Sermon Title: The Kingdom Community Part 2
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 3:1-7
Introduction
Read Exodus 24:1-8
- The writer of Hebrews likens Moses to Jesus. Moses is a “type” or “shadow” of Jesus (Hebrews 3:1-6).
- In Exodus, Moses goes alone to the mountain to meet with God (Exodus 24:2), acknowledges the twelve tribes (Exodus 24:4), gives God’s people instructions on how to live within the covenant community (Exodus 24:7), and sprinkled blood on the people, signifying cleansing from sin so that people might live within the covenant community (Exodus 24:8).
- In our text this morning, Jesus goes alone to the mountain to meet with God (Luke 6:12-16), acknowledges twelve leaders (Luke 6:13-16), gives His people instructions on how to live within the new covenant community (Luke 6:20-49), and then “sprinkles His blood on them” to cleanse them from sin so they might live within the new community (Luke 23:26-49).
Now, notice how Scripture draws a clear parallel between Israel and the Disciples:
“Then Peter said in reply, ‘See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first’” (Matthew 19:27-30).
This leads us to what we need to know this morning:
The Kingdom of Heaven is already here now, but not yet. The Scripture tells one story that progressively unfolds like a rolled up rug or blooming flower. The story is the establishment of an eternal Kingdom with citizens who have been redeemed by King Jesus. The sermon Jesus preaches here gives us instruction on how to live in the Kingdom Community.
Review
Prophetic Call: Blessings and Woes (6:20-26)
The purpose of the blessings and woes is to contrast characteristics of people who live for “then and now.” Those who live for “now” search for ultimate consolation, fulfillment, happiness, and acceptance in this life (vv. 24-26). People who live for “then” can joyfully live through the difficulties of this life with contentment. A particular passage comes to mind when I read about these contrasting values (2 Corinthians 4:7-18).
In that passage, Paul states that true believers live to display the surpassing power of God (v. 7) and so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our bodies (v. 10-11).
God’s people live in such a way that affliction from every direction (thlibo: to press a grape) does not crush them; confusion (aporeo: to be without resources; to be at a loss, not knowing which way to turn) does not drive them to despair; persecution doesn’t leave them feeling forsaken; they can be cast down (kataballo: to throw to the ground; to put in a lower place) without being destroyed (apollymi: to ruin; render useless) (vv. 8-10). God’s people do not lose heart in the trials of this life, but increase in thanksgiving to the glory of God (vv. 15-16).
How? They truly believe that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise them also with Jesus (v. 14) and that this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (v. 17). So, they focus not on the things that are seen and temporary but look to the things that are unseen and eternal (18). With this perspective you can love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who abuse you (Luke 6:27-28) while pursuing them with a humble and merciful disposition (Luke 6:29-34). You are motivated and empowered to live this way knowing that Heaven is your home and that God is merciful to you, who is ungrateful and evil (Luke 6:35-36).
Introduction
If the Lord wills, we will conclude our study of Jesus’ sermon this morning. This morning we will examine Jesus’ declaration of the disposition and deeds of a true believer.
The Disposition of a True Believer (Luke 6:37-42)
The commands in this passage flow from the context of Luke 6:35b-36, “For he (The Most High) is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” In essence, Jesus is showing His audience how to specifically live out the command in Luke 6:36. True believers are quick to show mercy.
Those who understand the value of the mercy they have received will in turn show that same kind of mercy. Here is how:
This passage is often used wrongly to escape accountability. We as believers are called to judge one another (Matthew 7:6; 1 Corinthians 5:5, 11-13; 1 Timothy 5:20; Matthew 18:15-17; Galatians 6:1-3). Mercy expresses itself in terms of a hesitation to hold another down in condemnation. Jesus is not saying we ought to pretend people are innocent when they sin, but rather one is not to hold an action permanently against that other person. It is not acquittal, but amnesty that is in view. What is warned against is evaluating others with such a harshness that the result is an unforgiving attitude and an approach that ceases to hold out hope as if someone is beyond God’s reach. [1]
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).
“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Psalm 86:15).
Luke 6:38 speaks of the way this culture packed a bag of corn. They would pack the bag in such a way that not even one more grain could fit. What is the point? God is full of mercy, therefore the natural tendency of a heart that has received mercy should be a merciful disposition.
A parable is an extended analogy. Jesus’ point is clear: those who follow leaders who do not know the way to God’s Kingdom will never get there. How can you know if you leader is blind? “The self-righteous agenda of the Pharisees was evidenced in the way they tried to control how others behaved. Zealous as they were, they were blind” (Darrell L. Bock). [2] Your leaders should evidence a love for Jesus, lead you to Jesus, repent before calling others to repentance, be approachable, and bear fruit.
The Deeds of a True Disciple: Luke 6:43-45
True disciples are saved by grace through faith alone. However, true saving faith is always evidenced by works. With that in mind, deeds can also be deceiving. Jesus later (Luke 10:3) describes false teachers as wolves in sheep’s clothing, so that what appears to be “good fruit” is not fruit at all (Matthew 23). The primary intent of this passage is self-examination, not examination of others. We know this from the rebuke that preceded (Luke 6:41-42) and the prophetic warning which follows (Luke 6:46-49). The call of this text is to examine your own life.
What fruit do true disciples evidence? Relevant to this text, it is obedience to the teachings of Jesus further up in the message (what you value; praying for enemies; doing good to those who wrong you; having a merciful disposition). Let me stop for a moment and ask you a question. Are these specific fruits evidenced in your life?
Again, Jesus is using contrast to aid self-examination. Here is closes His sermon with an illustration of two buildings, which represent two destinies.
First, notice that both men profess faith (v. 46), but what was their faith built on? “Open sin and avowed unbelief no doubt slay their thousands. But profession without practice slays its tens of thousands” (J.C. Ryle). [3]
Second, notice both faced a storm (vv. 48-49). The difference between the two men is two-fold.
- One dug down deep and built his foundation on a rock (obedience to God’s Word).
- One was destroyed and one stood.
“The phrase “dug down deep” alludes to the deep heart searching that marks true repentance. This religious edifice appeared superficially to be identical to the first house, and was located in the same region, since the same storm affected both. As was illustrated in the parable of the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24-30), false believers are often indistinguishable from true believers until trials or judgment comes and sweeps their self-righteous edifice away” (MacArthur). [4]
To understand Jesus’ audience is huge to proper interpretation. Remember, vv. 17-19 tells us that Jesus’ audience was diverse. We know many Jews and Gentiles heard His sermon (vv. 17-19), but His primary audience was the disciples (v. 20). Who was Jesus warning the disciples about in vv. 39-45? The false teachers Jesus cautioned the people about were the Pharisees and the blind religious elite (Matthew 23; Matthew 15:13-14).
In order to fully understand the full meaning of Jesus’ illustration, let us close by looking at Matthew’s account. Unlike Luke, Matthew’s audience was primarily Jewish. Again, remember, both men in Jesus’ illustration are professing believers who are both building.
- Jesus contrasts obedient behavior with an obedient heart (murder/anger [Matthew 5:21-22]; adultery/lust [Matthew 5:27-28]).
- Jesus contrasts two people who give: One kind of person gives to be seen by others (Matthew 6:1) and the other gives secretly (Matthew 6:4).
- Jesus contrasts two people who pray: One kind of person prays to be seen by others (Matthew 6:5) and the other prays secretly (Matthew 6:6).
- Jesus contrasts two people who fast: One kind of person fasts to be seen by others (Matthew 6:16) and the other fasts discreetly (Matthew 6:18).
The sermon’s closing illustration is not contrasting those who profess (the Christian) and those who don’t (the atheist). Jesus is contrasting the hearts of two people who profess.The house is behavior and the foundation is the reason for the behavior.
What should we do because of what we have heard?
- Cultivate a heart that lives for the sole purpose of pleasing God. “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
- What does it mean to “please” God? “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3 NIV).
- How might I know the condition of my heart? “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in the praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:3-9).
Sources
- Brock, Darrell. Luke 1:1-9:50. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1994.
- Brock, Darrell. The NIV Application Commentary: Luke. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.
- Ryle, J.C. Luke. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1997.
- MacArthur, John. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Luke 1-5. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2009.
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