Profile of False Religion

Service Notes

Update on Graham & Olivia

Update from last nights event

Bible Reading

Review from the story last week. Pharisees were listening in.

And even AFTER that instruction HE CONFRONTED our underlying greed and covetousness by reminding us that stewardship and generosity Are NOT MATTERS OF SURPLUS, BUT RATHER FAITHFULNESS.

We know the Pharisees are turning their nose up to this line of thinking.

Today we will see the hatred of false religion toward the truth and the hatred of God toward false religion.

Glad it is not Mother’s Day: Buckle Up

Luke 16:14–18 (KJV 1900)

14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

15 And he said unto them,

Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

Pastoral Prayer

Thank you for allowing us to welcome unbelievers from the community into this building to hear Good News of Christ

Graham and Olivia has to have their first church service in Nigeria

Help us have understanding of today’s passage

Sermon Introduction

First reading, it seems like a strange assortment of thoughts.

emotional response

rebuke by Jesus

huge statement about the act the law never changing

reference to divorce

This is really a very cohesive portion of Scripture.

These kinds of things appear in several places in the gospels.

It is going down a very set, fixed path intended to confront the Pharisees and to instruct us about the destructive components of false religion.

PHARISEES SCOFF AT JESUS' TEACHING ON MONEY AND MASTERS

From murmuring to deriding

Luke 15:1-2 “1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.”

Luke 16:14 “14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.”

This word will show up again. Luke 23:35 “35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.”

Deriding will continue even to the cross. Mark 15:29 “29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,”

Solomon described men like the Pharisees

Proverbs 13:1 “1 A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: But a scorner heareth not rebuke.”

Proverbs 14:6 “6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: But knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.”

Proverbs 15:12 “12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: Neither will he go unto the wise.”

How heart should break those trapped in a false religion.

We come to a passage to helps us define, study, and reject false religion.

But let us have the heart of Christ in this matter.

Jesus came to seek and to save that was lost. The men in this story are lost and not aware.

They are in the condition of the vast majority of this world.

This should remind us that we should not find safety for us or our loved one by hiding in religious activity.

We might find that you do not have to travel as far as you might think to find it. With that understanding we might consider the influence that a culture of false religion has upon our lives. I believe it would be more accurate to say we are a Pseudo-Christian Society instead of a Post-Christian Society.

Covetousness is at the heart of false religion

Luke 16:14 “14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.”

This should not surprise us.

We saw it in Luke 14 when the Pharisee only invited his friends and not the poor to his dinner so that he might be paid back by them.

We saw it in Matthew 15 where we found out that they were unwilling even to help their parents financially. They actually twisted the Law to say they couldn’t help their parents because all of their money was dedicated to God. (corbin)

We see it in Matthew 23 and Luke 20 where we learn that they are those who “devour widow’s houses”.

False teachers are it for how it would change their life here on earth.

They were minister for sorted gain. 1 Peter 5:2 “2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;”

Today is Graham and Olivia’s first Sunday in Nigeria. They are in a small building with little AC. Within a few miles are church buildings nicer than anything we have around here. With pastors rolling in sports cars and security teams.

False religion is a profitable business because everyone is looking for peace.

There have always been false peddlers of peace.

Promoters of peace for profit. Jeremiah 6:13-14 “13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. 14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.”

False religion is marked by hostility towards the Lordship of Christ

They are “triggered” by Jesus’s commentary on the story.

The thought of using their money to help others for eternity was completely against their world view.

“Let not a man associate with the wicked, not even to bring him the law.” - Rabbi commentary on Exodus 18.

Their responses demonstrate they do not understand the things of God.

It was foolishness to them. 1 Cor 2:14 “14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Very religious, but when the light went on they hated the light because their deeds are evil.  John 3:19-20 “19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”

To get along with believers of a false Gospel you must to dim the lights.

Parable of building life upon the rock. There are two kinds of religious house.  There's a house that has a foundation and a house that doesn't and the foundation is hearing and obeying the word.

Who has the true claim on a relationship to Jesus? 

Jesus answers this for us. Luke 8:20-21 “20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. 21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.”

They fear was that Jesus was going to do something that would cause them to lose what they wanted out of life, their independence, their freedom, their source of income, their prestige, their power, their position. 

― Michael Muhammad Knight, Journey to the End of Islam (Unbeliever)

“People say that America has no religion, but it's the opposite: America has every religion, all the old ones, and produces more new ones than anywhere else on earth. America's religious life is like the photo mosaic in which a thousand little images add up to one big picture, except there's no big picture, just a blob of unrelated and unrelatable images, texts, and poses, the freedom to take what you want from a religion and reject the rest and be lonely, standing outside the warm shelters of temples with your own goon god that no one else can understand.”

False religion wants an all loving, providing God but not Jesus as Lord.

Story in the book of Judges about a man named Micah:

made his own idols

hires a priest

Believers that God will be pleased with this. Judges 17:13 “13 Then said Micah, Now know I that the Lord will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.”

False Teacher with a message with a false message of peace

False beliefs lead to wrong actions. When the people of Dan inquired concerning a place to settle, Micah’s priest told them what they wanted to hear: Judges 18:6 “6 And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the Lord is your way wherein ye go.”

the Danites’ journey was a violent one that resulted in the destruction of a peaceful town.

This homemade, false religion continues for generations

Judges 18:30-31 “30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. 31 And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.”

THE DETESTABLE DECEPTION OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS

False religion is an attempt to justify yourself before men.

Luke 16:15 “15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”

They were sneering at Jesus because they saw Him as a poor man being followed by other poor men and yet having the nerve to teach about money. Jesus responded that God knows the hearts of people and is not impressed with their outward appearances or their wealth.

But that is why self-justifying men try to do.

They try to destroy the righteous standard of God.

They try to omit His Laws and disregard His ordinances.

Deception that man can make themselves right before God by justifying themselves before men.

They have this zeal for God but not in accordance with knowledge, which makes worse than useless but condemning. .Romans 10:1-2 “1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.”

What is the knowledge they lack? They did not know of the righteousness of God.

They are trying to bring Jesus down to their level.

The Pharisees were into this self-righteousness so deep, turn to Matthew 23, that it was the defining character of their behavior.  Matthew 23:12-13 “12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”

Do you see the problem of the Pharisees?

1. They did all their work on the outside 2. To satisfy a faulty standard 3. And to impress a jury who didn’t get to decide anything 4. All the while they ignored the true righteous standard 5. Of the One who would ultimately be their judge.

All mankind is prone to do this.

People who justify themselves in such a way are those who ultimately scoff at the commands of God

Because they have already justified themselves in their sin.

Be Thou My Vision

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise. Thou my inheritance now and always. Thou and Thou only first in my heart,  High king of heaven, my treasure Thou art.

Let's pause a moment and apply this section which was directed primarily at the Pharisees - Is Jesus' statement not also directed at every soul that seeks to justify himself or herself by their own works?

People turn to false religion to find approval

Reasons to practice religion that have nothing to do with God. Matthew 6:2 “2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”

Pray to be seen of men.

Fasting to be seen of men. / even altering their appearance to look more tired

That is what man highly esteems.

Luke 16:15 “15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”

Man loves sin.

Man loves this world.

Man loves the gratification of the flesh.

Man loves the approval of peers over the approval of God.

False Religion does not confront their evil at heart

This is the great challenge. We cannot see friends, loved ones, and this world simply as victims trapped in a false system. We must acknowledge this is a matter of the heart. It should drive us to our knees in prayer.

Luke 16:15 “15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”

False religion offers approval and acceptance with nor regard for God knowing our hearts.

Psalm 44:21 “21 Shall not God search this out? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart.”

Matthew 6:18 “18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”

Don’t look to me for approval that only God can give. I am very glad you are here. Ill even sign a note telling your probation officer you are here. But do not ask for sticker saying that all is well between your soul and your Savior. God knows the heart. I simply only know the attendance.

This is how self-justification works.

1. Men nullify God’s Law 2. They then replace it with their own outward standards 3. And then they defend themselves before other men 4. And thus they feel good about themselves 5. So good in fact that they mock and scorn when God’s truth is presented

BUT WHAT A FOOLISH ERROR 1. For someday those men will stand before the real Judge 2. Only to find that not one dot of that Law was nullified 3. And they will be judged according not only to what they did but according also to what was in their heart.

False religion plays games with God’s Law

Luke 16:17 “17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.”

They accuse Jesus of not respecting the law.

They are are on their high horse, with high noses saying they keep the law and Jesus doesn’t respect it.

Jesus says that the universe would pass away before the smallest of mark’s of his law would fade!

God’s Law has not been abolish, BUT it has been fulfilled.

• Jesus Christ came to this earth and He alone fully obeyed God’s Law.

He kept every jot and tittle.

He obeyed every command without flaw.

Jesus points to the game they play with marriage.

Luke 16:18 “18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.”

The law concerning marriage is still binding – no matter how some Rabbis tried to explain it away.

Some Rabbis taught that if a woman burned her husbands breakfast, it was grounds for divorce. Others considered finding a prettier woman was an acceptable reason to divorce and the woman's consent to the divorce is not required.

God still cares about His law and our obedience.

False religion plays fast and loose with rules when they want to, and they are very strict when it serves there purpose.

This is where I expect more than a few of them begin to fade into back of the crowd.

Jesus is confronting them with truth.

The lights are being turned on.

They should respond as Paul did. Romans 7:7 “7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”

Paul was covetous. But the law made him aware of his sin.

Jesus is using the law to help them see their need. Help them see they are breakers of the law!

False Religion is the only religion available to those who do not know or reject the Gospel

Luke 16:16 “16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”

The law and prophets

The Pharisees had access to the truth of the Law (of Moses, the Torah from Genesis to Deuteronomy) and the Prophets (standing for the remainder of the OT).

Jesus came and fulfilled the law in our place Matthew 5:17-18 “17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

Pharisees were picking choosing what parts of God’s revelation that wanted to apply to their lives.

Since that time

Mark uses this marker 7 times for a critical turning point

In addition to being the final representative of the Old Testament era of promise, John was also the first representative of the New Testament era of fulfillment; his ministry bridged the two eras.

Jesus and John both preached “repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand”

The Law does not offer the solution to our problem.

“Our problem is not our problem. Our problem is that we don't know that we have a problem.”

What's the good news of the kingdom of God?

That the way into the kingdom is not by having kept the Law perfectly because nobody ever has, and it's certainly not as the Pharisees were trying, it's certainly not by finding loopholes in the Law that you get into the kingdom. The good news is, the way into the kingdom is by God's gracious forgiveness of those who repent. You see, the Law can't forgive you. The Law can tell you of your need of forgiveness, but the Law can't forgive you. Only the Gospel offers that forgiveness.

Every man presseth into it

This could describe the opposition as seen by the Pharisees who were trying to force their world view into the message of the Kingdom

This could describe those coming into the Kingdom as mentioned in Luke 15:1 “1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.”

What is clear. The Pharisees had missed what was really of value in God's eyes while all around them were those who realized their need.

Conclusion

When you hear Jesus speak of God’s Laws and the requirements of salvation

Don’t scoff, humble yourself and run to Jesus for mercy and righteousness.

Don’t justify yourself, run to Christ who alone can justify you before God.

Ask yourself have you made some sort of homemade, religion that you want God to bless?

The deciding factor or test for all religious people and you as well. What will you do with the words of Jesus?

False believers deride and adapt to their desired lifestyle.

True believers accept knowing they we are sinners in needs of the Savior.