Understanding the Times

Scripture Reading

Luke 12:54–59 NIV84

54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time? 57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the way, or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”

Introduction

We this morning to a text wherein Christ issues a stern rebuke to the people around him, and then follows this with a call to take action.

In essence, these people were very adept at evaluating the weather patterns around them, but were unable (or, rather, unwilling) to see the important spiritual realities that were unfolding around them in their day.

As we come to consider this text, I do need to point out a couple of important passages that preceded this interaction between Christ and the crowds.

We’ve seen that Jesus has already exhorted those around him to be watchful!

At the beginning of chapter 12, there was a call by Jesus for his disciples to “be watchful.” In Luke 12:1 he said that they should be on their guard against the yeast of the Pharisees.

He went on to say to them that things would be revealed / disclosed / made known, and that they would proclaim the Gospel message in a world that was hostile to them.

But very importantly, a few verses later in verse 8, He cautioned his disciples that whoever would acknowledge Him before men, that the Son of Man would acknowledge that person before God, and whoever would deny Him before men, He would deny them before the Father.

Then, in verses 35 ff, Jesus emphasized the importance of being watchful. They are to live their lives always ready, ready for the master’s return.

Then in verses 49-53, which we considered last time, Jesus taught his disciples that He had not come into the world in order to bring peace, but rather to bring a sword of division. The division would be between those who accepted Jesus Christ as the Messiah and those who rejected Jesus Christ as the Messiah. This was the important distinguishing factor.

These various teachings present for us the context of our present passage. The real pertinent question that must be asked by every person in the crowd to whom Jesus spoke, and also by every person that is reading the Gospel message as presented here, is this: “Is Jesus who He claimed to be?”

Is Christ truly the Messiah? Is Christ truly the One that has come to be this great and powerful deliverer?

This is an important question. It was for the people that Christ was preaching to. It is in our day.

Now, we must also keep in mind that the context of the Jewish people was that they were longing for this Messiah. They were longing for one that would come into the world and save them. They wanted a rescuer.

The Old Testament Scriptures actually looked forward to this coming of the Messiah. The coming of the Saviour was really the epitome or the highlight of their forward looking anticipation. The Messiah was who they were longing for.

Think about some of these statements in Scripture...

When Jesus was just born, he was presented at the temple, and there was a man named Simeon there who saw…

Luke 2:25 NIV84

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

Here was a Jew that was waiting for the consolation of Israel… Israel had been waiting for some time, but they had not forgotten that a Saviour had been promised, and they were looking out for this.

We also read, concerning the end of Jesus’ life, after his crucifixion, that there was another man who had been waiting for the Messiah.

Mark 15:43 NIV84

43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.

The Israelites were aware of the fact that there was a Messiah that was to come, and many of them were in fact waiting for this Messiah to arrive.

In Luke 2:38, we read about the account of Anna, also in the temple, who saw Jesus as He was presented before God… But notice her reseponse…

Luke 2:38 NIV84

38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

There was at the very least some group of people that were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem, the redemption of the people of Israel.

It’s in light of this anticipation that we also need to understand the words of Christ at this time.

As we head into this text, keep in mind that this has a direct relevance to us today in terms of our own lives, and how we live our lives. We also ought to be thinking about our present times, as Christ calls his hearers to do, and to be living wisely as we perceive the present times in which we live.

I’ll elaborate more on that later on, particularly at the end during application. But I trust that Christ will bless His word to us.

As we turn our attention to the text, notice firstly, with me…

1. Perception of Lesser (Physical) Realities (vv.54-55)

We read in verse 54…

Luke 12:54 NIV84

54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does.

Now, we notice firstly that Jesus is turning his attention particularly to the crowds at this time. Sometimes, Jesus addressed his disciples directly. Sometimes he addressed particular individuals.

At this time, Christ was speaking to this large crowd of people that had gathered and had been following him all around, watching his actions, and listening to his teachings.

As he addresses these people, he speaks to them about two signs or patterns of the weather that they were very familiar with. The first is found in verse 54.

He says to them (firstly), “when you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, “it’s going to rain,’ and it does.”

This was a very typical situation in their day.

What lay to the West of the region where Jesus was?

It was the Meditteranean Sea. The clouds would start coming up off of the waters on the Sea to the west, and rising up the mountains, and as the coulds came up the cooler mountains of Palestine, the rains would come.

We find an example of this in 1 Kings 18, after Elijah had confronted the prophets of Baal.

1 Kings 18:43–44 NIV84

43 “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked. “There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” 44 The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”

For the Israelites, this was a typical weather pattern. Obvious scenario.

The second sign is given in verse 55…

Luke 12:55 NIV84

55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is.

Again, here was another clear weather phenomenon for the people of Israel. To the South of Israel, was desert, particularly the South Eastern side, and this wind come from the South and cause hot weather for Israel.

We understand similar pictures in our country and contexts.

When I lived in Cape Town growing up, we had what was called the Berg-winds - which were winds coming from the North-East, bringing warm air from the interior. And we’d feel that warmth.

The South-Easter would blow away the clouds and rains, and you knew that afterwards the Cape Doctor would leave with cool, but clean air.

The same goes for Mpumlanga, Gauteng… You learn to read what’s happening and you’re able to make a fair prediction about the kind of weather you’re going to have.

Notice, in each of these statements, Jesus adds those words at the end… “...and it does...” along with, “...and it is...”

Christ’s point is that they are well skilled and trained and are able to discern these things. It’s a good thing. It’s fitting. Things take place as they anticipate, because they are rightly seeing and perceiving the reality around them.

But that leads us to the second main point…

2. Blindness to Greater (Spiritual) Realities (v.56)

Christ uses this appropriate perception of the world around them to point out in important lack among them in a far more important reality than the weather patterns…

Luke 12:56 NIV84

56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?

Christ rebukes the crowds in this instance because they are demonstrating to Him their own inability to interpret the times that they were living in, in terms of the Spiritual realities. They were unable to perceive the work of God that was unfolding through His own life at this time.

Note, the implication is that they ought to have been able to interpret what was going on around them.

Now, we must pay very careful attention to the fact that although the crowds were following Jesus, they were not following Jesus for the right reasons or motivations.

It is very clear and evident, based on the rebuke that Jesus gives in this verse, that they were not following Jesus as the proimsed Messiah of God.

Rather, they were following Him for what he could give to them.

...Or for the benefit that he could bestow on them...

…Or because he provided them with some good entertainment.

Christ’s rebuke to them was fitting because they had not actually embraced Jesus as the Messiah, and their much needed Saviour.

Notice, very importantly, that Christ calls these people “Hypocrites.” Why was it that Jesus would call them hypocrites? What precisely was hypocritical about their behaviour?

Now remember (particularly younger children) what a hypocrite is. This is someone that lives a lie. They wear a mask, pretending to be someone, whereas in reality they are someone completely different. They put on a show in order to win some people over, or to impress the people around them, but their hearts are far from where they should be.

With that in mind, why was Jesus calling them hypocrites? Clearly, they were not doing something that they ought to have been doing. Keep in mind, these would have been mostly Jewish people in the crowds. They were Jews, and Christ was doing His work primarily for the Jews, and in front of the Jews (that’s why Gentiles get a special mention when a miracle involves them, or teaching is given to them).

As the Jewish people, they had the very revelation of God to them, and through this revelation of God they ought to have been able to discern that what was taking place around them in the presence of Jesus Christ was evidence of His claim to be the Messiah.

Think back to some of the words that Christ had spoken previously to the crowds.

Luke 11:29–32 NIV84

29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.

Christ had already rebuked the crowds because they were longing for this sign… some miraculous sign. They wanted Jesus to perform for them. They wanted him to do miracles for the sake of doing miracles.

But the fact was, Christ had performed the miracles that He had for a purpose - in order to demonstate that He was in fact the Messiah that was to come. His miracles were designed for a purpose… and that purpose was not to put on a show for people, or to give to the people according to their fancy. Rather, He demonstrated to them through these miracles that He was God’s chosen Messiah.

Turn back in your Bibles to Luke 4:18… The scene is Christ in the synagogue at Nazareth… He stands up, and calls for the scroll to be handed to him. He gets hold of the scroll of the prophet Isaiah…

Luke 4:18–21 NIV84

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

What Isaiah the prophet had foretold was what Christ had been performing and doing in front of the crowds. Remember the words of Jesus as he sent word back to John, who was in prison…

Luke 7:22 NASB95

22 And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them.

Dear friends, Jesus had performed particular miracles, glorious miracles, and the purpose of every one of them was to prove in the sight of the people that He was the promised messiah that was to come.

Sadly, they refused to believe the evidence that was before their very eyes in terms of all that was unfolding.

We must see the significance of this. They had the revelation of God (the Old Testament). They were witnessing the power of God through Christ as he performed miracles and taught with an authority that they had not know.

And note, even as Christ did this, they were following after him. They were watching him.

But they didn’t believe!!!!

Jesus says to them that they are hypocrites. They wear the mask of being a follower of Jesus, but they’re not interested in Him as the true Messiah, but rather as an entertainer, or a fixer of their physical ailments.

They were unwilling to understand and perceive that Jesus was indeed the true Messiah.

Brothers and Sisters, I do want to pause on that point, and just bring some application to us from this context.

We are not called to follow Jesus because He makes our life better, or he’s a nice badge to wear, so that we’ll fit in with a particular crowd that we like.

We are not called to follow Jesus because "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” and I really want to do well in my new business venture, or achieve great things in my studies, or be better than those around me; so, let me follow Jesus so that I can achieve my dreams.

That’s not the reason that we’re called to follow Christ.

The reason that we’re called to follow Jesus is because He is God’s Son, the One that is worthy of our worship and honour and praise. We follow Jesus is because of His claim to be the very Son of God, and worthy of our worship.

We follow Jesus because He has called us to confess our sin before a righteous God, and acknowledge that it is only through His shed blood on the cross that I may receive forgiveness and be restored to right relationship with Him.

We are called to follow Jesus because He is The Way, the truth and the life, and no man comes to the father but through Him! And God calls us to worship and praise of His holy name, because He as God is worthy.

We submit to, and live in obedience to Jesus Christ, because He is worthy of our praise, and our very existence is for the praise and adoration of the eternal God.

Listen to the way that Paul puts this in Ephesians...

Ephesians 1:3–6 NIV84

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

As Paul continues in Ephesians 1, he emphasizes the glorious realities and blessings of our redemption through Jesus Christ. But again, down in verse 14, he summarizes the purpose of all this blessing…

Ephesians 1:13–14 NIV84

13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

The salvation of man is to the praise of the glory of God. This is the reason for our salvation dear friends. This is the reason that we turn to Christ. It is through the Gospel that we are reconciled to God in order that we might bring Him praise and glory and honour.

How perverted has the Gospel become in our day? There is a message being preached that says the Gospel is about you, and about what you can get out of it… usually they emphasize physical blessings in this world, rather than the praise and honour of Almighty God for His grace and mercy in saving sinners who are in rebellion against Him.

When we preach the Gospel… when we take the Gospel message of salvation forward, we need to keep this in mind. God certainly helps; He provides; He heals; all of these… but all of that is truly bound up in the worship of the true and living God, in response to His grace and mercy towards sinners such as us; as we see how merciful He’s been. And this happens, irrespective of our physiscal circumstances, and how may choose to, or choose not to, ease our pain.

This leads us to our third main point…

3. A Call for Right Judgment (vv.57-59)

At this point, Jesus confronts them on the issue by speaking through a parable.

We readin verse 57...

Luke 12:57 NIV84

57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?

There have been various interpretations of what Jesus meant in this verse. The most likely scenario was that Jesus was calling the people following him to apply their minds carefully to that which was before their very eyes.

In one sense, they had thus far been blindly following the relgious leaders of Israel, without giving careful thought to things for themselves. We know already at this stage in Christ’s walk in the world that the religious leaders were in opposition to Jesus. They were looking for a way to put Jesus to death. The crowds loved Jesus… but for the most part, as we’ve already seen this morning, this was more because of what they could get in terms of physical blessing and benefit, than because they recognised their own sinfulness before God.

In this sense, Jesus was calling them to judge what is right. They needed to not listen to the religious leaders (who were rejecting Jesus) but to evaluate Christ’s claims in light of His actions and words, as compared to their own Scriptures.

They had a responsibility. Christ then draws a picture through a parable.

Luke 12:58 NIV84

58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the way, or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

Christ now turns his attention to a court-room situation, where an accuser is taking an individual to the courts in order to bring a charge against them. And he applies this to each individual in the crowd that is before Him. He says to them, each one of you, apply this to yourselves. If you are being taken by an adversary to the courts, and a case is going to be brought against you, and you are now at risk of being convicted due to your wrongdoing, what must you do? He says, you must try hard to be reconciled on the way. Don’t allow yourself to be brought before the judge and convicted.

He then says in verse 59...

Luke 12:59 NIV84

59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”

The fact is, if you do not reconcile before you come before the judge, you will be made to pay the appropriate price in full. The “penny” that is mentioned here by Jesus was the smallest unit of currency in their day. In other words, down to the last cent, you will have to pay the penalty before the judge.

Now, if you haven’t already made the connection, let me say that Jesus was not merely speaking to those people who were at risk of going to court. Through the picture, Christ is telling the crowds that they are going to one day be brought before the great and eternal judge, that is God! They will be brought before the judgment seat, and they will be required to give an account.

Christ is in the process of calling those in the crowd to humble themselves before God, and to accept that Jesus was indeed the Messiah that God sent into the world, and they they now have an obligation to settle accounts before it is too late.

The reality is that they would pay the just penalty for their wrongdoing to the last sent if they failed to do this.

There are a number of important truths that must be highlighted here.

Firstly, there is indeed a judgment day coming.

Romans 14:10 NIV84

10 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.

2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV84

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Secondly, there is a just charge against all man apart from reconciliation through Christ. We saw this last week, as Frik with us from Romans 3… there is punishment.

Thirdly, unless we have this reconciliation with Christ, we will pay the just due for our wrongdoing before God.

In the present text, Christ speaks about not getting out before paying the last penny. We need to recognise that this was an emphasis given in the light of the parable. The reality before God is that on our own, we cannot pay the penalty. No matter how much we give, we can never pay the price for our sin - it is simply too great.

That is why the Scriptures speak of eternal punishment…

Application / Conclusion

A.1. Understand the Times

A.2. Be careful of wilful ignorance

People in this world are longing for rescue from the meaningless pursuit of the things of this world. They are longing for rescue from the lack of purpose that is found in this world.

They may not even see it.

I marvel sometimes at the propensity of man to pursue that which is entirely unbeneficial to Him.

In the extreme cases, there are all kinds of addictions… alcohol, drugs, immorality etc. These are all things that people realise the dangers, they realise the hurts that come along with them, and yet addiction is so strong.

But more than that, all of us can sometimes be led to indulge in those things that are unprofitable, even dangerous for us. Let us be careful about how we live.

A.3. Be Reconciled to God

2 Cor 5:10-20...

A.4. Call Others to Be Reconciled to God