Settling the Case

“And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”

Introduction:

Well, good morning once again and Happy Mother’s Day.

I was once in my favorite little coffee shop to hang out in, in my hometown. There was this group of retired teachers who would come down and meet up on Wednesdays. These were teachers from when I was in school. I can remember one day I was talking with one of them, my former middle school principal. We were talking about how I’m a pastor. She wanted to know if I was, as she put it, “one of those fire and brimstone preachers or the other kind.” I was looking for a wise and not totally disrespectful answer. I think I just replied, I’m both or I preach it all.

This displays a feeling in the culture when it comes to uncomfortable preaching.

People don’t like thinking about the consequences of not following Christ. However, the Bible makes it a very important consideration.

Packer, in Knowing God, notes,

The entire New Testament is overshadowed by the certainty of a coming day of universal judgment, and by the problem thence arising: how may we sinners get right with God while there is yet time?191 J. I. Packer, Knowing God

J. I. Packer

Sometimes we need a stark wake up call. Jesus is trying to wake them up to recognize that which is before them.

For context I want to back up and look at what Jesus had been saying.

In verses 35-48, He told parables about being ready servants and prepared for His return. In verses 49-53 Jesus points out that His coming divides people, even families. I’ll come back to verse 50 again later but it’s another saying pointing to the cross.

In verse 57 He is still talking. Let me read it so we have the direct previous context:

Luke 12:54–56 ESV

He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

So there is this idea of a distinction between those who don’t see Jesus as the point of all human life and the center of history and the followers of Jesus in that day, though they didn’t understand all of it yet. There are those who recognize the importance of Christ and those who don’t. Those who do, can well interpret the time they live in and those who don’t, won’t properly interpret the times.

Then we move to our passage, verses 57-59.

Let’s read it again in it’s proper context.

Luke 12:57–59 ESV

The general context for this passage deals with Jesus returning and judgement coming. This is one of those passages that if we are not careful, we can go too far and start allegorizing it too much. Not every character necessarily has a corresponding character, however, we see Jesus giving some very practical and timely advise to His followers that also has spiritual application. Even in regards to the spiritual application, Jesus is appealing to their common sense with the coming judgement.

Throughout Luke we have seen a common theme. Luke wants his audience to have certainty about who Jesus is, that is the Son of God. Jesus isn’t simply giving good advice about avoiding legal trouble here. He’s teaching about avoiding an eternal life sentence in hell. The kingdom of God had arrived in Jesus but the people couldn’t see it. Jesus told them they could see the weather and know what was goign on but they missed out on the fact that the King of the Universe was standing right in front of them. Today we get so wrapped up in so many other things, sports, tv, politics, the latest gadget, etc and we too miss the glory and grandeur of Jesus in His Word. (Paraphrased Steven Lee)

The first step in not missing out on Jesus is to admit our guilt.

I. Admit your guilt

Before you can settle the case with your accuser, you have to admit that he’s right. You have to own up to your debt.

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We must agree with God that we are in fact sinners.

We must see how sinful we are because it helps us know how much we need to be made right with God.

It is because man has an inadequate conception of sin that he has an inadequate conception of the grace of God. If you want to measure grace you must measure the depths of sin. Grace is that which tells man that in spite of all that is so true of him God looks upon him with favour.

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Welsh Preacher and Writer)

In Belize, on one of our recreation days, we go tubing through a cave. It’s so dark they give you a helmet with a headlamp. Part way through they paddle you up to some rocks and let you get out and go hiking around. Eventually you come to cliff and they let you jump off into the water. It’s deceptive because the water is very clear and so it looks like the water is very far down but it’s not that far of a fall. You look at this thing and it’s just beautiful. You jump off and then have to swim around to the place to get out. You look at this water and the scene is so beautiful like something out of a dream. You think, this is very safe and it is to some extent. But as you are swimming to the edge of the rocks to get out, they make sure you know to make a wide berth and only go where they tell you to because the rocks are sharp and you’ll cut yourself on them. This is reminiscent of the way we project goodness out and we may look good to the world but hidden deep within are sin and deceit. The Bible actually speaks of the heart as deceitful. We will convince ourselves of our own goodness when what we need to see our sin and let it be a reminder to us of our need for God’s cleansing and His salvation.

We need to believe that anyone who dies in their sins will spend eternity in a real place called Hell.

This is a place that they will never get out of because there will be no way for them to pay the debt they owe.

Michael Wilcock wrote,

Luke, Volumes 1 & 2 Settling Our Case

“a lawsuit is in progress, a writ is being issued, and a heavy sentence is impending, and those who ignore the plain signs of the way things are going will have only themselves to blame when they are finally called to account.”

What kind of court is this…

In verse 58 when Jesus refers to you being handed over to the officer, the Greek word used there refers to the bailiff or constable who is in charge of debtors prison.

There is no way to pay off your sin debt in Hell.

II. Don’t wait to settle.

Before you go to court…

Judgement is on the way.

Jesus is coming.

Now is the time for Israel to settle it’s accounts.

Jesus wants them to see and use common sense that the time is drawing nigh.

Some don’t believe they are guilty.

David Gooding wrote,

Luke, Volumes 1 & 2 Settling Our Case

“They have not as yet discovered that their case is hopelessly bad, and that God has already declared it to be so. They drift on through life towards the final judgment under the comforting, but completely false, illusion that though they are not perfect, they are not bad enough to be damned. If they persist in such unrealism, damned is precisely what they will be.”

Some wait it out thinking they will have time and can seek God later in life after they have had their “fun”.

Sowed wild oats…

If they aren’t punished here, then they aren’t worried about it…. almost a no harm, no foul idea

Spurgeon said, “ Time shall be no more when judgement comes and when time is no more change is impossible.”

There is no purgatory… no second chance.

So do not wait to reconcile. Once you know what debt you have, seek peace with the holder of the debt.

And there is one way to be reconciled to the judge…

III. Be reconciled to the Judge.

Now.

The judge is also the Savior.

Judge Jesus was the one who was crucified on our behalf.

He steps in and pays the debt on behalf of the debtor. Acts as the go between. In that act there is a lot going on.

penal - He took our penalty for our sin.

substitutionary - In our place, as a subsitute

atonement - His death was sufficient to atone or pay for our sin.

propitiation - a wrath removing sacrifice

By His sacrifice we are justified.

Grudem has a helpful definition of justification:

Justification is an instantaneous legal act of God in which he:

(1) thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us

(2) declares us to be righteous in his sight (the great exchange)

This atonement is the remedy that God has provided to deal with our sin problem. We had this sin nature that separates us from a Holy God. But God is not only Holy but also Love so He provided a way for us to be made right with Him… by Him.

Isaiah 53:4–6 ESV

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

His baptism by fire - previous passage context…

Luke 12:50 ESV

I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!

Because we have this reconciliation and know what our rightful judgement should be, we should be moved to tell others about how they too can be reconciled.

2 Corinthians 5:18–19 ESV

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Conclusion:

I have used this story before as an illustration because it does such a good job of helping us understand.

THE MERCIFUL KING

This is an adaptation of a story once told by Fred Barshaw, an elder at Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, CA . He had a gift for creating incredible parables — allegorical stories with deep biblical themes running through them.

Once upon a time in a kingdom far, far away, there lived a great king. He was simultaneously the most powerful man in the kingdom as well as the kindest and gentlest man in the entire realm. The kingdom was known for its peace, harmony and goodwill. Neighbors cherished one another and years would pass without a single crime being committed.

One day, however, the chief servant of the merciful king came into the throne room with ill tidings. “There is a thief in the realm of your kingdom, sire,” said the servant. The king was astonished! “Find that thief! And when you do, bring him to me. He will be punished with 10 lashes!” Those in the room were astonished. It had been so long since a crime had been committed that they could hardly imagine who would have done such a thing.

A week went by and the servant again made his way into the throne room. “I have bad news for you, sire,” the servant reported quietly. “The thief has not been found and he continues to rob from your people.” In anger, the king raised his voice and said, “Find the thief and when you do he will receive 25 lashes!” The people began to murmur among themselves, “Who could withstand such a punishment? Who could possibly be committing such a crime?”

But as time went on, the servant once again came back into the throne room with yet another bad report. “Your Majesty, the thief has not been found. We have searched in vain for him. Your people are still being robbed.” The king was enraged. “Find that wretched thief! And when you do his punishment will be 50 lashes!” Now the people were filled with dread. They were not even sure that the king himself could withstand such a punishment! And if he could not, then certainly no one could. Who could be doing such a thing?

Soon afterward, the servant again approached the king in his throne room. His face was pale and his voice timid and hollow.

“Your Highness,” spoke the servant, ”the thief has been found.” “Bring him to me this instant!” cried the king. The crowd that had poured into the throne room slowly parted revealing the thief who now stood trembling in the middle of the room. To the utter shock and dismay of all, it was the king’s aged mother. There she stood, trembling and crying. Her small and frail body was shaking with fear and shame. She was, perhaps, the very last soul that anyone would have suspected of such a crime. And there stood the king, in shock, deeply wounded.

The crowd began to wonder and murmur among themselves. What will the merciful king do? Will he set aside the law and display his love and mercy by forgiving his mother for her crimes? Or will he display His sovereignty and justice by giving her exactly what she deserved? Will he choose mercy or will he choose justice?

The king raised his hand to quiet the crowd. “Bring the whipping post,” he said. The crowd was dumbfounded. Would the king truly have his mother receive such a punishment? Even the king could scarcely survive such a flogging! This frail woman would not last even a few strokes! The old woman

was tied to the post. Her garment was rent, exposing her back to the whip-master. Her ribs could be counted for her frailty. “Administer the lashes,” said the king. Not a sound could be heard as the whip was raised.

But just as the whip-master was about to unleash his first stroke, the king cried, “Halt!” The crowd sighed in utter relief! But not for long. The king stood from his throne. He slowly removed the crown from his head, laying it upon the regal seat. As he began to walk down the stairs toward his mother, he laid aside his royal robe and finely woven tunic. Coming to his mother, he wrapped his enormous body around her, completely enveloping her under his frame. “Now, administer the lashes,” said the king.

Thus in one act did the king display pure mercy and perfect justice. “…so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).

You are like that old mother...

Call to respond and application

Your response:

Don’t wait. Admit your guilt. Believe the good news that Jesus died in your place, for your sins, and rose from the dead, repent of your sins, be active in pursuing life with Jesus.

When you are tempted to despair, preach the gospel to yourself.

Steven Lee challenges us on three questions to consider as we try to live with urgency in relation to the coming day of the Lord.

Who can I pray for regularly who doesn’t know Jesus?

How can I intentionally befriend and engage with lost friends and neighbors?

When can I introduce the good news of Jesus into our conversation?

Consider what happens when the door of the ark closes..

Related Media

Related Sermons

Earn an accredited degree from Redemption Seminary with Logos.