4/29/2012
- WHEN TIME MATTERS (LUKE 13:22 – 14:6)
·
Verses 22 – 30 Strive to enter through the
narrow door
o It
is clear that our Lord does not follow the method that is used by certain
self-styled revivalists, who speak as if "getting saved" is one of
the easiest things in the world. The entrance-gate is narrow. It must be
"found."
o "Strive"
or "agonize" or "labor fervently" for there are real
difficulties and formidable obstacles to be overcome.
·
Verses 31 – 35 Jerusalem described and lamented
o He
knew time was running out for the city and God’s judgment would certainly fall
o Jerusalem represented the nation of Israel, for Christ's love and yearning had by no
means been limited to the inhabitants of this city, or even Judea.
Chapter 14:
·
Verses 1 – 6 Healing of a Man Afflicted with
Dropsy on the Sabbath
o Meeting
urgent needs was more important than distinguishing between sacred time and
secular time
o The
Sabbath question is still one of heated debate today.
o The
important thing is not to ARGUE about religion, but to learn to LIVE it.
2. WHAT
DISCIPLESHIP INVOLVES (LUKE 14:7 – 35)
·
Verses 7 – 14 Parable of the Reserved Seats - A
Lesson for Guests and Hosts
·
If invited to a dinner, His disciples are not to
seek the best seat
·
If planning a dinner, they are to invite not
just those able to return the favor, but also to include the “poor, maimed,
lame, or blind”
·
Verses 15 – 24 Parable of the Rejected
Invitation or of the Great Supper
·
Those who self-assuredly think they have made it
in God’s kingdom because of who they are find themselves on the outside;
others, viewed as outcasts, receive the kingdom and come inside to enjoy the
Master’s banquet
·
Verses 25 – 33 Parable of the Rash Builder and
the Reasonable King
The cost will include self-denial, even
to the point of death if Jesus requires it
·
Verses 34 – 35 Useless Salt
·
This is a compliment and responsibility that
applies only to Christians, for the statement is made to contrast Christians
with non-Christians.
·
Until men have been seasoned with the salt of
heavenly doctrine, they have nothing in them but that which is tasteless.
·
The Greeks called it divine.
·
The Romans called salt the symbol of purity,
being the product of the sun and the sea.
·
Roman soldiers sometimes were paid in salt,
hence the word salary (from the Latin word for salt, sale).
·
Among the Hebrews all meat offerings were
salted.
- WHEN TO REJOICE (LUKE 15:1 – 32)
·
Verses 1 – 7 Parable of the Lost Sheep
·
Ratio of saved to lost was 99 to 1
·
Notice that our Lord feels a special rejoicing
at the recovery of a wandering sheep - not rejoicing because of the recovery of
a physical loss, but rejoicing because of love for the sheep.
·
Verses 8 – 10 Parable of the Lost Coin
·
Ratio of saved to lost was 9 to 1
·
There can be no question about the fact that
God's holy angels take a deep interest in our salvation.
·
Verse 11 – 32 Parable of the Lost Son
·
Ratio of lost to saved was 0 to 2
·
The emphasis of all three parables was joy,
rejoicing
- HOW TO HANDLE MONEY (LUKE 16:1 – 31)
Verses 1 – 12 The Parable of the
Unjust Steward.
·
The steward felt that this would please the
debtors and in effect.....MAKE THEM A DEBTOR TO HIM!
·
The steward had taken a present opportunity to
provide for a future necessity.
4A. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MONEY? (LUKE
16:13 – 15)
13 "No servant can serve two
masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will
hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
·
The unregenerate say that it is possible to
concentrate one's energies on accumulating earthly treasure and at the same
time to do those things that please God
·
The regenerate knows that this is not so
14 Now the Pharisees, who were
lovers of money, were listening to all these things, and they were scoffing at
Him.
·
Because of their scoffing, Jesus now begins to
rebuke them in the following verses
15 And He said to them, “You are
those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts;
for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God
NASB
4B. HOW DO YOU USE YOUR MONEY? (LUKE
16:19 – 21)
19 "Now there was a certain
rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, gaily living in
splendor every day. 20 "And a certain poor man named Lazarus was laid at
his gate, covered with sores,21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs which
were falling from the rich man's table; besides, even the dogs were coming and
licking his sores.
NASB
·
The Lord is not familiar with the unsaved, but
He KNOWS His own.
4C. DO YOU KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES?
(LUKE 16:22 – 26)
22 "Now it came about that
the poor man died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and
the rich man also died and was buried.23 "And in Hades he lifted up his
eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom.24
"And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send
Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue;
for I am in agony in this flame.'25 "But Abraham said, 'Child, remember
that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad
things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.26'And besides
all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, in order that those
who wish to come over from here to you may not be able, and that none may cross
over from there to us.
NASB
·
Still thinking of Lazarus as a lowly servant to
be called on to serve him!
4D. DO YOU NEED TO REPENT? (LUKE
16:27 – 31)
27 "And he said, 'Then I beg
you, Father, that you send him to my father's house - 28 for I have five
brothers - that he may warn them, lest they also come to this place of
torment.'29 "But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them
hear them,'30 "But he said, 'No, Father Abraham, but if someone goes to
them from the dead, they will repent!"31 "But he said to him, 'If
they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if
someone rises from the dead.'"
NASB
·
J. C. Ryle had this to say.... "Would not
the rich man's brethren accuse him of scandalizing and slandering the soul of
their noble deceased brother for telling them he was in hell, and persecute
him, if he was within their power?"
·
I can see the critical blasphemer say, "I
am not quite sure that you ever were dead. You must have been in a trance.
Where is your proof that you were dead?"
- WHAT SERVICE MEANS (LUKE 17:1 – 10)
·
Verses 1 – 10 Jesus Instructs His Disciples on
Forgiveness
·
Verses 1 – 4 stress the importance of living
blameless lives
i.
In Chapter 15, the Pharisees had been treating with
disdain the publicans and sinners who crowded around Jesus (15:1-2).
ii.
In Chapter 16, the rich man treated Lazarus in the same
manner (16:19-21).
iii.
Much spiritual harm can come to those who are treated
in this way - those people who are neglected or despised.
iv.
Jesus now warns His disciples not to be guilty of such
a sin!
·
Verses 5 – 6 teaches genuine faith is powerful,
regardless of its quantity
i.
A minute faith can work a great miracle.
ii.
We fail not because of the strength of the opposition
but because of the smallness of faith.
·
Verses 7 – 10 we are to accept the
responsibility of being obedient servants of Jesus
i.
We are not only do what is commanded, but do it
enthusiastically and with joy, attempting to glorify God in all that we do.
ii.
Even more, we are to go beyond what we are commanded to
do, and still do it enthusiastically and with joy for the privilege of serving
so great a God and Savior!
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