Luke Chapters 1-8 Sermon Outlines

 

Luke 1:1-4 – Luke’s Orderly Account of Jesus Christ -- Sermon Outline

Intro: Christians need an inspired account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.   

Need: Luke gives such an account in his gospel, so that we may know Jesus and have faith in Him.

Theme: Luke compiles an account of the ministry of Jesus:

 

I.     Accurately declaring what the apostles and other eyewitnesses had told him.

A.     1:1, Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order [put together/compose] a narrative [declaration/accounting/narration] of those things which have been fulfilled among us

             1.      It is clear that what Christ had done did not go unnoticed, as “many” have undertaken the great task of composing in written form a historical “narrative” concerning Christ’s earthly ministry.

             2.      “have been fulfilled” means accomplished, and the perfect tense indicates the fulfilling of these OT prophecies concerning Christ, who He is and what He would do in atoning for sin and establishing His kingdom, have lasting, beneficial effects into the present time for Christians.

             3.      God has done the fulfilling, according to His eternal plan of redemption and covenant promises. This is important material that must be written down carefully, accurately, for God’s people to be certain of, and so that each generation does not forget but is told the great things Christ has done!

             4.      “among us” includes Luke, although He was not an apostle of Christ because he was not one of His disciples during Christ’s earthly ministry.

B.      1:2, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us 

             1.      “From the beginning” refers to the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry, including John the Baptist’s preparing the way for it until He was taken up in the resurrection (Acts 1:21-22).

             2.      “Eyewitnesses” of the word/ministry of Christ and God’s working through His Son. The word is a medical term from which we get “autopsy” and means a detailed examination.

             3.      These eyewitnesses were also “ministers”, a word used also in I Cor. 4:1 speaking of “ministers of Christ” showing these men were servants of the Word, administering it and proclaiming it under the rule and leadership of Christ Himself, and not of their own authority. The word is used of a servant/subordinate under a magistrate or officer, in this case the ministers under King Jesus.

             4.      These ministers “of the word”/gospel (the apostles) carefully examined His ministry as eyewitnesses, as His disciples and now sent out apostles, from which Luke has learned, interviewed, and written down their accounts to compile into His own Gospel of Jesus Christ.

             5.      These eyewitnesses/ministers “delivered”/entrusted/gave to Luke and others these great truths concerning Christ.

a.       The Apostle Paul says he “delivers” what they first received from Christ (I Cor. 11:23; 15:3) and Christ Himself came bearing witness of the Father and will deliver the kingdom to God the Father (I Cor. 15:24).

b.       So the eyewitnesses/ministers are passing down the teaching of Christ (akin to 2 Tim. 2:2).

             6.      So we today have the Gospel through the apostles and their companions/assistants like Luke, who received it from the God-Man Jesus Christ, who came from God the Father Himself.

II.     Assuring Christians that Christ is their risen Lord and Savior.

A.     1:3, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first,

             1.      “inasmuch/just as” (vv. 1-2) the apostles gave the truth/words of Christ, whom they walked and lived with, following as His disciples during His entire earthly ministry, it also seemed good to Luke to write down an account.

a.       Luke likely traveled with Paul as a companion, and was a physician (Col. 4:14).

b.       Although Luke does not name himself as the author, the early church fathers/leaders in the first centuries after Christ overwhelmingly acknowledged him to be the author.

c.       Both Luke and Acts are one continuous work, both addressed to Theophilus, showing the development of Christ’s ministry and the continuation of it after His ascension by His apostles. 

d.       Luke-Acts shows interest in medical matters/healings of those who are sick, certain medical terminology is used that well-educated people would know and use, etc.

e.       Luke, as a Gentile companion of Paul and one who was well-educated as a skilled physician, was well-equipped to write this orderly account of Jesus Christ’s ministry on earth.

             2.      A literal translation here would be “having followed closely/understood carefully from the beginning all things” concerning Christ as explained by these eyewitness ministers.

a.       Luke has followed and investigated this as closely and carefully/diligently as humanly possible, and humanly speaking, has as perfect an understanding as one can have of all things concerning Christ’s ministry from the beginning of His ministry, going back to the conception of John the Baptist who prepared the way for Christ’s ministry.

b.       Luke of course is inspired by the Holy Spirit to write down God’s own words here, and the Spirit blesses the careful study, research, and investigation of Luke to record this Gospel.

B.      1:3b, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus

             1.      The “orderly account” focuses on the particular theological emphases of Luke concerning Christ, His person/work, and ministry, meaning the focus is not so much on chronological order but logical. The term was supposedly used in Greek literature to show the care/logical nature of it.

             2.      There are four different Gospels, four portraits of the one Jesus Christ, and each human author of the Gospel was inspired by the same Holy Spirit to write down what they did, each with particular emphases/highlights of the ministry of Christ. Robert Stein’s commentary indicates Luke’s foci:

a.       Luke and Acts go together, so the purpose of Luke cannot be derived from Luke alone.

b.       Luke is writing as a historian of real history concerning the Jewish Messiah Jesus Christ, who became flesh, lived on this earth in Palestine, and died on the cross as an atonement for sins in a real human body, and with that selfsame body rose again from the grave three days later.

c.       Luke focuses on fulfillment of prophecy, Christ’s miracles (particularly His own resurrection), the growth of the early Church, all as proofs to Christians (not skeptics, for he is writing to a believer, Theophilus) that Christ was the Messiah who had paid for sins and risen from the grave, and was received back into glory.

d.       Luke-Acts also addresses the issue of Jesus’ own people, the Israelites, largely rejecting Him, and the consequent growth of the Gospel to the Gentile nations.

e.       Luke shows, especially in Acts, how in Christ the promises/prophecies that Christ would be Lord and Savior of the nations is fulfilled. Luke also writes to correct the misconception that some Christians in his day had that Christ would return in their lifetime.

f.        Luke especially comforts Christians, helping assure them of their faith in Christ, and even that Rome was not as great a threat to them as the Jewish people who betrayed Jesus. Persecution would come, but the Gospel would grow and spread through the Roman empire and beyond.

g.       Luke’s theological emphases include God’s sovereignty over history, the nature of the kingdom of God, the work of the Holy Spirit, our understanding of the person and work of Christ, the mercy Christ shows to the downtrodden and outcast/His humbling of the haughty exalted persons, the call to salvation including taking up one’s cross, following Jesus, and obeying Him/His commandments, and the Christian’s life in prayer and not living for wealth/possessions.  

             3.      “Theophilus” likely was a believer of some rank/nobility given the title/respect of “most excellent”, which is used of Governor Felix and Festus in Acts 23:26; 24:4; 26:25.

C.      4, that you may know the certainty [the undoubted truth] of those things in which you were instructed.

             1.      “Instructed” means taught orally, from which we get our word “catechize”. The message of Christ is now being written down by Luke and others.

             2.      Theophilus has been orally taught the faith & now is getting a deeper certainty of it from this detailed, orderly account of the ministry of Jesus Christ.

             3.      Our children who are catechized in youth must grow in maturity in the faith. As Matthew Henry says, “those who have been well instructed in the things of God when they were young should afterwards give diligence to know the certainty of those things, to know not only what we believe, but why we believe it, that we may be able to give a reason of the hope that is in us.”

             4.      As we study Luke together, we will get a deeper understanding of Christ as our Lord and Savior and sovereign King of all as well. What could be more important than knowing Christ certainly, not only knowing about Him, but knowing Him truly/savingly, His goodness, His glory, etc.?

APPLICATION: There is no greater certainty we, living 2,000 years after Christ, can have of Christ and His ministry, than to have them meticulously recorded and passed down to us by Spirit-inspired apostles and those who were with them.

·         The care of Luke and the apostles to follow in the footsteps of Christ and write down His ministry for us should inspire us to live diligently for Him.

·         The growth of the Church/Kingdom in the early days, against all odds and in the face of the Roman Empire and persecution from the Israelites, should bolster us to persevere through trials.

·         That so many wrote of Christ and His work shows its importance to those who followed Him, and reminds us that the Gospel of Christ and His kingdom really is the power of God to save us and others from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Nothing else but the message of Christ can do this!

·         When we are certain of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, rooted in Him by faith, we will be able to bear the fruit of faith and grow in the Holy Spirit as a church/God’s people.

Conclusion: As we begin to study Luke, let us hear John the Baptizer’s words from Luke 3:4-6 concerning the coming of Christ and His significance to all peoples:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.
⁵ Every valley shall be filled
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough ways smooth;
⁶ And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

Luke 1:5-25 – The Forerunner of Christ -- Sermon Outline

Intro: The Jews prior to Christ’s coming had not heard from the Lord in 400 years.   

Need: They needed a forerunner of Christ to prepare them for their Messiah’s arrival/kingdom.

Theme: The Lord sends John the Baptist:

 

  I.            As a miraculous answer to His people’s prayers. (5-13)

A.     1:5 (setting), There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

       1.      Between the OT and NT lies 400 years of silence from God to His people. He was not speaking to the prophets, the Spirit was not giving utterance. This changes when God speaks to Zacharias.

       2.      Herod ruled Judea/land of the Jews from 37-4 B.C, appointed by Rome. Known as Herod the Great, was ruthless in war and paranoid, killing even his own family to protect his throne.

a.       He brought much shame/reproach and agony to the Israelites, as those Jews who opposed his rule he put to death. The Herod that has John the Baptist beheaded was his son, Herod Antipas.

b.       Matthew records he commanded all male children under two years old in Bethlehem to be slain.

       3.      The temple service had 24 “divisions”, each serving in the temple a week at a time, twice per year. During major feasts of Passover, Pentecost, & Feast of Tabernacles all divisions served together.

       4.      Elizabeth was from line of Aaron, Moses’ brother, and she is relative of Jesus’ mother Mary (1:36).

B.      1:6-7, Zacharias and Elizabeth were godly, keeping God’s OT commandments, not just externally but truly/from the heart. Yet in v. 7 we read that they “had no child” because Elizabeth was barren & old.

       1.      “Blameless” is not sinless, for none are sinless, & in vv. 18-20 Zacharias sins by not believing the message the angel Gabriel brings him; but blameless/faultless/no scandals in their lives/lifestyles.

       2.      Having children/fruitful wombs was a blessing from God in the OT, and is in the NT/today as well.

a.       Often the Lord blesses His obedient people by opening the womb and giving them children, so for Elizabeth and Zacharias to be blameless yet barren was somewhat surprising/unusual.

b.       Yet it is a good reminder to faithful, godly couples today that their barrenness is not necessarily a sign of sinfulness, and that God may yet grant them their desire for children.

       3.      The bigger picture of Elizabeth’s barrenness is how it symbolized Israel’s barrenness:

a.       The phrases “no child” in v. 7 is also used of Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Samson’s mother in the OT, and “well advanced in years” is used in Gen. 18:11 of Sarah as well.

b.       This would refresh the Jewish mind that Elizabeth’s conception of John the Baptist was miraculous, and the persons born from these miracles in Luke 1 (John here, Jesus to Mary and Joseph soon) would bring blessing, as did the children born to the OT mothers above.

c.       This also shows that the OT and NT are united, one Word of God to God’s one people, and stand in continuity to one another, not discontinuity. As an Israelite child in the OT would lead God’s people into salvation/deliverance (Abraham, Moses, etc.), now in the NT Jewish children would be born preparing the way for the Messiah, and coming as the Messiah for salvation.

d.       Faithful Israelites had been “barren” & “well advanced in years” devoid of the Lord’s fruitful words/blessings now for some 400 years, and currently suffering under cruel Herod the Great.

e.       For faithful Israel/those saved in Christ today, we experience wicked leadership and seasons of not hearing/experiencing the fresh blessings of the Lord, but we must remember that Christ is risen at the right hand of the Father, having overcome sin, death, and the devil, every power that tries to exalt itself over Him, He has triumphed over, and so have we in/with Him! The Spirit that rested upon John the Baptist now indwells us due to Christ’s redeeming work for us.

C.      8-10, God’s providence/miraculous provision is set against the backdrop of this important ritual:

       1.      Every cast of the lot (v. 8) is determined by the Lord; around 18,000 priests served in the temple at this time, so one would likely only burn incense in the temple once in his lifetime.

       2.      The altar of incense was in front of the veil leading to the holy of holies, Zacharias would put the fresh incense on after removing the old; all the other priests would be withdrawn from the temple.

       3.      This was an important moment, the high point in many ways of Zecharias’ priestly service, drawing near to the very presence of Almighty God, and at this moment/occasion, God sends his angel Gabriel to speak to him, after some 400 years of silence from God to His people!

       4.      The incense offering of Ex. 30:1-10, which was offered both in the morning and the evening, symbolized the prayers of God’s people ascending to Him.

       5.      It is fitting that the people would be outside praying at the hour of incense and instructive for us to pray in the morning and evening, bracketing our days with prayers to God/for His blessing as well.

D.     11-13, The angel Gabriel appears at this important moment to declare Zacharia’s prayer is answered:

       1.      The angel comforts Zacharias with words, but appearing between on the right side indicated peace and blessing, because the right side is the favored side, where Christ sits at right hand of the Father.

       2.      Zacharias’ fear is understandable. He is in the middle of the priestly duty of his lifetime, knows the holiness of God and his own sinfulness, already nervous, then has this angel manifest before him!

       3.      But his “prayer is heard” (v. 13) so he need not fear. What prayer? The one he is offering at that very moment at the altar of incense?

a.       If so, wouldn’t this be a prayer for the redemption of Israel rather than a personal prayer for a child? Is it referring to a previous prayer for he/his wife to no longer be barren but have a son?

b.       Whatever the exact prayer was, it was answered, by giving him a son who would also be the forerunner to proclaim the great redemption of Israel through the coming God-Man Jesus Christ.

c.       John means “The Lord is gracious”; God has graciously given them a son, but the angel naming John shows that from the moment of John’s miraculous conception he is commissioned by God and an answer to the prayers of not just Zacharias and Elizabeth, but of all God’s people.  

 

II.            As a Spirit-empowered prophet reconciling and preparing His people. (14-17)

A.     V. 14, John brings gladness for his parents and his people Israel b/c his birth begins the age of Christ and His kingdom, which brings joy to the world and good news to God’s people.

B.      V. 15, John’s greatness is due to God, who fills Him with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb.

       1.      John will serve the Lord as an ascetic wilderness prophet, preparing the people for the coming Messiah Jesus Christ, and His calling to take up the cross and follow Him.

       2.      In the OT, at various times those set apart for a special purpose of God were called not to drink wine or strong drink (Lev. 10:9), and this too indicates John’s purpose was going to be great/momentous for God’s people.

       3.      V. 16-17, The Spirit-empowered ministry of John is one of reconciling Israelite families to one another as they together turn in repentance/faith back to God and His word/law, which prepares them for turning to/receiving Christ as the promised Messiah.

a.       The same Spirit that empowered Elijah provides the power for the ministry of John, and John is the fulfillment of the prophecies in Malachi of an “Elijah” who would come.

b.       “Turn the hearts of the fathers to the children” Quoted from Mal. 4:6, the restoration of family bonds is a precursor to being ready for the coming Messiah, so that households/families would be ready to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior.

c.       “Turn” in v. 16 and 17 refers to turning back to the Lord in salvation, and fathers returning to love their children rightly, as well as the “disobedient” turning to “the wisdom of the just” of those faithful Israelites.

d.       In the OT, lack of family love/nurturing and foolishness led Israel into family feuds/murders and idolatry. Christ will come to a people prepared for him and repentant.

e.       John preaches repentance and administers a baptism of repentance, all of which is preparatory for Christ’s coming, who will baptize not with water but the Holy Spirit and with fire, Lk. 3:16.

f.        We in Christ have now received the greater Spirit baptism from Jesus Christ.

       4.      Though many Jews will reject Christ and call for His crucifixion, many Jews and Gentiles believe on Him, and this would not have happened but for the prior ministry of John the Baptist.

       5.      Great revivals of true religion take more than one minister today, many must build together.

C.      The births of the relatives John and Jesus signify reconciliation and preparation for Israel:

       1.      Whereas Leah and Rachel were sister rivals, each trying to have more children than the other, there is no rivalry/antagonism between Mary & Elizabeth or Jesus & John, but joy/harmony in 1:39-56.

       2.      Their ministries complement one another, John reconciling families through God’s word, thus preparing them for Christ the Word made flesh to dwell among them and teach them God’s word.

III.            As a living sign of His people’s reproach removed and coming kingdom. (18-25)

A.     V. 18-22, The angel rebukes Zacharias’ disbelief but still uses his muteness as a sign/confirmation.

       1.      V. 18 is Zacharias expressing doubt/disbelief, not something he should have had given his important duty he was fulfilling before God’s presence and the appearance of the mighty angel.

       2.      The “old age” of he and his wife is like the doubt of Abraham and Sarah in the OT.

       3.      In v. 19 Gabriel (“God’s mighty warrior) responds saying his message should be believed because the source/Gabriel is plainly a glorious/awe-inspiring angel/messenger from God/heaven itself.

       4.      Gabriel revealing his name also identifies him to Zacharias as the Gabriel of Dan. 8:16.

       5.      Gabriel punishes/rebukes Zacharias’ unbelief with muteness until John is born/named/circumcised on the 8^th day (Lk. 1:57-66), but it also serves as a sign to Zacharias and the people outside that God had spoken to him and chosen John as a prophet to proclaim good news.

       6.      VV. 21-22, The people outside praying were concerned at how long it took Zacharias to return from the temple/offering incense. Did he get consumed by God for sinning/offering profane fire?

       7.      They conclude he’s seen a “vision”, but do not know what it is because Zacharias cannot speak.

       8.      Even when John is finally born and Zacharias’ tongue is loosed, all they have is John’s name, meaning “The Lord is gracious” and they ask “What then will this child be”? Zacharias reveals what this living sign of the baby John will be in 1:76-79, the forerunner of Christ.

B.      V. 23-25, Zacharias/Elizabeth return home after temple service is completed; Elizabeth conceals herself for five months but praises God that her reproach/barrenness is removed among the people.

       1.      Per 1:39, we know that they live in the hill country in a town of Judah. Seemingly a place she could more easily conceal herself than in the middle of town/city.

       2.      Why did Elizabeth hide herself for first five months of pregnancy?

a.       Perhaps it is because she would not have appeared pregnant until after this point, and given her advanced age she would have been mocked and not believed to have truly been pregnant.

b.       Perhaps this was not intended to be known until after, for in the 6th month we read that Gabriel goes to Mary the mother of Jesus, tells her that she will bear Jesus and that her cousin Elisabeth is in her 6th month, bearing John.

c.       Concealing John until the announcement of Jesus further links the ministries of John and Jesus.

       3.      Her concealing is connected to what she says in v. 25 concerning her reproach being removed.

a.       Israel in the OT is often scattered and regarded as a barren/reproached woman.

b.       Rachel in Gen. 30:23 says the Lord has taken away her reproach when she bore Joseph.

c.       Women & child-bearing are intimately related, so the reproach of not having a child as a woman was strong, akin to an adult man not willing to work a job and earn money for his family.

d.       God made men to work and provide for/lead their families, and women to bear children and be homemakers/helpmeets. And it is a shame/reproach when men and women do not do this.  

e.       Of course, just as men can face tough times/have difficulty finding work despite best efforts, at times women desiring to conceive are unable. But this is still a reproach/embarrassing situation, as we see with Elizabeth, but now she is full of joy at the gift of her son and what he will do.  

C.      The ministries of John & Jesus prepare and then perfect God’s people for Christ’s kingdom:

       1.      John’s birth narrative parallels Hannah’s son Samuel’s in the OT; he heralded the ministry of the coming King David, just as John will herald the coming of King Jesus.

       2.      I Sam. 2 with Hannah’s prayer of praise moves from her personal situation of barrenness to national Israel and God’s graciousness/lovingkindness to His people, mirroring Elizabeth’s words in 1:25 from personal to national/“people” and Mary’s song of praise in 1:46-55 concerning being blessed to have baby Jesus, but also the blessing He will bring to all the people.

       3.      Just as Samuel anointed and prepared the people for the great King David to lead Israel into unity and blessing in the promised land, now John prepares God’s people for the removal of its reproach and fulfillment of the promised Abrahamic blessings through the anointed King Jesus (John essentially anoints Jesus as well when he baptizes Him and the Spirit comes on Jesus).

       4.      Lk. 1:68-79 shows this redemption through Christ, of the “house of David” (v. 69), deliverance through King Jesus so that God’s people may safely worship Him in true holiness/perfection (v. 74-75) as the dawn of Christ’s kingdom has come upon Israel, and indeed the whole world.

Conclusion: With the promise of John the Forerunner/Baptizer, God’s people will no longer be barren, empty of God’s word and embarrassed and ashamed of their lowly estate under Roman Rule and the cruel Herod. Rather, they will turn from their sins/idols as John calls them to repentance, and will be prepared for the Word made flesh, and in Christ will be united to the King of Kings and will receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken, a kingdom which will crush all others and reign supreme forever.  

·         Have you received the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ? Have you repented as John called us to do, and are you following after Christ, with hearts prepared daily to serve and obey Him? Or do you drift away from morning and evening prayers, Bible reading, Sunday worship, fellowship, etc.?

·         Live faithfully for Christ’s kingdom. He established it in His own blood, and by His blood we have been brought into it. In Christ, and full of His Spirit, we are not barren, but fruitful, full of God’s Word, receiving His words with true knowledge/understanding.

·         Don’t squander the work of God in you with a spiritually barren life! Desire the rich nutrients of God’s word so that you soak it in and by His Spirit are not a reproach among God’s people but a bright light of righteousness in the kingdom of God, for His glory and your good & lasting joy!  

Luke 1:26-38 – Can anything good come out of Nazareth? -- Sermon Outline

Intro: The sermon title was asked by the disciple Nathanael in Jn. 1:46, concerning Christ’s hometown.   

Need: Nathanael soon learned Christ was the Son of God and King of Israel (Jn. 1:47), and so will we.

Theme: The Lord sends Jesus Christ:

 

  I.            To be born of a family in Nazareth of the house of David (26-27)

A.     V. 26 Now in the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John] the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth.

       1.      The narrative structure parallels that of the preceding section concerning John the Baptist.

       2.      God sends Gabriel to Mary as well as to Elizabeth, further connected John and Jesus’ ministries.

       3.      Galilee was divided up into northern and southern Galilee, and Nazareth was in the southern part, though Galilee overall is situated in northern Palestine. It wasn’t necessarily an important city.

B.      V. 27, To a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

       1.      “Betrothed” is to be promised in marriage. It is more than our modern “engagements”.

a.       For the daughter was already regarded as married in this situation as Mt. 1:19-20 indicates.

b.       Betrothals weren’t consummated yet by sexual intercourse, & the couple did not live together.

c.       But betrothals were legally binding, and only divorce could break the betrothal, and sexual infidelity at this point was considered adultery.

       2.      Mary was likely 15 years old at most at this point, and Luke is explicit that she has not sexually known any man/is a virgin, showing the conception of Jesus was miraculous/of the Holy Spirit.

a.       Thus an even greater miracle than Elizabeth conceiving by sexual intercourse in her old age.

b.       This fits with Jesus’ ministry being superior to John’s, Christ’s conception is a greater miracle.

       3.      Jesus will be born to an earthly father “of the house of David”.

a.       Shown in Lk. 3:23-38 in Jesus’ genealogy, important because Jesus is receiving the rightful throne of His father David, Lk. 1:32-33, and because His kingship and kingdom will never end.

b.       This is also fulfillment of God’s promise to David that he would never lack a descendant to sit upon the throne, 2 Sam. 7:12-14; Ps. 89:3-4; 132:11, etc.

c.       Nazareth may have been a humble town, but Christ came from the house/line of mighty David.

C.      The humble origins of Christ’s family is fore-ordained by God. Christ will be born in a feed trough, but will be raised again from death and exalted with the name above all names, with a kingdom that spreads over all the earth.

       1.      God can and often does use the lowly, poor, unknown, like Mary and Joseph, for mighty things.

       2.      Don’t despise your situation, whether single, married & poor, becoming an empty nester/no kids at home, are old & infirm. Trust the Lord & desire to be used by Him for His glory/kingdom & your good, for great/small things as He wills (Hb. 11).

II.            To be the mighty Son of the Highest who will eternally rule on the throne of David. (28-33)

A.     V. 28, And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice [could be translated hail, as a simple greeting], highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

       1.      “highly favored” doesn’t imply Mary was sinless/special in herself. God is graciously favoring her.

a.       The word here is used only in one other place in the NT, but there it refers to all the elect whom God “hath made us accepted” in the beloved “to the praise of the glory of His grace” (Eph. 1:6).

b.       This word is the verb form of the noun “grace”, as seen below in v. 30, translated “favor”.

       2.      Mary is “blessed among women” b/c the Lord is “with her” in a special way above all women.

a.       To cause her to conceive His own Son, and her Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

b.       Nothing is made of Mary’s holiness/piety as with Elizabeth, so the emphasis is on God’s personal choice in this, not on Mary’s worthiness, for no one is worthy of the Lord.

B.      V. 29, But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.

       1.      The “manner of greeting” is that an angel came to her, and so she is troubled.

       2.      This was unheard of in these days, and young/lowly Mary does not know what it means.

C.      V. 30, Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”

       1.      “Favor” = grace/charis. The focus is not on saving grace here, but being highly favored/blessed by God in a special way, a great gift within her salvation, to be chosen to bear the Christ-child.

       2.      Having such favor with God alleviates all fears for Mary that Gabriel’s greeting is foreboding.

D.     V. 31, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.” [Jesus = “Jehovah is salvation”. ]

       1.      “Conceive/bring forth/call” is a formula found elsewhere in Scripture, such as Gen. 16:11 concerning Ishmael, and Isa. 7:14 concerning a virgin conceiving/bearing a Son called Immanuel.

       2.      This prophecy is now fulfilled in Mary, with the same structure/formula being used.

E.      V. 32-33, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

       1.      “Great”-er in His being & works than all men, greater even than John the Baptist; Jesus greatness here is unqualified, whereas John the Baptist is great “in the sight of the Lord” per Lk. 1:15.

       2.      Jesus is not merely named “Son of the Highest”, but in fact is the Son of the Highest/God.

a.       While John is called the prophet of Most High (1:76), Jesus is greater as Son of the Most High.

b.       Jesus was already Son of Highest/God, Christ/Messiah/King before His birth, showing He did not become God, but was God in the flesh from before He was even conceived by the Spirit.

       3.      It is because Jesus is the Son of the Highest that He receives the highest throne of David.

       4.      He is from the line of David, but His right to the throne “forever” is because He is the Son of the Most High, more truly so than King David or any other. The Father gives the throne, and ultimately gives it to His own Son from the line of David as the Messianic King. See 2 Sam. 7:12-14, 16.

       5.      “House of Jacob” (v. 33) is a way of speaking about Israel/God’s covenant/Church people (Ex. 19:3; Isa. 2:5-6), and it is said His reign lasting “forever” and kingdom having “no end”, has reference to Sam. 7:13, 16, Is. 9:6-7 and possibly Dan. 7:14.

a.       Gabriel is indicating that this really is the long-awaited, promised Messiah, the anointed King who will come and save His people and rule over them forever.

b.       Christ’s rule and kingdom is without end, doubly underscoring His authority/kingdom/greatness.

F.      This great/eternal King of Kings, Savior & Lord, has now grafted us Gentiles into His house of Jacob.

       1.      He rules over you if you have received Him by faith. His reign and kingdom is ours through Him!

       2.      This reign and kingdom is growing and spreading like leaven over the nations by His Spirit-empowered Word, by which He has implanted Himself in us, His Church.

       3.      While Mary physically bore Christ, Christ spiritually indwells us so that we produce/“birth” much fruit for His glory/kingdom as He rules/reigns over/in us. Our faith must give birth to good works!

       4.      Christ rules/reigns in your heart, He has enthroned Himself there. His kingdom spreads from there, so that He causes us to “will and to do according to His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12-13).

III.            To be conceived by the Holy Spirit as the virgin-born Son of Almighty God. (34-38)

A.     V. 34-35, Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” [How can she bear this child if she has not sexually known a man?] And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”

       1.      Another indicator of Jesus’ superiority over John is seen in His being conceived by the Holy Spirit, whereas John simply had the Holy Spirit from the womb.

       2.      In v. 35, The two statements are synonymous parallels, as the Spirit is equated with the power of the Highest/God Himself that will bring about this miraculous virgin conception.

       3.      “Therefore” is causal. Because the Holy Spirit has come upon Mary and brought forth Jesus Christ in her womb, Jesus is the “Holy One”, holy/set apart for service to the Father such that:

a.       He is the Son of God in His very nature/being, the promised, anointed Messiah of God’s people.

b.       The virgin conception of Jesus shows, as one commentator said, that His conception was “absolutely unique; It was not just quantitatively greater; it was qualitatively different.”

c.       Although it is not in view in this passage, remember that Christ conceived through the work of the Holy Spirit indicates He is not tainted with original sin from Adam/fallen mankind.

B.      V. 36-37, “Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”

       1.      This both informs Mary of Elizabeth’s special child in John the Baptist, but also further serves as a sign/confirmation to Mary that she indeed will conceive as a virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit.

a.       For Elizabeth was well past child-bearing years, but with God, these are no obstacles to His sovereign power/omnipotence.

       2.      The word “thing” from “nothing” in v. 37 is a translation of “Rhema” in Greek, referring to something that has been spoken.

a.       Same word used in v. 38, where Mary says “let it be unto me according to thy word/rhema.”

b.       What has been spoken will surely come to pass, Mary will conceive as a virgin and bear the Christ-child.

C.      V. 38, Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

       1.      Mary is expressing sincere faith/trust in the power of God to perform this miraculous conception.

       2.      Whereas Zacharias had doubt and was punished for it, Mary was only afraid/startled, but not unbelieving/doubting; she submits herself to the Lord as His servant, accepting the words of the angel/will of God, that she would bear the Christ-child.

       3.      Her question in v. 34 of “How can this be” is reasonable. Conception ordinarily comes through sexual intercourse, but she was a virgin and would conceive as one. Gabriel told Zacharias his prayers were answered, & that through ordinary means, despite old age, his wife would conceive.

       4.      Do you believe in the virgin birth? Do you trust that Christ is the Holy Messiah bringing salvation?

a.       Nothing is impossible for God. He is all-powerful and all wise. Trust Him and live for Him.

b.       The world will mock your faith in a virgin born God-Man who died, rose, and went to heaven.

c.       The world will hate that you live for Him and follow His teachings, but they bring eternal joy. 

Conclusion: So can anything good come out of Nazareth? Yes indeed, the King and Savior of the world, the Son of God, God incarnate! Therefore, receive the same exhortation of Paul in Philippians 2:1-11:

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Luke 1:39-56 –Blessing and Mercy in the Gift of Jesus -- Sermon Outline

Intro: The coming of Christ to Mary begins the fulfillment of all the promises of God to His people.   

Need: Christ’s work and rule over His kingdom brings exaltation to His people, humiliation to all others.

Theme: The Lord gives Christ to bless and be merciful to His people. WE SEE:

 

I.            His promised blessings revealed by His Spirit (39-45).

A.     V. 39-41  Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,

 1.      Mary goes to the house of Zacharias and greets Elizabeth, and in this greeting John in the womb of Elizabeth leaps for joy (Lk. 6:23) as He and Elizabeth are filled with the Holy Spirit.

 2.      Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit so as to discern that Mary carries Christ the Lord, and to prophesy concerning Him.

B.      V. 42, Then she spoke out with a loud voice [indicating prophetic utterance as used in Jn. 1:15; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6] and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

 1.      Mary has apparently already conceived the Christ child by the HS, and we see that her being blessed is that she carries Christ, not that she is inherently pure, but Christ Himself is, and thus He is blessed.

 2.      V. 43-44, But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

a.       Elizabeth is grateful that the God privileges her to come into the presence of Mary Mother of Jesus, and indicates she knows Mary carries Christ b/c of John leaping in response to her greeting. 

b.       Elizabeth was watchful for the Christ to come, as she knew from the angel Gabriel that her son would be His forerunner. She has hid herself for five months, and now knows Christ has come.

c.       Her response is one of humility and joy, not jealousy or bitterness, a great work of the Holy Spirit.

 3.      V. 45, Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.

a.       Elizabeth is speaking the words John would be saying from the womb, heralding the coming of the Messiah to his own mother, proclaiming Jesus and His coming ministry.

b.       “Blessed” a different word here than above, but indicates similar idea, that Mary too will be joyful/happy, even as John in the womb is. Believing in Christ is a blessing that brings joy.

c.       What the angel Gabriel told Mary will certainly be fulfilled, and the Holy Spirit further confirms this to Mary as He fills Elizabeth to say these words.

d.       Jesus’ ministry fulfills all the promises of God to His people, as Gabriel told Mary in Lk. 1:32-33.

e.       The Spirit shows again the superiority of Christ’s ministry to John’s as John and his mother Elizabeth both show homage to Jesus and His mother in this passage by the power of the HS.

C.      Has the Holy Spirit opened your eyes and blessed you to receive Christ as your Lord and Savior?

 1.      Do you adore Christ the risen King, and honor Him with your thoughts, words, and actions?

 2.      Do you cherish the salvific blessings He has mercifully bestowed upon you, or do you lust for sin?

 

II.            His merciful regard for those who fear Him (46-50).

A.     V. 46-47, And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

 1.      These two verses are synonymous parallels, showing Mary with her soul/spirit is magnifying/rejoicing/praising God the Savior.

 2.      This is called the “Magnificat” after the Latin word for “magnified” in v. 46. Mary magnifies God with joy for what He has done, in sending Christ to be her Lord and Savior that bestows blessings.

B.      V. 48, For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

 1.      Lowly would not be her childlessness in this case, as it was with Hannah in the OT. Mary has not even consummated her marriage yet and is a young virgin.

 2.      The “lowly state” is her station in life, she who is of no special report, no rank/honor, no Queen/ruler.

 3.      Jesus would be born of Mary in a manger in little Bethlehem, but He will be born as none other than the God-Man Jesus Christ who bestows saving mercy to those who fear Him down through the ages.

 4.      Mary again refers to herself humbly as the Lord’s “maidservant” (v. 38 above), showing a righteous fear and respect for the Lord Jesus in her womb & the eternal God who sovereignly brought this blessing upon her.

 5.      The humility parallels Hannah’s prayer in 1 Sam. 1:11, but Mary is blessed because of God’s gracious choosing her to bear the Christ-child, not of anything inherent in her, which Mary recognizes as she rejoices that the Lord would choose her, a mere lowly maidservant of no reputation/glory.

 6.      We are blessed when God uses us to be salt and light to unbelievers. Mary is blessed to be used by God to bear & birth the One who is the Light of the World and Salt of the Earth!

C.      V. 49-50, For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.

 1.      The mighty/exalted one lifts up lowly/weak Mary such that she magnifies the “great things”/magnificent things He is doing in giving her the Christ-Child, who fulfills the promises to His people, not just Mary but all of Israel/elect in Christ, “from generation to generation” (Ex. 20:6). 

 2.      Gabriel told Mary that God is “Mighty” to accomplish this, and now she confesses God’s mightiness.

 3.      Gabriel told Mary that Jesus would be “great” (v. 32), and Mary confesses God has done a great thing for her, even in her, by giving the Great Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 4.      God is holy, and in His holiness, He extends His faithful, covenant mercy to those who fear him, v. 50, and if we repent/believe/fear Him, He comes and enters into us to make us holy as He is holy!

 5.      In Ps. 111:4ff. we see God’s holiness and majesty is connected to His redeeming covenant faithfulness/mercy which He keeps every generation/forever by His power (also Ps. 103:17-19).

a.       The connection is that God, in all He does, is pure, righteous and holy, and none but Almighty, Sovereign, holy God can keep His covenant faithfully, justly, mercifully, down through the ages.

b.       So Mary sees the holiness of God in His sovereign might/power causing her to conceive Christ, which fulfills His covenant mercy to His faithful people (for who is like the Lord among the gods, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders, in His mercy leading His redeemed people to His holy habitation? From Ex. 15:11-13).

c.       What better reveals the power, mercy, and holiness of the Lord to His covenant people down through the ages, than the fulfillment of all His promises to them in the God-Man Jesus Christ?

D.     So then, do you have a righteous and humble fear of the Almighty, merciful, and holy Lord?

 1.      No matter your situation or difficulty, or how grievously you have sinned, the Lord forgives those who repent from the heart and return to Him in true humility and holy fear/respect for Him/His Word.

 2.      His faithfulness to His covenant people, to you and me, despite our sin, testifies to His majesty, mercy, holiness, and worthiness to be praised as the covenant-keeping God. So thank Him!

 

III.            His power in exalting the righteous while destroying the wicked (51-56).

A.     V. 51, He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

 1.      With V. 50, we see a shift/progression from the immediate blessing for Mary toward the blessing of the nation of Israel/God’s people, through the work of the Christ-Child that will be accomplished in His own life, death, resurrection, ascension, and coronation.

 2.      The “strength” of God in the past (Ps. 89:10, etc.) informs Mary and gives her certain faith in the present and future work that the Christ-child will accomplish, for He is the strength of the Lord who will topple the proud/mighty/rich.

 3.      The “proud” are the haughty, having no humility/sense of shame over their own sinfulness and need for God’s mercy in Christ to save them from their bankrupt and impotent condition, blinded by worldly riches, honor, and power among mere men.

B.      V. 52-53, He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.

 1.      These verses parallel one another. The mighty/proud/rich on the throne are thrown down in order to exalt the lowly in spirit who hunger and thirst after righteousness.

 2.      See Lk. 14:7-11 and 16:19-31, the latter where lack of repentance is clearly the chief issue.

 3.      I Sam. 2:1-10 shows that being spiritually/physically poor but then exalted to spiritual/physical blessings are connected, for the Lord makes poor & makes rich, brings low & lifts up (1 Sam. 2:7)

 4.      God often blesses us both spiritually and physically/financially, but even if we are physically ill and financially poor, we are rich in the Lord and the kingdom of heaven if we are faithful to Him.

 5.      How do the wicked get into such high and lofty places?

a.       It stands to reason that if you dedicate your life to selfish riches and pleasures, and are diligent and skilled in this, you can amass great earthly riches and pleasures.

b.       But the Lord on judgment day, and even in your hour of need on earth, will send you away empty if you are empty toward Him/His kingdom and the fruit of the Spirit which He desires you to bear.

C.      It should be noted that being proud/mighty/rich is not in and of itself sinful.

 1.      But those who are proud in themselves, mighty in their own wickedness, and rich with dishonest gain for dishonest uses, are the ones Christ comes to destroy in order to elevate the humble.

 2.      The humble have, through the work of Christ and gift of His Spirit, a righteous pride in the Lord/a righteous might to serve Him/and riches of the fruit of the Spirit, if not in possessions as well, all of which are used for Christ’s kingdom and not their own corrupt ends.

D.     V. 54-55, He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy [covenant mercy, as expressed in Lk. 1:72], As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His seed forever.

 1.      Is. 41:8-10, Israel as God’s servant is helped by the Lord and His strength as Mary states in Luke.

a.       This shows Mary knows the OT Scriptures & has a true faith in the provision of the Lord not only for herself as His maidservant, but also that He helps by His strength all His true servants of Israel.

b.       V. 55 connects this mercy down through the generations, showing God’s covenant faithfulness.

 2.      V. 55, Christ comes to fulfill all the promises to Abraham and his descendants of salvific blessings from the mighty and merciful Messiah.

a.       Christ is realizing/fulfilling these blessings/covenant mercies, and so stands in continuity with salvation history of the OT.

b.       He is not a disruption/change of course, but a continuation of the fulfillment of the one covenant promise to God and His people, Jews and Gentiles alike in Christ.

E.      V. 56, And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

 1.      Mary, as betrothed and likely not yet living with Joseph her betrothed husband, stayed with Elizabeth, up until the point of Elizabeth’s time to give birth to John.

 2.      Mary and Elizabeth likely shared much joy during this final trimester of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, anticipating with great joy and hope what mighty works the Lord would do through their children.

 3.      Their being together symbolizes the harmony that the ministries of John and Jesus would bring to God’s people, who trust in Him and who can have true fellowship with one another, His body/people.

F.      Do you trust in God’s might and power to exalt you and deliver you from all who sit in high places?

 1.      Do you live for your possessions and look to them, rather than the giver of them, for strength?

 2.      Trust that the Lord can sustain you even if He strips you of your possessions/health/honor. Mary had little, and Christ was stripped of all these things, yet the Father has bestowed upon Him the name above all names, and has granted that we would have life in Him and have it abundantly (Jn. 10:10)

Conclusion: Jesus is the greatest blessing and true mercy for His people, for He is the true bread that has come down from heaven that gives life.

 John 6:47-51: Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life.  Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

Luke 1:57-80 –Mercy That Frees -- Sermon Outline

Intro: The Lord’s mercy is given to us so that we might serve Him, not continue in sin.   

Need: Christ’s atonement is mercy to us, mercy that delivers from darkness into His light.

Theme: The Lord’s mercy frees His sinful people for service to Him. WE SEE:

 

I.            The preparation for the Lord’s mercy (57-66).

A.     V. 57-58 It is time for Elizabeth to deliver John, and her family/neighbors rejoice for this gift.

 1.      The theme of God showing mercy [His good will/kindness towards the afflicted/undeserving] & His people rejoicing in His mercy shown to Elizabeth/them, continues here, and fulfills Luke 1:14.

 2.      “Rejoice” indicates rejoicing along with Elizabeth, like in I Cor. 12:26 where the body of Christ rejoices together when even just one member of the body is honored, as Elizabeth is here.

 3.      Do you rejoice when others receive blessings/favor above you? Let us rejoice with one another.

B.      V. 59-63 John is born and circumcised on the 8^th day [per OT law], when he will also be named.

 1.      John is named at his circumcision due to custom, or perhaps b/c it couldn’t wait any longer.

 2.      While others want to call him Zacharias, Elizabeth says he will be called John, despite not having anyone in the family who had that name.

a.       It was NOT unusual to choose a new name, but given John could not give the name of the child, perhaps others assumed it was safest to name him John after his father.

b.       V. 62, that they had to make “signs” to Zacharias indicates he was both deaf (“mute” in v. 20 can indicate being deaf) and unable to speak.

c.       The people “marvel” in V. 63 b/c they recognize something supernatural is happening when Zacharias confirms that his son’s name is John. It IS John already, because Gabriel declared so.

d.       Do we marvel/stand in amazement at the supernatural work of God in His Church and in our lives?  

C.      V. 64-66, At the child’s naming, as Gabriel had said in 1:20, Zachariah is able to speak again. He has learned his lesson, now believing the Lord’s promises and praising God, as the people are awestruck at the miraculous loosing of Zachariah’s tongue at the pronouncement of John’s name, and word spreads.

 1.      “fear” in V. 65 is same word in 1:12, when Zacharias had fear from the angel’s presence.

 2.      Indeed, all that is transpiring indicates to those witnessing that they are encountering the divine, that God brought about this child John miraculously and opened Zacharias’ mouth to bless and proclaim.

 3.      Whispers spread of what’s happened, as John is the talk of the townsfolk of Judea’s hill country.

 4.      V. 66, The people knew that the “Lord’s hand” was upon John in a special way, and so the question was not “who” but “what” would this child be.

 5.      Luke is pointing his readers to the fact that John’s importance is in his role as forerunner to Christ, not in himself/who he is, but what he is going to proclaim and prepare the people for, the God-Man Jesus Christ, their Savior.

D.     Treasure in your hearts and expect Christ’s kingdom (which John declared) to grow/spread.

 1.      Proclaim with gladness the coming/glory of Christ’s kingdom and His return to friends/neighbors.

 2.      As pertains the covenant and God’s promises to our children, we should raise our children to serve the Lord, and expect God’s gracious and merciful hand upon them, so that they serve Him faithfully.

E.      Do you prepare yourself for the Lord’s mercy every day and prior to each Lord’s Day/Sunday?

 1.      Christ meets with us in mercy/grace especially as we gather in His name for worship.

 2.      We should come prepared. As much as possible, have all work/duties completed before Sunday.

 3.      Pray to God, confess sins, thank Him and go over bulletin/sermon text with family Saturday evenings.

 4.      Get a good night sleep on Saturday so you can be refreshed in worship on Sunday.

 5.      We discuss the sermon after lunch together; rest at home and discuss sermon with kids later Sunday.

 6.      Every day of the week, prepare by beginning and ending it with prayer, take time to read Scripture, discuss with family, etc. This primes our days to receive God’s mercies, & to live in His mercy.

 

II.            The performance of the Lord’s mercy (67-75).

A.     V. 67-70, Zacharias is filled with the Spirit and prophesies, like the holy prophets of old, praising the Lord for coming down to His people through the line of David to redeem them by His strength/horn.

 1.      God has redeemed His people and by His strength raised up a “horn of salvation”, which alludes to the strength of the animal’s horn. This is Jesus Christ, our long promised and awaited Redeemer.

 2.      Christ coming from the line of David shows continuity with the OT and fulfills OT prophecy.

B.      V. 71-75 This visitation from the Lord is for Israel’s salvation, bringing deliverance from their enemies to serve the Lord in all holiness/righteousness without worry/threat, in remembrance of His covenant mercy which He confirmed by oath to Abraham (Gen. 22:16-18). God’s oath confirms the covenant.  

 1.      The OT prophets spoke of the saving grace coming to us NT saints, I Pet. 1:10-12.

 2.      The “enemies” (V. 71) are those who hate God/His people, and the covenant mercy promised Abraham, Gen. 17:4, that he will be father of many nations, is also His oath to His people.

 3.      “Perform” in v. 72 is a common word, means to make/do/cause. In Christ is our mercy, our forgiveness, our redemption, His covenant blood was poured out on the mercy seat before God!

 4.      By the blood/atonement of Christ, the Lord’s oath to Abraham to be father of many nations is kept.

 5.      These “many nations” of God’s chosen people are “granted”/privileged in V. 74 to be delivered from all enemies in order to serve the Lord without fear, “in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life” (v. 75).

a.       In Christ we come before the Father in all righteousness/holiness, and serve Him in His presence.

b.       We must be delivered from our enemies to do this (sinful flesh/world, the devil/his children).

 6.       “without fear” is thrust to the front in the Greek in V. 74, underscoring our freedom to serve the Lord without any fear, ultimately, of the judgment of God in our service to Him.

a.       We have a holy fear/respect for God as our Father, not a servile fear of God as a wrathful judge.

b.       Through Christ our service is received, for our sin is paid for by the Horn of our salvation.

C.      To serve the Lord forever in holiness and righteousness in God’s presence is the goal of salvation.

 1.      Deliverance from our flesh and blood enemies is a necessary part of this.

 2.      The word “saved” in V. 71 can refer to either salvation from physical danger of enemies, or salvation of the soul from sin, hell, etc.

a.       Ultimately, Christ’s salvation encompasses both, as in heaven there are no enemies that enter into His kingdom, nothing that disturbs the people of God from worshiping/serving God, so that we will serve Him without fear in perfect holiness/righteousness forever.

b.       The Israelites were looking primarily for a political savior, a deliverer from their enslavement, Roman oppression, the tyranny of Herod, but Christ would bring spiritual salvation, and with that salvation, as His spiritual kingdom spreads in the hearts of His elect from every tribe, tongue, and nation, it leavens the kingdoms of this world as well, and gives increasing measures of deliverance from earthly rulers/tyrannies/the kingdom of the devil.

 3.      Consider Ex. 3:6-8; 12, where deliverance from oppressive Pharaoh is so God’s people can inherit the good land with milk and honey, so that they can serve Jehovah gladly and without fear.

a.       Truly, those under tyranny today can serve the Lord, but it is with much fear and danger, under cloak of darkness/underground, and in weak and beggarly ways.

b.       We should not long for our nation today to be taken by wickedness so that we can experience the thrill of martyrdom anymore than Israel should have longed for re-enslavement to Egypt so that they could be killed for worshiping Jehovah rather than Pharaoh.

 4.      Worship flourishes under freedom from God’s enemies, but flounders under their tyranny.

a.       Christ came and accomplished freedom from sin, and freedom from our enemies in order to worship Him without fear of either Him or our enemies, so we may openly live holy/righteously.

b.       That freedom from earthly enemies is sometimes from their very presence/reach, but always from their ultimate power, for if God is for us, what can man do to us (Rom. 8:31-39).

c.       Christ’s kingdom is cosmic in scope, beginning in the hearts of His people, spreading into and over every facet of life, tearing down all high places and wicked rulers that stand against Him, such that God’s people inherit all the earth/creation, which is renewed when Christ returns.

d.       So pray that God would deliver us from even the presence of sinful men/rulers, but never fear their fading power, for nothing can separate us from the love of Christ and His eternal kingdom.  

 

III.            The prophet of the Lord’s mercy (76-80).

A.     V. 76-77, The shift is from the past tense to the future, from Jesus to John’s ministry.

 1.      Jesus’ work has already begun, as Christ is conceived and the God-Man is here, as promised by the Holy Prophets of old, and in keeping with the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to His people.

 2.      John too is a prophet of Christ/the Highest, his immediate predecessor and heralder/forerunner.

 3.      John prepares Christ’s ways by preparing the people (Lk. 1:15, 17) to receive Him for salvation, as God’s people must know they need to repent and receive forgiveness of their sins through Christ.

 4.      “Knowledge of salvation” is experiencing/possessing it, their sins actually being removed/remitted. John is a herald of Christ, but those coming to him who actually repent & are baptized, are saved.

B.      V. 78-79, The tender, covenant mercy of God culminates in God becoming flesh as Light of the World to His people who are lost in the darkness of their sin.

 1.      “Tender” is same word translated for “bowels”, as when Judas burst open and his “bowels” gushed out (Acts 1:18). But the term is also used for deep and tender affection, from the heart of God. Such is His great mercy toward us that He gives us the very bowels of His mercy in His Son Jesus Christ.

 2.      It is through this tender mercy that Christ becomes flesh, the Dayspring from on high visits us, that our sins are remitted as His blood atones for them.

 3.      The Dayspring/dawning of the sun symbolizes the dawning of the Messianic age of the Son of God, for Christ gives light to those in darkness as the rising sun lights those who were in the dark of night.

C.      V. 80, John’s physical and Spiritual growth and life in the desert further marks him as God’s prophet.

 1.      John grew physically & in/by the Holy Spirit, living in the deserts until time for his public ministry.

 2.      His growing physically and spiritually parallels the account of Jesus in 2:40 and 2:52.

 3.      John will declare to the people the coming of Christ’s kingdom, and call them to prepare for it by repenting of sins that would keep them out of His kingdom, for Christ is the Son of David who ushers in the holy kingdom of God/heaven.

 4.      So the people must repent and follow Christ their King when He comes, and therefore John preaches a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, lest they reject their King and suffer His wrath, Lk. 3:3, 7-8. Israel must know that having Abraham as their ancestor doesn’t guarantee salvation.

D.     John is the prophet who prepares God’s people for the way of the Messiah (as ministers do today)

 1.      John’s ministry brings repentance & reconciliation to families, hearts of fathers returned to children.

 2.      Christ is the Way though which His Father’s heart is turned toward us, and ours to His Father.

 3.      So, Christ’s salvation leads His people out of sin, into righteousness which pleases the Lord, such that He causes His people to be at peace even with their enemies/all men, Prov. 16:6-7.

 4.      All this shows forth the great mercy the Lord bestows upon His covenant people who serve Him.

Conclusion: So repent, bear the fruit of the Spirit/fruit of repentance in love/service to God and one another, and so live as faithful, righteous, and holy citizens of Christ’s kingdom, as His redeemed people.

1 John 5:19-21: We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen

Luke 2:1-20 –Jesus, Savior & Lord at Thy Birth -- Sermon Outline

Intro: Jesus’ birth is so much more than warm feelings of “Christmas”. The promised Messiah is born!   

Need: Christ’s birth changes everything. Almighty God has come in human flesh to be man’s Savior/Lord!   

Theme: Christ’s birth as Savior & Lord demands praise & proclamation. We see that Christ’s birth --

 

I.            Comes after a difficult journey imposed by wicked rulers (1-7)

A.     V. 1-5, Everyone under Roman rule must journey to their home city to be registered for a census & tax.

 1.      This was imposed by imperial edict/dogma of Caesar Augustus, born Gaius Octavius but given this name by the Roman Senate in 27 B.C. Augustus means venerable, and he ruled until A.D. 14.

 2.      We see the Jewish Messiah entering the world under Roman command and rule, yet all according to God’s sovereign rule, who foretold in Micah 5:2 that Israel’s Ruler would come from Bethlehem.

 3.      KJV translates “all the world should be taxed” and it appears this census/registration was for tax purposes. As they say, the only certainties in life are death and taxes.

 4.      Concerning “Quirinius” in V. 2, the historian Josephus says his census took place in A.D. 6-7, but since Herod the Great was alive when Jesus was born but died in 4 B.C., the dating does not match.

 5.      For believers this does not pose an issue, as God’s word is infallible and inerrant, and the full/historical data is not available to us today.

 6.      V. 3, “own city” here is the family/ancestors’ hometown; in one sense Joseph’s hometown is Nazareth where he lived, in another sense Bethlehem, David’s hometown (I Sam. 16:1ff., Luke 2:11).

 7.      Similar to today where we may return to the hometown of our parents/grandparents, though our home is in another town that we have moved to more recently.

 8.      V. 4, “up from Galilee,” Even though Bethlehem is South of Galilee/Nazareth, it is 2,564 feet above sea level, whereas Nazareth is only 1,830 feet above sea level.

a.       This would be a trip of 85-90 miles if traveling through Samaria.

b.       Jerusalem was 2500 square feet above sea level, and so is referred to in Scripture always as going “up” to Jerusalem, and when leaving, going “down” from Jerusalem.

 9.      V. 5, It is unclear if Mary had to go as part of the census/registration as well, or if she simply wanted to be with her husband during this time/near her point of delivery. Regardless, God providentially brought this about to fulfill Micah 5:2, that the Ruler of Israel would come from little Bethlehem.

B.      V. 6-7, Joseph and Mary arrive at Bethlehem, and she delivers Jesus in the animal manger.

 1.      This is Mary’s “firstborn” son, but not necessarily her only child she would have, as Jesus had brothers and sisters as shown in other Scriptures.

 2.      There was no room in the “inn”, likely due to so many having to travel for the census.

a.       “Inn” here would be a rough, crude, overnight lodging place for traveling caravans.

b.       Note that God incarnate, the Lord of all, has become flesh, been born to a humble family, in a humble town, in a humble animal trough, and yet He is born King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and the Savior of His people Israel.

c.       In our small church we have had hospital births, home births, births in the lobby of the hospital, etc. Imagine traveling cross-country with 9-month pregnant woman that is bearing Jesus the God-Man in her womb, all while under Roman occupation and at Caesar’s command for tax purposes!

d.       To top it off, not too long after arriving, your wife goes into labor, and there’s nowhere for you to stay but with the animals! Would this cause Mary and Joseph, or ourselves, to doubt the Angel Gabriel/God’s plan in bringing His Son into the world in this way?

e.       God is showing us again that He takes the lowly and raises them up, destroying the lofty proud.

f.        Lowly can be seen in poverty of possessions, but primarily is seen in humility of Spirit and obedience to the Lord no matter the cost/difficulty, serving God and one another, Phil 2:1-11.

g.       These humble beginnings belie the fact that Christ is born Savior and Lord, & must be praised! Indeed He will be from heaven itself! All our humble work for God in Christ is seen/praised too!

II.            Is praised & proclaimed by the heavenly host to simple shepherds (8-14)

A.     V. 8-9, Unsuspecting shepherds near Bethlehem are visited by an angel and the glory of the Lord!

 1.      The shepherds kept their sheep in pastures near Bethlehem, as King David had watched his father’s flocks in the fields of Bethlehem (I Sam 17:15).

 2.      The gospel of Jesus Christ, His coming to earth, is first heralded to those of no reputation/report.

a.       There is some evidence that shepherds were regarded as dishonest & ritually unclean at this time.

b.       This would indicate the gospel first going out to those lost in their sins, as Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost.

c.       But Christ Himself comes as the Shepherd of His flock, laying down His life for His smelly sheep.

d.       The work of a shepherd is hard, difficult, unpleasant, and not always highly regarded, and yet it is glorious work and honored as Christ Himself is the true Shepherd who does the greatest work of all, saving souls and shepherding them into all righteousness, in the pastures sweet and where the waters flow in the kingdom of God.

 3.      V.9, Whether this again was Gabriel appearing to the shepherds is unknown, but the shepherd’s response is the same, as they, laboring in their work and taken by surprise, are overcome with fear.

 4.      The angel of the Lord’s presence, and the Lord’s glory shining around the shepherds, are connected, indicating that God’s holy presence has come upon them and been revealed/manifested to them.

B.      V.10-12, The angel brings joyous tidings of the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord, born in a manger as a sign to the shepherds.

 1.      The good tidings/gospel proclamation by the angel brings great joy as the Messiah has been born and His kingdom inaugurated for His people from every nation, even though Christ first comes to the Jews/Israelites.

 2.      The blessing promised to Abraham is realized in Christ, in whom the nations will be brought to salvation by faith/repentance & become sons & heirs of God, Gal. 3:7-9, 13-14, 16, 26-29, 4:4-7.

 3.      Jesus is the promised Savior/Deliverer of His people, the Christ/Messiah/anointed one of God the Father, anointed b/c He is none other, even from His conception/birth, the Lord, the Master/sovereign one with all authority, over Herod, the Roman Empire, and all things.

 4.      Greek word order for V. 11, “For born to you today a Savior, which is Christ the Lord in the city of David.” It is the anointed Lord Himself who is born in the city of Israel’s great king David.

 5.      This brings great joy, for a greater King than David has arrived, the Lord and Savior of all the earth.

 6.      It is of course unusual to find a newborn babe, just born/being swaddled, lying in an animal feeding trough. That the shepherds would find such would serve as a plain sign to them that what the angel is saying about the child is true. Despite all modest appearances, this is Christ the Lord, King of Israel!

C.      V. 13-14, Immediately following the angel’s announcement of Christ the Savior and Lord, there appears with the angel the hosts of heaven/multitudes of angels gathered/assembled to praise God, saying “Glory to God in the highest, & on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

 1.      All of heaven, everything must praise God for the gift of His Son on earth. There is no greater gift!

 2.      This too is a “sign” of sorts to the shepherds, and a greater sign than preceded the announcement of the coming of Christ to Mary and Elizabeth, as not just one but many angels manifest and praise God.

 3.      We focus on the work of Christ, especially His atoning for sin on the cross, but we should also see the joyous miracle and blessing of God becoming flesh/man, forever linking Himself to our humanity.

 4.      Thus Christ will forever connect His redeemed people to His divinity/to God.

 5.      Without the incarnation, there could be no righteousness of Christ that could be applied to us, and there could be no death that He died to atone for us. Union with God/Christ required His incarnation.

 6.      “peace” and “goodwill toward men” is brought because God’s glory has come down from the highest place, His heavenly abode, and so in Christ the Word made flesh, God’s goodness to His people and His creation is on full display.

 7.      The Father’s goodwill in Christ accomplishes peace on earth, as through faith in Christ man has peace with God, Rom. 5:1 and peace with our fellow man of every nation, Eph. 2:14-17.  

D.     Do you rejoice at so great a salvation? Do you live righteously so as to be at peace with God & man?

 

III.            Leads the shepherds to praise God & proclaim Christ to others (15-20)

A.     V. 15-18, The shepherds know they must find the Christ child right away, so they do then tell others.

 1.      God Himself has spoken to them through His heavenly host/messengers, so they chase after Christ.

a.       Would it be that we all would live this way, to seek Christ above all, as Scripture commands us.

b.       Seek him even above your occupations and labors, not to abandon your labors/duties, but to know He who is the goodness and source of all things, so that your labors are all done for Christ and His glory, His kingdom, and so that your labors are enriching to you and your neighbors!

c.       The shepherds left straightaway their duty/calling, and so must we. We must not delay coming to Christ/serving Him to first get our lives in order. Only Christ can rightly order and orient our lives!

 2.      V. 17-18, The Shepherds see Christ, know Him as Savior/Lord, & overflowing with joy at this good news, they proclaim the gospel far and wide, to the marvel of all who hear such wondrous things.

a.       As in Luke 1:65-66 concerning John, Christ’s birth/significance is heralded and made known all around the region, but in an even more powerful way than John’s, for Christ was heralded by the angels and said to be the Savior, Christ the Lord. And again, others wonder who this child will be.

b.       The Christian life is knowing the greatness of Jesus, repenting/confessing sin, then serving Him.

B.      V. 19-20, While the people only marvel, Mary meditates, seeking to know these great truths in her heart. The shepherds likewise, having grasped the glory of God in Christ, return to their labors with gladness, praising God.

 1.      Mary tries to piece together what her husband has told her, what Gabriel has told her concerning Christ, and what she is now hearing from the shepherds.

a.       She knows her child is the Messiah, the Son of the Most High God, the Deliverer who will sit on the throne of David and establish His kingdom forever.

b.       But all this is dizzying, incredible, and that her child is actually God in the flesh, God incarnate, a Son of God such that He is God the Son Himself, is something she struggles to comprehend.

 2.      The shepherds return to their callings/occupations, but as changed men, glorifying and praising God in light of all they’ve seen/heard concerning the Messiah according to the angel’s words from God.

a.       This shows how true faith in Christ, true apprehension of who/what He really is and has done, transforms our lives and leads to praising God, but does not absolve us of our everyday callings.

b.       We labor in our fields, whether as shepherds, businessmen, homemakers, etc., glorifying God and praising Him in our hearts every day of the week, thanking Him for His provision, salvation, and entrance into His everlasting kingdom through Christ.

c.       This whole narrative in vv. 1-20 shows God’s sovereign control over human history, orchestrating the miracle of the incarnation under harsh rule, harsh conditions, and humble shepherds’ visitation.

d.       But it is fitting, for Christ’s ministry and work will be for those of no reputation especially, seeking and saving the sinner, and yet He will topple wicked kings and exalted kingdoms.

 

C.      Conclusion: So don’t despise your situation in life. Don’t think that your service for Christ the King is insignificant. Nothing done for the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, that was purchased with His blood, can be anything other than a rich privilege for us, and bring Him glory. The shepherds that saw Jesus remained shepherds, but they were transformed by Him, and now their labors were for Him. So praise and proclaim His work in you by living faithfully for Him in all that He calls you to do.

 

Consider these words from Phil. 2 so that we may live peaceably with God and our fellow man:

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Luke 2:21-24 –The Circumcision & Consecration of Jesus -- Sermon Outline

Intro: We might read through these verses quickly, but they show Christ’s work for us.

Need: Christ’s circumcision and consecration brings Him under God’s law to save His people.

Theme: Jesus is born under the law to unite with His people & redeem them by keeping His law.

 

I.       V. 21, The Circumcision and Naming of Jesus: And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

A.     Gen. 17:12 and Lev. 12:1-3 show this command/requirement of circumcision on the 8^th day according to God’s law given to Abram, and continued under Moses.

   1.      We see here that Christ was born a man and made under His very own law, Gal. 4:4, to become one of His own people, in order to redeem His people who are under the curse of the law for their sinfulness and law breaking.

   2.      Christ redemption adopts us as sons of God and heirs of God in Christ.

   3.      Christ became a debtor to the whole law by being circumcised, Gal. 5:3, & paid that law-debt for us.

B.     As God commanded and fore-ordained, Christ is called/named Jesus, meaning “Jehovah saves”.

   1.      Indeed it was fitting that He would be named at His circumcision, for it is through the blood of Christ that He would save His people, as His blood was shed even here at His circumcision/naming.

   2.      We also see that Jesus is Jehovah, the saving God of Israel in human flesh, sent under the law to redeem His people from the curse of the law by saving them from their sins.

C.     Circumcision was a sign of being unclean, hence the need to be circumcised, to have the sin cut out/cut off from the person.

   1.      God tells Israel to circumcise the foreskin of their hearts, Deut. 10:16, for the grace He has shown them/their forefathers.

   2.      Christ was circumcised/cut off on the cross for us, cut off from His Father and under His wrath, so that we could be cut in/grafted into Christ and have access to the Father. 

   3.      For, “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ”. (Col. 2:11).

   4.      Being named Jesus/”Jehovah saves” at His circumcision shows He will save through His own blood.

   5.      God has shown many of us, and our families, saving grace/mercy. Are we mortifying the sinful flesh daily? Are we applying the Spirit so that we circumcise the foreskin of our remaining, indwelling sin, to be set apart/holy in faithful service to the Lord? This is the righteous response to God’s grace!

   6.      We must repent of the uncircumcision/sinfulness of our remaining sin, all while praising God for circumcising us in Christ, so that in Him we are viewed by God apart from sin!

 

II.       V. 22, Mary’s Purification & Obedience to God’s Law: Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

A.     Textual variant, some using feminine singular Greek word for “her” purification, others the masculine plural pronoun, which would be “their” and would include both Mary and Jesus.

   1.      Mary’s purification is first in view from her flow of blood, and only after her purification can Jesus rightly be consecrated/presented to the Lord, otherwise He would be unclean as his mother would bring Him to the priest contaminated from her own ritual uncleanness/impurity.

   2.      All this shows the wide-reaching effects of sin, of its filth and pollution, and how only the blood of Christ ultimately can wash us from the wicked wretchedness that we are in God’s sight, such that now that the blood of Christ is applied rather than the filthy blood of the woman, whole households are set apart even the unbelieving/uncircumcised spouse, & the offspring are clean/holy I Cor. 7:14.

B.     The “law of Moses” is given in Lev. 12:1-8.

   1.      If the woman birthed a male child, she was unclean for a week/7 days, then would continue in the blood of her purifying (she needed to be cleansed from the flow of her blood, something resulting from the fall/death/suffering, etc., and thus unfit to be in the presence of God) for another 33 days.

   2.      After these 40 days in total, she would bring a yearling/year old lamb for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or turtle dove for a sin offering to the priest, would offer it up as an atonement for her to the Lord at the tabernacle/temple. Blood flow required blood atonement for the guilt/sin.

C.     But if she were poor and could not afford a lamb, only two turtle doves or two young pigeons were required, one as a burnt offering, the other as a sin offering.

   1.      The sin offering removes guilt & defilement/pollution, making one clean/pure again.

   2.      The burnt offering dedicates the whole person to the LORD’S service, and shows God’s wrath satisfied/propitiated as the animal is the victim sacrificed in place of the sinner.

   3.      The sin and burnt offerings together show that complete and full atonement is accomplished, and looking to Christ as the fulfilment of these offerings, we see that in Him we have complete forgiveness, are pure and holy to God, and are dedicated to His service.

D.     Jesus is taken to the temple to be presented at the appointed/commanded time, showing Joseph/Mary’s obedience to God’s law. Per  LK. 2:39, they did “all things” that the law required.

   1.      Are you doing all that the Lord requires of you according to His law? Are you keeping His commandments, worshiping Him in Spirit/truth as the people of God, not worshiping idols/living for empty things, honoring your father/mother, obeying those God has put over you for your good?

   2.      Do not hold hatred in your heart or adulterous/lustful thoughts but rather invest and cherish your spouse/family, being content with your wages/lot in life as much as possible, and seeking to better your condition as He allows you to multiply and prosper in Him.

   3.      Are you living in the truth and speaking the truth, even when it is costly, and dealing honestly with your family and friends, maintaining their good reputation and refusing to slander them?

E.      Through steadfast faithfulness, we see the true riches that God bestowed upon Mary and Joseph, Jesus Christ, the true lamb and bread come down from heaven!

   1.      May we likewise value our children as gifts from God above, and raise them and value them better than all gold and silver that rusts and perishes. Indeed, God did not take a ransom of gold and silver for payment for sin, but only the precious blood of His only begotten Son could satisfy.

   2.      Do not spurn your children for any material thing, do not delay having them for selfish pleasures, but seek a spouse in the Lord & godly offspring to receive true riches/lasting happiness in God’s provision!

 

III.       V. 23-24, The Consecration of Jesus by a poor family’s offering: (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

A.     “The law of the Lord” and the “law of Moses” are the same. God’s law “has been written,” a perfect passive verb indicating ongoing significance for God’s people today. The law is still for us, in Christ, as we serve/obey Him. Our redemption from the law is not redemption to disobey the law.

B.     “Every male who opens the womb” refers to Ex. 13:2, where the firstborn are sanctified/set apart to God in remembrance of God sparing the firstborn sons in the Exodus from Egypt, when the Egyptian children were slain. A price of five shekels was required, Num. 3:47-48, and the firstborn son was consecrated, for service to the Lord, I Sam. 1:11, 22, 28 as we see Hannah does with her son Samuel.

C.     V. 24 only mentions what the poor were required to offer from Ex. 13, and so we see again the humility/poverty of Mary and their family, that Jesus is purified with the poor family’s birds, and not the lamb itself, for He would be the lamb that takes away the sin of the world.

   1.      Our children must be precious to us, for indeed they are a “heritage from the Lord” (Ps. 127:3-5) and the man is blessed who fears the Lord by receiving a wife who is like a fruitful vine in the center of the home, with children flowing forth from her like olive plants all around your table.

   2.      Faithfulness to God also leads to the blessing of seeing your children’s children/grandchildren, and the peace of God upon Israel with His people. Faithful families yield faithful churches, communities, nations. Build Christ’s kingdom over Sanford, NC by raising your children to love God & neighbor.

   3.      Christ received the little children in His arms and blessed them, and continues to bless covenant children with His Holy Spirit. We in baptism recognize God’s claim on our children, and dedicate ourselves as parents to raising them up for the Lord and His kingdom. Joseph & Mary do likewise.

D.     All this circumcision, naming, purifying of Mary, and consecration of Christ to God in the temple was necessary for Christ to fulfill all righteousness for His people.

   1.      By this law-keeping Christ becomes one of them, a true Jew/Israelite, the circumcised seed of Abraham that would shed the blood of His whole body on the cross, for the life of all who are grafted in Him, Jesus/Jehovah that saves!

   2.      We too partake of His body and blood and have entered into union with Him/His whole church body By His saving work, indwelling Spirit, and faith that holds fast to Him for our life/salvation as we hear His word and partake of His body/blood in the Lord’s Supper.

 

Conclusion: So persevere in the faith, cling to Christ who is your law-keeper, who has redeemed you from the curse of the law by becoming cursed for you on the cross, so that He might present you holy and righteous before the Father in His glorious kingdom for all eternity. 

Luke 2:25-40–Thankfulness for the Child Jesus– Sermon Outline

Intro: Christians must live out their days serving the Lord and thanking Him for Christ (like Simeon + Anna).  

Need: See Christ as Lord even while a child; sent to reveal the Father, redeem man, and be praised.

M.P.: God’s children serve & rejoice in Christ’s redemption.   

 

I.            (v. 25-27a) Simeon’s patient devotion to God & anointing by the Holy Spirit.

A.      (25) Simeon is called “just” (righteous, holy) and “devout” (waiting for the promised salvation of Israel, the Messiah).

B.      (25) “The Holy Spirit rested upon” Simeon; Simeon was likely a prophet who had told others in the past to be ready for the coming of the Messiah. Simeon is not young and has been patiently and eagerly “waiting” for a long time for the “Consolation of Israel”, its salvation from bondage to sin.

C.      (26-27a) The HS told Simeon that he would in fact see the Messiah before he died, and the Spirit compelled Simeon to go to into the temple court just when Jesus was present with Mary and Joseph. In this we see the sovereignty of God over every detail.

D.      APPLICATION: Luke is writing to Theophilus, a Gentile of note, which makes Luke’s Gospel very applicable to us; it was written to reveal Christ and give certainty to Gentiles.

                1.      Therefore, the record of the birth of Christ in Luke 1 and of Simeon is to help Gentiles (you and me) see the divinity of the child Jesus.

a.       In Lk. 1:32-33, Christ is called “great” and “Son of the Most High” who will inherit the “throne of his father David,” and will “reign over the house of Jacob” and “whose kingdom will not end”, fulfilling the great promise Nathan told David of 2 Samuel 7:12-16.

b.       Simeon gives similar prophetic utterances, saying that this is being fulfilled by the Christ child.

c.       Christ’s birth in a manger stall for animals is a sign of His humility, of His coming in the likeness of sinful flesh to overcome it on behalf of His people. The manger scene was not aesthetically beautiful. We must remember that Christ was born to bear sin and die.     

                2.      Therefore, we should see Simeon as a model for us regarding praising Christ while a child.

a.       He patiently awaited His 1^st coming because he knew it meant salvation and peace for the nations. In the meantime, He lived righteously for God.

b.       We should thus await His 2^nd coming in the same way, despite how grim things may seem to be in our own lives, in the church, in the world today. This is not a passive waiting, but an active rolling up our sleeves and serving the Lord in our callings as we HAVE His power!  

II.            (v. 27b-32) Simeon’s praise for Christ as saving Light and Israel’s glory.

A.      (27b) In accord with God’s law (as noted last Sunday), Jesus as firstborn male is “holy to the Lord” & brought by His parents to be consecrated (only Mary requires purification after giving birth strictly speaking) to God and redeemed with 5 shekels. This denotes Christ’s noteworthy/privileged position.

B.      (28) Simeon’s seeing the Christ child (who prophets longed to see, Mt. 13:17) gives him knowledge (by the Spirit’s revealing) that He is God incarnate who is fulfilling the great hope of Israel.

C.      Simeon takes Jesus up in his arms in exuberance and gives thanks to God for God’s steadfast faithfulness to His people. This puts an exclamation point on Simeon’s devotion to and love for God. 

D.      (29-32) Simeon, full of the HS, exalts God and then prophesies that the One who would bring salvation to Israel, reveal truth and goodness to all nations, and be the crown jewel/glory of Israel has entered the world.

                1.      Simeon’s purpose in life is completed now that he has seen Christ, whom he likely told others much about during his lifetime. He knows that with the coming of the King comes the Kingdom of God, which gives Simeon & Christ’s people “peace”, which is exactly what Christ preached about.

                2.      Simeon’s death shortly after this account would be another sign that Simeon’s prophecy of Christ was genuine and that Christ really was the hope of Israel and the whole world, born at last.

                3.      2:30, seeing “salvation,” means Simeon has seen Christ who will bring consolation and salvation to Israel and light to the Gentiles by teaching them then dying for them! Clear allusion to Isa. 40:5 where the glory of the Lord is revealed to the people.

                4.      2:31 “before the face of all peoples” refers to Jews & Gentiles together, also alludes to Isa. 52:10. Heavy OT prophetic emphasis to show these things are being fulfilled.

                5.      2:32 “light” is in apposition/paralleled with “salvation” in Lk. 2:30.

                6.      Christ brings & reveals truth because He is truth/God, His exact imprint (Heb. 1:3).

                7.      Christ is “light” to the Gentiles because they need the Word/revelation of God, but the Jews/Israel already have the OT Scriptures & Jehovah as their Lord/God, so for them He is fitly called “glory”.

                8.      For He is the fulfillment of all the glorious covenant promises that God had made to Israel in the OT. The King of the Jews has come, and with Him He brings deliverance by the light/truth of His kingdom accomplished by His atoning blood.

E.      APPLICATION: This teaches us to see Christ as the focal point of the OT and NT. He fulfills all God’s promises to Israel, and redeems those from other nations as well. Christ’s own teaching in Scripture shows us how to understand all the OT, and shows us how we should understand God and live for Him today. Without the advent of Christ, His ministry on earth, His atonement and resurrection, the Bible is powerless and hopeless, calling us to trust in a non-existent redemption/salvation.  

III.            (v. 33-35) Simeon’s prophecy of Christ’s revealing true and false hearts.

A.      2:33, Mary & Joseph “marvel” b/c they’re still amazed at who their baby was and what He was going to do, despite already being told by the angels in chapter 1 He was the Christ.

B.      2:34 Simeon addresses Mary here in particular perhaps because Joseph would die before Christ would be crucified, and only Mary would see the piercing of her son as an eyewitness and thus have her own soul “pierced” as well (2:35).

C.      2:34 Regarding the falling and rising of many in Israel, this is in line with Christ humbling the exalted and exalting the humbled; judgment will come for the haughty and prideful, but grace and mercy will be given to the humble and contrite. See Isa. 28:16 and 8:14, quoted in 1 Pet 2:6, 8 -- Christ will be a stumbling block to the proud but salvation for the contrite.  

D.      2:34 “a sign”; Jesus is THE sign from God of salvation/hope for His people, judgment for all the rest.

                1.      He is Israel’s salvation & His whole life and ministry teaches them this, backed up by His miracles which indicate the kingdom of God is near; and yet, His own people will cry for His crucifixion, thus speaking against Him as the ultimate sign to them, God incarnate, the Word of life made flesh!

                2.      This signifies, like Jonah in the belly of the whale, that Christ’s cross is what He and His people must bear, for ridicule and scorn will come from the world as we seek to live by Christ’s truth/light.

                3.      But ultimately that burden of the cross will be what frees us from sin and crushes all those who oppress Christ/His people. The sufferings of cross-bearing/serving lead to the glories of Christ.

E.      But His resurrection in particular would signify the redemption He wrought for them just as Jonah in the belly of the fish three days signified that God was protecting Jonah for a special purpose (to “resurrect” and then preach repentance to the Ninevites; see Lk. 11:30).

                1.      Jesus rose from the grave and poured out His Spirit from on high, even upon the very ones who cried out for His crucifixion.

                2.      This shows His preaching through His church in the power of His Spirit after His resurrection comes with greater power and efficacy than prior to His atonement/resurrection.

F.      2:35 “thoughts of many hearts” could be translated “the innermost thoughts of the heart”. Christ will reveal much wickedness and sin, the true nature of fallen man apart from God.

G.     2:35 is Mary’s pierced heart seeing the crucifixion of her own Son, Jesus, at the cross (Jn. 19:25)? Does this refer to her own difficulties in accepting her son’s calling (likely); see Lk. 8:21; 11:27-28.

 

IV.            (v. 36-40) Anna’s true/thankful heart & the true-hearted told about Christ their Redeemer.

A.      In Luke 2:25-40 we see the law and the Spirit working in tandem to bring together Mary, Joseph, and Jesus with Simeon and now Anna in the temple court. Anna is 84-years old and long widowed, but has been faithfully following God, serving Him continually with fastings/prayers “night & day” (v. 37).

B.      This does not mean she never left the temple, for women were usually not allowed in/at the temple at night. But she was devout, faithful day after day, in worshiping the Lord. So must we be faithful.

C.      V. 38, she thanks God for the “redemption of Jerusalem” that Jesus was bringing. She looked forward to that just as Simeon looked for the “consolation of Israel” in v. 25.

                1.      We see that God blesses devotion/service to Him over many years. May we be faithful and see great things in our old age of the growth of Christ’s kingdom as well as we serve Him!

                2.      This convergence of Mary/Joseph/Jesus with Simeon and Anna is due to their faithful law-keeping. Follow Christ and His law, and you will be led toward righteousness & blessing too.

                3.      Anna’s reputation as a righteous prophetess (one who has visions from God about future events/interprets, anticipating Spirit’s outpouring in Acts 2:17-18) was well-established.

                4.      And so when she “spoke of Him/Christ” to all those who also were looking for the Messiah (the true-hearted), they would believe her and know that God had revealed the Messiah to her!

                5.      Let us have true/thankful hearts and tell others who need redemption of Christ the Redeemer!

D.      V. 39-40, Joseph and Mary return home with Jesus after doing all that the law required for Him.

                1.      The issue of having to first go to Egypt to avoid Herod’s slaughter is not mentioned here, but is in Matt 2:13-22. Regardless, the plan and purpose and ultimate destination was to go to Nazareth.

                2.      We read that Christ grows up, and His childhood is one in which He has His Father’s grace upon Him so that He grows in spirit and is filled with wisdom (highlighted more than John the Baptist).

                3.      This is according to His human nature, body and soul. He grows in both, as physical and mental health go hand in hand, and in 2:46-47 we see him “training” with the teachers in the temple courts, everyone amazed at His understanding. If Jesus had to study diligently to serve His Father well, so must we study His Word/law to serve Him well, please Him, and receive His blessings!

                4.      The obedience of Joseph and Mary should not be divorced from the growth of Jesus by the grace/Spirit of God into wisdom. The indication is they covenantally nurtured Him and obeyed Deut. 6 to teach the words to the young Jesus “as you go in/out, lie down/rise, always”.

                5.      May we also raise our children for the Lord, and pray that His Spirit rests upon them so that they grow in spirit and in wisdom for the sake of His kingdom.

                6.      Even when we are single and/or widowed like Anna, we must be faithful and devoted to God, and can expect His blessings to flow to us as we wait patiently on Him while doing His will.

App/Conc: Trust in & treasure Christ. Study His person, work, and teachings, then serve & rejoice in His redeeming light, as Simeon & Anna did, so the Spirit may produce the fruit of His Word in your lives.   

Luke 2:41-452–My Father’s Business– Sermon Outline

Intro: Jesus as a boy was keenly aware of His Father’s will/purpose for His life

Need: He pursued His Father’s will, and we must see His Father’s Business for Him.

M.P.: Jesus Must Pursue His Father’s Business.

 

I.       To show His true purpose and place on earth &

II.       To prepare Himself to fulfill His calling. 

 

A.      (v. 41-43) Jesus is 12, taken by parents to the Passover feast, & stays behind without them knowing.  

       1.      Only males were required to go to Jerusalem three times a year for the annual festivals (Deut 16:16), one of which was Passover, the opening feast meal for the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread.

       2.      Women were not required to go, though some did as Mary does here.

       3.      Remember Jesus as a newborn was consecrated as firstborn Son/holy to the Lord, Lk. 2:23. Passover commemorated the Exodus from Egypt & the sparing of the firstborn son of the Israelites as the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of the house covered the households/firstborn son. The males of Israel would bring their Passover sacrifice and have no leaven for a week, as a reminder of their hasty deliverance/departure from Egypt/sin/suffering.

       4.      Jesus as the holy, firstborn/only begotten Son of God, who already as a baby was being filled with wisdom and grace (Lk. 2:39), knew where He belonged, in the temple, where His Father’s presence was and where the teachers of His Word belonged, as He would become THE teacher of Israel.

       5.      Not only that, but Jesus’ knew His purpose and place on earth was to become THE PASSOVER for His people, the lamb of God whose blood is shed to take away the sins of His people so that they themselves become unleavened, freed from sin and pure in Him (I Cor. 5:7).

       6.      Indeed, deliverance from Egypt took Israel toward God/His land, to dwell there, as Jesus lingers/dwells in the temple of God, in God’s land/presence, among God’s people. Jesus knew as Passover He would rise again to God’s presence, bringing His people with Him to “linger/remain” in God’s courts, not just for a weekly celebration once a year, but forever!

       7.      Those redeemed in Christ must see that salvation brings us to the very courts of God, and better is one day in God’s courts than thousands elsewhere (Ps. 84:10).

B.      Mary and Joseph are not focusing on these realities, but only that their Son is missing.

       1.      We do see Mary and Joseph’s faithful devotion to God, and the custom at the time was for the boys to attend Passover by age 13, the same age at which the Bar-Mitzvah would develop for the growing young boy/man, meaning “Son of the covenant/commandment”.

       2.      If this was the first year they brought Jesus, He could have gotten lost in the shuffle of the large group/company traveling to come for the feast days.

       3.      If they brought Him in previous years and He always returned, there’d be no reason to think He wouldn’t this year as well.

C.      (V. 44-47) Jesus is found doing His Father’s business, fulfilling His purpose where He belongs in the temple in His Father’s city of Jerusalem, among His Father’s teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, demonstrating His incredible mastery of Jehovah’s will by asking/answering questions.

       1.      A day’s journey was roughly 20-25 miles, so they had to return that distance to find Jesus.

       2.      “after three days” in v. 46 likely means at the end of three days after initially leaving Jerusalem, not that they had to search for Him for three days. But if they did search 3 days for Him in Jerusalem and never considered checking the temple, this further reveals their ignorance of Jesus’ true calling.

       3.      (V. 46) Jesus must learn and study and prepare Himself to be the Great Rabbi/Teacher of Israel, and He grows in wisdom and knowledge as a man/according to His human nature. If He must study and attend His Father’s diligently in this way, listening to God’s teachers and asking them questions, how much more should each of us.

       4.      V. 47, Jesus was without sin, and so His ability to listen carefully and grasp what was taught, as well as to explain it/teach it to others was unparalleled.

       5.      This should be seen as part of His obedience to His Father, not as some interjection of the divine nature of Christ interjecting and giving Jesus supernatural insight/ability to understand and answer.

       6.      His diligence in study, asking questions, and answering, is what is highlighted, and is set forth as an example for each one of us, and especially pastors and elders, who all have Christ’s Holy Spirit.

       7.      Here we see Jesus seeking Solomonic wisdom by learning God’s law as commanded in Proverbs.  

D.      (V. 48-50) Jesus’ parents are likewise amazed, but frustrated that He remained in the Temple when they had left to return home, not understanding He must be about His Father’s business/in His house.

       1.      Joseph and Mary are amazed both at finding Him with the Teachers, & at Jesus’ understanding.

       2.      Mary/Joseph in 12 years likely had raised Jesus as a normal Jewish boy, and He likely grew up in a fairly normal environment, without the divine visitations/prophecies about Him during His infancy.

a.       So the parents may have “settled in” to the normal routine with Jesus, and did not expect Him so soon to be called to such study and duty at so young an age.

b.       This shows we must show our covenant children that they must be about their Father’s business from the earliest of years, for even youths can learn and grow tremendously as Christians.

       3.      (V. 49), could be “Had you not known”? Mary/Joseph had known, from the angel’s birth announcement concerning Christ, Simeon’s words in the temple, etc, that Jesus had to be about His Father’s business. But they seem to think, as devout Jews, that Jesus must merely keep the law, so when the obligations of the law for Passover are met, they leave. But Jesus must not only keep the law, but further, His purpose is to “fulfill the law” in Himself (Mt. 5:17; Lk. 24:44).

       4.      V. 49, when it says “must”, could be translated emphatically as “it is necessary”. Literal translation would be, “in the things of My Father it is necessary (dei) that I be.” What Jesus was doing HAD to be done, there was no other option for Him to be obedient to His heavenly Father’s calling/business.

       5.      So, He had to stay in Jerusalem & not go with his parents. Same word (dei) is used in Lk. 4:43, where Jesus says He must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also “for therefore am I sent” by the Father.

       6.      Dei again is in Lk 9:20 where He says He MUST suffer many things, be rejected by elders/chief priests/scribes, be slain, and raised on the third day.  

E.      Jesus calling was unique, and so was His relationship to God the Father.

       1.      V. 50, Mary/Joseph “did not understand” Jesus’ words concerning doing His Father’s business.

       2.      This reality/unique relationship between Jesus as the Father’s only begotten Son, & the Father’s calling for His Son on earth, to some degree or another, slipped in the mind of His earthly parents.

       3.      Mary/Joseph in v. 50 show they didn’t understand just how much preparation was required for the Son of God before He began His earthly ministry at 30 years of age.

       4.      This underscores that Christ was always living to obey His Father, and thus was also always living for we His people, to fulfill all righteousness for us and offer Himself up as a worthy sacrifice to the Father on our behalf.

       5.      Indeed, we do not understand just how much Christ has done, and is still doing for us. Even in glory we will continually be amazed and humbled at the great love with which God loved us in Christ.

       6.      It is not commendable for our children to linger in the churches after the parents load up the van and drive home, or to stay behind at a Christian conference while the parents return with the rest of the traveling caravan back to North Carolina!

       7.      But for Jesus, He would be THE Teacher of the law, THE prophet of God’s people, so this is where He rightly belonged. He would be THE Priest & Passover whose body/blood ascends before the Father, so it is at the Temple where Christ belonged. And Jesus would be THE King in the capital city of Jerusalem, the throne of David, which was rightly Christ’s throne, to which He belonged!

       8.      And for each of us, if those over us require us to sin against God by not knowing Him/studying His Word, we must obey God rather than men. We must get understanding and wisdom from God’s Word, in personal study and prayer, and in attending corporate worship as God commands us, and even as we see Jesus gathering in the temple court with the various teachers.

F.      (VV. 51-52) Jesus is obedient to His parents and goes home with them to Nazareth, and as Mary ponders all these things, Jesus through the years grows in wisdom and favor with God and man.

       1.      Jesus continued in the home with His parents, likely worked with His father Joseph as a carpenter, and obeyed His parents as any child of this age would still be expected to do. Jesus obeyed His parents & only lingered behind b/c He understood He must do so in order to obey God the Father.

       2.      Jesus did not enter some sort of rebellious teenager phase here, which would be blasphemous to believe and absurd given that we are told He remained subject to them.

       3.      Children, as you get older, you must obey your parents in the Lord in all things, even when your parents seem like bumbling idiots, and maybe at times are misreading things.

       4.      Parents, be aware that your children by age 12 are hardly children anymore, are beginning the transition into adulthood, and are not called to forever be our precious little ones, but to form their own families/households by leaving yours, fulfilling the earth and subduing it in their work, bearing their own children, and becoming their own households before the Lord in worship.

       5.      Mary again keeps all these sayings of her Son, and His behavior, in her heart. She may be slow to learn and understand, but she is still seeking God’s will and desires to know just what/who her Son is and what He is going to accomplish for the redemption and consolation of Israel.

       6.      V. 52, “increase” is idea of steadily progressing, through study and obedience to His parents, in wisdom, and in “stature”/age as the years pass by.

a.       The word “increase” is used by Paul of Himself in Gal. 1:14, where he says he was “advancing” in Judaism beyond those of his own age among his people, because he was so zealous for the traditions and teachings of the fathers. The same is true here of Christ, except that Christ discerned from study of the Scriptures and conversation with rabbis the truth of God and His Word, and was not led into a wicked Pharisaical belief/practice as Paul had been.

b.       “Wisdom” involved the intellect, but even further, a spiritual maturity, a discernment of right and wrong and desire to live righteously; Prov. 4:5ff. says to get wisdom above all, and Christ Himself is true wisdom in the flesh. He grows in wisdom according to His human nature, not divine.

       7.      V. 52, “in favor with God and men” the word “favor” is translated as “grace” throughout Scripture.

a.       Christ grows in the favor/blessing/grace of God and the blessing and favor of fellow men.

b.       Jesus had a good reputation and lived righteously, undoubtedly would have been recognized by all to be a well-qualified elder and leader, Rabbi, in the Temple and among the Jewish people by the time He was 30.

c.       This evokes what was said of Samuel in 1 Sam. 3:19-20, that among all the tribes of Israel Samuel was known as a “trustworthy prophet of the Lord”.

d.       V. 52 is said almost verbatim of young Samuel as well in I Sam. 2:26. Recall that Samuel as a boy ministered before the Lord in His temple/tabernacle.

e.       Christ too, as a 12-year old boy, must prepare for His calling by “ministering” before the Lord, as one dedicated to the Lord more truly than Hannah dedicated her son; for Mary, & ultimately God Himself has dedicated His Son to be the Holy One of Israel to take away the sins of His people.

App/Conc: Study God’s Word to know what He is doing in Your life through Christ, and what He has called you to do for Him. As Mary treasured Jesus’ words/actions in her heart, treasure Christ’s Words in yours to know/do His will.

Luke 3:1-6–Repentance Contra Mundum– Sermon Outline

Intro: The Bishop Athanasius stood contra mundum in the 4^th century, opposing Arianism/Arius.

Need: All true Christians are repentant Christians, & in repentance stand contra mundum and its sin.

M.P.: John the Baptist preaches repentance in the face of the wicked world. We see --

 

I.       God gives the message of repentance in a desperate time. (1-2)

A.      (v. 1-2) God calls John as a prophet while in the wilderness, under wicked Roman rule

       1.      Tiberius Caesar succeeded Augustus Ceasar; wicked like all the Roman Empire rulers.

       2.      Pontius Pilate was governor, or prefect, of Judea, and would crucify Christ.

       3.      Herod who ruled Galilee was a son of Herod the Great, and would take Philip tetrarch of Iturea’s wife to be his own. Philip and this Herod, known as Herod Antipas, were brothers; John would rebuke this.

       4.      Lysanias was another tetrarch, and these four rulers controlled all the region; what we see is the Jews totally under foreign and wicked leadership, seemingly without hope and abandoned by God.

       5.      V. 2, Caiaphas was the active high priest at this time, while Annas had been the previous high priest and still apparently bore some influence, since he was still living.

       6.      Annas may have been removed by the Romans and Caiaphas put in his place, so that the Jews honored both as high priests, similar to how we might call all preceding living Presidents today “Mr. President” even though they are no longer the active President of the U.S.

       7.      By OT law, there was only supposed to be one high priest at a time, so we see how much the Roman rule had disrupted the worship and duties of Israel to God, and how unfaithful many Jews were.

       8.      It is against this dark and depressing backdrop that the Word of God comes to John, who is currently in the wilderness.

a.       God’s Word “coming” to someone is indicative that they are a prophet called by God, as seen time and time again when God calls the OT prophets (Jer. 1:2; Hos. 1:1; Mic 1:1).

b.       John’s location in the desert was by God’s design, as John is the voice calling “in the desert” (Lk. 3:4, quoting Isaiah 40:3-5). No one should dare speak for God unless God has called them to this.

c.       This wilderness/desert location was likely in the hill country between Judea and the Dead Sea, where none lived and little grew, only pebbles and stones and dangerous scorpions and snakes.

d.       God always brings His Word to His true people, & that word will always includes a call to repent!

e.       When government rule/times are harsh, look for those who speak for truth/righteousness. They may seem crazy, as John in the wilderness did, but it is good when the wicked think you’re crazy.

II.       John preaches repentance so all flesh sees their need for a Savior. (3-6) 

A.      V. 3, God’s word coming to John compels Him to leave the wilderness & preach repentance up and down the land near the Jordan River.

       1.      Recall in Joshua 3:17 the people first crossed the parted Jordan River to enter the Promised Land:

a.       Being baptized in the Jordan River, or near it, would remind the Jews of God bringing them to the Promised land, but also that they must repent and be cleansed from their sins for forgiveness.

b.       Jews had required baptism of Gentile converts, but for Jews themselves to need to be washed would have been a hard lesson for them. Gentiles were unclean, but so were they in their sins!

c.       This baptism of John was similar to but different from Christ’s baptism of the new covenant.

d.       Water baptism itself was not repentance, but symbolized it, was the sign and seal of repentance.

e.       Just as John the Baptist will say the Jesus will come baptizing with the Holy Spirit, and water baptism is a sign/seal of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on God’s people.

f.         One who has repented is one who has the Holy Spirit, and one who has the Holy Spirit has been washed inwardly from his sins, and as such his sins have been remitted/pardoned.

B.      V. 4-6, Isaiah 40:3-5 is quoted, showing John fulfills this prophecy by preparing the world for Christ.

       1.      The original context is Israel returning from captivity under Cyrus. When a visiting ruler would come from another country, the people would “prepare the way” for the ruler to come, heralding and greeting him with much pageantry, not unlike we may see in countries that are allies today.

       2.      The world must greet their coming King/Messiah properly, with true repentance and faith in Him.

       3.      As a ruler or dignitary traveling will have those who go before him to clear the path to make his ride smooth, so John the Baptist is sent out before Christ to proclaim repentance, to make Christ’s mission as smooth as possible when He declares that He is the Messiah.

a.       Christ performs miracles, interprets the law/Scriptures and fulfills it, while decrying the Pharisees and wickedness of the Jewish people. The people must be prepared and called to repentance already, to receive the even more radical (to them) message of Jesus, who is God incarnate.

b.       The Gentiles/Romans and others must also be prepared to repent/submit to this Jewish Messiah.

c.       It is by Jew and Gentile alike hearing the Gospel and repenting under John’s preaching, that the hearts are softened and the rough road of the dead spiritual soul is cleared for Christ to enter into.

C.      The Roman empire was the hub of the world in that region, and Jew and Gentile alike, all flesh, will see the salvation that God has provided in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

       1.      John will confront Herod Antipas/Herod of Galilee concerning having his brother Philip for his own wife, calling him to repentance, for which John will be imprisoned and eventually beheaded.

       2.      Tax collectors and Roman soldiers likewise will come out to John and ask what they must do to show true repentance (Lk. 3:12, 14).

       3.      For the Gospel message is a message of repentance. There is no receiving Christ as Lord and Savior apart from heart-wrenching/regenerated repentance/hatred/sorrow for sin. When God had commanded Israel to “circumcise the foreskin” of their hearts, that was more painful than circumcising the male foreskin. Repentance is painful, but healing. It bleeds out what is bad.  

       4.      And to live repentantly as Christians we must also call others to repentance, fellow believers as well as the lost world, so that all may likewise see the salvation of God.

       5.      This message of repentance confronts the world, it is the gospel of repentance contra mundum/against the world, and the world will hate you and your repentant/righteous lifestyle, unless/until they themselves are born again and see their filthy sins for what they are, a vile offense to the holy God, and a crime against and loathing of their fellow man.

       6.      We must see Jesus in all His redeeming goodness, glory, and beauty to truly receive Him, but likewise, we must see our sin in all its wickedness, depravity, and ugliness to truly repent of it.

       7.      If you only look to Jesus and never at your sin in order to repent of it, you’ll end up with the modern evangelical therapeutic Jesus, who tells you it’s okay, don’t feel bad, He’s covered you already. But if you look at the depths of your sin in order to truly see how vile it is, you’ll turn from it and behold the love of the lamb that was slain for you so much more.

       8.      Jesus saves sinners, and we must know not only what Jesus is as our Savior, but what we are as sinners, in order to rightly lay hold of Christ.

       9.      John the Baptist did the dirty work of digging into the filthy souls of Jew/Gentile alike, holding their sin before their eyes, commanding them to repent, & for all that, he got the reward of a martyr’s crown.  

   10.      For all flesh to see the salvation of God, all flesh must see how filthy their sinful flesh is. The smaller you see yourself as a sinner, the smaller you will see Jesus Christ as a Savior from your sin.

   11.      Stand contra mundum by staring your sin in the face, repenting of it, weeping over it, and turning to Jesus. The one thing this wicked world and culture cannot bear is to be confronted with their sin, because they’ve never confronted themselves with their sins. The Gospel confronts, then comforts.

D.      The pithy Puritan Thomas Watson wrote a short book called The Doctrine of Repentance. He gives a brief description of the nature of true repentance:

       1.      “Repentance is a grace of God’s Spirit whereby a sinner is inwardly humbled and visibly reformed…

       2.      “Repentance is a spiritual medicine made up of six special ingredients: 1. Sight of sin 2. Sorrow for sin 3. Confession of sin 4. Shame for sin 5. Hatred for sin 6. Turning from sin. If any one is left out, [repentance] loses its virtue.” Feigned repentance will not save from sin, only true, contrite, circumcised heart repentance will lay hold of Christ in faith unto the salvation of your soul.

a.       As we will see next Lord’s Day, John will decry those who have not borne the fruits of repentance and yet have come to be baptized.

b.       No adult may be baptized, nor come to the Lord’s table, without heartfelt repentance that manifests in a godly, transformed life.

       3.      And in many of our Evangelical and Reformed churches, we have members who are not converted, who have never repented truly over a single sin in their life.

a.       They may not like the shame and embarrassment of their sins, but they have never hated their sins and themselves for their sinfulness.

b.       They have never confessed in their hearts and with their lips that they are worthy of all the dregs of hell that justly flows from the holy wrath of Almighty God.

c.       They have never grieved over their sins like we grieve over the loss of a loved one.

d.       They have never hated their own sin and self like they have hated the sin/self of those who’ve wronged them!

E.      Watson recognized this issue of Carnal (or sinful) Christians, Carnal Protestants, He said:

       1.      “Carnal Protestants, who are strangers to godly sorrow. They cannot endure a serious thought, nor do they love to trouble their heads about sin. Paracelsus spoke of a frenzy some have which will make them die dancing. Likewise, sinners spend their days in mirth; they fling away sorrow and go dancing to damnation. Some have lived many years, yet never put a drop in God’s bottle, nor do they know what a broken heart means. They weep and wring their hands as if they were undone when their estates are gone, but have no agony of soul for sin.”

       2.      The gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news of repentance that leads to remission of sins through the Son, will overcome the world. It will melt the heart of stone. It will topple wicked kingdoms/people.

       3.      Repentance will reign in the kingdom of God, holiness and wholeness, love, joy, and peace will be its fruit, as we cry out “Worthy is the Lamb of God that was slain”.

Conclusion: So examine your heart, not merely to see whether you are truly in the faith, but as a Christian, examine your heart, see that you are still sinful, that there is much soul circumcising that must yet be done, much to repent of each & every day, much hatred of your sinful flesh that you lack, so that you press into all righteousness & find Christ a sweet Savior from sin & loving Lord over your life .

       4.      As you do this, be assured of your salvation and all that you are receiving, as Watson again says:

a.       “Upon our turning to God, we have more restored to us in Christ—than ever was lost in Adam. God says to the repenting soul, “I will clothe you with the robe of righteousness; I will enrich you with the jewels and graces of my Spirit. I will bestow my love upon you! I will give you a kingdom! Son, all I have is yours!”

b.       Praise God indeed, that in Christ, all the Father has, He & His whole kingdom, is ours. It is an eternal kingdom that cannot be shaken, whose builder and maker is God, and it is given to those who stand contra mundum, against the world, by dying to sinful self and living for faithful Jesus day-by day.

c.       One of the greatest graces God gives is a clear sight of our own sin. May He show us our sin, so that He may show us His Son, our Savior. Let us pray.

Luke 3:7-14–Real Repentance– Sermon Outline

Intro: Repentance today is rarely preached and often misunderstood when it is.

Need: But repentance is as essential to salvation as faith in Christ. We must know/have real repentance!

M.P.: Fruitful repentance is necessary to escape Christ’s judgment. We see --

 

I.       Those without fruitful repentance are barren and cast into hell (7-9).

A.      (v. 7-8) John warns the crowds coming out for baptism not to do so if they aren’t repentant.  

       1.      “Brood” is Greek word gennhma “that which has been born or begotten” of vipers/serpents/snakes, evoking the idea that these multitudes, the Jews in particular, are not of their Father Abraham (v. 8) because of their lack of repentance, but are of their father the devil, that serpent of old.

       2.      Matthew shows Jesus said this especially towards the Pharisees & Sadducees, Mt. 3:7, but Luke highlights that this was said not just to them, but to all, including tax collectors & soldiers (12-14).

       3.      “Warned” is told/taught/instructed. John did not tell these people to flee God’s wrath, and they aren’t repenting, so how did they get here, why did they come out? The “wrath to come” is near at hand, as the word indicates, b/c Jesus comes to both save and to judge in His wrath those who reject Him.

       4.      John is incredulous at the hypocrisy, their coming for a baptism of repentance without repenting!

B.      V. 8, They needed to hear that they must bear fruits that correspond to/demonstrate repentance.

       1.      Their lives must show that they hate/are ashamed of sin, love God’s law, & desire Christ’s coming to save them from their lawlessness, for Christ is whom John is preparing the crowds for. 

       2.      John cuts the Jews in the crowd from even thinking that they are “good” b/c they have Abraham as their father. They too are commanded here to repent, and they too are insulted as offspring of vipers.

       3.      See that being in the covenant alone does not make one spiritually alive in Christ. All must repent.

       4.      “from these stones” Evidently out in the wilderness some stones were nearby, and in that lifeless place, God is able to raise up living children to Abraham, that is, those who are truly of the covenant promise, who receive the promise and embrace it by faith and especially repentance, by means of a regenerate heart that is no longer hardened/stony.

       5.      This reminds the Jews that they were taken and chosen not because they were great and mighty, in fact just the opposite, they were weak and lowly, of no report, small in number, and enslaved to Pharaoh/Egypt, Deut. 7:6-8. Covenant children must have the same lowly, repentant, thankful mind.

C.      V. 9, John is proclaiming this gospel of the kingdom by calling the people to repent and ready themselves for King Jesus; Thus the ax is laid at the root of all the people, saying “repent, or perish”.

       1.      Fruit trees are given for food, to be fruitful, but if the fruit tree is barren, or producing rotten fruit, its purpose as a fruit bearing tree is useless, and it is only good for being chopped down for fire wood.

       2.      Likewise, man was made in God’s image, to bear the “fruit” of His image. If he does not, he is only good for being chopped down & burned by God’s righteous judgment. Matthew Henry says, “If [the tree] serve not for fruit, to the honour of God’s grace, let it serve for fuel, to the honor of His justice.”

D.      Ministers must make clear that you cannot come to Christ in faith apart from fruits of repentance!

       1.      However, this does not mean one must do good works before coming to Christ. Repentance is the change of heart/mind that despises sinfulness in oneself, and desires the righteousness of Christ.

       2.      That is the “first-fruits” of repentance, & is required to rightly lay hold of Christ in faith as Savior.

       3.      Faith + repentance are two sides of the same coin. You have faithful repentance & a repentant faith.

       4.      The repentant finds no good in himself, the man with faith finds goodness only in Christ, but you can’t find either without the other. Faith sees Christ as good, repentance sees sinful self as bad, and we must have a sight of both our badness and Christ’s goodness to truly have sight of/understand either.

       5.      Those who see their sin and Christ’s salvation are those who are convicted by the Holy Spirit.

II.       Fruitful repentance comes by conviction of sin & a desire to do the Lord’s will (10-14). 

A.      (vv. 10-11) The crowds ask him what they must do to bear fruits of repentance, and John tells them to be good/generous to others, to love neighbor as oneself  b/c you love God with all heart/soul/strength.

       1.      “What shall we do then”  This phrase is used positively in the book of Acts when people here the Gospel. Acts 2:37 records that the people are “cut to the heart” and ask, “What shall we do?”

       2.      Peter replies, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

       3.      So we see that John’s message was Jesus’ message, & in turn was the message of Jesus’ apostles, and indeed is the one Gospel message of the Church today, and every day, through all ages.

B.      Those in the crowd who were convicted asked what they must do, and John says what is true for all who repent, regardless of vocation or life situation.

       1.      Baseline repentance is seen in loving our fellow man, being merciful to them and helping them in their needs. Food and clothing are basic needs.

       2.      The tunic = the inner garment under the cloak, and so for one not to have even this was real poverty.

       3.      The aim isn’t redistribution of wealth/leveling, but warning against Pharasaical hypocrisy. Don’t claim Abraham as your father if you don’t do your father’s works. Don’t claim the ceremonies of the law/its rituals without obeying them in the heart, giving to others, etc. Show the mercy you’ve been shown.

       4.      For us, don’t bother coming to Church on Sunday if you do the works of the devil Monday-Saturday! Don’t claim the new covenant and the experiences of Sunday worship if you’re living for yourself only.

C.      (vv. 12-14) Fruitful Repentance is now specified for particular vocations, tax collectors and soldiers.

       1.      First we see government employees appointed to collect taxes, or various tolls, for the Romans, are not forbidden from serving in this capacity. Nor are they told to disregard what their superiors have told them to collect, but rather, to not collect more than what is appointed for them to do so.

a.       This meets with justice and is thus fruitful repentance, at least as far as their duty and calling is concerned, and reminds believers today that, though their jobs and callings may require them to make collections and do things that in itself is unjust (unjust taxes, unjust rules and regulations, deceptive marketing pitches/statements, etc.), the Christian should not necessarily have a guilty conscience in obeying such orders.

b.       The guilt of what they are “appointed” to do is on those who did the appointing, not on the Christian, and so not on those here coming to Christ through the preaching of John.

c.       Fruits of repentance does not necessarily require the worker to openly disagree with the justness of his employer’s actions in every situation to the point of refusing to collect as much as he was told to collect, pitch a product with the words he was told to pitch a product, etc.

d.       But for the employer/the one setting what is appointed to be collected, to be said, etc., they should be just in their appointments, in keeping with God’s Word, and for them to do otherwise would be just as sinful for the tax collector to collect more than he was told to do. Both are stealing.

e.       The tax collectors were despised by virtually everyone for dishonesty, yet they are not commanded to quit their job to be a Christian, only to be just in their duty & obey their superiors.

       2.      Then the soldiers come asking what they must do to bear fruits of repentance, and John tells them to not “intimidate”, which could mean to not extort for money, or more broadly, not unjustly threaten.

a.       “Accuse falsely” is the same idea of making false accusations for nefarious ends, perhaps for money, as soldiers would often do, hence John’s injunction to be “content with your wages”.

b.       This again is a matter of acting justly within one’s calling, even if the commanders/superiors of the soldiers and tax collectors are not altogether just.

c.       There are certainly limits to this that are not always easy to decipher. If a soldier is commanded to execute an innocent person, can he in good conscience go through with this? It seems that, at least in some situations, a soldier under such orders MAY fulfill the execution, since the guilt would fall on the one who commanded it, and not the soldier executing, but it would certainly be understandable if one refused to do so, say especially in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ!

d.       Remember that a government has legitimate authority and has been instituted by God to punish evil and promote good per Romans 13. Yet, no government does this perfectly, some are terrible.

e.       When the government descends into tyranny & no longer strives for “good”, resistance is required.

       3.      But we see in John’s words to these workers that “radical” Christianity is just fulfilling your ordinary callings faithfully, unto the Lord and for His glory, and not ultimately unto the men appointed over you, for they too are under God, whether they realize it or not, and must give Him an account.

a.       John does not demand, nor does Jesus, that everyone leave their occupations and callings and follow Him to be His disciple, as the twelve were summoned to do that He had chosen.

b.       The 12 disciples had a special calling/commissioning by Christ, and would become His apostles.

c.       But Jesus did not demand that all the multitudes continually follow Him physically, giving up their jobs, families, etc. Indeed, at times Jesus would send the multitudes away from Him, Mt. 13:36, and speak only with His specially appointed disciples.

d.       When Jesus said to take up His cross and follow Him, for some that indeed was a physical following that was involved, the disciples, but for many it was not, but to follow Him in righteousness in whatever calling they found themselves in, whether fishermen, tax collectors, soldiers, pest control, surveyors, etc.

e.       The Apostles likewise told the people to work diligently with their hands, not to follow the apostles around and leave their jobs, families, etc.

       4.      John was out in the wilderness, and the Qumran community of that day did as well. It would have been an easy entry point for John to require this nomadic, ascetic lifestyle if it was demanded by God for true, fruitful repentance.

a.       But he did not, and thus the monastic movement or the idea that “just reading your Bibles, praying, and not worrying about marriage or work” are somehow higher callings is plainly false.

b.       It is actually a sign of laziness and unfaithfulness in the callings and stations in life God has put you in, or wants you to find and fulfill.

       5.      Consider these basic norms for all people for all time:

a.       Be fruitful/multiply, fill the earth and subdue it (Gen. 1:28). Thus, we must work/marry/reproduce.

b.       He who does not work shall not eat, 2 Thess. 3:10. Therefore, we must work.

c.       B/C God made woman from the man, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mather and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24; Mt. 19:4-6; Eph. 5:31-32).

d.       He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord, Prov. 18:22.

e.       Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward, Psalm 127:3.

f.         I Pet. 4:8, “Above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins’. Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

g.       Bear burdens, pray always, teach, sing, comfort, assist, give aid in administrations, etc. All these and more are listed as spiritual gifts (Rom. 12; I Cor. 12).

h.       Done for Christ, these are all fruits of repentance produced by the power of His Spirit in us.  

Conclusion: At John’s preaching, many were cut to the heart & repented, & sought to know how to bear fruits of repentance.

·         Do you desire to bear such fruit? Then make sure you are doing the things God calls His people to do in His word, and then do that well, by the strength of His Spirit and for the glory of His name, in love for God and your fellow man whom you are serving, and you will have much fruit.

·         If you do not desire such fruit, understand that you do not desire Christ, have never truly repentend nor truly trusted in Christ as Lord and Savior, and are in danger of the fires of hell for your sins.

·         Yet while you have breath there is hope, so truly repent, and believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Luke 3:15-22– The Baptism of Jesus – Sermon Outline

Intro: Here we have not only Jesus’ Baptism that He gives, but the Baptism He receives.

Need: Baptism is something done to/for you, it is not about your faith, but God’s power/grace/glory!

M.P.: Jesus’ baptism & His being baptized reveal His superior glory and calling. We see –

 

I.       John’s baptism gives way to Jesus’ Spirit and fire baptism. (15-17)

A.      (vv. 15-16) John points to Jesus’ greater glory and calling by comparing their baptisms, telling the people who eagerly anticipated Christ’s coming that he was not Christ, nor worthy of Him.

       1.      The people knew/had heard of John through his father Zacharias at his birth/circumcision some 30 years prior. But they began to wonder that perhaps John himself was the Messiah/Christ.

a.       They were “reasoning”/thinking over John’s message of fruitful repentance, partook of his baptism, & began to think he might deliver them from their sins & disgrace/Romans.

b.       John’s ministry as Christ’s forerunner is effective as they ponder/prepare for the Christ.

       2.      John’s baptism was mighty, he baptized with water, but “coming is the Mightier One” (Greek word order and emphasis on soon), whom John’s “mightiness” pales so much in comparison that he is not even qualified to unlatch His shoe for Him (something which slaves would do for their masters).

a.       John is merely a minister; Jesus ministers, but with true authority in Himself, as God.

b.       John’s authority is derived from God. John just has water, Jesus has the Holy Spirit & fire baptism.

c.       Jesus’ baptism brings inward transformation by the Spirit, or judgment of fire for the unrepentant.

d.       John in Mt. 3:14 tries to stop Jesus from insisting John baptize Him, b/c John know he is unworthy and in fact needs this baptism of the Holy Spirit from Jesus.

e.       We see John’s humility, which ministers and all of us must have. None of us are as great as John, and yet John is full of humility before Jesus. Pride has no place in the life of the Christian.   

f.         In Jn. 1:29-33 John and Jesus’ baptisms are explicitly connected, as God told John that the one upon which the Spirit descends and remains is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit, which happens when John baptized Jesus with water, revealing Christ as the Holy Spirit baptizer.

       3.      V. 16, Some say “fire” here is viewing the Holy Spirit as a purifying fire that sanctifies the saints & is a light to the people of God/sign of God’s presence with them, but “Holy Spirit & fire” seems redundant.

a.       It is likely “fire” is the same as “fire” one verse down, a fire of judgment, especially given 3:9 above says those coming out for baptism but not repenting/bearing good fruit are thrown into the “fire”.

b.       Thus Jesus’ baptism distinguishes, has power; as His message calls people to salvation, the Spirit draws them to repentance/faith/baptism, and they come to possess the full outpouring of the Spirit (the outpouring of Acts 1-2, which John’s ministry lacked and only Jesus could pour out with authority after He ascended on high before the Father).

c.       Jesus’ baptism equips with Spiritual gifts for building up the Church & service to God (Eph. 4).

d.       But for those who reject Christ and the message of the Gospel, they will be burnt down, whether they reject His message of salvation/judgment from the outset, or take His name in vain, receiving water baptism & entering into the new covenant, incurring greater guilt/judgment/hellfire.

e.       The point is that Christ’s ministry brings about both reconciliation/salvation/the gift of the Spirit that makes the fruits of repentance possible, but also fiery judgment for rejecting Him/being unfruitful.

B.      (V. 17) Jesus’ winnowing fan points to His superiority, as the eternal destiny of souls is in His hands, and His preaching a baptism of repentance is not the preamble but the real deal; you can receive John’s baptism but fail to receive Christ’s and die. You can miss John’s but receive Christ’s and live.

       1.      This winnowing fan is like a pitchfork/curved fork that shovels up the grain and chaff and tosses them into the air, so that the wind would blow away the useless, lighter chaff and the grain/fruit remains.

a.       But the chaff still had a function/purpose, people collected it as kindling for fire to cook in ovens.

b.       Jesus’ “separation” ministry brings some to faith/gives them the Holy Spirit, but further condemns those who are not His sheep, bringing them to their just damnation for sins/impenitence/rebellion.

c.       This separation/gathering was already occurring in the 1st century, with Israel’s hardening, Jerusalem/the temple’s destruction in A.D. 70, & the Gentiles being grafted/gathered in.

       2.      Some will burn in hellfire which is never extinguished, a frightening picture of hell’s eternal horrors.

a.       Notice that it is God/Jesus who is burning the chaff. Those who say God/Jesus is not active in judging/punishing/burning those in hell cannot square their theology with John’s inspired words.

b.       The torments in hell are not from the devil or even the other people in hell, but from Jesus Christ.

II.       John’s persistent preaching paves the way for Jesus’ preaching (18-20).

A.      (vv. 18-20) John doesn’t stop preaching, but keeps exhorting, as all faithful ministers must do.

       1.      This leads to John rebuking even Herod the Tetrarch for taking his brother’s wife for himself.

       2.      Herod was greatly evil, but above all, he is forever known as the man who threw John, the forerunner of Christ, into prison for preaching the Gospel and preparing the people for Christ.

B.      John’s message gets him beheaded ultimately; likewise, Jesus’ preaching leads to His crucifixion.

       1.      But only Jesus has the power to lay down His life and take it up again. John does not have the power of the Spirit, and so he, like all of us, must be raised by Christ.

       2.      We see that John’s message reached all the way up to Herod, and the people would begin to understand John’s ministry is ending but was effective, preparing for Christ’s powerful preaching.

III.       Jesus being baptized commences His ministry & confirms His calling (21-22)  

A.      John 3-4 shows us Jesus’ and John’s ministries overlapping, but Luke’s “orderly account” does not. It was John who baptized Jesus, his ministry culminating in passing the torch to Jesus’ superior ministry.

       1.      V. 21, Luke tells us Jesus prayed at His baptism. Prayer was important, as Jesus’ ministry was full of/”baptized” in prayer.

       2.      As Jesus prays, “the heaven was opened” so that the Spirit comes down. At all baptisms, there must be sincerity shown by prayers, if we hope to see God’s response of blessing upon us/children.

B.      V. 22, Luke alone mentions the Spirit appearing “in bodily form” like a dove. This underscores the visible manifestation of the Spirit, confirming to John (along with the audible voice of the Father) and any others who saw Jesus’ baptism, and for all of us reading Luke, that Christ was the Messiah, the Father’s beloved Son. The dove imagery will be further examined at the end of the sermon.

       1.      We have the witness of Father and Spirit to the Son, and the presence of all 3 persons of the Trinity.

       2.      Jesus’ baptism is important, here Jesus’ earthly ministry commences as the Son is appointed & anointed to fulfill His calling, to fulfill all righteousness for His people, die for their sins, & rise again.

IV.       QUESTION TO EXPLORE: Why would Jesus submit to a baptism of REPENTANCE?

A.      We’ve seen how John affirms His unworthiness to unlatch Jesus’ shoe, much less baptize Him.

       1.      John says in Mt. 3:14 “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” to which Jesus says, “Permit it to be so no, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

       2.      So, certainly Jesus had no sin to repent of, but this fulfilled righteousness, by Jesus identifying with His people in their baptism, that He would be condemned in their place as a law-breaker.

       3.      Just as Jesus is without sin yet must come to the cross to atone for His people’s sin, He is without need of repentance yet must come to the baptism of repentance in order to identify with His people.

       4.      But also Jesus submits to this baptism b/c, at this moment, we see the surpassing ministry/glory of Jesus’ ministry over John’s come to fruition.

a.       It is here that God speaks audibly and appears visibly in the form of a dove, so that John and any others would know Jesus’ surpassing glory/ministry.

b.       Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit b/c He is anointed and full of the Holy Spirit unlike anyone who has come before Him. He pleases the Father, yet will be burned with the unrepentant chaff!

B.      Also, do not miss that, at Jesus’ baptism, He is named as the Father’s Beloved Son.

       1.      Those who heard about this understood who Jesus was, and also that submitting to John’s baptism of repentance was blessed by God.

       2.      So we see that true repentance, true obedience, brings true blessings, true Sonship with the Father.

       3.      Indeed, Jesus would tell the disciples to preach “repentance and remission of sins…to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem…” and that Jesus would send to His apostles the “Promise of My Father upon you…power from on high” (Lk. 24:47-49).

       4.      Acts, the second part of Luke, is explicit that this promise of the Father is Jesus baptizing them with the Holy Spirit, the greater baptism than John’s (Acts 1:4-5, 8), and it indeed comes like tongues of fire, Acts 2:5, causing the disciples/apostles to be filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues.

       5.      Acts 2 is the fulfillment of this outpouring of the Spirit, and this “gift of the Spirit” is for all those who are “cut to the heart” at the preaching of Peter and is also promised to “your children” (Acts 2:37-39).

V.       QUESTION: Does this then mean that we all must speak in tongues in order to have the Holy Spirit?

A.      Rom. 8:14-17 says if we are led by the Spirit of God, we are sons of God, for we have received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father”, and 8:26 says “we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Are these groanings inward “tongues” that all Christians must speak in? Not at all!  

B.      All of Acts, often called “Acts of the Apostles” is plainly the “Acts of the Holy Spirit”.

       1.      The whole book is all about the work of the Spirit, the receiving and rejecting of the Spirit, the lying to/blaspheming of the Spirit like Ananias and Sapphira, etc.

       2.      To answer whether we must speak in tongues today, & for the purpose of our text way back in Luke 3, we know that some, when they were baptized with Jesus’ baptism, received the gift of tongues, visions, prophecies, revelations, etc. I Cor. 12 says there’s diversity of gifts/not all speak in tongues.

       3.      These gifts/powers of the Spirit were not given to John/those receiving his baptism, for his did not come with the heavenly Holy Spirit & fire, but only earthly water.

a.       But these miraculous gifts/powers of the Spirit confirmed that salvation/repentance unto life was given even to the Gentiles, that this was a supernatural work of God and not a clever trick of man.

b.       Remember, at this time the NT Scriptures are not written, and so the confirming word/evidence had to come through these miraculous/confirming gifts of the Spirit as the gospel advanced from the Jews, to the Samaritans, and finally to the Gentiles.

       4.      These miraculous gifts/baptism of the Spirit that Jesus poured out from heaven onto His apostles (hence our pouring for baptisms), were then spread by the apostles to those they came/preached to.

       5.      Tongue-speaking was first a sign to the Jews who were in Jerusalem during Pentecost who heard the apostles speaking tongues in their own language. This convinced doubters that the apostles really were Christ’s sent-out ones, that the Gospel of the resurrection of Christ really was true, for “many wonders and signs were done through the apostles” (Acts 2:43).

       6.      The Holy Spirit falls on the Samaritans in Acts 8, as the apostles Peter and John lay hands on the Samaritans (those mixed with Jew/Gentile blood) to receive certain gifts of the Spirit (speaking in tongues, etc.), and the former sorcerer Simon sinfully wants to buy this power from the apostles!

       7.      Then in Acts 10-11, we see The Gospel & baptism of the Spirit extending even to the Gentiles, as Cornelius & his household, including his relatives & close friends (10:24), were gathered, and all had the Holy Spirit fall upon them so that these Gentiles spoke in tongues/magnified God (10:46).

a.       Peter’s response is that they should be baptized with water, since they have received the Holy Spirit just as Peter and the apostles had.

b.       Peter recounts and defends his actions of baptizing Gentiles, recounting how God showed him in a vision all the unclean animals, told him to eat them, for God had made them clean.

c.       This pointed to the Gentiles also being made clean through receiving Christ in true repentance.

d.       Peter says he recalled, when the Spirit fell on the Gentiles in this way, how Jesus had said, “John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 11:16).

e.       The Jewish apostles & brethren then realized the work of God’s saving grace, and so they glorify God and say, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life” (Acts 11:18).

VI.       QUESTION: Does the miraculous gifts/gift of tongues, revelations, etc. continue today?

A.      No, these miraculous gifts of the Spirit were temporary, evidenced as said above by the Apostles having to lay hands on those in Samaria & pray that God would confer them (Acts 8:13-25).

B.      Like Simon the Sorcerer, many today only want the Holy Spirit’s “supernatural” gifts, such as tongue-speaking, visions, prophesies, etc. Some claim to confer these gifts today, & must repent like Simon!  

C.      But since there are no longer any living Apostles today (who had to be commissioned by Christ directly and be eyewitnesses of His resurrection), the Apostolic Age has ended, and with it, the miraculous/supernatural gifts of the Spirit, which served to bear witness to the good news of the Gospel of salvation according to Hebrews 2:3-4, and according to Luke Himself in Acts 1:8.

D.      I Cor. 12 lists a pecking order of what God has appointed in His Church; 1st apostles, 2nd prophets, 3rd teachers, miracles, healings, helps, administrations, & lastly varieties of tongues.

E.      Paul goes on to say that we are to desire the best gifts, and not all have gifts of healings, tongue speaking, interpretation of tongues, etc. Those aren’t the best gifts anyway & have now ceased!

F.      In I Cor.13, he says all spiritual gifts are meaningless without love, and that faith, hope, and love abide, but prophecies will fail, tongues will cease, knowledge will vanish away b/c we know and prophesy in part, but when the perfect has come, that which is in part will pass away (I Cor. 13:8-10).

G.     The ultimate perfection is the glorified state in heaven, but we also have the perfect and complete written Word of God to guide us now.

H.      Paul would rather speak in the church with five words that he and everyone understands, than ten thousand words in a tongue that he and others do not understand without an interpreter, for tongues are a sign to unbelievers, not believers, and have little value in the Church (I Cor. 14:18-23).

I.         Even Philip, one of the 7 chosen by the apostles to serve the widows from Acts 6, who was said to be full of the Spirit, could not confer these supernatural sign gifts of the Spirit.

       1.      The Apostles had to come and do that by the laying on of hands. While Philip did miraculous works (Acts 8:6-7), he could not confer them as he was not an apostle.

       2.      But he did have them conferred to him when the apostle’s hands were laid on him & they prayed for him when he was commissioned (Acts 6:6).

       3.      Thus, the miraculous gifts of the Spirit ceased when the apostles’ ministry came to an end, for they were part of the foundation upon which the Church was built, the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:20).

J.       In neither Ephesians 4 or Romans 12 where gifts of the Spirit are listed, workers of miracles, speaking in tongues, and the like, are conspicuously absent.

K.      I Corinthians was one of the earliest NT books completed. I Tim. 5:23, a later book, has Paul telling Timothy to drink wine for his stomach ailments, not to seek a person with the gift of healing, etc.

L.       From this we see that the Charismatic and supernatural sign gifts that many boast about in the Church today are spurious and unbiblical/false at best, demonic/intended to deceive God’s people at worst.

       1.      Nevertheless, these gifts played an important role in the establishment of the foundation of the NT Church, and to transmit the Gospel in the natives’ own tongue/with understanding.

       2.      The near complete absence of these supernatural sign gifts after the first century or so of Christ’s coming is further evidence that these gifts have ceased, as those who profess to practice them today do not even do so according to Paul’s rules, “decently and in order”, listed in I Corinthians.

VII.       QUESTION: So do we have the Baptism of the Spirit/what the Apostles had today or not? Yes!

A.      In Luke 3, we must see that Christ was imbued with supernatural gifts of the Spirit at the time of his baptism, when he was around 30 years of age. Jesus’ signs and wonders/miracles begins at this time.

B.      After He ascends on high, He would pour out the Spirit on His apostles at Pentecost in the same way, and indeed, all of us in Christ now have the fullness of the Spirit poured out on us, the supernatural gifts of the Spirit coming to a close do not change that reality.

C.      Remember, not everyone spoke in tongues even in the Apostolic era, & those weren’t the best gifts!

D.      That God has covenanted with us and our children through Christ’s blood is a great blessing, as we are in the sphere of God’s saving work, under the influence of His Holy Spirit, and that Spirit is likewise operative upon and promised to our children, received in full/salvifically through true faith/repentance.

E.      Likewise, as Christ was declared to be the Father’s precious Son at His baptism, so each of us are named as God’s own children at our baptisms, as we are baptized INTO the triune name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! His name is on us, and He is the Father of us and our children.

F.      May we never be severed from Christ and fall away from grace (Gal. 5:4), and if we are in Christ savingly, born again of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 3:5), praise God that we never will be severed and fall away, but will persevere to the end and inherit eternal life in Christ’s kingdom.  

 

Conclusion:  The HS descends upon Jesus in the form of a dove at His baptism. This is significant, for at creation, the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters when it was still without form and void, just prior to God beginning the shaping work of His creation. In Genesis 8, Noah sends out a dove, who again goes out over the waters covering the earth, and when the dove does not return, Noah knows God’s judgment has receded and that dry ground/the renewed creation has come. When the Holy Spirit comes like a dove upon Jesus, the renewed creation has begun in the person and work of Christ, whose glory and calling is to be the Word made flesh, to be the Light of the World, to separate the wheat from the chaff, to redeem all Creation, all His people, & usher in everlasting peace.

 

The Baptism He was baptized with leads to Him fulfilling all righteousness, so that after His work is finished and He is seated at the right hand of the Father, He then receives from the Father the gift of the Spirit, Spirit Baptism. The same Spirit that overshadowed Christ now indwells you who trust in Christ, so that we too can be one with Christ, eternally united to Him as His bride, His body, in a more perfect union than even husband and wife!

 

Presbyterians who actually know their confessions and Bibles believe in the work of the Spirit more than any Pentecostal or Charismatic. It is by the fullness of the Spirit that Jesus fulfilled all righteousness, received at His baptism, and it is by Christ’s full outpouring of the Spirit that we too, in Christ, live righteously, and are forever united to Him.

 

And by Christ’s Spirit, when the waters of our Lord’s baptism came upon you, in a public and formal way, He Himself confirms, speaking through baptism, that God is your Father, Christ is your Head, and the Holy Spirit, like a dove, has overshadowed you.  

 

So hold fast to Christ your Head, obey and love your heavenly Father, and keep in step with the Spirit, do not grieve or quench Him, and thereby improve your baptism as you walk humbly, repentantly, and faithfully before the Lord in the Light of His Word. Let us pray.

 

Luke 3:23-38– The Ministry and Lineage of Jesus– Sermon Outline

Intro: Pastoring takes years of preparation. Jesus has been prepared & anointed to pastor as God’s Son.

Need: See Christ as the perfect messenger of God’s Kingdom, coming at the right/perfect time!

Theme: The Preaching of God’s Kingdom comes at the right moment by the right messenger. 

 

I.       Jesus is at the right age, preparation, and anointment by the Spirit (23a)

A.      “Thirty years of age” is when Levites were first permitted to do work in the tabernacle, Num. 4:3.

       1.      Thus it is fitting that Jesus begins His ministry around this age as well.

       2.      His preceding baptism accompanied by the voice of God the Father and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove show that Jesus was “ordained” and empowered to begin His public ministry.

       3.      Jesus could not have fulfilled all righteousness without this baptism, for here He had His Father’s approval and the power to obey, as a man, as the fullness of the Spirit is given to Him.

       4.      He had been growing in wisdom and stature, knowledge and favor, possessing the Spirit from conception, for the Spirit Himself had first come upon Mary and caused/created Christ in her womb.

B.      Jesus trained at least since he was 12 years old for His ministry. The call to ministry is no light thing, & no one man may teach God’s Word with authority without proper training, preparation, and approval.

       1.      Today many young men and even women in their zeal take upon their own shoulders the work of gospel ministry without proper training or calling, and often the older folks applaud but do not help!

       2.      Paul’s letters to Timothy/Titus are good examples. He teaches these younger men what he has been taught, and their calling is from God, as Paul had laid hands on Timothy/ordained him (2 Tim. 1:6).

       3.      Paul notes he himself was appointed by God to be a preacher, apostle, and teacher of the Gentiles.

       4.      Many of Paul’s loyal friends/preaching companions had turned away from Him and Christ (2 Tim. 1:15), so Paul exhorts Timothy to remain strong in the grace of Christ and to tell the faithful things Paul has told him to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2 Tim. 2:2).

       5.      The very reason Paul told Titus to appoint elders in every city is due to false teaching, those insubordinate ones who were idle talkers and deceivers for dishonest gain, who subvert whole households with their mouths and must be shut up, for they are disqualified and dangerous (Tit. 1).

       6.      So when we read of Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit coming upon Him, and the Father pronouncing His pleasure over Him, we have divine stamp of approval that Jesus’ message is from God Himself.

       7.      Jesus’ preaching of the kingdom, as well as His choosing, teaching, and sending the apostles, who in turn are filled with the Spirit, signs/wonders, and entrust men like Timothy and Titus to teach and train others, appoint elders, etc., give us the divine structure for true Church growth, which connects back to Jesus Christ at His baptism & straight from the mouth of God who spoke audibly from on high.  

       8.      Many churches today are not formed in this way. Some men (or even women!) believe the Spirit is leading them to start a church, and so without any command or warrant from God, from any Church authority whatsoever, they seek to do what God has forbidden, and gather a following to themselves.

       9.      Some of these men will thankfully come under authority, but many are stubborn and unwilling, and in these situations, the inevitable result is that their pride goes before a fall, and what gathering they had will soon scatter to the winds, leaving much damage in its wake, like a tornado of destruction.

   10.      Jesus Himself had John as a sort of “authority” over Him, preparing the way for Christ’s message, & He submitted to John’s baptism. Jesus was trained and ordained, and so ought all God’s ministers.

II.       Jesus is the right and true Son of God and promised son of God’s people (23b-38)

A.      Luke shows that Christ’s life was real history & that God faithfully works covenantally/generationally.

       1.      While The Gospel of Matthew begins his account with the genealogy of Jesus, starting with Abraham & working toward Christ, Luke places the genealogy of Jesus after His baptism, just before His being tempted by the devil in the wilderness, starting with Jesus and working back all the way to Adam.

       2.      There are differences between Luke’s genealogy of Jesus and Matthew’s, and attempts to reconcile them have been made in various ways.

a.       The particular difference lies in the different names between David and Jesus, most notably the different name given for Jesus’ Grandfather (Mt. 1:16 says it was Jacob, Lk. 3:23 says Heli).

b.       Luke may have followed the Davidic line through Nathan, but Matthew followed the line through Solomon; or Matthew may give the legal line of descent from David, but Luke gives the physical.

c.       Some have said that both Jacob and Heli were indeed Jesus’ grandfathers in some sense, saying Jacob and Heli were brothers, and when Jacob died Heli assumed the role of husband via a Levirate marriage (Deut. 25:5-10) and fathered Joseph, making Heli Joseph’s natural/biological father, but Jacob the legal father.

d.       At any rate, neither Luke nor Matthew were fools or unaware of each others’ written accounts, and the discrepancies here should in no way undermine our faith, no matter how much ignorant college professors or skeptics may point to things like this as irrefutable proof that Scripture is not, in fact, inerrant, inspired, and therefore is not trustworthy.

       3.      We know some of these names but many we do not, for they are only found here in Scripture. Yet they are named, and thus are noteworthy. All who are in Christ are redeemed, have purpose/hope.

a.       We see that Jesus truly is the son of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac Jacob), by which Abraham will become the Father of many nations in his offspring Jesus Christ.

b.       Jesus is Lion of the tribe of Judah leading His people into righteous peace with God, & the Son of David who sits on His throne forever, ruling His people in holy love & His enemies in holy wrath.

c.       We see He is the Son of faithful Noah, to whom God promised for the sake of all creation that seasons & times would continue, so that mankind can be fruitful/multiply, teeming over the earth, subduing it for the glory of God, enabling Christ Himself to be born and have a people to save and Gospel to proclaim to the ends of the earth, so that being fruitful/multiplying has eternal value.

d.       Jesus is the promised Son of Adam and seed of woman who crushes Satan’s head (Gen. 3:15).

e.       God works through families/generations, covenanting with them in Christ, and this genealogy shows us that Christ is the ultimate, right and true Son of God, and Son of Man.

f.         He is therefore the only Mediator between God and man, for He reconciles man to God and God to man in His person/nature by being fully God and man, and as the God-Man, He fulfills all righteousness and atones for the sin of His people.

g.       As God-Man He reveals the Father and teaches the Truth like no other, for He is the Truth.

B.      The genealogy shows that Christ is the second/last Adam, prevailing over sin where Adam failed as the true, promised Messiah of God’s people, the very Son of God the Father.

       1.      Notice that Luke carries the genealogy all the way back to the first Adam, who was the first “son” of God not born from woman but created directly by God, as Jesus was created directly by the Holy Spirit who “overshadowed” Mary.

       2.      Adam was tempted in the garden, without a sin nature and was freely given all things by God except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and yet he and Eve disobeyed.

       3.      Christ comes in the likeness of sinful flesh, and is led into the wilderness, hungry and without any earthly provisions, given nothing but God’s Word and Spirit, faced with a forty day assault/barrage of temptations by the devil, and yet by the Spirit He stood fast/faithful (Luke 4:1-13).

       4.      So we see that all in the first Adam are dead in sin & without hope, but all in the last Adam/Christ are made alive & righteous/without sin, Rom. 5, for they are new creations in Christ, born from above by the Spirit, that they might become the righteousness of God in Christ, 2 Cor. 5:17.

       5.      To be in Christ is to be part of the history of God’s people, from Adam through Noah, through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, through King David & down to Joseph his father & Mary His mother.

       6.      The Gospel of Matthew’s genealogy traces a different line of Jesus’, but the point is clear – God’s people are together, united through the blood of Christ, as one body, one people, one Israel of God.

Conclusion:  Our history for all eternity will be the history of God’s people, that is our deepest and truest lineage.

    1.      That is the only line that lasts into eternity and receives blessing from the Lord, and you and I entered into this righteous, redemptive stream only by the grace of God through Jesus Christ, in His Spirit.

    2.      In this we see the faithfulness and goodness of God, working through the line of sinful man to bring His sinful Son who will redeem all His people from their sins and commune with us in glory forever.

    3.      This is possible b/c Jesus is not merely the son of Joseph, or Adam, but truly the Son of God.

    4.      As the first Adam was the Son of God, with no earthly father or mother before him, so Christ is the true Son of God created as a man in the womb of human mother, not taken from dirt to return to dust.

    5.      For Christ was taken from “on High” to bring all who are savingly united to Him to be with God His Father, and His people’s father, forever in the high and heavenly places, and on the renewed earth.

    6.      It is Jesus’ preaching of this Kingdom message, as the very son of God and promised son of God’s people, at the right moment that God appointed, as the God-Man, that gives us certain knowledge of God, His Son, and salvation, the very thing Luke set out to provide Theophilus (Lk. 1:4).

    7.      Only Christ, and only Christ baptized, anointed, and called, could preach the gospel of the Kingdom with true power, for which He would be crucified and overcome the world in His resurrection.

    8.      Only by the Gospel, and the Spirit savingly working the Gospel in your hearts, can you be saved, and brought into the family and lineage of Jesus Christ, which will endure forever. So praise the Lord for His great salvation accomplished in Christ and applied by His Spirit, and revealed by His Holy Word.

    9.      As God’s people, the body of Christ, likewise anointed with the Spirit and its gifts, be fruitful! Abound in the riches of this heavenly gift, build up the body of Christ, minister to one another and to unbelievers, in the way prescribed by Christ Himself, as carried out by His apostles, for the advance of the kingdom which we proclaim, and for the destruction of the falling kingdoms of this world under Satan’s sway.

10.      Remember that Christ said His kingdom would grow and spread, but like a mustard seed, or like leaven. It is slow and steady, but sure. Let us think generationally, seeing all the generations it took to get to Christ, and all it has taken since to get to His return and the fulness of the kingdom. May you & your house be faithful and serve the Lord, all the days of your life, & receive His reward. Let us pray.

Luke 4:1-13– Led and Filled with the Spirit– Sermon Outline

Intro: Christians want to be led by the Spirit and see the Spirit work in their lives; how does the Spirit work?

Need: See the Spirit guiding Christ to fulfill righteousness by facing the devil with the Word of God!

Theme: Jesus is led by the Spirit to wield the sword of the Spirit against Satan’s temptations. -- 

 

I.       Jesus is filled with the Spirit to face Satan’s temptations without food or shelter. (4:1-2)

A.      “filled” indicates complete fullness + equipping for calling, such as the baskets full after Jesus fed the thousands in both Mt. 14:20 & 15:37. Stephen is of faith and the Holy Spirit and power, Acts 6:5, 8.

       1.      Barnabas is also said to be full of the Holy Spirit and faith in Acts 11:24; the Holy Spirit Himself says in Acts 13:2, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

       2.      Tabitha (also called Dorcas) is said to be full of good works and charitable deeds, Acts 9:36.

       3.      John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb, Luke 1:15, his mother was filled with the Holy Spirit, and His Father, when they spoke/prophesied.

       4.      The disciples in Acts 2 were filled with the Holy Spirit and then spoke in tongues.

       5.      This filling with the HS is fitting to Christ’s calling as Messiah, just as the fullness of the Spirit that Stephen had made him suitable for his calling, Barnabas his,Tabitha hers. We too need the HS!

B.      All Christians have the Holy Spirit for salvation, and gifts of the Spirit, fitting to their calling.

       1.      But you should still pray that God would work mightily in you by His Spirit, convict you, etc.

       2.      God sent Ananias to lay hands on Paul to restore his sight and so that he would be “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9:17), and Paul tells Timothy to “stir up” the gift of God that is in him, 2 Tim. 1:6.

       3.      We see that God equips whom He calls, and yet also commands us to “Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, Eph. 5:8-9.

       4.      We must “not get drunk with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God” (Eph. 5:18-21; Paul then tells wives to submit to their husbands, etc., indicating that such submission in the home is possible only by the Holy Spirit).

       5.      So in one sense all Christians are filled with the HS, but since we are called to not grieve the HS (Eph. 4:30), & are called to not quench the Spirit (1 Thess. 5:19) but to be filled with the Spirit, there is a duty of every Christian to walk by the Spirit/keep in step with the Spirit, to live fully in/by Him.

       6.      We do not seek a second baptism of the Spirit, for all have one baptism by the one Spirit (Eph. 4:5), but we do seek to receive the fullest blessings of the Spirit that God is willing to bestow upon us.

C.      Jesus “returns from the Jordan”/His baptism & is “led by the Spirit” to face the devil’s temptations.

       1.      Jesus, full of the Spirit from His baptism, is now equipped to perfectly fulfill His public ministry.

       2.      After His temptation by the devil, He will go to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and quotes Isaiah 61:1-2 to those there, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor, etc.”.

       3.      Notice Jesus being filled with the Spirit did not preclude His study/training prior to being 30 years old.

       4.      God works through all these means, in/with/by His Spirit, and we should study and pray and live faithfully while expecting and asking God to bless all these labors by the power of His Spirit.

       5.      The Spirit has now been poured out on Christ, and immediately drives Him into the wilderness, where He will pray, fast, and be tempted by the devil as the opening test to His ministry.

       6.      This parallels Adam in the Garden, where near the beginning of Adam’s “ministry” of tending and keeping the garden, leading his wife, being fruitful/multiplying, etc., he is faced with his wife’s sin and the temptation of the devil in the forbidden fruit.

a.       Adam fails this test, but Christ, despite having true hunger, prevails, for He was full of the Spirit, He was tempted as Adam/we have been, even beyond that, and yet is without sin.

b.       One commentator notes, Christ was led by the Spirit, not the devil, into the wilderness, & thus Christ is on the offense against Satan, whereas Adam in the Garden was not looking out for the encroaching Satan as he should have been, & was put on the defensive. Christians need offense.

D.      Jesus is re-enacting in forty days what Israel experienced over 40 years in their wilderness wandering.

       1.      Jesus was “tempted for forty days by the devil”; Luke records the culminating temptations at the end.

       2.      It would seem to be after/at the end of the forty days that the devil capped off all sorts of temptations.

       3.      Throughout the forty days, Jesus was being tempted by the devil, something we often overlook.

       4.      Jesus eats nothing during those forty days, also compelled by the Spirit to abstain from food, but also preserved/equipped by the Spirit to endure this hunger and the devil’s temptations without fault/sin.

       5.      This is a miraculous preservation, akin to how Moses was sustained atop Mt. Sinai when given the 10 commandments without food. Yet Jesus is hungry & weak, “vulnerable” to Satan’s temptations.

a.       As God subjected Israel to the trials of the wilderness for forty years “to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not” (Deut. 8:2), God gives a concentrated testing of His own Beloved Son to test His faithfulness.

b.       While Israel hungered with manna, Jesus hungered with no food whatsoever, and Israel didn’t have the devil “in the flesh” as it were, tempting them.

E.      In Christ we are commanded and enabled to live by the Spirit of God as well:

       1.      “as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God,” Rm. 8:14 &, “if you are led of the Spirit, you are not under the law,” & “if we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Gl. 5:18, 25.

       2.      The Spirit guides God’s people into all truth because He glorifies Jesus, taking what is His and declaring it to Christ’s people, Jn. 16:13-14.

       3.      We will also be led to confrontation with the world, flesh, and the devil, for that is the work of the Spirit in us, and we must heed it and overcome world, flesh, and the devil, for God’s glory/kingdom/friends.

F.      As the Lord chastened Israel, so He does with Christ to prepare Him for His work of ministry, and so He does for us to sanctify us and rely on His strength alone to grow in holiness/face temptation.

       1.      When life is good, bellies & wallets are full, it’s easier to thank God, love one another, and in general be kind and holy. But when these provisions are stripped from us, like they were from Job, our true natures come out, our faith is tested, and our commitment to God’s Word, or lack thereof, is revealed.

       2.      The Father is putting His Son through the ultimate testing here, squaring off face to face with Satan, near the point even of starvation. But Christ has been baptized with the Spirit, and will prevail.

       3.      Jesus fulfilled righteousness by His human nature, not divine, which is why being hungry matters. This would be a sham testing if Jesus could fulfill righteousness by His divine nature. It would even make us wonder why He needed to take on human flesh at all.

       4.      Christ faced Satan in this weakened state for the sake of His elect, & to do the will of His Father.

       5.      He begins His redeeming work for us in the mouth of hell, in the wilderness, the devil’s domain.

       6.      The wilderness is a place forsaken by God, a place of judgment and danger, Isa. 13:21; 34:14. The devil has “home field advantage”, and yet we shall see Christ dispense of all His lies with God’s truth.

CONCLUSION: Christ’s purpose was to unite His bride, His body, the Church, to Himself, and fill His body/bride/Church with the Holy Spirit, so that we are able to know, love, and live in light of God’s Word, building up the body with our Spiritual gifts and prevailing over sin, the flesh, and the devil, even when on the enemies’ turf & under dangerous/difficult trials and circumstances.

·         Like Christ, we must take up our crosses and die to self. The Spirit enables us to do this, and helps us understand God’s Word so that we do so in a way that pleases the Father, just as Jesus pleased the Father in all that He did.

·         Where Adam and Israel failed, Christ prevailed, overcoming sin, death, and the devil, and in Him, by His Spirit, all Christians overcome and prevail, being “more than conquerors” in Christ Jesus who loves us.

·         But we do not overcome as isolated individuals, but corporately, as the body of Christ. Christ redeemed us by uniting us, not only to Himself, but to one another, as His one body, with one Spirit, one baptism, etc.

·         It is the new covenant Church which Christ sought to establish with His blood, not rugged individualistic Christianity. The gates of hell falter only when the Church lives by the Spirit, in light of God’s Word, together as a church, as a body, as His organized unit, according to God’s Word.

·         The Spirit gifts each of us for service to the Lord, but also service to one another in the local church body. Some of you are hands, some feet, some eyes, but we all need each other to advance Christ’s kingdom & see Heritage Reformed grow.

·         I Cor. 12 says the “manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” because “by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” * we “have all been made to drink into one Spirit” & must “desire the best gifts” for the profit of all.

·         The best spiritual gifts can be summarized as speaking the Truth in love, empowered by the Spirit to faithfully live by the Truth in love.

·         This is precisely what Jesus does to combat and overcome Satan, & by resisting the devil, the devil flees from Him, and the gates of hell do not prevail against the Son of God and seed of Abraham.

·         May you likewise be led and filled with the Spirit to speak and live for God’s glory & Christ’s Church, so that the works of Satan are defeated in all that you do. Let us pray.  

Luke 4:3-13– The Devil’s Temptations Versus the Spirit-Filled Christ – Sermon Outline

Intro: The devil tempts our flesh to do “Christian” things in very un-Christlike ways, for selfish gain.

Need: See how Jesus denies Himself now to receive the greater glory later when His Father appoints.

Theme: Jesus is led by the Spirit to wield the sword of the Spirit against Satan’s temptations. --

 

I.       Jesus is equipped by the Spirit to conquer all temptations by wisely wielding God’s Word. (4:3-13)

A.      V. 3, The devil provokes Jesus by questioning His deity, then orders Jesus to prove His divine nature.

       1.      Satan is whispering in Jesus’ ear, “Are you sure you are really the Messiah? Are you sure you are really the Son of God, and that the Father is pleased with You? Look at what He’s doing to you, look at where You are and what You will have to suffer and endure to fulfill all righteousness and redeem Your people. You could end this hunger now and reassure yourself of your calling and Sonship, just make some bread from these stones.”   

       2.      Jesus’ hunger would make this more tempting. He could show that He is the Son of God and have some food at the same time. But the Spirit brought Him to this 40 day trial, not Satan. He trusts God!

       3.      The Father had spoken & said at Jesus’ baptism that this was His beloved Son; He is well pleased with Jesus. All baptized believers have the Triune name/pleasure of God on them too.

B.      V. 4, Jesus’ quote of Deut. 8:2-5 provides a tremendous amount of insight into what is occurring.

       1.      Dt. 8:4-5 says “Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you”.

       2.      Holy living, discipline, isn’t pleasant in the moment, but it brings the peaceable fruit of righteousness & shows that God the Father is dealing with us as sons, as the Father does here for Jesus (Hb. 12).

       3.      Israel should have obeyed the Lord and not complained about lack of food while enslaved in Egypt.

       4.      Jesus has eaten nothing for forty days, and has learned/trusts that His Father can supernaturally sustain His human nature from death/starvation (40 days without food) & provide food as needed.

       5.      Jesus uses His power for the good of His people whom He came to save, in accordance with the will of His Father, and not for His own needs. He trusts rather than complains to His Father.

       6.      Our duty today is to not complain but be thankful for our salvation in Christ, even if we miss the “nicer things” of this sinful world/its creature comforts gained by dishonesty, selfishness, & despising others.

       7.      We have many “wilderness” seasons, but the Lord is with us, and our “garments” will not wear out.

C.      Christ is the Son of God and Lord of all, and yet He starves. Why?

       1.      B/C the Spirit led him to do this to fulfill all righteousness, B/C “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Brothers and sisters, we must obey even if that costs us all creaturely comforts, even if it leads us to poverty, to imprisonment, or to execution, we must obey the Lord, and we do so knowing that in the end we receive full, everlasting blessings with the Lord:

       2.      Deut. 8:6-10, “Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills. A land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing… when you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.” 

       3.      Doctors say after 4 days or so your body runs out of stored glucose to breakdown, and so it starts breaking down muscles to get sugar. Acidic waste builds up in the blood, and organ failure begins.

       4.      Illusionist David Blaine supposedly went 44 days without food in 2003; people debate whether he cheated with supplements of salt, etc., but regardless, he lost some 54 pounds during the stunt, 25% of his body weight, and it is believed the fat around his heart was consumed to keep him alive.

D.      We see that Christ knew He must suffer these temptations of the devil for the sake of righteousness, and for the glory of the renewed heavens and earth/bride that He was purchasing with His own blood.

       1.      The parable of the four soils, Matt. 13:21: those who first receive the word with joy but have no root in Christ, & so endure only for a while, for as soon as tribulation & persecution arises, they stumble.

       2.      Or if they receive blessings, then, 22, the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

       3.      But Jesus tastes hunger, just as He tastes death, to identify with us, & to show us how to obey, passing His Father’s test and showing the love for His Father/His will in His heart, leading to glory.

E.      Christ faces both poverty and abundance at the same time, and the devil tempts Him on both accounts.

       1.      “If you are the Son of God” tempts Christ according to His abundance, His exalted divine nature, indeed the very Son of God who should never rightly suffer any want.

       2.      Christ is also tempted according to His lowly human nature/frailty, suffering hunger and fatigue.

       3.      Satan goes for the kill-shot, tempting Jesus according to both His loftiness and lowliness, commanding Christ to prove His abundance by satisfying His emptiness, when he tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread as a demonstration of His deity.

       4.      But Christ knew who He was, knew what His Father sent Him to do, knew what pleased His Father, knew the full glory which He would gain as the God-Man Redeemer, and so He profoundly replied, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”       

       5.      Agur in Proverbs 30 would say “Give me neither poverty nor riches – feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.”

       6.      Whether we are rich or poor, we must learn to be like Jesus, or Paul, knowing how to be content and serve the Lord both when full and when hungry, both “to abound and to suffer need” (Phil. 4:12).

F.      VV. 5-7, Satan tempts Jesus by noting He is a frail man AND a veiled God, then tells Jesus to show His strength & glory by AVOIDING the cross. But Jesus’ glory was THROUGH the cross, and so is ours!

       1.      VV. 5-7, the devil gives Jesus a vision of the world’s kingdoms, and claims to have authority over them and to give them to Jesus, which the devil will do, if only Jesus will bow and worship him.

       2.      Luke lists this temptation by Satan second, whereas Matthew lists it third/last.

       3.      This seems to be the final/culminating temptation, but Luke places it second, perhaps to underscore the temptation that Jesus faced to live not only by the word of God alone, but also to live in the form of a bondservant robbed of His manifested glory as the Son of God. A frail man AND a veiled God.

       4.      V. 7, “If You will worship before me, all will be Yours”.  

a.       This temptation is insulting, the devil taunting Christ by implying that Jesus’ power was inferior to Satan’s, and thus Satan, as the deceiver of nations and roaring lion that prowls about seeking to devour, offers Jesus power/authority now, but at the expense of disobeying His Father’s will and denying His bride/body, the Church. The Church is bought with Christ’s blood, nothing else.

b.       Satan, the father of lies, masterfully mixes truth with error, making a cocktail of temptation nigh irresistible to mere men. Stein says, “The devil offered Jesus a cross-less path of messiahship, & like every believer, Jesus too was faced with the need & choice to take up the cross.”

G.     V. 8, Jesus replies again, quoting Scripture showing that God alone is to be worshiped.

       1.      Christ has no trouble resisting Satan b/c He is full of the Spirit and the God-Man.

       2.      He has studied & internalized/believed His Father’s Words in His heart, & quotes them at Satan as a sword to slay him, Deut. 6:13, the covenant Lord God alone is to be worshiped/ served.

       3.      Satan wanted to be both served and worshiped as God, and in effect would become “deified” if God’s own Son, God in the flesh, worshiped Satan as if the devil really had all authority, honor, and power in his hands. The Son knew His Father had the power/authority, Satan had only “leashed” authority.

       4.      If Christ took this easy way out, His word would be rendered null and void, a wicked failure, and Christ would not be a Savior of His people. The lessons for us again are plenty, and rather obvious.

       5.      The quickest road to glory may not be the righteous road, and will therefore in the end lead to destruction and disaster, a squandering of the riches or fame unjustly gained.

H.      VV. 9-11, Since Jesus quotes Scripture, Satan turns the trick quoting Ps. 91:11-12 to remind Jesus that the Father will protect Him with His angels. Now Satan tempts the Son and the Father.

       1.      Satan wants Jesus to test the Father here by making a spectacle of Himself atop the temple, leaping down and having the angels break His fall, showing indisputably Jesus’ divinity/Sonship and His Father’s love for Him before the world.

       2.      But Jesus has already received the benediction from His Father at His baptism, and His duty/calling is not to make such a frivolous display at the beginning of His ministry.

       3.      This smacks of the antics many churches will do today, whether counterfeit miracles or simply wild entertainment, like bringing in cages where motorcycles ride around and do loops, pastors hang-gliding in to worship through a retractable roof, churches handling poisonous snakes, etc.

       4.      In fact, Psalm 91:10 says for those who have trusted the Lord and made Him their refuge, “no evil shall befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.”

       5.      Plague and pestilence are spoken of in the chapter, fitting given the Coronavirus. We shouldn’t live in fear of virus, and at the same time, we shouldn’t be going out of our way to get or give Coronavirus. We shouldn’t go up to those infected and ask them to sneeze on us, and if we have it, we should take reasonable precautions to care for one another and try to avoid infecting them.

       6.      Ps. 91:13 says “You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot,” but that does not mean we go looking for lions and cobras to stomp.

       7.      Remember, it is SATAN who quoted Ps. 91:11-12 and then misinterpreted it/misapplied it, and yet so many churches/Christians today make similar errors and embrace folly in their worship & lives.

       8.      Satan wants Christians and churches today to “test the Father” as it were, but we are never permitted to put God to the test. God has not promised that if you slap a bear in the face or pull a lion’s mane, that they won’t eat you. Don’t jump from a bridge to prove you have guardian angels!

       9.      He did promise in Psalm 91 that as we faithfully obey Him and seek His will, He grants protections from plague, pestilence, bullets/arrows, and dangerous animals.

I.         VV. 12-13, Jesus quotes again from Deut., 6:16, identifying the devil’s temptation as a call to tempt God, and so the devil sees Jesus has resisted EVERY temptation, and so departs from Him for now.

       1.      Note that Jesus applies this to Himself. He isn’t rebuking the devil for tempting Him, but saying that He, Jesus, must not tempt the Father, and put Him to the test.

       2.      The reference in Deuteronomy itself is a reference back to Exodus 17, where Israel had put God to the test by crying out for water to be miraculously provided for them while in the wilderness.

       3.      They doubted whether the Lord was really with them at this time due to their thirst, so they said to Moses, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” As Israel thirsted, Jesus hungered, but He would not tempt/test God, but trust in Him for provision.

       4.      Jesus would not force the Father’s hand of protection for some absurd spectacle, nor should we.

       5.      Very simply, tempting God is wrong. God does love His people, especially His only begotten Son. That does not mean we should stand in the middle of the Interstate, fabricate the Holy Spirit with empty emotions, and it doesn’t mean Jesus should throw Himself down from the temple.

       6.      The devil would continue to tempt and afflict Jesus in His ministry, but such a direct confrontation would not come again until Christ’s arrest, trial, and crucifixion, as Satan entered Judas to betray Jesus. “ended every temptation” underscores again that throughout the forty days Christ was tempted by the devil, and faced all/every sort of temptation from the outset of His ministry.

J.       As Dale Davis points out, each of these temptations by Satan tries to pit Jesus against His Father.

       1.      Jesus came to do the will of His Father, not the will of Satan, and so if Jesus does what Satan says, Satan has succeeded in precisely the same way in which He succeeded with the first Adam.

       2.      Adam heeds the words of Satan rather than the words of God the Father. The issue is who Christ is going to listen to, not merely what Satan is saying to do. Does Christ have faith in His Father?

       3.      The subtle nature of Satan and all false teachers, who follow their father of lies, is to begin with seemingly innocuous deviations from the way of truth. The first suggestions may not of themselves, in isolation, even be sinful.

       4.       But the directed aim of these small steps is to lead one into the paths of wickedness and destruction.

       5.      Christ recognizes Satan’s ploys and responds with Scripture at every turn.

       6.      He was well rooted, well prepared for His ministry/calling, and so must all ministers of God’s Word, and indeed all members of Christ’s body.

 

CONCLUSION:  Are you well-rooted in God’s Word? Are you full of the Holy Spirit and led by the Spirit into righteousness, knowing full well it is difficult and dangerous, yet good and glorious?

·         Live by the Word of God, for it is the sword of the Spirit to be swung by God’s people skillfully.

·         Pray that He would bless you by His Spirit working mightily within you, so that you know God through His Word, love God in light of who He is as revealed in His Word, and obey God according to His Word, especially in light of the example of Jesus Christ His Son.

·         Close by reading Hebrews 2:9, 14-18, also good transition into Lord’s Supper.

 

 

Luke 4:14-21– Christ the Preacher-Deliverer – Sermon Outline

Intro: The blessings of Christ and His kingdom come to us now through our union with Christ.

Need: See that in Christ, we are delivered from sin and set free to serve Him/His kingdom in all our labors.

Theme: Jesus preaches to His downtrodden people & delivers them from evil into His kingdom. --

 

I.       Jesus teaches His people in the synagogues and receives praise (4:14-16).

A.      Jesus’ ministry begins with the “custom” of teaching in the synagogues, reasoning by the Spirit with the Word; he’s well-received, “being glorified by all” as His fame/”news of Him” goes out among the people.

       1.      “Power of the Spirit” refers to the fullness of the Spirit, but specifically, Isa. 11:2 tells us that Jesus had the Spirit of “wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and fear of the LORD.”

       2.      The power/anointing enables Him to preach/teach wonderful things concerning God & His kingdom.

       3.      Matthew says angels ministered to Jesus after His ordeal with the devil, then He goes to Galilee after hearing of John’s imprisonment (Mt. 4:11-12). Luke notes Jesus is led by the Spirit to go to Galilee.

       4.      We are not told what Jesus was teaching in Galilee, but V. 16 says it was Jesus’ “custom” to go into the synagogue on the Sabbath day to read, and in V. 15 Jesus is already being “glorified”.

       5.      Was His reading/teaching concerning fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy as the Suffering Servant/Messiah in Isa. 61 (quoted in vv. 18-19) part of His “customary” teaching in Galilee?

       6.      If so, then we know in part what He was teaching around Galilee & being praised/glorified for (v. 15).

B.      It is important to see that Jesus’ ministry begins with teaching/proclaiming God’s Word to God’s people, as that is the heart of Jesus’ ministry and the heart of the Church’s preaching ministry as well.

       1.      The “synagogues” are where Jews would gather to pray and hear the Word of God preached, explained, etc. Synagogue literally means a “bringing together/gathering”.

       2.      The synagogues likely came into being after the Babylonian exile, when the Jews were far from their homeland and had to have a place to meet for worship apart from the temple.

       3.      The Jews gathered every sabbath & feast day as well as on the second & fifth days of each week.

       4.      In Jesus’ day each town that had a fair number of Jews would have a synagogue, and larger towns/cities would have multiple synagogues. Our NT worship in churches is quite similar.

       5.      If we do not teach the truth, we cannot practice/live out the Truth, and whatever acts of mercy, compassion, love, etc., must be determined by the Truth proclaimed, else our mercy may not be mercy but enabling a sinful lifestyle, a mismanagement of the church’s funds, etc.

       6.      Likewise, the truth of God’s Word must be taught not simply to be believed, but practiced/lived!

II.       Jesus reveals His preaching ministry and His kingdom’s blessings (4:17-19).

A.      Jesus reads from Isaiah 61:1-2a in order to reveal to us the heart of His overall ministry – That He was sent and filled/empowered by the Spirit to proclaim the good news of salvation through Himself, so that those who are cast down but look up to Him in faith may be redeemed from this sinful, miserable world.

       1.      Luke alone highlights this particular reading of Isaiah 61 of all the Gospels, and Luke in comparison glosses over His prior Galilean ministry. Luke wants us to see this as the theme of all Jesus’ ministry.

       2.      Matthew and Mark summarily state that Jesus preaches “repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand”, while Luke is fleshing this out and showing that Christ is the Suffering Servant-King of Isaiah.

B.      Jesus is the Suffering Servant of the Lord, b/c He says in V. 18, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me”, which was true of the Suffering Servant found throughout Isaiah (11:1-2; 42;1; 49:1-5, 52-53, etc.).

       1.      The Father “anointed” Christ with the power of the Spirit at Jesus’ baptism.

       2.      He was anointed “in order to preach the gospel to the poor”, V. 18. It is an anointing of gifted teaching/preaching, for Jesus was called from His mother’s womb to have a mouth full of wisdom, wielding it like a sharp sword (as we saw already against the devil) to call His people to repentance, to encourage them, and to bring them the blessings of God’s everlasting kingdom, Isa. 49: 50:4.

       3.      Further, this anointing of the Spirit to preach/proclaim the Truth and live faithfully to the Lord will be upon all of His blood-bought descendants forever, Isa. 59:21.

       4.      All believers know the truth profoundly, and to one degree or another can articulate it and teach it to others, even though not all are called to hold office in the Church as teachers.

       5.      The “poor” are those who see their spiritual poverty & look to the Lord in faith, but James 2 says God often chooses the poor/needy to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, so do not despise the poor.

       6.      This is a reminder that wealth/riches can be a snare that prohibits faith in Christ/entrance into glory.

C.      The “brokenhearted, captives, blind, oppressed,” in summary are all those who are mourning over their condition, Isa. 61:2b-3. It is these downtrodden ones of body and soul, that Jesus “heals”, body & soul.

       1.      This mourning over their lack of the world’s goods/bodily needs goes beyond that to the source of all lack/need, which is the sinfulness of man, and the individual sin of these mourners, who realize their physical impoverishment reflects their spiritual impoverishment/unworthiness to be with the Lord.

       2.      Christ has come for such humble poor in spirit, who are often poor/in dire straits, and will alleviate them body and soul, saving them spiritually and also blessing them with food, clothing, and shelter.

       3.      We are saved/regenerated inwardly/spiritually immediately, but the healing of the body and the redemption of the body of this creation awaits the resurrection/return of Christ.

       4.      But Christ’s many healings of those who are poor/needy and have faith show full salvation brings physical blessings/wholeness as well, for the curse of sin disrupted not only our souls, but our bodies, economics, our work/labor, governments, etc. Redemption encompasses all these things.

       5.      Remember the Jews are poor, under Roman rule, and oppressed, but now the Preacher-Deliverer has arrived and is promising deliverance/salvation, body and soul, from spiritual & physical tyranny.

D.      V. 18, “to set at liberty those who are oppressed” is actually from Isa. 58:6, but fits with the overall point from Isa 61:1-2. “brokenhearted” earlier in the verse is in the perfect passive, could be “the ones who have been crushed”. These are the downtrodden, and thus they are the “oppressed”.

E.      V. 19, “To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

       1.      This phrase may have the idea of the Jubilee Year found in Lev. 25. This was a super Sabbath, after 49 years (7x7). The Trumpet was sounded on the Day of Atonement throughout all the land, and the 50th year was a Jubilee for all, where family land and possessions were returned.

       2.      No one was to oppress his neighbor with exorbitant prices in selling of goods. They were to neither sow nor reap in that year, for God would cause a bountiful harvest in the previous year.

       3.      If some of their brother Israelites had fallen into poverty, they were to be helped, and no Israelite was to enslave another, but to hire them as a servant and then free him, along with his wife and children, to his own family and land allotted to him when God divided up the tribes of Israel.

       4.      They could enslave others, but not Israelites, for God redeemed Israel to serve Him, and bound up with service to Him was not being in poverty and having your own land if at all possible.

       5.      So the redemption Christ brings to us, while firstly is spiritual, extends to body and soul, the physical.

       6.      Having a family, owning some land, avoiding poverty and earning your daily bread from the Lord, is all part of His salvific blessings and means through which we serve Him and are satisfied by Him.

       7.      Sin brought disruption to mankind body and soul, and so Christ restores that disruption in His own body and soul, so that we may no longer be slaves to unbelievers, but work with our own hands, feeding and serving our own families, developing our own land.

       8.      But in this fallen world, that doesn’t occur perfectly/always, and wicked rulers often enslave us, and sometimes those wicked rulers are big businesses or government that takes your money and works you to the bone, or costs you your job if you don’t get forced vaccinations. And they don’t buy into a 50th Year of Jubilee.

       9.      Yet good government, & good churches, care for its poor & encourage growth & stability in just ways.

III.       Jesus declares His preaching ministry and kingdom blessings have begun (4:20-21).

A.      The Suffering Servant and royal Messianic King who shows up throughout Isaiah is now revealed to be one person, the man Christ Jesus, for “today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing”.

       1.      That is why Luke underscores that “all eyes were fixed on Him,” as this was a momentous occasion.

       2.      Jesus’ miracles and healings show the reversal of the curse of sin to include physical maladies and impoverishment, but that healing comes only for those who first exhibit faith in Christ.

       3.      For only those who are born again will begin to experience measures of physical/temporal blessings, and in the renewed heavens/earth, perfect blessings for body and soul.

       4.      For those who harden their hearts and reject Christ, Jesus does not do many signs and wonders for, such as in His hometown of Nazareth, 6:4-6.

       5.      All the eyes were fixed on Jesus, and the Scripture promises were fulfilled in their hearing, but only those who had the eyes and ears of faith received the blessings of this fulfillment. We must have such eyes and ears, and look and listen carefully to God’s Word, to reap the blessings!

CONCLUSION: Isa. 60-62 shows the bright future/restoration of Zion/God’s people. Jesus’ quote from Isa. 61:1-2a underscores the redemption/restoration while omitting the judgment/day of vengeance in the latter portion of v. 2, because that is not Jesus’ focus at this time.

 1.      The full realization of this redemption, of course, is in the renewed heavens and earth, where God’s people receive all these blessings.

 2.      The parable of the minas in Luke 19:11-27 and the similar parable of the talents in Matthew 25 show that sowing for the kingdom of heaven now determines our blessings in the heavenly kingdom.

 3.      Are you sowing for the Lord, or burying your mina/talent in the ground and grumbling that the Lord calls us to do hard things for Him now, to sacrifice and serve Him for the sake of His kingdom?

 4.      Those who do nothing for the Lord will receive nothing from Him, and will be cast out of His kingdom and into hell/outer darkness as worthless servants!

 5.      But for God’s true people, Christ has come to preach good news to His downtrodden ones, delivering them from all evil & the curse of sin, to make them His bride, full of His Spirit for His glorious kingdom.

 6.      The Spirit is given and we are united to Christ our bridegroom so that we are productive citizens sowing for the kingdom of God now, so that we reap the Kingdom’s riches in this age and the age to come.

APPLICATION: You may ask, how do I sow for Christ’s kingdom now? What does that look like? Is this just a spiritual sowing, or a physical sowing as well? Can I sow for the kingdom of God in my work, family, with my wealth/skills/time, as a citizen of the United States and in/through/under its government, etc? Mark’s account of the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-31 is illustrative (READ ENTIRE PASSAGE). 

17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” 18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”

20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”

21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” 27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” 28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

The issue isn’t riches themselves, but whose kingdom those riches serve. The rich young ruler’s riches served himself alone, and never aided the poor that we heard in James we are to remember and help. So, the issue isn’t family or work or government/political efforts, but whose kingdom your family, work, and government/political efforts is serving! Peter left all to follow Christ, yet we know from Paul in I Cor. 9:5 that Peter along with the other apostles had a right and did bring along with them “a believing wife”. The wives were in service to Christ’s kingdom, because they were believing wives. You don’t leave your believing family, but the unbelieving. You don’t leave all work, only wicked works and wicked motives in work. You don’t despise and disregard government and politics, only wicked government and politics and using them for self-seeking purposes rather than Christ’s purposes.  And the blessing of living for Christ’s kingdom now through all these things, rather than our own kingdoms of sin, may be more riches of houses, lands, families, and children now, a hundredfold even if the Lord so blesses.

But the key is that our work, riches, skills, households, extra time and freedoms while living in a season of singleness, everything that we are and have, be done for the sake of Christ and His kingdom, such that we can say like Peter, “See Jesus, we have left all and followed you. We have forsaken all sinful desires and purposes that can come through these things, and have engaged in them all as a service for you, as a means to take up our crosses daily and follow after You and Your Kingdom.” May each of us do this in all our labors for the Lord. Amen. 

Luke 4:22-30– Christ the Sovereign Savior – Sermon Outline

Intro: Many Christians today get offended like the Jews of Nazareth when confronted with the real Jesus.

Need: Jesus is Sovereign in salvation, choosing Him He will, yet perfect in both justice and mercy.

Theme: Jesus’ saves the penitent & rejects the rest, which enrages His rebellious people. –

 

I.       Jesus’ words of grace are received positively, but He is met with doubt (V. 22).

A.      The Synagogue Jews are amazed at Jesus message of salvation but doubt He is the Savior, V. 22.

       1.      They bore witness/were testifying to the good tidings/gospel proclamations that He brought. So far, they like what he is saying. How could you not? It was all good news/deliverance.

       2.      “gracious words” could be “words of grace”, meaning the words were explaining the grace of God, or “gracious words”, that they were kind/expressed good will for those intended.

a.       Undoubtedly at this point, many of the Jews hearing are naturally thinking Jesus is speaking about them, and so these words of grace are “gracious words” for them specifically.

b.       But Jesus will show that this is not actually the case, and often wasn’t in the OT either due to their rebellion, and that is what turns them from bearing witness with happiness, to trying to kill Him.

c.       “Is this not Joseph the carpenter’s Son? His words bring good tidings, but how can they be fulfilled in Him or so little knowledge, rank, and reputation?” This is their perplexity/unbelief expressed.

d.       Matthew Henry notes that the Messiahship of Christ is all the more believable given His own friends/family did not fabricate this story as some sort of legend, but rejected Him. There was no hometown conspiracy, but rather it was other Jews in the region and Gentiles who trusted in Him.

       3.      Many can hear the Gospel and receive it initially with joy, but only because it is a pleasant message.

a.       And yet that pleasantry/joy is not a love for the Savior, Jesus, but a love for His words only.

b.       The call to take up the cross, deny oneself, repent/believe, falls on deaf ears & hardened hearts.

II.       Jesus rebukes His hometown & rejects them because of their wickedness (VV. 23-27). 

A.      V. 23, This proverb, “Physician, heal yourself”, or ones similar to it, were known among the pagans with Euripides, and in Jewish literature.

       1.      Luke Himself was a physician, Col. 4:14; this statement of Jesus would be memorable to him.

       2.      The point is that Jesus senses the doubts about whether in Him the Scripture of Isaiah 61 is really being fulfilled before their eyes, so they want some further proof, a sign of healing, etc.

       3.      If the Spirit is upon Jesus, the carpenter’s boy, to give recovery of sight to the blind, and if He has just blown the Jubilee trumpet as it were, and rumors of His doing such healings has occurred in Capernaum already, then surely He should heal and do as much for those from His own hometown?

       4.      Thus, “Heal yourself/your own people/family/friends, great physician”. Jesus knew what was in their hearts by what they were already saying, and so He makes a pre-emptive strike against them.

       5.      RE: Jesus’ prior Capernaum ministry, Quoting Matthew Poole “After Christ’s temptations he first went to Cana of Galilee, where he wrought his first miracle, John 2:1, turning the water into wine, then to Capernaum, where he stayed not many days, John 2:12, then to Nazareth;

       6.      But hearing that John was cast into prison, he removed from Nazareth to Capernaum, out of the jurisdiction of Herod, under the milder government of Philip his brother.”

B.      V. 24, Jesus is not accepted in His own hometown though He was received in the surrounding regions.

       1.      Those in Nazareth would have known Jesus as a child, saw Him grow up, perhaps grew up with Him and played in the streets and children’s games with Him.

       2.      Now, He is the Messiah boasting of fulfilling this great prophecy? Natural familiarity, sinful envy, would make it hard for any prophet to be honored in His own country/hometown.

       3.      Indeed, this is all too true in Jesus’ ministry, as His own kin hate Him and the Gospel goes forth to the Gentiles, who had no covenant with Jesus/Yahweh from of old.

C.      V. 25-27, Jesus gives two examples from the OT to demonstrate that God’s prophets were often not received in their own hometown/among the covenant people of God.

       1.      In I Kings 16:29-34 we see Ahab, the most wicked King over Israel, has married wicked Jezebel, daughter of the Sidonian king. Ahab setup altars to worship Baal & leads Israel into idolatry.

       2.      As punishment, God sends 3.5 years of no rain/drought upon His people.

       3.      In God’s perfect justice/retribution/eye for an eye principle, it is actually a widow in Sidon that God has determined to be gracious and provide for Elijah, and Elijah will mercifully provide for her.

       4.      Miraculously the widow’s flour and oil does not run out, so Elijah, the widow, and her son are fed throughout the drought. Elijah also was empowered to give life back to the widow’s dying son.

       5.      So we see that God does not send His prophets to heal His disobedient/doubting/unbelieving people, but will send them to those who are not His people, give them faith, and heal their infirmities.

       6.      The Kingdom of God came as a foretaste to this widow and her son, and now Christ will bring this full outpouring to His own faithful people, fellow Jews/Israelites, albeit not the ones from His hometown.

       7.      But this also foreshadows the Jews later calling out for Jesus’ crucifixion and rejecting His apostles, and the hardening God sends them (Romans 9-11).

       8.      God will send the apostles to the Gentiles, many will be saved, provoking the Jews to jealousy.

       9.      So we have from the outset of Jesus’ ministry what has already happened repeatedly in the OT, what will happen throughout Jesus’ ministry as well as His apostles, and indeed, what is still happening among the Israelites/Jewish people to this very day, that by and large they are a hardened people against Jesus Christ, but many Gentiles are coming to faith in Him.

D.      APPLICATION:  Matthew Henry states that God is a “Father of the fatherless, and a Judge of the widows.” This shows the richness of His mercy even to Gentiles who did not have God as Father.

       1.      We see in the Church today the importance of crisis pregnancy center ministries, adoption and orphanages, etc., for the abandoned mother and the father who has forsaken his children.

       2.      James 1:27 says that “pure and undefiled religion before God the Father” is to “visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted in the world.”

       3.      It is a painful state to be without a father, or widows to be without a husband, because the father is the head of the home, the provider, and that loving leadership is needed among the families of God’s people, and indeed is needed also in homes who do not trust in Christ.

       4.      As Heritage grows as a Church, consideration to widows and orphans can be given with food banks, diapers, simple hospitality/assistance, adoption/fostering, and free/inexpensive Christian schooling.

E.      V. 27, the 2^nd example is of the lepers in Israel who were passed over/not healed by Elisha the prophet, yet Elisha does heal Naaman the Syrian, captain of the enemy Syria’s army.  

       1.      Jesus comes to save body and soul, to deliver from physical as well as spiritual infirmities.

a.       If the first example of the widow shows especially God’s provision for bodily needs, food and recovery from sickness, this second one, though still a physical healing from leprosy, is applied by Jesus to the spiritual “leprosy” of the wicked Jews of Nazareth!

b.       Lepers were removed from the camp of God’s people, for they were unclean and unfit to be in God’s presence (Lev. 13:45-46).

c.       Jesus undoubtedly is prodding the Nazarene Jews here, indicating that they are all unclean in their sins/unbelief, and not fit to be God’s people, thus the blessings of the kingdom pass them by.

d.       So Jesus is simply doing what His Father has sent other prophets, like Elijah, to do in the past.

       2.      Naaman was the commander of the Syrian king’s Army, and after being healed in the waters of Jordan/Israel’s waters, He vows to worship only Jehovah.

a.       Yet in 2 Kings 7:3 we read of four men who were lepers of Israel, and yet Elisha never healed them that we know of.

b.       Naaman, though begrudgingly and after the prompting of his Israelite servant girl, sought out healing from God’s prophet. These lepers apparently did not seek out their own prophet Elisha!

F.      APPLICATION: Don’t despise/be hardened by the blessings God gives to others, but continue to seek blessing from the Lord, and seek out His true messengers to find true wisdom from the word of God! See also the justice in God’s sovereign grace – He rejects the unrepentant and receives the repentant.

III.       Jesus gives a sign of judgment by miraculously escaping their murderous hands (VV. 28-30).

A.      Those Jews in the synagogue received this insulting but true message loud and clear, but the result is hardening, not softening/repentance; instead of trusting/believing in Christ, they sought to kill Him.

       1.      Now they were certain that He could not really be the Messiah, the fulfillment of Isaiah’s Suffering Servant who brings the acceptable Jubilee year of the Lord, for He insulted them!  

       2.      Thus, their physical and spiritual needs would not be met because of the hardness of their hearts.

       3.      Notice Jesus doesn’t apologize for His sharp words; they didn’t convict the Nazarenes to repentance, but only further hardened them, provoking them to wrath rather than repentance and shame.

       4.      Jesus sovereignly hardens and softens hearts with the same Gospel message, as He wills.

       5.      Those in Nazareth were raging at God’s sovereign grace, that He has mercy on whom He wills, even Gentiles, and hardens whom He wills, even His own rebellious/wicked covenant people.

       6.      Nevertheless, God is abundant in mercy -- all who receive His prophets receive Him, and they will then be given His blessings.

       7.      If those Jews in Nazareth repented, they would be redeemed, yet they missed this aspect of the message as well, due to their blind, hateful, raging hearts that only wish to murder Jesus.

B.      Remember, Jesus was not sent to save all Jewish people, only the elect who receive Him gladly.

       1.      These in His hometown were rejecting Him and already seeking His death.

       2.      Jesus never chose Israel as a nation to be His people b/c of anything special in them, but sheerly out of His sovereign grace and mercy and to show His power in lifting up the lowly and needy, Dt. 7:6-8.

       3.      He will also sovereignly save the Gentiles, not b/c of anything good in them, but B/C He is merciful & desires a bride for His Son from every tribe, tongue, & nation, to magnify His manifold glory.

       4.      God had promised/threatened Israel in Deut. 32:21 that their provoking Him to jealously by worshiping false gods would lead Him to provoke them to jealousy by a people that are not His people, the Gentiles. God’s justice is realized in an eye for eye, tooth for tooth, withering manner.

C.      VV. 29-30, All unbelief is enmity/hatred toward God and His Son Jesus Christ, seen in these hardened Jews immediately rising and driving Jesus out of the city, up on a hill in order to cast Him down and kill Him, and possibly then to stone Him like Stephen in Acts 7:54-60.

       1.      If Jesus could easily pass through the midst of them once He was “cornered” on the precipice of the hill, He undoubtedly could have done so before He was cornered. Though we aren’t told, it seems Jesus was enabled in some miraculous fashion to elude their attempted murder.

       2.      So Jesus allows them to thrust Him out and lead Him to the brow of the hill, then escapes them, serving as a sign to them – He does what He wills, and no rebellion can thwart His will/plans!

       3.      Their wicked schemes in league with Satan their father will fail, and Christ’s will in obedience to His Father is going to be done. So this was actually a sign of their coming judgment, and not Christ’s.

IV.       APPLICATIONS: The Jews of Nazareth would have loved to have been healed like those in Capernaum, but Jesus would not do this for them because of their wickedness.

A.      Thus we see that not everyone who is sick or poor is owed healing or aid by the Church, not even the disobedient/lazy who are members of the church (2 Thess. 3:10-12).

B.      The Church must first help the believing, diligent household of faith, and families of course must provide for their own household.

C.      Widows and orphans get some priority in the church and the world, but it is not the Church’s calling to end world hunger, poverty, or to think we will eradicate all situations of widows/fatherlessness.

D.      The poor will always be with us (Dt. 15:11; Jn. 12:8), and we should help those who are willing to follow Christ and help themselves, but not at the expense of growing in the Lord and worshiping Him.

E.      Telling others about Christ and being faced with scorn, anger, hatred, is unpleasant and discouraging.

       1.      Remember those doing so are hardened and following Satan their father, & Jn. 8:44 tells us Satan is a liar and murderer from the beginning.

       2.      Remember the cross always comes before the crown, suffering before glory, strife before peace.

       3.      The machinations of Satan and all wicked rulers and men who oppose our Christ and His kingdom will have their traps fall on their own head, and we will escape like Christ from the brow of the hill.

       4.      Christ’s cross will actually be Satan & his followers judgment and death blow. Death is but a flesh wound, a bruising of the heel which turns to crush Satan and all his people’s heads, confining them under God’s wrath for all eternity in the lake of fire, Gen. 3:15; Rev. 20.

       5.      Heritage Reformed must be true to the Gospel, and seek and save that which is lost, which is God’s people, the elect, and so we preach a discriminating Jesus, who both judges the wicked in righteousness but also extends mercy to those who repent and believe in Him by the Spirit’s power.

       6.      The Kingdom of God comes to all, but some for salvation and others for judgment and damnation.

       7.      Many churches and professing Christians, sadly, like some of the words and blessings of Jesus, but don’t like the biblical Jesus Himself, who is a demanding Lord and Sovereign Savior of sinners.

       8.      As Israel was God’s covenant people and yet cried out for His crucifixion, many in churches today will curse the name of Christ on the day of judgment. Many church members are a mission field!

       9.      Do not be deceived and mock God -- what a man sows, whether wickedness or righteousness, is what He will reap in eternity (Gal. 6:7-10). So sow to and for the Lord and His kingdom, and so prove to be true sons and daughters of the High King of heaven!

V.       CONCL: (Read John 1:10-13, note we are children of God not by man’s will or family, but by God’s will).

Luke 4:31-37– The Authority & Power of Jesus’ Words– Sermon Outline

Intro: Sports have “showcases” for players to display their talents. Jesus displays His power over Satan.

Need: Satan’s words could not defeat Satan in the wilderness; now Jesus’ words will drive out demons.

Theme: Jesus’ words display His authority & power:

 

I.       By demanding obedience to His doctrine. (31-32)

A.      Jesus returns to Capernaum & the people are amazed at His authoritative teaching.  

       1.      Jesus continues teaching on Sabbath days/Saturdays in the Jewish synagogues.

       2.      Jesus is not like other Rabbis. He not only knows the OT Scriptures better & can bring out its meaning more clearly, but teaches with real power & authority, showing Himself to be the Messiah.

       3.      V. 32, “Astonished” is a passive verb; Christ’s teaching rung true and powerful in their minds.

B.      Jesus is not teaching the good news of the Kingdom will come some day, by some person, but that it has come now, today, in the people’s hearing, through Himself, and He must be followed/obeyed.

       1.      Jesus commands the people to repent and believe His gospel, and He speaks with authority because He is the one sent from the Father, and He is God Himself, the Word made Flesh.

       2.      Teaching the truth in this way, with real unction/power/conviction from the Spirit in the person of the God-Man, produced this astonished response. They must not only believe His words but follow Him!

       3.      Preachers must preach with such conviction/passion by the Spirit, for the way they proclaim the Truth, with “all authority” (Tit. 2:15), is how the Spirit works through the word in the hearts of hearers.

       4.      Jesus didn’t just teach, but commanded/demands, & so must the minister command/make demands of the congregation, exhorting, rebuking, comforting, and convincing them with the Word of God.

       5.      Each of us must believe God’s Word with conviction, and encourage/exhort others with conviction.

II.       By destroying demonic power. (33-35a)

A.      A demon-possessed man in the synagogue is confronted by the Spirit-possessed Christ, and the power/words/spirit of Jesus overcome the power/words/spirit of the demon speaking through the man.

       1.      This is demon possession/influence, and Luke is making clear that this was not the Holy Spirit or a pure spirit of the man, but a spirit of wickedness/uncleanness emanating from a demon.

       2.      Part of Jesus’ work and teaching “with authority” was the power He had, from the Father, to cast out demons, destroying the work of the devil and ushering in the Messianic kingdom blessings.

       3.      While sexual depravity may be in view with “uncleanness”, the idea is broader.

a.       Demonic possession caused one to be deceived and hate the truth, be violent as King Saul, afflicted with an evil spirit, sought to kill David, etc. for the devil is the source of lying and murder.

b.       The demon possessed person is driven to harm himself, foam at the mouth, be physically deformed or disabled, and oppose Christ and His kingdom (Luke 8:26ff.; 9:37ff; 11:14; 13:11ff.].

c.       In short, the work of Satan and his demons seeks to bring all the curses we experience in this world, of disease, disability, hatred, lying, suffering, insanity.

d.       Jesus comes and with power/authority delivers captives from these works of the devil/his demons.

       4.      V. 34, “Let us alone” is actually just a little Greek word that expresses anger, fear, and wonder. The ESV translates it as “Ha!” which is better than “Let us alone!”.

       5.      The plural “destroy us” and then the singular “I know who You are” perhaps gives some insight into demon possession.

a.       The demon was speaking through the man, yet we are told the man cried out with a loud voice.

b.       The possession is so thorough that they almost seem to speak with one voice.

c.       But from V. 35 we see that it really is the demon speaking through the man, for it is the demon, and not the man that Jesus rebukes and drives out of the man.

d.       The demon knows this is the Messiah, who overthrows the demons’ work and casts them into hell.

e.       He fears for his demon life/destruction, but does not have a righteous fear/respect for Christ.

       6.      Also notice this man who was demon possessed was in the synagogue. Not everyone who gathers for worship is there due to the Holy Spirit. It may be a demonic/deceiving/malicious spirit.

a.       We also see that simply knowing Jesus is the Christ doesn’t save – faith alone in Jesus the Christ brings salvation.

b.       As James 2:19 says, merely believing in the Triune God as the one and only true God is not saving faith. Faith without works is dead, for even the demons “believe – and shudder”.

       7.      The ”Holy one of God” in 4:34 recalls Luke 1:35, when Gabriel told Mary that Jesus would be “The Holy One” who will be called the “Son of God”.

a.       This is not the demon confessing faith, but confessing He knows the authority and power of Jesus, and in fact hates Him for that very authority and power.

b.       Rebellious mankind, like the demons, want the power/glory/honor themselves. But Christ is showing He alone is worthy of power/glory/honor, and must be followed/obeyed as Lord.

B.      V. 35, Jesus shuts the demon’s deceptive mouth, and destroys his evil possession of the man.

       1.      The literal translation of “be quiet” would be “be muzzled”, and this Greek word is used by Jesus when Jesus calms the stormy seas in Mark 4:39.

a.       Jesus is given authoritative/powerful words by which Satan/His demons are bound and destroyed.

b.       The words of demons are potent, even when they are speaking half-truths, and so they must be silenced as well as removed from mankind/the earth.

       2.      In Luke 4:41 we see Jesus casting out more demons, and calling Him the Christ, the Son of God.

a.       Yet Jesus rebukes them & does not let them speak “because they knew that He was the Christ”.

b.       This may seem odd, but the misconception of who and what the anointed One would be and do among the Jews would be exacerbated by the demons calling Him the Christ.

c.       If the demons say such, perhaps that discredits Jesus’ claims to divinity, since demons lie.

d.       Or perhaps Jesus casts out demons by the power of demons, since they call Him the Anointed one, as the Pharisees accuse in Matthew 12:22-24.

       3.      “Come out of him” weren’t empty words or a suggestion. The words themselves, like God’s creative word when He said, “Let there be light” at creation, authoritatively accomplishes what it demands.

a.       Jesus’ words aren’t empty, but words of power, full of the Spirit, compelling the demon to depart.

b.       You can beg, plead, implore, threaten, or reward your children in an effort to get them to do good.

c.       But unless the Lord takes these words and implants them in the heart of your children, they are just words without power, devoid of the Spirit. But Jesus’ words were full of the powerful Spirit!

d.       This is why the baptism of Jesus and His anointing with the Spirit from the Father is essential. Otherwise, Jesus words as a man would have no more power than yours or mine.

e.       Likewise, we must pray that God pours out that powerful Spirit in our hearts through His Word, so that we speak the words of God to ourselves, our families/children, and one another powerfully.

III.       By delivering from demonic power & bringing into His dominion. (35b-37)

A.      V. 35b, the demon “throws” the man in the midst of the people, then comes out of him and does not harm him in any way.

       1.      This was not a last ditch, failed attempt at injuring the man and thereby exercising power/rebellion over against Jesus powerful, authoritative words.

       2.      Rather, it is the demon complying with the powerful words of Christ. The demon renounces his authority over the man, and throws him at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ, the rightful owner. 

       3.      Christ has not only delivered this man from the oppression of the devil, but brought Him to His feet, under His care and compassion. We must be delivered from darkness & into Christ’s light!

B.      V. 36, The people at first were amazed at the power/authority contained in Christ’s teaching, and now they are amazed at the power/authority of Christ’s commanding actions over & against Satan’s power!

       1.      The people’s awe/wonder but this does not necessarily imply saving faith in Him.

       2.      They were trying to process the power and authority of Jesus, and could not deny it, so they begin to speak among themselves, either exclaiming or questioning, “What a word this is!/what is this word?”

       3.      Those in the synagogue cannot deny the power of Jesus, displayed in His teaching and backed up by His miraculous exorcism. He has authority over the evil spirits, simply by speaking! What words!

C.      The people see the ease with which Jesus rebukes, silences, and destroys the work of the devil/this demon; the visible emblem is the man thrown before Jesus, cast upon the cares of Jesus.

       1.      This man was a “captive” of the curse of the devil and sin, and yet Jesus, the Anointed One, as He said in 4:18-19, has delivered this man, proclaiming liberty and setting at liberty the man who was captive and oppressed by the demon.

       2.      Jesus demonstrates His authority and power over Satan so that His message was backed up by His miracles, but even more, His supernatural power/miracles actualized His message of the kingdom of God now coming to earth in power.

       3.      So Jesus miraculous healings & destroying the devil’s work both confirm Christ’s message & fulfill it.

       4.      Likewise, the hearing of the Gospel doesn’t merely tell us about salvation, but accomplishes it for those who are called to salvation and filled with the Spirit! As Paul says in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”

D.      V. 37, The “report” of Jesus’ powerful words of truth and deliverance is used only two other times in the NT, both translated as “sound:

       1.      In Acts 2:2, the sound from heaven like a mighty rushing wind of the Spirit coming to the apostles.

       2.      In Heb. 12:19, the sound of a trumpet from fiery Mt. Sinai/God’s presence in giving the decalogue.

       3.      This report, then, was a sound, a signal blast that declared Christ as the Messiah, the trumpet from God sounding forth with divine teachings and miracles/Jubilee blessings by the fullness of the Spirit.

       4.      Jesus’ “sound” is going forth, His powerful, authoritative Gospel message of the Kingdom has come, brought blessings, and now is spreading far and wide, rolling back the works/curses of the Devil!  

CONCLUSION: Satan’s words could not overcome Jesus in the wilderness, but Jesus’ words do overcome Satan and His demons in the hearts of sinful man. All of us, apart from the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, were under the sway of Satan, even if not demon-possessed, and such a mighty power through the Gospel words is worked in each of our hearts when we were brought to faith in Christ by the Spirit!

·         You too have been released from the bondage of our sins and relinquished by Satan, cast down at the feet of Christ, having come under His loving banner of protection.

·         You have been set free from sin and the control/possession of Satan, not to do your will, but to desire and do the will of Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior.

·         Paul makes this deliverance from sin/unclean spirits for duty to God clear in Romans 6:14-22:

For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?

Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 

But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

  

Luke 4:38-44– The Compassionate Christ– Sermon Outline

Intro: There’s so much to do & so little time. Who do we serve first, and how, for Christ’s kingdom?

Need: Jesus cares for family & individuals as well as foreigners & multitudes. He is sovereign & personal.

Theme: Christ shows His kingdom comes with power & compassion:

 

I.       By healing Peter’s mother-in-law (38-39).

A.      Jesus comes to Simon Peter’s house and is willing to heal his mother-in-law at her family’s request.

       1.      Jesus ministry is not just in the synagogue, but continues on the Sabbath day now in the home of Simon, whom Jesus will call Peter in Luke 6:14.

       2.      His Mother in law is “sick”, a word that indicates being “pressed in”, as if the high fever is squeezing the life/health out of her. This is a serious sickness, not a common cold.

       3.      Peter and the household “request”/plead that Christ would heal her. From this we learn that Peter was married, and also that in his own house his mother in law was provided for.

       4.      The domestic duties of Peter to his own kin were not to be forsaken in following Christ, for Jesus does not rebuke Peter for bothering Him with this one sick woman, but comes near and heals her.

B.      Jesus draws near/stands over Peter’s M.I.L. to show His power over disease and compassion for her.

       1.      Jesus had no concern about catching this high fever. He stands over her & rebukes the fever directly.  

       2.      Rebuking the fever signifies that sickness, death, disease, is a result of the curse, an invader from the fall that must be banished, a machination of the demon/dark forces, and that the power of Jesus and His words delivers from such devastation out of sovereign mercy/compassion.

       3.      Right away, the fever “left her”, & the grip of death and suffering is dispelled at Christ’s command.

       4.      Pastors or ministers who altogether neglect needy friends/family for the sake of the “greater good” of public ministry, are sinning against the Lord and not following the example of Christ/His compassion.

       5.      A pastor is more than a preacher & teacher; He is a counselor, comforter, shepherd of needy souls.

C.      The immediate response to such compassion & power is Peter’s M.I.L. serving Jesus & the household.

       1.      She did not have a gradual, slow, natural recovery, but a supernatural healing that not only delivered her from sickness and rendered her whole, but brought her into life & service to Christ and her family.

       2.      The word “served” in V. 39 is verb form of the word deacon. The idea is to serve/“minister” to someone. In certain contexts, like here, it indicates waiting on tables/serving food & drink to guests.

       3.      As a keeper of the home, she is restored to health and now returns her gratitude with service to Jesus and those in the house.

       4.      We too, when God delivers us from sickness, affliction, etc., should be all the more thankful and ready to serve the Lord in our callings with renewed vigor and thankfulness/devotedness to God.

II.       By healing one-by-one the many who were brought to Him (40-41).

A.      The setting of the sun was the end of the Sabbath day, as the Jews counted their days from evening to evening, not morning to morning. They waited until after the Sabbath to have Jesus “work” by healing.

       1.      From sun up to sun down, & even after the sun sets, Jesus does the work of ministry on the Sabbath.

       2.      This is a reminder that the whole day, and not just the hour of worship on Sundays, is a holy day to the Lord, which should be set apart from the other days by abstaining from worldly work and recreations and engaging in worship and service to the Lord.

       3.      These were all acts of mercy on Jesus’ behalf, and those in certain jobs/occupations today do have to work on the Lord’s Day, such as policemen, doctors, emergency providers, etc., and such work/labors are no violation of the Sabbath/rest day.

       4.      But work that is not necessary, such as buying and selling goods/food, etc., should be avoided, to keep the Sabbath holy and to avoid obligating others to have to work on the Lord’s Day to serve us.

       5.      Many Christians go out to eat right after worship on Sundays, but if we want others to be able to worship the Lord and obey the command to rest, we should not do this unless truly necessary.

       6.      We see from Jesus’ example that Sabbath rest is not inactivity, but full of worship & acts of mercy.

B.      As the house of Peter requested Jesus to heal, so households bring out their sick and diseased to plead for Jesus to heal them, showing their faith in Him at least as healer, if not yet as Messiah.

       1.      The word “brought” in v. 40 is the same word used in 4:1 when the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, and when the devil “brought” Jesus to Jerusalem, and when the angry crowd from Jesus’ hometown led him to the brow of the hill to throw him down in Lk. 4:29.

       2.      The sick are so sick that they needed to be brought by those of their household for healing.

       3.      The Pharisees will rebuke Jesus for healing on the Sabbath (Luke 6:2), but Jesus there will show that it is lawful to eat food that is not for you if you are hungry and in dire need (6:4) & heal diseases.

C.      Jesus so loves and cares for the diseased Jewish people here that He “laid His hands on every one of them and healed them” v. 40.

       1.      The laying on of hands would be the sign of ordination/the Spirit gifting someone for a particular calling, Acts 8:17; 9:17; I Tim. 4:14, etc.

       2.      Undoubtedly Jesus could have simply spoke and declared all of the sick and diseased instantly healed, but He chose to symbolically show that healing/blessing had come to each individual who came/was brought to Him for healing, and that this blessing/healing is by the Spirit’s power.

       3.      This shows Jesus’ sovereign power over all sorts of diseases, and that His sovereign blessings come to us as individuals, so that He loves and cares for us not only as the collective body of Christ, but even each of us as individuals, enough to touch us in our sicknesses to heal us.

       4.      Even more, He cares to cover us with His blood and fill us with His Spirit as individuals, from all our sin and unrighteousness.

       5.      Jesus knows you personally and loves you personally, and has come near and made His home within you, to make Himself known to you and to lead you into all righteousness!  

       6.      Jesus has had a full day and is undoubtedly exhausting Himself, yet He doesn’t complain or stop healing the people. He doesn’t wave a wand over the last half for the sake of time and to rest, but receives each person, touches them, and heals them, taking up much time, indeed the whole night!

       7.      Such is the love and kindness of Christ to us, that He bears with us and our sins, and does not grow faint or weary but continues still to work in us for our holiness and fight over sin, flesh, and the devil.

       8.      Given the tender compassion yet powerful love of Christ, how much more ought we to be willing to serve Christ every day, and especially on the Lord’s Day, even as we grow faint and weary.

D.      V. 41, Jesus again drives out demons and rebukes them for crying out His identity as the Anointed Son of God.

       1.      We see the association between disease and devils/demons, which is not to say that every serious disease is a result of demon possession/influence, but that the devil is often working for sickness/suffering in even the children of God.

       2.      But Christ’s healing touch drives them out, and again they cause a scene and say that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, for they had never been driven out and faced such sovereign power before!

       3.      The demons had come to know that this was the Messiah/Son of God by His sovereign power.

a.       It was in being driven out by Him that they recognized who He was, and trembled!

b.       Woe to all of us who experience God’s mercies and good providences, yet do not repent and thank Him/trust in Him.

c.       The Jews being healed along with those who brought them must realize Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, repent and worship Him as well, for even the demons understood this was the Christ.

d.       As noted in v. 35 from last Sunday, Jesus’ rebuking the demons for saying He was the Christ was to prevent the demons from discrediting Jesus’ claims to divinity, for demons lie and work evil.

III.       By preaching and healing in other cities as well (42-44).

A.      Jesus rests in a solitary place after His compassionate work was finished, but the crowds continue to press Him and urge Him to stay with them and not let Him go to other cities.

       1.      We must remember that if He needed rest, so do we, and there is a time to depart from the labors of this world, even from worship and mercy ministries on the Lord’s Day, for a bodily rest/refreshing that He gives also, so that we don’t fall into sickness and become unfit for service/helping others!

       2.      “Now when it was day” in v. 42 indicates Jesus healed throughout the night! He was weary, and needed rest, time to pray, etc. We must not skimp out on prayer and preparation for hard work of all sorts, especially when the labors are hardest/most important – that is the time to pray with fervency!

B.      The people would even grab hold of Jesus to “try to keep Him from leaving them” perhaps because some knew He was the Messiah, but all because they knew He could heal, and they wanted that exclusively. They wanted His preaching, healing, and compassion all to themselves, not for others.

C.      V. 43, Jesus reminds those in Capernaum that He must take the gospel to the surrounding cities as well, for the Father Himself sent Him for this purpose.

       1.      No one city/location could claim to be the most special, or the capital city of Christianity. The Kingdom comes to every place where the Gospel is proclaimed.

       2.      This is the purpose for which Christ was sent, it is the purpose for which He sent His apostles, and the Church today continues that apostolic witness as its ministers proclaim the gospel, its missionaries take the gospel far and wide, and members show Christ and the glory of His kingdom as salt and light through their lives.

       3.      The Church collectively is a city on a hill, a light to the world, and individually we are lights to shine into the world for the glory of Christ and His kingdom. Christ had both formal and informal ministries, and it is good for the Church to have both as well, according to each member’s giftings.

D.      Jesus continues to preach the good news of the Gospel in the synagogues throughout Galilee.

       1.      We see Jesus continues His ministry per His custom by preaching in other synagogues in Galilee.

       2.      He was preaching the good news of the kingdom of God, that it had come in Him, the God-Man, and in His teaching, healings, and above all, in His forgiving sins.

       3.      Jesus goes where He wills, and teaches/heals whom He wills. If the Lord decides to take His blessings to the neighbor, next city, or another country, we must trust/rejoice in His sovereign plan.

       4.      The full blessings of the kingdom await the second coming of Christ, but Christ has brought heavenly kingdom blessings down to earth in Himself and His Spirit-empowered ministry, life, death, and resurrection, so that we now in Christ are brought into this kingdom and are to make it manifest in righteous deeds in all that we do.

       5.      The Kingdom of God is what we must seek first, and it should be our life and worldview – everything has value and purpose and is good and glorifying to God only as it is in righteous service to Christ and His kingdom.

       6.      Jesus’ language here of being “sent” to proclaim the good news echoes Luke 4:18-19 and the quote from Isaiah. In Jesus’ regular preaching ministry and healings in the synagogues, Isaiah’s prophecy was being fulfilled.

       7.      We see Jesus’ sovereign power and compassion given to those whom He seeks out. In this we see the sovereign mercy of the Lord, and must praise Him for visiting us with saving grace.

       8.      Job said that the Lord gives and takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21). James reminds us of Job’s faith, and teaches us that Christ’s compassion and mercy does not mean we avoid trials, sickness, disease, disaster, and death. Jesus prayed that the cup would pass from Him, the cup of the Father’s wrath and abandonment on the cross! Yet it did not pass, but look at the mercies of the Lord accomplished through the death of His beloved Son! Indeed, the death of all God’s children now has redemptive significance. It is our passing into eternal life and glory, and it works in the hearts of those still hear on the earth below, for good and for God’s glory.  Consider James 5:7-11:

¹⁰ My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. ¹¹ Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.   

 

Luke 5:1-11– Fishers of Men– Sermon Outline

Intro: The Church needs Fishers of Men that Christ has appointed to build His Church & Kingdom

Need: See Jesus is the Great Fisher King and all must fish according to His word and example.  

Theme: Jesus calls certain disciples to become fishers of men by proclaiming His Word. We see:

 

I.       Jesus shows how to fish for men with the Word of God. (1-3)

A.      The multitude of people gathered for the purpose of hearing the Word of God, not healings, etc.

B.      “Lake of Gennesaret” is a lake on the northern side of the Sea of Galilee, fertile & good for fishing.

C.      V. 3, Simon is Simon Peter, the disciple who would become Christ’s head apostle.

D.      Jesus gets into Simon Peter’s boat and has him move off the shore a bit into the waters, in order to sit and teach/preach to the multitudes who were following Him.

       1.      The spacing from the people for Jesus to teach reminds one of a pastor preaching from a pulpit and the congregation gathering around, although in this case Jesus actually sits down to teach.

       2.      At various times Jesus would teach either sitting or standing.

       3.      Recall in Luke 4:42-44, Jesus had been teaching and healing people all around Capernaum, and even healed Peter’s mother in law of a bad fever.

       4.      Then after the Sabbath sunset and through the night, Jesus healed everyone bringing out their sick with various diseases, some of which were inflicted by demons who were also cast out.

       5.      As day broke, Jesus went to a deserted place to rest, but the crowds again find Him and throng Him, but He tells them He must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also, and so goes preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

       6.      But we see in chapter 5 that people are still pressing around him to hear the word of God.

E.      Jesus makes due with the situation by getting into Simon’s boat and teaching them from there.

       1.      He does not have to have a pulpit or a synagogue or cathedral to proclaim the Gospel, and neither should God’s ministers today. One may argue Jesus is teaching not preaching here, but is the difference between the two whether or not one has a pulpit/cathedral/candles/robes, etc.? No!

       2.      What we desire is people hungry for the Word of God, pressing in to hear it, and if we must go to the streets or boats or tents to reach those hungry for the Word, ministers should do so gladly.

       3.      If Jesus is sitting, He certainly isn’t entertaining. He isn’t doing the moon walk, hyping people up, etc.

       4.      The point is, The Word of God is the attraction. Jesus is not even standing, His presence recedes to give place to the Word of God, which has center stage.

       5.      Who/what has center stage in most churches today? Is it the Word of God, or the messenger of God’s Word? It is often the messengers in their designer jeans, and they aren’t even Jesus!

F.      Jesus and the multitude around Him show the need for more fishers of men.

       1.      In Luke 9 we see Jesus calling His twelve disciples to preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick as He was doing. They do this from house to house, city to city, town to town. If they are not received, they “shake the dust off” from their feet as a sign of judgment against them.

       2.      Then in Luke 10 Jesus sends out 70 more, two by two, to go into every city and place where He Himself was about to go, saying, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

       3.      He again tells them to not carry money or knapsack or sandals, and find a fellow believer who will provide for you in his own house. Stay in that house while in that city, proclaiming the gospel, but if none receive you, shake the dust off from your feet as a sign against them for rejecting His kingdom.

       4.      Paul in Titus 1:5 tells Titus to appoint “elders in every city”, showing that as the Gospel spreads across a town/region/nation, the work of building upon that foundation must occur.

G.     As God’s people come to faith through the preaching of His Word through missionaries, church planters, etc., pastors and elders must be established to build up that body of Christ in that city.  

       1.      Many denominations will ordain a minister/elder, and he will have a particular calling – whether as a missionary to a foreign country, a church planter or local/domestic missionary, or as a pastor of an established congregation. The Lord gifts each minister whom He calls with different strengths.

       2.      Jesus’ calling the 12 & then 70 more to the preaching ministry shows that not many are called to this, and not all Christians should preach and teach. James 3:1 says “not many should become teachers.”

       3.      The Lord must call the laborers into His harvest. We must pray for righteous, called laborers, not hirelings and those who call themselves but who have received no call from the Lord through the Church/eldership. Many run who are not called to the detriment of the kingdom of God/His Church.

       4.      Christ sent out the seventy, two by two, showing that it is good to go in groups/more than one. Even if it looks like we are Mormons, so be it. Going in groups shows we are a Church, not individuals.

       5.      Heritage is no longer a church plant, but is still a fledgling church. Outreach is good and necessary, especially by the pastor/elders. Established churches have visibility, their own light to the town, but smaller churches have to labor to grow and have the funds to establish that presence/visibility.

       6.      APPLICATION: Pray for your Elders & assist them in their labors. Pray God would build His Church here in Sanford & use the Word of God at Heritage to do so.

a.       Invite friends and family to church, and as you have been taught, so teach your friends and family and others as opportunity arises.

b.       Just because you have not been called/sent to preach the gospel, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t proclaim Christ when He sends others to you!

II.       Jesus’ gives miraculous, unexpected, and humbling success to fishers of men. (4-10a)

A.      V. 4, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” The deep waters are not typically the best place to find and catch fish. So this would be a test of Simon’s faith, and not only that, Simon was a professional fisherman, Jesus was not. It’s a test of humility as well.

B.      V. 5, Peter responds in faith, though with some apparent skepticism, noting they have toiled all night and caught nothing. But because the Lord Jesus commanded it, Peter will do as He is told.

C.      V. 6, Notice immediately, once Peter and his partners do this, they catch a great number of fish, to the point that their net was about to break.

D.      V. 7, Peter and Andrew were fishers, James and John were partners with them. This is a huge haul of fish, and they have to quickly call James and John over to help them bring it in before the net breaks.

E.      V. 8-10, All four are “astonished” at the catch of fish.

       1.      “astonished” in V. 9 is the same word found in Luke 4:36, translated “amazed”.

       2.      In both cases there is the realization that this was not some “lucky catch” or that Jesus was an extraordinary fisherman with incredible expertise in where to cast your nets, but that this was a supernatural catch, ordained and orchestrated by God Himself.

       3.      Simon in v. 5 referred to Jesus as Master, which doesn’t have any divine import, but then in v. 9 He calls Him Kurios, or Lord, the name for the Messiah. He and the others know Jesus is divine!

       4.      Like Isaiah in the presence of God, Peter (and the others too) recognizes his wickedness/unholiness in the presence of The Holy One, and is doubly overwhelmed with awe and gratitude that he, a sinful man, would be so blessed by the presence of Christ and this gift of fish.

       5.      Fishing is their livelihood, and while the huge catch of fish will provide for them for the foreseeable future, they realize something greater/more important is happening. The Holy One is with them, and they are unholy, sinful, and need their sins covered to be in His Holy Presence.

F.      Jesus will use this haul of fish as an illustration of their new calling/vocation – to be fishers of men.

       1.      Just as Jesus gave them miraculous success in their fishing enterprise, He will now give them miraculous success in their soul-fishing, through the simple means of His Word, and not the tricks and pleasures and entertainments of this world, nor of the “drama” of the Temple system/worship.

       2.      This shows that ministerial success, the growth of a Church, and the growth of each Christian, is dependent upon the Word and Spirit of God, and not upon the intellect, personality, or will of man. 

       3.      Anytime a soul is saved, something supernatural, humbling, and often unexpected, has occurred.

       4.      This should not lead the minister to boast in His man-fishing anymore than Peter could boast as a professional fisherman in the catch of fish he and his partners just hauled in. Jesus did it all.

G.     APPLICATION: Take heart, Jesus shows that faithful ministers and churches can expect Christ to build up and grow His church. This may come when it is least expected, it may not come overnight, & God chooses to bless different churches to varying degrees, but Christ has promised to build His Church upon His Word, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it, Matthew 16:18.   

III.       Jesus calls fishers of men to leave even successful employments to follow Him. (10b-11)

A.      Jesus responds by saying to Simon Peter, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” Then Peter, his brother Andrew, James and John bring in their boats and leave their fishing business, including that great haul of fish they just labored to bring in!

       1.      This is a remarkable reply by Jesus and an incredible response by Peter, Andrew, James, and John.

       2.      Remember what has happened at the beginning of this text. Jesus had already gathered a “crowd” of people with the bait of God’s Word, then He miraculously gathers a “crowd” or school of fish and His disciples draw them in.

       3.      Jesus shows His divine power and Sovereign success over the hearts of men and the catch of fish.

       4.      Despite Simon and all the disciples’ sin, Jesus tells Simon Peter not to be afraid. His sin will not condemn him, and not only that, Peter will partake in this divine power and mission of gathering in, not mere fish to sell and eat, but men to be saved from their sin and enter into Christ’s kingdom.

       5.      Jesus has demonstrated He can gather a crowd with the Word of God, and He can catch fish because He is from the Sovereign God, and so there is no hesitation on the disciples’ part.

       6.      They immediately forsake their job as fisherman to enter the call to ministry, to be fishers of men with the great Fisher King Himself, Jesus Christ. They “forsook” their former calling for the greater calling.

B.      This leaving all should be a comfort to both ministers and members in the church today.

       1.      For ministers, it should encourage them to preach the word promiscuously, believing that the Lord Jesus Christ will give it success, and that He has called His ministers to be fishers of men today.

       2.      Ministers must not just hook fish, but reel them in, catch them in the net and pull them to the shore of Christ’s kingdom. Not just get them in the net to then escape, but to haul them in for good.

       3.      This is a hope of both growth in number and growth in godliness, that the persons caught in the net of Christ’s kingdom would then grow into maturity, & Christ Himself will accomplish this by His Word.

       4.      It reminds us here at Heritage that we do not need fancy buildings or programs, or even any building or program at all, to see people come to faith in Christ and grow spiritually.

C.      For members of the Church, this is also comforting because undoubtedly the kingdom of God and Church of Christ will grow, and you are members of His Church and Kingdom with gifts to serve others.

       1.      Your job may not be to go and preach the Gospel, but it can be to invite others to Church, to tell others about the Gospel that come to you, and in so doing there is a “fishing” you do as well.

       2.      The “foolishness” of the Gospel, of Christ and Him crucified, is what will draw in the elect – and no performance or entertainment or emotional appeals to the will of man will replace that.

       3.      The Word of God drew the crowds to Christ, and if we want many to crowd around Christ today, we must likewise give them the Word of God, nothing more and nothing less.

       4.      We must recognize, like Peter, that when Christ converts even one sinner, much less a whole bunch of them, we have encountered the sovereign power of the divine Lord Himself, and must give Him thanks for each soul saved from the chaotic waters of sin, and ultimately the lake of fire of hell itself.

D.      If we trust the Lord to grow and build His church by the preaching of His kingdom, we can have confidence and hope in what we are doing, even if it seems like other ministers and churches “fish” with better bait that is more appealing to the world.

       1.      But we don’t want to appeal to the sinful world. That isn’t winning them to Christ and His kingdom.

       2.      Those ministers and churches are actually keeping their “fish” in the fishbowl of this sinful world, but telling them they have entered into the kingdom of God!

       3.      As the fish that are caught are pulled out of the waters and pulled into the boat, so we, when fishing for souls of men, must catch sinners with the Word of God, so that they are pulled out of their own sinfulness and the allurements of this world, and pulled into the ark of safety, Christ’s Church.

       4.      We went men to bite down hard on the hook of the Word of God, so that they will taste and see that the Lord Himself, His law and gospel, Christ and Him crucified, is good, is their life.

E.      A parable is given by Jesus in Matthew 13:47, applying the whole kingdom of God/heaven to a dragnet being cast into the sea/sinful world throughout history, and when that net of the kingdom of heaven is full, then it is drawn to shore.

       1.      Even then, many who enter into the Church are not good, but bad/sinful, and are thrown away, but the good are gathered into vessels.

       2.      Jesus says “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

       3.      May each of us be good fish that Christ has brought into His Church and Kingdom with gospel net.

       4.      Not all are called to leave their current employments, but all are called to leave their sin and wicked friendships and places/celebrations of wickedness (repent) if they wish to enter the kingdom of God.

       5.      As Christ’s Church, may we long for the day when His net is full, and the great separation of the righteous and the wicked occurs, so that we enter into that glorified state with the glorified Lord Jesus Christ to worship Him and rule with Him over all things made new & purged of evil forever. Let’s pray.

Luke 5:12-16– Lepers No More – Sermon Outline

Intro: How does sin affect us? It defiles and pollutes us, like leprosy.   

Need: Jesus heals a leper and gives body and soul cleansing so we can serve before God.  

Theme: Jesus cleanses sinners to make them presentable and serviceable to God.  

 

I.       Jesus cleanses a faithful leper & commands Him to obey Moses’ law. (12-14)

A.      A man covered in leprosy pleads with Jesus to make Him clean.

       1.      We read about leprosy in the books of Moses in the Old Testament, and Commentator Matthew Poole says: “It was a white scab in the flesh, which gradually consumed the body, and was contagious. The leper, and he who touched him, or any thing he came near, was legally unclean: thrice we read of it inflicted as a severe punishment; upon Gehazi, for lying and taking bribes, and upon king Uzziah, for offering sacrifice. It was a disease of very difficult cure.”

       2.      There were leper colonies in Scripture. Back then they actually contained the sick, not shut down everything and everyone like with Coronavirus.

B.      Notice the urgency and humility of this leper. He isn’t afraid to approach Christ.

       1.      You would not want a leper near you, in case you caught leprosy yourself.

       2.      This speaks to the approachable-ness and compassion of Christ, of God in human flesh. God on the fiery mountain was unapproachable. His voice would kill you with fear.

       3.      But Christ now, though still powerful and authoritative in His words and actions, is fitted to be approached by sinful, leprous man, where we may plead before Him, reach out for His cloak, and beg forgiveness of sins in true faith and repentance.

       4.      The leper calls Jesus “Lord” but that term has a broad usage and may not mean anything divine.

       5.      The Greek construction of “If You are willing, You can make me clean” indicates the leper is uncertain but expects it is likely Jesus will be willing to heal Him.

       6.      The leper doesn’t say “if you are able, you can make me clean” but “if you are willing”.

       7.      He knows Christ is able, he is also pretty confident Christ is willing, but he is not presumptuous.

       8.      When we pray and make our requests known to God, we should pray similarly, knowing God’s will and asking according to it, but realizing God in His sovereignty may or may not be willing (for a variety of reasons) to grant our requests.

C.      Jesus is willing and miraculously heals the leper instantly.

       1.      If you had a skin disease, especially leprosy, you could not approach God in the Temple.

       2.      Lev. 5:3 shows that touching one who was unclean, such as lepers, was also made unclean. Now Jesus comes as a man and has lepers approach Him, and He speaks to them and heals them by actually touching them, and yet Christ Himself is not made unclean by this!

       3.      The analogy to the state of our putrid souls is apparent.

a.       We are covered in sin, repulsive to God and even man because of our wickedness and weakness, and yet Christ washes away our sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness through His own atoning blood.

b.       Jesus doesn’t merely touch us to cleanse us, but gives Himself, His body as an atonement for sin, by suffering the death of the cross and His Father’s wrath for our sin, but He does so as one spotless, one acceptable, innocent, pure, clean, and holy in the sight of God!

c.       Christ in His priestly work is able to come near lepers & heal them without becoming unclean, even as Aaron & the other priests had to come near lepers at times. Indeed, this whole world is leprous, yet He redeems creation itself from the curse of sin without contaminating Himself.

D.      Jesus tells the healed man not to tell anyone about this miracle but to go to the priest to obey the law.

       1.      We read elsewhere in Matthew 9:30, 12:16, 17:9, etc. that Jesus performs miracles yet tells the ones He has healed to tell no one about it. This is not a humble suggestion, but a command to tell no one.

       2.      Jesus was not interested in having a mega church, large crowds pressing in.

       3.      This would be a hindrance to His ministry, to be overwhelmed in this way, being distracted from and hindering the focus of His ministry, which is proclaiming the kingdom of God far and wide, not just in one place for those who may have mixed motives for coming to Him.

       4.      Mark 1:45 has the same account and says “Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction”.

E.      The leper must not simply show himself to the priest to be readmitted into society, but make an offering to complete/accomplish the cleansing process.

       1.      Rather than blab about the miracle, the leper should follow God’s law.

       2.      True faith and repentance keeps the commands of God, and the obligations of one healed of leprosy was to go to the priest to be examined for the leprosy, and to be declared clean by the priest, as Lev. 13-14 describes.

       3.      But the priest must make atonement for the cleansing to occur/be complete, and that only if the leper was found to no longer be leprous. There was a grain offering, trespass offering, wave offering, and a burnt and sin offering involved.

a.       It was an elaborate process done before the Lord in the temple, with birds and lambs sacrificed.

b.       In short, the leper had to be sprinkled seven times (the number of completion/perfection) with the blood of a sacrificed bird mixed with scarlet and hyssop.

c.       The one being cleansed then had to wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and wash in water (Lev. 14:8) to be clean. He was then allowed into the camp, but wait, there’s more!

d.       He had to stay outside his tent seven days, and on the seventh day shave all the hair off his head, beard, and eyebrows, then wash his clothes and body again to be clean.

e.       On the 8th day the two lambs are taken and sacrificed, and the blood and some oil is placed on the one to be cleansed by the priest on the right ear, right thumb, and big toe of the right foot of the one being cleansed of leprosy.

f.         This is the “offering for your cleansing” that Jesus commands the leper He cleansed to make.

F.      The leper going to the priest to be cleansed is a testimony to the priests and others.

       1.      Jesus takes away sin, and now that Christ has shed His blood, we do not have to follow repeated rituals of animal sacrifices that can never truly in themselves take away sin (praise God!)

       2.      But here, Christ has not yet shed His blood, and the temple system and the laws still stand.

       3.      The priests still had the authority to offer atonement with the animals and declare the leper clean, otherwise he would not be regarded as clean by the priests or the people.

       4.      Further, as word gets out that Jesus is healing lepers and declaring them clean, the priests and others may grow confused or envious, further slowing down Jesus’ ministry to proclaim the Gospel.

       5.      And yet, His very coming as the Great High Priest to fulfill the temple system and do away with it is part of the coming of Christ’s kingdom which He proclaims.

G.     The leper does this because Moses’ law commands it, and Christ keeps/fulfills that law.

       1.      What is at issue is a matter of tact and strategy. How will the narrative of Christ healing be spun by lepers and others who are healed, or how will it be interpreted and possibly twisted by the priests and the Pharisees? The leper presenting himself to the priests testifies that he is clean to them.

       2.      This confirms that Jesus really cleansed the leper by the standards of Mosaic law, but also shows Jesus is not there to disrespect or destroy the law, but fulfill it. Moses law is God’s/Jesus’ after all!

       3.      The problem with the Pharisees wasn’t actually that they were scrupulous about the law, but that they were not scrupulous and righteous enough!

       4.      Jesus says if you teach men to break the law, you are least in the kingdom of heaven, but if you do & teach others to obey the law, you are called great in the kingdom of heaven, for your righteousness must exceed that of the scribes/Pharisees to enter the kingdom of heaven, Matt. 5:17-20.

       5.      Then in the rest of Matt. 5 and following, Jesus shows how the Pharisees are actually lax in their application of the law, not applying its application to the heart, but only outward actions that still fall short of the law’s demands.

       6.      The Pharisees then were actually loosening and breaking the law, lowering the bar in order to claim they could keep the law. Both were wrong.

       7.      The leper here is obeying the law though already clean, and so must we who are in Christ!

II.       Jesus rests & prays so He can teach & cleanse many that come to Him. (15-16)

A.      The leper openly tells others about Christ healing him (see Mk. 1:45) so that crowds swarm Jesus.

       1.      As said above, this slows down the mission of Christ, to proclaim the good news of His coming Kingdom, of salvation of men and reconciliation to God, of faith and repentance, etc.

       2.      There were many cities and places among the Jewish people that Jesus must take this good news to, and getting bogged down in one area and being bombarded with requests of healings would make Him less effective.

       3.      On the other hand, many are coming out to hear Him, and that gives Him opportunity to proclaim the kingdom to the multitudes and heal them as well.

       4.      Leprous bodies are a result of sin, the cursed, fallen world, and are not disconnected from our sinful, leprous souls. You were not fit to be in God’s presence if you had a skin issue, among other bodily ailments, even if you were repenting of all your sin, etc.

       5.      Body and soul is meant to glorify God without spot or defect, and part of the blessing of Christ’s kingdom is the physical healing and glorified bodies that we will receive, to serve and worship Him in.

       6.      Even now, we must do what we can to take care of our physical and mental health, not just our spiritual health. Body and soul must be fit to serve and glorify God.

B.      Jesus separates Himself from the swelling crowds to pray and rest.

       1.      He could no longer enter the city, and they would even come to where He prayed “from every direction” Mk. 1:45.

       2.      Christ’s task was enormous and exhausting to His human nature. He was full of the Spirit, and that led Him to pray for strength and to be sustained in His calling as well.

       3.      The example is to all ministers of God’s Word today, and to each Christian, that when the trials of life get tough, and the duties are overwhelming, prayer should not be omitted to address the demands of the day.

       4.      Rather, prayer must be urgently sought out first in order to overcome the overwhelming duties placed upon us at difficult seasons in life. Notice Jesus “often” withdrew for prayer.

       5.      This is convicting. J.C. Ryle noted in his day, as is true in ours, that much preaching and teaching and studying is done, but very little praying.

       6.      If we desire our preaching, teaching, studying, conferences, etc., to be fruitful, we must pray fervently and frequently. If our Church grows and swells in number, abandoning personal and corporate prayer is not a good “business decision” for future growth. The power of the kingdom is spiritual, so pray!

C.      We also see here the goodness of rest from all our labors, for refreshing and focus.

       1.      So vacations, sabbaticals, etc., are righteous when used to recover and prepare for more service.

       2.      When work demands increase, when tragedy or calamity strikes, turn to the Lord in prayer. You have been washed of your sins and given access to the Father in prayer, access which only Christ had while He walked upon earth.

       3.      This access to God in prayer is perhaps the most precious gift Christ has given, and also the most neglected. This is why we languish spiritually as individuals, families, and churches.

       4.      But notice that prayer itself is a way to both rest and serve.

       5.      May we serve the Lord as lepers cleansed from sin, working, resting, and praying for the sake of Christ and His Church. Let us pray.

D.      APPLICATION: In our sin, we are not even suitable to be in God’s sight, much less be enrolled in service to Him and His kingdom. We are all lepers of the spiritual sort.

       1.      But through Christ’s atonement, removing our physical and spiritual leprosy, we are presentable to God and fit for service, which is fulfilled by bearing the fruit of the Spirit in obedience to God’s law.

       2.      The temple of God is not gone today, but has changed locations. Everyone in Christ is the temple of God. The law is not done away with for Christians, but elevated and made possible to obey because of Christ’s atoning blood and righteousness given to us, and by the power of His Spirit in us.

       3.      In the holy of holies, where only the High Priest could go once per year on the Day of Atonement, was the brilliant glory/presence of God over the Ark of the Covenant, and in that Ark was the tablets of stone of the ten commandments.

       4.      That glory/presence of God and His law is now inside of you!  For we are now cleansed & holy, priests to the Lord, & His Spirit & law indwell us just as His Spirit & law resided in the Holy of Holies.

       5.      We now offer our whole lives as pure, holy, spiritual sacrifices, being built as temples to God, with God Himself the Architect of this temple/Church and Christ Himself being its Chief Cornerstone:

       6.      1 Peter 2:5ff “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of God.”

       7.      Prior to Christ, God’s people could not remain in His presence for long due to their sin/defilement. In Christ, we are never removed from His presence, for He indwells us as His temple, & we are in Him. 

       8.      Let us pray and thank God for making us presentable and serviceable to Him through Christ.

Luke 5:17-26– Tidings of Comfort and Joy (Part 1)– Sermon Outline

Intro: What is happening in our nation and the world? What tidings of comfort & joy is there today?

Need: Jesus brings salvation by repentance that produces comfort, joy & exposes frauds/Pharisees.

Theme: Jesus forgives the destitute and despised that repent and delight in Him.

 

I.       Jesus forgives a destitute paralyzed man. (17-26)

A.      Pharisees and Teachers of the law get upset as they observe Christ teaching and forgiving sins.

       1.      The Pharisees formed after the Jews were exiled, and now possibly numbered more than 6000.

a.       They received both the OT books and oral tradition as inspired/standards to live by, & sought to be lauded for external forms of piety, following various washings, fastings, prayers, & giving alms.

b.       But none of this was from the heart, but out of pride and conceit in their own good works/wisdom.

c.       BWA: “They were bitter enemies of Jesus & his cause; & were in turn severely rebuked by him for their avarice, ambition, hollow reliance on outward works, & affection of piety to gain popularity.”

       2.      “Teachers of the law” were the doctors/theologians of the day. Gamaliel in Acts 5:34 is called both a Pharisee and a doctor of the law.

a.       Paul urged Timothy to stay in Ephesus in I Timothy 1 because some were teaching false doctrine, and they had to be charged to teach no other doctrine but God’s word.

b.       These desired to be “nomodidaskaloi/“law-teachers”. Not the same word used for the “scribes” further down in our passage in v. 21 and v. 30, but likely the same office/people.

       3.      We are told that these Pharisees and teachers had come from all over the region, and Mk. 2:1-3 tells us that Jesus was in Capernaum teaching in a packed house, standing room only out the door.

a.       Luke reminds at end of V.17 that the Spirit is upon Christ to heal “them”, not the Pharisees but the others who had gathered around. Jesus is healing many, and that produces even larger crowds.

b.       This is the setting in which the faithful friends of the paralyzed man bring him to see Jesus.

c.       V. 19, they could not get in, so they get creative and go up on the roof to lower him to Jesus.

d.       Many of the homes were flat roofs, used for entertaining guests or even sleeping on in hot nights.

e.       It was not difficult to remove the tiling & wouldn’t have necessarily been destructive to property.

f.         Many of the houses had a courtyard in the middle, with a covering of canvas or light tiling to protect from the rain and sun, and it is possible this is where Jesus was standing.

       4.      V. 20, Jesus sees the paralyzed man and his companion’s faith, & forgives his sins.

a.       Even the needy, destitute, and deformed are sinners in need of forgiveness first and foremost.

b.       Jesus here recognizes the saving faith of these men. He goes straight to the greatest need of this paralyzed man, and the greatest need for you and me, which is to be forgiven of sins.

c.       Notice Jesus has not yet healed the man of paralysis. He and his friends do not complain about this, but it is the Pharisees who throw a flag on the field, as we see in the next verse, V. 21.

d.       Undoubtedly the faith of all these men, being perceived by Christ, meant that each of them had their sins forgiven, and Jesus would almost certainly have healed the paralyzed man of His paralysis even if the Pharisees did not interrupt, but Jesus has the opportunity now to further demonstrate His deity and superiority over the Pharisees when they challenge Him.

       5.      The Pharisees and scribes see Jesus as a blasphemer.

a.       The Pharisees & scribes had heard of and witnessed Jesus’ healings. But when Jesus explicitly crossed into “their domain” by pronouncing forgiveness of sins, they began speaking amongst themselves and wondering who Jesus thought He was, since His claim to forgive sins would be blasphemy, claiming to be God and have authority to forgive sins.

b.       As a brief aside, Protestants certainly affirm that only God Himself can forgive sins.

c.       This is why when a Protestant minister declares that the congregation’s sins are forgiven in worship, it is a declaration of God’s pronouncement, not of the minister himself. The minister is God’s mouthpiece, declaring God/Christ’s forgiveness.

d.       For a pastor or priest to claim to have the authority to in and of himself administer forgiveness of sins, whether by pronouncement, indulgences, sacraments, etc., would be blasphemy indeed.

e.       But here, when Jesus says this man’s sins are forgiven, His verdict/word is what brought about the forgiveness of the paralyzed man’s sins.

f.         When a minister pronounces forgiveness, he is judging that Christ has already forgiven you in light of your faith/repentance, or is saying if you repent and believe God will forgive you in Christ.

       6.      Jesus demonstrates His divine power and origin by causing the paralytic to rise, walk, & return home.

a.       V. 22-24, We see Jesus as the great discerner of the heart/thoughts of man, and he knows what the Pharisees are saying, or at least thinking about Him.

b.       He will overthrow their theological debate about whether He is a blasphemer by demonstrating His authority to forgive sins by healing the very man He had just forgiven.

c.       “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house” is very specific. Jesus didn’t merely heal in this case, but showed that His healing conveyed authority over more than just the body, but the soul/will as well. This is divine, authoritative, healing, not something a blasphemer could possess!

d.       This power is conveyed by the Holy Spirit, by which Jesus fulfilled all righteousness/His ministry.

e.       The miracle demonstrated that God Himself blessed the message of the Son of Man.

       7.      “Son of Man”, V. 24, was a title Jesus often used for Himself, often refers back to Dan. 7:13-14 --

a.       “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”

b.       Jesus uses this title some 80 times or so for Himself, and we see it shortly again in Luke 6:5 in relation to His Lordship over the Sabbath.

c.       In 22:69, as Jesus faces the Sanhedrin, the Church courts, He again says He is the Son of Man and that He will soon sit on the right hand of the power of God. They ask if that means that He is claiming to be the Son of God, and He says yes. For that, they rule Him guilty of blasphemy.

d.       Yet Jesus’ being convicted & His crucifixion still fulfills His calling as the “Son of Man”, this time found in Ezekiel 43, where the “Son of Man” makes the animal sacrifices to atone for sin. Christ is the Son of Man who offers Himself on the cross as true atonement for sin of His people!

e.       Christ is going around preaching the Kingdom of His dominion and authority, and the title Son of Man highlights His divine authority and power by the Spirit. He has the authority and power to forgive sins, and His miraculous power to heal the paralytic further demonstrates that.

       8.      The healed paralytic’s immediate, precise, and joyful obedience shows Jesus’ sovereign power/authority that leads to many glorifying the Lord with fear and reverence. V. 25-26

a.       The man who just had to be lowered through a roof to get to Jesus was now walking, returning home, and praising God for both the forgiveness of his sins and the healing of his paralysis.

b.       The paralyzed man out of faith, obedience, and joy obeys. Whenever and whatever the Lord commands us, we must do, and we should do it both dutifully and joyfully.

c.       Obedience to the Lord should be regarded as both a duty and a joy/privilege, because obedience brings blessing and pleases the Lord, so we should submit to His will as our Master and Savior who loves us and commands what is good for us and others.

d.       Jesus’ miracles and healings were both a sign of His compassion and blessing on those who repented and trusted in Him for salvation, but also a confirming sign of His deity, that He indeed was the Son of Man with the power on earth to forgive sins.

e.       “amazed” in V. 26 is a powerful word, used of those who enter a trance like state.

f.         The multitudes there, perhaps even some of the Pharisees/scribes, also praised God in light of this miracle worked through the Son of Man.

g.       They believed in Jesus as God’s prophet/messenger/anointed one.

h.       In light of the finished work of Christ and the totality of Scripture, we see that Jesus is the Messiah, the God-Man, Himself God in human flesh.

       9.      The light that was given up to this point did not necessarily mean that those believing in Jesus truly as the Messiah fully grasped that the Messiah was God Himself, God in human flesh.

a.       What they did know is that they must glorify God on account of the Son of Man, and that indeed they had “seen strange things today!” And this was the work of their gracious and Sovereign God, not only healing this desperate and destitute sinner, but forgiving His sins!

b.       These are tidings of great comfort and joy indeed. The healed man and those there all were worshiping and praising God together.

B.      APPLICATION: Notice the diligence of the paralyzed man, and especially of his friends.

       1.      They did not give up and take him back home when they saw the swelling crowds in the house.

       2.      No, they took it upon themselves to get their friend to Jesus no matter what it took.

       3.      It was difficult, risky, perhaps even a bit dangerous. We must have similar zeal for our own souls, to get to Christ and His Word and His people no matter what, for the well-being of our souls.

       4.      We must also lead our unbelieving family/friends to Christ and His Words/Church, even if it is difficult.

       5.      For none but Jesus can heal and forgive sins. J.C. Ryle says on this passage,

a.       “We must allow no difficulties to check us, and no obstacle to keep us back from anything which is really for our spiritual good.

b.       Specially must we bear this in mind in the matter of regularly reading the Bible, hearing the gospel, keeping the sabbath holy, and private prayer.

c.       On all these points we must beware of laziness and an excuse-making spirit. Necessity must be the mother of invention.

d.       If we cannot find means of keeping up these habits in one way, we must in another. But we must settle it in our minds, that the thing shall be done. The health of our souls is at stake.

e.       Let the crowd of difficulties be what it may, we must get through it… How is it that the very same men who are full of zeal about money, business, pleasure, politics, will take no trouble about their souls? These men are not earnest about salvation.” Let us pray for such zeal as forgiven sinners.

II.       Jesus forgives a despised tax collector. (27-31)

 Luke 5:27-32– Tidings of Comfort and Joy (Part 2)– Sermon Outline

Intro: Why would Jesus be friendly with filthy sinners and not the pastors and scholars of His day?

Need: Jesus came to call filthy sinners to repentance, and self-righteousness is a rejection of Christ.  

Theme: Jesus forgives the destitute and despised that repent and delight in Him.

 

I.       Jesus forgives a despised tax collector. (27-31)

A.      V. 27-28, Jesus calls Levi/Matthew the tax collector to follow Him, which Levi immediately does.

       1.      Tax collectors then, as they are today, were despised by everyone, Jew and Gentile alike. They were a class of people employed by the Roman government to gather the taxes and tolls for Rome, but they also would take more than they were supposed to for themselves.

       2.      Some tax collectors paid for these places at their own expense & hired others to work for them.

       3.      So whatever losses that occurred were to Levi/Matthew only, and not to the Roman government.

       4.      Just as Jesus told the paralytic to take up his bed and walk, we see Levi leaving all, rising, and in this case, following Christ as his chosen disciple, rather than returning to his house.

       5.      We see Jesus’ sovereign, divine power to melt the heart of this hardened sinner/tax collector.

       6.      Levi follows with joy as well, as the great feast he throws for Jesus in V. 29 shows.

B.      V. 29-30, Levi holds a great feast for Jesus along with his tax collector friends; the Pharisees grumble.

       1.      Feasting and drinking is for laughter and merriment, Eccles. 10:19.

       2.      Levi is celebrating his salvation and new calling as a disciple of Christ, and doing so in a righteous way – not in drunken debauchery but praising the Lord and Savior & showing/telling his sinful friends.  

       3.      Levi/Matthew is full of the joy of the Lord & already evangelizing the other tax collectors he invites.

       4.      This is a reminder that the gospel does break into social/government structures as well. Without Levi, Jesus could not have easily gotten into the guild of tax collectors & taught them/told them to repent.

       5.      The feast is of such proportion that it is like a banquet, something only the wealthy could fund and hold. This is the lifestyle that Matthew/Levi is in many ways leaving behind to serve and follow Christ. 

       6.      Do we obey and follow the Lord joyfully, even when it costs us personally (jobs, friends, pride, fun)?

       7.      With RCM/Reformation Christian Ministries, we recently had a student interested in studying with us.

a.       He was a former gang member, been in federal and Mexican prison, etc. But it appears Christ saved this man in prison, and now he wishes to study and go back to Chicago where he grew up to train more wicked young men to stop being gangsters, repent of their sins, and follow Christ.

b.       When one sinner is truly saved, the ripple effects are tremendous, as everyone in his social circle now has to reckon with him.

c.       This gangster’s repentance/change of life was literally dangerous as he broke off his gang affiliations with other inmates while in prison and became honest, hard working, etc.

d.       If your faith in Christ does not transform your prior relationships with unbelievers, or break them off entirely, then your faith in Christ is not a saving faith, because it is a dead faith that does not do good works/bear real fruit of repentance.

e.       So for Levi, this may have also been something of a farewell party that the invited tax collectors didn’t even realize was happening – not unlike Bilbo Baggins leaving Bag End/the Shire at his birthday party, telling his neighbors & relatives Hobbits how little he liked some of them all along.

       8.      Now, picture the Pharisees and others seeing Jesus go to Levi/Matthew, call him to follow Him, and then the next thing you know the tax collectors’ society is throwing Jesus a huge party!

a.       This is like Jesus eating with a bunch of politicians at a fancy party they throw for themselves.

b.       It would connect Him with the scum of the political world, and in the eyes of the Pharisees, made Him look like close friends and a hero to them, perhaps even strategically courting their support.

       9.      Notice the tactic of the scribes and Pharisees in V. 30. They are going after Christ’s disciples.

a.       V. 30 in the NKJV is translated nonsensically. It reads as if the tax collectors had scribes, and these scribes as well as the Pharisees complain to Jesus disciples, but then the quoted complaint capitalizes the “Y” in you, as if they are speaking to Jesus, or at best, that they wanted the disciples to bring this complaint to Jesus for them (possible since Jesus is the one who answers).

b.       ESV and NASB is clearer, showing it is the Pharisees’ scribes, not the tax collectors, and shows the question addressed to the disciples since the “y” in “you” is not capitalized.

c.       When we are being faithful to the Lord, it may not look like what others expect of us, especially to religious hypocrites and those in power. Our job is to be faithful, not popular or agreeable.  

C.      V. 31-32, Jesus tells the self-righteous Pharisees that He has come to call those who know their spiritual sickness to repent, for only repentance & faith can make one spiritually healthy!

       1.      So Jesus is not “joining ranks” with the tax collectors, but is willing to speak with them and be friendly to call them to faith and repentance – indeed to tell them to follow Him and not extort money, etc.

       2.      Yes, tax collectors are slimy sinners, but these are just the people I came to save, says Jesus.

       3.      And only those who know their sin and shame can be saved.

       4.      Those doctors of the law/scribes and Pharisees who in their smug self-assurance believe their knowledge and law keeping will gain them eternal life are making a deadly miscalculation.

       5.      V. 32, Jesus is not saying some are righteous and thus do not need the saving call of His gospel, but rather is saying those who are certain they are righteous have already rejected His Gospel call to repent! He is not coming for those whom He has hardened, but those whom He will convict of sin.

       6.      To the Jewish eye, the Pharisees and teachers of the law would be the most righteous, pious, and would have most reason to boast. Jesus has to correct this to win God’s people to the true faith, so He explains and reveals that the Pharisees were the furthest from the kingdom of heaven.

a.       Jesus says to the chief priests and elders of the people that come out to Him, “tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.” Mt. 21:31-32.

b.       Matt. 23, Jesus tells the multitude how wicked the Pharisees are. It is a diatribe that would make all the conservative folks today blush with embarrassment. Just a small sampling of Jesus’ vehemence against the Pharisees from Mt. 23:13-15 reveal Jesus’ holy tartness:

c.       “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”

D.      If we are to be salt and light, we have to go to the sinners who know they are sinners, & often those are some of the worst and scariest sinners and most despised people of all!

       1.      We cannot allow their sins to tempt us to sin, but our righteousness must be something that both convicts them and draws them to Christ. This cannot happen without the Word of God and work of the Holy Spirit on the sinner’s heart. Otherwise our efforts will fail and repel/anger sinners.

       2.      But if the truth spoken in love does offend and anger, it is not our fault but theirs, and God will judge them for their rebellion. [Acts 18:5-6; 20:26 Paul says he is innocent of the blood of men because he has declared full counsel of God to them. He shakes his garments off of those Jews who oppose him and blaspheme and says “Your blood be upon your own heads. I am clean.” Yet we know he longed for the conversion of the Jews, his kinsmen according to the flesh, Rom. 10]

       3.      Levi shows costly love for his former friends/tax collectors, desiring that Jesus would speak to them the words of life as well. J.C. Ryle says, “All cannot go to the heathen, but every believer should strive to be a missionary to his fellow-men. Having received mercy, we should not hold our peace.”

E.      Jesus has a great opportunity to go to more tax collectors and proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom to them, all while receiving a feast and having joy over a sinner who has repented.

       1.      The complaint over merry-making has similarities to the parable of the lost son in Luke 15:11-31.

a.       The wayward son who squandered his inheritance in sin returns home in shameful repentance, and the father (the Lord) receives Him with joy, kills the fatted calf, and dresses him in his best robe as they make merry.

b.       The brother who was “righteous” and never left home shows he may not be so righteous after all, because he grumbles that such a commotion would be made over the return and repentance of such a wicked sinner who left the fold of God/family.

c.       But the father rightly says to the bitter son, “It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.”

d.       So don’t despise those who come to faith later in their lives than you do, praise God that He brought them to faith when He did, and help them grow in the Lord!

       2.      We can be our own worst enemies by failing to have shame for our sin or having unhealthy shame.

a.       We can look at our life, what we’ve done in the past, and even as Christians say we have squandered so much like the Prodigal Son. Don’t wallow in despair, but return to the Father!

b.       There’s many things I wish I could change, but sulking and whining won’t change it. We must press on in holiness today! And holiness begins by repenting to the Father then serving Him.

F.      The Scribes and Pharisees were likely a bit jealous that Jesus didn’t wine and dine with them.

       1.      Jesus, this great teacher and worker of miracles, was not interested in joining their ranks, “sitting” with them in their exalted position.

       2.      No, Jesus goes to the unwashed masses, perhaps the “deplorables” of our day, and calls them to repentance. He has healed a leper and then a man of paralysis to show His authority and divinity, and only after first forgiving the man for his sins in light of his faith and repentance.

       3.      Tax collectors were so dishonest that the Jewish courts of law would not even accept their testimony as witnesses! To come into contact with them also would have the effect of making one “unclean” and unfit to come into God’s presence, or other supposedly “holy” men like the scribes/Pharisees!

       4.      Jesus is teaching the Pharisees a lesson here, but they do not have eyes to see or ears to hear it. They are so self-righteous they cannot see their unrighteousness, so Jesus passes them over, and even further, as His ministry goes on He will condemn and expose them!

G.     Jesus’ duel with the Pharisees will continue throughout the rest of His ministry.

       1.      He has to attack the religious powers that be, the “establishment” as we might call it, to root out the error and bring in real Reformation and revival. We are in a similar situation today.

       2.      And consider that the Pharisees were the conservatives of the church leadership. They believed in predestination, in the existence of good and evil angels, they longed and looked for the Messiah and believed He would raise His people from the dead and judge them according to their deeds.

       3.      The Sadducees by contrast denied the resurrection, more like the liberal churches of today.

       4.      The Pharisees even opposed Herod and Roman rule, wanting to maintain the theocracy and sovereignty of Israel, and held sway with the common folk. They appealed to the masses with their phony piety, but Jesus appealed to the masses with the words of life, with grace, forgiveness, truth.

       5.      He mixed with the common man, touched the leper, had pity on the paralyzed man that was forgotten by all but his faithful friends, and even called the despised government officials – the tax collectors – to repent & follow Him. Jesus would have offended many Republicans and Democrats.

H.      Jesus in Luke 18:9-14 gives the parable of the pharisee and the tax collector. This is paradigmatic for how Jesus viewed the self-righteous Pharisees, and how the despised ranks of tax collectors could be saved – through humble repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

I.         9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

J.       Today we have religious elites that appear pious but are hypocrites. We have liberal churches that claim to be gracious, biblical, confessional, but are the most self-righteous & unforgiving of all.

K.      We have an entire grievance industry, victim culture, and while we do have real, bonified, old-school racists, misogynists, and the like, there’s a new wave of redefined, phony racism, misogyny, & more.

L.       To the “woke” and to the self-righteous, indeed to all of us, Jesus says repent of your sins, take up your cross, and follow Me. For indeed, “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Let us pray.  

 

 Luke 5:33-39 – Tidings of Comfort and Joy (Part 3) – Sermon Outline

Intro: How do we harmonize sorrow and joy, hard times and good times, in this life as Christians?

Need: Jesus brought superior blessings that give cause for great rejoicing & hope even amidst sorrow.

Theme: Christ brings blessings that demand rejoicing and renewal.

 

I.       Jesus’ reign is a time for rejoicing, not fasting (33-35)

A.      V. 33, The Pharisees & John’s disciples question why Jesus’ disciples don’t fast & pray like them.

       1.      From Mark 2:18 we see both the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees asked this question. The focus seems to be on the Pharisees, who undoubtedly asked with malice, not mere confusion.

       2.      They are seeing Jesus wining and dining with the tax collectors, healing lepers and paralytics, while John the Baptist was out in the wilderness eating locusts and honey.

       3.      Jesus’ way seems a lot easier/more pleasant, hence the confusion and concern of John’s disciples.

       4.      Jesus is in favor of fastings and prayers at the right time and place for the right purpose. Not for pretense and show as the Pharisees did, Mt. 6:5, 16.

       5.      And not in seasons that call for joy, like the Messiah’s coming, or a wedding, or a job promotion or a child’s birthday, or the Prodigal Son’s return when the father slaughters the fatted calf, Luke 15:23!

B.      V. 34-35, Jesus tells them that His coming is a cause for celebration, rejoicing, not prayerful fasting.

       1.      If you are in a wedding party and your friend, the groom, has just married the love of his life, do you respond by fasting and mourning, or feasting with much joy and pomp?

       2.      Jesus’ disciples have much to celebrate, as Christ their bridegroom has come, and He is joining Himself to sinners and saving them, such as Matthew/Levi the tax collector.

       3.      So everyone is celebrating this transformation where even the unclean, destitute and despised are now set free from sin and their guilt by the power of Christ.

       4.      But when there is a divorce in the family, or the severe sickness or death of a loved one, the time for grief has come, for praying and even fasting. Jesus in V. 35 foreshadows his betrayal and crucifixion on the cross, a time when the disciples will scatter and mourn the death of their Lord.

       5.      But now is not that time, and as Ecclesiastes 3 says, there is a time and season for everything, including a time to weep and laugh, to mourn and dance, to embrace and refrain from embracing.

       6.      John the Baptist’s was a time of mourning/grieving due to the lack of repentance of God’s people.

       7.      It was a time of preparation, a time that had more in common with the Day of Atonement of Leviticus 16, the only required day for Old Testament saints to fast.

       8.      So the fasts of the Pharisees & John’s disciples were voluntary fasts, not required under the old covenant law. Jesus was not violating the law, as this account is not on the Day of Atonement.

C.      But it was fitting that fasting/mourning of sin was present with John’s ministry & disciples:

       1.      John called for repentance but admitted that he did not baptize with the Spirit. Though He did say that Jesus would come and do so (and thus that would be a time to rejoice!).

       2.      John and his disciples were especially friends of Christ the bridegroom; John’s message prepared the people for the bridegroom’s arrival.

       3.      The Pharisees should have been friends of Christ the bridegroom, since they were the teachers of the law and preachers/pastors of the day. John 3 is relevant here, especially verses 28-30 regarding John’s own joy over the coming bridegroom Jesus Christ:

       4.      You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. (John’s ministry decreases as the old covenant gives way to Christ).

D.      There is a lesson here for all personalities – the overly serious and the lighthearted.

       1.      The person who is always serious and can’t joke or take a joke is wicked, as is the one who can never be serious and focused and disciplined.

       2.      Making merry as well as mourning and fasting are both appropriate, righteous, and virtuous if done at the right time and in the right manner. But both can be inappropriate, unrighteous, and a vice if done at the wrong time and improper manner.

       3.      This applies to many aspects of life, especially worship, how we conduct ourselves while gathered on Sundays. In our liturgy, there is a rhythm of somberness and joy in turns, of hearing God’s law, confessing sin with sorrow, and then being comforted and reminded of Christ’s coming and forgiveness, culminating in joyous celebration in our songs of praise in response to God’s grace.  

       4.      Studiously reading the Bible is righteous – but so is laughing with your children while playing. It is a grievous sin to neglect either one. We must pray and play, work and rest, grieve and rejoice.

       5.      Preaching and hearing the word preached requires serious focus, clarity of mind, but also some levity of spirit. It’s serious but joyous. The Lord’s Supper also weds mourning and joy, sorrow and rejoicing together, as we remember Christ’s death & our sin that made it necessary, but also the forgiveness of sins, life through His death, and the resurrection from the grave of Christ Himself and we in Him!

       6.      Our life in general and our worship in particular has tones of both sorrow and joy, but we must hit the right notes at the right time for our life to be a sweet sound that reverberates to the Lord in heaven.

E.      Fasting and of course prayer is not being dismissed outright by Jesus here either:

       1.      We still have indwelling sin, and Christ has not yet returned to make all things new. Until He returns, there will be seasons of self- abasement, of shame/being brought low, not feasting & making merry.

       2.      Jesus says such in V. 35, for the disciples will fast when Christ is taken from them.  

       3.      When we remember our sins, or sin grievously, or feel the affects of sin with sickness and disease in ourselves or loved ones, or when a nation is under attack or calamity, calling for corporate fasts, or even choosing to fast as individuals to pray & draw near to the Lord is appropriate and beneficial.

       4.      But J.C. Ryle goes much too far when he indicates that the time between the two comings of Christ, the time in which we now live, must be filled with humiliation and mourning, for “the time of fulness and satisfaction cannot be till we see the Bridegroom among us again.”

       5.      Yes, we must mortify the flesh constantly, and that is a burden and something to cause us grief when we see our sin, but we also must rejoice in the Lord always, for He is our salvation and deliverance.

       6.      It is not an either/or, but a both/and, and believe it or not, there’s a sense in which we can both mourn and rejoice at the same time, because we see both our remaining sin & Christ our perfect Savior.

       7.      I Thess. 4 speaks of not sorrowing as those who have no hope, but it does not forbid sorrowing at all. The context there is losing loved ones to death, and Paul reminds that those who are “asleep in the Lord” will rise and be with Him, as we all together in Christ will be with the Lord in the last day. So Paul says to “comfort” one another with these words.

       8.      Paul also says in 2 Cor. 6:10 that the marks of a minister are as one who is “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing”. He speaks of being sorrowful over his flock, concerned for their salvation and growth in faith, and even makes them sorrowful and is glad they sorrow in a godly way, for “godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Cor. 7:10).

       9.      This godly sorrow also brings forth righteous fruit of diligence, zeal, desire, etc. And guess what? This sorrow that produces zeal also leads to joy in the Lord, and joy for ministers who see Christ formed in the sheep God has called them to care for.

II.       Jesus’ reign cannot be contained by old covenant ceremonies (36-39). 

A.      V. 36, Jesus speaks to them in a parable, with two metaphors, the first being patching up garments.

       1.      Jesus is indicating that with His coming, the way things are done among God’s people is going to change drastically. Not because the Old covenant didn’t contain the new covenant in seed form, not because the old and new covenant are two fundamentally different ways of God relating to His people, but rather precisely because now the full flowering of the covenant has arrived in Christ.

       2.      What was foreshadowed and typified must now give way to the substance, which is Christ.

       3.      The old covenant seed is producing the roots and shoots that came forth from it through Christ. So new covenant Christians are not following old covenant Jewish rituals -- that seed is gone.

       4.      But the essence of the covenants are the same. Christ has come from that old covenant seed and has produced the roots and shoots to bring forth the full flowering of His covenant and people.

       5.      So we don’t have bloody circumcision and bloody Passover lamb meals with bitter herbs, but we do have bloodless baptism and bloodless communion. The OT rituals anticipated Christ & the bloodshed showed the need for Christ’s blood to be shed, but the NT rituals/sacraments look back on Christ’s finished work, His shedding blood once for all time, and so our sacraments are now bloodless.

       6.      Full of the Holy Spirit, the new covenant Christian relates to the law differently than the old covenant Jew, for the law has more fully and powerfully been written on the NT Christian’s heart, so that we will keep the law and commandments as a fruit of our salvation.

B.      Remember, Christ is preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand!”

       1.      John the Baptist, the last old covenant prophet, also called the people to repent and gave a baptism of repentance, but in preparation for Christ the Savior, and not with the blessing of the Spirit.

       2.      The Pharisees think the old covenant way is the final and fullest way, the flower rather than the seed that must die & give way to Christ and the fullness of the covenant with the coming of His kingdom!

       3.      The Kingdom’s arrival transforms the covenant people of God from seed to flower too. Thus the new covenant is a new administration of the covenant of grace.

       4.      This is the “new” piece or the “new garment” that Christ brings, and it cannot just be spliced into the old garment/the old covenant and rules and regulations with its temple worship restricted to the Jews.

       5.      If Christ were grafted onto that way of worship, that covenant administration, it would cause a tear and everything will rip. Jesus isn’t enhancing the old covenant administration but bringing a new one.

C.      Luke uses the word “new” 7 times in vv. 36-39, focusing on the newness of the new covenant, and that forcing it to conform and “patch up” the old would ruin the new and not fit into/help the old.

       1.      The Pharisees & even John’s disciples are clinging to the old, wrinkled, inferior covenant administration, not grasping the blessings of Christ the King of the Kingdom & Lord of the Covenant.

       2.      This struggle continues with the circumcision party in Acts 11:2-3 and 15:1-2, 5, demanding that all converts to Christ keep the Mosaic law as the Jews did, including circumcision, in order to be saved! 

D.      VV. 37-39, the extended illustrations of the wine and wineskins further underscores the newness and power of Christ’s reign on & over earth – that it transforms the people of God & its worship, duties, etc.

       1.      With the new piece of garment on the old, the new would shrink and then shred the old garment; here the new wine, as it ferments inside the old wineskin, would expand, causing the old wineskin to burst.

       2.      The new wine & old wineskin are thus ruined. So notice that the old covenant and new covenant are quite different, they cannot be grafted/mapped onto one another, cannot be poured into each other.

       3.      And yet they are precisely the same – we aren’t going from a piece of garment to a piece of gold, or from wine to whiskey. Christ brings in the better and newer garment and wine, but He is still bringing what the old covenant and the Jewish people had, but He is bringing it in a way that will transcend and transform their understanding, and should lead to rejoicing and joy, not mourning and sorrow.

E.      V. 38, Since Christ’s transformation and glory is so much greater, His new wine “must be put into new wineskins” so that “both are preserved”.

       1.      The new that Christ is bringing is coming in a new wineskin, a new administration, not a slight tweak or transformation of the old covenant system with its animal sacrifices, rituals, fasts, temple worship, priests and high priests, etc. Christ fulfills those, He keeps and fulfills the law, and in doing so transforms them, He does not abolish or destroy them. There is still a priesthood – the priesthood of all believers, and there are still sacrifices being offered up to God by His people – the sacrifice of our lives that are lived for His glory, which are sweet smelling aromas to Him as we are now His temple.

       2.      So Jesus is saying, “If you think eating with heathen tax collectors and sinners is something, you haven’t seen anything yet.”  Mourning and fasting and vain law keeping under the animal sacrificial system is an old wineskin that cannot handle this new wine that Christ brings.

       3.      The old covenant administration with the blood of bulls and goats wasn’t designed to be continued by simply exchanging the old animal blood with the new Christ blood. Christ’s blood truly atones for sin. It truly gives new life. It truly makes all things new. It truly tears down the wall of separation between holy place and holy of holies, between God and man through the veil of His own flesh.

       4.      Those in Christ are new creations, the old things have passed away, all things have become new. There is no more Jew or Greek, male or female, but all are one in Christ. He is the new wine that demands new containers to enjoy & receive Him. And we are now the body of Christ, the temple of God, that He pours Himself into and indeed enters into union with us as our heavenly bridegroom.

       5.      Our relationship with Him is as intimate as possible, it is not employer and employee, friend and friend, brother and sister, but husband and wife, two becoming one flesh, as one being poured into the other and being fitted for that purpose.

F.      V. 39, Jesus is new wine speaking to people who are used to the old wine and believe it is better. They must come and “taste and see that the Lord is good”.

       1.      The old covenant saint/Israelite/Jew would have a hard time with all these radical, rapid changes.

       2.      This required patience on Christ and the apostles’ part, patience in teaching and training by pastors today, & patience by fellow believers trying to teach others the Christian faith more accurately.

       3.      Paul circumcises Timothy but refuses to circumcise Titus. Why? Timothy is circumcised because his mother is Jewish and Paul doesn’t want to offend Jewish Christians who are still having a hard time entirely overcoming the “old wine” which they have long drunk and prefer.

       4.      This occurs in Acts 16, but remember just one chapter earlier Paul & all have just agreed that no one can require circumcision for salvation.

       5.      This is, no doubt, a bummer for Timothy. The weaker brothers cause him to undergo circumcision! But it was to remove any stumbling blocks to the Gospel.

       6.      If we are around someone who believes drinking is a sin, we should not drink in their presence (though if they demand we not drink anywhere or at all, like Paul we must refuse the tyranny of the weaker brother and may drink to our heart’s content).

G.     This transformation is hard for Peter too, In Acts 10 God sends Peter the vision of the animals of the earth, and the voice says “Rise Peter, kill and eat.”

       1.      Peter says not so my Lord, I have never eaten anything common or unclean.

       2.      Peter still prefers the old wineskins, but the voice again says, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” Through Christ, the new wine & new cloth has come and made all things new.

       3.      There are no more clean and unclean animals. The curse on the animal kingdom is being rolled back through the sacrifice of Christ, to our benefit. This of course is also applied to the Gentiles, who are no longer to rightly be regarded as “dogs”, as Christ Himself called the Canaanite woman who implored His mercy to heal her severely demon possessed daughter.

       4.      Jesus rightly says, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” Until Christ sheds His blood, while the old covenant still stands, all who are not Jews are unclean dogs!

       5.      This overlap of the ages, from the old to the new covenant, from the time of Christ’s ascension and the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70, was a time in which the new wine was being taught and poured out into the new wineskins as it were.

       6.      The NT Scriptures are beginning to be written after Christ’s teachings were passed down orally.

       7.      Apollos was well commended in Acts 18:24ff., called an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, knowing the way of the Lord and even said to be fervent in spirit and teaching and speaking accurately the things of the Lord. And yet, he only knew of the baptism of John, so Aquila and Priscila privately take him aside to explain the way of God more accurately to him.

       8.      Yet Apollos goes on to be a mighty teacher, refuting the unbelieving Jews by demonstrating from Scripture that Jesus is the Christ.

       9.      There is a lesson here as well. Godly men might be in the ministry who are not fire-breathing Presbyterians, or even Covenantal and Reformed in any sense. They should be encouraged to preach and teach more accurately, but they are not necessarily useless.

   10.      Those young in the faith & full of zeal should have that zeal refined and directed, not quenched for saying some inaccurate things or expressing themselves in ways that aren’t as kind as they should.

   11.      We must bear with one another in these ways and build up one another, with all patience and longsuffering, but also being willing to exhort and rebuke in the process. A rebuke is not antithetical to being patient, and being longsuffering does not mean you wink at sin or doctrinal error.

   12.      They go together, and we have the example of that in NT Scripture with Peter, Paul, and Christ Himself in the overlap of the ages between the old covenant Temple system and the new way through Christ’s blood.   

 

CONCLUSION: Part of the celebration of Christ’s coming as the bridegroom is that with Christ, the “new wine” has been poured, and the transformation of the old covenant and its customs and requirements has commenced. Christ indeed will be a new, acquired taste, but He is superior wine that will age far, far better than the old covenant wine with its passing types and shadows and continual blood of bulls & goats. While Christ is with His disciples, and as we have Him in our hearts and ruling on high, we should rejoice and have exceeding joy, even as we have tones of sorrow and mourning while we await the Bridegroom’s return to complete the work of making all things new. Let us pray.

 

 Luke 6:1-11– Jesus Lord of the Sabbath– Sermon Outline

Intro: How do you understand the Sabbath? How do you observe it? How has it changed?

Need: Jesus shows the scope of the Sabbath from creation, through redemption, to new creation.

Theme: The Son of Man reveals the true purpose of the Sabbath.

 

I.       It is for our own good, not an additional burden. (1-5)

A.      V. 1-2, Jesus’ hungry disciples pluck grain on the Sabbath; the Pharisees say this violates the Sabbath.

       1.      “the second Sabbath after the first” perhaps refers to the Sabbath after Passover during feast of unleavened bread, during their holy convocation/day they were to do no work, Lev. 23:3-8.

       2.      The feast days that had holy convocations and abstinence from work were also considered sabbaths. This included the Day of Atonement. These sabbaths were ceremonial and fulfilled, Col. 2:16.

       3.      The weekly Sabbath is not part of the old covenant ceremonial law, not bound to the Israelite people, but is rooted in God’s creation itself, when He rested on the seventh day and made it holy.

       4.      The disciples plucking & rubbing the grain was deemed “work” absurdly by the Pharisees. This is like saying you can eat peanuts on Sundays, but only if they are already shelled. You can’t shell them.

       5.      Deu. 23:25 permitted plucking your neighbor’s grain, but not using a sickle and harvesting. This too is a lesson. If God forbade stealing, but permitted taking your neighbor’s grain for hunger, God’s law and God’s Sabbath is given for the good of man, not to have the letter of the law/Sabbath burden us.

       6.      The spirit of the law/sabbath is for our good. The letter of the law must uphold the spirit of the law.

       7.      The Pharisees were doing the opposite, making the letter of the law a pious burden that they could try to “achieve” to earn spiritual points. They’d give you a ticket for going 56 MPH in a 55 MPH limit.

       8.      If the speed limit is 55 and everyone around you is going 70-80, is it a sin to go 70 MPH? Well, is the speed limit there to keep us safe? Yes. Is it safer to go with the flow of traffic, against it? Depends? 

B.      V. 3-5, Jesus declares Himself Lord of the Sabbath, even as David was lord over the showbread.

       1.      Jesus challenges the Pharisees Bible knowledge and doctrinal expertise, by saying “Have you not even read this?” regarding David and his hungry men ate the showbread that was only for the priests.

       2.      I Sam. 21:1-6 we see King David running for his life from King Saul. Possibly hasn’t eaten in three days. He determines that because the showbread has recently been replaced with fresh bread (which they were to do at the end of the Sabbath day), it was in effect common and not holy, even though the command was still that only the priests’ family could eat it.

       3.      He and his men have been kept from women sexually for three days, so they were not unclean, and with all these considerations in mind, and due to urgent necessity, David and Ahimelech the priest determined eating it was permitted. This is not bending the rules but understanding the spirit of them.

       4.      David did not sin, nor did he change the rules. Jesus did not sin with His disciples plucking and eating the grain, nor did they change the rules. Hunger & desperation necessitated the action.

       5.      If your wife is in labor in the middle of the night, no one else is on the streets, and you the husband are driving urgently to the hospital, do you concern yourself about rolling stops? If no one is coming and your wife is pushing, do you wait at that red light, or do you righteously blow through it true love?

       6.      Many today are anti-Pharisees, they have no doctrine of the Sabbath and say it is legalistic to keep it at all. That is not remotely close to what Jesus says. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, not to abolish it, but to give its true interpretation as the One who Himself established the Sabbath since His creation!

       7.      King David had interpretive authority, how much more so King Jesus, who is Lord of the Sabbath!

       8.      Sabbath rest from work is for rightly ordering our lives, to get all our business & laborious tasks done in the six days God allotted for them, so that we can worship Him on His holy day, the Sabbath day.

       9.      The Sabbath is therefore a bodily refreshment from labor, and a spiritual feast day for our souls. It is no burden on man for God to tell us to rest from work and honor Him in worship once every 7 days! If it is a burden, that means we are overworked and under-worshiping. All our life/time is disordered.

   10.      Just the same, we live in a fallen world. Unexpected things happen. Once at Greenville Seminary while staying with the President’s Son at their house, we had to leave church after worship because I was very sick. But their door was locked, we couldn’t get inside/call them, so we ate at McDonald’s!

   11.      If you don’t plan to get all your work done in six days, and therefore often work on the Sabbath, that’s dishonoring the Sabbath day and actually burdening yourself. Even more so if you actually plan/structure your life to do work on Sundays, or burden others to work for you by eating out, going to sporting events/concerts, etc. That’s profaning the Sabbath day and not loving your neighbor well.

II.       It is for doing good to others, not neglecting them. (6-11)

A.      V. 6, On a different Sabbath Jesus makes a spectacle before the scribes, Pharisees, and all in the synagogue by healing a man’s withered hand, demonstrating He is Lord of the Sabbath and interpreting the Sabbath as a day in which it is lawful to do good and save life (acts of mercy).

       1.      The man’s hand is shriveled up and useless, so the Pharisees are scrutinizing, closely watching Jesus to see if He “violates” the Sabbath by healing this man.

       2.      The word “accusation” in v. 6 indicates they are looking for evidence to bring before a courtroom.

       3.      Jesus as the discerner of hearts knows the Pharisees intentions, and doesn’t back down but has a showdown with them, even a stare down! He looks at them all intently, and Mark 3 adds He does this with anger and grief due to the hardness of their hearts.

       4.      His question to them all is simple, “Is it lawful to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy” on the Sabbath? The scribes and Pharisees can’t reply. If they say to do good, Jesus healing is doing good/mercy. If they say it is not to do good, they impugn the Sabbath day as a burden/curse.

       5.      The Jewish custom at the time was to only heal on the Sabbath in life threatening circumstances.

a.       A withered hand was not a threat to one’s life, but Jesus corrects this extra-biblical interpretation and shows that healing a hand, or going to the hospital if you are sick, or getting stitches, etc., are certainly lawful acts of mercy on the Sabbath, and are so now on the Lord’s Day/NT Sabbath too.

b.       Jesus wasn’t making a buck as a faith healer. He isn’t engaging in work/business, but mercy.

       6.      V. 10, After Jesus tells the man to stand up, He tells him to stretch out his withered hand.

a.       The man feebly extended his hand, or his arm connected to his hand, and right away it was restored whole as the other hand. Jesus has now demonstrated plainly and publicly before all in the synagogue that His claim of being Lord of the Sabbath is true. He can heal on the Sabbath.

b.       We see the faith of the man who extends his hand, even though that was either very difficult or technically impossible. The Gospel commands all sinners to repent and believe in Christ, something none can do unless they are first regenerated by the Spirit. But Jesus showing this mercy was not work violation of the Sabbath, neither was the man’s effort in extending his withered hand. Works of mercy to help others and be helped is plainly permitted on the Sabbath.

       7.      V. 11, This teaching and miracle does not soften the Pharisees heart, rather they are filled with foolish anger and further plot to capture Jesus and turn Him over to the courts for judgment.

a.       Mark 3 tells us the Pharisees conspired with the Herodians, those in league with Herod, to plot against Jesus at this time. Evil forms coalitions to defeat what is good and true, even under the false pretense of “keeping the Sabbath”.

b.       But evil also urges us to profane the Sabbath or pretend it doesn’t exist. This is to our impoverishment & robs God of His glory & worship due His name, provoking His anger against us.

c.       Mark 2:27-28 says, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” The Sabbath is an aid to man, not a burden to him. It is not a day to be extra spiritual/pure, as if the other days are inferior and we can live more loosely.

d.       It is a holy & special day, distinct from all the rest, a delightful day of holy resting and worshiping.

e.       It is set apart from the other days as a time of blessing and commanded assembling to worship the Triune God, and a commanded cessation of our work/labors to rest & delight in the Lord. 

f.         Remember that the Sabbath was made for the well-being of man, and man was not made to contort to rigid interpretations of the Sabbath that burden us & neglect our neighbors’ needs.

III.       APPLICATION: The NT Sabbath/Lord’s Day and its connection to/development of the OT Sabbath day.

A.      There is a Sabbath rest that we have entered into in Christ, and yet Heb. 4:9 says there remains a “sabbatismos”, literally “a keeping sabbath” for the people of God, and Heb. 4:11 says “Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”

B.      The Sabbath wasn’t enacted for God’s people only with the law of Moses, for we see it being observed before the law was given in Ex. 16:22-30, where the Israelites were not to gather the manna God gave them on the Sabbath day, but God provided twice as much the day before to gather.

C.      Ex. 31:12-17 shows the Sabbath is perpetual for all time, and also the seriousness of profaning the Sabbath by working – the penalty was death.

       1.      Ex. 32:16 says “Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.”

       2.      The reason it is a covenant/sign is that it reminds us that it is the Lord who sanctifies us (32:13), and that the Lord created all in six days then rested and was refreshed (32:17).

       3.      As God’s redeemed image bearers, we must be set apart to the Lord, and do so on the Lord’s day by worshiping Him and resting from our works. God rested from His works and delights in them.

       4.      When we rest from our works, it is especially to delight in the Lord who made us and gave us all good things. We were created not merely to work and labor for the Lord, but to worship the Lord and rest from our labors, even as He rested, and indeed to enjoy the fruit of our labors.

       5.      The work we must cease from is especially our business/commerce, & depending on which Sabbath in the OT there is some variance on what work is or is not permitted, such as preparing food.

       6.      Ex. 16:23 shows God’s command to Israel with the manna to bake/boil the day before, not on the Sabbath day, & in Num.15 God tells Israel to stone to death a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath.

       7.      Some women in years past have prepared all their food for Sundays on Saturdays, to avoid working and the distraction of prepping large meals. This is not necessarily a requirement, but it is wise to consider the distraction of preparing a large meal on Sundays when it can be done on Saturdays.

D.      The Sabbath has changed from Saturday to Sunday B/C Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath, and when He rose from the grave on Sunday/”Sabbath”, Mt. 28:1, He rested from His works to bring about the new creation, & it is His redemptive rest we have entered into, as new creatures in Christ, and it is the renewed heavens/earth at Christ’s return that our Sabbath resting looks forward to.  

       1.      The Sabbath command is one of the ten commandments, and it is absurd to think that it alone has passed away, somehow the only one of the 10 Commandments tied wholly to the ceremonial law.

       2.      The Sabbath is rooted in Creation, and it is a remembering of the creation work of God, then His rest.

       3.      OT Israel remembered the first creation and anticipated Christ’s 1^st coming, we remember especially the new creation begun in Christ’s work, and look forward to its fulfillment at Christ’s 2^nd coming.

E.      Sabbath development/progressive fulfilment/additional remembrance is found even in the OT itself:

       1.      The Sabbath command in Deut. 5 is in light of the Exodus/Deliverance of Israel by God out of Egypt.

       2.      The Word in Deut. 5 is to guard/keep/”Shamar” the Sabbath day, same word used in Gen. 2:15 when God put Adam in the Garden of Eden in order to “tend and KEEP/SHAMAR” the garden.

       3.      The focus isn’t on remembering the Sabbath day, but keeping it in Deut. 5. However, what is to be “remembered” now is the former slavery in Egypt that the LORD their God delivered them from. So keeping the Sabbath had this redemption/deliverance significance that must be remembered.

       4.      The other commandments are repeated nearly verbatim when comparing Ex. 20 to Deut. 5, only regarding the 5th commandment, the Sabbath do we see the word change from “Remember” in Exodus to “Keep/Guard/Observe” in Deuteronomy. The Sabbath focus shifts from creation, to deliverance/redemption, and in Christ now it has in view both redemption and the new creation.

       5.      Remember that Passover also celebrates deliverance from Egypt, and I Cor. 5:7 calls Christ the true Passover Lamb sacrifice. In Ex. 12:2, God tells Moses that the month Abib when the Passover was instituted was to be to them “your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.”  

       6.      As the Exodus was a new beginning for Israel, led out by the pre-incarnate Christ following the shedding of Passover blood, our Exodus through the crucified blood of Christ is our new beginning, led by the risen Christ out of bondage to sin and into His heavenly Promised Land.

       7.      The early church partook of the Lord’s Supper on the Lord’s Day, Sunday, the Christian Sabbath (Acts 20:7). It marks out our new beginning, our rebirth, and our rest in Christ. The Lord’s Day worship and rest is the NT Sabbath, even as the Lord’s Supper is the NT Passover.

F.      Sanctifying the Lord’s Day for the sake of our souls and delight in the Lord:

       1.      The Hebrew word “kadash”, has to do with sanctifying/hallowing the day, and that word is used in both Ex. 20 and Dt. 5. Heb. 4 hits on this sabbatismos, sabbath keeping, that we still keep on the Lord’s Day. It is not optional. It is not pious advice. It is a command of God for our good & His glory.

       2.      To knowingly violate the Sabbath like the man gathering sticks is serious sin. Keeping the day and sanctifying is more than just going to church for an hour or two, but honoring God the whole day in holy worship and resting. Let us do as Isaiah 58:13-14 says…

       3.      “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the Lord honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.” LET US PRAY.

Luke 6:12-19 – Jesus Multiplies His Ministry – Sermon Outline

Intro: How did Jesus build His Church? By having mega churches with multi-site campuses? No.

Need: Jesus chooses 12 qualified apostles from His disciples to diffuse & multiply His ministry/Kingdom.

Theme: Jesus chooses His twelve Apostles to multiply His ministry:

 

I.       With prayer, selecting them from His larger group of disciples (12-16).

A.      (12) Only Luke among the Gospels mentions that Jesus prayed all night before selecting His apostles.  

       1.      Luke’s Gospel is also the only one that separates the empowering and sending out of the Apostles from their being chosen. Only in Luke 9 are they said to be sent out by Christ to teach and heal.

       2.      Luke is not focused on chronology, the order of events, but theology, and focuses here on prayer.

       3.      Praying on a mountain was undoubtedly a way for Jesus to find solitude while in prayer. It wasn’t that the mountain conveyed some sort of holiness or greater nearness to God.

       4.      We see from the beginning of chapter 6 that things are escalating quickly in Jesus’ ministry.

a.       The Pharisees are after Him, He is having showdowns with them in the synagogues, and his fame and popularity are growing. More and more are coming to hear Him teach and to be healed.

b.       How shall He continue in the work that His Father has given Him to do? By fervent prayer.

c.       As He prays, Jesus determines to choose 12 apostles, corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel, and He prays fervently to determine whom He should choose out of His many disciples.

d.       The twelve apostles will constitute this new/renewed Israel, ultimately comprising Jewish and Gentile believers, and indicating a restoration of God’s people to the Lord through Christ.

       5.      The 12 apostles will be given certain powers by Christ to heal & preach the kingdom, Lk. 9:1-2, 10.

a.       Apostle means “one sent out” as a delegate or messenger. All the disciples were followers of Christ, but not all were called/sent out to be His messengers. This is still true in the Church today.

b.       All Christians are disciples of Christ, but God has chosen a few to become pastors, teachers, elders, deacons, etc. The office of apostle has ceased, being part of the foundation of the church.

c.       If Jesus prayed all night before choosing leaders in the Church under His ministry, how much more should pastors and elders, along with the whole congregation in nominating candidates for church office, do so carefully and discerningly, full of prayer.

d.       Eph. 2:20 says Church is built on foundation of apostles & prophets, Christ Himself cornerstone.

e.       Christ here is carefully, prayerfully laying the foundation of His NT church by choosing the 12 apostles, and the Church today should be equally selective & prayerful in choosing ministers.

f.         Bad leaders can ruin a church, a business, a school, a family, anything. Good leaders can bless and prosper a church, business, school, family, etc. Pray for righteous leaders in every sphere!

B.      (13), He gathers all His disciples to Himself to pick the twelve He wants to make Apostles.

       1.      James 3:1 says that not many of the brethren should become teachers, and we have in I Timothy & Titus qualifications for church officers. Church officers are held to a higher standard and face a stricter judgment, because they have more influence, authority, and power in the Church of God.

       2.      It’s a frightening reality really, and any minister or elder or deacon who doesn’t shudder at the thought probably isn’t qualified to serve, and should shudder doubly.

       3.      Evangelicals are quick to ordain men to the ministry when they aren’t spiritually mature or sound. Not everyone who has a zeal for the Lord is thereby called into the ministry.

       4.      On the other hand, some ministers see themselves pridefully as in an elite guild & don’t want others, especially younger men, to enter ranks with them.

       5.      Only few are chosen to be leaders/pastors/elders/deacons, and no one should take that office lightly.

       6.      Jesus also chooses the apostles out from and in the presence of the other disciples, making clear to all that Christ Himself has given and approved of the apostles having authority over the others now.

       7.      Large churches that grow rapidly often fade rapidly & are open to scandal and bad teaching because the leadership is not called or qualified truly, or the ordinations are done hastily, secretly, etc.

C.      (14-16), Jesus chooses the 12 Apostles to multiply His teaching and healing ministry through them.

       1.      Matthew 10 is essentially Jesus giving a solemn ordination charge to the Apostles for their calling.

       2.      SOME NOTES ABOUT THE APOSTLES: Peter & Andrew are brothers, as well as James and John. They are also always listed first, and form the inner circle among the apostles.

       3.      The fact that the inner circle consisted of two sets of brothers is noteworthy in light of the frequent sibling rivalries and battles in the OT. Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, Joseph’s brother selling him.

       4.      But in Christ’s ministry, His renewed Israel with its new “twelve tribes/apostles” will produce greater harmony, and less discord. We do not see Jacob and Esau situations here.

       5.      This inner circle of four were also Galilean fishermen. Not necessarily that they were poor, they may well have been quite industrious and successful businessmen, but the inner circle of Jesus was not ivory tower theologians/guild of Pharisees, but hard working, blue collar fishermen.

       6.      Matthew was a despised, white collar tax collector, yet he too is a chosen apostle.

       7.      Most or all of these apostles are from the little town of Galilee. None are of noble birth or high rank, just as Jesus, according to His human lineage, was of no noble birth either, rank, or riches.

       8.      Peter and John in Acts 4 are regarded by the elders, rulers, and high priest of Israel to be “uneducated and untrained men,” yet realized they had been with the great/true teacher, Jesus.

       9.      Jesus chose Judas intentionally, for a variety of reasons, not least of which as the means by which He would be betrayed and ultimately crucified, but to teach the apostles and all of us to be on guard.

D.      NOTE: A Bible College or Seminary is only as good as it follows the teachings of Scripture. An M.Div. or Ph.D. means nothing if Christ was not learned and loved and lived for.

       1.      The Pharisees learned a lot, and even used the Scriptures, but failed to truly come and know and love Christ or His people, so they did not understand or proclaim Him, nor provide for God’s people.

       2.      Sadly, in many of our colleges and seminaries today, we have the same sort of thing happening. The seminaries are pumping out more Judas Iscariot’s than Peter’s and Paul’s.

       3.      Ordination of a minister (or an apostle) doesn’t convey magical power and assurance of faithfulness anymore than a seminary degree does.

       4.      Ordination & formal education matter, they are necessary, but they do not make a faithful minister.

E.      Jesus chose 12 Apostles because the ministry needed to multiply, & we must follow His example today and choose well to build His Church and further establish His kingdom here on earth. 

       1.      We desperately need more godly, qualified men to answer Christ’s call to shepherd God’s people.

       2.      The most qualified men are often the ones who see themselves as least qualified, because they know and confess their own sin and see their own unworthiness.

       3.      Such insight is not a sign of disqualification, but a sign of humility and the first step toward actual calling and qualification, for they rightly grasp the seriousness of the calling and need for God’s Spirit.

       4.      Christ Himself, just before commissioning the 12 Apostles, spoke similarly in Matthew 9:35-38:

       5.      “Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Then Jesus leads by example, praying all night before choosing the 12 Apostles.

II.       With purpose, preparing them to preach and heal the people (17-19).

A.      V. 17-18, Jesus shows His apostles & disciples the size of the desperate crowd pressing toward Him.

       1.      Scholars debate/discuss whether this is identical to the sermon on the mount, or a different situation where Jesus taught the same/similar material. If this is the same account as the sermon on the Mount in Matthew, Luke gives a condensed version of Jesus’ teaching in the rest of Luke 6.

       2.      The swelling crowds from all over the region shows the 12 Apostles their urgent ministry right away.

       3.      Yet it is not until Luke 9 that the 12 are given power and authority over demons and to cure diseases.

       4.      Only in Luke 9 are they sent to preach the kingdom and to heal the sick (Luke 9:1-2).

       5.      However, if you compare the order in Matthew and Mark, it seems that right away Jesus sent the disciples out to preach and heal, and empowered them to do so.

       6.      Luke is not strict chronology, but its clear that Jesus alone is healing the crowds here.

       7.      The crowds are from all over the region, so Jesus will soon send the Apostles to these various regions to teach and heal the many who were unable to hear him and be healed by Him.

       8.      The apostles here get some training from Jesus before they use the powers He will give them.

B.      Swelling crowds are not the most effective way to reach many people and effectively heal and teach/shepherd them, underscoring the need for Jesus to send His apostles from town to town.

       1.      Megachurches aren’t necessarily the best churches. Large numbers aren’t a sure barometer of ministerial success. Jesus’ method was to divide & conquer, send out & multiply in smaller clusters.

       2.      If Jesus didn’t think He should have a multi-site ministry, perhaps neither should pastors today!

       3.      As God rebuked those building up the Tower of Babel, He rebukes our skyscraper churches in which the pastors/elders don’t know their own sheep, and the sheep don’t know their shepherd.

       4.      Jesus prayerfully taught and equipped co-laborers and sent them into the harvest, & are we pastors today better shepherds than Jesus? Shame on us for our megachurches, our multi-site ministries built around one man and his personality, who thinks his ministry must be bigger than Jesus Christ’s!

       5.      May God tear down these monuments of self-idolatry as He tore that great monument to man down – the Tower of Babel.

       6.      May the Church not build giant buildings of babbling Babels, but faithful ministries of suitable sizes to actually minister to the congregation effectively, and when that becomes difficult, may Church’s equip more godly men for the work of ministry, to multiply ministries and churches over all the earth, filling the earth & subduing it for the glory of God & Christ’s kingdom.

C.      The power is all in Christ, so the “whole multitude” is straining to touch Him to be healed by His power.

       1.      Again, once the Apostles have this power, not all will have to crowd around Jesus, but can & will go to the Apostles. This is preparing the Apostles & the people for Christ’s resurrection and departure.

       2.      After Pentecost, when Christ poured out His Spirit on these apostles after He has risen to the right hand of the Father, there is a fulfilment of what Jesus tells His 12 Apostles in John 14:12:

       3.      “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

       4.      In one sense all Spirit filled Christians do greater works than miracles by simply living faithfully to the Lord. We seem to think that flashy healings are more miraculous than faithful living through thick/thin!

       5.      But the apostles literally do greater miracles than Jesus did in His earthly ministry. We see in Acts 5:15 that Peter’s shadow simply falling on the sick would heal them.

       6.      In Acts 19:11-12, God was doing “extraordinary miracles” by Paul’s hands such that handkerchiefs that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick & diseases & demons departed from them.

       7.      In Acts 19:13 some Jewish exorcists tried the same tricks by evoking the name of the Lord Jesus. And guess what? The evil spirits said “I know Jesus and Paul but not you,” so then the evil spirit fell upon them, possessed/overpowered them, so that they ran out of the house naked and wounded.

       8.      So those pretending to be faith-healing apostles today, the Benny Hinn’s of the world, are tricksters and frauds, and possibly even afflicted by demons. Young people thinking they can bind Satan and rebuke demons in the name of the Lord don’t know what danger they are getting themselves into, but they are arrogantly presuming that God has called them with some sort of apostolic authority/power.

       9.      But there are no apostles or prophets today. They & their supernatural healings were part of the foundation of Christ’s new covenant church, and that foundation has long been laid, Eph. 2:20.

   10.      Christ gave extraordinary gifts/powers/preaching to His few chosen Apostles, but not to all disciples.

D.      I Corinthians 12 indicates that the Spirit’s Pentecostal outpouring led some in the foundational era of the NT Church to receive the gifts of miracles, healings, speaking in tongues, discerning spirits, etc.

       1.      But we also read of the passing away of some gifts and the superiority of prophesying, or speaking edification and exhortations (I Cor. 14:3), over tongues, miracles, & healings.

       2.      Healings and miracles were rare even in the Old and New Testament times. Flurries of miraculous activity happen throughout Scripture when God is moving the story of redemption forward, then they die down again until the next great progression. Christ’s pouring out His Spirit is the greatest “move forward” in redemption at that time, and so many did speak in tongues, heal, perform miracles, etc.

       3.      But remember that the NT Scriptures are all from the apostolic era. That foundation was being laid, & once the NT Scriptures were completely written and spread abroad about the same time the apostles died, those miraculous gifts of the apostolic era ended/phased out after that generation as well.

       4.      This is evident by the utter absence of true miracles/healings today, but also by Scripture itself, such as Paul telling Timothy to start drinking wine to soothe his stomach and other infirmities, I Tim. 5:23.

       5.      The apostles anoint the sick with oil, Mk. 6:13; later James 5:14 tells the Elders to anoint sick with oil.   

       6.      Acts 19:17-20 goes on to say that the name of Jesus was extolled/magnified and many who became believers burned their magic books in front of everyone as a sign of real repentance, “So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily,” Acts 19:20. (Also Heb. 1:1-2/sola scriptura).

       7.      Christ is now building His Church through His Word proclaimed by pastors & teachers, Eph. 4:11-16.

       8.      The Church does not need miracles, signs, and wonders, which had their place in demonstrating the coming of Christ’s kingdom, but faithful shepherds and faithful sheep learning & loving God’s Word.

Luke 6:20-26 – Eternal Blessings & Eternal Woes (Part 1) – Sermon Outline

Intro: These paradoxical statements reveal how His kingdom re-orients everything to righteousness.  

Need: Jesus Apostles & disciples must know, & Christians today must know, Christ’s true blessings.  

Theme: Serving Christ’s Kingdom brings blessings, but serving sin brings woe.  

 

I.       The blessings for the humble who faithfully serve Christ.

A.      (Jesus has just chosen His 12 apostles out of His disciples, and speaks to them, not the crowds).

       1.      Jesus is exhausted from healing/ministering to the crowds, but sets the example for His disciples.

a.       The Pharisees hate Him & want to kill Him, yet Jesus continues on. Empty, yet full of God’s favor.

b.       The apostles must especially heed Jesus’ actions & message here, for they will teach & heal too.

c.       Ministers today should aim at the church members, believers, not the unbelievers present, & lead/serve by example. We all must spend ourselves in Christ’s service to have riches from Him!

       2.      Serving for Christ’s kingdom will look like poverty & foolishness to those who live for this evil age.

a.       As we hunger for more of God’s blessing, of His comfort, more fellowship, more victory over sin and its miseries, we get the food we crave the more we serve, the more we pour ourselves out.

b.       This paradox leads to greater fullness in Christ, greater stamina to serve, greater joy in service!

       3.      As we continue down this path of humble service to Christ/His kingdom, we are hated all the more.

a.       But Jesus tells His disciples, “Rejoice! For you are in good company. They hated & persecuted and rejected the godly prophets who went before you as well. You both suffer for Christ the King.

b.       Christ the King is the High King of Heaven come down to extend His glory over sin-cursed earth! The King will reward you richly, with His blessing, His favor, now & forevermore. So don’t give up!

c.       But if you live for riches & delight in carnal lusts, if you find mirth in things that sideline you from serving Christ & turn back to gratifying your sinful flesh, beware! WOE to each one of you!

       4.      Your fleeting pleasures are all you’ll ever have, and they will be swallowed up in death & dread.  

a.       What makes you laugh will lead you to misery & danger, trembling and unshakeable sorrow.

b.       Though many may speak well of you now, you are in league with treacherous thieves who are as sinful & self-seeking as you are, and they will deceive you with their flattery to destroy you.

       5.      This is the overview of Jesus’ words, His tone and message. Let’s look at it more closely now.

B.      The word “blessed” indicates God’s favor, His blessing/goodness upon someone. The world doesn’t associate being poor, hungry, weeping, and hated as signs of blessings or cause to rejoice.

       1.      Indeed, we all often think such is a sign not of God’s blessing/favor, but His curse/abandonment.

       2.      But those who have saving faith to see Christ and His kingdom know this wicked world’s order, expectations, & priorities must be turned on its head. It is wicked after all! Christ re-orients us.

C.      The parallel passage in Mt. 5:3 shows the poor in V. 20 refers to “poor in spirit”.

       1.      This indicates humility, contrition, & faithful dependence upon the Lord, not self or anything else.

       2.      You are blessed if you recognize your spiritual poverty. Many do not. You can’t be full until you realize you’re empty of what you need most – the vast, limitless riches of God your Creator/Savior!

       3.      David speaks of this poorness though he was financially rich (Ps. 40:17); the Proverbs contrast a haughty spirit with a poor/humble spirit (Prov. 16:18-19).

       4.      “The poor” does not add the qualifier “now”. It must be constant. We must always be lowly/poor in spirit, relying upon God for our strength and riches, & to such He gives His very own kingdom!

D.      Christ Himself and life in His glorious kingdom is the ultimate blessing & highest possible desire.

       1.      As such it is the only thing that truly satisfies the creature made in the very image of God.

       2.      The man who knows this & seeks this is rich, though he may be financially poor. The kingdom of heaven indeed is like Mt. 13’s pearl of great price. The man searching for great pearls finds the one, and then sells everything else he owns to buy it!

       3.      Do you sacrifice and sell all for the kingdom of God? It is the pearl of great price. If you know this and pursue this, you are on your way to great riches as you sell and sacrifice all else to gain its blessings.

       4.      Now this is most critical to this sermon, all that follows, and EVERYTHING about you as a Christian. You must not miss this -- What are the greatest riches of Christ’s kingdom?

a.       It’s clearly not money or possessions or a life of ease, peace, and quiet. So what is it?!

b.       It is reconciliation to God, but even more, righteousness. To be like God, with God and His people forever! To be holy as He is holy. To do good and be good. To be loved and to give love, truly.

c.       Now, this unrighteous, unholy, wicked, and unloving world cannot give any of that. Only God can through Christ, and it is given to us in His kingdom, which covers the whole earth.

d.       Christ is building His kingdom by establishing it in His people, by making them righteous; their holiness, their godliness and love, learned by God’s Word through the Spirit, covered in Christ’s blood, with Christ Himself the Head of His Church, the holy, loving, and perfectly good One.

e.       Do you want God’s love and goodness? That’s His blessing to you. Do you want to be like Christ and extend His love and goodness throughout this world? That’s His blessing through you.

       5.      If not, you’re among the ones Jesus pronounces woes, who are rich with the things of this world, but not of the things of Christ, not possessing this kingdom pearl of great price. You have only fool’s gold.

       6.      Don’t set your heart on financial riches, properties or possessions, set your heart on kingdom righteousness, know the blessing that it is better to give than to receive. Then also read the Proverbs, “In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.” (15:6). “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than gold.” (22:1).

       7.      As Christians, we must heed Christ’s woes and seek His blessings. Those who don’t reap His woes.

E.      V. 21a, those who “hunger now” are those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, Mt. 5:6.

       1.      Jesus did not preach liberation for those financially poor or starving, though He certainly provides food and clothing to His own children who seek first His kingdom and righteousness.

       2.      No one is blessed by virtue of being hungry and homeless. Such a state of destitution does not make one inherently righteous. But the believer knows to fatten his soul before fattening his belly.

F.      The joke is that if Reformed folks have to choose between buying books or food, they choose books.

       1.      We need our daily bread. But if we fatten our souls with God’s Word over food, fun, & folly, we will truly be filled. We will have drunk from the Well of Christ, and we will never thirst again.

       2.      The hunger pains of the soul far outweigh the hunger pains of the stomach. Those poor in spirit who receive Christ’s kingdom desire His blessing and filling of His Word and goodness for their souls.

       3.      “Filled” is the same word used in the filling of the 12 baskets at the feeding of the 5,000. Christ shall so fill us with Himself, and indeed often fills our stomachs with plenty as well. But the leftover 12 baskets of fish and bread was only after the people had long hungered for His words, His teaching.

       4.      Indeed, you should devour Scripture, hunger for it & sound theological & devotional books.

G.       V. 21b, The blessed weeper is the one weeping now over his sins & this harsh sinful world.

       1.      Do you know the blessed joy of tearful repentance? Have you experienced its healing balm?

       2.      Have you such a sight of your sins that you would be undone, but for the blood of Christ?

       3.      If you are a Christian, you have. No sinner is regenerated apart from this. But how blessed is that continual repentance, that deep repentance and weeping over sin that leads to joy, laughter even!

       4.      Tears of repentance are healing and redemptive, and thank God temporary, in Christ and His kingdom. We weep now but not forever. By crying we die to self to then rise and rejoice!

       5.      The Father led His Son into this sin-cursed world, in the likeness of sinful flesh, facing much grief, weeping and sorrow, not for His own sin, but the sin around Him, and the sin He bore on the cross.

       6.      All of Scripture teaches that the way down is the way up. As Psalm 30 says, “The LORD’s anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning….You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

       7.      If we know our sin now and repent, we won’t have to know our sin forever in hell when it is too late. If we weep and grieve over our sin now, we’ll come to laugh now and laugh in heaven forever. If we rejoice and delight in sin now, we’ll come to weep soon in this life, and lament in hell forever.

       8.      For every look at your sinful heart, gaze upon Christ the Lamb that was slain for your sin. Look at that full payment and the Father’s delight in you through His Son, and soon enough the joy of your salvation will hit you harder than your sin, and your only tears will be tears of joyful laughter.

H.      V. 22, What is peak blessedness in Christ’s kingdom? It is when certain dangerous men hate you, reject you, disassociate from while they gnash their teeth at you & tarnish your very name as evil BECAUSE you proclaim by word and deed that Jesus is the Son of Man with all authority and glory.

       1.      The Jews already excommunicated undesirables from their synagogue in Jesus’ day. Don’t think churches, pastors, those who you thought were Christians friends, won’t do the same when you get serious about sound doctrine, killing sin, growing in righteousness, and delighting in God’s goodness.

       2.      Sure the world will hate you, but Jesus isn’t just talking about the world here. He’s talking about those who persecuted the prophets. That’s the false prophets and the unfaithful Jews who followed them!

       3.      Today that’s the false pastors and false converts who love their pep talks on how to have worldly riches disguised as God’s favor, but that actually bring down God’s woeful judgments!  

       4.      These words apply to all God’s people, and Christ especially is thinking of His apostles who most directly stand in continuity with the prophets who went before them. Pastors face similar today.

       5.      All Christians will face hatred for believing God’s Word, speaking God’s Word, and living His Word.

       6.      You can be either loved by God or loved by wicked men, but you cannot be loved by both.

       7.      If you shrink back from faithfulness you shrink back from God, & if you do not repent, ultimately He will shrink back from you. But when you draw near to the Lord in repentance/faith, He draws nearer to us, gives us all His rich blessings, and teaches us not only to weather the storm, but to thrive in the turbulence that this sinful world and sinful men throw at us, so that we pass through in holiness.

I.         V. 23, the very day you receive this peak blessedness, you must rejoice and leap for joy!

       1.      Not because you love being hated, but because the Lord rewards those willing to be hated for Him!

       2.      I’m thankful I came in with such unbridled, unpolished zeal that I actually said to the candidates and credentials committee that, GASP, I didn’t think people were born gay or pastors should preach in skinny jeans! I should have rejoiced in that day, then, but at least I do now.

       3.      I now understand God’s blessing is on me when such wicked men hated me, excluded me, reviled me, and cast me away from coming under their care. God did not cast me away, He brought me to you all, and He will not cast you away as you follow Him, though former church friends may. 

       4.      The Lord richly rewards righteousness, especially righteousness that is costly and hated. And it is especially is impactful when the church ministers and people under demonic sway hiss at us. That means the kingdom of God is coming and His will done, as He starts to cast those demons out!

       5.      But there’s more peak blessedness. Not only is your reward great, but your company is great! You’re in league with the faithful prophets of old, & you know this b/c you’re being treated like dirt like they were! Indeed the Great Prophet, Christ Himself, was crucified due to hatred and reviling.

J.       CONSIDER: The Word made flesh was pierced & hung on a tree to bring you into His kingdom.

       1.      The day the man Jesus Christ died was the day that death died, the day the devil began to die, the day the fate of all your impenitent revilers who hate you b/c you love Christ was sealed.

       2.      And that Day of Atonement, the day the Father poured out His fierce wrath on his Son, was also the day the Son was no longer poor but accomplished His kingdom, it was the day He began hungry, destitute of the Father’s comfort, only to end filled with it as He commended His spirit back to Him.

       3.      It was the day He dropped great gobs of sweaty blood and tearfully pleaded with His Father for the cup of His wrath to pass from Him, yet through that agony came the firm resolve to finish the Father’s will & the laughter of Him of whom it can be said, “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God!” (Heb. 12:2). Sitting at the right hand of God the Father is indeed “a great reward in heaven” isn’t it?

       4.      It was the Day His haters, His own kinsmen, finally got to betray Him, to crucify Him and have the Gentiles revile & spit upon Him, mocking His majesty with a crown of thorns upon His head.

       5.      Yet Jesus answered not a word like a lamb before its shearers. Indeed, “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

       6.      AND THEREFORE, The Kingdom blessing of Jehovah His Father was bestowed upon Him, for three days later the grave split open and the Father “highly exalted Him and gave Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!” (Phil. 2:9-11). Those who cast out Christ’s name have been cast down into hell forever, where they forever must confess the Name of Christ Jesus.

       7.      And if we conquer like Christ, one day we’ll sit with Jesus on His throne & laugh with God the Father as the worldly rich & wicked hateful of the nations weep & gnash their teeth in woeful hell forever.    

       8.      Jesus’ kingdom turns the world right side up. The world is turning as His kingdom comes. The nations are raging & plotting in vain against the Lord, His anointed, & all who belong to His kingdom.

       9.      God is giving the poor, hungry, weeping, rejected bride of Christ, His Church, the eternal kingdom blessings of His Truth, righteousness, goodness, & love. Receive the blessings, & reject the woes. 

Luke 6:20-26 – Eternal Blessings & Eternal Woes (Part 2) – Sermon Outline

Intro: These paradoxical statements reveal how His kingdom re-orients everything to righteousness.  

Need: Jesus Apostles & disciples must know, & Christians today must know, Christ’s judgment for sin.  

Theme: Serving Christ’s Kingdom brings blessings, but serving sin brings woe.  

 

I.       The woes for the haughty who foolishly serve sin.

A.      Jesus is still addressing His disciples, so the woes are for them/the church as much as for the world.

       1.      The old covenant prophets were often harassed primarily by the people of God, by Israel herself.

       2.      The Church devours her own more than the world ever does at times. The savage wolves that eat the sheep don’t come from outside of the Church, they come from within, wolves in sheep’s clothing.

       3.      They are in the covenant and then tear the sheep asunder, & take aim especially at true shepherds.

       4.      Notice what Jesus in John 8 says to not only Pharisees but even more generally to the Jews, the covenant people of God that are even said to believe in Him (Jn. 8:30-31, read 8:30-59).

       5.      From this lengthy section of John 8 we see that some can begin in faith in Christ as Messiah & it prove to be a faith planted in a rocky heart or stony soil, & by the end of Jn 8 they try to stone Jesus!

       6.      The point is that the righteous will get stones thrown at them, whether literal or metaphorical. That’s actually part of the blessing when such is happening for the sake of serving Christ and His kingdom.

       7.      But we need to hear the blessings and the woes, not only b/c we need to be sure we are redeemed by Christ, but even as redeemed sinners, we still slide so easily into sin, the remaining indwelling sin that leads us to rest in worldly riches, fullness, and sinful laughter/frivolity.

       8.      As Christians, our sinful flesh still desires these things improperly, seeking and serving these at all costs rather than seeking and serving Christ and His kingdom at all costs, even the cost of comfort.

       9.      So vv. 23-26 also applies to the true, born again believer, as something we fall into and must guard against and repent of. We know the Apostle Peter will deny Christ three times, to avoid suffering for righteousness’ sake. He had something of the desire to be spoken well of like a false prophet, v. 26.

   10.      So let us receive these woes in vv. 24-26 as something for God’s people to avoid, to repent of what makes us deserving of these woes, and by so doing enter more and more into God’s blessings.

B.      V. 24, the “rich” are the spiritually proud, & may be indirectly about the Pharisees but indeed also about many of the Jews and even Christ’s disciples and the crowds gathered to Him as He speaks.

       1.      The financially rich & haughty often go together, as can the poor and lowly economically/spiritually.

       2.      Prov. 28:6, 11: Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich….” Neither riches nor poverty are inherently desirable or righteous. Both can be snares.

       3.      Prov. 30:8-9: “Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.”

C.      So the heart of Luke 6 isn’t about money or prosperity, but our hearts, that is, our desires!

       1.      The rich of v. 24 have received their consolation, because their heart is set on worldly riches, not the riches of Christ’s kingdom. The issue isn’t worldly riches/possessions, but lusting after them.

       2.      The righteous poor of v. 20 is only “consoled” with entering the kingdom of heaven, while the wicked rich looks to money, food, and sinful delights as his consolation, fullness, and joy.

       3.      In V. 23, the day of persecution for Christ’s righteous kingdom gives His true people joy/rejoicing b/c they get their riches in heaven, the Father’s approval & being like the faithful prophets before them.

       4.      But in V. 26, the unrighteous desire NOT the Lord’s benediction for faithful sacrifice to Him but the benediction of sinful men, “speaking well of you” like their faithers did regarding the false prophets.

       5.      And what did the false prophets say? “Peace, peace, when there was no peace” (Jer. 7-8). Ease, worldly fullness & laughter, everyone is enjoying a good time like a bunch of high, fornicating hippies.   

D.      To put it simply, do you find fullness in Christ’s righteousness, or this world’s unrighteousness?

       1.      Do you sacrifice all for the sake of illicit sex, mind tripping drugs, and drunkenness, along with the fellowship of those who long for the crown of a supposed peaceful stupor of useless self-indulgence?

       2.      Such devolves into wicked outbursts of anger and rapings and murders, so sacrifice all for the righteousness of Christ, to love and serve Him and His people sacrificially as He served His own!

       3.      The OT prophets put it like this in graphic detail in many places, here is just one that captures much of what Jesus is saying in Luke 6, found in Isaiah 5:1-25 where God speaks through the prophet.  

       4.      Self-seeking equates to self-glorifying. If you seek to make yourself puffed up and live for your own glory and not God’s, you might find earthly riches, but at the expense of eternal/heavenly ones from the Father and Son who bless by the Spirit. And in the end you’ll reap God’s eternal woe/wrath.

E.      V. 25, Woe comes upon those who are full, full of themselves & proud of their possessions.

       1.      Haughty disregard for others is a good way to multiply possessions, to have storehouses busting at the seams, to live high on the hog and feast every day.

       2.      But such selfishness will not go unpunished, usually in this life and certainly in the life to come.

       3.      Luke often blasts the self-seeking rich and full who laugh in their wealth, as in Luke 12:13-21.

a.       These woes, while said to His disciples and within earshot of the gathered crowds, was also an indirect swipe against the Pharisees, lovers of money that did not truly serve God, Lk. 16:13-14.

b.       Of course Judas, one of the apostles/disciples, is there, and betrayed Jesus for money, showing he had the spirit of many of the Pharisees, the spirit of Satan, because he feigned care for the poor but was actually a thief that had the money box and stole from it, John 12:6.

c.       In the end, he betrays Jesus for 30 pieces of silver that do not satisfy, so in bitterness he throws the silver back at the Jewish leaders, then goes and hangs himself and bursts open.

F.      V. 25b, Laughing in the ease that you have created by self-seeking and sin leads to mourning/weeping.

       1.      Certainly laughter in righteous things and God’s blessing is a good thing. But this laughter in corruption leads to mourning and sorrow, not God lifting up, but God cutting down.

       2.      James 5:1-11 shows the rich will soon weep and howl for their miseries as their gold rusts and garments wear out. The corrosion points to the fires of hell that will eat their flesh. These are the treasures they have heaped up for themselves in the last days.

       3.      Their servant laborers who were not paid and were defrauded cry out to the Lord and have reached His ears. So tremble! Woe to you rich who live for riches and earn it in such vile fashion!

       4.      Indeed, “you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.”

       5.      In contrast, James turns to the righteous brethren and calls them to be patient.

a.       Our blessings are not often/always quick and visible like the haughty rich who boast and have all the popularity of the depraved who wish they could be just like them.

b.       We must be like farmers who sow our humble seed and must wait for it to yield fruit over time, after the early and latter rains come upon them. This is a spiritual sowing ultimately of course.

c.       The point isn’t primarily or only physical sustenance, though that is certainly a part of it. James says “you also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

d.       In other words, God’s judgment is coming, the woes of Luke 6 will fall on the wicked’s heads soon enough, so live for the Lord and not riches or anything else in this world.

e.       James 5:10-11 connects this to the prophets, just as Luke does, who lived faithfully and spoke the truth, and as such became an example of suffering and patience because they endured much hardship, persecution, poverty, etc., and yet they are blessed!

f.         James mentions Job, who was targeted by Satan himself precisely because he was so holy & righteous and sought first Christ’s kingdom even while wealthy, and contrary to what Satan had predicted, did not curse God once the his health, wealth, and prosperity was stripped from him, but said “Though He [the Lord] slay me, yet I will trust Him!”

G.     James points to the end intended by the Lord for Job. Job’s faith was mightily tested, his children and all his possessions died by successive tragedies, such that there was no mistaken this was directly from God Himself. It was a miraculous tragedy one right after the next!

       1.      But what was the end goal by God? That Job would be vindicated, walk in His integrity, have God Himself speak to Him from the whirlwind, defeat Satan, strengthen his faith, reveal the hypocrisy of so many of his friends, & yet learn to pray for them and forgive them.

       2.      In the end, the Lord restored his prosperity and doubled his former possessions.

a.       Job 42:10-16 tells us he then feasted with his friends, brothers and sisters and acquaintances, and they comforted him now for all the Lord brought Job through rather than mocked and ridiculed Job and told him he must be sinning.

b.       They gave him silver and gold, and what’s more, the Lord then doubles all his livestock and gives him seven sons and three daughters to replace the children he lost. God blessed his daughters with such physical beauty that none in the land were found as beautiful as them.

c.       Job’s ultimate earthly blessing was that he lived 140 years, a long life as God gives to those who obey Him, such that he saw his children and grandchildren for four generations.

d.       Then Job dies old & full of days, received into the Lord’s blessed presence. Rich blessings indeed in this life & the life to come for Job, but only through faithful suffering and patient righteousness.

e.       The order in God’s kingdom and His blessings is that Christ Himself and His righteousness with His people apart from sin is the chief blessing, and if God gives wealth and riches in and through and as an additional blessing, that’s the cherry on top.

f.         Children, the Sonic milkshakes are delicious, and they even put a cherry in there. But the chief blessing isn’t the cherry, it’s the shake. Would you pay $4 for just a cherry? Don’t put all your efforts into the mere “cherry” of this world’s riches, but the milkshake of God’s glorious kingdom.

H.      V. 26, if you speak and behave to have all speak well of you, you’re like a false prophet.

       1.      Remember Jesus is speaking to His disciples, especially the 12 Apostles he just chose, but all the disciples are there. Every Christian speaks and lives as such, and so must not do so falsely.

       2.      Jesus is rallying His troops as it were in our text, laying forward the blessings of victorious conquest by proclaiming the truth and living righteously, but also warning of the consequences of treachery or failing to have victory over sinful appetites and turning back to Satan’s lies and deceptions.

       3.      When all men speak well of you, beware, woe unto you, for God does not speak well of you!

       4.      Paul exhorts Timothy in 2 Tim. 4:1-3 to preach the Word faithfully at all times because God’s people will not always endure sound doctrine, but with itching ears will gather themselves false teachers.

       5.      Faithful preaching will sting, and sheep will often bite the shepherd, the pastor. But the pastor must continue, as Paul says to Timothy, “be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” Preachers must not become false prophets to appease itching ears.

       6.      But for each of you here, as you speak the truth in love to family, friend, and neighbor, you must not become false in the name of “love”. You must not seek peace at the cost of purity. We must have love in God’s truth, and peace in God’s purity. In short, we must love and live for His kingdom.

I.         The Example of the first Martyr, Stephen, from Acts 7.

       1.      Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, knowing the joy of the Lord in persecution and given a glimpse of resurrection glory even before he died, said to the Jews before Him & of the Jews throughout the OT, “‘You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.’

       2.      When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, ‘Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him.

       3.      And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And that, beloved, was ministerial success.

       4.      God graciously gave Stephen the martyr’s crown, one of the great rewards in heaven in Luke 6:23.

       5.      Stephen spoke just as Christ spoke when He was dying b/c Christ poured out the same Spirit on him.

       6.      And we too, have become partakers of that one Spirit to live faithfully like Stephen, even unto death!

       7.      Stephen, while being stoned and dying, saw the heavens opened & Lord Jesus standing. He saw His great reward and rejoiced – a death so full of righteousness that the Lord of glory stood! 

       8.      When else were the heavens opened? At Jesus’ baptism, when the Spirit comes down on Him and the Father’s voice thunders, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

       9.      Stephen is basking in this moment of suffering in the Father and the Son’s good pleasure.

J.       Beloved, to be faithful, you will be hated by those who turn away from the truth & turn aside to fables.

       1.      But the wicked’s comforts all end in woe, the woe & curse of hell that the Lord Himself inflicts forever.

       2.      And all the strife and sorrow you now have for Christ will end in blessing and peace, joy and fullness forevermore, ruling and reigning with the Father and Son in His eternal kingdom over all things. 

       3.      So stand fast, endure affliction, May each one of you wholeheartedly serve Christ and His kingdom, receive His rich blessings, and escape His dreadful woes. Let us pray.

Luke 6:27-36 – Love Your Enemies – Sermon Outline

Intro: How do we love those who hate us? Jesus teaches His disciples how to do so. 

Need: Jesus is speaking to His disciples in the context of persecution they will face for faithfulness. 

Theme: Christ’s kingdom ethic of love and mercy.  

 

I.       Treat even your enemies as you want others to treat you. (27-31)

A.      Recall the Context of Jesus words, spoken to His disciples/apostles and the crowds who “hear”.

       1.      Christ is preparing His 12 apostles to take the Gospel, healing and teaching even as He has done.

       2.      Jesus has told them they are blessed by God when they are hated and reviled, now He is going to tell them how they should respond when hated and reviled and persecuted.

       3.      But He says this to all who hear, and so this application is more general/broad/true for each of us.

       4.      Should we return insult for insult, escalating the situation? No, Jesus shows the righteous way to handle those who hate us for Christ’s sake, ultimately laying down His own life for His people’s sins, and praying that God the Father would forgive those who put Him on the cross and hated Him.

       5.      Christ’s apostles especially will have enemies, be hated, and cursed, and ultimately martyred.

       6.      The Apostles must love their enemies, because Christ came to save His enemies, and the Apostles are called into that same work as Christ.

       7.      Indeed, the whole church, each of us, must love our enemies for the sake of Christ and His kingdom.

       8.      But even so, there are limits to this. Jesus in Lk. 9:5 will also tell His apostles to shake off the dust from their feet as a testimony against entire cities that reject them/the gospel of the kingdom.

       9.      If we lose the context of the rest of Scripture, and even the immediate context of this passage, we are going to come up with absurd interpretations of the following verses that would put Christ’s teaching at odds with what He Himself says elsewhere and what the Apostles themselves will later say.

B.      V. 27-29, Loving our enemies and doing good to them is given specific examples to define the “love”.

       1.      We do not return hate with hate, but overcome it with love, expressed in doing good to our enemies when they do bad to us, blessing those who tell us how terrible & stupid we are for being Christians, and praying for those who are taking advantage of us and essentially praying curses over our heads!

       2.      V. 29 shows the mistreatment the early disciples of Christ would face on a regular basis. The “striking” here is not being beaten up, but an insult, perhaps a physical slap but with the intent to humiliate not harm/kill. Mt. 5 uses a different Greek word indicating an open palmed slap/insult.  

       3.      If someone takes your cloak/outer garment, be willing to have your tunic/undergarment taken as well.

       4.      None of this is ruling out self-defense, or telling battered wives to keep taking strikings, etc. Jesus isn’t overturning the eye-for-eye principle. That was a legal/courtroom principle, here we are primarily talking about personal insults and minor situations that don’t need to be taken up legally necessarily.

       5.      Lev. 19:17-18 says Israelites could not hate, take vengeance, or hold grudges against their own people, fellow Israelites, but most love their neighbors as themselves. Jesus is applying OT law.

       6.      The root issue here isn’t the action itself (slapped on the cheek, or having your cloak taken, etc.,) but our heart attitude towards our enemies who insult and seek to take advantage of us.

       7.      This certainly scales up, we must pray like Christ and Stephen, full of the Spirit, that even our executioners would repent and be forgiven by God our Father if the Lord so wills.

       8.      Yet there are times where Jesus fled from being stoned or taken, and He had the unique task of coming in human flesh precisely to atone for human sin. No others, including the Apostles, were tasked with such a horrible calling.

       9.      Paul himself in Acts 22:25 appeals to His Roman citizenship to avoid a flogging from a centurion. He doesn’t apply “turning the other check” or “give your tunic also” to mean, “No don’t only flog me, cut off my head” or “whip me on both the back and the stomach”. See his response to being struck in Acts 23:3-10, the OT law had a rule against speaking evil against its rulers/high priest, Ex. 22:28.

   10.      In Acts 23:3 Paul is upset that he is struck on the cheek, and says God will strike the one who hit him. So we cannot interpret Luke 6, or Romans 13, contrary to how Paul himself behaved.

   11.      Neither Luke 6 nor Romans 13 means we can never resist abuse or tyranny, whether from the individual or the state/government. Neither Jesus nor Paul apply their own words in this fashion.

   12.      Jesus isn’t advocating going in the nude. Ex. 22:26-27 said you cannot keep your neighbor’s garment in a pledge after the sun goes down, because the poor man would need it to sleep in and be warm.

   13.      Jesus is advocating a humility of spirit and heart desire that is willing to be wronged without vindictive retaliation or straining at smaller matters. Matthew Henry puts it well, “Christians must not be litigious; small injuries must be submitted to, and no notice taken of them; and if the injury is such as requires us to seek reparation, it must be for a good end, and without thought of revenge.”  

C.      V. 30-31, The Golden Rule in v. 31 controls how we interpret v. 30.

       1.      “Everyone” here should either be understood as exaggeration, hyperbolic overstatement, or as not only our friends, family, and acquaintances, but even those who are not, even our enemies.

       2.      Not every panhandler who says “give me” should be given to. What if they ask not just for food or money, but your clothing and keys to your car! 2 Ths. 3:10-15 says those who don’t work don’t eat.

       3.      Christians often read passages like this in a nonsensical and frankly illiterate fashion. They look at the letter of the law apart from the context/principle in which the letter is to be applied.

       4.      We should want to be dealt with righteously by other men, and to deal righteously with them as well. If you desire that your neighbor gives you your house and all his belongings, you are covetous!

       5.      Likewise, I would not desire that others give the shirt off their backs to me if I did not need it. If I was in true need, however, I would hope that even my enemies would pity me and clothe my nakedness.

       6.      So when it says “him who takes away your goods do not ask them back” do not apply that in a carte blanche, this applies in every possible scenario fashion.

       7.      V. 34 seems to limit its application to generosity in lending, even to your enemies. But also, if a poor, hungry person steals your hamburger, you don’t need to demand they repay the stolen hamburger.

       8.      Likewise, you don’t need to track them down, slap the burger out of their mouths, and shout in a fit of righteous zeal, “He who does not work shall not eat!”

       9.      If the Roman soldiers mistreated the disciples, or the Sanhedrin/Jewish courts taxed them more heavily or taking personal items out of spite, they must be willing to suffer for righteousness’ sake.

   10.      Heb. 10:34 states that the Christians “joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven”. Notice the context there is extreme persecution for faith in Christ and supporting the author of Hebrews (Paul?) in prison.

   11.      Aiding & abetting the apostles was criminal, like aiding /abetting the truckers in Canada today. If they freeze and seize your bank accounts, rejoice! You just hit the lottery of God’s blessings in heaven.  

   12.      Of course, if other Christians raise funds for you, or there is legal recourse, you may pursue those.

   13.      How we interpret Scripture matters. If God wrote the whole Bible and does not change in essence, then His law/will does not change in essence. There should be no “red letter only” Christians, as if Jesus’ words are more true/holy than the rest. There should be no “NT only” Christians, as if the NT corrects some of the “harshness” of the OT. Scripture must be interpreted in light of all Scripture.

II.       Treat your enemies as your Father treats His & He will greatly bless you (32-36).

A.      Why do we submit to such mistreatment as Christians and even love our enemies who hate us for Christ’s sake? Because we desire Christ’s Kingdom to grow and advance on earth, and the glory of God and His will to be done on the earth above all else, even our financial and physical well-being!

B.      And that love for God above all else, for His glory and kingdom, allows us to, if need be, even lay down our life, not for our enemies so much as for the glory of God and advance of His kingdom/Church.

C.      This is about being like the Father, merciful as He is merciful, perfect as He is perfect, V. 36.

D.      VV. 32-34 show the Triune mercy of God is not like the “mercies” and kindnesses of this wicked world.

       1.      “Credit” as NKJV translates is used 3 times, is the Gk. “Charis”, or grace/mercy. The world might think they are being gracious/merciful because they love their friends, do good to them, and lend so long as they get back what they gave out.

       2.      But Jesus says that is no “credit” or grace and mercy on our part. Even “sinners” do this. This is customary for unbelieving sinners to do this, it’s nothing special/mercy.

       3.      The exceptional, transformative Christian/kingdom ethic is that we do these things even for enemies!

a.       If you have an atheist neighbor that hates your faith and hates your family and your noisy children and the color of your car and how you walk and everything about you, if he was in need and came to you for help, you must help him if you are able.

b.       If his house burnt down in a fire and he escaped with nothing but his life, you should help him raise funds and be the first in line to donate to his fundraiser.

c.       That’s a powerful way to live the gospel, to love our enemies, and to win our neighbors for Christ.

d.       Now, if your atheist neighbor is clearly well off, has brand new cars and boats and is in pristine health, etc., and comes to your house everyday and says, “it’s time for your atheist neighbor to be loved with Christian love, please give me $100”, you are not to give him a dime.

e.       The “asking” & lending of v. 30 & 34 has to be in good faith at some level, & the aim here is at the heart of the Christian, being generous and merciful, giving the benefit of the doubt, but not a call to be utterly defrauded. If your Satanist neighbor can’t pay the light bill & asks for help, help him!

       4.      Paul in I Cor. 6:5 decries the church in Corinth for having to call in the courts to sue a fellow believer.

a.       Paul says that we Christians, the saints, will judge the world, and if so, can’t we judge smaller matters and disputes between ourselves? We will judge angels, so how much more must we be able to judge small things between fellow Christians that come up in this life.

b.       Paul is incredulous that there is not a wise man among the brethren who can judge between his brethren, rather than brother going to law to sue his brother before unbelieving judges!

c.       Paul says in 6:7 it is an utter failure to sue one another, and it is better to accept being wronged, letting yourself be cheated than drag this out into the open world for all to see.

d.       Why? Because it shows division and hatred among the body of Christ, not love, and we are to not only love one another in Christ, but our enemies!

e.       There are times between believers, and before the world, that we must be willing to be defrauded given the particulars of the situation. Wisdom, discernment, & intimate knowledge of God’s Word reveals when/where/how.  

E.      35-36, Loving your enemies is the righteous fruit of the Spirit that shows you are sons of the Most High

       1.      Lk. 1:32 also refers to Jesus as Son of the Most High, showing loving our enemies is how Christ Himself came and evidenced that He was the Son of the Most High, His (and our) heavenly Father.

       2.      God the Father is “kind”, good and merciful, even to the unthankful and to the evil. And not just the unthankful and evil that will be converted eventually and prove to be elect, but also the reprobate.

       3.      Even those in hell cannot deny that God showed them something of His kindness in this life on earth.

       4.      For Christ’s apostles and disciples gathered before Him, he’s showing them that the world will know the Church and its people by its love, or lack thereof. That’s true of how we love one another in the body of Christ, which is hard enough for us, but its further true of how we love unbelievers/enemies.

       5.      Do we really believe that lending to our enemies for nothing in return will be blessed by God?

F.      God Himself is our example of love & mercy. He is kind to those who hate His kindness & live evil lives.

       1.      The parallel in Mt. 5:45 says He causes the wicked’s crops to grow just as He does the just, and gives rain and sunshine to all alike. This is a mercy of God. It isn’t deserved, and we too in treating even our enemies so kindly aren’t giving them what they deserve.

       2.      This isn’t a call to social justice, but mercy. We are required to be merciful, because our Father in heaven is merciful, & we must be like Him. But we can’t confuse a required mercy with demands of justice from social justice warriors, whether they cry from inside or outside the Church.

       3.      God gives mercy freely, His grace is unmerited, but we are the image of God, and must extend mercy because we are to be like God whom we must reflect. God does it by nature, we by image.

       4.      Our obligation resides in being like God/Christ, not in some inherent deserving of mankind, or because they demand we supply their every need and whim at every moment.

G.     But God’s mercy has its limits. Unrepentant enemies burn in hell under the foot of His Son/people.

       1.      God raised up Pharaoh to humiliate him, to send plagues on him and his people, reversing the normal kindness/mercy of causing the sun to shine and rain to fall on the just/unjust alike.

       2.      The atheist neighbor who descends into an individual tyrant is not to be lent to such that now we are defrauding our own wife and children by having nothing to clothe, shelter, and feed them with.

       3.      When the government crosses the threshold from being overreaching and taxing too much, into outright tyranny and oppression of its people, the people have a God-given right to no longer be generous, merciful, compliant, “love their enemies” by being enslaved & raped by its government.

       4.      It is not always clear when an individual or a collective entity such as an employer or government crosses that threshold, but we must recognize that there is one and Scripture bears this out.

H.      Consider differences over mask and vaccine mandates for Covid.

       1.      I hate this garbage. Just the same, I reluctantly comply to wearing a mask if/when it is absolutely necessary, usually after not wearing one to see if someone will actually enforce the rule.

       2.      If they do, I put it on. But submitting to forced injections from a government that has proven itself nefarious and hateful of its own people, for such a thin premise as Covid-19, is plain tyranny.

       3.      There’s a big difference between turning the other cheek, giving your tunic as well as your cloak, lending without expecting in return, on the one hand, and submitting to your 5th booster shot that has been shown to cause seizures, heart attacks, strokes, and other side effects that can literally kill you, not to mention the long-term effects such as cancer that some are suggesting will occur.

       4.      Representative government, our constitution, & civil disobedience give many righteous ways to resist tyranny. May God help us to love our enemies without hating our families, friends, and God.

Luke 6:37-42 – Love Your Enemies – Sermon Outline

Intro: Some Christian’s life verse is “judge not”, used to deflect critiques of their lifestyle.   

Need: Jesus teaches a standard of generosity in our judgments and giving that avoids hypocrisy.

Theme: Christ’s kingdom ethic of love and mercy.  

 

I.       Generosity towards others yields generosity from others. (37-38)

A.      Luke’s pattern of clustering his points in groups of fours:

       1.      We have four blessings/blessed states in Lk. 6:20-22, four woes in vv. 24-26, four duties to love our enemies in vv. 27-28, another set of fours in turning the cheek/offer your tunic/give to everyone/do not ask back in vv. 29-30. The principle is found in 6:31, “Just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise (the golden rule). Vv. 32-35 follow a similar repetition, again giving the principle at the end in v. 36, “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”

       2.      In vv. 37-38 we essentially have the same four-fold example/repetition of judge not/condemn not/forgive/ & give. The principle is to do these four things generously, & you’ll get generosity back.

B.      Given how this is misunderstood so often, let’s examine Christ is saying to do, and what not to do.

       1.      False teaching comes through twisting Scripture, and this text has been twisted tremendously in our generation. Indeed, the “blind” of v. 39 indicates the Pharisees twisted these principles in Jesus’ day.

       2.      To say that these verses mean that Christians should not judge others, or themselves, in any sense, is utter foolishness and reveals a deep illiteracy in general, and especially of reading Scripture.

       3.      If we connect this with verse 36 from last Sunday, we see that we are to be merciful in our judgments, condemnations, forgiveness, and giving, generously giving the benefit of the doubt, etc.

       4.      When we do so, we will not be harshly judged, condemned, unforgiven, or taken away from as a rule.

       5.      John 7:24 says to NOT judge “according to appearance” but to “judge with righteous judgment,” and the context there was more disputes over the Sabbath day. It “appeared” to have been a disregard for the Sabbath by Christ, but upon closer inspection, it was Sabbath-keeping by doing good/healing.

       6.      If your judgments are always expecting & looking for the worst in someone, you will be judged critically as well. So don’t have that judgmental/critical spirit, it’s sin and rebuked here by Christ.

       7.      We must not be naïve in our judgments, but we don’t want to be gossips, busybodies, nosy, and stir up needless trouble based on bad assumptions. If we avoid judging in this way, Christ is emphatic that we will likewise not be judged harshly/unfairly. οὐ μὴ is used, most emphatic negation in Greek. 

C.      Judge & Condemn are essentially the same, Condemn more particular/pronouncing guilt on others.

       1.      A judgment is one thing, a condemnation is really a step further. When we condemn/accuse, our mind is made up and we likely speak against the one we are condemning. Be slow to condemn!

       2.      If we make a wrong judgment about someone in our mind, that’s bad enough, but if we pass from the mind to the lips to mistakenly condemn an innocent person, we do far worse.

       3.      To have others vocally condemning us, pressing charges against us, seeking our ruin for crimes we did not commit, is far worse than someone simply despising us in their hearts/minds.

       4.      We must be careful how we judge others, and especially careful before we condemn one another.

       5.      The verdict on our life is not passed until the final judgment when our life is ended. The Apostles listening would need to apply this in church discipline. Not every sin or error committed should result in church discipline or condemnation. If that weren’t the case, we’d all be excommunicated!

D.      Forgiving grievances and giving generously yields your grievances forgiven and generosity toward you.

       1.      “Forgive” is not the word used to speak of forgiveness of sins, but rather idea is to let go/put away.

       2.      This could have in view forgiveness of a debt or petty crime, it’s also used to speak of putting away one’s wife in divorce. It’s the same word used when Jesus sends the crowds away from Him, and when Barabbas was released from custody instead of Jesus Christ.

       3.      If we compare this with v. 38, the command to “give”, we could see this as being the other side of that, to forgive quickly when others are not able to pay us back/give to us.

       4.      Remember that God Himself only forgives the penitent; we cannot forgive the unrepentant.

       5.      We should seek reconciliation, calling to repentance & desiring to then forgive them, but it is a self-deception to “forgive” someone when the breach is still there and not healed by repentance.

       6.      Whether we are forgiving others’ financial debts or sin debts against us, we must do this wisely and not apply Jesus’ words in a foolish fashion, as if we can never demand repayment for sums of money or must forgive sins even when the sinner refuses to repent and stop sinning against us (70X7).

       7.      “Give” in v. 38 is the same word used in 6:30. Notice in v. 30 there is the one who takes away our goods and we are not to ask for them again, but here in v. 38 we are told that as we give, we shall be given too generously as well. The implication again is that we are to give generously, not stingily.

       8.      When we do so, our fellow man will often return the favor, but God Himself certainly will, usually even in this life and certainly in glory.

E.      “Good measure,” “pressed down” and given in your bosom shows abundant blessings for generosity.

       1.      Kids, you know when you buy a bag of chips and its mostly air and few chips? Jesus is saying the opposite here. When you give generously, the bag of chips will be overflowing, pressed down but not broken, shaken together so they settle into the bag compactly, then running out over the top.

       2.      Now if we generously give to others, God assures us that we will be given back to generously also.

a.       This may be giving of our time, words, meals, hospitality, food, skills, etc.

b.       Whatever we give, give it well, give it gladly and to the best of our ability, not begrudgingly and reluctantly, and then we will know that God rewards us by the same measure.

       3.      The word “measure” used here, μέτρον, is an instrument for measuring, determining the quantity of both dry and liquid things. It could also be a measuring rod/stick.

a.       It’s also used of the measure of the Spirit that Christ pours out differently on each believer, and can be used in terms of God’s judgment for our lives/sin, etc.

b.       This is all about measurements, the Christian ethic/principle to love our neighbor and indeed our enemies well, with far greater generosity, kindness, compassion, & mercy than the world does.

       4.      But what of having this good measure “put into your bosom”? Is this a warm feeling in your heart?

a.       No, the Jews and others of that time wore loose garments, and would literally use the loose hanging parts to form a pouch of sorts to hold/carry things.

b.       So if someone needs to borrow some flour, don’t give them just barely enough for what they are making, give them more than enough, & then you will be given back more than enough in return.

c.       I don’t really bake or cook much other than breakfast, but I can imagine if I went to my neighbor and said I needed 10 eggs to scramble for my kids for breakfast, and he gave me a carton with an even dozen and said keep the extra eggs, I’d know he was glad to give to me.

d.       If he started saying, “Are you sure you need ten, that’s quite a few eggs and your kids are pretty small and will probably won’t eat all their eggs anyway” then I’d rather just forget I even asked for eggs and take the time to get some at the store and have my kids wait a bit longer for breakfast.

e.       Don’t be stingy like that. Give generously. Of course, if you have no eggs to give, or had already planned a big omelete breakfast for your own kids, it may be best to apologize and inform the neighbor asking for eggs. Or perhaps you do give the eggs and make other food for your family.

f.         These types of things will be determined on a case-by-case basis and no one can look at our text here and say that it demands we do one or the other. Wisdom must apply these principles that Christ is giving His people. But this text is talking about day-to-day living, not some radical event.

II.       Generosity is impossible for those blind to Christ/God’s Word. (39-42)

A.      VV. 39-40, If your teacher is blind, you are blind, and you’re both going down a bad path/ditch.

       1.      Jesus in Mt. 15:14 says that the Pharisees “are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” Now, who especially thought they were law-keeping, righteous before God, and superior, and yet were anything but? It was the Pharisees who were not generous at all.  

       2.      They were unmerciful, exacting, demanding, withholding charity and refusing to take care of the poor, even their own family, in some misguided and selfish pursuit of service to God/paying the temple. 

       3.      The Pharisees and scribes were the religious teachers of the Jews/God’s covenant people, and so if one were following them, they would be perfectly trained by them. But that’s bad news, because now they will be as blind as the Pharisees are and lead into disaster.

       4.      But Jesus is contrasting Himself as the True Rabbi/Teacher to be followed, over against the Pharisees and other false teachers, and is calling His disciples to follow His commandments, His interpretation of the OT law, and His message about the coming of God’s kingdom.

B.      VV. 41-42, The Pharisees and those following their teaching are blinded, ultimately, but their own sin.

       1.      The Pharisees were great at spotting specks in their brother’s eyes but not seeing the log in their own. Jesus lambasts the Pharisees in Matthew 23, railing against their foolish blindness in 23:16-26:

       2.      “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.

       3.      “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.”

       4.      But the Pharisees aren’t present while Jesus is speaking. The warning shot is aimed at the “hypocrites” of His own disciples! Each of us can be hypocrites like the Pharisees.

       5.      Being a hypocrite and Pharisee isn’t being a serious Christian that takes sin seriously. The Pharisees didn’t take sin seriously enough. They lowered God’s law and then boasted that they kept it. Jesus said if your righteousness does not EXCEED the scribes/Pharisees, you won’t enter God’s kingdom.

       6.      The Pharisees had large logs of sin in their eyes, but thought they were so holy they could concern themselves with specks of sin in others. Do you have the same issue? Then repent of your hypocrisy.

C.      Jesus’ teaching calls for removing our sin planks first in order to then love others well with their specks.

       1.      Learn from the true Master Teacher, Jesus Christ, & His Word, & apply it first & foremost to yourself.

       2.      Examine your own heart, motives, sins, repent and confess them, do not have any glaring weaknesses and planks and blindness in your life; then, well-versed in applying God’s Word to yourself to discover your faults, you can then seek, in love, to apply God’s Word to fellow Christians.

       3.      But nobody wants a diet plan from someone who weighs 500 pounds. Nobody wants a pastor telling them how to live and raise their kids if he is living in immorality and his household is in shambles and children are living in scandalous sin.

       4.      This all requires discernment, wise application of principles and standards that Christ is setting.

       5.      Jesus is not saying, as some in faux humility argue, that we can never have the plank removed from our eye, and therefore we can never judge the speck that is in our brother’s eye.

       6.      No, get out your beams so that then, with some discernment applied to your own life, you can in fact inspect and help others grow as well. This also teaches us that the logs of sin in our life blind our perceptions and lead us to meddle in others’ affairs without sound judgment at all, like the Pharisees.

III.       CONCLUSION: Generosity as defined by Christ is a kingdom ethic and Christian virtue.

A.      Strive to be generous in your day-to-day dealings with others, as Christ has been generous to us.

B.      Be hardest on your sins and repent of them, as the Holy Spirit works in your heart to open your eyes to God’s truth and your sin.

C.      Then help others see their sin, knowing that you yourself are a sinner that must fight sin daily. 

 

Luke 6:43-49 – Fault Lines, Floodwaters, & the Rock– Sermon Outline

Intro: What we say and what we do reveals who we are. Our nation and churches are going through the greatest shakeup in our lifetime. The fault lines are still forming, revealing enemies & even dividing friends.

Need: How do we proceed as Christians in this tumultuous time? First, Remember Christ is the rock who brought the most tumultuous time when He rebuked sinners and declared Himself the Way, Truth, & Life. As the Jewish King arrived, the Jewish began to end, the fault lines formed as the ground shook and the veil to the temple was torn asunder as Christ’s flesh was torn to open the living way to God Himself in glory.

 

So cheer up! Things have been crazier than they are today. Jesus was crucified, the apostles were martyred, Nero lit Christians on fire for his garden parties, and many in the Church denied the faith to avoid such persecution, even betraying true believers, turning them over to the authorities to save their own skin.

 

What does any of this have to do with our text? It has everything to do with our text. If we are in Christ, we are not blind! We have eyes to see and ears to hear. The preceding verses called us to remove the plank from our own eye to see the speck in our brother’s eye. If we can discern specks once we deal with our logs, we can see the logs in others as well as the specks. And how do we do so? By fruit inspection. We will know ourselves, our friends and family, our church neighbors, by their fruits. Can you tell the difference between a fig and a thorn? Then you can discern something of the heart of men by the fruit of their words and actions. “For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks, v. 45. Is someone saying Lord, Lord? Then see if they practice what they preach. For some call upon the Lord but do not do what He says, v. 46.

 

The fault lines shifting forming the earthquakes we are facing today in the world and in our churches is like the rising floodwaters beating against our houses in vv. 48-49. We are about to find out if we and others are built on the rock of Jesus Christ and His words, putting them to action and not just writing them in academic journals on paper. Some will not even be shaken, while others will fall quickly and be greatly ruined.

 

Voddie Baucham writes in the opening of his excellent book Fault Lines:

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a forty-six-year-old black man, was arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit bill at a Minneapolis store. He died as a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes to subdue him. As a result, nearly eight thousand protests—many of them violent—rocked 2,500 cities from coast to coast for four months.

[This] event [and others], combined with subsequent calls to defund the police—some of which passed—showed many Christians for the first time the shakiness within our culture and underscored it for the rest.

But this fault line is not new. It has been quietly forming underneath our feet for a long time around the area of social justice, and the Church must be awake and aware of what it means and where it comes from. Otherwise, we will fall victim to it—as many leading Christian voices already have. Why are people and groups like Thabiti Anyabwile, Tim Keller, Russell Moore, the Southern Baptist Convention, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, 9Marks, the Gospel Coalition, & Together for the Gospel (T4G) being identified with Critical Social Justice on one side of the fault, & people like John MacArthur, Tom Ascol, Owen Strachan, Douglas Wilson, & the late R.C. Sproul being identified on the other?

 

It is not a stretch to say we are seeing seismic shifts in the evangelical landscape. But is it an exaggeration to call this a coming catastrophe? I don’t think so. John MacArthur calls it the greatest threat to the Gospel in his lifetime—and he had a front-row seat to the debates over both inerrancy and lordship salvation.”

 

So while these are dark days, I have good news for you all. If you have been building your life on the rock that is Christ, He is a rock that cannot shift, cannot be shaken, cannot be torn asunder, cannot be moved. All who are built on Him will stand with Him in the last day and judge the world with Him. On Christ the solid rock we stand, all other ground is sinking sand. And so our sermon theme is:

 

Theme: Upon Christ the Rock we weather life’s trials by word & deed.

 

I.       Our words are fruit that reveal our heart (43-45)

A.      Trees and their fruit correspond to our hearts and their words.

       1.      The heart is the seat of our affection, the root of our souls/being. This is the tree.

       2.      If our soul/heart is good, it will produce savory fruit of our lips/words.

       3.      It cannot be otherwise. Healthy trees produce tasty fruit, unhealthy trees rotten fruit. If we are good/healthy/renewed in our souls, we will produce fruit in our words that evidences such.

       4.      V. 44, every tree is known by its fruit, therefore we will know the heart of ourselves and others by the fruit of our words. James says to tame the tongue is to tame the whole person, it is a great and unruly evil that defiles the whole person, and James says this in the context of few becoming teachers.

       5.      Now this isn’t easy, James also says with our mouth we both bless and curse and this should not be. But the pattern of speech and words and teaching over time reveals the heart, the affections and knowledge of a person.

       6.      You can’t get figs from thorns, the person is not partly regenerate and partly unregenerate.

a.       Recall that the curse for Adam/man’s sin at the Fall included that the ground will be cursed and produce much thorns and thistles. Persons can be known by the fruit of their life. If they are producing thorns an thistles as bramble bushes, they are cursed, unregenerate sinners.

b.       We cannot determine these things infallibly, but we are called to exercise wise judgment.

c.       Christ took the crown of thorns on His head as a curse for us, so we who are in Christ, having removed the beam of sin from our own eye, can tell over time by one’s words where their heart is.

B.      V. 45, Mt. 7:15 shows this especially applies to false teachers/wolves in sheep’s clothing in the Church.   

       1.      In Matt. 7:15 it says to beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. How do we know the difference between a sheep and a wolf in sheep’s clothing? By their fruit, both their actions and their words.

       2.      Do they line up in service to Christ and His kingdom, following God’s law and loving God and neighbor as themselves? Or do they play the victim, twist God’s Word, and gratify their rebellion?

       3.      Remember, Jesus is saying this after choosing His 12 Apostles, but He isn’t saying this just to them.

a.       A crowd of other disciples are there, as well as those who are not yet His disciples but just came to hear Him and be healed. Such discernment of wolves in sheep clothing is the prerogative of all!

b.       But today, I regret to inform you, in conservative Presbyterian churches, an actual minister who dares to call a false teacher a wolf in sheep’s clothing will receive church discipline more swiftly than the actual wolf/false teacher.

C.      In fact I have yet to see the PCA discipline Greg Johnson, or the OPC discipline Aimee Byrd.

       1.      But a faithful minister in the OPC at the time, Michael Spangler, was admonished and formally rebuked for calling Aimee Byrd a wolf, some said only the presbytery has a right to say such.

       2.      Yet we are told in our text, explicitly in the Matthew text and implicitly here, that wolves are known by their fruit, and Aimee Byrd had plenty of bad fruit for years. But men like the distinguished Carl Trueman platformed her, she was embraced by the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, etc.

       3.      They have not yet admitted their error head on, and so anyone who decries Aimee Byrd apart from a formal presbytery meeting is a bad guy, a renegade, someone who is acting like a pope.

       4.      Well I say the presbyteries have become the actual “pope-byteries”! And may God bless the few good ministers who spoke up about this when their conservative colleagues would not.

       5.      Some ministers this week have bristled at my sharp rebukes of Trueman’s bad teaching.

a.       In essence, he said that, although he would not personally agree with someone wanting preferred names or pronouns that contradict their gender, it was okay to call someone by their preferred name even though it contradicted their gender, but calling someone their preferred pronoun was a bridge too far. The context was doing this in the workplace, perhaps to save your job/not get fired.

b.       I sharply disagreed and said this man was not guiding us well on these issues, even while being treated like a guru. At least one minister misconstrued me initially, thinking I was saying Carl Trueman himself was a false teacher/wolf, when I only said that of Aimee Byrd & Greg Johnson.

c.       This reveals a fault line. It seems that any critique of a fellow conservative is looked at as denouncing that conservative in every way, shape, and form. But that is not so.

D.      Not every necessary fault line that is between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan.

       1.      Fault lines are forming between those who are in the same denomination, between ministers who will in the end enter the kingdom of God together as brothers in Christ.

       2.      It is most painful when your own family, Reformed Presbyterian fathers & brothers, turn on you because they believe in some way or another you are turning on them or acting out of line.

       3.      The disagreements have much to do with our text, who and how is fruit to be examined?

       4.      Something seemingly so small can wreak a lot of havoc, allowing false teachers to go unchecked, causing division between godly brothers, churches, denominations.

a.       If there is some comfort, there might be a loose parallel to Paul and Barnabas’s disagreement in Acts 15, where Barnabas wanted to continue ministering and take with him his cousin Mark, but Paul refused because Mark had left them earlier in their ministry to the various churches.

b.       Such a seemingly small division caused such great contention that it split up Paul and Barnabas.

c.       In Acts 13:2, the Holy Spirit Himself spoke and said to the church in Antioch that Barnabas and Saul/Paul must be set apart among the other prophets and teachers that were there “for the work to which I have called them”.

d.       The Holy Spirit called both men, they were full of the Spirit as they were ordained/had hands laid on them, yet they had such a sharp disagreement they had to shortly split up from one another.

e.       Paul took Silas and went one way, Barnabas took Mark and went another, Acts 15:39.

f.         But both continued laboring for the kingdom of God, and in Col. 4:10 we see evident reconciliation as Paul writes saying that Mark the cousin of Barnabas greets the Colossians, and Paul even says that if Mark comes to them, to welcome him.

g.       Sometimes family members have doctrinal changes that divide and create fault lines, rifts in relationships, even though both may ultimately be regenerate Christians on the way to heaven.

h.       So we must not see every “fault line” as a divide between heaven and hell.

i.         But what we must NOT do is cease judging ourselves and others, with love/charity, by their words and conduct, by whether or not they are bearing the fruit of the Spirit in their words and deeds.

II.       Our actions are buildings that reveal our foundation. (46-49)

A.      And yet, in v. 46, we see that even righteous words alone do not make someone a true Christian.

       1.      I recall thinking as long as my high school friends said they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior that they were saved, no matter what foundation their actions showed them to be building on.

       2.      V. 46, the word BUT shows this sharp contrast between the words revealing the abundance of the heart, and yet those coming to Christ call Him Lord but don’t submit to His Lordship in their life.

       3.      Jesus says even if you come to Me and hear what I am saying, that isn’t sufficient. You must come to Me truly, hear me truly, and that is shown by doing the things that I say to do.

       4.      Because if you do, then you have good treasure in your heart, and that good heart treasure will be opened up and poured out in your words and deeds.

       5.      Jesus in Mt. 15:8-9 says of the scribes and Pharisees, quoting from Isaiah, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.

       6.      He goes on to tell the multitude that what really defiles a man is what comes out of his mouth, not what is eaten and goes into his stomach. When even Peter is confused by this, Jesus elaborates that what comes out of our lips comes from the heart and defiles a man when it is wicked.

       7.      “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man.”

B.      How this relates to Evangelical & Reformed/Presbyterian circles today: Greg Johnson and Aimee Byrd.

       1.      Greg Johnson is a practicing effeminate man, who looks and talks like a homosexual and calls himself a “gay but celibate” Christian. His lifestyle and actions betray his attempt at biblical words.

       2.      He does this though as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, with subtle twists of God’s Word to try to make himself sound closer to orthodoxy/biblical faithfulness than he really is.

       3.      Aimee Byrd has recently left the OPC, but is promoted as a female teacher and is basically now a protégé of Beth Moore. She tried to claim sound Reforme theology for years, but her actions and playing the victim card, her lifestyle, showed she was not building on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

       4.      Some think she will fully apostatize, or what is sometimes popularly but weakly called deconstructing today, but I think it is more likely she will turn to Roman Catholicism or something similar and continue her path toward feminine mysticism.

       5.      Women in the OPC have been deceived by her and continue to praise her books and videos, saying Byrd is their true teacher and decrying how she has allegedly been the “victim” of so many bad OPC men, even though many of these weak ministers rushed to her defense on her own personal blog when her false teaching was firmly being ridiculed and denounced.

       6.      But our denominations have failed to lovingly exercise church discipline, and the damage has been done by each of these false teachers. Their words and deeds betrayed them if we only paid attention.

       7.      And so these wolves have feasted and devoured many souls, and continue to do so.

       8.      PCA and OPC ministers today often seem to glory in how slow things move in church courts. Shame!

       9.      Byrd and Johnson now openly support one another, and men like Jemar Tisby and other race hustlers that have been promoted by men like Ligon Duncan continue to ravage Christ’s Church.   

C.      Remember we were called to remove planks from our eyes first. That’s half the battle.

       1.      We are also called to help others with their specks out of love.

       2.      Eph. 4:11ff. tells us that Christ gave some to be pastors and teachers to us so that we can have unity of faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, so that “we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” We are in this together.

D.      V. 47-48, If one does the sayings of Jesus beginning back in v. 20, He is built on the firm foundation of Christ and His good words, the good fruit of His lips, the best fruit that there can be, the words of life welling up from the pure heart/being of the divine Man who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

       1.      The natural link between words and actions are shown in Jesus saying to do what He says.

       2.      Do we hunger and thirst for Christ’s righteousness even to our own hurt before our fellow man?

       3.      Do we rejoice at righteous persecution, or shrink back in faithfulness when the going gets tough, when the fissures start to form and we think we might break?

       4.      Do we heed God’s woes and refuse to trust in uncertain earthly riches and speak kind and easy words so that the world or even our conservative religious establishment will like us and keep us in their conferences and groups?

       5.      Do we pray for those with whom we differ, whether they be an ally or an enemy?

       6.      Are we willing to bear with one another and not return insult for insult but overcome evil with good?

       7.      Are we judging others justly and fairly, rather than harshly or even naively uncritically?

E.      Christ encourages those who have come out to Him, and tells them that if you indeed do heed my voice and have good hearts to do my will, your blessings will be great.

       1.      The storms of life shall come, even like the storms and fault lines we are facing today, and they won’t circumvent you, they won’t avoid you. God doesn’t promise that.

       2.      No, rather, He promises that you will weather the storm, beaten but not shaken as it were!

       3.      You’ll survive and thrive not because you are the rock, but because you are founded on the rock.

       4.      You have dug down deep, or rather God has dug you and your heart down deep and united it to Christ Himself. He and His teachings are unshakeable bedrock.

       5.      Ps. 18:46, The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation.”

       6.      Isa. 26:4, “Trust in the LORD forever, for in Yah, the LORD, is everlasting strength.”

       7.      The Church is built up on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus being the cornerstone, Eph. 2:20.

       8.      I Cor. 3:11, “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

       9.      So may we all say with King David in Ps. 18, when the LORD delivered him from Saul and all his enemies, “I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.”

F.      Christ warns those who have come out to Him, that if they do not heed His voice they do not have Him as foundation, and they will be utterly destroyed when the storms of life come their way.

       1.      The first thing laid for a new house is a foundation. Ask me how I know.

       2.      Nothing can properly be built without a foundation, and without a firm foundation at that.

       3.      We are all building something in our lives, and you have all heard God’s Word.

       4.      Are you building your life on it, or are you building on your own sinful desires, beliefs, and pleasures?

       5.      Only Christ’s words in Scripture, only the Bible can guide and direct us down the path of righteousness that can withstand the storms that have come and are continuing to pelt our nation, government, and churches.

       6.      Those who fall are those who failed to live out and apply God’s Word personally in their lives.

       7.      You can hear and know God’s words, you can be a scholar and write helpful things about God’s Word and even diagnose our current cultural moment quite well, but if you do not yourself practice these principles you uncover consistently, you will just be a fancy house built only partially on the foundation, and when the trials come, when the woke mob comes, you’ll fold like a cheap suit.

       8.      None of us are perfectly built up on Christ and His foundation, we all have sin and compromise to repent of, pastors and laypersons alike. We must keep building one another up in Christ.

       9.      If you aren’t in Christ at all, you’ll deny the Lord and incur greater wrath and woes from Him. Indeed, “the ruin of that house,” your house, your life’s work and your life itself, will be great.

III.       CONCLUSION: May we at Heritage build on Christ the solid Rock, standing firm & living faithfully.

A.      May we love one another and lead our families in the ways of Christ, in the light of His Holy Word, practicing what we are preaching, living and loving as we pray and teach.

B.      And in God’s kindness, as we bring out the good treasure of our heart into the storms of this life, may this Church, this house of God stand, and thrive, and may many come join and worship Christ the living God, the Rock that is high and lifted up with us.

C.      May we setup that Ebenezer stone, that stone of help, in our worship and praise to the Lord for delivering us from our modern day Philistines, as Samuel did when the Lord was his rock of help in his day. May our mouths speak only what is good and true, the pleasant truths and the hard truths, and may we hear the words of the Lord and do it, building on His firm foundation so that the fault lines and floodwaters do not overthrow us. Let us pray.

Luke 7:1-10 – Faith that Amazes Jesus – Sermon Outline

Intro: There is a faith that is greater than moving mountains, the faith that marvels and moves Jesus.

Need: Our faith can’t control Christ, but this Centurion’s faith did lead Jesus to marvel & grant his request.

Theme: Characteristics of the Centurion’s faith that marveled Jesus:

 

                1.      Sought Jesus’ help for his sick servant whom he dearly loved. (1-2)

                2.      Secured the Jewish Elders’ aid in appealing to the Jewish Jesus. (3)

                3.      Spoke for him as the Jewish Elders told Jesus of his good deeds. (4-5) 

                4.      Signaled understanding of Jesus’ holiness and his unworthiness. (6-7a) 

                5.      Showed he believed Jesus could heal his servant effortlessly. (7b-8)

                6.      Satisfied Jesus and supplied for his urgent need (9-10).

I.       Sought Jesus’ help for his sick servant whom he dearly loved. (1-2)

A.      Capernaum’s impenitence a sharp contrast to this Centurion’s repentant faith that seeks Jesus:

       1.      Matt. 4:13 tells us that Jesus lived in Capernaum. Much of His ministry takes place in this region.

       2.      On the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, near where Jesus chose Peter, James, Andrew, John.

       3.      Matthew reminds us that Jesus preaching here fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy that God’s people in this area who are in darkness would receive a great light, the Light of Christ Himself and His word.

       4.      After Jesus sends out His apostles then appoints 70 others to go two by two into every city that He would soon enter, Jesus cries “Woe!” on the impenitent cities, including Capernaum. Lk. 10:15 says they who “are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades” b/c Capernaum refuse to repent.

a.       Think back to the woes of Luke 6:20-26; this will be applied on a city by city scale.

b.       Individuals, families, neighborhoods, cities, states, nations must all repent & turn to the living God.

       5.      Despite the general wickedness and impenitence of Capernaum that will lead to God’s woes coming upon them, we see the exceptional Centurion and his faith that leads to Christ’s rich blessings.

a.       We saw in last Sunday’s sermon that our words are fruit that reveal our hearts, & our actions are buildings that reveal our foundation. The Centurion embodies righteous words & actions.

b.       A soldier who serves not for the Roman kingdom & army ultimately, but for the coming kingdom of God in Christ, by loving Israel and building a synagogue for them to read and pray in.

B.      Jesus speaking to the large crowds is now contrasted with “a certain centurion’s” dear, sick servant.

       1.      “Dear” is translated as “precious” in I Pet. 2:4, 6; as the Son is precious to God the Father, so the centurion’s servant was precious, highly treasured, and cared for.

       2.      This tender affection speaks well of the Centurion. He has many soldiers, 100, under his command.

       3.      Yet his affection extends to even his lowly servant, “doulos” which is also translated as slave, who Mt. 8:6 says was paralyzed and suffering terribly. His compassion led to his faith-filled action.

       4.      This also shows that even a Gentile’s slave can be healed by Jesus who was sent for the Jews.

II.       Secured the Jewish Elders’ aid in appealing to the Jewish Jesus. (3)

A.      The centurion wasn’t a hearer only, but a doer of God’s Word.

       1.      He had faith, at least enough to recognize Jesus had divine power to heal, and acted on that faith.

       2.      He also had wisdom, knowing that the Jewish elders could make a stronger appeal to Jesus than he.

       3.      Others have noted that for a Jew/Jesus to approach/touch a Gentile would make the Jew unclean.

       4.      So the centurion wisely, in faith, sends the Jewish elders whom he is on good terms with to Jesus.

       5.      Through the elders, the Centurion pleads with Jesus to answer his need for his sick servant.

B.      Likewise, when we or someone we love needs urgent help, we should seek it from God in prayer.

       1.      James 5 and other Scriptures show we should pray for one another, and even have the church elders come to pray for the desperately sick/infirm.

       2.      This shows the whole body of Christ, the under-shepherds as well as the sheep, turning in faithful prayer to God through Christ by the power of the Spirit, imploring Him to heal, deliver, help, save.

III.       Spoke as the Jewish Elders vouched for him & persuaded Jesus. (4-6a) 

A.      This Centurion was likely a “God-fearer”, following the moral law of Scripture but did not become a Jew.

       1.      Thus the Jewish elders knew of this man’s faith and piety and were eager and willing to beseech Jesus for him. They don’t ask half-heartedly but earnestly beg. May we pray thus for each other!

       2.      V. 4, “deserving” is often translated worthy, and the word is thrust forward in the sentence in the Greek to underscore its importance. The centurion will show his humility by not claiming to be worthy.

       3.      He, a Roman soldier with a sick servant, is not a sufficient person with a sufficient/worthy need that Christ should turn from the crowds to minister to just one lowly Gentile’s servant.

       4.      Such humble faith will amaze Jesus and He is moved to heal without even going to the Centurion.

       5.      But as the Scriptures say, let others praise you, and not yourself. The Centurions’ words and actions had already spoken for him to the Jewish elders. They now vouch for him before the Jewish King.

B.      This foreigner, this Roman soldier, loved the people of Israel and had built them a synagogue.

       1.      V. 5, “Nation” is the Gk. word ethnos, where we get the word ethnicity, etc.

       2.      I guess this Roman soldier was repenting of His Romish privilege and supremacy and serving the despised, lowly Jewish people. But truly, healthy governments support the nation/church of God.

C.      We see how blessings come from God to those that love Him & His people with their words & deeds.

       1.      For the Jewish elder’s testimony of the Centurion’s worthiness persuade Jesus to turn aside to heal His servant, and not disregard him as an unclean dog or uncircumcised Philistine.

       2.      Prv. 22:1, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.” Be like the centurion, where even those who aren’t natural allies go to great lengths to help us.

       3.      This is only possible if we have a good name with our neighbors and friends, being neighborly first.

IV.       Signaled understanding of Jesus’ holiness and his unworthiness. (6b-7a) 

A.      Remember, we just saw Jesus speaking to the great crowds and multitudes, giving lofty and lengthy sermons, yet He is now willing to turn aside to help a centurion soldier at the behest of his friends.

       1.      Would that our most popular pastors today would do the same, and actually shepherd the sheep personally rather than ignore their needs or send a hired hand to do the hard work of ministry.

       2.      Jesus was sent for the lost sheep of Israel, but here He is willing to extend His ministerial boundaries for this faithful Centurion. But today pastors often chase after those who are not their sheep with internet ministries, conferences, etc., while starving the sheep the Lord has actually put in their care.

B.      The centurion was the first to be amazed when word got to him that Jesus was actually coming!

       1.      Now further reflection and perhaps shame seems to be impressed upon him.

       2.      He wanted Jesus to help, but now that He is, the centurion senses even more fully his unworthiness.

       3.      He didn’t think he was worthy to come to Jesus, and realizes how much more he is unworthy for Jesus to come to him. It is just his servant, and Jesus is so powerful and glorious, it would be best if Jesus just said the words, if He is willing to heal the servant, and that would suffice to heal him.

V.       Showed he believed Jesus could heal his servant effortlessly. (7b-8)

A.      Despite sensing his unworthiness, the Centurion sees the Lord’s mercy in coming to him.

       1.      His amazing faith is seen in that he says to Jesus, “Don’t bother coming, you can heal by speaking.”

       2.      Jesus often laid hands or did other gestures showing His power to heal, but this man knows none of those are necessary, not even Jesus’ physical presence. He is the Word made flesh, the eternal Word that spoke the world into being. If He can create the world with His word, He can heal sickness.

B.      V. 8, The Centurion likely didn’t grasp all that, but he did grasp the supremacy of Jesus Christ.

       1.      He had superiors and carried out their orders, and subordinates who did his bidding.

       2.      All that is necessary is a word. “Go,” and the soldier goes, or “come” and he comes. “Do this, & it is.”

       3.      The Centurion has faith to know that Jesus is the ultimate commander. Whatever He speaks is done!

       4.      So whatever quick word of command Jesus has for healing, use it, and it will be done. Jesus causes disease and death and sin to flee faster than a drill sergeant secures obedience to his commands!

       5.      Such is the Centurion’s amazing faith, and it is here exercised not for himself, but his mere servant!

       6.      Eph. 3:20-21 tells us that Christ, by His Word and Spirit in us, is able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,” so don’t lose heart in the life of faith, but press on diligently in faith!  

VI.       Satisfied Jesus who then supplied for his urgent need (9-10).

A.      “Marveled”/thoumadzo” is used often in the Gospels for people marveling at Jesus’ words or miracles.

       1.      Mk. 6:6 shows Jesus marveling negatively, against the his hometown Nazareth’s unbelief.

       2.      Our text appears to be the only place in Scripture where Jesus Himself is in awe of belief, faith, and lo and behold it is not the faith of an Israelite, a Jew, but a Roman Centurion!

       3.      This too would further irk the Pharisees and the unbelieving Jews in general, to hear Jesus say this Centurion’s faith surpassed those He generally came across of the Jews.

B.      Now Jesus marvels at the Centurion’s faith, and turns around to tell others about this man’s faith!

       1.      This evokes Stephen the martyr, whose righteous death causes the risen Christ to stand in glory!

       2.      Jesus commends the Centurion’s faith to the crowds, urging them to have such strong faith that leads to righteous actions and real sacrifice for the nation of Israel, which is the Church of God, no longer restricted to Jerusalem geographically or ethnic Jews, but to God’s people His kingdom over all.

       3.      Jesus declares He has found faith from a Gentile greater than he has found among the Jews, a precursor to God turning from the hardened Jewish people to go to the Gentiles for salvation.

       4.      Thus in Mt. 8:11-12 Jesus adds, “And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

C.      V. 10, The Centurion’s friends return and find the servant healed, made whole. The Lord is faithful!

       1.      So have faith and He will speak well of you & do mighty things to help you serve Him/His kingdom.

       2.      James 5:13-18 strongly urges righteousness and prayer for the healing of the sick. Some of you are very diligent and fervent in such prayers, full of faith, and that is a real gift from God.

       3.      It also says that we must be righteous and fervent in our prayers for them to avail. Sins hinder our prayers to God, because prayer involves intimacy with God.

       4.      Just as a husband & wife have a hard time speaking to one another when there is an unresolved fault between them, so prayer is difficult and ineffective when we have some sin between us and God.

       5.      The same applies to Christian fellowship, worship, and Communion/the Lord’s Supper. Christian fellowship is not only with God and man, but believer with believer, and if we have something against one another, we must go to them first and work out our grievances and be reconciled.

       6.      Only then can we have a marvelous faith and expect God to receive our worship & hear our prayer.

VII.       CONCLUSION: The Centurion acknowledges his unworthiness in light of the supreme worthiness of Christ, and demonstrates this with great words of faith which were preceded by great deeds of faith.

A.      Friends, our faithful words and deeds, done year after year, over time, seemingly unnoticed, do not go unnoticed by the Lord forever. By God’s grace, may you do things that make your Lord marvel!

B.      You might not have the funds like the Centurion to build a church for Heritage today, but whatever we do have, even if it is just the two mites like the widow, let us give it all for the Lord, and much more than our money, our entire lives, our words, thoughts, and deeds, in faithful service to the God who is able!

C.      The Lord Jesus marvels and tells others to emulate such wondrous faith.

D.      So may each one of you so live humbly and walk with the Lord and His people, and may each of us have such great faith that it leads to our Lord, the author and finisher of our faith, to marvel with joy and tell the heavenly host of our great faithfulness to Him and His kingdom. Let us pray.

 Luke 7:11-17 – The Compassion of Jesus– Sermon Outline

Intro: Christians are called to be compassionate and merciful, as we have received mercy. So then, how?

Need: Christ’s compassion picks out a widow, who had lost her husband, and has now lost her son.  

Theme: The Purpose of Christ’s Compassion:

 

                1.      To comfort those who are bereaved and suffering in this life (12-15).

                2.      To restore family bonds and show our Christian duties to family (15).

                3.      To display His glory and kingdom to the crowds (11-12, 16-17).

 

I.       To comfort and provide for those bereaved and suffering in this life (12-15).

A.      This is the day after Jesus healed the Centurion’s servant, connecting both events to His compassion.

       1.      Throughout Luke 7 we see the compassion of Jesus, with the Centurion, now for the widow.

       2.      Remember John the Baptist’s ministry in Luke 3. He rebukes many who come out to him to receive his baptism, saying they must bear fruits of repentance to truly flee God’s wrath which was to come.

       3.      Having Abraham as father was not enough. Simply being an ethnic Jew with physical circumcision did not save. Spiritual Jewishness, heart circumcision, is what was essential.

       4.      That is, as we saw a few sermons ago, the fruits of repentance seen in words and deeds evidence whether or not we are building on Christ the rock, the firm foundation, from the heart.

       5.      Note that in Luke 3, some ask John what they must do to bear fruits of repentance, and he tells them to give to those who are needy, lacking clothing and food and so on.

       6.      Tax collectors and soldiers also come to John, and he tells them to not collect more taxes than was appointed, and for the soldiers to not intimidate anyone or accuse them falsely, and also to be content with their wages. In the Gospels/Acts Tax collectors & soldiers are often shown faithful.

       7.      This, too, is a sign that many of the Jews and those Pharisees/religious leaders were rejecting the Messiah, because they rejected His forerunner and herald, John the Baptist, and yet despised tax collectors and Gentile/Roman soldiers, like the Centurion from last Sunday, were receiving Him.

B.      Jesus shows how to bear the righteous fruit John demanded in providing for this needy widow.

       1.      If we should be generous to those lacking food & clothing, how much more so widows and orphans?

       2.      Both are without a breadwinner, the father in the home. A widow would soon be hungry/needy.

       3.      This deprivation extends beyond just the body but leaves an ache and pain in the soul itself.

       4.      James 1:27 says visiting orphans and widows in their trouble is part of pure/undefiled religion before God the Father. Such are in trouble and need fatherly provision, leadership, and guidance. 

       5.      James 2 says a working faith saves, and a working faith clothes and feeds the naked brother/sister.

       6.      We know we are to do good to our own family first, then the household of faith, and then “to all”.

C.      Here Jesus is not approached by a family friend of this widow, nor by the widow herself. He is moved to compassion by the sheer sorrow of losing both husband and son, & note it is her ONLY son.

       1.      V. 12, “Only son” is mono-geneis, only begotten, used of Christ as the only begotten son of God.

       2.      Hebrews 11:17 uses this word of Isaac being Abraham’s “only begotten son” whom Abraham offered up on the altar to God at the Father’s command. This theme is found and repeated in Luke.

       3.      In Chapter 8 we read of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, and his only daughter that was dying.

       4.      He implores Jesus to heal her, and Jesus does, giving her new life after she had died shortly before.

       5.      Then in Luke 9:38, A man from the crowd implores Jesus to heal his son, whom he says is his only/mono-geneis” child. Jesus does so, after the disciples, due to lack of faith, were unable to do so.

D.      V. 13, Jesus’ compassion is motivated from Himself; “compassion” here = “from his own bowels/heart”.

       1.      Nothing in the text indicates that the woman saw Jesus or expressed faith in Him. Jesus is moved with compassion as He sees the woman’s tears and grief for her only son.

       2.      Jesus has spiritual affection for faithful, repentant sinners, but also natural affection for their earthly losses of family. Her tears show at minimum a righteous affection and sorrow for her son.

       3.      It is painful enough to lose a spouse, but it is unnatural and a peculiar pain to lose a child in this fallen world, as it is expected that the parent will outlive the child.

       4.      I just heard about a pastor on Facebook who lost a young son tragically. It’s painful, horrible.

E.      V. 14, Jesus simply touches the open coffin and says “arise” and the son’s life is returned to him.

       1.      This is likely the first reviving Christ has done in His ministry. Not since the prophet Elisha some 900 years earlier has such occurred, and even then, those prophets had to pray to God to grant such a miracle, lay their own bodies on the dead body, etc.

       2.      Christ, by neither praying to God nor having to revive with any difficulty, shows He is not merely empowered from on High, but comes from on High Himself as the God-Man.

       3.      Touching the coffin simply signals to those carrying the body and the crowds around Jesus that He is about to do this marvelous miracle.

       4.      Also note this is a “young man” as even the “rich young ruler” is described. He dies in prime of life.

F.      V. 15, He is made so well that he speaks, showing again the complete raising from the dead.

       1.      He wasn’t mistaken for dead and revived from near death, but actually dead and given new life.

       2.      Jesus presents the son to the mother, showing the reason for this miracle.

       3.      Jesus was motivated by compassion for the widowed mother, & now eases her pain by raising the son & returning him to his mom, so that this young man can use his restored life to care for his mom.

II.       To restore family bonds and show Christian duties to family (15).

       1.      The widow and the orphan are deprived of more than just food and clothing, but the natural family bond, the husband and/or the parents.

       2.      Widows and orphans are favored by God. They especially have His Fatherly pity! It’s God’s nature!

       3.      So don’t lie to yourself, and don’t let no preacher today or the culture around you tell you that family is unimportant. We grieve and need family like we do health and food and clothing.

       4.      When we have bad relationships or no relationships at all with parents or children, brothers or sisters, wife or husband, close friends and fellow believers, we have a great loss.

       5.      Part of Christ’s kingdom blessings is family restoration, along with sustained health & sustenance.

       6.      Christ has come to restore these and hold them together in His righteousness, for His kingdom.

       7.      We know that the orphan or widow, a helpless child or a helpless woman, is especially in need. God has designed both children and women to be under the headship of their parents/husband.

       8.      Throughout OT and NT, sons must provide for their mothers if their father dies & she can’t remarry.

       9.      Jesus on the cross had His disciple John provide for his mother, Jn. 19:26. Jesus says to John, “Behold your mother” and to his mother, “Behold your son” then John from that hour takes her to his own home, to care for her. Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, had already passed away.

   10.      So Christ, just as He provides for this widow that is also deprived of her only son, will do the same for His mother while hanging on the cross. Then Jn. 19:28 says “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished,” shows the finished work of Christ required that He provide for His mother.

   11.      Such is the importance of the Christian family. Such are the bonds that Christ restores and blesses.

B.      Faithful fathers are the closest thing to an incarnation of God on earth today.

       1.      God is a Father, and he has made man and woman in His image, after His likeness.

       2.      Fathers, your wife and children need you. You represent Christ/the Father to them uniquely.

       3.      Friends, we need family, we need godly and faithful fathers especially, and faithful sons.

a.       Men, don’t be a poor reflection of the “Sonliness” of Jesus Christ and the “Fatherliness” of God.

b.       Take this high and holy calling seriously, humbly, relying on God the Father’s strength and the Son’s example, and the father-figures that God has put in your life to help you along the way.

c.       Jesus did not marry in His life on earth, but He did treat this and other widows well, restoring her double loss of husband and dear, young son.

d.       The men in her life have been taken from her, but now the God-Man Jesus Christ will restore her son to her, so that she could be provided for and comforted. And in this way, Jesus is the perfect Son of the Father. He represents the Father well in human flesh. He provides as the Father does.

e.       Jesus does have a bride, the Church; He leads us, loves us, & provides for us with His own blood.

III.       To display His glory and kingdom to the crowds (11-12, 16-17).

A.      Jesus in one day went from Capernaum to Nain, a city 25 miles away, and 6 miles S.E. of Nazareth.

       1.      The crowds and His disciples follow Him all the way there. V. 12 tells us the widow’s sons’ funeral procession also has a large local crowd. Two large crowds come together, fear of God comes upon them in light of His miraculous provision of new life, & they then tell others about it across the region.

       2.      In our next passage, Jesus heals many & expels demons to confirm to John the Baptist and his disciples that Jesus really was the Coming One, the anointed, glorious King of God’s kingdom.

B.      VV. 16-17, Jesus gathered the crowd, performed the compassionate miracle, then the crowd responds.

       1.      They fear God and glorify Him. This is a fear of reverencing the presence of the holy, Almighty God.

       2.      They say, “God has visited His people” evoking similar language from various visitations of God in judgment and salvation in the OT, and Lk. 1:68, 78 in Zacharias’ prophecy that God has visited His people by raising up a horn of salvation, Jesus Christ, whom John the Baptist would prepare the way.

       3.      The people know Elijah and Elisha’s resurrections, so Jesus is at minimum to them a “great prophet”.

       4.      So they spread this knowledge and what they saw, and the fear and awe of being in this mighty prophet by whom God has visited His people to all the surrounding regions, spreading the fame and glory of God through His Son Jesus Christ, and further spreading the good news of His kingdom!

       5.      Don’t miss the connection between the widow’s tears being removed b/c new life is being given by Christ. This is a foretaste of the resurrection of all mankind, and Christ’s kingdom brings this hope.

IV.       CONCLUSION: The Gospel of Christ’s compassionate healing through His Church body is the world’s only hope! Not Benny Hinn healing, but the Church as bride/mother/nourisher healing sinners in word & deed. (READ PSALM 146 & RELATE CHRIST’S COMPASSION COMING THROUGH THE CHURCH)

A.      We need strong bonds, compassionate faithfulness to one another, whether between spouses, parents and children, friends, or church members, showing kindness, care,  and sacrifice.

B.      But does it really need to be said yet again that Feminism, homosexuality, and transgenderism is a Satanic attack on family & society bonds? It does not heal but damages and destroys bodies and souls.

C.      It is an assault on the image of God itself, which He has placed in man and woman, male and female. All the natural bonds of love and affection, COMPASSION, are being torn down through them.

       1.      And how? By tearing down the very distinctions of male and female and thereby disrupting the emotional, physical, & sexual harmony that makes such loving, affectionate bonds possible!

       2.      The female supreme Court nominee, a woman, said she doesn’t know what a woman is!

       3.      If we can’t identify women, we can’t identify widows, nor can we identify men!

       4.      And if we can’t do that, we cannot understand who or what a Father is, and God the Father has become meaningless or scandalous to us. Nor can we understand motherly nurture and care.

D.      Our nation hates manhood and womanhood, which means we hate God’s image we are made in. Which means we hate ourselves, which is why we are erasing ourselves, mutilating our bodies!  

       1.      So we have an anti-Gospel culture, for a divine Son comes in male flesh to reveal a divine Father.  

       2.      And too often the Church imbibes the same anti-Gospel, anti-Christ spirit! Instead of health and healing, we have the mutilation/abuse of the body sexually, the despising & destruction of the family body/bonds, and at root a hatred of our gendered selves. We are sick and starved body and soul.

       3.      Unbelievers & too often those in the Church hate their male & female bodies, because it reveals the image of God they are made in! But erasing their bodies, names, and pronouns can’t erase their soul.

E.      Christ came to give spiritual & physical life, to give it abundantly, body and soul. He preserves family lines and even gives measures of family restoration. The Church is His body, so He cherishes it.

       1.      And that is the great hope to believers, that we are the body of Christ, and God doesn’t hate His body. He doesn’t try to mutilate it, deface it with copious piercings or graffiti it with a thousand tattoos.

       2.      He cherishes His body, loves it, and therefore nourishes it. He presents it pure and undefiled, without spot or wrinkle, a perfect virgin! That’s the hope of the Gospel to all who believe.

       3.      Christ can make you well in your heart & therefore you will be made well in your body, no matter what you’ve done: sex, drugs, drunkenness, trying to transition into the other sex/gender, etc.   

       4.      Christ brings the kingdom, & His blessings are seen in raising the dead son of this poor widow who now is without husband or a son to provide for her. This need & “nakedness” of no family is restored.

       5.      Nothing is more godly, and nothing is more manly, than to provide for widows. Christ, according to both His human and divine nature is doing what is natural to Him. He could not help but have compassion on her. He could not help but provide for her. It’s in His nature as God and man.

       6.      So indeed, if you are in Christ, as Jesus says to this widow, “do not weep”. He has wiped away your sin, and on that great and glorious day when He returns, He’ll wipe away every tear from your eye.

 Luke 7:18-35 – How the Heavenly Kingdom Comes – Sermon Outline

Intro: Hymn 544 is Lead On O King, Eternal. It reminds us the kingdom comes in deeds of love/mercy.

Need: John the Baptist or his disciples may have expected Christ to bring the sword to bring the kingdom. And Christ will bring the sword of judgment when He returns. But now comes the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. And Christ is the Incarnate Word, the Word from God in the flesh to preach and heal.  

Theme: Christ’s miraculous compassion & preaching:  

 

                1.      Confirms His identity as the Coming One/Promised Messiah.

                2.      Confirms His kingdom comes for needy sinners who trust in Him.

I.       Confirms His identity as the Coming One/Promised Messiah.

A.      V. 18, John the Baptist’s Disciples report to John the miracles and preaching of Jesus.

       1.      In our last text, Lk 6:16-17, fear fell upon all the people seeing the young man raised from the dead, and they began to say, “A great prophet has risen up among us” and “God has visited His people.”

       2.      Thus the question becomes – is Christ the Promised Coming One, the great prophet of God?

       3.      Lk. 3:20 notes that John is put into prison by Herod the tetrarch when he was rebuked by John the Baptist for having Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. John is currently in prison per Mt. 11:2.

B.      VV. 19-20, Doubts/Confirmation needed concerning Jesus’ Identity as the Coming One.

       1.      Who is doubting/needs confirmation, John’s disciples, John himself, or all of the above?

       2.      It is actually hard to tell, but b/c it is not that important, I won’t belabor the debate in my mind.

       3.      John says in John 3 that his ministry must decrease, but Christ’s increase. That is happening. John is in prison, while Christ is proclaiming the gospel with power, by the Spirit healing & removing demons.

       4.      But is this the kingdom power the coming one was expected to have? There was some confusion, at minimum, among John and/or his disciples. In Mt. 9 they question why Jesus’ disciples do not fast.

       5.      So it isn’t there 1^st confusion/false expectation of the Coming One. The Jews and perhaps even those with John expected a political Messiah, a revolutionary who topples the Roman government.

       6.      They wanted the sword of judgment now, but first comes the deeds of love and mercy.

       7.      Remember, John baptized Jesus, and at that time the Holy Spirit comes upon Christ and the Father’s voice from heaven says “You are My Beloved Son, in You I am well pleased.” It is Jesus’ ordination.

       8.      John’s disciples now need Jesus’ discipleship, Jesus’ ministry and healing of the heart, Christ’s baptism with the Spirit and not just John’s baptism of repentance.

       9.      John’s disciples coming to Christ marks the full transition from John’s preparatory ministry to Jesus’ Spirit-empowered ministry, as Lk. 7:24-35 brings out and we will see more in coming sermons.

C.      VV. 21-22, Christ is the coming One, Messiah, anointed/baptized with the Holy Spirit to work miracles.

       1.      Jesus doesn’t just say yes, but demonstrates His Messiahship. “Christ” means anointed, Messiah.

       2.      Isa. 35:5-6 and similar passages spoke of a time when the blind would see, deaf would hear, lame walk, dumb speak, etc. Jesus shows He is the Coming One, anointed with the Spirit to fulfill this.

       3.      Hear especially Isa. 61:1-3, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

       4.      So Christ confirms His anointing as the Coming One by using it in V. 21, then tells them to report this back to John in v. 22. So either this removed doubts John had, or John removed his disciples’ doubts upon their return by saying, “See, have I not told you this is the One who comes with the Spirit?”

D.      V. 23, Jesus gives a blessing, and an implied rebuke, for those who are/are not offended by Him.

       1.      Consider Matt. 13:53-58. Here Jesus comes to His hometown, teaches in the synagogue, and yet the people question Jesus preaching and miracles/mighty works. They say isn’t this the carpenter’s son, lowly Mary his mother? We know his brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas. His sisters, they live here with us, where did this man get all this education and power? “So they were offended by Him.”

       2.      Can one so poor and lowly, born in a manger, truly be the Spirit-Empowered Coming One? Yes.

       3.      Jesus came like those He came to save. Not of noble birth/blood, not of riches, but poor and needy.

       4.      Does this offend John and/or his disciples? Do they think ministry will be more like the Pharisees in long, beautiful robes who fast and mourn and pray to be seen by all and have their pride puffed up? 

       5.      It’s going to get much uglier. The power of Christ will have Him beaten, smitten, and afflicted. Hung on a cross. Isa. 52:14, “So His appearance was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.

       6.      Isa. 53:2ff., “For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness (not stately and full of splendor), and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faced from Him; He was despised and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities’ The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

       7.      Jesus could say, if My lowly birth, upbringing, miracles & teachings offend, just wait until you see My lowly, gruesome, death on the cursed cross. If these things do not offend you, you are blessed in Me.

       8.      But for those whom the cross of Christ is foolishness or stumbling block/offense, they are not blessed, they will perish in their sins, they will not receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ & His kingdom.

II.       Confirms His kingdom comes for needy sinners who trust in Him.

A.      Thus the kingdom comes for needy sinners who know their wickedness, brokenness, defilement.

       1.      The one who is blessed is the one that trusts in Christ, who although was of no noble birth and was betrayed to die on a cross as a criminal, yet by doing so atoned for sin and was raised up with the Name above all names, with all authority given to Him in heaven and on earth.

       2.      So as Jesus would die for the diseased in body and soul, Jesus in His life on earth would live for and heal those diseased body and soul. He cures the sick, preaches to the poor, raises the dead, and in these ways was not associating with the high and mighty, the rich and famous, but the humble and lowly, the rejected and the riff-raff who knew they were exactly that.

       3.      John the Baptist too was an outsider, a man in camel’s hair eating locusts and honey in the wilderness, calling sinners, including the Jews/Pharisees to repentance and to bear repentant fruit.

       4.      So Jesus’ ministry should not have been strange to John or his disciples here. John’s preparatory ministry was to get Israel to see her defilement, her sin, her neediness, in order to receive the Coming One, Christ, who came preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

       5.      Christ’s kingdom is filled up with a bunch of repenters. Which means they’re sinners, but sorry. John warned the Israelites not to think they are good just because they had Abraham as their father. All must repent, and all, in order to enter into Christ’s kingdom, need the blood Christ shed on the cross.

B.      So the power of Christ’s kingdom is established in His own blood, offered as an atonement for sin.  

       1.      Therefore, those who enter His kingdom enter by way of the cross, through repentance and faith.

       2.      The physically blind, lame, lepers, deaf, and dead point to each one of us.

       3.      For we all, spiritually, outside of Christ and His righteous life and sin-bearing death, are spiritually dead, without eyes to see or ears to hear, covered in the leprosy of our sin.

       4.      This is why admission into Christ’s kingdom comes at the cost of blood for Christ, and the cost of humble repentance and total trust/faith in Christ as Messiah for us. Don’t be offended, be broken!

C.      Christ’s compassion and preaching reveal His anointing & kingdom, and due to our remaining sin and pride, even as Christians the “offense” and “cross” of His kingdom don’t always meet our expectations.

       1.      As we grow in our understanding of God’s Word, we come across a lot of surprises and things that challenge us/our faith, for we read we must bear the cross, & then God sends crosses/trials to us!

       2.      When we face these crosses, when our nation is turning to woke-ism and wickedness in waves, when the church is full of false teachers and licentious living, when sickness strikes or we face real persecution, do we stumble and are we offended at the cross Jesus has called us to carry?

       3.      If those we love are taken from us, as John’s disciples experienced with their beloved teacher thrown in prison soon to be beheaded, do we doubt the goodness of God and that He sovereignly works all things together for good for His people, even and especially the trials/crosses He puts in our life?

       4.      Do we have a hard time accepting that when God saves horrible sinners who have done things far worse than we think we have ever done or could ever do, do we question who God is extending His saving mercy to through Christ? Of all these things we must repent and trust the Lord.

       5.      We must not doubt the goodness of God nor question His will.

       6.      So we have to make painful decisions for Christ & His kingdom, like leaving an unfaithful church or certain friends B/C our growth in the faith demands it. These and countless other tough life decisions must be done with kindness, but also with conviction to serve God and go where He leads us.

D.      John’s Disciples are facing Christ and His coming Kingdom. They must now follow and embrace Christ.

       1.      John’s disciples needed to see the glory of Christ and His miracles, His healing and His preaching, so that they can follow and serve Him.

a.       The great transition from the old covenant to Christ’s inaugurated kingdom is beginning.

b.       John has prepared the way & his ministry has come to a close. He decreases, Christ increases.

c.       But Christ raised the widow’s son, He is full of compassion, but it isn’t empty compassion. It’s powerful compassion, Anointed power to save and heal, to raise the dead!

d.       **Whatever suffering John faced, Jesus would face greater suffering at the cross. John would be beheaded, but Jesus would die the painful and shameful death of the cross, bearing God’s wrath for His people’s sin! So John & his disciples should know that as Christ has the power to raise the dead, so John’s suffering and death will not be his end. Indeed, the Coming One is here in power!

       2.      Pastors, teachers, parents, anyone in authority who has a spiritual interest in the lives of others can relate to great but bittersweet transitions:

a.       A teachers’ students are set to graduate and move on to new teachers/schools.

b.       A pastor sees two of his members marry one another and move away to start their lives together.

c.       Parents watch their little boys or girls leave the home to become men and women and soon spouses & parents themselves, establishing their own household.

d.       In each of these scenarios, something glorious is happening, a great transition that goes from one glory to a greater glory. Moses’ ministry was glorious, but Christ’s is more so. John the Baptists’ ministry was glorious, but was only a preparation for the full glory/kingdom that Christ would bring.

       3.      How do Christians today know who to follow? Which Church, denomination, ministry, etc.?

a.       We don’t look for supernatural signs and wonders today, but rather the faithful preaching of God’s Word, and faithful shepherding of God’s people by the ministers God has appointed.

b.       We look for a church with a congregation that loves the Lord and is building up one another in the faith with the Spiritual gifts God has given each one of them.

c.       Whenever we find such a church, or such godly friends/families, our doubts are removed that the Lord is there, His Spirit has blessed and equipped that Church/person, and we can hitch our wagon to them and serve the Lord together as we seek first His kingdom and righteousness.

III.       CONCLUSION: What are your expectations of Christ and His kingdom? Do they align with His Word?

A.      We know not only John’s disciples, but Jesus’ own disciples had many questions/doubt/confusion.

B.      The Apostle Peter would deny Christ three times, & later say that the Apostle Paul has written many things in Scripture that are hard to understand, that unstable people twist to their own destruction.

C.      We cannot twist God’s Word to fit our desires. It is our desires and expectations that are twisted.

D.      We cannot doubt the goodness of God and the righteousness of Christ just because what He does is not entirely what we expected or thought we knew from our previous instruction or study of Scripture.

E.      We must always be growing in the faith, becoming truer and more complete disciples of Christ.

F.      So confess your sins, confess your need for Christ’s saving power every day, then love one another, have compassion on those who need it, & carry the crosses Christ gives you as your service in His kingdom. As Christ laid down His life on the cross to take it up again, in Christ so can we!

G.     So don’t be offended, take up and read God’s Word as you carry your cross, and may we all do this together, as the Church of God, bearing one another’s burdens, supplying what is lacking, together seeking first Christ’s kingdom and His righteousness, knowing the power of Christ’s first coming, and the greater power that He will bring when He returns and makes all things new.

H.      Indeed, lead us on, O King Eternal. Let us pray.  

 Luke 7:24-35 – Covenant Continuity & Progression in Christ– Sermon Outline

Intro: Many Churches today see the new covenant/Christ’s kingdom as a reset to the Old Covenant/OT. The blank pages between Matthew & Malachi that say “New Testament” are often taken as a Bible reboot! Or, “Now that we’ve come to the NT, the real Bible begins” as a Facebook friend explained it.

Need: See Christ’s kingdom coming as the fulfillment and flowering of the OT/OC and its teaching/hopes.

Theme: John’s completed ministry marks the transition from O.T. prophecy to N.T. fulfilment:  

 

                1.      John’s greatness as the prophet who prepared the path for Christ (24-28a).

                2.      John’s greatness dwarfed by the new covenant/Christ’s kingdom (28b).

                3.      John’s old covenant baptism connects to Christ’s new covenant ministry (29-30).

                4.      John’s ministry was inadequate & must give way to Christ’s ministry (31-35).

Review: Remember John had sent two of his disciples back to Jesus to ask if Jesus was the Coming One, the Anointed Messiah that John had prepared the people for. John is now in prison, and so Jesus is speaking concerning John now that John is in jail, his ministry has come to an end, and doubts among John and/or his disciples swirl.  

Jesus’ actions and words in 7:21-23 reveal Christ is the coming one, and that both John’s disciples and all those following Him need Jesus’ discipleship, Jesus’ ministry and healing of the heart, Christ’s baptism with the Spirit and not just John’s baptism of repentance. This is what we all need, and receive, in Christ.

So John’s disciples coming to Christ marks the full transition from John’s preparatory ministry to Jesus’ Spirit-empowered ministry, as our sermon text, Lk. 7:24-35 brings out.

So the power of Christ’s kingdom is established in His own blood, offered as an atonement for sin. 

Therefore, those who enter His kingdom enter by way of the cross, crucified in Christ, born again by His Holy Spirit, entering in with repentance and faith. 

So the physically blind, lame, lepers, deaf, and dead in verse 22 point to our own spiritual state in sin.

For we all, spiritually, outside of Christ and His righteous life and sin-bearing death, are spiritually dead, without eyes to see or ears to hear, covered in the leprosy of our sin, and must die in Christ to live in Him by His Spirit apart from sin, and only with that dying to sin and cleansing in Christ can we enter the Kingdom of God and come before His presence at peace with Him once again.

So the only possible admission into Christ’s kingdom, not only for the Gentile but also the Jew/OT covenant people of God, is through the “way” of Christ’s cross, His blood, and we must come at the cost of humble repentance and total trust/faith in Christ as the Messiah/Anointed One for us. This is what John’s ministry/baptism of repentance prepared the people for, & this is why John’s baptism had to give way to Jesus’ blood & Spirit baptism/ministry.

So as verse 23 commands, don’t be offended, rather be broken over your sin, repent, and follow Christ!

I.       John’s greatness as the prophet who prepared the path for Christ (24-28a).

A.      V. 24-25, Jesus declares the greatness of John’s preparatory ministry.

       1.      Jesus magnifies John the Baptist, even though he’s now imprisoned & perhaps even doubting. The people didn’t go to the wilderness to see weakness, an ascetic monk reduced to a wind-shaken reed.

       2.      Nor did they go to see a man of royalty in fine clothing/apparel, a king living in luxury.

a.       This should encourage us -- when we are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, or even when our faith is true yet weak/wavering and we need to be strengthened by Christ and His body/Church, the Lord still speaks well of us, not because we are so wonderful, but because He is so merciful.

b.       We are received by the Father through the perfect trust/obedience of Christ the Son. Jesus speaks on our behalf just as strongly as He speaks for John the Baptist here.

c.       John & his disciples are still welcomed by Christ, and WLC 172 says that the LS is appointed “for the relief even of weak & doubting Christians” so long as they labor to have their doubts resolved. 

B.      V. 26-28a, Jesus continues to say the people went out to see a prophet, but no mere prophet.

       1.      John’s preparatory ministry was not just one of any prophet, but the great OT/OC prophet who would be God’s messenger going as Christ’s forerunner to prepare the way for Christ to preach the Gospel.

       2.      So Jesus reminds the crowd around Him that those among them who first heard of Christ through John’s preparatory ministry/discipleship, did not go to see a weak man shaken by the wind or a man dressed in glorious apparel like a king.

       3.      Rather the “attraction” of John was as that prophet who preached Christ and a baptism of repentance to prepare for the coming Messiah/Christ. John being thrown into prison shouldn’t be that surprising.

       4.      John himself said he must decrease but Christ must increase. Jesus already in Lk. 6:20-23 has taught that true prophets are hated, excluded, reviled, and cast out.  

       5.      So John as forerunner pointed to Christ the Savior, not altogether unlike a sacrament.

a.       John is nothing without Jesus, just as the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper are nothing without Jesus and the outpouring of His Spirit.

b.       Jesus’ ministry and power, baptizing with the Holy Spirit, so outweighs John’s ministry, that everyone who comes to Christ enters His kingdom in a way that exceeds the blessings that even John the Baptist had.

c.       John was like a great sign instructing people who are approaching a glorious kingdom/city that they are about to drive up to/walk into, and he told them what they must have to enter, their admission papers of faith/repentance, in order to enter that glorious kingdom/city.

       6.      Only John was the immediate fore-runner of Christ; His ministry coming in the years just before, and overlapping with, Jesus’ early ministry shows John is that Great prophet of Mal. 3:1 who prepares the way for the “Messenger of the covenant” – “BEHOLD, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the LORD, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts.

       7.      John’s ministry from the desert was fitting, as he called for repentance. Our souls are as dry as the wilderness without the work of Christ and outpouring of His Spirit.

II.       John’s greatness dwarfed by the new covenant/Christ’s kingdom (28b).

A.      Though there is no greater prophet than John the Baptist among those born of women, even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist.

       1.      So we see that the atoning work of Christ & outpouring/possessing of His Holy Spirit is so much greater for the New Covenant Christian that it dwarfs the anointing that John the Baptist possessed!

       2.      John leapt in his mother’s womb by the power of the Spirit, and yet the outpouring of Christ’s Spirit, after He atones for sin, rises again, ascends as the glorified God-Man to the right hand of the Father, is something none of God’s old covenant people possessed, not even John the Baptist.

B.      Our knowledge of God is so much clearer and fuller now that Christ has come, atoned for sin, risen and ascended to the Father.

       1.      To have that message of the Gospel, the work of Christ, and the coming of the kingdom crystallized in Scripture is something that OT prophets desired to see, & even angels/the heavenly realm longed to look into, I Pet. 1:10-12; Eph. 3:8-12. We see in full what John saw in part of Christ’s work.

       2.      The OT saint and prophet did not have the clarity that we have in Christ by His Spirit illuminating His completed, written word concerning the atonement, resurrection, ascension, glorification, etc of Christ, the Eternal Word made flesh at the dawning of the new covenant era/kingdom.  

       3.      The Kingdom of God has been powerfully revealed to us in God’s Word, and given to us by the power of Christ’s Spirit even now.

       4.      So John’s ministry and position in redemptive history is likely greater than any of us or even the greatest preacher today, there was only one fore-runner to Christ, and that was John the Baptist.

       5.      Nevertheless, John lived in a state of inferior blessing, because Christ had not yet atoned for sin, risen, ascended to the Father, from which He pours out His Spirit to indwell His people as blood-bought temples of God.

       6.      So we are “greater” particularly in terms of being benefactors of the new covenant, covered by the shed blood of Christ, under His administration with its fuller gifting of the Spirit than even John had, who himself had the Holy Spirit even while in his mother’s womb.

III.       John’s old covenant baptism/ministry connects to Christ’s new covenant ministry (29-30).

A.      How one received John’s ministry determined how one received Christ’s Ministry.

       1.      “Justified” here means the people and publicans/tax collectors agreed with what the Lord Jesus was saying and saw that God was just, good, to bring His kingdom in this way through John then Jesus.

       2.      John was sent as a forerunner to Christ, and Christ Himself would bring down the kingdom of God.

       3.      Those who follow Jesus enter that kingdom through faith and repentance, owning themselves sinners, and in Christ, baptized by His Spirit, the least in His kingdom have superior blessings.

B.      So we see the absolute necessity of John’s ministry in vv. 29-30.

       1.      He indeed prepared the “way” for Christ’s ministry to go forward. No one had an excuse to reject the Messiah, John told them they must not only repent, even if they were Jews who had “Abraham” as their father, but John explicitly told the multitudes, and the Pharisees and Sadducees in particular, that they were brood of vipers who must “bear fruits worthy of repentance” Mt. 3:7-8, Lk. 3:7-8.

       2.      John was preparing both the wheat and the chaff, the wheat to receive Christ, the chaff to reject him and prove themselves worthy of being burned. John says as much in Lk. 3:17, “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

       3.      In short, when Christ comes, it’s already harvest time, because of the labors of John the Baptist.

       4.      Of course, only at the second coming of Christ is the harvest fully realized, but even now we see those called to salvation coming to faith in the Lord, and the rest rejecting Him and His Gospel.

       5.      In Luke 3:11-14 John instructs the people about how they are to “bear fruit worthy of repentance” to avoid being cut down and thrown into the fire:

a.       The fruit comes by giving to the naked and hungry clothing and food.

b.       The tax collectors must not take more than is appointed to them.

c.       The soldiers must not intimidate or deal harshly with anyone or falsely accuse them, and also be content with their wages.

d.       So when John’s disciples inquire if Christ is truly the Coming One, or should they look for another, Jesus bears miraculous “fruit of repentance” if you will, curing many of infirmities, afflictions, evil spirits, giving sight to the blind, and says that “the poor have the gospel preached to them.”

e.       Thus the Gospel of the Kingdom is being preached by Christ and being exhibited with His power in His miracles, healings, raising the dead, etc.

f.         Remember that disease, bodily defects, etc., prevented one from approaching God in the temple. Jesus is healing His people body and soul, so that they can be fit to approach the Lord apart from sin, which destroys body and soul.

g.       “fruits of repentance” really mean to do good works, and Christ does them. As John preached repentance and to bear fruit, so did Christ. The OT message and the NT message are one.

C.      All the OT prophets essentially preached repentance. Consider the story of the rich man and Lazarus.

       1.      The rich man wants someone from the dead to go back to his brothers still living and warn them to repent so they do not go to hell/Hades.

       2.      But Abraham says they “have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them” and then, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead”, 16:31.

       3.      Of course, Jesus does rise from the dead, and yet those who were rejecting Moses’ teaching still rejected the risen Messiah, because Christ says that “all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me” Lk. 24:44.

       4.      Then Lk. 24:45ff, Jesus “opened their [His apostles] understand, that they might comprehend the Scriptures [the OT Scriptures of course]” then Jesus says “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

       5.      In summary, all the OT speaks of Christ, & for the NT foundation laid by the apostles to truly be laid, they first had to have their minds opened to understand all the OT Scriptures to see how it leads to Christ suffering and rising the 3^rd day in order for repentance and remission of sins to be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Again, the OT message and NT message are one.

       6.      John’s work for the Kingdom to go forth in power was essential, as 7:29-30 show us that even the tax collectors declare the righteousness of God and follow Christ, because they had been “baptized with the baptism of John,” meaning John’s ministry prepared them to repent & to bear fruits of repentance.

       7.      Contrast with V. 30, the Pharisees and “lawyers”/experts in God’s law rejected the Messiah, the Son of Jehovah their covenant Lord, refusing His “will”/counsel for them b/c they already refused Christ’s forerunner and his message of repentance, and so they refused John’s baptism of repentance.

       8.      All the OT connects to Christ and calls for repentance, John’s ministry does so pre-eminently.

IV.       John’s ministry was inadequate & must give way to Christ’s ministry (31-35).

A.      Jesus slaps the men of His generation for bickering about John/Himself like children do about games.

       1.      When the kids had space in the marketplace to play, they would end up bickering with each other. One wants to play a happy game and dance a happy jig, but the Grinch’s in the room cross their arms over their chest and refuse to play.

       2.      Some want to play a sad game, a funeral game, but the other kids aren’t in the mood for acting sad.

       3.      We see this with our kids all the time when they are pretending, but can’t come to an agreement about what kind of game to pretend! While this may be expected among children, it should not be expected among adults, much less Pharisees and scribes, preachers and teachers of God’s law!

B.      But this is no child’s play, no pretend, theoretical game! This is about Christ and His kingdom!

       1.      The Kingdom of God incorporates both self-denial, sadness, calls to repentance and to take up the cross, as well as the joy of forgiveness of sins, the exuberance of union with Christ and the fellowship with the body of Christ His Church.

       2.      There’s a time to dance and a time to mourn as God’s people in His kingdom, but despite John coming more with the call to repentance, & Christ coming with fuller blessings & abounding joy, the men of Jesus’ day couldn’t be satisfied with either aspect, with neither John nor Jesus.

       3.      They don’t hate their sins enough to repent of them, and they don’t love the blessings of Jesus enough to rejoice in them. So they refuse to dance or weep, to rejoice or to repent.

C.      “But wisdom is justified by all her children” v. 35 is an enigmatic statement.

       1.      Wisdom isn’t always immediately evident. It is “justified”/or shown to be true wisdom by its fruit, its “children”, what it produces. Those receiving the baptism of John with repentance will be shown to be wise, as Christ comes to redeem them and pour out His Spirit upon them.

       2.      The seemingly wise of this age, the supposed wisdom of the haughty Pharisees and scholars, were anything but. Their knowledge puffed them up, made them think that repentance was beneath them.

       3.      They twisted Scripture to their own destruction, & destroyed so many others since they were the teachers of God’s law. The “children/fruit” of their so-called wisdom will be rotten, will not justify them!

       4.      So did John have a demon, was Jesus the Son of Man a glutton and wine-bibber that dirtied himself with unclean tax collectors and sinners? Is that assessment true wisdom or childish whining?

       5.      Time will tell, but Jesus right now in the text is indicating that the wise are those who repent and trust in Christ, and He will raise them up and exalt them with Himself forever. For Christ Himself is true wisdom, and the rich blessings of true wisdom are found in Proverbs 8.

       6.      So let us close with Wisdom’s own words in Prov. 8:32-36, so we may see together why John’s ministry must give way to the only wise God, Jesus Christ who is the power and wisdom of God in human flesh, who fulfills all the promised blessings of the old testament/old covenant by bringing in the new covenant of His kingdom through His atoning blood and life-giving Spirit:

“Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord; But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.”

 

Christ is the Eternal Wisdom now in human flesh. Christ brings the eternal wisdom and power of God to His people, His children, and we justify Him, we praise Him and live in light of His wisdom, bearing fruits of repentance, and in doing so, we find life and favor with the Lord forever. Let us pray.

Luke 7:36-50 – The Fruit of Christ’s Forgiveness – Sermon Outline

Intro: The transition from John to Jesus’ ministry is complete. Jesus Himself will forgive sins & grant peace.

Need: The sinful woman receives Christ with faith & love, the Pharisee Simon with doubt & disgust.

Theme: Christ’s forgiveness removes hate, doubt, & confusion to produce love, faith, & peace.

 

                1.      Two Greetings: The forgiven woman vs. the unforgiven Pharisee. (36-39)

                2.      Two Replies: Jesus to the forgiven woman vs. the unforgiven Pharisee. (40-48)

                3.      Two Results: Peace & assurance of salvation vs. uncertainty. (49-50)

 

I.       Two Greetings: The forgiven woman vs. the unforgiven Pharisee. (36-39)

A.      Jesus has criticized the Pharisees/people for calling Him glutton, 7:34, now they eat with Him!

       1.      Simon the Pharisees and others with him had an incredible lack of self-awareness/hypocrisy!

       2.      “Sat down” v. 36 is a poor translation, at least to how we conceive of sitting at a table today.

       3.      The custom was to lay down on couches to eat, dining while lying near a table with food on it.

       4.      This is important to note, as we see this woman standing at Jesus feet weeping, washing them with her tears and anointing them with oil. She didn’t have to crawl under a table to do so, but could stand behind Jesus whose feet would have been laying on the couch, where she easily could anoint them.

B.      37-38, The woman shows her faith/joy in Christ’s forgiveness by coming to Him to praise/anoint Him.

       1.      This woman “was a sinner” indicating she was known by her sin, perhaps as a harlot/prostitute.

       2.      But her actions show that God has already forgiven her, and she is not coming to Christ to get forgiveness of sins, but because she has heard of Him/the Gospel & already has repented/believed.

       3.      So her actions are a fruit of forgiveness, an expression of gratitude to her dear Lord/Savior.

       4.      Oils were used in the arid climate to prevent feet/skin from cracking. This was a physical kindness.

       5.      The heat and humidity meant that many had open verandas in which they would eat in their homes, and to recline at table for a meal in a Pharisees’ house was no casual chips and dip affair.

       6.      Crowds could form to hear what the invited dinner guests were saying, so this woman, hearing Christ Himself was there, could easily walk up and perform this humbling deed of mercy/love for His feet.

       7.      It was considered immodest/not appropriate for a woman to let down her hair in the presence of men, yet this woman, a sinner, in humility, love, faith, and repentance in Christ, violates all sorts of social norms/customs, and washes and anoints the feet of her Savior in sheer gratitude.

C.      39, The Pharisee Simon shows his unbelief/inhospitableness toward Christ by doubting Him.

       1.      Remember all the laws of being clean or unclean, on top of the social customs at this time.

       2.      This unclean, sinful woman is approaching a man, a distinguished man, in fact the God-Man, uninvited, lets down her hair, uses her tears to was his feet from the dust and grime that you would get wearing sandals, then uses her very own hair to mop up the dirt and tears!

       3.      She then has the gall to kiss His feet and anoints them with fragrant oil.

       4.      If we feel uncomfortable just reading this, imagine how the Pharisee and everyone in the room felt!

       5.      Simon doubts Jesus is a prophet, but Jesus will show Him that indeed He is. Simon cannot fathom a Great Prophet stooping to receive the tears and touch of such a sinner as this filthy woman.

       6.      But this is the Gospel, forgiveness on display! You are that filthy sinner, that harlot, who blubbers in repentance and faith at Christ’s feet if/when He saves your soul and sanctifies you by His Spirit.

II.       Two Replies: Jesus to the forgiven woman vs. the unforgiven Pharisee. (40-48)

A.      V. 40-48, Given the thought bubble in verse 39 of Simon the Pharisee, we see that Simon calling Jesus “Teacher” at this moment is insincere, even though he likely feigned sincerity when he spoke.

       1.      Jesus again perceives the thoughts/expressions written on the face of Simon the Pharisee, and so He instructs Him on what has just happened with a parable/story in vv. 40-42.

       2.      The debts/denarii forgiven would be the difference between two months and two years’ wages, or something like $8,000 vs. $100,000 today.

       3.      Neither can repay the creditor, they have no money. This speaks to our sin with no righteousness to “atone” for our wickedness. There is no way out of our infinite sin debt before the Holy God.

       4.      So the debt is forgiven, released, even as our sin debt is forgiven/released through Christ’s payment.

       5.      The question Jesus then poses to Simon is which debtor will love the creditor more, and the answer is obviously the one that was forgiven more, as Simon rightly discerns.

B.      We know Joe Biden is thinking about canceling massive student debt for political gain.

       1.      People are foolish and greedy enough to vote just to get their debts wiped off their account, and shifted to other people ultimately.

       2.      But if the bank itself, which is actually owed the money, calls you up one day and says they are canceling a few months payment because they like to practice a debt Jubilee every once in a while, you’d be grateful and shocked!

       3.      But how much more if they cancel the remaining $100,000 you owe on your house, so that you own it outright, without any remaining debt! That would truly be unheard of.

       4.      An apartment complex might run a special where the first month of rent is free, but nobody pays your entire rent, nobody pays off your complete debt.

       5.      But Jesus has completely paid the sin debt of this notoriously sinful woman. She knows that, she already heard Jesus teaching & had been convicted of her sins to trust in Christ as Lord and Savior.

       6.      This is why she comes, breaking every custom & exposing herself to open shame, to weep, wash, and anoint Jesus’ feet.

       7.      Simon in comparison might only “need” two months’ of debt paid off, or so he thinks, yet he will not even come to Jesus for that, doubting that He is even a prophet and dishonestly calling him Teacher.

       8.      But b/c Simon grasped the parable, Jesus had him setup like Nathan with David, “Thou art the man!”

C.      44-46, There were customs of feet washing, greeting one another with a kiss, and anointing with oil.

       1.      Yet Simon is not a good host to Jesus His guest, has no care to do such even for Christ Himself!

       2.      This shows his plain unbelief and hard-heartedness, disgracing Jesus even as a guest.

       3.      Today we might offer to take someone’s coat and hang it up for them when they walk into our house, or show them where they can put their shoes. These are basic courtesies, not unusual kindnesses.

       4.      Simon was rude, and that had a direct relationship to his hatred of Christ and His claims as Messiah.

       5.      So Jesus rebukes him for such, and points to His heart-heartedness/unbelief in doing so, but praises the faith working through love of this sinful woman, who tracked Jesus down just to anoint His feet!

D.      47-48, Jesus explains that the woman’s faith working through love shows her sins are forgiven, but the one who does not show love in little things will not even be forgiven of little things.

       1.      Jesus doesn’t deny that this woman is a notorious sinner, yet her love is great, her conversion is evidenced by the stark change in her life. She is born again and bearing the fruits of forgiveness.

       2.      But the lack of love, the unbelief working through rudeness, shows Christ has not forgiven Simon.

       3.      Simon the Pharisee couldn’t even perceive Jesus as a little Savior for little sinners, Simon couldn’t admit that he was  even a “teensy weensy” sinner. There is no love of Christ in Simon’s hard heart.

       4.      There is no faith and repentance, no tears. His entreaty to have Jesus eat with him had nothing to do with faith in Christ, but rather social status, since Jesus was the talk of the town and everyone was hearing about this shindig/fancy dinner party in a Pharisees’ house.

       5.      Simon had no love for Christ, because only God can soften a sinners heart and implant that love.

       6.      Pharisees should have been the most loving, humble, holy men in town, yet they were the opposite.

E.      48, But Jesus doesn’t just say the woman’s sins are forgiven, He bestows forgiveness to her directly!

       1.      Imagine her joy, rather than being turned away from Christ or repulsed by her sobbing and tears and immodest actions, Christ knows the deep, deep love in her heart for Him, and He comforts her and tells her all she needs to hear and what she already knows, that her great sin debt is forgiven in total!

       2.      Only deep love, deep gratitude toward Jesus Christ, will spur us on to glorify Him, to worship Him with glad hearts in the assembly of the Saints, to serve Him in our lives and denounce sin as we go about our 6 days of work in the week, to love our families, to use our spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ/Church to which we belong, to do humble deeds of sacrifice for those in true need, to be salt and light and witness to the goodness of God in Christ to us.

       3.      If forgiveness of your sins seems like a small thing, then Christ as your Savior will always seem small, light, unimportant to you and His Lordship and commands will not matter much to you.

       4.      You will behave more like Simon when you see your sin as small and a mere trifle, and Christ’s cross which is to separate us from sin and put us on the path of righteousness will seem a ho-hum reality.

       5.      But it isn’t, and you know it’s not. There’s nothing more important. And it doesn’t just take top priority, it is your life itself. For you have been buried in Christ in baptism, and if you are truly united to Him, being born again by the Spirit, you are a new creation in Christ, and all you do is for Him and out of a deep, deep love for the Lord and Savior who redeemed you from your lawless deeds and filthy soul.

III.       Two Results: Peace & assurance of salvation vs. uncertainty. (49-50)

A.      V.49-50, Unbelief begets uncertainty, Belief begets Peace & assurance of salvation.

       1.      The Pharisees and those present still cannot understand that Christ is the King of Kings, The Son of God from heaven who as God can forgive sins Himself.

a.       Notice the sharp contrast, it’s almost laughable. They “began” to say to themselves.

b.       The thought hasn’t even crossed their mind that Jesus can even claim to forgive sins until now.

c.       Simon doubted Christ was even a prophet, is perplexed by this Jesus fellow claiming to forgive sins, and yet the sinful woman knows two things that Simon and those eating at table with Jesus don’t know – how wretched/sinful she is, & how wonderful, holy, & cleansing Christ is for sinners!

d.       Jesus gives no words of hope or comfort to them beyond what He has already said.

       2.      But to the woman he says “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” V. 50

a.       Faith lays hold of Christ, here quite literally, as this woman, a sinful harlot, anoints the feet of Christ and lays hold of Him in faith/repentance, recognizing He brings the Gospel of salvation, and by her actions witnesses to the truth prophesied in Isa 52:7, Nah. 1:15, and quoted in Romans 10:15, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”

b.       Ryle, “Her faith worked by love, & bore precious fruit. But it was not love but faith that saved her.”

c.       Indeed, she already knew her sins were forgiven, this is why she loves Jesus and comes to Him.

d.       Christ gives her sweet assurance of her faith and salvation, and therefore tells her to go in peace.

e.       Jesus brings the Gospel of peace with His feet, from town to town, so she anoints His feet, and He in turn tells her to go in peace. Through Christ/His Gospel, peace goes with her always!

IV.       CONCLUSION: Sin is forgiven in Christ who is God in human flesh, the promised Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Absolute peace with God and man is possible only through the one who joins God and man together again, Jesus Christ.

A.      Only by coming to Him, with tears of repentance and ointment of faith ready to do good works and serve the Lord, can one be saved.

B.      Only the tearful repenter and faithful servant of Christ can be sure that his sins are forgiven.

C.      Only such true/living faith clings to Christ for salvation, only those who do so can be sure they have the words of Christ, which sends us on our way in our labors for Him & His kingdom, “Go in peace”.

D.      Some of you are blessed to never know a time when you didn’t truly trust in Christ as Lord and Savior.

       1.      Others came to faith later in life. All of us have a deeper appreciation for our salvation and what Christ has done for us throughout our lives.

       2.      When you are moved to tears thinking about Christ’s great mercy He has shown you in light of your deep, black sins, how would you respond if in that moment Christ appeared in the flesh before you!

       3.      I can’t imagine, in those moments, not running to Jesus, sobbing on His shoulders, and saying over

and over, “Thank you Lord Jesus, Thank you! Oh my Savior, how I love You & Your rich mercies!”

       4.      When friends/family do greatly help us, or forgive us when we have deeply sinned against/wronged them, do we not run into their embrace like the Prodigal Son did returning to his Father?

       5.      How much more then ought we, in word, prayer, and deed, with our whole being, run to the man Jesus Christ who was crucified on a cross, bearing the holy wrath of His Father for our sins, to give us His Spirit and righteousness. What peace He gives, and what acts of love for Him He demands!

       6.      May we love the Lord even as this sinful woman did, and seek to serve Him by serving His body, the Church, in deeds of love and mercy, and also with our friends and family, and those in true need.

E.      May each of us know Gospel peace, be reminded & comforted by this peace, & grow in this peace, serving the Lord  in all that we do with the peace of God and His blessing upon us. Let us pray.

Luke 8:1-3; 18-21 – Hearing & Doing in God’s Kingdom – Sermon Outline

Intro: Your experience may be, I was baptized as a baby, or, I said the prayer. Now what do I do?

Need: See the Lord is building an all-encompassing kingdom through His church body with many parts.

Theme: Christ preaches the kingdom, which demands attentive hearing & orderly doing. 

 

                1.      The 12 Apostles & certain women hear and do faithfully.

                2.      Jesus’ own mother and brothers do not hear and do truly.

 

I.       The 12 Apostles & certain women hear & do according to their calling.

A.      Jesus goes through cities & villages preaching the good news of God’s kingdom.

       1.      Christ is not just sticking to the cities, the largest, most populated areas, but going out into the villages, the country, all over the place.

       2.      Presbyteries have to decide where best to plant churches, many things factor into those decisions, but it is clear that the Gospel goes to city dwellers as well as country folk, and every point in between.

       3.      As all sorts of people went out to see John, now Jesus goes out to see/teach all sorts of people.

B.      Notice: The Kingdom of God is the good news/glad tidings, it is the content of Christ’s preaching.

       1.      The call is to “repent, and believe the Gospel” of the coming of God’s kingdom.

       2.      It includes individual salvation, deliverance from sin & hell unto righteousness/heaven, but is more.

       3.      It is nothing less than the establishment of Christ’s kingdom on earth, so that the will of God may be done on earth as it is in heaven in all things.

       4.      For those who hear the Gospel & respond with obedient doing, it includes membership in God’s Kingdom by becoming part of Christ’s body as expressed in joining with His church on earth.

       5.      It centers around godly, faithful living in all things, putting off sin and putting on righteousness.

       6.      It centers around the Church, Christ’s body loving one another, but expands out in the Church’s living before “outsiders”, walking in wisdom toward them and redeeming the time, with gracious speech that is “seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one,” Col. 4:5-6.

       7.      Our work/labor/jobs is a big part of our witness to the world. I Thess. 4:10b-12 says “But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”

a.       Remember Paul/others worked as tentmakers, with their own hands, setting an example for all.

b.       Working hard/with skill shows that dominion making for Christ matters, that sloth is sin, etc.   

       8.      Witnessing, evangelism, speaking the truth in love to all people, being salt and light, etc., is key, so that as God wills outsiders too may repent and believe the Gospel, being brought into the kingdom of God by joining with a local Church and becoming part of the body of Christ.

       9.      Christ has to lay that foundation, so His emphasis/calling is to spread the Gospel far and wide, in the highways and byways, the cities as well as the villages.  

C.      Jesus proclaims the Gospel with His 12 disciples/apostles, but others as well, including some women.

       1.      The spread of the Gospel in Christ’s ministry and the Apostolic era after He ascends and pours out His Spirit is important to remember as we look at the parable of the four soils.

       2.      The seed of God’s Word is now bearing fruit in many nations all over the world, thanks firstly to this foundation laying of Christ and His apostles and prophets.

       3.      But if the churches all over the world, including in the USA, lose the Gospel, stop preaching and proclaiming repentance for the forgiveness of sins, and forget about Christ’s kingdom, then the people outside the Church will forget the Gospel as well and slide further into degeneracy.

       4.      So reformation and revival is often needed both within the Church and without, and our faithful witness, whether pastors or laypersons, men or women, to those outside the faith is crucial.

       5.      If the knowledge of the Lord is to cover the earth, we cannot allow the Church to falter & forget the Gospel, so we strive for reformation, but we must also not allow the highways and byways to be abandoned to false teaching and vain philosophies, so we strive for revival in our culture/land.

       6.      Truly there is much work to be done, both within the Church and outside of it in our nation.

       7.      Not all will be missionaries, not all will be church planters, not all will be deacons or elders, but all are to be serviceable for the sake of the kingdom, including the women as we see in the following verses.

D.      Remember Christ specifically chose just 12 to be His apostles/traveling disciples.

       1.      While others traveled with Jesus, the 12 were called to be apostles/take Gospel far & wide like Christ.

       2.      This was essentially their seminary education over three years, and it includes some “on the job” training. They learn under Christ, and initially preach/heal under Christ’s supervision/correction.

       3.      Interestingly, Paul himself indicates he was trained for three years in Galatians 1:11-23, Acts 9:19.

       4.      Only after 3 years did he go to Jerusalem to see Peter & James, indicating he learned the Word of God for three years, and his ministry was restricted to the synagogues in Damascus (Acts 9:20-22).

       5.      While Paul is filled with the HS in Acts 9:17, not until Acts 13:2 do we see the Holy Spirit calling Paul & Barnabas with him to minister to the Gentiles, while Peter, James, John, & other apostles/prophets to the Jews/circumcised; they give Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, Gal. 2:7-9.

       6.      So even in the apostolic era there was division of labor, laying on of hands/ordination by HS, etc.

       7.      Elders have a duty to raise up future church leaders, elders and deacons, teachers, etc. Men who desire these offices desire a good thing (I Tim. 3:1), but must submit to the eldership and not run from their authority, but must be trained by them and tested before being ordained, I Tim. 3:10.

       8.      Paul was an Apostle and an elder, Christ chose Him by revelation, yet he was still trained for three years and submitted to the laying on of hands by the other church leaders. That is the biblical pattern.

E.      I Cor. 3:5-15 shows that Paul planted the Gospel, Apollos came after and watered there, but in both cases it is God who gives the increase.

       1.      The Church that forms from Paul’s first preaching to them is the foundation, Rom. 15:20, & Apollos/others must build faithfully on that foundation laid by preaching Christ/all of Scripture.

       2.      Those who do not build by preaching Christ but instead wood, hay, stubble, will suffer great loss.

       3.      The Evangelical Church growth movement has built its ministry largely on wood, hay, & stubble. In some cases they are outright false churches, not even truly build on the foundation of Christ crucified.

       4.      HRPC has laid the foundation of Christ, we have formed as a Church, & by God’s grace, may we continue to build on that foundation gold, silver, precious stones, sound doctrine that profits & sanctifies, that continues to make disciples (I Cr. 3:12) going from milk to meat, Hb. 5:11-14; I Pt. 2:2.

       5.      Churches often put a premium on counting noses, getting decisions/supposed conversions. But Paul in I Cor. 3:5-8 shows that planting and watering are equally important/valuable. The obvious thing we have forgotten is that when a soul is planted in Christ, it must be watered richly with the Word!  

       6.      Paul’s planting ministry and Apollos’ watering ministry are both called “one”, B/C it is one Church that Christ purchased, and both Paul and Apollos are “ministers through whom you believed”, I Cor. 3:5.

F.      The office of eldership, which does continue today, connects directly to the Apostles.

       1.      Paul tells Titus, another who essentially held the office of Evangelist like Timothy, to “appoint elders in every city”, Titus 1:5. The reason was to “set in order the things that are lacking”. The Gospel through Christ then His apostles had sown the Gospel seed far and wide, now elders must shepherd.

       2.      This is all forward looking of course, but understand that Christ’s parable of the four soils is a controlling parable, it teaches about the kingdom of God and the seed going forth all over the place, and how people respond to it, positively or negatively.

       3.      Christ first sowed the Gospel seed of the kingdom, it was then entrusted to the apostles, prophets, evangelists in the 1st century after Christ had risen and ascended, and as the Gospel spread and permeated the nations, Elders were appointed to keep building on that foundation, to continue teaching, equipping, evangelizing, and so on.

       4.      Men & women must obey the order God has given in the Church. All may and should be salt & light, but only some men are called as Ministers of the Gospel, with a special anointing/gifting by the Spirit.

       5.      That ministry is primarily to shepherd the flock, the household of God/Church that Christ has called those elders to serve, by preaching the Gospel of the kingdom to them. Some are ordained specifically with a calling to be Church Planters, which is Evangelism intended to form a Church.  

       6.      The Eldership should be looking to raise up faithful men to be deacons and elders, 2 Tim. 2:2. This is a healthy form of Church growth, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

G.     Women are to be salt & light too, and can even teach or informally correct ministers of the Word.

       1.      We see this with the husband and wife Priscilla & Aquila doing with the mighty Apollos, who initially only knew the teaching on the baptism of John, not Jesus’ ministry yet, Acts 18:24ff.

       2.      Priscila along with her husband “took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately”. So it was not formal, ordained, authoritative teaching, but it was instruction.

       3.      Acts 18 shows that Priscila and Aquila were just tentmakers, in fact Paul lived with them and worked with them for he also was a tentmaker by trade.

       4.      So we see that you can be employed in a regular job yet still minister greatly, by hosting an apostle and by privately helping Apollos understand more of the redemptive work of God through Christ.

       5.      In Acts 18:18 we see when Paul is ready to leave, Priscilla and Aquila go with him. Romans 16:3 shows Paul calling Aquila and Priscilla his “helpers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles,” and their as well as in I Cor. 16:19 Paul tells those in Corinth “Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.”

       6.      This is not a husband/wife co-pastor team, as some today suggest to justify female pastors, but means precisely what it says, that a church/body of believers met in their house together.  

       7.      Both unordained men & women should take heart, there are many forms of service for the Church of God and the building up of His kingdom, both within the Church & outside of it in your work/witness.

H.      Let’s turn our attention to the women Jesus healed and are now ministering to Him in Lk. 8:2.

       1.      Jesus is willing to heal women as well as men, and have them assist Him in His ministry – something that would have been unthinkable in the culture at the time.

       2.      This Mary was from Magdala, and so is called Magdalene. She was one of the Mary’s that first saw the risen Lord from His tomb. While the disciples and men often would doubt or flee from Christ, we see the faithfulness of many women, and it is women who are first eye-witnesses to the risen Lord, another role reversal as women’s testimonies were often not accepted at that time.

       3.      Joanna likely had much wealth through her husband Chuza, since he had some prominence in Herod’s house. This also shows perhaps that the preaching of John the Baptist and now Christ was even reaching into the inner circles of wicked Herod.

       4.      Joanna is also mentioned in Lk. 24:10, along with Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, as well as other women with them, who reported to the Apostles what they heard from the two men/angels that appeared to tell them Christ is risen in Luke 24. Yet the words seemed like idle tales and the apostles did not initially believe them, 24:11.

       5.      Mary Magdalene, after seeing the risen Lord, reports this to the disciples in Jn. 20:18, and prior to that in Jn. 19:25 it is women that remained as Jesus died, His mother Mary, Mary His mother’s sister and wife of Clopas/mother of James, and Mary Magdalene. Women are elevated in Christ’s ministry, and they are elevated as women, not as men joining the ranks of apostleship, but women serving the Lord, helping Him, sympathizing with His sufferings, alleviating His physical burdens, etc.

       6.      Susanna is only mentioned here, and we see that there were many other women that ministered to Christ. In all these ways we see that women were so far from being denigrated by Christ and His Apostles that women were rather elevated above both Jewish and Roman culture/custom.

I.         Those in the Church or outside of it today saying the Bible turns women into doormats are ignorant.

       1.      While men are created by God and called to be heads in the home, church, and state, women have a prominent and necessary purpose, created and called by God to enter into their callings as helpers.

       2.      For God made woman from the side of man to be a helper, Eve was necessary for Adam to be “fruitful and multiply, fill the Earth & subdue it” and that of course is still true today.

       3.      While this applies especially within marriage, it expands into the church & even jobs/work. The married woman’s help should revolve around her husband’s duties in home, church, state/work.

       4.      Likely married & unmarried women “provided”/ministered to Christ, the Gk. word being the word from which we get Deacon. So they are serving, rendering service to Jesus, service that matters.

       5.      They weren’t called to be apostles or among the 12, but they sustained Christ “from their substance” meaning their money, possessions, homes, food, etc. They were Titus 2 “οἰκουρός” where the older women are to admonish the younger women to be homemakers. The Gk. word is literally a compound of oikos, house, and ergos, work. They are to do house-work, homemakers.

       6.      These women, from all sorts of backgrounds, with their husbands’ permission, are serving Christ from their house substance, & that is a true ministry to Christ, & is a true ministry in the Church today!

J.       In Luke 4:39 we saw Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a high fever, Jesus heals her, and she immediately arises and serves them, getting them food and drink, etc.

       1.      Yet later in Luke 10:38-41 we have the account of the sisters Mary & Martha. Martha is running around serving Jesus in the house, while Mary is sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to Him teach.

       2.      Martha was frustrated that Jesus did not rebuke Mary, since Martha alone was left to be hospitable.

       3.      But Jesus rebukes her, tells her not to be so worried about serving as waitress when He is teaching, For “one thing is needed, & Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

       4.      So we see that women are still helpers in the home and to the men that enter them, but when the Word is being preached and taught, it is for them as well.

       5.      Women must grow in wisdom, knowledge, & understanding, & they should not be expected to serve and not get to hear what the “men” are saying about the Word of God. Husbands teach your wives!

       6.      This doesn’t preclude men’s groups or women’s groups, but it does show that the Word is for both men and women, even though women are not to be teachers or have authority over a man.

K.      In John 12:1-8 we see Jesus at Mary/Martha’s house with their brother Lazarus.

       1.      Supper is prepared for them with Martha serving, Lazarus sits at the table with Jesus and the others.

       2.      Then Mary serves by anointing Jesus’ feet, like the sinful woman who came to Simon the Pharisees house in our previous sermon on Luke 7, with very costly spikenard oil.

       3.      Judas Iscariot gets angry and acted like he cared for the poor and wanted it sold for 300 denarii, about a year’s worth of wages. But Jesus says the poor you have with you always, but you do not have Him always, and that Mary prepared this for His burial.

       4.      Jesus in John 13 washes His disciples’ feet, which Peter and the others thought was beneath Jesus since He was far greater than they were, yet He tells them “you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly…a servant is not greater than his master, nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.” If Christ the Master came to serve, so should His servants, even His apostles/disciples.

       5.      So there is authority and submission in the kingdom of God, between men and women, officers & laypersons, etc., but all are called to serve one another. Headship, leadership, authority, is for the better serving of the body of Christ, not for “lording it over them” in haughty, Pharisaical pride.

       6.      All are to be clothed with humility, for Christ receives all the glory. I Pet. 4:8-11, “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers/diakonos, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

L.       So all, men and women, boy and girl, are to be serviceable in the Church, for God’s kingdom.

       1.      This is seen in our text, from the 12 Apostles with Christ down to the women who went with Him and ministers to His physical needs. Don’t think that your service is small/unnecessary. It is all necessary!

       2.      God has comprised the body with many parts, many functions, that mutually benefit one another, and each local church, to truly be salt and light, needs members filling each necessary part of the body.

       3.      Not all service/ministries are equally glorious in the eyes of man, but in the eyes of God they are all precious and necessary, for it is all His body that builds up one another and witnesses to the world!

       4.      So as the Gospel of the Kingdom calls to you, hear & do faithfully, as man or woman, child or adult, married or single, young or old, shepherd or sheep, with the gifts God has given you.

II.       Jesus’ own mother & brothers do not hear & do as they were called.

A.      John 7:5 tells us Jesus’ own brothers did not believe in Him. Mary is either doubting herself, or at minimum is being swayed by her other sons to interrupt Jesus in His ministry.

       1.      This helps us understand Jesus’ reply. We know of His love for His mother on the cross, when He tells John to take care of her. But here, in His ministry that the Father has called Him to do, He must do it, and not be turned aside, even by his own mother and brothers.

       2.      This is akin to Jesus as a boy staying behind in the temple. When his family goes back to look for Him, He says to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” Lk. 2:49. Verse 50 tells us that they did not understand the statement He said to them.

       3.      Jesus’ brothers could have been serving in the work of ministry with Jesus, not perhaps as the 12 Apostles, but certainly as other close disciples or perhaps like the 70 that are later sent out.

       4.      Yet they are not even among the company of Christ’s followers at this time.

       5.      Mary the mother of Jesus surely could have served at least as Mary Magdalene/the other women did, but for whatever reason, she was not doing so. She was not ministering to her own son’s needs, and He was the God-Man, and the Angel told her who Jesus her son was and what He would do!

       6.      Whether Mary/Jesus’ brothers were bitter, jealous, confused, etc., they didn’t have hearts to help and serve the great work of Christ, taking the Gospel of the kingdom of God to the towns and villages.

B.      Consider how Jesus says in 8:18, at the end of the parable of the four soils, to “take heed how you hear. For whoever has , to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken away from him.” (8:18). Jesus’ family was not hearing Him well/doing/bearing fruit.

       1.      He was their son/brother, but that is being taken away, for Jesus says when He is informed they wish to see Him, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it” (Lk. 8:21).

       2.      What a painful statement Jesus made, yet He shows the priorities. As hard as it is to have a mother or sibling outside of Christ and not walking with the Lord, yet we must walk with the Lord and serve our brothers and sisters in the Church, even before our flesh & blood apart from God’s kingdom.

       3.      We pray in time this would serve as a convicting witness to them to bring them to Christ, but we know that as we serve the Lord, He receives us as His very own brothers and sisters and mothers! 

C.      Matthew Henry’s comments here are helpful: “Some of his [Christ’s] nearest kindred were least solicitous to hear him preach. Instead of getting within, as they might easily have done if they had come in time, desiring to hear him, they stood without, desiring to see him; and, probably, out of a foolish fear, lest he should spend himself with too much speaking, designing nothing but to interrupt him, and oblige him to break off. Jesus Christ would rather be busy at his work than conversing with his friends. He would not leave his preaching, to speak with his mother and his brethren, for it was his meat and drink to be so employed. Christ is pleased to own those as his nearest and dearest relations that hear the word of God and do it; they are to him more than his mother and brethren.”

D.      See how dearly the Lord loves His people who hear His Word and obey it faithfully.

       1.      All are to serve the Lord and His body the Church, the people of God, in some capacity or another.

       2.      Christ Himself washes His disciples’ feet. No service is beneath Him, so no service for the Church should be beneath you! All of it is honored and praised by the Lord, so if you have His blessing and example, then you should have all you need to be content in the service Christ has given to you.

E.      Do not be like Jesus disciples James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who ask in Mk. 10:35ff. if they can sit at the right and left hand of Christ in His glory, greatly displeasing/dividing the other 10 apostles.

       1.      Jesus teaches them a valuable lesson that we must remember at Heritage:

       2.      “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, & their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. & whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

F.      Friends, how many pulpits are filled with pastors who want to lord it over the rest, who think that their prominence will earn them something, make a name for themselves? So do not praise man but God!

       1.      But this can happen from the other end of the stick too. Those scrubbing toilets/cleaning may think they are the ones who should really be most honored, for they are doing the most unpleasant work.

       2.      That attitude, likewise, is wicked. Christ washes feet out of service, even though He is Lord of all.

G.     When we constantly demand more recognition we are toxic to one another and toxic to Christ.

       1.      When we recklessly demand that others serve us more, we behave with an anti-Christ spirit.

       2.      But when we as a unit, the body of Christ serve humbly, lovingly, however the Lord calls us, with no thought to ourselves and our own accolades, then we will see the love of Christ in the body in real power and splendor!

       3.      As husband and wife are one flesh and must serve one another, by the husband being in authority for her and by the wife in submission to help him, so must each member in the church body serve one another, both in sacrificial leadership & sacrificial service. Thus we love another & fulfill Christ’s law. 

       4.      So let us hear God’s word attentively and serve cheerfully and orderly, as the Lord has called us, knowing the Lord will reward our service to Him, even if it seems unpleasant and unnoticed.

       5.      And of course, let us remember to not ignore the sacrificial service of each part of the body here at Heritage, but be thankful for it, praise one another for it, and remember that by it Christ continues to serve us, teaching our hearts, washing our feet, and building His kingdom. Let us pray.

 Luke 8:4-10 – The Purpose of Parables– Sermon Outline

Intro: Are Jesus’ parables meant to be hard to understand, or easy stories to clarify?

Need: The answer is both. Those being saved come to understand the parables, the rest do not.

Theme: Christ speaks in parables to both conceal and reveal.   

 

1. Parables conceal the truth to the spiritually dead/deaf.

2. Parables reveal the truth to the spiritually alive/hearing.

 

I.       Parables conceal the truth to the spiritually dead/deaf.

A.      Parable means “to place alongside of another”, so it is a metaphor, a simile or comparison, etc.

       1.      It can come in the form of stories, proverbs, maxims, etc. But the point is that there are layers to it.

       2.      You have to interpret it, or have someone more knowledgeable interpret it for you.

       3.      But the layer is not merely a cloak to conceal the truth from the hard-hearted, it also adds a layer of meaning to the core teaching, it is the Truth illustrated, the truth of God’s Word put in clothing that reveals the truth all the more profoundly for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.

       4.      So it is the lazy, dull-hearted man’s way out to say “Well, we can’t know that about God’s Word”.

       5.      While there are absurd speculations, like how many angels can dance on top of the head of a needle, there are many depths of God’s Word yet to be understood by man, yet to be revealed by the illuminating work of God’s Holy Spirit. God is inexhaustible, and thus so is His Word.

       6.      Our calling as Christians is to keep growing in knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, so that we can bear fruit not just 30 or 60 fold, but 100 fold. Abound in fruitfulness, strive for 100-fold bounty.

       7.      So then, abound in diligent study of God’s Word, then faithfully serve in God’s kingdom in obedience.

B.      Consider verse 10. Parables are actually meant to both reveal and conceal the kingdom of God.

       1.      We have Modern Evangelicalism’s wildest dreams coming true here – not just a crowd of people, but v. 4 says a “great multitude” that is coming far and wide from “every city” to hear Jesus preach.

       2.      But Jesus knows they aren’t coming for the Truth, for salvation.

       3.      So instead of a clear gospel proclamation, He speaks to them in riddles, in parables.

       4.      He gives them something to chew on, to think about, to get them to inquire further what it means.

C.      The disciples also heard the parables, & Jesus in v. 8 says “He who has ears to hear, let him hear”.

       1.      Parables are for Christians too, but Christ gives His disciples the interpretation of the parables.

       2.      We have the Holy Spirit who illuminates, or “interprets” as it were, the Word of God for us.

       3.      The Spirit does this not apart from reading, just as Jesus did not explain to His disciples the meaning of parables apart from their hearing them. The Spirit works by careful study/hearing of God’s Word.

       4.      The Bible is not simplistic because God is not simple. He deserves study, to unlock His mysteries.

       5.      Those who refuse to do so are those who do not have ears to hear, and will suffer for their disobedience and lack of diligent study to find out the mind of God in His Word.

       6.      Those who study carefully, empowered by the Spirit, will grasp the depths of God’s Word and grow in wisdom and understanding, which will lead to clarity, conviction, and God’s blessing in their life.

D.      There are again some obvious applications to our Christian culture today.

       1.      Churches wish to dumb everything down or use whatever trick they can to gather a crowd.

       2.      We need to see that Christ often avoided the crowds, refused to heal & teach them due to unbelief.

       3.      Even when He speaks, He often speaks in parables, to sift through the wheat and the tares, the elect and the non-elect, those whom God has given ears to hear, and those whom He has not.

       4.      The Church and the pastors job is not to speak new parables or riddles as Christ has done, but rather to be interpreters of all God’s Word, which to the unbeliever/untrained is like one large riddle/parable.

       5.      But when the church/preachers give up preaching in order to gather crowds, they sin against God and Christ’s own example, who never dumbed down the Gospel of the Kingdom to get a “hearing”.

       6.      Instead, He told them to listen up, to get ears that hear and eyes that see, or else.

E.      V. 18 tells us to take heed to how we hear. Heaven and hell, blessing & cursing, are on the line.

       1.      Faithful hearing brings kingdom blessings, unfaithful hearing brings God’s judgment.

       2.      Our growth/rewards in heaven have much to do with how well we hear and heed God’s Word.

F.      In Mk. 4:13, after this parable is given and the disciples ask Jesus what it means, Jesus says to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?”

       1.      If you only read the part about the parable, it is much more mysterious, especially since Jesus doesn’t give any context to the parable. He doesn’t even say, “This is like the kingdom of heaven”.

       2.      He just starts telling this parable to the crowd, then says “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

       3.      Only those who later come to Him for the explanation are given one. These have “ears to hear”.

       4.      Indeed, when we do not understand something in Scripture, we should study it harder, pray to God He would make the Scripture clear to us, get help from pastors/elders/teachers, and not give up.

       5.      Many heard this parable of the four soils, scratched their heads or presumed they knew what it meant, and left Jesus alone. It seems only a few came to Jesus later to ask Him about it.

G.     What those who are called to salvation need is not a dumbing down, a watering down of the potent word of God. What people need is the Word of God straight up, no additives.

       1.      This will repel some, but that means we are simply being like Christ, who repelled many.

       2.      True seeker sensitivity is seeking those whom God intends to save, and proclaiming the Word with conviction and power as if we actually believe the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation.

       3.      Lk. 8:10 shows a quote/paraphrase of passages like Is. 6:9, where Isaiah tells God he will go and speak to the people, and God wants him to tell the people to “keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.”

       4.      So the hearts of the people become dull, ears heavy, eyes shut, so that they do not understand and do not repent in order to be healed. Isaiah wants to know how long he has to do this, and Jehovah says basically until he kills everyone in the city and wipes His people out from His presence.

       5.      Yet He will save a tenth, a remnant, like a stump that remains after the tree is cut down, and this stump will be a holy seed to the Lord.

H.      Jesus in Lk. 8 is speaking to Jewish people who, like Isaiah prophesied of, have grown dull of hearing.

       1.      They of all the nations of the world had the covenant, the OT Scriptures, etc. John the Baptist was sent to them, now Christ comes, and yet they still refuse Christ. They’ve had the Gospel all along.

       2.      Thus Jesus speaking to them in riddles so that they don’t turn to Him isn’t as “harsh” as it seems.

       3.      God is abundant in mercy, and to faithless Israel, He was merciful again and again. But now the kingdom is closing to them, and the N.T. shows how the Gospel goes from Jews who have grown dull in hearing and rebellious, to Gentiles whom God has given eyes & ears to see & hear Christ.

I.         Christ proclaims, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand” then explains the kingdom with riddles to some of the same people, so that only the diligent will come to Him and ask for guidance/interpretation.

       1.      Those who don’t have time to study God’s word diligently don’t have eyes, ears, or hearts for the kingdom of God, and will find on judgment day they were always on the outside of God’s kingdom.  

       2.      Is this you? Then repent of your dull-heartedness, and ask God to revive your love for Him and His Word. Even as Christians we often need to repent of how our spiritual ears can grow dull in hearing.

II.       Parables reveal the truth to the spiritually alive/hearing.

A.      It cannot be stressed enough the distinction between those whom God grants to know the mysteries of God’s kingdom, and who it is given to in parables that are unexplained.

       1.      This isn’t altogether like tongues speaking that was left uninterpreted in I Cor. 14. It makes an indistinct sound, like a badly played trumpet that is supposed to prepare men for the battle, but instead plays something incoherent or sounds like a lullaby so the pew-sleepers slumber toward hell.

       2.      But prophesying edifies the church, which I Cor. 14:3 says is to speak “edification and exhortation and comfort to men”. A sermon then can be a prophesying in that sense, as can a Bible study, or simply one believer going to another & edifying, exhorting, or comforting them with the Word of God.

       3.      That actually communicates, it actually reveals God’s word, will, & kingdom, rather than concealing it.

       4.      But parables unexplained are little better than tongues uninterpreted. They don’t edify. In fact both are a sign of judgment on unbelievers (compare Lk. 8:10 with I Cor. 14:21-25).

       5.      You have to get the interpretation, the explanation, and those who seek such out are those who are Christ’s disciples, those diligent to find out what He is saying in His written word.

       6.      Lk. 8:9-10, since the disciples come and ask Jesus, He tells them they are given (perfect passive tense, showing it is God who predestined the disciples to know/give the mysteries) “the mysteries of the kingdom of God” but those others who don’t want to think or study or know, their ignorance is deserved and God will keep them/give them over to that state so that they do not repent/be forgiven.

B.      Consider: A healthy marriage, a true marriage, requires taking a diligent interest in one another.

       1.      The husband must study and love his wife, and the wife must love and know her husband.

       2.      God does not give His love, His blessings, to those who do not want to even get to know Him.

       3.      If a woman is not interested in a man’s mission/ambitions, his work, his goals, etc., she isn’t worth having her affection. If he doesn’t have godly ambitions, goals, plans, he’s not worthy of affection.

       4.      Christ came to redeem a bride that is zealous for good works, that is hungering and thirsting for righteousness, that is being sanctified by the Truth of God’s Word by the Spirit of Truth.

       5.      Those who get a sniff of that in parables and don’t inquire further have the kingdom shut to them. The mystery remains just that, a shell of blessings never pried open, and thus never received.

       6.      But if you get to know the Lord, His kingdom purpose, His goodness, etc., you’ll want to marry Him. Which simply means He is the head of His Church, and you are the bride that follows His lead gladly.

       7.      And in that marriage, you will get to know the Lord and His kingdom purposes better, from the inside.

C.      Those who have ears to hear are those who are of the good soil that yield a very fruitful crop, 8:8.

       1.      This indicates that for the true Christian, the one who has the new birth of the Holy Spirit, the entire Christian life is one of continual feeding on Christ’s Words, worshiping Christ, serving in the body, to continually bear the Spirit’s fruit, bringing forth the wisdom of God’s Word in every facet of our lives.

       2.      Some lend an ear superficially, seemingly sincerely for a season, but the lasting fruit is choked out.

       3.      We know that a fruit tree that does not bear fruit is useless. Christ cursed the barren fig tree.

D.      Jesus explains that the key thing is truly hearing God’s word in order to be fruitful/a true Christian.

       1.      Lk. 8:15 is clear that you must have a “noble and good heart”, good soil, in order for the seed of the word to implant and germinate in your heart and actually renew you in the image of God/His Word, so that you do indeed bear fruit and keep the Word of God with patience.

       2.      We know that a noble and good heart comes from God alone, from the redeeming work of the Holy Spirit, and thus the fruit of the Spirit is the fruit of keeping God’s Word by God’s strength/grace.

       3.      The Spirit works through the Word, and the Word has its power in our hearts by the Spirit.

E.      But all of Scripture goes from a shrouded mystery, a frustrating enigma, to the revelation of God and heaven itself, for the one whom God grants spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear heavenly truths.

       1.      Jesus in Mt. 13:16-17 says the disciples are blessed because their eyes see and ears hear, “for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

       2.      The prophets and even righteous men did not see what is now being revealed, which is the nature of God’s kingdom. And what is God’s kingdom? It is the good news of the Gospel. Don’t forget that.

       3.      The Gospel is the kingdom, which includes personal salvation but is much more than that.

       4.      It makes you a citizen of the heavenly realm which has now come down to earth, it makes you an agent in God’s kingdom to work toward “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, and that this would occur in all things, every facet and arena of life, every work and job and technology and family and school and government.

       5.      How else can you and we as a church be 100-fold fruit bearers, rather than merely 30 or 60 fold?

       6.      We must be fruitful in everything, we must see God’s kingdom come and will be done over every square inch of the universe, in every heart and mind, in every word and deed. This will require careful hearing and faithful doing, and persistent praying that God would grant us to both hear & do His will.

III.       Biblical Illustrations of faithful and unfaithful hearing (Mk. 4; Jn. 6; 2 Pet. 3).

A.      The picture in Mark 4 of this parable is powerful, where Jesus is speaking on a boat just in the water.

       1.      Those massive crowds that are listening are on the shoreline, facing Christ out across the waters.

       2.      He speaks in parables. Now, how will the people learn these mysteries of the Christ, in whom the kingdom has come down? By going to Him. By crossing the waters, by getting onto the boat.

       3.      That’s certainly a picture of salvation. The 12 are either with Christ on the boat or later go out to Him, so they are safe with the Lord Jesus. They have been baptized in the waters as it were, they have crossed over from the sinful world to the God’s ark of safety. Christ/12 apostles picture the Church.

       4.      Those who go out to Jesus to hear the words of life are coming to Him for true salvation. They must go through the waters, be baptized, then taught by Christ the meaning of His parables.

       5.      For those who remained on the seashore and listened but then turned away and went home, they never came to Christ truly. They had eyes, but didn’t truly perceive Him as Lord and Savior.

       6.      They had ears, but didn’t hear like Peter that Christ alone has the words of eternal life! (Jn. 6:68).

B.      John 6 also involves people getting into boats to see Jesus (Jn. 6:24).

       1.      But they weren’t true seekers, and Jesus was the opposite of seeker-sensitive churches as we know them today. In fact John 6:14 shows that some men, who just witnessed the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000, said “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Yet in the next verse Jesus perceived they were going to take Him by force to make Him king, so He departs to the mountain.

       2.      You can perceive that Christ is King, a true Prophet, and yet want to then manipulate Him or take Him by force for your own purposes. This is not a true hearing or seeing of Christ as Lord and Savior.

       3.      We are to bend the knee to Him, to do His will, not to take Him by force for our purposes.

       4.      So in Jn. 6:24-27, we see some seeking Jesus, even getting into the boat, crossing the waters, and calling Jesus Rabbi, posturing themselves as His disciples. But Jesus says they only came to Him because they ate the bread that was multiplied. “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

       5.      The people ask for a work/miracle so He can again prove His deity to them, but He says a real work/miracle of God is that the people would truly believe in Him as the One sent by the Father.

       6.      He tells them that they don’t truly believe in Him. So some can come into the Church, request membership, even become members, but it’s not because they truly love the Lord, even if they claim such, even if they say they love Jesus and sound teaching and serving the body. It can all be a ruse.

       7.      Jesus says He will give His body and blood so that those who eat and drink of it will live forever. He is speaking of saving union through giving Himself as the atonement for sin, but the dull hearted Jews are confused and say “this is a hard saying, who can understand it?” Well, it’s a parable again.

       8.      We can understand it if we have eyes to see and ears to hear, if we are born again of the Spirit who helps us understand the Word of God. But these Jews were unbelieving and devoid of the Spirit, even as they called Jesus Rabbi and sought Him.

       9.      Then Jesus says in Jn. 6:65, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father” and by that He meant coming in true faith, for salvation, the bread of life and not the bread that perishes. The next verse says “from that time many of His disciples went back and wwalked with Him no more.”

   10.      Jesus asks the 12 if they want to go away too, but Simon says “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” So Peter, though often slow of understanding, had spiritual ears to truly hear!   

   11.      Except for Judas, God have given the disciples spiritual eyes and ears to comprehend in Christ and His message that He was God in the flesh, and that He was the Word of Life and proclaimed it!

C.      2 Pet. 3: Each Presbytery, eldership, and member of the Church must listen attentively to God’s Word.

       1.      2 Pet. 3:15ff. “as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

       2.      Paul’s epistles are like inscrutable riddles to the unregenerate/spiritually dead/deaf. But those same epistles are like sweet, revealed mysteries to the regenerate/spiritually alive/faithfully hearing.

       3.      The untaught are thus also unstable, and thus twist to their further destabilizing/destruction Paul’s words, as they do the rest of the Scriptures.  

       4.      Peter exhorts the Christians to “beware” lest they fall away from being faithful and trusting the Lord, away from attentive and careful hearing of the Holy Scriptures, “being led away with the error of the wicked.” Rather, they must “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

D.      This is why the Elders want to add an evening worship service on Sundays.

       1.      Growth in faith/knowledge of Christ comes by hearing the Word of God read and preached.

       2.      Two sermons a week obviously doubles the intake of preaching per week for you and your family.

       3.      Until the last 50 or so years, it was common for not just Reformed churches, but all Bible believing churches to have morning & evening worship, most of them also had a Wednesday evening service.

       4.      I have read that the Puritans would often preach 5 sermons a week in addition to teaching the catechism during the week. And often times even the midweek services were full of congregants.

       5.      Calvin preached Sunday morning & evening, also preached every day of the week every other week.

       6.      While there is a place for small groups, Bible studies, etc., especially given most can read today and there is accessibility of Bibles, books, commentaries, teaching series online, etc., none of those things can replace the Word read and proclaimed by the minister of the Gospel in corporate worship on the Lord’s Day. Morning and evening Sunday worship is a good thing for the Church to recover.

       7.      But it will only come as the people hunger and thirst for the meat of the Word of God again, with ears that hear and eyes that see. It will require arranging your work week well to have time to listen well.  

E.      CONC.: May we all have spiritual ears to hear, so that, like the disciples, Christ might “open our understanding, that we might comprehend all the Scriptures” (Lk. 24:45) & bear much fruit. Let us pray.

 Luke 8:11-18 –The Parable of the Four Soils Explained– Sermon Outline

Intro: What is genuine conversion to Christ? What is apostasy, or “deconstructing” mean?

Need: Genuine conversion is revealed only in time, by bearing fruit to the Lord in all seasons.

Theme: The four soils reveal the only two conditions of man’s heart: 

 

1.            The wayside, rocky, and thorny soils reveal the unregenerate heart. (11-14)

2.            The good ground that bears fruit reveals the regenerate heart. (15)

3.            The word of God is the light we must shine to be fruit bearers. (16-18)

 

I.       The wayside, rocky, and thorny soils reveal the unregenerate heart. (11-14)

A.      V. 11, the seed is the Word of God planted in all four soil types.

       1.      Only the one in union with Christ, having rich soil/good & noble heart, receives the word savingly.

       2.      That is, you must have the new birth by the Spirit for God’s word to flower in your heart/bear fruit.

       3.      I Pet. 1:22-23 says we obey the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, and must love one another fervently with a pure heart, “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever”.

       4.      James 1:21-22 says to “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”  

       5.      This seed of the Word of God reaches the heart when it is heard, especially when the Word is preached and proclaimed with true conviction and clarity.

       6.      If it is a heart that the Spirit has been preparing and has brought to new life in Christ, this heart readily receives the Gospel word of Christ and His kingdom with all that it demands – repentance toward God, faith in Jesus Christ, submitting to baptism, church membership/elder oversight, etc.

B.      The wayside, rocky, and thorny soils are the sinful/unregenerate conditions of man, & all hear the word.

       1.      Yet because the heart of sinful man is dead in sins, the word does not produce saving faith/good fruit.

       2.      These become hearers of the word, but not true hearers, because they are not doers of the word.

C.      V. 12, Even those by the “wayside” hear the word and have it in their hearts in some sense, but right away the devil snatches it out so that they do not believe/receive salvation.

       1.      These are people most hardened in sin, and thus nearest to Satan and his deceptions.

       2.      They hear the Father of Lies, so when the Word of Truth comes, it is taken away & trampled.

       3.      The word doesn’t bear even a temporary/initial positive response. It is “trodden down” v. 5, a word used both literally to tread on something/someone, but also metaphorically, as salt that has lost its savor is trampled (Mt. 5:13) & swine will trample underfoot the “pearls” of God’s holy word (Mt. 7:6). Heb. 10:29 warns of the one who “tramples under foot the Son of God.”

       4.      Some hear the Gospel, reject, mock, and hate it right away, and are like pigs stomping pearls.

       5.      The Gospel of the kingdom lays merely on the surface of the heart, never plowed into it, and so the “birds of the air”/suggestions of Satan “devour” it, V. 5.  

D.      V. 13, Some do initially hear the Gospel with joy, but it isn’t a rooted/true joy, and so it departs.

       1.      Receiving the Word with joy is the right response, but that joy must not, and will not, fade or perish if it is true saving faith. We are justified by faith alone, but the faith that justifies is a living faith that bears good fruit, that blooms into good works, otherwise it is not justifying faith.

       2.      Faith itself is a gift/grace of God, granted by the Holy Spirit, Eph. 2:8. Lydia’s heart opened by God to heed the things Paul preached, then she and her household is baptized, Acts 16:14.

       3.      So true, saving faith is regenerate fruit, you must be born again to have the fruit of saving faith.

       4.      But how do you know that you have saving faith, and not a temporary faith/joy? Only by continued faithfulness, bearing more of the fruit of the Spirit, repenting of sin, etc.

       5.      Note, fruit/faithfulness doesn’t justify, but it evidenced you have been justified by genuine faith.

       6.      When man and wife vow themselves to each other “til death do us part”, but then one abandons the marriage a year later when the initial joy wanes, the vow/faith had no root. The man and wife were really married, but the bond was incomplete, false, superficial, temporary.

       7.      So are those who, in initial joy, respond with a temporary faith, a superficial repentance.

       8.      The Gospel promise of sins forgiven, the blessings of Christ’s kingdom, the idea of God as a loving and forgiving Father appeals to them, but they still are dead in sin/love sin, won’t deny self, won’t take up the cross & follow after Christ and seek first His kingdom and righteousness.

       9.      Infatuation with Christ isn’t saving faith. Warm feelings cannot regenerate cold, dead hearts.

   10.      “While” & “time” are the same Greek word. So you could translate it as those who believe “for a time, but in time of temptation fall away”. They love easy times & easy Jesus, but are merely fair-weather friends of Christ & His Church. In trials they abandon the faith & the faithful.

E.      The “rootlessness” of this faith is revealed when the time of temptation comes.

       1.       Luke 8:6, the word sprang up but then withered because it lacked moisture, the sustenance of the dirt/earth and water that good soil soaks in. Matt. 13:6 adds that when the sun comes up the seed is scorched due to this lack of moisture/root.

       2.      The Church today often labors, unwittingly, to produce nothing but rocky/stony ground hearers -- those who have an immediate “experience” and thus only a superficial joy.

       3.      So many churches try to "convert" that wave of emotions and “decision for Jesus" that was made in the moment (of coming forward to the altar, saying the prayer, signing your name in the Bible, etc.) to last a lifetime. But good preaching aims at the heart to produce the root.

       4.      Light shows, mood music, emotional manipulation, is a wicked effort at substituting the H.S.

       5.      But such counterfeits will never produce the root of saving faith/regeneration in man’s heart.

F.      Even faithful preaching will only harden sinner’s heart if the Spirit doesn’t convict, regenerate, and root the sinner into the risen Christ. But the Spirit works most through faithful preaching.

       1.      See Peter’s Spirit empowered sermon in Acts 2, where he plainly tells the Jews there that they crucified Jesus, but that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ. Then they who heard were “cut to the heart” and said “what shall we do?” to which Peter says “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” and the promise is to you, your children, and those far off, (2:36-39).

       2.      Then in Acts 7 you have the Spirit-empowered preaching of Stephen, and he calls the Jews “stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.” The Jews there too are “cut to the heart” Acts 7:54, but not unto regeneration/salvation, but trampling the Son of God underfoot, and His messenger Stephen, as they then stone him.

       3.      Both men were full of the Spirit and proclaimed the Gospel boldly, one led to mass conversions, the other led to the martyr’s crown. Both glorified God & were blessed.

G.     What if you struggle mightily with temptation and often fall into sin. Are you rooted in Christ?

       1.      “temptation” in 8:13 in the NKJV, translated as “testing” in ESV, is the same word used of Satan tempting/testing Jesus, and also in the Lord’s Prayer, that we be not led into temptation but delivered from evil. It is the same word used in Lk. 22:28, translated there as “trials”.

       2.      Jesus says the 12 disciples have continued with Him in His trials, and so He is bestowing upon them His kingdom, and that they may eat and drink at His table in His kingdom, sitting on thrones and judging the 12 tribes of Israel.

       3.      He then calls out Peter and tells him that Satan asked to sift Peter as wheat, to take away that word that Jesus was sowing, but Christ has prayed for Peter, that his faith should not fail.

       4.      This was before Peter betrayed Christ, but Jesus gives intercessory prayer to the Father for Peter so that he is not sifted by Satan but repents of his betrayal & renews his faith in the Lord.

       5.      Peter faltered in temptation, indeed he did fall away in one sense, but not a total or final falling away. As unbelievers can have a temporary faith, true believers can have a temporary apostasy/falling away/ἀφίστημι. But don’t go there, Jesus had to pray fervently for Peter!

       6.      But be comforted in knowing that if you repent genuinely, even if you fall frequently, your repentance and fruits of repentance, like the fruit of faith, reveals your rootedness to Christ.

H.      In Lk. 8:13 we are reading of a full apostasy, not a temporary/partial one like Peter.

       1.      We are reading of a Judas falling away unto perdition, not a Peter falling away to eventual renewed repentance & refreshed faith. Peter was rooted in Christ, thus Christ prayed for Him.

       2.      Judas was not, and others are not, and thus their temporary faith, even though outwardly it may appear sincere and joyous, reveals itself to be false faith in time of trial and temptation.

       3.      Let us each examine our own hearts, that we be neither Judas’s nor faltering Peters, but faithful through trials as Christ was faithful through the ultimate trial of the cross in obedience to His Father, for we too are called to take up our cross and follow Christ without faltering.

       4.      And if/when we do falter, we must immediately repent and return to the merciful Father & renew our faith/joy in Him, which will only be seen fully when we endure a future trial faithfully, with patience, & without falling away, even as Peter went on to proclaim Christ boldly and under much persecution.

I.         V. 14, The unregenerate heart is full of lusty thorns, which prevent the Word of God from growing.

       1.      Thus it cannot produce fruitful maturity in service to Christ. Sin/lusts choke out faithful service.

       2.      While “suffering for Jesus” may actually seem fun, other, sinful “fun” still chokes out good fruit.

       3.      Ease and comfort ensnare them and prevent them from ever serving the Lord truly. Perhaps true Christians must most beware of this apathy and indulgence of lusts, by mortifying sinful flesh.

       4.      We can look at King Solomon/other Scriptural examples who began well, but then had their fruit diminished because of inordinate lusts of the heart, whether for women, wine, or money.

II.       The good ground that bears fruit reveals the regenerate heart. (15)

A.      The regenerate person receives the seed/word gladly, turning the word into fruitful action.

       1.      We see that the Preaching of the Gospel is meant to produce doers of the word.

a.       The seed demands attention, that it is nourished and cared for, to bring forth fruit.

b.       We must “break down” the seed of God’s Word so that it flowers in our hearts/lives.

c.       We must pay close attention to God’s Words, for when we do, we are like good soil that causes a seed to transform into a fruitful vine, full of life and giving life to others.

       2.      Then the Word, working by the Spirit in the renewed heart, produces godliness, fruitfulness, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, patience, righteousness, and does so with patience, with perseverance through trials, through thick and thin.

a.       “Patience” could be translated endurance, or with steadfastness, constancy, continually.

b.       We are to bear fruit in season & out of season, at all times, all situations, 100 fold fruitfulness.

B.      The verbs “keep” and “bear fruit” in the Greek indicate a continual, ongoing, everbearing fruitfulness.

       1.      Not an occasional, seasonal, or temporary fruit bearing. There is no “offseason” in service to Christ.

       2.      The barren fig tree that Jesus cursed was not in season when He cursed it. If we are not flowering, we will not come to bear fruit. If the Lord finds us idle, we will test His mercy and patience toward us.

       3.      We planted an everbearing mulberry tree in Florida. In all seasons it would bear fruit. It was small, but even so, it was putting out fruit even when our other plants were not doing so.

       4.      You may be young in the faith, a tender plant, but if you are truly the Lord’s, born again of an incorruptible seed, with a good and noble heart, even as a tender plant rooted in Christ, the power and mercy of Christ will cause you to bear precious fruit of righteousness.

C.      In Matt. 7 we see we know ourselves and one another by the fruit that we produce.

       1.      Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” enters the kingdom of heaven. Only the one who does the will of the Father in heaven, who bears fruit of the kingdom, belongs to the kingdom eternally.

       2.      Some will have, in the name of the Lord, cast out demons and done many signs and wonders, but Christ will tell them He never knew them, and “depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness”.

a.       You can feed the poor and hungry, evangelize, you can marry and have kids and work hard, yet if it isn’t done for the Lord, it isn’t done in righteousness, it isn’t the fruit of the Spirit.

b.       We must have a heart/mind to hunger for God’s Word so that we truly hear it, submit to it, then do it, for God’s glory, for no other reason at root than that we want to glorify God and serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, building up His kingdom and the body of Christ, His Church.

       3.      So Jesus says in 7:24 that the one who hears His sayings and does them, is like a wise man who built his house on the rock, and the rains and floods come, the winds blow, but the house does not fall, because it is founded on the rock, or the implanted word as we have in our text in Luke.

       4.      But those who hear yet do not do, is the foolish man who has built on the sand, the trials come, the floods of life wash over, and the house falls as the wind beats down, because you are built on sand, you have no root in Christ, you have no work of the Spirit that saves your soul.

       5.      But patient, steadfast fruitfulness to the Lord, through trials and blessings, shows that you are hearing the Word of God savingly, that the Word is rooted in you because Christ the Word made flesh lives within you, and you are united to Him. Therefore you cannot help but bear fruit!

       6.      Jn. 15, Christ is the vine, we are the branches, and if we truly abide in Him/are rooted in Him, we will bear much fruit as Christ appointed, and “by this My Father is glorified” & we are Christ’s disciples.

III.       The word of God is the light we must shine to be fruit bearers. (16-18)

A.      V. 16, Christ has given His light to His disciples, and that light is Himself and the glory of His kingdom.

       1.      Matt. 5:14-16 shows Jesus speaking of His disciples as salt of the earth and light of the world, a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. If we bear the name of Christ, if we are members of His Church, we cannot help but be set upon a pedestal to this sinful world. What will they see in us?

       2.      We are holding the candle in a world in utter darkness, so will we show them the way to Christ and how to live for Him, or will our own sinful folly be exposed by the light? Matt. 5:16 says “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”.

       3.      Matthew Poole helpfully notes that the lighting up of the candle is equivalent to the sowing of the seed in the good ground, and when the light is not put under a vessel or bed but displayed on a candlestick to give light to others, that is the same as bearing fruit 30, 60, or 100 fold.

B.      V. 17, Our deeds, for good or ill, may only be known by God for now, but will one day be revealed to all.

       1.      It will come to light. That should be both a comfort to us, and send a shiver up our spine.

       2.      For the Christian knows that he’s served the Lord faithfully without notice, & he has sinned against the Lord & others without notice. But in Christ, faithfulness is revealed, rebellion is removed forever. 

C.      V. 18, If we hear with the ears of faith, if we hear and attend to God’s Word, in reading and preaching and studying attentively, then we shall reap much blessing and be bountiful fruit bearers.

       1.      If we labor for God’s Word, if we pursue it as of utmost importance, God will grant it give more of it.

       2.      But if we starve ourselves of God’s good word and guidance, if we are not faithful hearers but like the wayside, stony, or thorny soil, whatever bits we did hear of God’s Word will be lost.

       3.      It will be taken away by the devil, withered away due to lack of rootedness in Christ, or choked out by the thorns of sin in our heart that we did not cut down with the Spirit’s Sword, which is God’s Word.

D.      Rom. 10 says that faith comes by hearing, and hearing itself comes by the Word of God.

       1.      If we want friends, families, neighbors, and strangers to be saved, they have to be told the Gospel, the Word of God, that seed, must be planted.

       2.      Our lives, our families and churches, all our actions, must adorn the Gospel, but without the Gospel seed itself, the unbeliever will be left in the dark, even if he sees our righteous life.

       3.      Sometimes our righteous life can begin to soften an unbeliever/prepare the soil of their hearts to rightly receive the Word of God. But the implanted Word of the Gospel is necessary for salvation.

       4.      Covenant babies have the Word by virtue of being born into the covenant, having a work of the Spirit upon them. But here too, if that Word and work of the Spirit is not nourished by parents and pastors, it will not be unto the saving of that covenant child’s soul, and the child may “trample” the Son of God.

IV.       CONCLUSION: As we looked at a few weeks ago in Lk. 8:19-21, Jesus own flesh and blood brothers and mother needed to hear this message, for they were hearers but not doers of the word at this time.

A.      If they needed to heed this message, how much more do we, who are members of Christ’s church and in His covenant by His blood? We overcome the devil and avoid apostasy by faithful perseverance. 

B.      So may we be faithful hearers and doers of the Word, bearing much fruit always, with good & noble hearts given to us in Christ by the Spirit, to love the Lord and our neighbor as ourselves.

C.      For there is only good or bad soil, regenerate or unregenerate hearts, faithful or unfaithful hearing of God’s Word. How you live reveals what kind of soil/heart/faith you have. So live for Christ. Let us pray.

Luke 8:22-25 –The Parable of the Four Soils Explained– Sermon Outline

Intro: How do you handle hardship? Are all trials a result of sin, lack of faith, or God’s anger? No.

Need: We must trust in the Lord in our trials, no matter how they come, or when he removes them.

Theme: Faith should always rely upon Christ’s provision & power.: 

 

1.            The Lord brings us into trials so that we call upon Him (22)

2.            The Lord provides when we call upon Him in our trials. (23-24)

3.            The Lord displays His wondrous power even for a weak faith. (25)

 

I.       The Lord brings us into trials so that we call upon Him. 

A.      We see Jesus traveling with His disciples. He took them with them and invited them on board.

       1.      If the disciples knew who Jesus was, His calling, His power, His person as the God-Man, they would know they were completely safe.

       2.      They would recall Noah & the Ark, when God brought only Noah & his family/household, to deliver them from the deadly flood that He would send to Earth. That Yahweh commands the seas.

B.      They were on the Sea of Galilee, & surrounded by high hills, gusts of strong wind often came down.

       1.      But this appears to be extra severe, as among Christ’s disciples are experienced fisherman, and indeed their boat will soon be filling with water and they were truly in jeopardy.

       2.      We see Christ’s humanity highlighted, that potential storms do not trouble his need for sleep. As man he needs sleep, as God He controls the wind & waves. This the disciples must learn, and we as well.

II.       The Lord provides when we call upon Him in our trials.

A.      The Lord slumbers not nor sleeps Ps., 121:4; even in trials when God seems distant, He is there.

       1.      Here the God-Man is asleep, and a strong windstorm develops, causing their boat to fill with water.

       2.      The boat “was filling with water” and thus they were in jeopardy. This wasn’t one mighty wave like in the movies. This didn’t happen in one fell swoop that sent them into a panic. It was progressive.

       3.      So the disciples saw the danger, but rather than turn to the Lord Jesus to calm the storm immediately, it seems they waited until it was nearly too late.

       4.      When we trust in our own works/efforts to deliver us from trials, it is like using a bucket to toss out water of the sinking Titanic. All the while, in one of the chambers sleeps the Lord Almighty!

B.      V. 24, The disciples in a panic finally go to Christ and say “Master, Master, we are perishing!”

       1.      We are told they were in jeopardy. They weren’t exaggerating the severity of the windstorm.

a.       But as the other Gospels state, the disciples say, “Do you not care that we are perishing?”

b.       Christ told them to get on this boat with Him. Now He’s sleeping. He got them into this pickle.

c.       Surely He hears the waves & feels the boat sloshing. Doesn’t He know or care they will die?

       2.      The disciples weren’t in sin for going to Christ, but should have gone in confidence. Like when someone shows great faith in Christ to heal them, or their sick friend, or even their dead friend.

a.       If you’re driving through a rainstorm at night, you don’t wait to turn on the wipers and lights until after you’ve gone off the road. You turn the wipers & lights on right away, to navigate the “trial”.

b.       Jesus is far more than a wiper or light. He’s the Creator of heaven/earth, Lord of wind & wave.

c.       He can not merely navigate them through the storm, He can end it altogether, and He does.

d.       Their fear of the storm revealed their lack of fear and faith in the power of Jesus to deliver.

C.      24b, Yet see the compassion of Christ, to answer weak faith with strong provision.

       1.      Christ rebukes the wind and raging waters, & immediately they cease and are calm.

a.       This wasn’t a gradual dissipation of the storm, but a supernatural dissolving. Out comes the sun.

b.       Mark 4:39 says there was a “great calm”, showing perfect stillness. So quickly and thoroughly can Christ end our trials if He desires and we call upon Him in sincere faith.

       2.      When we turn to the Lord lastly yet sincerely, He still is often pleased to deliver us from evil, but not without a stinging rebuke to our conscience, “Where is your faith?” He says after delivering them.

III.       The Lord displays His wondrous power even for a weak faith.

A.      The lack of faith is not that they should have been able to control the storms, the wind and waves.

       1.      Jesus alone is Lord of wind and wave. He alone is God. Those in Christ do not become Christ.

a.       We are not exorcists, Jesus didn’t chide the disciples for not summoning His name to rebuke the waves, but for not summoning Him!

b.       They did the right thing, waking Him and pleading with Him to remove this storm. But they did it with a weak faith, and they did not do it as soon as they should have.

       2.      Matthew uses a compound word which means “little faith” in his account.

a.       We have some chickens, & Ezra is still quite scared of them. He wants to play with them, but not by himself, and even when I go in with him, if they simply walk close to him, he panics and hollers and says, “Daddy, help, pick me up!” or something like that. Where is his faith in daddy?

b.       He has faith that as I go with him he’ll be safe, but it’s a very weak faith. Panic quickly ensues.

c.       I can protect my child from harmless chickens, Christ protects his children from mighty storms.

B.      If the disciples on the boat in Luke 8 let Jesus sleep and rebuked the winds/waves themselves in the name of Jesus, it’s possible such faith would be rewarded as they were His chosen disciples/apostles, but given He was still with them in the flesh, they were right to go to Him.

       1.      Only in the next chapter, Luke 9, do we read that Jesus gives the 12 Disciples/Apostles “”power & authority over all demons, and to cure diseases” so it is doubtful they currently had authority from Christ to calm the winds/waves, if they ever received such authority at all.

       2.      The lesson isn’t that you don’t need Jesus with you through the storms of life, but that you do, and don’t discard Him but pray to Him to come and deliver you in your temptations, trials, tribulations.

       3.      Our access to Christ/God is even greater for Christ is risen, ascended, & poured out His Spirit.

       4.      Prayer to the enthroned Christ in heaven is superior to pleading with the incarnate Christ on earth.

C.      8:25b, The disciples’ fear rightly begins to shift from the recent storm to the Lord of the storms.

       1.      “Who can this be” again indicates weak faith/perception of the true power/identity of Christ.

a.       In one sense, they know who He is, they know His authority and power. In another sense, they just don’t quite get it yet. They underestimate the God-Man.

b.       His deliverance was so mighty -- “He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”

c.       Isn’t this us, too, when we know God can do all things, that by the Spirit we can serve the Lord faithfully, and yet five seconds later we forget that, we live and think as if God is not mighty to save, sanctify, and glorify?

d.       We can’t quickly point the finger at the disciples without seeing ourselves in them. When God delivers us, sanctifies us, blesses us, why are we shocked? B/C the eyes of faith are weak/dim.

       2.      It is never a question of whether God can do some mighty thing for His people, it is a question of whether He wants to do so, and whether we are ready to receive it.

a.       We might want the blessing, but God withholds it for a season or forever for His own good purposes. Or we don’t want the blessing enough or would squander it, so God withholds it.

b.       It might be that we ask amiss in our prayers, as Christ says elsewhere, and so we don’t understand God’s will for us and what truly is good for us.

c.       But sometimes, praise be to God, our zeal and desires and fervencies in prayer line up precisely with bountiful deliverances or bountiful blessings that God has been waiting to pour out for those who ask Him in faith, and when He does so, what a tremendous blessing it is!

 

IV.       Key Questions: Does our faith “empower us” or give authority to “rebuke devils, perform miracles, etc.”? Is faith about what we can do through God, or what He can do for us?

A.      When Jesus drives out demons and the disciples are unable, He tells them it isn’t b/c they didn’t rebuke in His name hard enough, but that they only come out “by prayer and fasting” Mk. 9:29.

       1.      Mt. 17:14-21 does show Jesus chiding the disciples’ weak faith for not casting out the demon, but where He simply rebukes the demon, He tells the disciples this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.  

       2.      This is in contrast to mustard seed faith that moves mountain, a plainly hyperbolic statement of Jesus b/c the next verse (17:21) is where He says “however” for exorcism you need prayer/fasting.

a.       This “faith moving mountains” may be a special gift of faith that only some had, I Cor. 12:9; 13:2.

b.       Also please note, Jesus did not rebuke a demon of the wind or waves, but the wind and waves.

c.       Whether it is a literal storm, a literal demon, or figurative trials & temptations, we turn to Jesus to deliver, we do not try to deliver ourselves by evoking the name of Jesus like summoning a genie.

B.      Our fundamental issue is not demons, but our sin nature and lack of trust/faith in Christ.

       1.      We have been given the H.S., not to rebuke the devil/demons, but rather to “put to death the deeds of the body… For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Rom. 8:13-14.

       2.      The fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions & desires.” Gal. 5:22ff.

       3.      Eph. 6:10ff. is critical. We are not to rebuke demons to overcome sin, but to “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

a.       For we do not wrestle against flesh/blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

b.       Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

c.       You have firstly the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the gospel of peace, and above all, “taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”

       4.      Faith is a shield, a defensive weapon. Strong faith is a strong shield that trusts in Christ for protection from the devil’s darts, our fleshly lusts, etc. You don’t rebuke the devil with a shield.

a.       But Eph. 5:17ff. goes on to say to take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. The offensive weapon is God’s Word, not commanding/rebuking demons.

b.       Jesus, when doing combat with the devil as he was tempted in the wilderness, had the full armor of God on, and He goes on the offensive by quoting Scripture back at Satan. He used the sword.

c.       He also took up the shield of faith, knowing His Father would give Him the kingdom in due time.

C.       James 4:1-10 is clear that it is our lustful desires, not demons, that cause strife and contention.

       1.      We must resist worldliness and depart from worldly people, live by the Spirit, and humble ourselves before the Lord. If we submit to God, we can then resist the devil, who will flee from us.

       2.      So we mortify our sinful flesh and resist demons who wish to stir our sinfulness up by drawing near to the Lord through His Word, prayer, sacraments, worship in Church, fellowship of His body, etc.

       3.      “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” Ja. 4:10.

D.      So if faith is a shield, faith is relying on God’s strength, protection, defense, not our offense.

       1.      But by relying on Christ’s strength, faith does act, it works through love. Hebrews 11:

       2.      Abraham offers up Isaac in faith, Moses forsakes Egypt and does not fear the wrath of the king, by faith all Israel passes through the Red Sea while the Egyptians drown.

       3.      The walls of Jericho fall, Rahab is delivered from destruction as she hides the spies, others win great battles stop the mouths of lions and quench fires, women receive their dead raised to life again.

       4.      Others by faith were tortured, martyred, imprisoned, stoned, sawn in two, slain with the sword, destitute, afflicted, tormented, living in deserts and mountains and dens and caves, all by faith, in service to Christ, choosing to do what is right rather than be delivered to comfort/ease.

       5.      So sometimes faith delivers, sometimes faith gets you sawn in half. God is good either way, and is with us in both circumstances, and will resurrect us when Christ returns. Our job is to trust in Him. 

       6.      Heb. 12 then says, given these examples, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, so that we run with endurance the race set before us. How? “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,” who by faith in His Father endured the cross & now sits next to Him.

V.       But if this is true faith, what about the miracles we read in the Scriptures, Christ’s and the Apostles and those with them? If we have enough faith, can we work these wonders as well?

A.      We know Jesus worked incredible miracles through His chosen Apostles, Acts 5:12. In Acts 3:6 Peter does say “in the name of Jesus Christ rise up and walk”. But these were apostolic gifts.

       1.      2 Cor. 12:12, which we will return to, notes that the “signs of an Apostle” were done among the Corinthians, “signs, wonders, mighty deeds.” Such signs for a church confirmed their Apostolicity.

       2.      Of course, the Apostles have been dead for nearly 2000 years, and thus the miraculous “signs” of the Apostles are dead/completed as well.

       3.      Peter’s shadow and Paul’s handkerchief healed diseases and drove out demons, but yours don’t and neither do the charlatans claiming such today, for none of us living today are Apostles!

B.      Nothing is more instructive than Acts 19:11-17 on this serious error in modern Charismatic churches.

       1.      Acts 19:13, itinerant Jewish exorcists “took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.”

       2.      The evil spirit says, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?”

a.       Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”

b.       They had no authority to use Christ’s name, or Paul’s to drive out demons. Neither do you. You will make matters worse. You will stir up demons & empower them, & embarrass/harm yourself!

c.       Don’t be like the Jewish exorcists taking God’s name in vain, assuming you’re an Apostle.

d.       Matthew Henry: “If we resist the devil by a true and lively faith in Christ, he will flee from us; but if we think to resist him by the bare using of Christ’s name, or any part of his word, as a spell or charm, he will prevail against us.”

C.      False teachers who claim miraculous healing and deliverance from sins/bondage will destroy your faith and service to Christ by saying they cannot heal or deliver you because your faith is too weak.

       1.      But as we saw in Hebrews, sometimes true faith gets you killed, makes things harder for you.

       2.      As we also saw, our battle is primarily against our own sinful lusts, not demons. Demons are very much involved to stir up our sin, our wicked desires, but we don’t need demons to have them stirred, & if we put to death the deeds of the sinful flesh by the Spirit, we’ll also put to death the devil’s darts.

D.      Further, these false teachers often promise that you will always be delivered from sin or trials if you have enough faith, and if you aren’t delivered, the fault is your weak faith. Luke 8 isn’t saying that.

       1.      Even in the age of miracles with the Apostles, He did not always deliver from Satan or other distresses. Paul himself notes this in 2 Cor. 12:7-10. He says a messenger of Satan was given to buffet him, lest he pridefully boast in himself and the apostolic calling God had given him.

       2.      Paul says “concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

       3.      So Paul most gladly boasts in his infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon Him.

       4.      He takes pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Weakness promotes faith toward God in us.

E.      What was Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” as Paul calls it?

       1.      It was likely an actual disease, sickness, malady, for if it was a sinful lust of the heart, it is doubtful Paul would have boasted in having it as such. But Paul goes on to say the Lord sends him, and indeed all of us, infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, distresses, etc., for Christ’s sake.

       2.      “For when I am weak, then am I strong.” Such trials cause us to rely on the Lord, His strength, to study His word more carefully, to draw closer to Him, to cling to Christ and serve Him through life, limping our way to glory. He had nothing to boast in, and neither do we. Trials He does not remove remind us of that and keep us humble/reliant. And therefore, they strengthen our faith.

VI.       Two Ditches to Avoid In Our Theology of Faith, Deliverance, Trials, Victory, Etc.

A.      On the one hand, unbelief, that Christ cannot deliver us from severe trials, whether of a physical or spiritual sort, and these often go together.

       1.      James 5:14 speaks of the elders coming to pray for the sick & anoint with oil in the name of the Lord.

a.       This is a prayer of faith, but notice the sickness here is also often connected to sins in the sick person, so we are to “confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

b.       Such fervent, righteous prayers are even connected to Elijah’s praying for the stopping of rain for 3.5 years, then another prayer where it rained again. God still answers prayers in such ways. 

c.       Sickness may or may not be due to sin. Repentance and righteous, fervent prayers may well deliver from such sickness, as the Lord says in James 5. But they do not always deliver.

       2.      David’s sin with Bathsheba led to physical sorrow and emotional as well, as He pleaded with the Lord to restore the “joy” of his salvation in Psalm 51. In time the Lord delivered David, and while Paul had many trials, the Lord cared for Him through them, despite leaving this thorn in the flesh.

B.      The other ditch is belief in things God never promised, such as guaranteed healings, victories, etc.

       1.      Job was sick for a long time and had all things taken from him, and when friends doubted his righteousness and his wife told him to curse God and die, he didn’t but said “though He slay me, yet I will trust Him.” And eventually God did deliver Job, but not right away and without a long ordeal.

       2.      I Pet. 3:7 says husbands must treat their wives well so their prayers are not hindered. This does not mean that if your prayers aren’t answered how you want, that you must be mistreating your wife!

       3.      Remember Heb. 11, some had faith that delivered them, others had faith that led to their deaths.

       4.      Jesus is the ultimate example of His fervent prayer not being answered according to His will.

       5.      Lk. 22:42-44, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

a.       So Jesus is weak, pleading for the cup to pass, yet knows it may not, is supernaturally strengthened by an angel, yet keeps on praying even more earnestly.

b.       Yet Jesus was not delivered from this cup, the cup of the cross which the devil was preparing as Satan entered Judas to betray Jesus.

C.      Will anyone dare say Jesus was a sinner, that His prayer was wrong, or that He did not have enough faith in His Father? That is sheer blasphemy. Jesus had perfect faith, but also perfect theology.

       1.      God has never promised to deliver from every trial, nor has He promised ease in every circumstance.

a.       You cannot apply to yourself only the comfortable providences that God gave Moses or David or Jesus or Paul, but fail to also apply to yourself God’s hard/ bitter providences they had to endure.

b.       Jesus submitted to His Father’s will, facing the cross with joy, even as the Father “forsook” Him at the cross. Friends, we never have to face that. That’s hell itself. God’s favor removed, God’s wrath poured out. The disciples had Jesus on the boat and He delivered them.

       2.      Whatever trial you are in, whatever sin you are struggling mighty against, the Lord will never leave you nor forsake you. He hasn’t promised to deliver you from all trials and temptations, all thorns in the flesh, but He has promised to be with you through every trial, temptation, struggle, and battle.

       3.      So in your weakness, rely on His omnipotent strength. In your fallenness, look to the glorified Christ as your only hope and comfort, and in faith know that one day He will glorify you with Him, completely apart from sin, sickness, suffering, and shame.

       4.      And until He does, go serve your King through all trials, knowing He’ll deliver you from some, and cause you to end

Luke 8:26-39 – Begging Before the Almighty – Sermon Outline

Intro: Have you witnessed something profound? A story, a person, an event, a sacrifice, a triumph?

Need: Nothing is more profound than the weight of God’s glory hitting you. You will beg, but for what?

Theme: The Display of Christ’s Glory Makes Everyone a Beggar. 

 

1.            The demons beg to escape His wrath. (26-33)

2.            The people beg to escape His glory & power. (34-37)

3.            The tormented man begs to be with his glorious Lord. (38-39)  

 

I.       The demons beg to escape His wrath. (26-33)

A.      Jesus crosses the waters to the land of the Gadarenes & immediately faces fearful demons, 26-28.

       1.      We don’t know he exact place Jesus is in, but Luke only says Christ is in a region.

       2.      “Demons” is in plural, we’ll learn soon it’s a legion, thousands of demons.

       3.      The demon possessed man is so enslaved to the legion’s power that he is constantly without clothing and shelter, basic necessities of life. He is driven toward tombs, death and misery, a hell on earth.

       4.      Mary Magdalene had 7 demons, but this man has thousands, showing the power of the demons.

B.      And yet, the “Son of the Most High God”, as the demon rightly calls Christ, is superior in power.

       1.      The demon responds as demons always must do before the infinite glory and power of God; they “fall down before Him”, a word that is used for those falling down in worship/homage, but also one falling before someone they fear. The demons are not worshiping, but are trembling in fear before the Lord.

       2.      Scripture says every knee will bow and tongue confess Jesus Christ is Lord, believer and unbeliever alike. Immediately we see this very thing from this vile demons. Hate-filled confessing and bowing.

       3.      We’ve seen a similar encounter already of Jesus with an evil spirit/demon in Luke 4:34. There we saw Jesus power to drive out the demon was the same as His power to command wind and wave.

C.      28-31, The demons beg to escape Christ’s torments of wrath in hell as Jesus began to command the unclean spirit to depart.

       1.      Imagine Jesus saying, “I command you” and before He can finish the evil spirits beg for mercy.

a.       They recognize Christ as God, they fear Him who can destroy them in hell, but it isn’t a saving fear, it isn’t a fear that draws them toward Him in faith and repentance.

b.       It’s a hatred fear, a fear that repels them and makes Christ repulsive to them.

       2.      Demons enjoy tormenting others, and yet their end is to have the wages of their own sin – eternal torment under God’s Almighty wrath.

a.       They know this, but in the Lord’s presence, they have a sudden, dreadful recognition that this is the Lord Jesus who will eternally stomp their faces and pour out His righteous wrath on them.

b.       Thus demons are always moaning about their time not yet coming when Jesus comes around.

       3.      V. 30, Jesus didn’t need to know the demons’ name to drive them out, but He is revealing to the people that this is a legion of demons, which for Roman soldiers would be about 6,000. Mark 5 says the demons will enter about 2,000 pigs.

D.      They fear they are going to be cast into hell and under eternal torments right then. So we see in v. 31 all the demons possessing this man begging that Jesus wouldn’t case them into the “abyss”, hellfire.

       1.      “Command” is the same word from 8:25 in our last sermon, when Jesus commanded the wind and waves. Such is His sovereign power. Think about sovereign power. His command causes the effect.

a.       This is why it’s so blasphemous for phony faith healers, exorcists, etc., to try to use commands/speech as if they are the Sovereign Lord.

b.       Their commands are utterly impotent, even demonic, because like demons, they claim to have the Supreme power/authority that only God has.

c.       But Christ’s command accomplishes what He commands immediately, against all powers.

       2.      Christ didn’t give or command faith or obedience for the demons. They don’t get patted on the head & told they are good because they depart to the pigs. But they have no power to resist the Lord.

a.       They really are compelled against their will, kicking & screaming, to do what the Lord commands.

b.       They are utterly impotent to resist. They go where He commands, but hating Him all the way.

E.      32-33, The demons beg to enter pigs, Christ grants their request, but they’re still driven to destruction.

       1.      Demons were well suited to possess unclean pigs. They didn’t want to go into the abyss, and managed to get a “permission slip” to only go into the pigs, but still they will picture their destructive end, and all who follow them in wicked deeds, down the steep embankment into the consuming lake.

a.       Some may complain of the commercial/financial loss to those swine herders, thousands of pigs!

b.       But if these were Jews, they were not permitted to keep swine in the first place.

c.       The unclean spirits are driven into unclean animals, and both are driven out from the land and drowned in the waters. So will the righteous inherit the Earth and the wicked inherit the fiery lake.

       2.      Sin plunges one headfirst into hell, and hell is a drowning in sin & God’s wrath, the lake of fire.

a.       The path of sin is a cruel master, it drives toward destruction, it is violent, chaotic, and dreadful.

b.       Hell is the second death, an eternal dying, torment, & all who are there have the devil for father.

       3.      But if you are alive today and aren’t a literal demon, there’s good news.

a.       There’s still hope for your repentance, to turn back to Christ and live, and have His easy yoke and light burden, to take up His cross with joy and follow Him.

b.       So repent of your sin, of walking in your own way, which is the deceptive way, the broad way that leads to destruction, and indeed is the devil’s way that leads all unclean swine into God’s wrath.

c.       Forsake your sin, forsake your own paths, and turn to Christ in true faith and repentance.

       4.      All Christians must do this day by day, seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

a.       This is the very kingdom and righteousness that Christ in our text is traveling around to proclaim & show its power to deliver from the domain of darkness & bring into His marvelous light & glory.

b.       The Lord here shows His power over sin, death, and the devil. One way or another, He will show His glory & power over you too – whether His power of wrath in hell, or saving power in heaven.

II.       DEMONOLOGY: Or, why could the legion of demons recognize Christ as Son of the Most High God when the people and Christ’s own disciples so often could not?

A.      Demons have way better theology and concern about God’s judgment than even Christians often do!

B.      They just hate God and His Son rather than love Him. Their fear of Him, rather than stoking sorrow and service to Christ, only further enrages them to do greater evil. Indeed, it is diabolical.

C.      But why do demons have this insight and perception, this power & even in a sense, such glory?

D.      It is because they are angelic beings, fallen angels. They knew God’s glory and were with Him in glory before man was made and man fell into sin.

       1.      Yet they coveted that glory and power, and in so doing rebelled against their Maker and Sovereign, who indeed adorned them with amazing glory and power as His angels.

       2.      They followed Lucifer as their god, & with him they were cast out of heaven and cast down to Earth.

       3.      They turned from the true God and worshiped the creature rather than the Creator, and are now twisted and wicked and enslaved to their perverse desires, wanting to wield power like the Lord but using it for cruel and horrible ends.

       4.      They deceive man, God’s image bearers, tormenting them, leading them into all sorts of wicked deeds and desires, and all in the vain attempt to thwart the power and plan of Almighty God.

E.      Demons are so given over to their wicked desires, they cannot and will not turn back.

       1.      Christ was not sent to save them, but man. Man was deceived by demons at the Fall.

       2.      Satan/demons were deceived by no one, but led away purely/solely by their own wicked desires.

       3.      This does not make man a victim or excuse him, but it does show the even greater fall and wickedness and cruelty of the demonic realm, the fallen angels, who were even with God in heaven, and thus their just punishment without even hope of redemption is seen to be all the more just.

F.      Take heed – the end state of fallen, unregenerate man is to be an embodied demon. Consider:

       1.      The demons are like drug addicts on steroids (oh the irony), knowing they are enslaved, both loving and hating their enslavement and bondage, and hell-bent on dragging as many others into their wicked lusts and desires down into the mouth of hell with them.

       2.      They know who Jesus is. They knew who He was from their beginning long ago. Demons aren’t breeding. Angels don’t mate. Demons are older than you, and they came into being in heaven.  

       3.      They were created in heaven & for heaven, to do God’s will, but they fell unto destruction, were cast out of heaven, & are now given but a short time in light of eternity to torment & deceive the nations.

       4.      And they know this, Rev. 12:12 says, “But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

G.     But Christ has bound Satan, and thank God while the devil still prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, he does so as it were on a firm leash of the Lord, a leash they can’t forget.

       1.      Even with Job Satan had to get God’s permission to torment him. Christ came to further bind and restrict the work of the devil and his demons, and this is why we see much less demonic possession today than we did before Christ came.

       2.      As Gospel goes forth & leavens nations, demons are driven further back & their end draws nearer.

       3.      For Christ will return after the nations come to worship Him more and more, and the demons are crushed under the feet of the body of Christ, His Church, Rom. 16:20.

       4.      Col. 2:15-16 is clear that the head-crushing blow was dealt to Satan and demons at the cross, for by dying Christ destroys the devil’s power of death, disease, destruction, etc.

       5.      The wages of sin is death, but Christ is rolling that back while ruling the nations now from heaven, and through the cross Christ has “disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” Col. 2:15ff.

H.      Yet we live in the time between Christ’s two comings, the already/not yet as it is called.

       1.      Christ has already triumphed over Satan, but the victory is not yet total and complete. Satan is mortally wounded, but not yet dead and utterly defeated.

       2.      Victory is certain through the cross, the lake of fire awaits Satan and all in league with him, but Christ the King has not yet returned to execute that final death on them. So now is Satan’s last stand.

       3.      He is bleeding out, and so even more desperate and angry, and in that sense, more dangerous.

       4.      Pastors and Elders too must be on guard against the devil, qualifications for Eldership in I Tim. 3:6-7 twice refers to the devil, to not become prideful like him and thus condemned, and to have a good report with outsiders so as not to fall into reproach and the devil’s trap. The devil still causes falls.

I.         Churches either find a demon in every doorway, or ignore the demonic realm altogether. Both are false.

       1.      1 Jn. 3:8, Christ came to earth to destroy the works of the devil, but those dead in sin are still the devil’s child and do the works of the devil, not serving God and loving the brethren, 1 Jn. 3:10.

       2.      Heb. 2:14 says Christ took of flesh and blood as we have, “that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” [Death of Death in the Death of Christ, Owen]

       3.      In Christ, we have been delivered from the Devil’s domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son, Col. 1:13, but must still give no place to the devil, Eph. 4:27.

       4.      1 Jn. 5:19, “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”

J.       Yet that power of Satan is broken and fragmented due to the mightier work of Christ.

       1.      He is bringing His kingdom and preaching it in our text, and illustrating its power by this whole legion of demons shuddering in His Almighty presence.

       2.      Look at the demon’s mastery & power over sinful, fallen man, but look more at their being mastered and overpowered by the sovereign, heavenly man Christ Jesus, who leaves them utterly impotent.    

III.       The people beg to escape His glory & power. (34-37)

A.      The pig keepers see what happened and their demon-possessed pigs drowning, so they flee and tell those in the city and country what happened, and bring them back to the scene.

       1.      They struggle to process what just happened. They saw the glorious power of God, and were afraid.

       2.      For the demoniac is now tame and at Jesus’ feet. He was notorious in the region. Many tried to chain and bind him. He was frightening and dangerous.

       3.      This was a powerful witness to the Gospel of Christ’s kingdom coming, to drive out Satan and usher in Christ’s rule, where sinners enslaved to sin and demonic forces now sit at Jesus’ feet.

       4.      Their lives go from disordered chaos and violence, harming themselves and others, to attentive, sober submission to Christ and all that He commands. This is the kingdom leaven that redeems.

B.      36-37, Those who saw what happened unwittingly bear witness to the Gospel of the Kingdom as illustrated by Christ’s powerful, glorious acts of deliverance, produce seizures of great fear.

       1.      Like the demons, the whole region of people have great fear. And like the demons, it is wicked fear.

       2.      They, like Satan their father, would rather be driven from God’s presence, or have His presence depart from them, than to sit at the feet of Jesus and follow Him into all truth and righteousness.

a.       They reject His kingdom, even though they see its power to deliver & goodness to heal and make one whole and well again. Such power is only good news for the sinner given a good/noble heart.

b.       But for all else, dead in love with their lusts/sins, coming near that holy power, being near a faithful, Bible believing church, or pastor, or person, or family, is bad news.

c.       It awakens their guilty conscience to their sin, to their enjoyment and comfort of sin, and it evokes in them the same dreadful question, “Has my time also come? Must I go down to hell already?”

d.       I have seen it. And I bet you have too. And I pray you have seen it not in yourself, but in others.

e.       Either way, while there’s no hope for demons, there is hope for all who call upon the Lord.

       3.      Even as true Christians, we have seasons where we depart to our tombs of sin in our insanity.

a.       When Christ comes to deliver from that tomb, come to Him. Beg Him to drive out your sin, to drive out your lusts, but deliver you from all evil, from the Evil One Himself.

b.       Beg to be brought into His hands, into His light, and into His kingdom. For His indeed is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.

       4.      The people actually ask Jesus to depart from them, & He does, which should have mortified them.

a.       Just as the demons asked to depart from him in the pigs, and He granted it, so He grants that He would depart from them, and He “got into the boat and returned” v. 37.

b.       But such answer to “prayer,” whether of the demons or these wicked people, is no blessed thing. It is a filling up of wrath on the day of judgment. This is the wrong kind of fear, wrong begging.

IV.       The tormented man begs to be with his glorious Lord. (38-39)  

A.      The legion of demons in v. 28 beg to be spared torment from Christ, and then again twice “beg” to get away from Christ in the least agonizing way possible, vv. 31-32. In v. 37, the people struck with great fear “ask” Jesus to leave, but the Greek word can also mean beg, perhaps “plead” in this context.

       1.      Now the man delivered from demons uses the same word from v. 28, translated as “begged” again, with equal fervency as the demons but in the complete opposite direction. He has no fear of torment, for He knows the love and mercy of Christ who just delivered him from torment in power and glory.

       2.      His heart is renewed and “begs” to remain with His new Master, filled with this new Spirit that doesn’t drive Him to destruction and isolation, but toward renewal and fellowship with God and His people.

B.      Yet the only person not granted their request is the repentant man who sits with Jesus & wants to stay.

       1.      This was a righteous plead, but Jesus is teaching this man to serve Him right where He was at.

       2.      This man had a house, likely a family, He must minister/serve them. He must return to society and build it up. That begins by telling the hardened Gadarenes the glorious things God has done for him through Christ His Son. This is a call to live a faithful life as a faithful witness in his hometown.

C.      39b, notice the man’s joyful obedience, he does as He is commanded also, in faith/joy not fear/dread.

       1.       The whole city will hear Christ preached, and have a faithful witness of His power to save.

       2.      Jesus departed from them physically, but left His work, and His messenger, with them.

       3.      This man is living in his home and spreading the Gospel of Christ’s kingdom. The people cannot deny it, for many of them came out to see Jesus and this demoniac’s deliverance.

       4.      The Gadarenes are not demons, Christ did come to save His elect from every nation. There’s hope.

D.      There’s hope for each of us here today as well. There’s only two fathers – Christ or Satan.

       1.      Faith in Christ leads to joy and gladness, telling of the great things He has done for you.

       2.      Denial of Christ leads to sorrow and suffering, hating the very presence of Christ who will punish you for all eternity for your wicked thoughts, words, and deeds that blasphemed God and hated man.

E.      All Christians wrestle not against mere flesh and blood, but against the demonic realm.

       1.      But the devil succeeds in the same way he always has, by tempting our flesh, by stirring up our lustful desires, by convincing us that his word & pleasures are superior to God’s Word & pleasures.

       2.      So as we looked at last week, put on the full armor of God as Ephesians 6 commands.

       3.      The Eldership’s greatest desire is to see the flock Christ has entrusted to them sitting at Christ’s feet, learning from Him, going where He commands them to, staying where He commands them to stay.

       4.      Paul in 2 Cor. 11:2, “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

F.      The way of Christ is simple brothers and sisters. It is repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ.

       1.      It is knowing Him in His Word & walking by the light of His Word, out of love for God and fellow man, for the purpose of glorifying and enjoying Him forever, to strengthen His Church & build His kingdom.

       2.      Do not be turned from such simplicity, such joy, such comfort and protection. And if you have turned, return, return to Him while there is yet time! Return before you are driven out of His presence and driven into the lake of His fiery judgment forever!

V.       CONCLUSION: So why are all reduced to beggars before the Almighty Lord?

A.      All will see His glory in full, all have seen glimpses of glory now. Our text is Christ pulling back the veil of His glory and power so that those who saw Him gazed upon His glory, which unveiled their hearts!

B.      C.S. Lewis quote from The Weight of Glory: “Apparently, then, our lifelong nostalgia, our longing to be reunited with something in the universe from which we now feel cut off, to be on the inside of some door which we have always seen from the outside, is no mere neurotic fancy, but the truest index of our real situation. And to be at last summoned inside would be both glory and honour beyond all our merits and also the healing of that old ache.” As God’s image bearers, all have echoes of this in their hearts.

C.      When Jesus drives out the legion of demons, for those witnessing it was like being transported behind the veil, to some glimpse of the power and glory of God that few have yet seen.

D.      The weight of glory was upon them, The King of Glory, The Son of the Most High God had displayed His glory in power, driving out darkness – the demoniac found, behind Christ’s veil, that he was born again as a child of light, of the Lord’s glory and power. Thus he begged to stay inside the veil.

E.      The others watching, taken behind the veil, beholding something of the Holy of Holies, to their horror, discovered that, in their hearts, they are utterly unholy, they are mor vile than those unclean pigs, that they too deserve to be driven to their destruction into the flood of God’s wrath.

F.      They saw His holiness, and thus also their unholiness, their fullness of wicked darkness that He will drive them away and cast into hell forever. The demons are confirmed in this dreadful state, and only wish to avoid the day of judgment for as long as possible. These Gadarenes are in the same hardened position, but God may yet soften their heart through the man who has been born again and told to stay.

G.     This is why all are reduced to beggars before the Almighty: None is good, no not one.

       1.      So will you plead the blood, or will you plead Christ depart, hoping that if you make your bed in hell, God will not be there? But He is there, and in that last day, no one will escape His holy presence, we will all be “behind the veil” as it were.

       2.      And some will hate His holiness and face His holy hatred forever, while others will see Him face to face, love Him, and be loved by Him -- for the Bride of Christ has been adorned, she has been made holy, without spot or wrinkle, with nothing for which to be ashamed.

       3.      For the bride has seen the brightest glory behind the veil, that her robes, her sin, her black heart, has been washed white in the blood of the Lamb.

       4.      And on that day, we will beg to be with Him and will not be sent away. He will be with us forever, and we with Him. And we will be beggars no more, but worshipers & rulers with Him forever. Let us pray. 

 Luke 8:40-56 – Christ Restores to Family & Society – Sermon Outline

Intro: What is the Christian’s relationship to society and family? What is God’s Kingdom’s relationship to it?

Need: Saving grace restores, it redeems Christians to do their duties to family and society for God’s glory.

Theme: Christ’s Kingdom restores sinners to family and society.

 

1.            His kingdom has come and gathered welcoming crowds. (40)

2.            His kingdom restores a beloved child to her faithful family. (41-42; 49-56)

3.            His kingdom restores an afflicted woman to society’s ranks. (43-48)

I.       His kingdom has come and gathered welcoming crowds. (40)

A.      Jesus is welcomed by many where He has been ministering. He is building His kingdom on earth.

       1.      This reminds us to keep sowing and planting and serving, and over time we may yet reap a harvest of souls for Christ and His Church.

       2.      And when Christ is working in other fields, we are to continue to wait upon the Lord and trust in Him.

       3.      If His kingdom is to encompass all the earth and nations, that must come, firstly, via the Church.

       4.      The Church must be a witness, a city set on a hill, but the city on the hill is not the only place where Christ’s kingdom has come. Christ has risen with authority over everything on earth, right now.

B.      But His authority comes to bear/will is done on earth as it is in heaven as sinners repent/trust in Him.

       1.      They then join the Church, the city of light on the Lord’s hill, come under the God-appointed elders/authority of God’s city for their spiritual well-being, & continue to be salt/light in their daily lives, when they are not with the citizens of heaven/church, but are out in the wild, undeveloped territory of Christ’s kingdom (with unbelievers, working in the “secular” sphere, wicked towns, government, etc.).

       2.      As Christians are faithful in worship/Church/the city on the hill, faithful in the undeveloped/wilds, living to build up and manifest Christ’s kingdom over all things, God blesses & His will is done. The wild lands are developed for God’s glory as more people repent and family/society submits to God’s will.

       3.      Those “welcoming” Christ must be shepherded & discipled. Not all had genuine faith, as we will soon see. But as Christ shepherds them, they live godly with their families, in town, which leavens society.

II.       His kingdom restores a beloved child to her faithful family. (41-42; 49-56)

A.      Here we have a ruler of the synagogue, Jairus, who believes in Christ and pleads/begs at Jesus’ feet, asking Jesus to enter into his house to heal his only daughter who was only 12 years old.

B.      We see Christ’s care for family bonds, the importance of the home, & parent’s duties to children.

C.      The tender care Jairus has for his only daughter, on the cusp of adulthood, speaks well of his faith, and to plead the mercies of Christ at Jesus’ feet is how we should respond to sickness and disease as well.

D.      V. 42, the people “throng” Jesus, same word used of the soil that is “choked” by cares of this world. Jesus is smothered by the people pressing around Him, contrasted with the Gadarenes who fled.

E.      Jesus is going to help Jairus’ daughter, but just getting there is difficult. Vv. 43-48 are an interruption/happens as Christ is on the way to help Jairus. He mercifully helps the woman with the flow of blood as well. God/Christ in glory is never restricted in this way, you can never overburden God.

F.      49-50, During the Delay, Jairus’ daughter dies. He is urged to abandon hope and not trust the Lord.

       1.      But Jesus says not to despair or be afraid, but believe, and she will be made well. The focus is faith in Christ, not faith in miracles, or faith in faith.

       2.      He’s not saying to believe that she will be made well by the power of faith, but rather believe that Christ is God, and as such, is able, powerful, and is here willing to raise this girl from the dead.

       3.      Christ’s miracles demonstrated both who He is (God in flesh, promised Messiah) and what He came to do (to both proclaim/teach about and bring to Earth, in Himself, His kingdom).

       4.      He perfectly reveals the Father in His person, words, and works, which thus both reveals & brings God’s kingdom to earth. Sin, death, and the devil are driven back in God’s Son.

       5.      But our focus must be on Christ, building His kingdom, however He sees fit at any given point in redemptive history, for His glory and our good.

G.     You cannot pick and choose which Scriptures you like to suit your desires.

       1.      You cannot read, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well” to mean that Christ promised you that if your daughter dies, strong faith will mean Christ will raise her from the dead.

       2.      Christ hasn’t promised that to His people in general. But what this restoration to life of the girl is pointing to is the final, general, true resurrection of the dead unto glorification yet to come.

       3.      Christ is foreshadowing the fullness of His kingdom, and that resurrection is something all who die in the Lord can cling to with absolute hope/certainty, for themselves and their loved ones.

       4.      What good is it if Christ brought your dead child back to life again, only for you to live a few more decades with them, and then that child die yet again and perish in hell? That’s a double sorrow.

H.      52-53, Peter, James, John, here as at Christ’s transfiguration, are the only apostles permitted to see this glorious miracle of the Lord, along with the father and mother.

       1.      Thus we see that Christ comes in His grace to restore nature, restore the family, not destroy it.

       2.      Natural bonds and spiritual bonds come together in Christ, without destroying the natural bonds.

       3.      When elders minister to the sick and infirm, the family should be permitted to be there as well.

       4.      Our natural family and spiritual family are designed by God to be near and dear to our hearts.

       5.      I am your pastor, but for most of you, I’m not your flesh & blood family, you are not mine. That’s okay.

       6.      We can cherish both of these bonds, and praise God when natural bonds are also spiritual bonds.

       7.      Paul especially loved the Jews, because they were his kinsman according to the flesh.

       8.      Spiritual bonds/affections do not replace natural ones, for Jesus' love restores rather than absorbs marital/familial love. Jesus here restores this familial love/bond, but only temporarily.

       9.      The girl will die again, and so will the parents. If they die in the Lord, that family bond remains into glory, an eternal, heavenly bond solidifying that familial bond. But heaven and hell break all bonds.

I.         52-53, The Apostles & parents form an intersection of the spiritual and familial bonds. But notice, both ridicule the Lord Jesus when He tells parent and apostle alike that the girl is not “dead, but sleeping”.

       1.       The KJV says they “laughed Him to scorn”. But they didn’t understand Christ’s meaning.

       2.      He did not mean that she was not physically dead, but rather, that her death will be but as a sleep is.

       3.      She will soon rise, just as when one rises from slumber. See Christ’s power over death to bring life.

J.       54-55, Due to both Apostles and parents unbelief, He sends them away from witnessing His power.

       1.      Jesus simply takes her hand and tells her to arise, for God’s Word accomplishes what it commands.

       2.      “her spirit returned” demonstrates we are made body & soul/spirit. The Lord commands the return of the spirit to the body for their to be life. But in the true resurrection, it is the bodies that are raised up.

       3.      This was a returning of the soul, not a resurrection of the body, and thus a waking from “sleep” and not the final defeat of death for this girl. She will die again. In Christ, she will rise to never die again.

       4.      Christ really does give life to a dead girl. He didn’t return merely her health to her body, but her soul.

       5.      The spirits now in glory long for the resurrection of their bodies, to reunite with their spirits.

       6.      Her body is made whole, evidenced by the command to give her “something to eat”. She is well.

K.      56, The parents are now amazed, note, at Christ’s power, not merely that their daughter is raised. Yet He tells them not to tell anyone what had happened.

       1.      Beholding even the after effects of God’s Almighty presence and power, the parents are astonished.

       2.      Again, the focus/glory shifts from the miracle itself to the Lord of the miracle, the one who has the power to work miracles, Jesus Christ.

       3.      The disciples were amazed that Jesus could control wind and waves, and the raising of the widow’s son caused the people to glorify God and say God has visited them, Lk. 7:16.

       4.      The message is that Christ is the Lord, and will make all things new, and His kingdom has begun to infiltrate this world with His redeeming power.

       5.      The message IS NOT that if you believe hard enough, your children will be restored from dying either through you, some supposedly gifted miracle worker, or through prayer. The power of God is God’s power, not ours. We do not command Him like a genie if we rub the bottle with enough faith.

       6.      He is sovereign, we are not. He heals whom He wills, and kills whom He wills.

       7.      When a loved one dies, we do not hold all night prayer vigils, fasts, etc., to convince God to raise our loved one from the dead. But we do have faith that if they have died in the Lord, just as surely as this child was raised up, our dearly departed are with the Lord in spirit and will be one day in body also.

L.       If Christ wanted everyone to keep swarming Him so He could raise everyone’s dead, He wouldn’t have charged the parents to tell no one what had just happened.

       1.      Many had dead they wished to have raised, but Christ refused and wished to keep this work secret.

       2.      He has far greater works to do, to reveal God in His teaching, in all that He does, to expose the Pharisees and false teachers of the day, but above all, to call sinners to repentance & faith, beginning with His own Jewish kin, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.

       3.      Christ desires repentance & faithfulness to Him, fruitful service, diligent labors, not fascination over miracles or flashy performances of false pieties. Greater than working miracles is repenting, believing, bearing the Spirit’s fruit. Some cast out demons whom Christ casts out from Him, Mt. 7:22.

       4.      So repent of your heart lusts. Do the daily work of simple, faithful service to Christ.

       5.      It begins in your heart, household, and church. If you aren’t faithful there, it doesn’t really matter where you think you are faithful. You have forsaking your first duties.

       6.      Don’t demand He work miracles for you that He didn’t want others to know about.

       7.      But see that Jesus does desire that families are made whole. He heals Jairus’ daughter, and has come to heal believers and their children, to reconcile them to one another, and to the Lord.

       8.      Indeed, this was John the Baptists’ great work, Lk. 1:17, preparing the people for the Messiah such that many of the Israelites turned back to the Lord and the hearts of fathers turned to love their children, as Jairus the ruler of the synagogue had a tender heart for his daughter. The disobedient were turned to the wisdom of the just, and why? “To make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

       9.      This is the restoration Christ brings, to Himself, to families, to wisdom to bless societies/nations.

   10.      Consider our culture/nation/government. We have turned our back on the Lord, we have forsaken and aborted our children, and children hate and disobey their parents; folly reigns; wisdom is slain.

III.       His kingdom restores an afflicted woman to society’s ranks. (43-48)

A.      This woman has had a blood issue for as long as Jairus’ daughter has been alive. This woman is able to push her way through the crowd and manage to touch the edge of Christ’s garment.

       1.      Just the slightest reaching out to Christ in faith brings an immediate end to her flow of blood.

       2.      This affliction of 12 years is ended in an instant. This was a desperate woman, who dealt with doctors who could offer no cure. This was a supernatural healing by Jesus Christ, showing the power and glory of His kingdom, that He is the Man sent by God Himself with the power of God, b/c He is God.

B.      45-46, Jesus asks who touched Him, & the people are afraid their bumping into Jesus has upset Him.

       1.      Peter and others indicate that many were reaching out, bumping into Jesus, etc.

       2.      So for Jesus to say “Who touched Me?” is strange.

       3.      Jesus was referring to a touch of faith that the Father blessed to heal through the Son.

C.      This woman with her flow of blood would have been ceremonially unclean, unfit to be around others. Lev. 15:25-27 shows how horrible her situation truly was:

       1.      ‘If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, other than at the time of her customary impurity, or if it runs beyond her usual time of impurity, all the days of her unclean discharge shall be as the days of her customary impurity. She shall be unclean. Every bed on which she lies all the days of her discharge shall be to her as the bed of her impurity; and whatever she sits on shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her impurity. Whoever touches those things shall be unclean; he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.’

       2.      This woman had been in a perpetual state of impurity/uncleanness for 12 years.

       3.      Whatever she slept on, sat on, or whoever she touched would be made unclean; if you touched what she touched, you would be made unclean and must wash clothes and bathe in water.

       4.      So the woman was a huge inconvenience to anyone who dared come near her. As Dale Ralph Davis notes, “Synagogue services were off limits. Physical debility and then social isolation to the max.”

D.      47-48, Imagine the weight of this woman’s confession. She’s bumping into others, making them unclean, so she tried to hide herself and her impurity. But when all eyes turn to her, she confesses all.

       1.      So her faith is seen in both confession/repentance, why she came against custom, and also owning that she had now been healed through Christ. Her fear/trembling is immediately removed by Christ.

       2.      Notice the tender term Jesus uses for this woman. He calls her “daughter” and emphasizes that her faith, not a superstitious touch, has made her well. She has nothing to fear. She came to the Great Physician in faith, and was made whole.

E.      Rather than Christ being made unclean by her defiled touch, He cleanses her of her suffering/impurity.

       1.      Her isolation and suffering is swallowed up in the Giver of life. She can now go in peace, made whole and admitted back into the whole of society. What a joyous healing Christ brings!

       2.      If we think of our own sin as Christians, that bleeding drip that continues to afflict us, what a joyous day it will be when Christ returns and makes us whole, and gives us face-to-face access to Himself bodily, in glory, in heaven itself, with Him and all the perfected saints forever.

       3.      Our remaining, indwelling sin and sinful flesh prohibits us from that full access to the Lord in heaven.

       4.      But when our bodies are made as whole as our souls at the return of Christ, nothing will keep us even from bodily presence to the risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That restoration and elevation into the heavenlies will far surpass the restoration that even this Daughter of God gladly received.

       5.      She is told to “go in peace” and now can serve the Lord in society again, without fear of making unclean, but as a faithful witness, salt and light, a sweet aroma of Christ to others who meet her.

IV.       CONCLUSION/APPLICATIONS:

       1.      The woman with a flow of blood came to be healed by the Lord in faith, and got what she desired, yet when He questioned about it, she trembled. Sometimes in our expressions of faith we do not know what we ought to ask for or not ask for, or how the Lord is responding to our requests.

       2.      Discernment is exceedingly difficult, but it should be a life long quest to acquire; it is found with diligent study, prayer, reflection, action, and only with many wise counselors to guide us.

       3.      Proverbs, the book of wisdom, asserts this truth repeatedly. The woman tried to be healed by many, but only Christ had true wisdom and power from God to make her well. Keep seeking His blessing.

       4.      Jairus was a ruler, yet fell before Christ the Supreme ruler and begged for His Supreme power to deliver his precious daughter.

       5.      He had faith, yet mixed with doubt or weakness, as Jairus did not perceive Christ could heal His daughter even from where He stood as the Centurion perceived Christ could do for his mere servant. Jairus scoffed when Christ said his daughter was asleep, yet Christ still blessed imperfect faith, and thankfully He does the same with our imperfect faith in many ways. Strengthen your faith in Him.

       6.      As we grow as God’s people, may we be restored to our family and friends, may they be restored to Christ, and may we together in the Church and family be witnesses in society, so that it be transformed into God’s image, doing His will, for Christ’s glory. Let us pray.