63-64)
• In what way did the guards mock Jesus? (22:63-64)
• Why was Jesus blindfolded? (22:64)
• What prompted the guards to mock Jesus as they did? (22:64)
• How did news of Jesus’ reputation influence the guards’ actions? (22:64)
• What was the guards’ purpose in demanding that Jesus prophesy for them? (22:64)
• What was so demeaning about the guards’ treatment of Jesus? (22:64)
• What did Luke imply about Jesus’ actions by not mentioning any details about how He responded to the guards? (22:63-65)
• In what way are the details of Christ’s humiliation significant to the overall story? (22:63-65)

Apply It

• How could you encourage a Christian who is in some way suffering for his or her faith? When?
• How can you look past the criticism or scorn people use against you for your beliefs?
• What is one way you can say thank you to Jesus for enduring humiliation for your sake?