Latest / Journey Elgin / Journey Through Scripture - Luke 13-18
Transcript
- Phillip Thomas: Hey, it's good see you today. My name is Philip Thomas, Pastor of Journey here in Elgin, Texas. Thank you for joining us for our journey through Scripture. We are going to be looking at Luke chapter 13 through 18 and also a little bit of Matthew chapter 18. So this is a little bit longer than we normally ⁓ do, but we're going to go ahead and ⁓ finish out this part in in Luke. This is kind of again the transition. Jesus is now moving from Galilee to He's headed towards Jerusalem for the final time. And ⁓ there these are lots of teachings that he did on the way. so starting in ⁓ chapter thirteen ⁓ of of Luke, it starts off pretty pretty hot. Jesus says they were present of the season, some who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered them and said, Do you suppose these Galileans were worse sinners than other Galileans? Because they suffered such things. I tell you no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Same thing there was a a tower in Saloom that fell and ⁓ and killed eighteen people. Do you think they were worse sinners than other people? It says no. And he says, Repent, or you likewise will perish. So, you know, this obviously ⁓ also is an indication that Pilate ⁓ did have ⁓ Galileans killed. ⁓ he he was a ⁓ a Roman ruler who who kept the peace however he see ⁓ deemed fit. And ⁓ Jesus is basically using this as an opportunity to say, everyone needs to be ready. You don't know when your time is up. ⁓ and you need to repent that ⁓ or or you likewise will perish. Right. So Jesus is really starting to hammer that truth home that repentance is necessary. Talks about the f the fig tree that if it is not ⁓ bearing fruit, ⁓ that it will be ⁓ pulled up and tossed out. ⁓ but then there's there's the opportunity for it to be fertilized and watered, ⁓ but then if it still doesn't produce, eventually it will be tossed out. ⁓ Then you have a a miracle where Jesus ⁓ heals a a woman who had an infirmity, but of course it was on the Sabbath, so people get got really upset. The synagogue leader, this is verse fourteen of chapter thirteen, I I thought this was interesting. But the ruler of the synagogue answered with it indignation, ⁓ because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. the the fact that these ⁓ religious leaders were so focused on their own rules and and how they interpreted them and the the righteousness that they had created for themselves, they became indignant even when Jesus healed someone of an infirmity. Right? And Jesus uses an e ⁓ interesting example. He said, How many of you ⁓ take and water your animals on the Sabbath, which is technically work and shouldn't be done, but all of you do that, right? You care more about your animals than you do about this woman. And ⁓ I thought that was interesting for our time today as well. then in Luke chapter thirteen, well, we've been in thirteen, continuing in Luke chapter thirteen, ⁓ starting in verse twenty two, Jesus asks a question, says, Lord, are there few who are saved? This is where Jesus says ⁓ that narrow is the way. ⁓ he said to them, verse twenty four, strive to enter through the narrow gate through for many I say to you will seek to enter and will not be able. and so there's he's indicating again that this following him, being a disciple, is not easy. It doesn't just happen. Just because you were born a Jew doesn't doesn't mean that you may be going through the narrow gate. ⁓ that's that's kind of what it seems Jesus is is saying here. and ⁓ he he really is starting to emphasize ⁓ the importance of repentance of turning and following him, not just relying on where you were born, who you were born to, not just relying on going to church. ⁓ no, it it's about a rel entering into a relationship with him and being a follower ⁓ of of Christ. ⁓ he also ⁓ takes time here. ⁓ I thought it was interesting. Some of the Pharisees came to him saying, ⁓ get out, don't go to Jerusalem. ⁓ but Jesus says, ⁓ I I am going to Jerusalem, even though I know Herod wants to kill me. ⁓ he and then Jesus laments over Jerusalem. ⁓ then you have chapter fourteen, ⁓ where Jesus again healed somebody ⁓ on the Sabbath. ⁓ and ⁓ Said he took them ⁓ healed him and let him go. Then he answered them, which of you having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day? And they could not answer him regarding these things because they knew the answer. They of course would. And so the fact that they were trying to condemn Jesus because he was healing people on the Sabbath is is cynical to the highest degree. ⁓ then Jesus talks about humility taking the the lowly place talks about going into a banquet ⁓ rather than just going and sitting at the ⁓ place of honor, sit at the lowly place and then you may be asked to move up but but don't just expect to be honored. Don't seek honor. allow others to to give that to you. ⁓ then there's the the parable of of the s the supper ⁓ that the master provides a supper and then invites people and all these people who he knew ⁓ just made excuses not to come so he becomes very entry ⁓ angry and he says, Okay, let let everybody in. ⁓ and it's kind of a another one of those allusions to the fact that okay, just because you're born in ⁓ into Abraham's family, ⁓ g guess what? you have to still choose to come in. You have to choose to come and partake ⁓ of the of the meal. ⁓ Jesus is is definitely warning of this. and ⁓ the the religious leaders aren't liking it, that's for sure. ⁓ then in ⁓ continuing in verse ⁓ chapter fourteen, starting in verse twenty five, talks about basically l leaving all to follow Christ, of of knowing what the cost is before you begin. And he uses a a very difficult for us to understand many times because he says you may hate your brother ⁓ or your your father, your family, you must follow me. What is he saying? He's saying your loyalty is to Christ and to Christ alone. Is he saying not to that your family's not important? No. ⁓ in fact just the opposite ⁓ the family is extremely important, but following Christ even supersedes that. ⁓ and he also gives the undeniable truth, especially in that day. Now we ⁓ in the past haven't had to deal with this much. Very few families would kick you out if you started following Jesus. That would have happened back then. That happens today in other countries. ⁓ imagine growing up in Iran and converting to Christianity. You will get kicked out of your family. ⁓ that's what Jesus is saying. This is a reality. He's he's preparing you for the reality of what will happen. To me, that is very compassionate and loving. ⁓ He doesn't just send us in blind ⁓ whenever we choose to follow Him. ⁓ but for us today we have had it so easy and so comfortable that we just take for granted. that we can follow Christ without really giving up much. Those days may be coming to an end, ⁓ but you need to r recognize that he calls us to a higher level ⁓ of devotion, ⁓ one that supersedes ⁓ even our family. ⁓ so that it's ⁓ very tough teaching that Jesus ⁓ is giving. Matthew eighteen ⁓ has the parable of the lost ⁓ sheep, also Math Matthew fifteen, where Jesus is concerned about the one lost sheep and he leaves the ninety nine to go and to to to reach the one who hasn't repented yet. ⁓ Jesus says Luke fourteen no, excuse me, Luke chapter fifteen, verse seven, I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety nine just persons ⁓ who need no repentance. Right, so it's always about going and trying to find and to trying to share that message with those who need to repent. ⁓ then you have the parable of the lost coin, ⁓ where the the widow searches for the coin. Again, he's concerned of the one who hasn't repented. ⁓ the parable of the lost son, ⁓ right the very familiar parable where the son takes his inheritance, ⁓ goes and squanders it, comes back, and the father receives him and the older brother of course doesn't understand why. He says, well, because they were lost and now they are found. That that should be our desire. So we have to repent, but then we should encourage and hope and pray for others to repent as well. Chapter sixteen talks about ⁓ wealth and being good stewards ⁓ with all that we have been given. ⁓ chapter sixteen, verse thirteen says, No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. So you you can't serve both God and money. ⁓ it doesn't mean money in itself is evil, but the love of money is, and he calls us to be good stewards, which means putting him above everything else, viewing all that we have as coming from him. And using it to make a difference. ⁓ then you have the rich man and Lazarus. ⁓ so that you we don't know a a lot of the details here. It's just it's a ⁓ just a a parable of of to to bring about a bigger point. ⁓ that just because you are rich doesn't mean you are righteous. And so so many people just acute ⁓ assume, well, the rich man he's blessed, he must be doing everything right, he's gonna be in heaven. ⁓ well no, so the rich man here is in in ⁓ separated in hell and Lazarus is the one in heaven. ⁓ and I thought it it's interesting 'cause the rich man says, ⁓ well, please relieve this says no, can't can't cross cross over. Says, Well go and tell my brothers who are still living, share with them. Let Lazarus go and share with them so that they will repent and not have to go through this. Thought ⁓ the response is ⁓ interesting. This is ⁓ again, chapter sixteen, verse thirty. And he said to them, No, Father Abraham, but if if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent. That's what the rich man is asking. ⁓ but he said to them, If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded through one rise ⁓ though one rises from the dead. So basically say, Listen, you have all That you need the prophets and Moses and the teachings, and yet you did not heed them. You did not ⁓ repent. You did not turn ⁓ from going your own way. ⁓ so even if someone were to ⁓ a ghost was to go and proclaim this, they're you're not going to listen, right? very very interesting that Jesus says that ⁓ and basically he's saying, Listen, we have all that we need right now ⁓ to believe. It's up to you whether you're going to believe or not. ⁓ then we ⁓ have ⁓ in again in the ⁓ last of Matthew chapter eighteen verses fifteen through thirty-five, you have how to handle ⁓ disagreement ⁓ with ⁓ with your brother or your sister and going through that, trying to find ⁓ a a place where you can find forgiveness and repentance. ⁓ and then Luke seventeen continues on that. The beginning of Luke seven seventeen says, It is impossible that no offense should come, but woe to him through whom they do come. It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, then he should offend one of these little ones. So the intentional offense is is definitely ⁓ something that we should avoid. But it there will be those times there is offense. So when we are people offend us, What is it says, take heed to yourself, this is verse three of chapter seventeen. If your brother sins against you, so they have offended you, they have sinned against you. And this isn't just offensive because they said I mean I mean I I guess you can bring anything up if you feel offense. It's not encouraging you to be offended, but when sh people truly do hurt you, what does it say? Rebuke him. Now that that's not a harsh thing we we look at that term and we think, ⁓ well that's just being harsh. No, it's it's bring it to their attention that, hey, you have have hurt me. You have sinned against me. ⁓ and if he repents, forgive him. So if you do that, if you go through that process and and they repent, you you must forgive. And if he sins against you seven times and seven times a day returns to you saying, I repent, you shall forgive him. Right now Again, i if this is this is something that is very difficult to do. ⁓ but it also has a requirement on both people's part, ⁓ right, that that the the person who does the offending is asking for forgiveness, is repenting, so is desiring to change, right? And is striving to change. ⁓ then you you continue, ⁓ it talks about having faith. ⁓ faith the the mustard seed ⁓ and how powerful that is but then it's also very humbling the the rest of what Jesus says but guess what? You just need to do what I have commanded you to do. ⁓ not so that you're elevated, but because that is your duty. Luke chapter seventeen, starting verse le eleven, ⁓ he's kind of passing through Samaria and Galilee, so there's kind of a mixture of Jews and Samaritans, which Samaritans were, you know ⁓ cont considered ⁓ separate from the Jews. They were there was contention ⁓ between them. And he Jesus cle heals ten lepers and only one returns, and it's a Samaritan. ⁓ And Jesus answered says, were the ⁓ not the ten others cleansed, but where are the where are the nine? Were they not found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner? And he said, Rise, go your way. Your faith has made you well. Right? So just ⁓ again, how easily we just take things for granted. Luke chapter 17, starting in verse 20, ⁓ it talks about the day of the Son of Man, the when he will return, kind of that that future time. I thought this was interesting whenever he talks about the kingdom of God. ⁓ the kingdom of c God is both a real physical place that will ultimately be fulfilled here, ⁓ but it's also a spiritual understanding. And he says, the king kingdom of God does not come with observation, nor will they say, See here or see there, for indeed the kingdom of God is within you. So we are able to live and interact in the kingdom of God here and now because of what Christ has done, but it is not physically present. You can't point to it and say, well that's it over there. You can go in and you can come out. No, it's it's a spiritual thing. It's something that is ⁓ within you. ⁓ chapter eighteen ⁓ it talks about ⁓ and this is we're just gonna go through the first fourteen verses of chapter eighteen. This is kind of the the end of Jesus' journey from Galilee ⁓ to Judea to Jerusalem ⁓ in ⁓ Luke and it talks about ⁓ two ⁓ prayers ⁓ says there's a judge who is not God fearing and also doesn't care about people, but yet a widow ⁓ is comes to him and is begging for justice and he has compassion on her and he gives her justice. And so the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge said and shall God not avenge his own elect who cry out day and night to him? Though he bears long with them, I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, he will really f ⁓ will he really find faith on the earth? ⁓ so he's saying, ⁓ you know, cry out to God, call on God. ⁓ if this heartless judge can have compassion, God also will avenge. He will bring justice. and then you have the the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, the ⁓ Pharisee is up praying, s literally saying, Thank you that I'm not like this tax collector. look at how wonderful I am. I fast, I pray, I do all the right things. And the tax collector s prayer is this, God be merciful on me, for I am a sinner. And Jesus says, 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. All right. So that's gonna be it for today. ⁓ let's ⁓ read the re the rest of Luke chapter eighteen, also Matthew nineteen, ⁓ Mark ten. So Matthew nineteen, Mark ten, the rest of Luke eighteen, and we'll also go Matthew twenty. And that'll that'll get us. So nineteen and twenty from Matthew, ⁓ Mark chapter ten, and the rest of Luke chapter eighteen. All right, we'll see you all.