Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Date: 2-28-99

Sermon Number: 135

Text: Luke 20:41-47

Sons, Lords, and Hypocrites

The twentieth chapter of Luke's gospel is full of important lessons for God's people. In verses one through eight Jesus is confronted by the scribes, chief priests, and the elders of Israel. "Tell us by what authority you are doing these things?" What gave Him the right to perform miracles and teach in their Synagogues. Of course, Jesus' authority came from God. He needed no man's permission to teach His Father's truth. Although these men were the spiritual leaders of Israel they had no heart for God, or truth, and certainly not for Jesus, the Messiah. John the Baptist had identified Jesus as the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of both Jew and Gentile. And even though these men believed that John was a true prophet they refused to acknowledge and worship Jesus. Did they understand what it would cost them to deny the Christ? I doubt they did. In the last day these would pay the ultimate price, eternal wrath and condemnation. The lesson for us is clear. Never find yourself taking a stand against truth. Never deny or defy the truth God has allowed you to acquire. Bow humbly before God and His word.

In verses nine through nineteen we find a parable that illustrates how Israel has treated the prophets of God. Hundreds and perhaps thousands had been sent but they were all rejected. Some were beaten, others were killed. The Old Testament scriptures stand as a testimony against Israel. They had rejected God by rejecting His prophets. Therefore, God rejected Israel and gave His vineyard to someone else, the Gentiles.

Verse nineteen reveals how these "spiritual men" responded to Jesus' words. They tried to lay hands on Him that very hour. There was murder in their hearts but they did not succeed. They could, however, try again, and they did. This time they attempt to prove that Christ is an enemy of Rome. They pose the question, "Should we pay taxes or not?" Jesus, being God and, therefore, omniscient, knew their evil motives and answered them accordingly. Yes, said our Lord, "Pay Caesar what you owe him and give to God what you owe Him." As the lesson developed we discovered that when we obey our government we obey God. For He has established all human authority for His own good pleasure and purpose. When these men heard Christ's answer they became silent, they could not contend with the Omniscient, Savior.

For the time being the scribes, pharisees, and the chief priests are finished. They had been silenced. Now the Sadducees take their turn. In verses twenty-seven through forty we find Christ's discourse on marriage after the resurrection. The Sadducees, you will remember, did not believe in any kind of life after death, for the soul or the body. Therefore, they were opposed to Christ and His teaching. These men intended to make the whole idea of the resurrection look ridiculous by the question they set before Jesus, but it did not work. There is no marriage after the resurrection, said Jesus. Then He goes on to prove that the soul continues to live and that there will be a resurrection. Jesus declares that God is, right now, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Jacob. Their bodies have long sense decayed but their souls still live with God in Heaven. There they await the resurrection of their bodies. In the last day all the dead in Christ will rise from their graves. The souls of those who have died before will be rejoined to their resurrected bodies and the living will be changed. These together will be caught up to meet our Lord in the air. With our Lord's response the Sadducees were silenced.

Now it was Jesus' turn to pose a question. Look with me at our text for today. (Luke 20:41-47 NASB) {41} And He said to them, (He speaks to all present, presumably the scribes and Sadducees also.) "How is it that they say the Christ is David's son? {42} "For David himself says in the book of Psalms, 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, {43} UNTIL I MAKE THINE ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR THY FEET."' {44} "David therefore calls Him 'Lord,' and how is He his son?" {45} And while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, {46} "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues, and places of honor at banquets, {47} who devour widows' houses, and for appearance's sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation."

In the Matthew account of our Lord's teaching on marriage and the resurrection He chastises the Sadducees for their ignorance of the scriptures. This had to be very humiliating. For they were the experts and teachers of the people. He said to them,

". . . Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God." (Matthew 22:29 KJV) In the verses we deal with today Jesus proves beyond any doubt that these men did not know or understand the scriptures they taught to others nor did they know the God they claimed to worship. He begins with this simple question.

{41} "How is it that they say the Christ is David's son? The word "they" refers to the masses and to the teachers of Israel as well. When any informed person spoke of the Messiah they called Him the Son of David. Not everyone believed that Jesus was the Messiah but all believed that the Messiah would be the descendent of David. Recently no small number of people had called Jesus the Son of David. The blind beggar had called Jesus "the Son of David" (Luke 18:38). The multitudes had shouted, Hosanna to the Son of David" (Matt 21:9). Jesus, by accepting these praises without protest, and by fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 had indicated, that He was indeed the very Son of David that was to come. Just a bit further on in Luke we will find our Lord claiming openly that He is the promised one. But there His claims go beyond being the son of David to being the very Son of God. (Luke 22:69-70 NASB) "But from now on THE SON OF MAN WILL BE SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND of the power OF GOD." {70} And they all said, "Are You the Son of God, then?" And He said to them, "Yes, I am." This is something David also claimed to be true of the coming Messiah.

The question once again is this, "How is it that they say the Christ is David's son? Or, in what sense was the Messiah the son of David? Looking at the whole of this passage it seems that there were three truths Jesus wanted everyone to accept. One, David's son, the Messiah, is not merely David's descendent, He is David's Lord as well. Secondly, Jesus intends for us to acknowledge that David's son according to the flesh is also the Son of God. Then thirdly, it seems that our Lord intends we all come to the following conclusion. Since the Messiah is the Son of God, everyone should trust Him and worship Him as such. It is for these reasons I believe that Jesus now asks the all-important question, "How can people say that the Christ is the Son of David?"

What do the scriptures teach on this subject? "Is the Messiah, the Christ, merely David's descendant according to the flesh or is He the Son of God as well? Sadly the teachers of Israel could not answer the question. For, as Jesus said earlier, "They know not the scriptures nor do they have any concept of the power of God." Let's see how King David answered this question.

{42} "For David himself says in the book of Psalms, 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, {43} UNTIL I MAKE THINE ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR THY FEET."' {44} "David therefore calls Him 'Lord,' and how is He his son?"

By referring to this psalm Jesus identifies it as Messianic. That is, this psalm, spoken by David, has to do with the promised Savior, the Messiah, the descendant of David. With this the rabbis and teachers of Israel would have no problem. But David was saying much more than this. He was saying that his son was also his Lord and his God. This the rabbis and teachers of Israel would not agree with even though both the Old and New Testaments teach it clearly. One example is found in Revelation 22:16 NASB. "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star."

What a wonderful mystery is revealed in this text. Jesus is both the root and offspring of David. At one and the same time David sprang from Jesus and Jesus sprang from David. Jesus is the source of David's existence and David is the source of Christ's physical existence. Jesus as God, created David and David as man gave life to Jesus. Jesus is both the root and offspring of David. Who then must this Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ be? He is, dear brothers and sisters, the "Bright and Morning Star, the very Son of the living God, God in the flesh, Immanuel!"

(2 Peter 1:16-19 NASB) "For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. {17} For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased"-- {18} and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. {19} And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the MORNING STAR arises in your hearts." This Morning Star is none other than Jesus the Root and Offspring of David.

Had the leaders and teachers of Israel paid close attention to David's words they would have known that the Messiah was to be divine. For in the psalm where David makes the statement He uses different words for the two Lord's he speaks of. (Psalms 110:1 NASB) (A Psalm of David.) The LORD (H3068. Yhvh, [i.e. Yehovah or Yahveh] [217d]; from H1933b; the proper name of the God of Israel:-- GOD(315), LORD(6399), LORD'S). says to my Lord: (H136. Adonay, [10d]; an emphatic form of H113; Lord:-- Lord(456), lord(1), lords). "Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet."

By the definitions I have included you can see that David uses the word Jehovah for "The Lord" and the word "Adonai" for the one he calls "My Lord." Jehovah says to Adonai sit at My right hand until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet." What is going on here? Folks we have here the record of a verbal exchange between God and His beloved Son. Mr Hendricksen explains it like this.

"In this psalm David is making a distinction between Jehovah and Adonai. Jehovah is addressing David's Adonai; that is, God is addressing the Mediator. He is promising that Mediator such pre-eminence, power, authority, majesty as would be proper only for One who, as to his person, from all eternity was, is now, and forever will be God." (End Quote)

In this Old Testament passage the son of David is shown to be His Lord as well. Adonai is the Messiah, the Promised One, the Lamb of God, the Beloved Son, Immanuel. But why does Jesus ask this question of the Sadducees? He asks for several reasons. First I think He intended to bring these proud men low. For they presented themselves to the people and to Jesus as experts in the scriptures. Jesus declares and now proves that they neither know the scriptures or the God who gave them.

Then I believe He does this to make clear that He accepts the title "Son of David." And to make clear what that title implies. The "Son of David" is also David's "Lord." The "Son of David" is the only begotten Son of God. Jesus is claiming to be the Son of God. With these words He claims divinity for Himself! All the Jewish officials listening would be appalled. They would consider such claims blasphemous and worthy of death. But only because they did not know the scriptures or the God who gave them.

Now, while the crowd is still gathered Jesus turns to His disciples and drives the nail of offense as deep as it can possibly go. He has just exposed the ignorance and unbelief of these "experts." He has claimed to be the Son of God, David's Lord. Now He warns those who love Him and His truth to be on guard against the scribes.

(Luke 20:45-47 NASB) And while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, {46} "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues, and places of honor at banquets, {47} who devour widows' houses, and for appearance's sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation.

The subject matter is hypocrisy. Jesus is accusing the spiritual leaders of Israel of being fakes or hypocrites. He says that all their religion is outward only and that in reality they are driven by pride and the lust of their own bellies. They are filled with satisfaction when people address them with respectful greetings and they just love to sit in places of honor at banquets. These are especially good at duping and deceiving widows. These evil men ply their trade when these women are filled with grief and confused by pain. They convince them that they have their best interest at heart when in fact they are thieves in religious clothing. At last the widows find themselves with nothing while their so called "Pastors" are fat and gone with what little they had to take care of themselves. These, says Jesus, will receive a greater condemnation.

There has never been a shortage of hypocrites in the church. They look good and behave well in public but they are yet dead in their trespasses and sins. What is hypocrisy? Let me offer the following description.

"HYPOCRISY (Hih pahk' rih see) Pretense to being what one really is not, especially the pretense of being a better person than one really is. A hypocrite in classical Greek could be an interpreter of dreams, an orator, a reciter of poetry, or an actor.

Hypocrisy in the narrower sense of playing a role is highlighted in the New Testament, especially in the teaching of Jesus in the Gospels. Jesus criticized hypocrites for being pious in public (Matt. 6:2, 5, 16). They were more interested in human praise when they gave alms, prayed, and fasted than in God's reward. Hypocrites were also guilty of being judgmental of others' faults and ignoring their own (Matt. 7:1-5). Jesus often called the Pharisees hypocrites because of the conflict between their external actions and internal attitudes (Matt. 15:1-9). Their true attitudes would be revealed in the last day (Luke 12:1-3). The hypocrites could interpret the weather but not the signs of the times (Luke 12:56). They were more concerned about the rules for the Sabbath than a woman's physical health (Luke 13:15). Luke noted that the religious leaders pretended to be sincere when they asked Jesus about paying tribute to Caesar (Luke 20:20). Probably the most famous discussion of hypocrisy is Matthew 23. There Jesus compares them to dishes that were clean on the outside and dirty on the inside and to whitewashed tombs (Matt. 23:25-28)." (Holman's Bible Dictionary)

Hypocrites, says Jesus, will receive a greater condemnation. Here is a principal that ought to be taken to heart. In heaven there are degrees of glory and in hell there are degrees of punishment and misery. The hypocrite will have the lowest place in hell. Why? Because he is a privileged person. The men of whom Christ speaks held the word of God in their hands day after day. The light given to them was great yet they chose to walk in darkness while pretending to love the truth and the God of truth. Such people will pay a higher price for their sin than those who sinned in ignorance. The principle is taught in Luke 12:42-48 NASB.

And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? {43} "Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. {44} "Truly I say to you, that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. {45} "But if that slave says in his heart, 'My master will be a long time in coming,' and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; {46} the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. {47} "And that slave who knew his master's will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, SHALL RECEIVE MANY LASHES, {48} BUT THE ONE WHO DID NOT KNOW IT, AND COMMITTED DEEDS WORTHY OF A FLOGGING, WILL RECEIVE BUT FEW. AND FROM EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN MUCH SHALL MUCH BE REQUIRED; AND TO WHOM THEY ENTRUSTED MUCH, OF HIM THEY WILL ASK ALL THE MORE."

(James 3:1 KJV) "My brethren, be not many masters, (teachers) knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." These men were teachers. They were trusted by thousands to study, comprehend, and then explain the word of God to them. This they pretended to do. Sadly their main concern was their own lusts and physical comforts. They had been entrusted with much and would suffer accordingly. Again, the hypocrite will have the lowest place in hell.

As we close this lesson we must be concerned with application. What does all this have to do with us? A great deal I think since hypocrisy is rampant in the Christian world. There are so many pretenders. For one to pretend to be and do right he must know what right is and intentionally ignore it. This is hypocrisy. This is the greatest of sins and will be met in the end with the greatest of punishments. Let the hearer make the appropriate application to himself. As to the earlier part of the lesson concerning Christ's divinity I offer a piece of poetry that I discovered in my studies. This brief verse makes the all important point that it is not enough to know Jesus as a man, the flesh and blood son of David, who did good and amazing things while he lived. No, one must know Him as Adonai. If you expect to enter heaven you must know Jesus as the Mediator between God and man. You must know Him as Lord and Savior. Hear these words from an unnamed poet.

I sought Thee, weeping, high and low,

I found Thee not; I did not know

I was a sinner - even so,

I missed Thee for my Savior.

I saw Thee sweetly condescend ,

Of humble men to be the Friend,

I chose Thee for my Way, my End,

But found Thee not my Savior.

Until upon the cross I saw

My God, who died to meet the law

That man had broken; then I saw

My sin, and then my Savior.

What seek I longer? let me be

A sinner all my days to Thee,

Yet more, and more, and Thee to me,

Yet more, and more, my Savior.

Be Thou to me my Lord, my Guide,

My Friend, yea, everything beside;

But first, last, best, what'er betide,

Be Thou to me my Savior.

The leaders of Israel did not know the scripture nor did they know the God who gave the scripture. What do you know? Better yet, "Who" do you know? You must know Jesus, David's son and David's Lord before you can know He is your Savior. You must know that He was crucified in your place. You must come to Him as a sinner and trust Him for forgiveness. The command with a promise is still held out to all, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved from the wrath to come."

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