Remember Lot's Wife

Introduction

Greetings…

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Luke 17:32 ESV

32 Remember Lot’s wife.

Lot’s Wife

The Fall Of Sodom & Gomorrah.

We have all read and learned about the great destruction that took place in Sodom & Gomorrah.

How these two cities, along with three others, were destroyed by God due to their sin becoming full.

2 Peter 2:6 (ESV)

6 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly

Jude 7 ESV

7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

As the fire and brimstone fell and destroyed the cities God had told Lot and his family to “not look back” but as you and I know that is not what happened.

Lot’s wife did look back.

Genesis 19:23–26 (ESV)

23 The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

In our text for today, Jesus make reference to this as he is discussing…

The Fall Of Jerusalem.

Some however will argue that in Luke 17 Jesus is talking about his coming back or what is commonly called the “second coming.”

There is no doubt for those that are honest with the scriptures that Matthew 24:1-35 is dealing with the destruction of Jerusalem and that the parallel account of most of that conversation is in Luke 21:5-36.

However, what a lot of people miss from Jesus conversation in our text here in Luke 17 are these two verses.

Notice the disciples question to what Jesus has just told them in Luke 17.

Luke 17:37 ESV

37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

Now notice what Jesus says wherein we know he is talking about the destruction of Jerusalem.

Matthew 24:28 ESV

28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

Summary

So, having established the context what is Jesus trying to get the disciples to understand in Luke 17 about the destruction of Jerusalem?

He is trying to get them to grasp the powerful point of not…

Desiring The Destroyed

Looking Back.

What happened to Sodom, Gomorrah, and even in the days of Noah was what happened to Jerusalem.

The day, for most people, was going to look normal but for those that were paying attention destruction was eminent.

When Christians witnessed the signs mentioned in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 and the remembered the words of Jesus in Luke 17 to run and not look back they were saved from death when Rome destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD.

Josephus wrote that “no Christian died in 70 AD.”

What was so wrong with Lot’s wife looking back or Christians looking back at the destruction.

Why were both groups of people not to look back and why did Lot’s wife turn to a pillar of salt when she did?

It comes down to the reason for looking back.

These places were being destroyed by God for their “iniquity being full” and the idea of looking back was not to see the destruction but because of a longing for what was being destroyed.

When we obey the gospel, we put death that old man of sin (Romans 6:6).

When we do that we are to “run toward the finish line” to receive our crown and if we look back longingly at where we left we simply cannot finish in first place and receive the crown of victory.

1 Corinthians 9:24 ESV

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

2 Timothy 4:7–8 ESV

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Summary

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Conclusion

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Invitation

Isaiah 59:1–2 ESV

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Philippians 2:6–7 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.