Pastor Rene's Bible studies
 

Guard yourself against hypocrisy and greed-- Chap 12

Luke 12:1 (NIV) Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Luke 12:15 (NIV) Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

What is hypocrisy?

 The section we'll look at today both begins and ends with the mention of hypocrisy V. 38, The washing of hands was not a matter of hygiene, but a ritual cleansing to remove any pollution from contact with sinners and unholy things. Playacting, pretending, simulating Luke 16:14 (NIV) The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. Consequences of hypocrisy
  1. The worst consequence of hypocrisy in Jesus'eyes was in Matt 13, 15, "You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to… (Luke 11:52).

    2. That makes Jesus angry. Hypocrisy hinders people from entering in the kingdom of God.

  2. Luke 12:56 (NIV) Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time?

    3. Luke 12:57 (NIV) "Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?

    Because hypocrites love to look good before men, they like to give their opinion, to look smart. They like to boast of their "so-called" discernment and knowledge. They judge, criticize…

    They should have read the times they were in: The coming of their Messiah. But because of hypocrisy, they were blinded to what God was really doing in their midst.

    Hypocrisy keeps people out of line with what God is doing…

  3. Luke 13:10-17 A woman crippled for 18 years was healed.

    4. Luke 13:15 (NIV) The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?

    Religious hypocrisy hinders anyone from doing any effective true ministry, because ministry is about people, about love and caring about being concern to bring people to God.

    Hypocrisy makes people insensitive to human sufferings; they prefer intertainment.

    In the course of his discussion in the Pharisee's house, the word was spread and Jesus opponents gathered to oppose Jesus fiercely.

  4. In Matt 23:15 "Son of hell", in V. 33 "How will you escape being condemned to hell?" Since hypocrisy is is living a lie; it makes someone a co-worker with satan.
  5. Luke 12:3,4; All hypocrisy and hidden sin will be exposed (in this life or at judgment day).
Jesus' opponents

Luke 11:53 (NIV) When Jesus left there, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, 54 waiting to catch him in something he might say.

12:1 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

 Now we have a crowd and Jesus first addressed his disciples. How to cure hypocrisy?

Luke 12:2 (NIV) There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

4 "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

8 "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. 9 But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.
  1. V. 2,3, Realize that everything will be made known
  2. V. 4,5, Realize that hypocrisy has its root in the fear of man. The fear of the Lord will cure hypocrisy
Guard yourself against Greed
Luke 12:15 (NIV) Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

What is greed and how to cure it? Luke 12:13-21

 Now Jesus includes a warning against greed. (Leaders & Christians)

The greedy brother wanted his brother's inheritance.

Luke 12:15 (NIV) Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." More in quantity, quality and number. (Pleonexia is avarice.) It means a greedy desire for gain. For a gain, a greedy person will lie, cheat, defraud others, violate laws. (Ephesians 5:3 tells us it is an idolatry because it is self-love motivated by ego-drive.

That is where greed and hypocrisy work together. (Lie, cheat to take advantage of people, to make believe what is not)

 The rich man asked: "What shall I do?"

"I'll say to myself… take life easy, eat, drink and be merry." I'll big bigger, I'll gather up more for myself… I'll have everything to enjoy by myself (just like in Holliwood).

Luke 12:20 (NIV) "But God said to him, `You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' surplus

21 "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Jesus makes his disciples realize that death separates us from this material life and judgment awaits us. How to cure greed?
  1. Paying your tithes to God…
Firstborn God said to Moses of the children of Israel; Exod 13:2 Sanctify (consecrate, set apart) unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, [both] of man and of beast: it [is] mine. Exod 22:29 Thou shalt not delay [to offer] the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. 30…

The Levites

 Among the nations of Israel, God set apart one tribe for himself: the Levites Numb 3:12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;

Instructions about the spoil after victoty liberality

Josh 6:17 (NIV) The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. 18 But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. 19 All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the LORD and must go into his treasury."

Josh 8:2 (NIV) You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city."

Promises of blessings, protection and prosperity

Mala 3:10 (KJS) Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it]. (Comp with the greedy rich man in Luk 12)

Mala 3:11 (KJS) And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

 Devourer: 0398 'akal {aw-kal'}

To eat, devour, burn up, consume (of fire), slay (of sword), destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)

Jere 2:3 (KJS) Israel [was] holiness unto the LORD, [and] the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.

1Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Promises related to honouring God with our income

Prov 3:9 (KJS) Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

Honour:

 03513 kabad {kaw-bad'} or kabed {kaw-bade'}to make heavy,to make honourable, honour, glorify 01952 hown {hone}

wealth, riches, substance, price, high value.

07225 re'shiyth {ray-sheeth'}

firstfruits, first, beginning, best, chief, choice part

08393 t@buw'ah {teb-oo-aw'}

AV - increase, fruit, revenue, gain

produce, product, (What produce a revenue), crops (of the earth usually)

income, revenue

The Promise

Prov 3:10 (KJS) So shall thy barns (storehouse) be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. 04390 male' {maw-lay'} or mala' (Esth. 7:5) {maw-law'}

1) to fill, gather , be full, overflow - fullness, abundance, fill the hand, satisfy

07647 saba` {saw-baw'}

AV - plenty, abundance, satiety (Fully satisfied, not lacking any good things)

06555 parats {paw-rats'}

to break open, to break over (limits), increase, to burst open, to spread, enough to distribute

  1. "Then he said to his disciples: Do not worry"
Jesus gave them a new perspective as how to live their life without hypocrisy and greed.

V. 22-34, Jesus connected this exhortation with the warning against hypocrisy and covetousness.

  1. A proper attitude toward material things,
  2. A simple trust in a caring Father brings freedom from anxiety about social, material and physical daily needs.

    3. Worry is useless because life is in God's hands

    For an effective ministry: Do not worry about material things. Trust God and put God first.

    Luke 12:33 (NIV) Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

    Luke 12:34 (NIV) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

  3. V. 33, Sacrificial givings for the needs of others assures us of treasures that can never be lost.
  4. V. 34, A life truly occupied with the things of the kingdom will be free from hypocrisy and greed.
Faithful and wise servants (managers), Luke 12:35-48 This long section summarize the Lord's desire concerning the kind of servant he is looking for. Luke 12:35 (NIV) "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning,

36 like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

 The Lord's requirements are
  1. readiness for action at all time.
  2. Waiting for their master to return.
  3. See the use of money in the light of the Lord's return.
Luke 12:40 (NIV) You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." Watchfulness is especially requiered of those in leadership positions. conclusion NOTICE How many times does Jesus refers to either: eternity, judgment, the Lord's coming; For an effective ministry:
  1. Guard yourself
  2. Focus on heaven, judgment, the Lord's coming and the caring of God our Father
The recipe for freedom from hypocrisy and greed, and for satisfaction in life and an effective and fruitful ministry is a right perspective of life:

Fix our eyes on the goal

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