Divided Loyalties

How many of you enjoy jigsaw puzzles? It’s been years since I put one together. But sometimes when I open the Bible, I feel like I’m looking at a pile of puzzle pieces. Today’s text started that way for me.

What do leaven, light, fear, birds and hair have to do with each other? It seemed like the table after the fortune cookies are read and I’m tasked with arranging the fortunes into one cohesive story.

I’m sure that resembles some of the end-of-unit essays that many of our teachers are grading this weekend before turning in final grades.

But just as zooming out from the individual puzzle pieces and looking at the picture on the box can help in arranging the colors to resemble a finished product, Zooming out to last week’s message and looking at these verses in context of the previous chapter brought me insight.

Last week Jesus primarily warned those who presume to be the influencers in the lives of others. In today’s text He speaks to those who are tempted to fall in line with that influence. Whose approval are we trying to gain? Peer pressure is not only a teen struggle. We all like to be liked.

For this sermon, I will reveal the “picture on the box”, then we’re going to look closer at the individual pieces that fit together to give meaning to that picture. The big picture is “the distractions of this world cannot divert us from the importance of Eternity.”

Transition: Let’s start by identifying why the influence of others can be considered a distraction. The influence of many is hypocrisy.

Looking Back or Looking Forward (vv.1-3)

Leaven draws from the Past (v.1)

One of the biggest and least used kitchen appliances in our collection is the Bread Maker. The successful use of this machine requires yeast. Which in our family usually comes in little packets. However, in the early 1990’s a recipe spread like wildfire through our little town – The Amish Friendship Bread. This act of “friendship” begins with a baggie of paste that has to be tended for 10 days and “blessing” 3 friends before baking can ever begin. The key to successful bread does NOT rely upon a new packet of new yeast, it is totally dependent upon repeating what has always been done before.

1. This rote and mindless repetition of the “way we have always done it” is the hypocrisy Jesus addresses in this paragraph.

2. A lot of arguments are happening today because some want to conserve, preserve, or reclaim traditions from the past while others want to progress to a new future.

3. All past is not perfect and all progress is not positive!

4. We need to enjoy the flesh and spit out the bones of both perspectives.

5. Jesus is introducing a new kingdom that will not look like the past.

Notice a Change to Future (vv.2-3)

1. Jesus takes the past of leaven, makes a statement about the present situation and points to 4 future verbs: will be revealed, will be known, shall be heard, and shall be proclaimed.

I appreciate the summer speed camp that our High School athletes get to enjoy. Because the secluded things that happen in the training room get revealed on the field, the court, the mat, and the track.

2. As soon as Adam and Eve rebelled against God and chose to do something He has prohibited, God unveiled a plan that would look forward to a remedy. Throughout Christ’s ministry He gave hints about a future purpose. Before He ascended He told the disciples that the Holy Spirit was going to come some days into the future. And He left us with the promise that as He left, He will come again. Then entire Bible story is looking forward, but the Pharisees wanted to keep looking in the rearview mirror.

Transition: When doing a puzzle the first thing I do is turn all the pieces right side up and as I’m doing that I make a pile of edge piece and middle pieces. Today’s text also divides into 2 groups. The first group of instructions is given to my friends (v.4) and v.13 identifies the second group as the crowd.

Words for the Team (vv.4-12)

Even though v.1 says there were many thousands of people who had gathered, I see these 8 verses and a side conversation where Jesus is focusing on those closest to Him.

Proper Focus (vv.4-7)

1. Jesus admits that there are several who are vying for our compliance. Sometimes we fear those who have influence in our physical bodies, but Jesus reminds that we are being observed by a caring and watchful Heavenly Father who deserves our utmost respect.

I had a good conversation with one of our young ladies who is involved in showing cattle this Summer. She told me that when she is in the ring, she can’t be concerned with the spectators, the other livestock or the other competitors. She can’t be distracted by what the last judge decided with the same cattle. She has to remain focused on this judge for this event and make sure that he sees what he is looking for in this situation.

2. You are performing for an audience of one—In 2 weeks many of us will decorate graves of our loved ones. I’ve seen thousands of grave markers in my lifetime. But I’ve never seen one that mentions what kind of a car he drove or how many blue ribbons she won at the fair. I’ve never seen a single comment about how fancy the house or how wide the spread. I’ve never seen one with High School athletic statistics or a grade point average.

3. Jesus says we are to stay focused on what matters to the true judge.

4. A side note that should not be ignored: Jesus himself mentions hell in v.5. Hell is a real place of real torment prepared for those who choose rebellion against God! Unlike the claims of a preacher whom I used to respect, whose book got him an interview with Oprah, Hell is NOT the painful experiences we have on earth! 5. When Jesus states that God has authority to cast into, He is speaking of a location.

Proper Message (vv.8-12)

1. Declare Christ – (8-9)

a. Luke uses a word that is rich with possible meaning.

ὁμολογέω (ὁμόλογος ‘of one mind’)

① to commit oneself to do something for someone;

② to share a common view or be of common mind about a matter;

③ to concede that something is factual or true;

ⓐ generally to admit the truth of something

ⓑ with a judicial connotation: make a confession, confess

ⓒ with focus on admission of wrongdoing

④ to acknowledge something, ordinarily in public.

ⓐ of a public declaration.

ⓑ of profession of allegiance

ⓒ praise.

b. When was the last time you professed allegiance to Christ in public?

c. T-shirts, bumper stickers and Facebook graphics are all good, but when did you last use your voice?

d. We’ve seen those who kneel, those who raise a fist, and those who stand respectfully with hat off and hand over heart, but who was the last person who heard you say, “My allegiance to Jesus Christ is more important than my team or my politics”?

2. Discern Truth – (v.10)

a. Back in Luke 11:15 the people accused Jesus’ miracles of being done in the power of Satan or Beelzebub. This act of attributing to demons that which the Spirit of God does is here (and in Mt 12:32 & Mk 3:29) called the unforgiven blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

b. “The Holy Spirit, by contrast, is the one who works in people’s hearts to call forth a response. To “blaspheme” him is ultimately and finally to reject God’s call and offer of forgiveness.”[i]

3. Depend upon the Spirit for your Defense – (vv.11-12)

a. Have you ever worried yourself into a tizzy over something that never happened?

b. The common advice in these situations is to take a deep breath, don’t overthink, and trust your training.

c. Notice Jesus doesn’t say “if”, but “when” you are put on notice. We ought to have the understanding that if we boldly acknowledge Christ before men (v.8) it will be misunderstood, and we may have to explain our position. But the Holy Spirit in that moment can bring to your mind things that you haven’t thought about for years.

d. The Spirit will tell you what you should say in that moment. Sometimes it may end up like Stephen in Acts 7 where Stephen suffered temporarily, but was honored eternally. Sometimes it may end up like Peter in Acts 16 with prison doors swinging open and a whole household getting saved.

e. Ours is not to manage the outcome. Our role is to be prepared and obedient to say whatever the Holy Spirit prompts us to say in that moment and to trust God to cause the outcome that He intends.

Transition: While Jesus has been speaking to his friends, someone in v.13 takes it upon himself to ask Jesus a question.

Announcements to the Fans (vv.13-21)

As I read this paragraph, I observe that the people seem most concerned about

Stuff for self (vv.13-19)

1. What I am given (vv.13-14)

a. Whether you are “in a wreck, need a check” or “call the bull attorneys” or hire a firm that will “get you the money you deserve”, we live in a society that expects a payday.

b. Jesus seems very disinterested in settling a minor property dispute

c. Because Jesus introduced a principle in v.15 that sets up a parable. The principle is that you aremore than what you have.

2. What I produce and gather (vv.16-19)

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having an abundance. What is wrong is when the abundance has us!

· The man in Jesus’ story received much wealth from the ground that God had created and the weather that God had provided.

· There is no problem with having wealth. Men like Job, Abraham and his heirs, as well as those who financed the ministry of Jesus and the spread of the early Church had more resources than they personally needed. Paul confessed to both knowing need and knowing abundance.

· I notice in v. 18 that the man is not only storing grain, but also goods. I infer that he sold some crops and was collecting (or hoarding) stuff.

· There comes a point when any collection (whether pennies, figurines, toys, or guns) becomes a v.18 problem.

· Is my wealth for self? For my heirs? For generosity toward others? For Gospel proclamation to the Nations?

· 1 Tim 6:17ff says that God permits some to be rich in this world in order to share.

· Gal 6 talks about financially sharing with the leaders who teach you.

· Romans 15 talks about sharing with those who have need.

· 2 Cor 9 speaks of those who have more than they need setting apart resources so that the gospel could spread. This is why we send kids to camp, support missions and hold outreaches like VBS. None of this can be done without financial resources.

· V.19 details a man who forgot how to share for the good of others. He was bent on present comforts.

Rich Toward God (vv.20-21)

1. V.21 reminds us to think about the future. What will benefit me and others after I breathe my last?

I appreciate an anecdote that Alan Phipps shared at Kenny Stahl’s memorial. Years after the Stahls lost their land to foreclosure. Kenny had a reputation as the most honest man that field office had ever dealth with. Weeks after the foreclosure was completed, that summer’s crop was sold at the elevator and Kenny sent the landlord’s portion to the company that had foreclosed on them. In that situation (like many others) honesty won over selfishness and that honestly continues to encourage others far longer than anything Ken and Ruth could have bought with that portion of the proceeds from harvest.

Transition: I told you at the beginning of this message that…

Conclusion:

The big picture is “the distractions of this world cannot divert us from the importance of Eternity.”

Jesus warned to not fall into the hypocrisy of the past, but to look toward the future.

Jesus warned his friends, and I hope you consider yourself a friend of Christ, to fear the one who cares for you more than those with immediate power.

Jesus tells all of us the importance of acknowledging Him before men

And Jesus reminds us that possessions are to be invested in ways that are rich toward God.

[i] R. T. France, Luke, ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton, Teach the Text Commentary Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2013), 214.