Spoken at SGBC
5-31-98.
Luke 116
16:13-18
God Knows Your Heart
(Luke 16:13-18 NASB) "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." {14} Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things, and they were scoffing at Him. {15} And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God. {16} "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since then the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. {17} "But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail. {18} "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery."
We begin our study with the words of Luke 16:13. "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
This strong, soul searching, statement follows the parable of the unjust steward. That steward was entrusted by his master with the care of his business. This steward was not interested in helping his master prosper he was only interested in his master's money. In one way or another this steward stole his master's treasure to use for his own purposes. It was impossible for him be loyal to his lust for money and his master at the same time. Herein lies one of the lessons intended by our Lord. A man cannot be loyal to two masters. For of necessity he will love one while he hates the other. The spiritual lesson is this, "You cannot serve God and mammon, material things, the things of this world." If you live for things you cannot live for God. If you love the things of this world the love of God is not in you. God will have your undivided loyalty and devotion or He will not have you at all. This statement is made many times and in many ways throughout the Bible and it is always sobering. Hear the word of the Lord.
(Joshua 24:14-22 NASB) "Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. {15} "And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES TODAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD." {16} And the people answered and said, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; . . .We also will serve the LORD, for He is our God." {19} Then Joshua said to the people, "You will not be able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgression or your sins. {20} "If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you." {21} And the people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD." {22} And Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the LORD, to serve Him." And they said, "We are witnesses."
(James 4:3-4 NASB) {4} "You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? (He speaks of the world as a sinful system or organization that lives to satisfy the lusts of the flesh and the desire of the eyes. Friendship with this world is hostility toward God!) Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world MAKES HIMSELF AN ENEMY OF GOD." WOW!
(1 John 2:15-16 NASB) "Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. IF ANYONE LOVES THE WORLD, THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM. (You cannot serve two masters for you will always love one and hate the other. If you love and live for the world and the things in it you cannot say I love God as well.) {16} For ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD, THE LUST OF THE FLESH AND THE LUST OF THE EYES AND THE BOASTFUL PRIDE OF LIFE, IS NOT FROM THE FATHER, BUT IS FROM THE WORLD."
(Luke 14:25-26 NASB) "Now great multitudes were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, {26} "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE. The word hate in this place refers to preference and priority. The whole statement asks a question about what or who rules your life. If Christ and His will for you is not the number one, all encompassing, ruling factor in your life to you cannot be His disciple. This kind of devotion, dedication, and loyalty is characteristic of those who have been born again. This is the strength of the love for God and His Christ that the Holy Spirit imparts to believing sinners. It may bring great sorrow and pain but the Christian will follow Christ even if it costs him everything including his life.
Here is Christ's statement once again, (Luke 16:13 NASB) "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." We are not forbidden the enjoyment of the things in this world. Quite the contrary we are told to enjoy them. ( I speak of things not expressly forbidden by scripture.) However, we must not love people or things in this world to the extent we hold to them instead of God. The second half of the verse says as much when it speaks of "holding to one and despising the other." Love clings or holds tightly to the object it loves. The lover would rather die than leave his love. The lover will let everything go for that which he loves. Every man loves, clings or holds tenaciously to one of two things, God or something in this world. Jesus says you can't have both. If you love anything more than you love God and His Christ you are not a Christian.
When lines are drawn this clearly people get very uncomfortable. Especially those who are religious on the outside but whose hearts are devoted to this world and the things in it. I speak of people like the Pharisees.
(Luke 16:14) "Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things, and they were scoffing at Him." Clearly, Jesus had stepped all over the Pharisees toes. They could not deny His teaching so they scoffed and sneered at Him. Some commentators believe they may have actually blown their noses on Christ to express their disgust and disdain for His teaching. Had these Pharisees been with us this morning they would have left this church in disgust to find a place that taught what they wanted to hear. And how quickly they would have found such a place. For those who focus on the material wealth and comforts of this world abound. They say, "God wants you to drive a Cadillac or a Mercedes and you ought to seek such worldly things." "God wants you to live in a fine house and to eat the best of foods, you should settle from nothing less." "You can have it all, say some, the world, and God at the same time." Those who teach these things still scoff and sneer at Jesus when He says, "You cannot serve God and mammon."
Money hungry people and pastors have always inhabited the religious world. Hear these words from long ago.
(Jeremiah 6:11-16 NASB) "But I am full of the wrath of the LORD: I am weary with holding it in. "Pour it out on the children in the street, And on the gathering of young men together; For both husband and wife shall be taken, The aged and the very old. {12} "And their houses shall be turned over to others, Their fields and their wives together; For I will stretch out My hand Against the inhabitants of the land," declares the LORD. {13} "For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, EVERYONE IS GREEDY FOR GAIN, AND FROM THE PROPHET EVEN TO THE PRIEST EVERYONE DEALS FALSELY. {14} "And they have healed the brokenness of My people SUPERFICIALLY, Saying, 'Peace, peace,' But there is no peace. (The greedy shepherd says, "It's ok, you can love the world and God at the same time." Those who want badly to believe this will be glad, they will have peace concerning this issue of greed and its place in religion. But this peace is not real, it is superficial. Such false shepherds lie to the sheep. God's word has always said the same thing. "You cannot serve God and the world." There is no peace between a lover of this world and God. The pastor who tells you there can be is a liar.) {15} "Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD. {16} Thus says the LORD, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ANCIENT PATHS, (The paths of truth found in the Bible.) Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you shall find rest for your souls. (true peace) But they said, 'We will not walk in it."
(Matthew 23:13-15 NASB) "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from men; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. {14} "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses, (you take their money and goods) even while for a pretense you make long prayers; (They put on a religious side show to cover up their greed and theft.) therefore you shall receive greater condemnation. {15} "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel about on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves."
Considering the seriousness of having in us a divided heart lets us hear and pay heed to the warning of Luke 12:15 NASB. And He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against EVERY FORM OF GREED; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." Do you know how many people on earth would argue against these words even though they came from the mouth of the Son of God? For millions the abundance of money and things is all that life is about. But then there is this question found in Mark 8:36 NASB. "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?" Ladies and gentlemen by the grace of God I pray you will take these words to heart. For if you love this world and hold on to it you cannot be a true lover of God.
The Pharisees were men familiar with the Old Testament scriptures. They knew Jesus taught the truth but they hated it, and Him, because the lust of their flesh and of their eyes and the pride of life was their god. These things are what they loved or held on to. These three things make up an un-holy trinity worshiped by all the unbelieving sons and daughters of Adam.
How did the Pharisees get along in the world of religion without obeying the scriptures and without having a true heart for God? They bent, twisted and added to the meaning of the scriptures so that they appeared to condone their behavior. Listen to Jesus call them on their hypocrisy. {15} And He said to them, "You are those who justify (acquit, declare righteous, or vindicate) yourselves in the sight of men, BUT GOD KNOWS (perceives and is sure of the content of) your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed (lifted high and respected) among men is detestable (abhorred and abominable) in the sight of God."
What is highly esteemed among men? Self love is highly esteemed among men. Yet this is idolatry according to the scriptures, it is detestable in the sight of God. Pride is highly esteemed among men. Much of our society spends its time and energy encouraging men, women, boys and girls to be proud of themselves. It is good, they say, to think highly of yourselves, to exalt yourself above others. Yet the scriptures declare that God is opposed the proud and gives grace to the humble. The bible says that those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Pride is detestable in the sight of God, it is sin.
A determined seeker of material wealth is applauded and highly esteemed by the world. When such a person finds "success" his picture is on the cover of all the magazines. He is set before us as someone to mimic and envy. He is a hero. The question is, however, what has this person gained by being highly esteemed in the eyes of men? What has he gained in light of the truth that what man esteems highly God detests. One must ask this question, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his eternal, never dying, soul?" "What good is it if the whole world cheers while you work your way into hell?" Jesus says of such people that they have their reward in full, (Matt. 6:2-16). If money and esteem in the eyes of men is what you want then go for it. But when you have found it know this, you have your reward in full. Enjoy it while you can for beyond this life you have nothing. On the other hand, if peace with God, of heart, and eternal life is what you want you must turn from this world and hold onto God by faith in Jesus. By faith in Christ you will have peace and joy in this life and an eternity in the presence of Jesus when you die.
The Pharisees paraded around in their impressive robes. They offered up fine sounding prayers with much pomp and circumstance and the people held them in high esteem. "But God and His Christ knew their hearts." In the words that follow Jesus begins to show that the Pharisees did not love God but only themselves He is about to prove that they would stoop to any level to satisfy the desires of their flesh. Jesus continues to speak.
{16} "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since then the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it."
When Jesus says, "everyone is forcing his way into it," He is speaking of the great crowds that followed John the Baptist and now Him. It was as though people would do anything to hear Jesus speak. Great numbers seemed to be pressing their way into the kingdom, listening with earnestness and real interest. The Pharisees were doing just the opposite. They claimed to love the Law and the Prophets and to be looking for the Messiah but neither was true. They followed Jesus around for one reason and one reason only, to find something they could accuse Him of. Their desire was to discredit Him in the eyes of the people and to make themselves look good once again.
Lest there be any misunderstanding Jesus makes certain that His statement in verse sixteen is clearly understood. He is not saying anything against the Law and the Prophets, the Old Testament. Though the gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached the Law remains as it has always been, the immovable, unchangeable word of God. The Pharisees claimed to adhere to this Law with great strictness. Jesus is about to reveal the Pharisee's hypocrisy. He continues . .) {17} "But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail. (Now He offers an example of a law which the Pharisees had violated, abused, and one could say, re-written in order to justify themselves before men. Re-written because the lust or their flesh and eyes demanded it. Jesus continues . .) {18} "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery."
The Bible allows two and only two reasons for divorce and remarriage. The first is adultery. We find this teaching in Matthew 5:32 NASB.
" . . but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for THE CAUSE OF UNCHASTITY, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery." The word unchastity describes all forms of sexual immorality including fornication and adultery. Divorce is not commanded in these instances but it is allowed. Therefore, remarriage is also allowed for the spouse who was wronged.
The second legitimate reason for divorce and remarriage is when a Christian is abandoned by their unbelieving mate. This instruction is found in 1 Corinthians 7:13-15 NASB.
"And a (Christian) woman who has an unbelieving husband, (or visa versa) and he consents to live with her, let her not send her husband away. . . {15} Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; (this leaving implies and includes the idea of divorce) the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace." The Christian is not obligated or bound to fight for the continuation of the marriage, "God has called us to peace." Neither is he or she bound by the marriage contract any longer. This person is now free to re-marry.
Wherever a biblical divorce has taken place one is free to marry in the Lord. However, a Christian is never free to marry one who is not also a Christian.
So why did Jesus bring this up? Because the Jews, led by their proud hypocrite leaders, had decided that they could divorce their wives for any old reason. Jesus wants to show these men that He knows what God knows. He knows that though they claim to be keepers of the law they are not. "God knows your heart."
There were two schools of thought on this subject among the Jews. One was fairly biblical the other, the most popular, was not. The house or school of a man by the name of Hillell taught that you could divorce your wife if she spoiled your food. If she burned it at the fire, or if she over salted it. Then there were those who allowed a man to divorce his wife if he found a woman more beautiful than her. Further, if the husband hated his wife or if she didn't behave just right or was immodest in her dress or deportment he may divorce her. Sounds quite contemporary doesn't it? I am certain this does not exhaust the frivolous reasons made up by the Jews for which one could divorce his wife. But it is enough to make the point Christ was intent on making by bringing up the subject. The Pharisees knew God's law but chose to bow instead to the un-holy trinity, the lust of their flesh, their eyes and the pride of life. In the area of marriage they had not been faithful and obedient to God's law. They had justified their sin by treating the traditions of men with such honor and respect they effectively nullified the words of God.
What had Jesus proven by bringing up the subject of biblical divorce? He had proven that these self-righteous, blind, leaders of the blind were sinners like all the rest of humanity. These proud men stood on level ground with every other son or daughter of Adam. They needed to be pressing into the kingdom by faith in Jesus, but instead, they mocked Him. I tell you God will have no mercy on those who mock His Christ or His truth. He will have no mercy on evil, greedy, shepherds or pastors who do not love God or care for the souls of the lost. These men needed to be saved by faith in Jesus. Now lets bring it all home to us.
How are you doing in the eyes of God? Forget for a moment what the world thinks of you. Remember that the sinful things the world thinks highly of God hates. How are you doing in the eyes of God? You see my friend, "God knows your heart." This truth leaves us all defenseless before Him. We are, as it were, naked and exposed before Him at all times in all places. All our sin and shame is seen by God. So you might as well answer truthfully. How are you doing in the eyes of God? Do you love Him alone by faith in Christ or do you love something or someone else. If you say you love Him you must ask this question. Would you die for Him if you had to? Would you let your family, children, job, country, friends go if it came down to that? "God knows you heart." Don't play Pharisaic games that will damn your soul to hell. Give it up and flee to Jesus. Call your self-love and pride by its proper name, sin. Call your love of this world by its proper name, sin. Run to Jesus my friend and ask Him to save you from your sin. Ask Him for a new heart and for that gift of faith and love that will not trade anything for God. Ask Him to remove from your breast that divided heart and to make you loyal to Him alone. Only Jesus can save the sinners soul. I beg of you take all your sin in hand and run to Him now. You will find Him ready and able to save all who come to Him by faith.