Exposing the Kingdom Blockers
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Jesus exposes the acute danger of false doctrine and false teachers to the church in all ages.
Text: Luke 16:14-18
Date: 07/28/2024, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 158
Description:
Even a casual reader of the Gospels must realize that the false teaching and "religiosity" of the leaders of Judaism were the subjects of Christ's most scathing condemnation. But at the same time, Jesus is teaching the church in all ages that the aggressive perpetrators of false doctrine and false religion are among the most dangerous people on earth! For not only do they block themselves from the Kingdom of God, but try desperately to block all others who would enter. In this passage, Jesus exposes some of the falsehoods, inconsistencies, and hypocrisies of the Pharisees and the utter failure of their feeble attempts at righteousness and self-justification. After briefly mapping out the progression of God's covenantal plan of redemption, Jesus surprisingly states that those who enter the Kingdom of God must do so with force. We will unravel this very enigmatic statement and discover the reason for the struggle is due to the persistent and nefarious work of the Kingdom blockers!
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I. Introduction, Psa. 68:18; Isa. 61:1; Matt. 23:13.
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 16:14-18.
A. Context
B. Exposing the Kingdom blockers in Christ's day.
1. Refocusing on false teachers, vs. 14.
a. Looking at the words.
i. The audience, Luke 16:1, 15:2.
ii. The "friends of silver".
iii. A malicious sneer, Luke 23:35, 16:13; Psa. 2:4.
b. Considering the implications, Matt. 15:5-6; Mark 12:38,40; Acts 8:18.
2. False in justification and exaltation, vs. 15.
a. Self-justification.
i. Defining "justify", Rom. 3:10-12,23.
ii. Playing to the wrong audience, Matt. 23:5.
iii. Another example of pristine logic.
b. The telltale heart, Luke 16:10.
c. When value-systems collide.
i. No middle ground, Luke 16:13.
ii. What is exalted before men.
ii. An abomination before God.
1) The meaning of "abomination", Deut. 29:17; 2Chr. 28:3; Isa. 1:13-14; Prov. 15:8, 28:9.
2) Difficult for the finite mind to comprehend, Isa. 55:8; Heb. 1:1-2.
d. A frightening reality.
3. The Law, the Gospel, and the Kingdom, vs. 16.
a. The Law and the Gospels.
i. The Law and the prophets.
ii. The transitional prophet, Mark 1:2-4; Luke 7:28.
iii. The Gospel is preached, Mark 1:14-15; John 6:29; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 6:31; John 1:11-13.
b. Violent entry to the Kingdom.
i. Looking at the words.
1) The scope of "everyone", Luke 13:23-25. 13:28-29.
2) The forcefulness of "force", Matt. 11:12.
3) Distinguishing between conversion and salvation.
a) Understanding "salvation", Matt. 24:12-13; 2Tim. 4:7; Phil. 2:12.
b) An arduous pilgrimage, Matt. 7:14; Acts 14:22.
ii. Interpretation, Luke 9:23.
c. The relevance, Matt. 23:13; Eph. 6:11.
4. The perpetuity of the Word, vs. 17.
a. Looking at the words, Mark 10:25; Isa. 55:11.
b. Finding the meaning.
5. Another aberration of the Law, vs. 18, Matt. 19:7-9.
III. Application; 2Pet. 2:1-3; Jude 11-13; 1John 4:1-4.
IV. Conclusion
