Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
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Introduction
Parable: Earthly story with a heavenly meaning
Stories are powerful
Jesus is dealing with the “wise and powerful”
In verse 21, Jesus prays thanks to the Father for hiding heavenly things from the wise and understanding (v.
21).
Through “intelligence” and “reason” alone some people think that they have heaven, hell, right/wrong, and God figured out.
Jesus often shared parable to hide heavenly meanings from people who don’t trust with faith.
Luke writes about a heckler that Jesus dealt with as He addressed His disciples
This lawyer was well versed in the Mosaic law
An expert of the law
The first 5 books of the Bible
This dude had Leviticus and Deuteronomy memorized.
He came looking to trap Jesus.
This was the kind of guy that had something to say, regardless of what you said you were incorrect.
Even if you agree with him.
This guy thought he was smarter than everyone else in the room.
He’s annoyingly and painfully smart
His intentions for his question are not pure.
Everyone around was claiming Jesus to be the Messiah, but this guy thought he could trap Jesus in false doctrine.
He’s playing with a serious question
There is no more important question than this question.
“Eternal life” is what people think of when they think of heaven.
“Eternal” means forever.
This is the “forever-life” with God that was meant to be with God.
Yet, he asks this question with mall-intent for Jesus.
The Question
“What must I do to inherit eternal life.”
The wording implies that he’s looking for an act that he can perform to earn the key to eternal life.
This seems like a natural way of thinking
What do I have to do or not do to be okay with God?
How do I need to behave in order to have God’s approval of my life?
Great question with venom behind it.
“What can I do to put God in my debt?”
Here’s a tip: When you going to test Jesus, make sure you’re sitting down so that when you fail you don’t have far to fall.
Jesus, per usual, flips the script.
What’s compelling about Jesus’s humanity, is that though He looked like us, He was not like us.
Jesus isn’t petty.
We’re petty.
Jesus loves people who are evil to Him.
The lawyer comes to trap Jesus, but without missing a beat, Jesus puts the lawyer on his heels.
“What’s the book say, Mr. Lawyer?”
(v.
26)
This lawyer devoted his life to reading God’s law, studying God’s law, and interpreting God’s law for the people.
So Jesus plays to the guys strength.
“What’s written in the Law, Counsel?”
This guy is a great lawyer.
He know’s the book.
The legal expert’s answer was a combination of Leviticus 19:18 and Deuteronomy 6:5 (v.
27)
He summarizes the whole law.
Love God/Love people.
Jesus doesn’t do what this guy would do; Jesus doesn’t say, “HA! Idiot!”
Jesus affirms his answer.
This is a shock to the lawyer.
No theological fireworks today.
Jesus loves the Bible
He loves the God of the Bible.
It’s important for us to know that the answer to our problems in the world can’t be settled in self-help books, but in the Bible.
If Jesus trusts the Bible, we should too.
“Good answer.
Do that.”
Do God’s commandments perfectly for the rest of your life and you will live.
There’s the hook: Can you earn it?
Love God without having a moment of doubt
Love people perfectly every second for the rest of your life.
If that’s how you can earn eternal life, then do it.
Don’t just believe it.
Do it.
Perfect obedience to God’s command to love Him and love our neighbors is one way to gain eternal life.
But don’t mess it up.
The problem is, we can’t do this.
We have not done it because we cannot do it.
We spend our entire lives “trying to get to heaven.”
Trying to meet the standard.
Trying to be “good enough.”
You’re not good enough.
If perfect obedience to God’s law is the way we live forever, then we are all going to die guilty.
There’s the hook.
That’s the twist.
If the only way to get to heaven is to an action we do, then we’re all going to hell.
This guy’s problem is that there is a difference between answering the question theologically and living it practically.
The lawyer knows that he has the right answer, but he also knows that there is no way that he can do with with his life.
Face-saving question.
He wants to justify himself.
This guy should have asked, “So, what if a person can’t love God and love his neighbor perfectly?”
Jesus would’ve given him the good news that Jesus didn’t come for righteous people, but for sinners.
Jesus didn’t come for people that could do those things.
He came for the people that have made a total wreck of their lives, no matter how much they try to hide.
But this guy doesn’t want Jesus to justify him.
He wants God to be okay with his actions, so he asks a different question.
“Who is my neighbor?”
(v.
29)
He is clinging with all his might to a works-based religion.
He so badly wants to say, “I’m a good guy!”
He’s trying to lower God’s standards down to a place where he can clear it with his human efforts.
We do this exact same thing.
He wants to make sure he loves the right people.
Who do I have to be nice to?
The Story
Jesus could’ve given him an annoyed look and answered the question, “Everyone, dummy.”
Jesus didn’t do that.
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