Luke 16:14-18 - The Everlasting Kingdom
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
What kingdom are you a part of today? Some of you might first think about your citizenship of a particular country. But there is a much more lasting kingdom that we should be a citizen of first and foremost - and that is the kingdom of God.
All of the other kingdoms of this world will pass away. There have been vast kingdoms that appeared unstoppable such as the British Empire, the Roman Empire, and the Babylonian Empire among others. Yet all of these eventually ceased to exist.
But today we are going to be talking about a kingdom that is an everlasting kingdom.
In only 5 verses, Jesus is about to give us a lesson on the kingdom of God that packs quite a punch. Following Christ requires an all-in approach. In order to be a disciple of Christ, we must be willing to submit to Him in every way. But it is all worth it because this kingdom is eternal and is ruled by a perfect King - namely Jesus Christ.
Let’s jump in and see what the Lord has for us today…
Read Full Scripture:
The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.
And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
“The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.
But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.
“Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.
Prayer
As we go through our Scripture today, we are going to see three things in relation to following Christ into the Kingdom of God. The first is…
I. Following Christ into the Kingdom of God Will Result in Persecution (14)
I. Following Christ into the Kingdom of God Will Result in Persecution (14)
The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.
Jesus has just completed His last parable about the dishonest manager. If you recall from last week, Jesus has spent a great amount of time describing what a good steward of God’s money looks like.
God’s good steward manages God’s money in a way that is not wasteful, with wisdom and shrewdness, and with a single-minded devotion to God.
Jesus finished His parable with a charge to not serve money but instead serve God. He actually gave something of an ultimatum. Verse 13 said…
No servant 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.”
In other words, to serve money is to despise Christ.
This parable was directed toward the disciples, but it is clear that the Pharisees and scribes were still in earshot hearing the teaching because we see in verse 14 that they ridicule Jesus.
Luke 16:14 (ESV)
The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.
To ridicule means to mock or sneer. The Greek word literally means to turn up one’s nose at or to look down upon. The word is actually much harsher than what we saw even in Luke 15:2 where we are told that the Pharisees and scribes grumbled at Jesus. Their contempt for Jesus is growing day by day and hour by hour.
Why do they ridicule Jesus?
We are told that they do this because they are lovers of money. Jesus has attacked their idol, and their response is typical of those who have their idols attacked.
This is a good moment to pause and reflect.
Is there something in your life that when someone brings it up as a possible problem - you spew anger, hate, or rage?
If so, this is a good sign that you have an idol. Idols blind you from the truth. Maybe it is alcohol or another substance that you use. But when someone brings it up - you become very defensive, annoyed, and bothered. Maybe it is a hobby that you have or a place that you like to go regularly. Maybe it is a certain store. Maybe it is money like the scribes and Pharisees who are mentioned here. When someone asks you for money or you have to spend money on something for someone else - it really bothers you.
It never fails that we often think of others when a question like this arises. Don’t be looking at your kids, spouse, or friend! Don’t take this time to point out the idols in other people’s lives - let the Lord move in their hearts and deal with them! But seriously evaluate your own life and be sure that you are not allowing something to blind you from the truth.
Jesus was speaking truth and the religious leaders refused to believe it. In fact, like the rest of the lost world, they scoffed and rejected the truth. We know that the unrighteous do tolerate the truth but suppress it.
We see this in Romans 1:18:
Romans 1:18 (ESV)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
Religious people like the Pharisees and scribes were not teachable nor were they truly righteous. They were, instead, self-righteous. They had taught that wealth was always a sign of God’s blessing. In their eyes, to serve God was to serve money. What Jesus was saying hit at their core. They either had to change or had to suppress and fight against the truth. Sadly, they continued to fight against the truth.
And because of this, Jesus experienced persecution from them. This persecution would continue all the way to the cross. Their rage against Him would continue to grow until they murdered Him.
Friends, if we want to follow Christ, we will also experience persecution.
2 Timothy 3:12 states:
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Like Christ, we will be persecuted for the way we live and because of Who we follow. Yet, Jesus says that we are blessed when we are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (Matthew 5:10).
This doesn’t mean that persecution is enjoyable or that we should seek it out! But it means that when we are persecuted, we are identifying with Christ. We are able to bring Him glory. And it is in those times that Christ shows His great strength in us the most. When we are weak it is then His strength becomes evident in us all the more (2 Corinthians 12:10).
So far we have seen that following Christ will result in persecution. Next we see that…
Scripture References: Luke 16:13, Luke 15:2, Romans 1:18, 2 Timothy 3:12, Matthew 5:10, 2 Corinthians 12:10
II. Following Christ into the Kingdom of God Will Require Death to Pride (15-17)
II. Following Christ into the Kingdom of God Will Require Death to Pride (15-17)
And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
Jesus responds back in a direct and harsh way. Jesus is bold. He doesn’t just take a shot to the chin and not respond with truth. Many people miss this when they study the Gospels. Jesus is certainly gracious, merciful and loving - but He has quite the ability to pack a punch with His statements as well.
He says that the religious leaders justify themselves before men. The word justify means to declare righteous. In the right and good sense, we who are in Christ are justified, or declared righteous, because of what Christ did on the cross for us. Justification because of the finished work of Christ on the cross is an amazing blessing for us!
But the religious leaders were justifying themselves before men. In essence, they were able to impress the masses with their religious activities and their “higher ways.” They ignored the Law of God and made up their own rules that they could follow in order to justify themselves in the presence of others.
Jesus then says, “...but God knows your hearts.”
That is a terrifying statement. The Jews thought that these scribes and Pharisees had it all together. Yet, God knew how dark and hard their hearts truly were.
Friends, God knows what is in your mind and in your heart. You cannot hide anything from Him.
All efforts to justify yourself apart from Christ are meaningless and empty. Be sure that your justification comes through the blood of Christ alone.
There is no other way to be right with God than through the blood of Christ (John 14:6). He is the only way to God (Acts 4:12).
Luke 16:15 (ESV)
And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
Continuing to the end of verse 15, Jesus then asserts that what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. During Jesus’s time, religiosity was exalted among men. Acting like you had it all together and were without sin was the popular model for the Jews to follow. Yet, God saw this outward show as an abomination. He knew what was inside the hearts of these religious leaders. Listen to Him give a sharp rebuke to the religious leaders in Matthew 23:27-28:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Those are some harsh words! They are like whitewashed tombs that appear beautiful on the outside but are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness! When we hear that they are full of dead people’s bones, we understand that this isn’t meant to be a good thing. We see this as a rebuke. But for them, for these religious leaders who prided themselves in their cleanliness, this was quite a stinging rebuke. Numbers 19:16 stated that one was unclean for 7 days if he touched a dead human bone, grave, or human remains. And Jesus has stated that they are full of dead people’s bones - meaning they are continuously unclean.
They may appear righteous on the outside, but they are as unclean as it gets on the inside.
In order to follow Christ, you must die to pride. There is no way to be a follower of Christ and be a justifier of yourself.
God’s economy is much different that the world’s. The world sees fame and fortune as signs of blessing and honor. The world sees narcissistic persons and lauds their pride, leadership abilities, and their quest to glorify themselves. The world exalts the wealthy business man who is willing to see people as dispensable as he climbs the corporate ladder.
God sees the heart though, my friends. He values a humble and contrite heart. He values a heart that is not prideful in one’s own abilities - but one who rest’s his whole confidence in the Lord God.
The Scriptures are clear that God opposes the proud (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5).
And in Proverbs 16:5 we see God’s judgment on the arrogant, haughty, and prideful:
Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
After sharply rebuking the religious leaders, Jesus goes on to discuss the kingdom of God further…
“The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.
In verse 16, Jesus is teaching about the kingdom of God. The Law and the prophets refers to the entirely of the Old Testament. John is the transition figure of the Bible. He is the last of the Old Testament prophets, but he is also the forerunner of the Messiah who brings the kingdom of God to earth. John is the bridge between the old age and the new age.
John was blessed to be able to witness the coming of the kingdom of God.
Jesus asserts that starting with the beginning of His public ministry, the kingdom of God had come and the good news of this kingdom has been preached.
We have heard the kingdom of God mentioned many times in Luke and it will continue to be a theme of Jesus’s preaching.
But many might ask:
What exactly is the kingdom of God?
This phrase occurs some 32 times in the Gospel of Luke alone! It can also be called the kingdom of heaven in Matthew.
The kingdom of God is the sovereign rule and reign of God over the universe. Although God has always been sovereign over His creation, the kingdom of God came with the first coming of Christ and ushered in the Gospel and church era. A couple of important aspects of the kingdom of God deserve some explanation:
The kingdom of God is internal. God welcomes true followers of Christ into the kingdom through salvation. Those who follow Christ are a part of the kingdom of God while those who refuse to repent and follow are not.
The kingdom of God will be external. The kingdom of God has been inaugurated but not fully consummated. God is sovereign and always has been, yet Christ is not physically ruling on earth yet. This physical reign will be consummated in the following ways:
Christ will return after the Tribulation and destroy those opposed to Him (Revelation 19:11-21).
Christ will then literally rule on the earth for 1000 years (The Millennial Reign - Revelation 20:1-6).
Christ will then throw the devil (who had been imprisoned for the 1000 year reign) into the Lake of fire - namely hell (Revelation 20:7-10).
Christ will give the final great white throne judgement of all unbelievers thereby casting them into eternal hell (Revelation 20:11-21).
Finally, Christ will rule and reign over the new heaven and new earth for all eternity in a place with no more tears or pain (Revelation 21-22).
Now that we understand the kingdom of God a little more deeply, let’s dive into the end of verse 16 for a moment.
Luke 16:16 (ESV)
“The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.
Scholars have wrestled with what Jesus meant by everyone forces his way into it for a while. Many theologians have settled on the understanding that Jesus is teaching on the need to persevere as a believer. Jesus wants to remind those who will follow Him that entering the kingdom of God is a hard and difficult struggle. We are saved by grace through faith - absolutely. However, the follower of Christ must deny himself and take up his cross daily (Luke 9:23). Fighting against the pride of self as well as fighting against the sin of this world and the enemy of our souls is a war that requires perseverance.
We will face persecution if we seek to follow Christ by entering the kingdom of God. But praise be to God that those who are truly saved have the Holy Spirit to empower them to fight this good fight (2 Timothy 4:7).
Jesus has another important teaching about the kingdom of God in verse 17…
But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.
Many people today have become antinomian. This is word literally means anti-law.
People have struggled with this concept since the early church. There was even a popular church leader a few years ago that made the heretical statement that Jesus broke the Law.
Yet, Jesus is clear that the Law continues.
Obviously the civil law of Israel isn’t in force as we are not the Jewish nation of Israel. And it is clear that Jesus fulfilled the parts of the ceremonial and sacrificial Law. But let’s be clear here - He didn’t break the Law - He fulfilled it.
But the moral Law of God continues even to this day. God’s view on sexuality hasn’t changed. His value of life hasn’t changed. His value of marriage hasn’t changed as we will see in a moment.
God is immutable - meaning that He never changes (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8).
There are tons of verses on this, but consider a couple of clear verses on this understanding.
“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
And like God never changes, His Word and Law are eternal as well.
To illustrate this concept, He says that not even a dot of the Law is void.
The original audience would have understood the dots that separated certain Hebrew letters. I am certainly no Hebrew scholar, but as you can see in the Hebrew alphabet, some letters are very close in shape. Possibly even more clear, the smallest Hebrew letter, the letter Y (Yod - pronounced yud), was not to be void either.
This concept of the Law continuing is seen in Matthew 5:18 as well…
For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
The sky and the earth will pass away one day (2 Peter 3:7). The Bible teaches that God will make it anew as we saw in Revelation 21-22.
Yet God’s Word and Law will never pass away:
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Following Christ into the kingdom of God requires us to die to our pride. We must be willing to follow His commands and not our own. And as we saw in our first point, this will bring persecution at times. But there is one further point Jesus makes in this section…
Scripture References: John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Matthew 23:27-28, Numbers 19:6, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5, Proverbs 16:5, Revelation 19-21, Luke 9:23, 2 Timothy 4:7, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, Matthew 5:18, 2 Peter 3:7, Matthew 24:35
III. Following Christ into the Kingdom of God Will Require Purity (18)
III. Following Christ into the Kingdom of God Will Require Purity (18)
“Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.
At first glance, verse 18 seems to come out of nowhere. Jesus had just been talking about money, and then the Law, and now He brings up divorce and remarriage. Why does this come up now?
Jesus had just hit the religious leader’s pride. He attacked their self-righteousnesses head on. One area where they had become antinomian - or anti-Law - had been in the case of marriage.
It had become common for the religious leaders to flippantly divorce their wives and remarry.
They had taken Moses’s concession for divorce as found in Deuteronomy 21:1-4 and run with it. This concession allowed for a certificate of divorce to be given if some indecency would be found. Yet they took this as a license to divorce at will. There were even rabbis around Christ’s time that taught that a man could divorce his wife if she burnt supper, became less attractive to him than someone else, and even for failing to give the husband a son. These ridiculous justifications for divorce were an abomination to God.
The religious leaders ignored verses like Malachi 2:14-16: which stated that the Lord hates divorce.
But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”
Jesus is attacking them in another area of self-righteousness. They stood in judgement of others who were sexually immoral - yet they themselves were guilty of adultery! Their double-standard was an abomination to God.
In light of Christ bringing up this teaching on divorce, it is necessary for us to understand the Biblical understanding of divorce.
Before going through this, I realize that some of you listening have experienced divorce. I imagine none here would consider divorce a good thing. I am sure that it was a time of much pain and sorrow. Yet, we must theologically and Biblically address the understanding of divorce.
I pray that if you have some guilt for any of your own sins that may have led to a divorce in the past, that you understand that our God is a forgiving and merciful God. Be sure that you have truly repented and then live in the freedom that Christ provides.
For others that were hurt badly by a past spouse leading to a divorce, I pray that you experience the peace and comfort that only God can give and that you not allow the enemy of your soul to heap guilt upon you for what was out of your control.
With that said, what does the Bible teach about divorce?
In order to understand divorce, we need to understand the importance of marriage. Time would fail us to explain what marriage is in sufficient detail. However, it is important for us to remember that marriage is an institution formed by God as seen in Genesis 2:24-25. Jesus says in Mark that what God has joined together let man not separate (Mark 10:9). I am sure we will study marriage again in the future, but feel free to go back and listen to the sermon on Colossians 3:18-19 called Biblical Marriage if you want a deeper dive into the Biblical understanding of marriage.
But what about divorce? We have already seen God say that He hates divorce. It is more clearly stated in the Legacy Standard Bible:
Malachi 2:16 (LSB)
“For I hate divorce,” says Yahweh, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with wrong,” says Yahweh of hosts. “Be careful then to keep your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”
Despite the Lord’s hatred for divorce, He has offered a couple of reasons that are approvable - although not required. God desires that all marriages last. Yet, because of the sinfulness of man, the ideal doesn’t always become reality.
Biblically Approved Reasons for Divorce (Note - not required to divorce in these cases)
Divorce is approved in cases of sexual immorality (ie. adultery).
See Matthew 5:32 and Matthew 19:9
Divorce is approved in the case of abandonment by an unbeliever.
See 1 Corinthians 7:15
Obviously there are other grievous sins that may occur in marriage that are not in this list. These other areas require much Biblical counsel and intentionality. We must be sure to not go beyond the Scriptures as seen in 1 Corinthians 4:6. But we must remain wise and vigilant and not turn a blind eye to abuse.
Domestic violence including emotional, physical, or even sexual abuse are blatant sins that need special guidance and counsel. I cannot adequately address each of these this morning, but know that physical separation may be needed for the physical, emotional, and spiritual safety of a spouse and/or their children. Boundaries must be set that maintain both peace and safety. If you are experiencing domestic violence, I would encourage you to go to the authorities as well as let someone else know. Seek out godly counsel.
Also know that at CrossPointe, our leadership has no tolerance for abuse. We will bring unrepentant abusers into church discipline. There is no place for abuse in the family of God.
Getting back to divorce…
For those who have already experienced the heartache of divorce, rest in the peace of God. Understand the grace of God. Divorce is not the unpardonable sin.
God is addressing the frivolous attitude of the Pharisees. He’s not trying beat you up.
God doesn’t just give us His commands as a list of rules. He gives us His commands because following His way leads to an abundant life (John 10:10).
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
His boundaries lines are in pleasant places. His rules prevent suffering.
When we violate God’s ideal - there is always suffering. Yet, when marriage is done God’s way, it is an amazing blessing.
For those who have yet to be married, take note - seek wise counsel from godly mentors. Be sure to get pre-engagement and pre-marital counseling so that you can truly count the cost and understand the covenant that you are making. Marriage can be such a beautiful thing if done right.
As we follow Christ, may we follow Him in purity.
Scripture References: Deuteronomy 21:1-4, Malachi 2:14-16, Genesis 2:24-25, Mark 10:9, Colossians 3:18-19, Matthew 5:32, Matthew 19:9, 1 Corinthians 7:15, 1 Corinthians 4:6, John 10:10, Psalm 16:6
Conclusion:
Today has been a weighty message for only 5 verses!
As we come to a close, I want you to evaluate your life for a few moments.
The first aspect of your life that I want you to evaluate is pride. Have you died to your pride? This is necessary for salvation and is necessary for growing in your relationship with the Lord. Be sure that you are not trying to justify yourself through your own works. Your righteousness can only come through Jesus Christ. Entrance into the kingdom of God requires humility and a complete reliance upon Christ.
The second aspect of your life that you need to evaluate is your purity.
If you are married, how are you investing in your marriage? Are you pursuing God’s ideal for marriage? If not, seek counsel. Do your best to divorce-proof your marriage through the power of Christ.
If you have experienced a divorce, you likely need godly counsel. Be sure you have worked through the pains and wounds that come through the devastation of divorce.
If you are not married yet, be sure to be intentional and seek godly counsel as you consider marriage.
Lastly, be sure that you are prepared for the persecution and struggle that comes from following Christ. God is good and will carry you along as you follow Christ. But be prepared for the battle ahead. The battle is tough but always remember that the battle is the Lord’s.