Spoken at SGBC
10-26-97
Luke 104
12:54-59
On your way to Judgement Hall, Reconcile
(Luke 12:54-59 NASB) And He was also saying to the multitudes, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming,' and so it turns out. {55} "And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, 'It will be a hot day,' and it turns out that way. {56} "You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time? {57} "And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? {58} "For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, (The authority who decides if a case will go to a judge or not.) on your way there make an effort to settle with him, in order that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the constable, and the constable (The constable sees to it that the punishment prescribed by the judge is carried out.) throw you into prison. {59} "I say to you, you shall not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent."
I am generally surprised by the weather but my wife has aches and pains that enable her to predict it. She has an arthritic knee that hurts especially bad when the weather is about to change. Some of you may be like her. Then there are those who do not depend on pain to predict the weather but watch nature for signs of change.
Take the Jews for instance. Israel's rain comes from the west, from the Mediterranean Sea. So when the western sky turns grey or gets cloudy they could expect rain. Likewise the sirocco wind blows into the country from the southeast desert. Therefore, when this occurs one can, with assurance, say it will not rain today, it is going to be dry and hot.
Jesus addressed these words to the multitudes. After making the statement about observing nature and predicting its behavior He calls them hypocrites. He does so for their lack of discernment concerning Himself and that particular time in history. The word hypocrite applies because these were deeply religious people who did not really know God. For they did not know Christ. They were pretenders whether they knew it or not. The nation, as a whole, was waiting for the Messiah. This was the object of their prayers, hopes and dreams but they did not know Him when He came. Most of you are familiar with John 1:11 NASB which declares, "He came to His own, (His own countrymen, the Jews.) and those who were His own did not receive Him."
Were there signs enough to indicate what time it was, prophetically speaking? Was there evidence that Jesus was the promised Messiah? Of course there was, Jesus identified Himself as the Messiah. In Luke 4:16-21 Jesus takes a Messianic prophecy and applies it to Himself.
"And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. {17} And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book, and found the place where it was written, {18} "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE DOWNTRODDEN, {19} TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." {20} And He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed upon Him. {21} And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
Jesus declares, this prophecy speaks of Me, I am the promised Messiah! But was there evidence to support His claim? Yes there was a great deal of evidence. Did He preach the Gospel? Did He proclaim release to the captives? Did He or did He not open blind eyes, heal the sick and raise the dead while this wicked generation looked on? The answer to all these questions is yes He did all these things right before their eyes. Jesus calls them hypocrites who have more insight into the weather than they do spiritual things and yet claim God as their Father. The Messiah they longed for stood right before them and they could not see Him.
Jesus continues in Luke 12:57 NASB to chastize them for spiritual dullness. "And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right?"
There are a number of possibilities as to the meaning of this statement. Jesus might be saying something like this, "You think more highly of yourselves than you ought. You do not see or understand your true condition. You think all is just fine with you and God, but it is not. Why not judge yourselves and stop condemning other people, the Gentiles for instance? Why not judge yourselves instead of allowing the scribes and Pharisees to do all the thinking for you? Why not let conscience be your guide?" Another possibility suggested by one commentator is this, "Why not use some common sense in the sphere of religious matters like you do when judging the weather." This view at least maintains a strong connection with the context. Whatever the exact thought in Christ's mind He is at least challenging and advising His hearers to recognize and then do something about their condition. This advice is offered and their condition described in the following comparison or parable.
(Luke 12:57-59 NASB) "And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? {58} "For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, in order that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. {59} "I say to you, you shall not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent."
Christ has called for self judgement earlier in this same passage. In verses forty one through forty six He instructs each individual to ask of himself, "Am I a faithful or unfaithful servant?" The question is, "Are you dressed and ready to meet Christ when He comes again?" He will come at an undisclosed hour to save those who are ready and to judge those who are not. Are you clothed in the righteousness of Christ or the filthy rags of human goodness? Further, are your lamps lit and burning brightly? Which is another way of asking, "Are you bearing the fruit of righteousness in your life day to day?" The one who is clothed by faith in the righteousness of Christ and is living for Him as the Bible directs him to is a good servant and will receive the reward of eternal life. This person is ready for the Lord's second coming.
Second, in verses forty nine through fifty three Jesus speaks of a crisis that has come upon many and will come upon more. It is a crisis of division which ultimately identifies the true children of God. This division can be found in every segment of society and in ones' family as well. The question is, "Will you compromise with unbelievers or will you follow Christ whatever the cost? Are you ready to leave all behind if it comes to that? Christ's own words are these, "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division." Jesus came to save His people from their sins and in so doing He divides the sheep from the goats. Part of being a good servant is choosing between following the Lord Jesus Christ or walking with those who do not love and serve Him. Jesus calls upon all who hear to judge rightly when they face such situations.
Then we have today's question, direct and to the point, (Luke 12:57-59 NASB) "And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? {58} "For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, in order that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. {59} "I say to you, you shall not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent."
As concerns everyday life this makes very good sense, don't you think? If you have committed a crime the wisest thing to do is own up to it and settle, if possible, out of court? Judge for yourself as to the most profitable path to take. The story assumes your guilt. If you deny your guilt to the last moment you will pay what ever price the law demands. You will be shown no mercy. There will be no pardon, no parole. You will pay every last cent you owe as ordered by the court. Jesus is saying "Don't be the fool and pretend to be innocent! Admit your guilt and be reconciled to the magistrate. Judge yourself rightly, make amends immediately and you will avoid prison.
On the spiritual side of things we are all criminals on our way to Judgement Hall. Like the man in Christ's illustration we have an adversary, one against whom we have sinned. We have broken God's law and it bears witness against us. It calls for our death and demands we pay every last cent. Thank God we have not arrived at the Judgement as yet. Jesus reasons, "Don't you think it wise to seek reconciliation to God before you get to Judgement Hall?" Judge yourself rightly, don't pretend to be righteous when you know better. Admit your crimes against God and be reconciled to Him! If you will not beg God's forgiveness now you will not have it on judgement day. You will be cast into the prison called hell and you will never get out.
Who is the Magistrate who takes us to the judge? Who is the judge who turns us over to the constable? Who is the constable who sees that the sentence is carried out? These are all one and the same Triune God to whom we must be reconciled before we reach Judgement Hall!
Peace with God is by far the first and most important thing for any human. It is so because we are all enemies of God by nature. We have no natural love for Him in our infant hearts which becomes more and more evident as we mature. By our deeds, thoughts and words we break His law again and again. We are wicked from our youth and God is angry with the wicked every day! Hear the word of the Lord.
(Psalms 7:8-13 NASB) {10} My shield is with God, Who saves the upright in heart. {11} God is a righteous judge, And a God who has indignation (The word speaks of anger and rage.) every day. (The KJV reads, "God is angry with the wicked every day." God does not have warm sweet thoughts toward the unbelieving! He is filled with rage toward them until such time as they repent and come to Him by faith in Jesus Christ.) {12} If a man does not repent, (does not judge himself rightly and turn to God by faith in Jesus Christ), He (God) will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready. {13} He has also prepared for Himself deadly weapons; He makes His arrows fiery shafts."
I tell you my friend God's bow is drawn and aimed at the unbelieving on this earth. If you are an unbeliever know this for certain. In the end of your life or at the return of Jesus He will let fly His burning arrows of judgement and they will carry you into hell. It is God that you have offended not a mere man. It is His law that demands your physical and spiritual death. Spiritual death consists of an eternal separation form God in Hell. You must be reconciled to Him on your way to Judgement Hall or be separate from Him forever.
There is one and only one person who can bring peace between God and the sinner. That is the man Christ Jesus.
(1 Timothy 1:15-17 NASB) It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. (Paul has done what Christ advises all to do in our text for today. On his way to Judgement Hall he speaks the truth about himself, "I am the sinner of sinners." Paul confess who he is and is reconciled to God by faith in Jesus.) {16} And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, (sinner) Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life." In other words Paul says that God saved his exceedingly wretched soul to prove that no sinner is beyond God's mercy by faith in Christ. Hear yet another wonderful text.
(1 Timothy 2:3-6 NASB) This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, {4} who desires all men (all kinds of men) to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (This statement lets the Jews know that they do not have exclusive claim on God. Christ died for and will ultimately save men, women boys and girls from every nation under the sun.) {5} For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (A mediator is an arbiter or an attorney who argues before a judge on behalf of a criminal. In this case Jesus stands before God to successfully defend and gain pardon for believing sinners. I speak of those who seek reconciliation with God on their way to Judgement Hall. Jesus will intercede for all those who come to Him by faith. Jesus is the one . . .){6} who gave Himself as a ransom for all, (Jew, Gentile, male, female) the testimony borne at the proper time."
Are you far away or very near Judgement Hall? There is no way of knowing for sure and that for two reasons. One, we do not know when Jesus will come again, it may be this afternoon. Two we do not know when God will take our life from us. Either way the next step is the Judgement. At the Judgement God will say one of two things to us. Enter in thou good and faithful servant or depart from Me into outer darkness, I never knew you. Taking care of the riff between us and God should be at the top of our priority list. Therefore Jesus asks the question,
(Luke 12:57 NASB) "And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right?
You may not have a body that tells you when the weather is going to change. You may not be able to look at nature and predict what is going to happen. But you do know whether or not you are right with God. Your conscience bears witness to the fact that you are either with or without Christ. You know if you stand guilty before God or have been pardoned by the man Christ Jesus. You can ignore the truth about yourself and take your chances at Judgement Hall. However, the wise man or woman will heed Christ's counsel and seek forgiveness and reconciliation now, while there is still time. Hear these closing texts.
(Isaiah 55:6-7 NASB) Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. {7} Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
(2 Corinthians 6:2 NASB) for He says, "AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU"; behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION"
(Hebrews 3:7-12 NASB) Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, {8} DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS, {9} WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me, AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS. {10} "THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SAID, 'THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART; AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS'; {11} AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, 'THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.'" {12} Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God.
As God the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin flee immediately to Christ for mercy, forgiveness and eternal life.