Sermon Tone Analysis

Build Your House on the Rock

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.

And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.

49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation.

When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Brandt Jean:

Botham Jean’s brother

Forgiveness to his killer

Gives her a hug

People were shocked, some outraged or confused

What a striking picture of gospel grace, and yet, it isn’t even the full picture.

Jesus goes further still…taking the punishment Himself.

Corrupt and Careless Worship:

Bored with God

Polluted sacrifices

I remember reading this as a young worship leader - The Israelites are caught off-guard by how God describes their lazy worship.

A Failure To See The Love And Grace of God

(ESV)

The Lord’s Love for Israel

2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord.

But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord.

“Yet I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated.

I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” 4 If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’

” 5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”

You are an object of God’s love and mercy

Jacob and Esau represent Israel and Edom — God freely chose Israel - He didn’t have to.

The question isn’t why didn’t he choose Edom, but why did He choose Israel?

— Mercy! (And yes, the nations are still in view)

“Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!” — Why Greatness?

This is the key ingredient of worship (John Piper example - You can have affection/love for many things, but you worship what is great)

(ESV)

The Priests’ Polluted Offerings

6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master.

If then I am a father, where is my honor?

And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name.

But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ 7 By offering polluted food upon my altar.

But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’

By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised.

8 When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil?

And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil?

Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts.

9 And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us.

With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts.

God compares here the Israelites worship with relationships that they know: (Parents, Servants, Relationships with government)

There is little honor or fear - They know what is required, and probably require it in regard to themselves.

(ESV)

Build Your House on the Rock

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

They offer blind, lame and sick animals in sacrifice - They are cheating God.

This shows their devotion to money and convenience over God.

Present that to your governor — We often serve (fear, love) others more than God.

What if we worked for our bosses like we worship?

How many of us would be swiftly fired?

The Cost of Worship

10 Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain!

I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.

11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering.

For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.

In vain: - Araunah offers the threshing floor and animals to David for nothing, but David won’t have his worship cost him nothing.

What are some costs of worship?

(ESV)

13 And this second thing you do.

You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand.

14 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.

15 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.

16 “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.”

(ESV)

7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

12 But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised.

Tithes

(ESV)

Robbing God

6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them.

Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.

But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God?

Yet you are robbing me.

But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’

In your tithes and contributions.

9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.

And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

They were neglecting to bring the full tithe.

(Remember the bling/lame sacrifices, or those taken by force -v.13)

Does the Lord need our money?

No, but there is a giving that is worship.

10 percent says that 100 percent is the Lords.

It’s hard to give.

It should be in some ways.

He’s not after your money, He’s after you.

— Remember the parable of the Rich Ruler?

Wearied With The Lord

13 But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts.

You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering!

Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord.

14 Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished.