Click Here for Audio Luke 6.1.11

Lord of the Sabbath

Last time we were together, the question was asked concerning the practice of fasting.  The disciples of John were wondering why they fasted and why the disciples of the Pharisees fasted but Jesus and His disciples didn’t.  The answer came from the mouth of Jesus that it is inappropriate to fast when the Bridegroom is present.  When the Bridegroom is present celebrating is appropriate.  Their fasting had developed as a result of man’s tradition rather than God’s Word.

Now, Luke takes us deeper into the observance of man’s traditions verses God’s Word.  In this example as in the example from last week, Luke shows us that Jesus is not concerned with man’s interpretation and rules but with God’s Word alone.  He shows us the appropriate way in which to keep the OT Sabbath and then we can apply much of this teaching to the NT Lord’s Day and follow Jesus’ example there as well.  So, in speaking to the Pharisees that day, Jesus teaches us many things concerning God’s will.

We have before us two conflicts between Jesus and the Pharisees.  The first had to do with acts of necessity and the other with acts of mercy.

To begin with, let’s set the principle of the Sabbath teaching in context, then deduce from the Words of Jesus how we should understand His teaching in light of the New Covenant Lord’s Day.

The Sabbath principle is a creation principle God has ordained it for man since the creation.  The point is this isn’t a Jewish ritual but was ordained by God for all mankind, Jew and Gentile alike because it was instituted before there even was such a thing as a Jew.

God created everything in six days and rested on the seventh consecrating it as a day of rest for man.  God did not need to take six days to create and He didn’t need to rest on the seventh, God doesn’t get tired and He could have created everything all at once, in a split second if He chose to do so. Continue Reading

Click Here for Audio Luke 5.33.39

From Fasting to Feasting

This passage begins with a question about fasting.  Withholding food from yourself for a certain appointed time serves as a form of mourning.  It is a time when many folks examine their spirituality and leave food for a time to feast on God’s Word or to commune with God in a special way.  When a Christian fasts, the attitude is that I would rather have God, the real Life-giver than my daily portion of physical food.

The practice of fasting is stated way back in the Book of Leviticus.

Leviticus 16:29-34 (ESV)

“And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you.  [30] For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins.  [31] It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; it is a statute forever.  [32] And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments.  [33] He shall make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.  [34] And this shall be a statute forever for you, that atonement may be made for the people of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.” And Moses did as the Lord commanded him.

Here, on the Day of Atonement the Israelites were to honor God and mourn over their sins by fasting.  The phrase translated in the ESV by afflict yourself is better understood to humble one’s self by fasting.  This was the only God ordained fast of the year. Continue Reading

Calling Sinners to Repentance

Last week, I was asked the question, Is there anyone who can’t be saved.  I answered that all who come to Christ by faith and repentance can be saved.  On one hand that’s true.  However, there is a group people who cannot be saved.  There is a group of people that Jesus did not die for.  These people are the self-righteous.  These are those who believe they have enough good works to cause God to welcome them with open arms into heaven.

Most all religions are religions of self-righteousness.  Most all religions believe that you can do enough good to make up for bad and then God will accept you.  The sad reality is a lot of so called Christians believe this same concept as well.

So who can’t be saved?  Those who don’t think they need saving.  Those whose righteousness, they believe, has been acquired through hard work, determination, and a strict rigorous exercise of morality.

But what Jesus says in this text will reset our thinking back to a godly perspective.  Because whether we like it or not we all, to some degree or another, think that by working hard at being good, God will accept us…Let’s listen to Luke’s story-

Luke 5:27-32 (ESV)

After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.”  [28] And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

[29] And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.  [30] And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”  [31] And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  [32] I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

1. Levi’s Call (5:27, 28)

After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.”  [28] And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. Continue Reading

Click Here for Audion Luke 5.17.26

Receiving More than You Ever Imagined

During the time of the intertestamental period (the time between the last OT book and the NT) there was a movement in Judaism which was mainly targeted at the middle class.  The Sanhedrin and the Sadducees were mainly from the upper elite of the Jews.  As a sort of offshoot, to address those of the middle-class, the Pharisee movement was born.

Because they were from the middle class and because they spoke in and among the rulers and elders for the middle class, they were popular with the masses.  This popularity gave them power.

This popularity is also what made them very dangerous.  They had the public’s ear and what they were telling the people was wrong.  The Pharisees had developed a system of rules and regulations which were set in place to go along with God’s law.  As time went on, their rules became even more binding than the Scriptures, and the people listened.

There is great danger to the souls of men and women when a popular preacher or teacher is teaching heresy.  They have a great influence on the common people.

Today, were going to see God’s love in action.  God’s love is forgiving sin and healing.

We’re going to see a battle that unfolds before us in this text.  Battle lines are drawn.  On one side we see the unbelieving Pharisees and on the other we see believing crowd.  One side attacks with accusations that could lead to the death sentence but in the end Jesus is victorious.

Luke 5:17-26 (ESV)

On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.  [18] And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, [19] but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.  [20] And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”  [21] And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”  [22] When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts?  [23] Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?  [24] But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—”I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”  [25] And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.  [26] And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.” Continue Reading