Don’t Be a Hypocrite Luke 11 SCC 5/1/16
The message of this chapter
is expressed through a series of groups and individuals who sort of pop up
throughout the narrative to introduce the various themes presented (v 1, 14,
29, 37, 45, 53).
REQUESTS OF GOD CAN BE BOLDLY MADE BECAUSE GOD CAN
SUPPLY ANSWERS
Verse 1: When
Jesus finishes praying the disciples request Jesus to instruct them to pray
similar to the way John the Baptist taught his disciples.
Verse 2-4:
It is to a caring, kind Father that Jesus’ disciples can make their requests. First, declare that God manifest
himself. Second, that God visibly
manifest himself by culminating his rule. Third,
each day the disciple asks for provision from God v 3. Fourth, seek forgiveness for sin because one is willing to be a
forgiver of everyone v 4. Fifth,
implore God’s aid to prevent sins power to overwhelm one’s life. God is
approachable and should be approached often and with
confidence.
Verse 5-7: Host
late night visitor creates real problem since there is no food v 5. So he seeks
help from a neighbor v 6. Jesus is asking, which of you has the nerve to wake
up his neighbor and family at midnight to ask for bread? The neighbor annoyed
by the request excuses himself from being bothered since the family has already
retired for the night with the children in bed v 7.
Verse 8-10: The
stress in prayer is upon the boldness or nerve of the request v 8. It takes
nerve to wake up a neighbor in the middle of the night. In asking is an
invitation to pray. In seeking is an invitation to pursue God’s agenda. In
Knocking is picture of being attentive to God’s ability v 9. He can open doors,
that is, supply an answer with the assurance of such a response v 10.
Verse 11-13:
Human parents are willing to give essential things to their children v 11. What
father would serve his son a snake or scorpion? Not on of us would do that v
12. If evil ones can give good gifts to their children, how much more the heavenly
Father makes provision for his own. So ask boldly knowing your father can
supply what is best for you to have.
NB: The
point is that just as the host at midnight responds to the request, so God will
grant the appropriate requests of his children speedily. If an irritated person
responds to boldness, so one can be bold with the God. Thus, continually pray. Disciples
are to make their requests boldly to God
Here is a possible formula for prayer to consider from
v 2-4:
1. Father, hallowed be Your name. Begin
prayer with worth ship. 2. Your kingdom
come. Pray for God to bring about His kingdom. There is nothing in the
Bible which says we should bring about God’s kingdom. 3. Give us each day our daily bread. But most of us want meat,
lettuce, pickles and mayo too. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we
ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Many are hesitant to forgive people
who have offended them, relatives or business associates etc. when those people
have not asked for forgiveness. The question is, do
you want God to forgive you of the things you have done to offend Him. 5. And
lead us not into temptation. The word is the same for temptation and
testing. Never ask God for either.
The principle: ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and
you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you destroys
the view that we do not have real free will. Our persistence and boldness is in
the plan of God but it is still the free will decision to persist boldly in
prayer that moves God to action.
LIVE CONSISTENT WITH JESUS KINGDOM BECAUSE HE CAN DEFEAT
SATAN’S
Verse 14-16:
The crowd is amazed at the reality of this unusual work of exorcism v 14.
Skeptical, some charge that the power behind Jesus is not divine but demonic v
15. Beelzebub refers to Satan. Along with the accusation some still want him to
show more proof of who he was v 16.
Verse 17-23:
This accusation gets a lengthy answer.
First, Jesus pointed out the
absurdity of suggesting that Satan is casting out his own demon’s v 17-18. If
Satan is in the business of casting out his own demons, then the demonic world
is divided against itself (GOPe)—a sure formula for defeat. Second, He pointed out that their
leaders cast out demons without that accusation v 19. If Jesus exercises by
satanic power what about Jewish exorcists’? They too must exorcise this way. Third, He said, if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has
come upon you v 20. Fourth, He pointed out that the
stronger man will prevail in a struggle, indicating that His casting out demons
proves that He represents a stronger kingdom than Satan’s v 21-22. Then Jesus gave His conclusion: He who is not with Me
is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters v 23. When it comes to deciding about Jesus
there is no neutral ground.
Verse 24-26: The
phony exorcists, like those mentioned in verse 19, can cast out some demons.
But the exorcised demon wants to possess a body v 24. Finding none it returns
and finds the one it possessed still unsaved but having cleaned up his life, so the demon invites seven
others to join him v 25. Therefore, the
last state of that man becomes worse than the first v 26. Like Mormonism where you have cleaned
up people practicing pagan idolatry, they worship a god from the planet Kolob. Cleaning
up your life will not in itself put you on God’s side. It could just make you more
available to Satan.
OBEY JESUS TEACHING IN THE ENTIRE NT BECAUSE IT’S
GOD’S REVELATION
Verse 27-28: A woman offers
her blessing v 27. Jesus
responds with On the contrary, blessed
are those who hear the word of God and observe it v 28. That is, it’s not the woman that bore Me
but the Father that sent Me, who should be the focus of your blessing. Notice
Jesus did not say something like, “Yes my mother is blessed but also observe the word of God.” This
should eliminate any attempt to equate His mother Mary with the word of God.
Verse 29-32: God’s revelation
came through Jonah and Solomon, but now with Jesus, greater revelation was
here. The common thing Jesus and Jonah’s audience shared was God’s message the
signs authenticated v 29. Both messages to both generations require responding
in faith to them v 30. The queen responded to Solomon’s wisdom v 31 but Jesus is
the bearer of the wisdom of God which is greater. Even the Ninevites,
representing another gentile response contrasted with a Jewish one, is a
shameful example of Jewish rejection of him v 32.
NB: Christlikeness follows the Word of God—not those who deliver it.
Jesus focused the attitude of the crowd and the woman on hearing and observing
the Word of God.
AVOID HYPOCRISY BECAUSE GOD CONDEMNS MERE OUTWARD RELIGIOUS
SHOW
Verse 33-36: Jesus began this long section with two short
parables. The light on the lampstand was Christ’s message v 33. Jesus
revelation from God is a source of guidance. But the eyes of the Pharisees were
dark so they can’t take in the light v 34. They reject God’s revelation from
Christ and have replaced it with hypocritical rituals of their own they believe
from God. They are in competition with Jesus’ revelation. Christlikeness means
constantly examining our world view to conform it more and more to that of
Jesus Christ’s. v 35-36.
Verse 37-44:
Next Jesus had lunch with a Pharisee,
without washing His hands v 37-38. Then
He pointed out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees with 3 comments: (1) They clean themselves outside but not inside v 39-41. (2)
They tithe yet disregard justice and the
love of God v 42. (3) They love
honor and respect v 43-44. One cannot divide life into inner and outer
selves, appearance and substance, public and private. We should condemn
externalism.
Verse 45-54: Then He
offended the lawyers who interpreted the Pharisees teaching that promoted the
hypocrisy with 3 more comments: (1) They
weigh men down with burdens that they
are unwilling to bear v 46. The scribes manufacture spiritual burdens people
cannot bear up under so they were spiritually crushed. (2) They are just as bad
as their forefathers who killed the prophets, while pretending to honor the prophet’s
v 47-51. They are in collusion with their forefathers. God’s plan is revealed
by the unbelieving Jewish response over generations. (3) They have taken
away the key of knowledge v 52. The scribes placed obstacles to others
knowing God hindering that knowledge. From
then on the Pharisees were plotting
against Him to catch Him in something He might say v 53-54. They wanted a piece of him now and
plotted a pending attack of him.
NB: We should not be afraid to insult the traditionalists because they
keep knowledge from people,
weighing them down with legalistic burdens.
So What?
Organize
your life, it’s priorities, trajectory, purpose,
passion, and focus around the rule of the kingdom of God expressed in the Word
of God. That includes, prayer, obedience, scripture,
and sanctification.