Sermon # 81 Luke
Sermons
Title: A
Message For The Master’s Friends
Text: Luke
12:1-7
Subject: Christ’s
Warnings to His Friends
Date: Sunday
Evening—June, 2002
Tape # X-4b
Introduction:
(Luke
12:1-7) "In the mean time, when
there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that
they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all,
Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. (2) For
there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall
not be known. (3) Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall
be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets
shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. (4) And I say unto you my friends,
Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after
that have no more that they can do. (5) But I will forewarn you whom ye
shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell;
yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (6) Are not five sparrows sold for two
farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? (7) But even the
very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more
value than many sparrows."
We have in this chapter a message to the Master’s Friends.
While the scribes and Pharisees were laying for him, seeking some pretentious
ground for hurling vile accusations at him (11:54), as literally thousands of
people crowded to hear him, the Lord Jesus turned to his disciples, those men
and women who followed him, and particularly to those men whom he had chosen
and sent out to preach the gospel and gave them the message contained in these
verses.
The message is simple, clear
and forthright. I will give it to you in seven statements.
I. The Lord Jesus Christ was an exemplary
preacher (v. 1).
This first lesson I take not
from our Master’s words so much as from his behavior.
(Luke
12:1) "In the mean time, when there
were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they
trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware
ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."
Our Lord Jesus was
constantly concerned for the welfare of his people. While the scribes and
Pharisees were seeking his ruin, his heart and mind were occupied,
his every thought was focused on his disciples. He did nothing to defend or
protect himself. He was concerned for his people.
What an example he is. I
pray that he will make me such a preacher, a preacher and a pastor fully
devoted to the welfare of God’s people, serving the souls of men, with no
thought of self-interest!
Now, watch the Master. There
were, as I said, literally thousands of people gathered around him. What would
he say? How would he speak? Here is God who is love incarnate, the only man who
ever loved men perfectly. How will he speak? Surely every preacher will be wise
to emulate him.
Our Lord began his message with a severe, public denunciation of
the most powerful, influential religious leaders and the religion they
represented. Unsparingly, unflinchingly, without partiality, he denounced the
scribes and Pharisees as utter hypocrites.
How different things might be today if gospel preachers everywhere
would follow his example!
·
Our Master was more concerned for the glory of God than the
approval of men.
·
He was more concerned for the welfare of men’s souls than
their applause.
·
He was more concerned for his people than for his own
reputation, safety, and comfort.
II. Here’s the second lesson.—We must constantly guard against hypocrisy (v. 1).
“He began to say unto his disciples first of all”—He
directed his message not to the Pharisees, nor to the multitude, but to his
disciples. These men to be the preachers of his Gospel.
It was therefore needful that they (and we) be made aware of the pretentious
devices arts of the Scribes and Pharisees. He knew that we need to be warned
and prepared for the devices of Satan and his messengers who come as wolves in
sheep’s clothing.
“Before all things, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees,
which is hypocrisy.”—This warning, he says, is to stand before us above all
cautions, above all beacons, before all things. My brothers and sisters, ever
beware of this leaven which will ultimately ruin everything—HYPOCRISY!
In doctrine and in conduct, the whole of the Pharisees’ religion
was nothing but an outward show of piety. The whole of their religion is
outward, designed and practiced for man’s approval. It is all appearance only.
Our Lord compares it to leaven. Though, perhaps, very small at
first, it gradually increases and spreads itself. Like leaven, it lies hidden
and covered, and is not easily discerned. Its agenda and influence and effects
are not open and above board. But given time it infects and corrupts the whole
of men’s principles and practices. Religion without Christ puffs and swells men
with pride like nothing else.
·
Beware of every doctrine and religious practice that is
obviously intended for show.
·
Beware of everything that seems pretentious.
·
Beware, above all else, of your own tendency to such
things!
If we would avoid the danger of hypocrisy, the deadly plague of
pretense, we must ever seek to be simple, sincere, and open, honest with God,
especially about ourselves.
(2
Corinthians 11:2-3) "For I am
jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to
Christ. (3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve
through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity
that is in Christ."
III. Third, There
is a day coming when all things shall be revealed and made known
(v. 2).
(Luke
12:2) "For there is nothing
covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be
known."
Our Lord repeated this fact so often that all who heard him must
have thought it was a matter he intended for us to lay to heart.
(Matthew
10:26) "Fear them not therefore:
for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall
not be known."
(Mark
(Luke
8:17) "For nothing is secret, that
shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be
known and come abroad."
·
What a warning for hypocrites!
·
What a consolation for believers!
(1
Corinthians 4:3-4) "But with me it
is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment:
yea, I judge not mine own self. (4) For I know nothing by myself; yet am
I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord."
IV. Fourth,
that which the Lord God has been pleased to reveal
to us we must proclaim to the world (v. 3).
(Luke
12:3) "Therefore whatsoever ye have
spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken
in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops."
Has the Lord God revealed to
us the gospel of his grace? Then let us proclaim it from the housetop.
(Romans
1:15-17) "So, as much as in me is,
I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at
V. Fifth, there are some people in this world whom the
Son of God has made to be his friends (v. 4).
Look at the
opening line of verse 4.
(Luke
12:4) "And I say unto you my
friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and
after that have no more that they can do."
·
He is the Friend of publicans and sinners. Rejoice!
·
He is the Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Give thanks!
·
But here is something else. He has made us his friends.
(John
15:14-15) "Ye are my friends, if ye
do whatsoever I command you. (15) Henceforth I call you not servants;
for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends;
for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you."
VI. Sixth, there is nothing so
destructive to our faithfulness and usefulness as the fear of man (vv.
4-5).
(Luke
12:4-5) "And I say unto you my
friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and
after that have no more that they can do. (5) But I will forewarn you
whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast
into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him."
·
The fear of man is bondage.
·
The only cure there is for the fear of man is the fear of God.
·
Life and death are in his hands.
·
Hell and everlasting judgment and wrath are real.
VII. Seventh, God’s elect have nothing to fear (v.
7).
(Luke
12:6-7) "Are not five sparrows sold
for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? (7) But
even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are
of more value than many sparrows."