Luke 11:33-12:3

Good evening, church.

First of all, happy Mother's Day to all our moms here tonight.

I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day so far.

Preparing a sermon for a total rookie preacher like me can be a daunting task.

But this week, I am so grateful to God because He has given me so much grace.

First of all, I just stumbled upon this wonderful book by Paul Miller.

And the book is called Love Walked Among Us.

And I found a lot of resources in this book, just purely by accident.

I picked up this book and I just found a lot of resources that, you know, helped me prepare for tonight's sermon.

And secondly, you know, I am grateful to our pastors because they've been very supportive and also very encouraging.

So, you know, for somebody who just preached like two, three times in his whole life, it can be a very nerve-wracking task.

But with a lot of support and a lot of encouragement from our pastors, you know, the task can be also a lot less daunting.

So, I thank my pastors.

And, you know, as we were called to encourage one another, I also, you know, gently urge all of us to, as we encourage one another, don't forget to encourage our pastors.

Last Sunday, Pastor Greg taught us about how Jesus met oppositions.

As he cast out demons, there were people saying, oh, he must be the prince of demons.

And they were demanding, you know, heavenly signs.

And Jesus said, there is no sign for you except the sign of Jonah.

Somebody greater than Jonah is here, but, and yet, you guys still refuse to believe.

And tonight, we continue.

So, Jesus, after, you know, telling the group, the people that there is no sign other than Jonah,

he resumes his teaching by talking about the parable of light.

Now, the interesting thing about this parable is just a couple of chapters before, in Luke chapter 8,

Luke 8 · chapter mention

he told them the exact same parable about the light.

And this parable is also found in Mark chapter 5, and also found in Matthew chapter 5, verses 14 and 16.

Mark 5 · chapter mention Matthew 5:14

So, this parable must be important and significant for Jesus to repeat all over again.

So, tonight's passage, we'll look at from Luke chapter 11, verses 33, all the way to chapter 12, verses 1 to 3.

Luke 11:33

But I'd like to look at the first three verses, and also the last three verses first.

Because I believe it's a continuous teaching of Jesus about the parable of light.

But in the middle, he is interrupted by Pharisees, because one of the Pharisees invite him to a meal.

So, let's turn to Luke chapter 11.

Luke 11 · chapter mention

It's found on page 870 in your pew Bible.

We'll read chapter 11, verses 33 to 36, and then we'll skip to chapter 12, verses 2 and 3.

No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand,

so that those who enter may see the light.

Therefore, your eye is the lamp of your body.

When your body is healthy, your whole, I'm sorry, when your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light.

But when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.

Therefore, be careful, lest the light in you be darkness.

If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright.

As when a lamp with its rays gives you light.

Now, we're going to chapter 12, verses 2 and 3.

Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed or hidden that will not be known.

Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light.

And whatever you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

Now, just quickly go back a few chapters to Luke chapter 8, verses 16 and 17.

Luke 8:16

It's on page 8, 865.

Chapter 8, verses 16 and 17.

No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed,

but puts it on a stand so that those who enter may see the light.

For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.

So, I mean, this sounds like a very, you know, pretty common sense, right?

Who puts the lamp under a basket or hides the light?

The whole purpose of light is to illumine in the room.

But why is Jesus...

Talks about this parable over and over, and all three Gospels record this parable.

What is the significance and what is the importance about this parable?

So, what is this light that Jesus is talking about?

Or could it be who is Jesus talking about when he talks about this light?

Now, in John chapter 3, Jesus, you know, Jesus told us,

John 3 · chapter mention

the light has come into the world.

But people did not like the light.

Because when the light came, the things that were done in darkness,

all their evil deeds, their sinful nature was revealed.

So, what Jesus is telling us here is,

when you receive me, when you have Jesus in you,

when you have the Gospel, when you have Jesus' mission in you,

now you bear the light.

In Matthew chapter 5, the same parable,

Matthew 5 · chapter mention

Jesus tells us, you are the city on the hill.

Cannot be hidden.

So, I will just read from John chapter 3.

John 3 · chapter mention

You don't have to go there.

The light has come into the world,

and people love the darkness rather than the light,

because their works were evil.

For everyone who does wicked things hates the light,

and does not come to the light,

lest his works should be exposed.

But whoever does what is true comes to the light,

so that he may be clearly seen

that his works have been carried out in God.

So, in this first three verses of tonight's passage,

Jesus tells us,

you are the light.

If you receive me,

and do what I tell you to do,

you are like the light

that's supposed to be standing on a lampstand.

Not be hidden, not be covered,

but to make the room bright,

chasing away all the darkness.

And in chapter 12, verse 2,

you know, verse 8,

it was in,

it was one, you know,

he talks about the lamp,

and then he says,

nothing will be hidden.

In this chapter,

it was broken up

in chapter 11 and chapter 12,

like I said,

because before he even finished

telling the disciples

what he said in verse 2 and 3,

he was invited to have a meal

with the Pharisee.

So,

Jesus is keep telling his disciples and us,

you guys are the light,

and you guys are supposed to

shine the light

by,

you know,

obeying my words

and do

what I tell you to do.

And then we will explore

more of that

when we come back

after we

study the next section.

So now,

let's look at

Luke chapter 11,

Luke 11:37–53

verses 37

to

53.

So as Jesus is

having a meal

at this Pharisee's house,

he also exposes

their hypocrisy.

The same

account,

the more detailed

and more expanded account

of this,

this parallel

account,

my kids are laughing right now,

because

every time I say

the word parallel,

they think

I don't pronounce it correctly.

So,

sometimes,

you know,

they'll sit me down

and say,

Dad,

this is how you say

the word parallel,

parallel.

So,

every time I use

the word parallel,

they are laughing.

They're picking on

their poor immigrant dad.

So,

the same

account

is also found

in Matthew

Matthew 23 · chapter mention

chapter 23.

We're not going to go there.

If you want to look at it later,

it is much

more detailed

account of

what Pharisees

and the lawyers.

So,

basically,

the Pharisees,

if you're not familiar

with the term,

these were the religious leaders

at the time.

They were the Bible teachers

and the lawyers

because it was

during the theocratic society.

The lawyers,

pretty much,

they're the religious law experts.

So,

Pharisees and the religious law experts,

they are watching

what Jesus is doing

and they are just basically

kind of trying to see

what he says

to,

you know,

trap him.

verse 37.

While Jesus was speaking,

a Pharisee asked him

to dine with him.

So,

he went in

and reclined

at the table.

The Pharisee was

astonished

to see that

he did not first

wash

before

dinner.

So,

they must have said,

you know,

to themselves,

look at him.

He doesn't even wash.

What kind of teacher

is he?

So,

Jesus knew

what they were thinking.

Verse 38.

And the Lord said to him,

now you Pharisees

cleanse the outside

of the cup

and of the dish,

but inside

you are full

of greed

and wickedness.

So,

these so-called

religious leaders,

experts in Bible,

they were so focused

on how they appear

in public.

In other parts

of the gospel,

you know,

they make these

long prayers.

They would like

to pray in public.

They want people

to see how they pray,

what they pray.

There was one

incident where,

you know,

this Pharisee

is just praying

to God

and he sees

a tax collector

who couldn't even

raise his head

and yet he says,

thank God,

you know,

I am not

like this tax collector.

I fast,

I do this,

I do that,

thank God,

I am not like him.

So,

the Pharisees

were so,

so,

it's almost like

they're just

image driven.

as long as

they appear

holy and,

you know,

righteous

in front of the people

and yet,

inside,

Jesus said,

you guys are just

full of

wickedness

and greed.

Verse 30,

verse 39,

and the Lord,

I'm sorry,

verse 40,

you fools,

did not him

who made the outside

make the inside also,

but give as elms

those things

that are within

and behold,

everything is

clean for you.

But woe to you,

Pharisees,

for you tithe

mint

and rue

and every herb

and neglect justice

and the love of God.

These you ought

to have done

without neglecting

the others.

So,

even giving offering

or tithe,

giving one tenth,

they are so careful

whatever they grow

in their garden,

whether it's a mint,

any kind of herb,

they are so careful

to even give

ten percent

of that.

And I sometimes

wonder whether

they did that

so they can say,

oh,

look at so and so.

they consume

all their vegetables,

their gluttons.

Look at me.

I give tenth

of everything

including

all the things

that I grow

in the garden.

I wonder if they missed

the real,

what God really wants

from us is

heart of David.

King David said,

everything came

from you,

from what we have

received from your hand,

we give back.

So,

it's almost like

returning

a portion.

Do we really

give something

to God

or are we just

simply returning

some portion

of it

that we

receive from God?

Apostle Paul says,

God loves

cheerful giver.

So,

these Pharisees,

sometimes I wonder

whether they

did this

so methodically

to look good,

to appear,

I am so holy.

Everything

that I grow,

even the little

herbs,

I give tenth

back,

you know,

as a tide.

And Jesus

says,

but you guys

neglect

looking after

the poor.

giving to the poor.

You guys

do all these

things,

but you

neglect justice

and you

neglect to

look after

the poor.

Verse 43,

woe to you

Pharisees,

for you love

the best seat

in the synagogues

and greetings

in the marketplaces.

Again,

they like

to be

revered,

I'm sure

they were.

because people

probably looked

up to them

because they

were,

you know,

religious leaders

and because

they constantly

kept up this

image of being

holy and

righteous.

I'm sure a lot

of people,

they looked up

to them.

But Jesus

said,

you guys

are looking

for greetings

in a marketplace.

Probably,

you know,

they enjoy being

called rabbi,

teacher.

when people

called them

rabbi,

when people

greeted them,

when they

were sitting

at the best

seat in the

synagogue,

they were

probably just

gloating.

But,

is that,

is that the

attitude

Jesus had?

Did Jesus

come

to be

respected,

honored,

seated at the

best seat in

the synagogue?

Basically,

did he come

here to be

served?

served.

It was

totally

opposite.

Jesus

came to

serve,

instead of

being served.

But the

Pharisees

here,

it sounds

like,

they just

want to be

served,

instead of

serving.

They want

to be greeted

at a marketplace,

be called

teachers,

rabbis.

verse 44,

woe to

you,

for you

are like

unmarked

graves,

and people

walk over

them without

knowing it.

In the

Old Testament,

if you

come in

contact with

the dead

body or

grave,

you are

considered

unclean

for seven

days.

So,

people are

very careful

not to

touch the

dead body

or touch

the grave.

But what

Jesus is

saying is,

you guys

are like

unmarked

graves.

People

may

associate

with you

not knowing

what's inside

of you.

You may

appear holy

and righteous

on the

outside,

but inside,

because you

are full

of greed

and arrogance

and wickedness,

it's almost

like you

caused them

to sin.

If the

graves were

marked,

people would

not have

touched

it.

But because

Pharisees were

like unmarked

graves,

people stumble

upon them.

And verse

40,

45,

now one of

the lawyers

answered him,

teacher,

in saying

these things,

you insult

us also.

And he

said,

woe to

your lawyers

also,

for you

load

people

with

burdens

hard to

bear,

and you

yourselves

do not

touch the

burdens

with one

of your

fingers.

Woe to

you,

for you

build the

tombs of

the prophets

whom your

fathers killed.

So you

are witnesses

and you

consent to

the deeds

of your

fathers,

for they

killed them

and you

build their

tombs.

so now

the religious

law experts

are offended.

So they

say,

Jesus,

why are you

offending

us?

And Jesus

said,

because you

guys make

these incredible

demands.

You have to

do this,

this,

this,

this.

You make

these demands

on people

and you

don't even

lift your

finger to

help them.

And then

he also

talks about

your

forefathers

have killed

all these

prophets.

And then

you build

the tomb,

the monuments,

so you're

basically

consenting to

it.

So in

Matthew

Matthew 23 · chapter mention

chapter 23,

these lawyers

tell Jesus,

well,

the lawyers

have this

thing,

they say,

well,

if we

lived in

our

ancestors'

time,

we would

have never

done that.

They say,

if we

lived during

our ancestors'

time,

we would

have never

killed those

prophets.

So again,

they have

this self-righteous

attitude.

And Jesus

keeps pointing

these out.

Verse

52.

I'm

sorry,

verse 49.

Therefore,

also the

wisdom of

God said,

I will

send them

prophets and

apostles,

some of

whom they

will kill

and persecute,

so that the

blood of all

the prophets

shed from

the foundation

of the world

may be

charged against

this generation.

from the

blood of

Abel to

the blood

of Zechariah,

who perished

between the

altar and

the sanctuary.

Yes,

I tell you,

it will be

required of

this generation.

So

throughout

the Old

Testament,

you'll see

how when

prophets

come,

so prophets

are like

the light.

they come

and they

tell the

nation,

you guys

are doing

wrong.

You guys

are worshipping

idols,

you need to

turn from

worshipping

idols,

you need to

turn to

God.

So

they are

lights

pointing

people to

God,

but so

many of

the prophets,

they were

killed.

So many

kings,

when you

read the

kings and

the

chronicles,

when they

don't like

what they

hear,

they will

put prophets

in prison

or kill

them altogether.

So

Jesus is

saying,

you

ancestors

and you

guys are

guilty of

this.

And

isn't that

true,

how they

continue to

do that?

And

eventually

they kill

Jesus.

Verse 52,

woe to

you lawyers

for you

have taken

away the

key knowledge,

key of

knowledge.

You did

not enter

yourselves

and you

hindered

those who

are,

who were

entering.

I believe

the key

knowledge

that they

were sort

of putting

behind while

they were

loading people

with these

burdensome

rituals and

the laws

they demand.

The key

knowledge,

I believe,

is love

the Lord

your God

with all

your heart,

with all

your soul,

with all

your might,

and love

your neighbor.

Instead of

pointing the

people to

God and

his kingdom,

these law

experts

would just

keep laying

down these

rules and

laws.

So they,

instead of

focusing on

what's really

important and

crucial,

they are

just focusing

on these

other things.

so in

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 10:12–20

chapter 10

verses 12

to 20,

this is what

God told

his people.

And now

Israel,

what does

the Lord

your God

require of

you?

God,

but to

fear the

Lord

your God,

to walk

in all

his ways,

to love

him,

to serve

the Lord

your God

with all

your heart

and with

all your

soul,

and to

keep the

commandments

and statutes

of the

Lord,

which I

am commanding

you today

for your

good.

Behold,

to the

Lord your

God belong

heaven and

the heaven

of heavens,

and the earth

with all that

is in it.

Yet the

Lord set

his heart

in love

on your

fathers and

chose their

offspring after

them.

You above

all peoples,

as you are

this day,

circumcise

therefore the

foreskin of

your heart

and be no

longer stubborn.

For the

Lord your

God is

God of

gods and

Lord of

lords,

the great,

the mighty,

and the

awesome God,

who is not

partial and

takes no

bribe.

He

executes

justice for

the fatherless

and the

widow and

loves the

sojourner,

giving him

food and

clothing.

Love the

sojourner,

therefore,

for you are

sojourners in

the land of

Egypt.

You shall

fear the

Lord your

God,

you shall

serve him

and hold

fast to

him,

and by

his name

you shall

swear.

So God

told his

people to

love me,

and then

have

compassion

on

fatherless,

the widow,

the sojourners,

basically people

who can be

marginalized in

society.

And yet,

the scribes,

the lawyers,

and the

Pharisees,

it sounds

like they

completely

ignored this,

and they

were so

busy

putting

themselves

in public,

having the

form of

holiness,

but inside,

it was all

just their

greed,

wickedness,

neglecting the

poor.

In other

parts of the

gospel,

Jesus rebukes

lawyers,

because they

were swallowing

up,

probably,

with those

properties,

using their

technicality to

take up

with those

properties.

So,

what can

we learn

from,

you know,

all this

exposed

hypocrisy

of Pharisees

and lawyers?

are we

to just

say,

oh,

you know,

those are

terrible

people,

they're a

bunch of

hypocrites?

I think

we,

we need

to also,

you know,

examine

ourselves,

reflect upon

this.

The book

that I just

mentioned,

Love Walked

Among Us,

he mentions

three interesting

things.

He says,

judging,

blocks

compassion.

Judging

blocks

compassion.

Self-righteousness

blocks

compassion.

Legalism

blocks

compassion.

And I

would like

to just

share

a couple

of points

from that

book.

Paul

Miller

says,

we are

remarkably

perceptive

of

others'

shortcomings

and sins,

but curiously

blind

to our

own.

We are

remarkably

perceptive

of others'

shortcomings

and sins,

but curiously

blind

to our

own.

people.

We'll

often notice

things wrong

with people,

but does

that initial

look lead

to compassion

and helping

or to

judging

and

distance?

We'll

often notice

things wrong

with people,

but does

that initial

look lead

to compassion

and helping

or to

judging

and distance?

When we

realize that

we don't

have it

all together,

we can

care for

people because

we no longer

feel morally

superior to

them.

Consequently,

we are

quicker to

help than

to give

advice,

quicker to

listen than

to lecture.

Lastly,

Paul Miller

says,

our helplessness

is the door

to the knowledge

of God.

without

changing

the heart,

obsessing

over rules

is like

spray painting

garbage.

I think

we all

are guilty

or at

least have

done this

to others,

whether

we have

done this

to our

family members,

our

coworkers,

our friends,

or even

in our

church

community.

that we

judged.

We felt,

hey,

I am,

I never

do that.

This,

I am

holier than

thou kind

of attitude,

this arrogance.

And maybe

sometimes we

really push

that legalism.

so,

if I can

make a

contrast

between

the

platform

that

Pharisees

and the

scribes

were standing

on,

it was

judging.

It was

self-righteousness

and arrogance

and the

legalism.

Now,

Jesus,

on the other

hand,

he's standing

on this

platform

that is

abundantly

mercy,

love,

compassion,

and forgiveness.

What a

contrast.

Now,

in John

John 8 · chapter mention

chapter 8,

there is

this

woman

who was

caught

in the

middle of

adultery.

So,

they brought

this woman,

you know,

in that

time,

in that

society,

it was

lawful

to stone

this woman

to death.

And they

brought her

to Jesus

and they

start

asking Jesus,

Moses told

us to stone

someone like

this who

was committing

adultery.

What do you

say?

And Jesus

wrote something

on the ground

and then

he told

the crowd,

those of

you who

have never

sinned,

throw the

first stone.

And then

one by

one,

the Bible

says,

starting from

the old

to young,

they dropped

the stone

and then

they walked

away.

at the

end,

it was

just

the woman

and Jesus.

And Jesus

asked the

woman,

woman,

where are

they?

Has no

one condemned

you?

She said,

no one,

Lord.

And Jesus

said,

neither do I

condemn you.

Go

and sin

no more.

No more.

instead of

having

judgmental,

I am

better than

you,

I am

holier than

you,

or being

so caught

up in

legalism,

can we

be,

can we

be like

Jesus?

Neither

do I

condemn

you.

Jesus

had every

right,

to

condemn

this

woman.

Jesus

had

every

right

to

judge

her,

punish

her,

and

condemn

her.

But

Jesus

didn't.

The

mercy,

the

forgiveness,

the

compassion,

Jesus

said,

I do

not

condemn

you

either.

Go

and

sin

no

more.

How

quickly

we

judge

our

brothers

and

sisters.

How

quickly

we

judge

our

co-workers,

our

family

members.

And how

often we

feel,

hey,

I,

just like

the scribe,

the lawyers

said,

if we

lived during

our

ancestors'

time,

we would

have never

killed those

prophets,

never.

And how

often we

have that

same attitude.

Oh,

I would

have never

done that.

I would

have never

done that.

and how

quickly we

apply.

Well,

that's against

the law,

that's against

the Bible,

that's against

this.

Using the

legalism

to put

others down.

And I

would also

like to

ask,

I'm sure

some of

us here

tonight

were hurt

in the

past,

or maybe

still hurting

from these

remarks,

or people

passed,

you know,

judgment on

you,

or people

pressed you

with legalism.

Maybe you

were taught

in a

such a,

in a very

legalistic

you know,

teachings.

Whatever it

is,

if you

are carrying

such a

burden,

or wounds

from the

past,

bring it

to Jesus,

where is

he's waiting.

He's waiting

for us

with

mercy,

compassion,

love,

and

forgiveness.

People may

have

hurt you

in the

past,

with this

Pharisee-like,

scribe-like

teachings and

attitude,

but what

Jesus is

saying is,

come to

me.

I do

not condemn

you.

Come

and receive

healing,

receive

mercy,

receive my

love,

my compassion.

now,

chapter 12,

verse 1.

In the

meantime,

when so

many thousands

of people

had gathered

together,

that they

were trampling

one another,

he began

to say to

his disciples

first,

beware of

the leaving

of the

Pharisees,

which is

hypocrisy.

nothing is

covered up

that will

not be

revealed,

or hidden

that will

not be

known.

Therefore,

whatever you

have said

in the

dark

shall be

heard in

the light,

and what

you have

whispered in

private rooms

shall be

proclaimed on

the housetops.

Verse 3 was

a little bit,

it was a little

bit tricky.

what is he

saying that

all this

hypocrisy

will be

revealed,

or is he

saying,

you have

light in

you,

and proclaim

the gospel.

Now,

next week,

Pastor Matt

is going to

continue

chapter 12

where Jesus

talks about,

do not fear

the man,

acknowledge

me before

man.

So,

I wonder

if

verse 3,

chapter 12

verse 3

is

Jesus

leading

people,

his

disciples

saying,

proclaim

the gospel.

Do not

fear

man,

acknowledge

me before

man.

Now,

now,

now,

now,

now,

now,

now,

now,

now,

now,

now,

now,

now,

now,

now,

now,

the light,

going back

to the light,

parable of

light,

I will

read this

parable from

Matthew,

Matthew 5:14–16

chapter 5,

verses 14

to 16,

and listen

to what

Jesus is

telling all

of us

to do.

You are

the light

of the

world,

a city

set on

a hill

cannot

be hidden,

nor do

people light

a lamp

and put

it under

a basket,

but on

a stand,

and it

gives light

to all

in the

house.

In the

same way,

let your

light shine

before others

so that

they may

see your

good works

and give

glory

to your

Father

who is

in

heaven.

heaven.

So,

do you

have

Jesus'

light in

you?

And are

you

let the

light

shine

so that

people

around

you

can be

drawn

to that

light?

Or are

we still

in the

darkness

like the

Pharisees

and the

law

experts

because

we're so

busy

judging

and we

feel that

we are

doing okay,

holy,

better than

others?

Oh,

I keep

the law.

I read

the Bible

and I

follow the

Bible.

Are we

all just

wrapped up

in that

which is

basically

darkness?

Or are

we like

Jesus

where

the light

shines

and the

mercy

and love

and compassion

and forgiveness

just flows

out

to others?

In a

minute,

we're going

to sing

a song

that talks

about

there is

a fountain

and this

fountain

consists of

Jesus'

blood.

Come to

the fountain

and receive

the light

so that

we can

be the

light of

the world.

Whatever it

is,

bring it

to Jesus.

whatever

that was

you're

struggling

in the

darkness,

when you

receive

Jesus

and when

he is

the source

of light

in you,

it will

clear away

the darkness.

Every

corner of

the room

will be

illumined.

So,

we are

the light

of the

world

and let

our light

shine

before others

so that

they may

see our

good works

and give

glory to

our Father

who is

in heaven.

Let us

pray.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Lord Jesus,

thank you

for

coming

to this

world

and thank

you for

being the

light

that chases

away all

the darkness

and Lord

we pray

that we

will have

you,

the gospel,

your mission

in us

like a

bright light

that shines

so that

others

can see

the light

and be

equally

be blessed

and all

that we

do,

Lord,

help us

to do

for the

glory of

God.

In Jesus

name we

pray.

Amen.

Let's

stand

together

and let's

sing.

there's

a fountain

filled with

our

drawn from Emmanuel's hand,

and sinners' plans beneath and blood lose all.