Sermon 59: The Blessing of Spiritual Undertanding: Luke 10:21-24

Text: Luke 10:21-24“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them…”

Summary: The following words of Christ teach that knowing God starts with His grace which comes to us exclusively through Christ.

Proposition: He wants us to understand what we have in Him, so we will live with gratitude in that knowledge.

Introduction: Ephesians 2:1-9 “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast…”

The human condition is desperate outside of Christ:

But God is gracious:

Truth 1: Knowing God starts with humility: 10:21 “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

· God’s ways are different than our ways: 1 Corinthians 1:25-29

1 Corinthians 1:25–29 KJV 1900

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.

o How the world would anticipate great things being accomplished in the world: Target the affluent, educated, cultured, strong, and self-reliant.

o How God actually works in the world: “Not many wise men after the flesh…not many mighty…not many noble…but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise…the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty…base things of the world, and things which are despised…”

o The gospel was spread to the nations through highly unlikely people: Acts 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus…”

He cannot be known unless He reveals Himself:

o Negatively: “Not to the wise and prudent”

§ Luke 10:25 “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

§ Luke 18:18 “And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

§ Mark 14:1 “After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death…”

o Positively: “but rather to babes”

§ Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…”

§ Matthew 18:3 “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven…”

§ James 4:6 “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble…”

§ James 4:8-10 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up…”

Truth 2: You cannot know the Father apart from Christ: 10:22 “All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him…”

The simplest way to put this verse is: You cannot know the Father outside the Son and you cannot know the Son outside the Father.

There are three ministries distinctly given to the Son that reinforce this statement:

o The ministry of revelation:

§ John 1:1, 9 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

§ John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth…”

§ John 1:18 “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him…”

§ John 14:7 “If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him…”

§ John 14:9 “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”

o The ministry of reconciliation:

§ 1 John 4:10 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins…”

§ Romans 5:6-10 “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son…”

o The ministry of intercession:

§ Romans 8:31-34 “If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us…”

§ Hebrews 7:24-27 “This man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself…”

Summarized: John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me…”

Truth 3: We are a uniquely blessed people: 10:23-24 “And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them…”

What Jesus could have said: “Blessed are your eyes for they have seen…”

What He actually said: “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see…”

What is the difference?

o The first statement would have been exclusively focused on the privilege the disciples experienced.

o What He actually said would include the disciples, but also looked beyond their personal experience.

His statement includes us: John 17:20 “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word…”

o There was an incomplete but adequate understanding of these things before they were fulfilled: “For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them…”

o We have the ability today to look back with fuller understanding:

§ We have the witness of the Old Testament: This gives us an understanding of what would happen.

§ We have the witness of the gospel: This provides a verification of God’s faithfulness and should strengthen our confidence that what our faith rests in is true.

§ We have the witness of the epistles: We have the theological significance of all these things spelled out by God in His word.

§ We have the presence of the Holy Spirit indwelling us: We are in a superior position to these people.

§ We have 2,000 years of church history to give us countless examples of faithful Christians.

Putting this all together:

We cannot know God if we are unwilling to humbly accept what He has revealed about Himself.

o If we believe we can rationally understand God apart from the scriptures, we will never know Him.

o If we believe we can pick and choose what to accept and not accept from the scriptures, we will never know Him.

o If we believe we can know Him outside of Christ, we will never know Him.

We cannot know God apart from Christ’s threefold ministry:

o I love the song we sang this morning: “God has Spoken”

§ Whispered through Creation…

§ Spoken through the scriptures…

§ Shouted through the Savior…

If we know God, we are blessed, and should be filled with gratitude toward Him.

o When we see ourselves honestly before God, we will be humbled.

o When we come to understand the weight of His sacrifice for us, we will be overwhelmed with love and gratitude.

o When we realize that this understanding is ultimately the result of His grace, we are doubly grateful. “Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved, how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed…”

Three Questions to Consider:

How do you approach the scriptures?

Do you know the Father through the Son?

How do you view your position?