Setting The Scene In Luke

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You're listening to Heed the Word with our pastor and teacher Ken Davis. Pastor Ken is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Southwest Metro in Burleson, Texas. Please join us as we study the Gospel of Luke verse by verse.

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You know how tiny a spice is? It's a little bitty seed, many of these things that they're talking about. And he's saying, listen, you pay tithes of those things. They would sit there and they would weigh out one tenth of it, and they would give that tenth. They were very meticulous in this little thing of tithing even their spices. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law. What are the weightier matters of the law? He tells us here, they are justice and mercy and faith.

Is Messiah David’s Son Or Lord?

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The Gospel of Luke is the third account in the Gospels of the life and teachings of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As believers, there are a few studies that will benefit us more spiritually than studying the life and teachings of the Master. It's easy for us to say the right words and go through the motions of being a believer in Jesus, but are we really a disciple? Do we truly desire to follow Jesus with all our heart? Or are we simply going with the flow? Our Heavenly Father isn't pleased with this type of behavior. He desires that we worship him with our very being, in spirit and in truth. Don't forget to stay with us after today's message to hear more information about Heather Word, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching. But for now, please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 20, verse 41, as we join Pastor Ken.

Jesus Claims The Root And Offspring

Why Leaders Missed The Answer

Exposing Hypocrisy In The Temple

Titles, Applause, And Empty Piety

The Eight Woes Begin

False Oaths And Blind Guidance

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And he said to them, How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David? Now, first of all, the Christ is the Greek word for the Jewish word Messiah. How can they say that the Messiah or the Savior is the Son of David? Now it was commonly referred to, the Messiah, that is, was commonly referred to as the Son of David, because it had been prophesied that he would be of the offspring of David. He would be from the line of David, thereby having a right to sit upon David's throne, that he would be a king in essence, their savior. We saw as they had entered into Jerusalem, the disciples and Jesus, him riding upon the cult, that the crowds had just swarmed him and they'd thrown their clothing and their and the palm leaves and everything on the road before him, and they had been crying out, Hosanna, son of David, save now. And so it was a messianic title. And so Jesus is asking them, how can they say that the Christ is the son of David? In Matthew, he actually asks them the question, Who do they say the Messiah is, or who is the Messiah? And they say, Well, he's the son of David. And he says, Well, how is it that they can say that Christ is the son of David? Now David himself said in the book of Psalms, the Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool. Jesus is quoting from Psalm 110, the first verse, and he's asking them this question. He's saying, Okay, you say that Messiah is the son of David, and it's true he is the son of David. But how is it possible that he is the son of David when David himself says this of him? The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool. Therefore, David calls him Lord. How is he then his son? So Jesus is asking them a question, and he's asking them to defend their interpretation of Scripture. He's asking them to explain to him something regarding the Messiah, something that these men, as the teachers of Israel, as the scribes of Israel, as those who would deliver the word of God to the people, he's asking them a question that they should have been able to answer. He's saying, listen, you say that the Messiah is the son of David, and yet David refers to the Messiah as his Lord. Now, in this culture and in any culture, usually the child is not master to the parent, wouldn't you agree? But the child is subject to the parent, and you do not refer to someone to whom you are subject as Lord. And so here David is saying, David, the king of Israel, David, a man after God's own heart. David, the one who had slain Goliath, who had pinned the majority of the Psalms. David, you know who we're talking about here, right? David had said this: the Lord, speaking of God, said to my Lord, speaking of the Messiah, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. And so here David is referring to the Messiah, one who was to be born of his lineage as his Lord. So David himself was ascribing to the Messiah a superior authority which he had himself. And so if the Messiah's authority supersedes that of David's, then the source of the Messiah's authority cannot be David himself. Do you understand? Does that make sense? David was outranked, as it were, by the very one who would come after him, thereby indicating that that one had to have been before him. Jesus is leading them with this question to the awareness of the fact that the Messiah is none other than God Himself. Now, how is it that the Messiah could be both the Son and the Lord of David? Jesus gives the answer himself in Revelation chapter 22, verse 16, where he says, I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David and the bright and morning star. So Jesus is saying, not only is he a branch off David's family tree, he is the root of David's family tree. Not only does he descend from David, but David had his source in him. So he is in that sense claiming to be God. Now, why is it that they could not understand that Jesus was implying to them that the Messiah was God? The question to us, as we look at it now from this side, seems easy, doesn't it? The question is only easy if you know the answer. If you don't know the answer, then the question is very hard. And they did not know the answer. You see, we look at this question and we can understand very easily how David could say, the Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, because we know the answer. We know Jesus, and he is the answer. And in knowing Jesus for who he is, and by receiving him for who he is, it is easy for us to recognize that he is here claiming to be God. They could not accept the fact that the Messiah was to be God. In fact, they accused Jesus of making himself thought to be the Son of God. That's why they wanted to kill him, they said. They denied him, and in denying him, they could not see the answer to the question they had asked. Verse 45. Now, first, Jesus has displayed their ignorance. They're here in the middle of the temple. All these people are around them. They've tried to stump Jesus unsuccessfully, but now he's turned the tables and he has asked them a question, these teachers of Israel, that they themselves cannot answer. And so, in doing so, he has displayed their ignorance before the people. And now he's going to rebuke them openly. Now, Luke, in these verses, has given us really a reader's digest version of the rebuke that Jesus gives. As I said, he first displayed their ignorance and he then rebukes them. Well, what is it he's rebuking them for? Ultimately, he's rebuking them for their hypocrisy. So often, particularly in today's society, we look at very famous ministers or evangelists or televangelists, and we watch their lives and we see some of the crazy things that they do. And then having seen these crazy, sinful, wrong, even in some cases stupid things that they do, we as a society begin to question the message that they preached, don't we? And there are times when we ought to, because there are times when these people go off and do these things, and these things are a reflection of the fallacies that they're teaching. But there are other times when a minister will come out and he will preach the gospel and he will preach the gospel correctly, but his life won't back up what he's teaching about. And so we look at him and we say, Oh, that hypocrite, man, how could we even listen to that guy? And oh man, probably half that stuff he said isn't true. Well, you know what? That's not always the case. Can I tell you that God can use a donkey to speak to his people, can't he? He used Balaam's donkey to speak to him. In the same way, there are times when people who have questionable character may proclaim the gospel. And the fact that their character is questionable is no negative reflection upon the word of God or upon the gospel itself. Jesus is saying to the people, he's saying, Listen, the scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So whatever they command you to observe, that observe. He's saying, listen, when they are telling the word of God to you, when they are sharing the word of God with you, recognize the fact that the authority of that word comes not from the one speaking it, but the one from whom it originated. For instance, perhaps there are things in my life that you see that you don't like. And I guarantee you, if you look closely enough, you're bound to find some. Because we're human, we're flesh and blood. We make mistakes. If I stand up here in front of you and I try to act like I'm perfect and sinless, I'm in sin. Because the Bible says that he who says he has no sin is lying, right? I could enumerate my sins for you right now, but trust me, you don't want me to do that. And I don't want to do that either. And I don't want you to do that. The fact of the matter is, is we are called to live a godly life and to be an example before other people. But when we fail, or rather I should say from your perspective, when those who have taught you the word of God at various times in your life, when they fail, do not allow their failings to invalidate the word of God in your heart. Because the word of God is true. The authority of what I speak to you today comes not from me, but from God. It comes from the Word of God, and His Word is true. But that having been said, are we to look at people who live in ways that are displeasing to God and follow their example? And to say, well, because such and such minister did this, or because such and such preacher did that, and they preach the gospel, well, I guess it's okay for me to go and do that thing too. So I'm gonna do exactly like they're doing, and I'm sure that that'll be fine. Well, that is not the case either. Jesus said, Therefore, whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do. But do not do according to their works, for they say and do not do. Now, this does not excuse the Pharisees. It does not excuse the disciples, it does not excuse me, it doesn't excuse anyone who would stand before you and proclaim the word. The person who proclaims the word should try to live in such a way that their life is an example of how to obey that which they're proclaiming. But if it doesn't, then do not do according to their works. For they say and do not do. Verse 4 For they bind heavy burdens hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers, but all of their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. A phylactery was a little box, and in that box would be contained on a little scroll writings from the scriptures, the law of God. And they would have that little box on a strap that they would bind around their head. And so that law of God was before their eyes all the time. And so what he's saying is that they make their phylacteries large, they make these things big so that people see them. And so they say, Oh, what a holy person that is. It's like the person who everywhere they go carries around that huge Bible, right? Just everywhere they go, they've got that big old Bible with them. And so people look at him and they say, Wow, what a holy guy that must be. He always carries his Bible with him. Little do you know, he never opens it, he never reads it, never looks into it. He just carries it around everywhere so that he looks holy. That's kind of what Jesus is accusing the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the scribes of here. They bind heavy burdens hard to bear. They lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. What he's saying here is listen, they take the law of God and they make it so burdensome to people that no one can bear it because of their interpretation of it. And yet they themselves don't live up to that which they're telling others that they have to live up to. But the works that they do, Jesus is saying, they do them in order to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men rabbi, rabbi, meaning teacher, teacher. But you do not be called rabbi, for one is your teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. You know, I really don't like titles. Am I your pastor? Yes. That's what I do. It's not a title, or at least I don't like to look at it as one. You look at a lot of different groups and you have priests. Well, I'm not a priest. You you have reverend so-and-so. I'm not a reverend. You know, a lot of times I I cringe at even signing something, Pastor Ken, because I'm like, you know what? To me, it's it's just Ken. Does that make sense? It's not about titles, it's about serving God. But you see, these people were making it about titles. They loved those greetings in the marketplaces. They loved to be seen by people and to be reverenced by people, and to have people come up to them and say, Oh, teacher, teacher, you know? That's what they loved. That's what they they desired. And they did their good works to be seen by men. Verse 9: Do not call anyone on earth your father, for one is your father, he who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers, for one is your teacher, the Christ. You know, the Catholics refer to their priests as Father so-and-so, and then they have the cardinals and they have the Pope, and there's this hierarchy, right? And there are all these titles and all this pomp and circumstance. And I'm not singling them out by any means, but in essence, they've singled themselves out by taking upon themselves these titles when the scripture clearly tells us not to. Now, does that mean that we can't refer to our earthly fathers as father? Of course, that's what they are. It's not a title, it's a description of what they are. They're our father. But what Jesus is saying simply here is don't take upon yourself titles of grandeur, titles that draw respect to yourself rather than reflecting that respect to God. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled. And he who humbles himself will be exalted. Now Jesus goes on to pronounce eight woes upon the scribes here, and they're very serious things that he's accusing them of. And these are specific examples of their hypocrisy, as we read on from verse 13. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men, for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. When he says there, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, that is in essence the chorus of this song, and each woe, a different verse. This first verse, if you will, is saying, For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men, for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. They themselves were rejecting Jesus Christ. And not only were they rejecting Jesus, but they were trying to prevent others from receiving him. Have you seen people like that? People who want nothing to do with Jesus, and if they hear anything about Jesus, they want to do everything they can to stop the people who are talking about him. Because not only do they not want him for themselves, but they don't want others to receive him either. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers, therefore you will receive greater condemnation. The implication here is that they are using these long prayers to, in essence, steal widows' houses, to devour these widows' houses. Imagine it, if you will. A woman's husband dies, and she is grieving. And so she comes to one of the scribes for counsel. And so he begins to pray for her. And he prays this lengthy, eloquent, beautiful prayer for pretense. And in this opportunity, gains her confidence and then takes advantage of the situation, in essence, even devouring her house. That's one possible interpretation of it. The fact of the matter is, they had no mercy upon those who were destitute, they had no mercy upon those who were in need, but rather they took for themselves that which they wanted and made a pretense of godliness. That's why he says here, therefore you will receive the greater condemnation. Because when people use their religion, use Christianity, use spirituality as a mask or a cover for deceit, then they are twice cursed. For they have not only sinned in what they are doing, but they have sinned in that they are doing it in the name of God. He goes on Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you travel land and sea to win one proselite, and when he is one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. So he's saying, Not only are you preventing people from following the truth of the gospel, not only are you keeping people from entering into the kingdom of heaven, but you are leading them. In a way that is contrary to the kingdom of heaven, you're leading them in a manner in which they will follow you rather than God. Verse 16 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, whoever swears by the temple it is nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it. Fools and blind, for which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? And whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it. Fools and blind, for which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and all things on it. And he who swears by the temple swears by it, and by him who dwells in it, and he who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits on it. He's saying, Listen, in your blindness you are teaching things that are not true. And he's saying, Woe unto you when you are teaching falsehoods as though they were truth. You're making distinctions for people that have no bearing or any basis in reality. You're wrong in what you're teaching. And so these men are not only teaching wrongly, they're actually teaching false doctrine. Verse 23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you pay tithe of mint and anis and cumin. What are those? Those are spices. You know how tiny a spice is? It's a little bitty seed, many of these things that they're talking about. And he's saying, listen, you pay tithes of those things. They would sit there and they would weigh out one tenth of it, and they would give that tenth. They were very meticulous in this little thing of tithing, even their spices. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you pay tithe of mint and anis and cumen and have neglected the weightier matters of the law. What are the weightier matters of the law? He tells us here, they are justice and mercy and faith. He's saying, Yeah, okay, you're trying to keep the letter of the law as it regards to outward things. You wear the right clothes, you go to the right prayer services, you say the right things, you even pay your tithes. Wow, how great is that, right? But he says, you do all of these things and yet you neglect the weightier matters of the law. Well, what are those? Think about it. Justice, mercy, faith. What evidence is there in the external of these things? These are the internal things of the heart. These aren't religion, these aren't laws, these aren't rules and regulations to eat this or to not eat that, to go to church on this day or not go on that day. These are issues of the heart. God looks at the heart of man. And here's what's interesting. He says, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you pay tithe of mint and an ease and cumen and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done. Justice, mercy, and faith. Without leaving the others undone. So he's saying, Yes, you should pay your tithes of this and that and whatever. You should attend services and be in prayer and do the outward things. Yes, you should do those things. You should not leave those things undone. But you should not ever begin to believe that those are the important matters of life. The important things are where we stand with the Lord in our heart. Verse 24 blind guides who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel. What does he mean by strain out a gnat? I mean, can you imagine this Pharisee, right? He's sitting there and he's eating his soup, right? And as he's eating his soup, a little gnat flies over and lands in the soup. Well, that gnat is unclean. For him to eat that gnat would defile him because it's a bug. You know, some bugs they could eat. Grasshoppers were okay. Anybody want grasshoppers for lunch? I guess if you dipped them in chocolate, they'd be all right, okay? But you they could eat a grasshopper. That was a clean animal, it was allowed. But they couldn't eat a gnat. That was unclean. And so what he's saying is you strain out a gnat. You know, you get that little gnat, and you're gonna get him out of there because that's unclean. You couldn't eat that. But then you swallow a camel.

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Unfortunately, that's all the time we have for today. You've been listening to Heed the Word, the teaching ministry of Pastor Ken Davis, Calvary Chapel in Burleson, Texas. We are currently making our way through the Gospel of Luke here on Heed the Word. The Gospel of Luke is packed full of insights about Jesus, our Savior. So we encourage you to join us again, same time, same place, for the next study through Luke with Pastor Ken. As we mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast, this teaching, as well as many others, are available from the Heed the Word Media Player. You can listen to today's teaching, download today's teaching, subscribe to the Heed the Word podcast, or even get a copy on your mobile phone. Everything's right there. There's even a Bible available for you to follow along in the scriptures as Pastor Ken teaches. So log on to HeedTheWord.org and continue studying with us today. If today's teaching has blessed you, perhaps you'd like to visit us for worship. Calvary Chapel Southwest Metro meets each Sunday morning at 10.30 a.m. and Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. We'd love to have you stop by and join us. For more information and driving directions, log on to www.heedtheword.org. This has been another edition of Heed the Word, the verse by verse, chapter by chapter, and book by book teaching ministry of Ken Davis, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel, Southwest Metro. Place a marker in your Bibles and join us next time for our continuing study through the Gospel of Luke right here on Heed the Word.