Pastor Rene's Bible studies
The Gospel of Luke-- Chap 16:14-18
Valued by man or by God?
Luke
16:14 (NIV) The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering
at Jesus. 15 He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves
in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among
men is detestable in God's sight.
16
"The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time,
the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is
forcing his way into it. 17 It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear
than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law. 18 "Anyone who
divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man
who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
In Chap 11,12, we learned to be on our guard against
greed and hypocrisy, in Chap 13, 14, about repentance; for without repentance
someone will perish. We answered the question Are only a few going to be
saved? (in relation with repentance). Repent if you don't grow, bear fruit,
live as disciples…
We see repentance as a thread throughout Luke.
Today we continue our subject, Jesus is still talking
about the stewartship of our life.
We are learning what God values highly instead of
giving to much value on what man esteems.
This section started in Luke 15:1; We find Jesus
surrounded by crowds of sinners, and tax collectors, Pharisees and teachers
of the law and the disciples.
The Pharisees accused Jesus of welcoming sinners
and Jesus spoke the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coins and the
lost son to show how he values the lost soul.
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Then he continued in Chap 16 using the parable of the
Shrewd manager to teach us to be shrewd ( sharp mind in practical affairs)
about our eternal future in regard to handling wordly wealth (Mamon of
unrighteousness).
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Money is a good test of the Lordship of Christ. We are
servant in trust for the Lord. This was directed to the disciples…
Then the Pharisees who loved money laughed at Jesus'
teaching…
The Pharisees here are characterized as greedy. Jesus'
teaching brought up their love for money through his teachings to his disciples.
For the Pharisees and for the religion of the world,
success, and prosperity are a sign of God's favour.
Psal
49:18 (NIV) Though while he lived he counted himself blessed-- and men
praise you when you prosper--
Because men are naturally selfish, there is a wordly
simpathy with the men of this world.
It is common for men to try convince others we are
righteous, good people.
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An outward attitude of righteousness coming out of an
evil and selfisf heart might win the praise of men, but it is detestable
to God.
Remember Jesus strict warning: "What
is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight."
The Pharisees were trying to be justify themselves
by trying to observe the Law, but they broke the law and established their
own traditions to support their own set of values and their own self-justification.
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Jesus brings them back to the law and the prophets V.
16
16
"The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time,
the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is
forcing his way into it. ("Until John
you have trusted in the law to be justified, but now, listen to the good
news, repent because you broke the law and force your way in the Kingdom")
Jesus being more than a prophet referrred to the law
and the prophets to POINT OUT their iniquities and to reveal their actual
state of sin.
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The Law was until John, because John, as the forerunner
of the Messiah preached repentance in view of the coming of Christ.
Since John, the good news of the kingdom of God
is being preached; repentance and faith are the means to enter the Kingdom
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Until John, the law-breakers tried to cover up their
sin and they tried to make up for it by trying to observe the law
outwardly
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They failed to keep the law of God, they had broken
it to their own condemnation.
John through the preaching of repentance took away the
self-righteousness of man.
He revealed the sinfulness of the Jews and called
them to humbly acknowledge their sin and to repent to be ready for the
coming Messiah.
Everyone is pressing his way into it:
There must be a surrender-- Someone must be willing
to:
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acknowledge that his former way do not meet God's requirement
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come to God with humility on the base of a sinner, a
law breaker
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repent, confess and forsake their sin
It takes the effort, the willingness to make the move
instead of remaining passive in self-justification.
Example: Luke 3:7-20; Luke 6:29-35;
Matt 21:31 (NIV) …Jesus
said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes
are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
32 For John came to you
to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but
the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this,
you did not repent and believe him.
"V.
17 It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke
of a pen to drop out of the Law.
The law is the expression of the will of God. The
Pharisees deceived themselves in believing their could be justified by
an outward observance of the law while they failed to keep the law.
Jesus used the arguments, if you want to be justified
by the law, you have to obey to all of it even the least stroke.
See James 2:10 (NIV) For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles
at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery,"
also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit
murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
How Jesus value the Word of God
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The main argument against the Good news was; Does
faith makes the law void?
Instead the Lord honoured the law affirming the enduring
quality of the law and he fulfilled it perfectly.
Jesus as the Logos of God, gave us the most important
statements concerning the authority and permanence of the Word.
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Jesus confirms that every word is given by God and goes
as far as to refer to the smallest letter ("jot" litterally yod, the Hebrew
counterpart to our letter "I or J". Jesus believed and taught the total
inspiration of the Scriptures
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He contended that every truth is inviolable; Matt 5:17-19
(unchangeable)
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John 10:35; "The Scriptures cannot
be broken". (Man cannot diminish its truth or meaning because God
will prove His Word to be true and He will confirm it (His word will not
be destroyed or shaken). Matt 24:35 is the most quoted verse in this regard
"All creation may dissolve; God's word will stand
forever."
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Jesus affrirms the credibility of the OT in general
and the miracles of the OT.
He is the incarnate truth so his testimony is decisive:
Note that Jesus believed the biblical record of:
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Adam and Eve as the first pair (Matt 19:4)
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The litteral destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah Mark
6:11; Luke 17:29,30
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The actuality of Noah and the flood (Matt 24:37,38)
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The trustworthiness of Daniel's prophecy (Matt 24:15)
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The truth of Jonah swallowed by the fish (Matt 12:39)
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The miracle of the manna as well as other miracles during
the journey in the wilderness (John 3:14; 6:31,32)
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Finally Jesus forecast and authorized the writings of
the NT. In John 14:26; 16:12,13, He indicated that the coming ministry
of the HS would include bringing to the apostles' minds the things they
would later record etc…
Example of breaking the Law
18
"Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery,
and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
As an example of the permanence and the authority of
the word, Jesus refers to adultery, which was still sinful, even if it
was justified by civil law…
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Go back to V.15 "You are the ones who justify yourselves
in the eyes of men" We are the best, we know the law, we are son of Abraham…
Your pride cannot justify yourself, it can only feed
your greed for possessions, reject the Gospel, and destroy the law. He
uses V.18 to illustrate a terrible example.
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Jesus warned the Pharisees that what they said they
trusted in was only twisting and a wrong interpretation of the real intention
and purpose of the law, and the Lord showed an example in regard to divorce.
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There are many who argue about small unimportant matters
in the Word of God under the disguise of godliness, but are the worst enemies
of the truth and prupose of God.
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Today we saw in Jesus' teaching how he greatly values
the Word of God, his right interpretation and application… Put it in practice
in your life from your heat with the purpose to honor God
The other World
Then Jesus continue his teaching and he opens the other
world for us to see and to help us understand what is truly important…
It is important we value what God values…
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If we value what men value; we'll have a very bad surprise
in the other world.
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Worldly possessions, success and reputation does not
count in the other world
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