Luke 12:13-15

Please turn to Luke 12:13-15.

And as crazy as it may sound...

…this may be...

…one of the most offensive sermon series...

…that you’ve yet to hear me preach!

(And, that’s saying a lot!)

And, I say that...

…NOT because I plan to try to be offensive...

…but because it is concerning...

…a sin which is...

Very widespread and commonly accepted...

But (according to the Bible)...

…is also very dangerous… even deadly.

As you can see on the screen...

…I’m referring to the sin of “Covetousness”

And the Scripture has a whole lot...

…to say to us about it...

And, it does so in very clear...

…very unambiguous terms.

And the next three sections (22 verses)...

…will all be addressing it...

…in one way or another.

So buckle in… and be gracious to me.

And know that this is going to be stinging me...

…just as much as it is stinging you!

But, where the Word of God corrects...

…we need to be corrected!

Amen?

Well, for sake of time...

…we’re only going to look at...

…the first 3 of those Verses today.

They’ll serve as something of...

…an introduction to the whole mini-series.

Let’s read them together:

This is God’s authoritative and infallible word:

Luke 12:13–15 (ESV)

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

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Pray

-Luke gives us a subtle reminder of the setting…

…in that opening clause of Verse 1...

Luke 12:13 (ESV)

13 Someone in the crowd said to him...

Let’s be reminded of what’s going on.

(it’s been a few weeks...

…since I’ve made mention of it)

Luke 12:1 (ESV)

1 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

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Now remember how serious...

…the ensuing conversations had been.

The inevitability of full and final disclosure of our sin on the day of judgment

2. The Fear God, Not Men exhortation

3. The Confess Me and I’ll confess you...

…But Deny Me and I’ll deny you

4. The Warning about the unpardonable sin...

…of the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

5. The promise of the Spirit’s help...

…if/when His people were called to Martyrdom.

(All Serious, Serious Stuff!)

-So, in the midst of Jesus’ teaching...

…on these matters of literal eternal importance...

…the man says this:

Luke 12:13 (ESV)

13 . . . “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

But, don’t forget how central...

…the issue of inheritance was...

…in Old Covenant Israel.

The land inheritance (in particular)...

…was a central aspect of their Covenant with God...

…and it was commanded to be...

…passed down from generation to generation...

…and never be sold in perpetuity.

Remember why:

Genesis 17:7–8 (ESV)

7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.

8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

Consequently:

Leviticus 25:23 (ESV)

23 “The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me.

Even (as we’ll see later):

Deuteronomy 5:21 (ESV)

21 ...you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field . . . or anything that is your neighbor’s.’

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I hope you can see...

…how big of a deal this would have been...

…for someone living in that Covenant.

-Now, in addition to the laws regulating land inheritance...

…there were instances of OT case law...

…that governed other aspects of familial inheritance...

(Not just that of land).

For example:

Deuteronomy 21:17 (ESV)

17 ...he shall acknowledge the firstborn . . . by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.

(As I understand it...

…that’s referring to the entire estate)

And, we see God’s own heart...

…in places like:

Micah 2:1–3 (ESV)

1 Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil...

2 They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.

3 Therefore thus says the Lord: behold, against this family I am devising disaster, from which you cannot remove your necks, and you shall not walk haughtily, for it will be a time of disaster.

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So, in an objective sense...

…this did have the potential of being…

…a serious matter in the eyes of God.

-Now, why was the man...

…asking this of Jesus in particular?

Because Jesus was seen as...

...an itinerant Jewish Rabbi

And, they were often called upon...

…to mediate such disagreements...

…in accordance with the Law.

-Now, is it possible that...

…the man could be in the right?

Possibly, yes

Could the man have made...

…a biblical (OT) argument for his petition?

I think so.

But, look at the way Jesus responds in Verse 14:

Luke 12:14 (ESV)

14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

A few things that need pointing out, here:

1. The “you” there is plural.

(Paraphrase)

2. “made” has the connotation of a legal appointment

3. That word “Arbitrator” is very specific.

(Only used here in the NT)

Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament (μεριστής)

μεριστής (meristēs), N. arbitrator.

Noun Usage

1. arbiter ⇔ divider† — a mediator who provides objective judgment in settling disputes over the division of assets.

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So, what’s Jesus saying to the man?

This isn’t my job!

That’s not why I’m here!

Calvin, says this:

There appear to have been chiefly two reasons why he declined the office of a judge.

First, as the Jews imagined that the Messiah would have an earthly kingdom, he wished to guard against doing any thing that might countenance this error.

If they had seen him divide inheritances, the report of that proceeding would immediately have been circulated.

Many would have been led to expect a carnal redemption, which they too ardently desired; and wicked men would have loudly declared, that he was effecting a revolution in the state, and overturning the Roman Empire.

Nothing could be more appropriate, therefore, than this reply, by which all would be informed, that the kingdom of Christ is spiritual.

Secondly, our Lord intended to draw a distinction between the political kingdoms of this world and the government of his Church;

for he had been appointed by the Father to be a Teacher, who should divide asunder, by the sword of the word, the thoughts and feelings, and penetrate into the souls of men, (Heb. 4:12,) but was not a magistrate to divide inheritances. — Calvin

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And, I think he’s spot on in those assessments.

But, I think there’s also something...

Really basic

Really simple

…behind Jesus’ refusal, here:

Something even more foundational.

And, I think that what...

…he turns and says to the crowds...

…makes that really clear:

Notice:

Luke 12:15 (ESV)

15 And he said to them, . . .

(Speaking now to the crowds)

Luke 12:15 (ESV)

15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard...

Beware!

Take Heed!

Watch out!

Guard Yourself!

Against what?

Against getting cheated...

…out of something that’s rightfully yours?

No!

Quite the Opposite!

Luke 12:15 (ESV)

15 . . . “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness...

Or, as the NASB translates it:

Luke 12:15 (NASB95)

15 . . . “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; . . .”

The word in the original has to do with excess.

Ryken says that...

It refers to the acquisitive attitude of always wanting more, beyond what we even need.

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-And Brethren, I would submit to you...

…that this is the most acceptable sin in America.

And, I’m talking about...

…even among solid, conservative, reformed Christians.

This is probably the most overlooked Commandment...

…even by those who believe...

…in the perpetuity of the 10 Commandments.

(The Fourth Commandment may be a close second...

…but I think this one stands solidly in first place).

And the great, fearful irony is...

That it’s one of the most...

…warned against sins in the Bible.

For starters:

The 10th Commandment said this:

Deuteronomy 5:21 (ESV)

21 “ ‘And you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.’

Psalm 10:3 (ESV)

3 ...the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord.

James 4:2 (ESV)

2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel...

And think about all those lists!

It shows up in most all of them

Mark 7:20–23 (ESV)

20. . . “What comes out of a person is what defiles him.

21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,

22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.

23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Romans 1:28–31 (ESV)

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,

30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,

31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

2 Timothy 3:1–5 (ESV)

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.

2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,

4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

Colossians 3:5 (ESV)

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Ephesians 5:3 (ESV)

3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

Ephesians 5:5 (ESV)

5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Why?

Matthew 6:24 (ESV)

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Paul warned:

1 Timothy 6:9–10 (ESV)

9 ...those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

How?

Why?

Because...

Matthew 13:22 (ESV)

22 ...the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Are these serious warnings?

Are they warnings for us?

-Look at the reason Jesus gives...

...back in Verse 15.

Luke 12:15 (ESV)

15 . . . “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

J.R. Miller said this:

This is one of the red flags our Lord hung out which most people nowadays do not seem much to regard. Christ said a great deal about the danger of riches; but not many persons are afraid of riches.

Covetousness is not practically considered a sin in these times. If a man breaks the sixth or eighth commandment, he is branded as a criminal and covered with shame; but he may break the tenth, and he is only enterprising.

The Bible says the love of money is a root of all evil; but every man who quotes the saying puts a terrific emphasis on the word “love,” explaining that it is not money, but only the love of it, that is such a prolific root.

To look about, one would think a man’s life did consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. Men think they become great just in proportion as they gather wealth. So it seems, too; for the world measures men by their bank-account.

Yet there never was a more fatal error. A man is really measured by what he is, and not by what he has. — J.R. Miller

Again, this is the constant warning of Scripture:

Deuteronomy 8:11–17 (ESV)

11 “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God...

12 lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them,

13 and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied,

14 then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God...

Luke 6:24 (ESV)

24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

James 5:1–6 (ESV)

1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.

2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten.

3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days.

4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.

5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

Is there an escape to this?

Is there a remedy for this malady?

YES!

-First and foremost...

…is the Divine remedy.

Let me show you what I mean:

(Another list):

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 (ESV)

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,

10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

That’s the foremost remedy!

That’s the starting point.

-But, what about for those who have been...

Washed

Sanctified

Justified...

…but, still struggle with this ongoing sin?

Are there any practical means...

…that can be employed to help?

Of course!

Of course there’s always:

Prayer

Bible Reading

Christian Fellowship

Those are universal means of grace.

But, here’s something more precisely practical...

…that is a great antidote to these sins:

1 Timothy 6:6–8 (ESV)

1 Timothy 6:6–8 (ESV)

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain,

7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.

8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

1 Timothy 6:10–11 (ESV)

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

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What do you have, Christian?

Is He enough?

-Brothers, could you come on up...

…and start distributing the elements?

I want to transition to the Lord’s Supper...

…by reading these passages from Matthew 13.

Matthew 13:44–46 (ESV)

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Why would he do that?

Because he valued the treasure he had found (the Kingdom of God)...

…more that all his earthly possessions combined!

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,

46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Again, why?

Because that Pearl...

....was worth more than them all!

-Guys, who’s the Pearl?

Jesus!

And the Lord’s Supper serves as a...

Perpetual

Visible

Faith-building REMINDER...

…That God has given us EVERYTHING… In Him!

And that He is ENOUGH!

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Let’s pray.

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 (ESV)

23 ...the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,

24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

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Pray and Partake

1 Corinthians 11:25 (ESV)

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

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Pray and Partake

Remember:

1 Corinthians 11:26 (ESV)

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Amen!

I say Come Quickly, Amen?