“The Just Shall Live By Faith”

New King James Version                          Written by: David Hicks

 

Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

“Articles of Faith"

An Orderly Account Of The Greatest Story Ever Told

(A Study in Luke)

Chapter 11:33-46:

Our opening passage of scripture is found in the Sermon on the Mount, in a slightly different form (Matthew 6:22-23). It is here addressed to the Pharisees, and reproves them for not using the light which was given to them; the miracles of the Lord that confirm whom He is. This is where we left off in our last lesson.

Text #1:

Luke 11:33-36 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light. 34 The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.”

The Lamp of the Body is the Eye: The Lord in the form of a parable is simply stating that if the Pharisees had an eye single to goodness (a desire to see the truth), the light of the Lord's words and confirming signs would have enlightened their souls. Instead they suffered from double-vision or double-mindedness; they desired wonders and spectacular signs.

Text #2:

Luke 11:37-41 “And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat. 38 When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner.
39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. 40 Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.”

A similar account to the teaching of this passage is found in Matthew 15:1-20; where the Pharisees make the same accusation about the disciples of the Lord.

First, before we think that there is anything wrong with washing your hands before you eat, this had little to do with what the Lord is about to do in order to make a point. So, all you young folks (and older young folks too!), who where taught by your moms to wash before you eat, do as she says!

We know that Jesus dinned with all classes; sinners, publicans, enemies, Pharisees, and friends. The Lord in the form of a man had to fulfill the needs of the flesh for food, but often used these occasions to teach valuable lessons; this is the case here.

The Pharisee Marveled: As the Lord went in and sat down, He began to eat without washing first. The Pharisee marveled because he assumed the Lord would honor the traditions of the elders that required them to wash before eating (much less to do with hygiene and much more to do with the worry of having touched someone who might have been in their opinion, un-clean), a custom which ministered to pride and self-righteousness. This is additionally confirmed by the teaching of the text.

Outside and Inside: The Lord is an invited guest in this Pharisees house; however, the Lord will be directly denunciatory to this man, as the Lord is guided by a higher standard than conventional politeness (or political correctness). In this we learn that the Lord would probably be run out of most pulpits today!!!

He begins His teaching to the Pharisee by using metaphors of a cup and dish and that the Pharisee's might be clean on the outside, but the inside was disturbingly filthy with greed and weakness.

In Matthew's account that covers similar teaching, the Lord would state that the origin of all evil like this Pharisee's comes from within, note:

Matthew 15:11 “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

The defilement being mentioned is not that which causes physical illness from food, but that which causes the separation from God!

The Apostle Paul would instruct Titus (an evangelist of the Gospel of Christ), to be aware of the damage of Jewish false teaching and commandments of men, who turn from the truth, note:

Titus 1:15 “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.”

This is universally the condition of this Pharisee and as we are about to see, all the Pharisees in general. The Lord is now going to address the majority of this sect of the Jews and the sins that describe their unbelieving nature and defiled consciences. For this portion of our text, it is important that you also read all of Matthew 23.

Text #3:

Luke 11:42-44 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them. ”

Woe to the Pharisees and Scribes: Although the Pharisees are responsible for bringing about this verbal indictment, the scribes (or lawyers) are not going to be left out of this and they are going to take offense to this in verse 45, which tells us that representatives of that group were at this meal.

The first indictment comes to the Pharisees, who did many things to display that they were righteous, but within were void of the proper motivation or weightier matters, note:

Matthew 23:23-24 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!”

Likewise, the Lord would engage the scribes in His indictment by stating that they were graves which were not seen. According to the Mosaic Law, anyone who touched a grave was unclean (Numbers 19:16). In order to keep from touching a grave by accident, the Jews white-washed their graves and tombs once a year. However, the Lord recons the scribes to graves that defile men without being aware of it; their hypocrisy concealed their true nature.

Text #4:

Luke 11:45-46 “Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, “Teacher, by saying these things You reproach us also.”
46 And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.”

You Reproach Us Also: The terms lawyer and scribes are synonymous and describe those who were both responsible for the copying of scripture and the interpretation of the Law of Moses, as the Law of Moses was also the civil law of the land.

The response of the scribe implied that Jesus had spoken hastily concerning his group and implied that Jesus should consider His unguarded words.

Woe to You Also: Instead of an apology, the Lord continues His indictment and completely envelopes this group in it.

The loading of burdens the Lord mentions here, are the traditions of the elders that were added alongside the truth of scripture, note:

Matthew 15:3-9 “He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother' ; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God ”— 6 then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of me.' ”

As we have already studied, when we looked into the traditions of the elders concerning the Sabbath (Luke 6:1-11), they multiplied the burdens of the Law of Moses concerning this day; yet, were careful not to burden themselves with the same degrees of difficulty, even as the Lord states, to keep the Law itself!

Since there is so much more to discuss in this text and one particular subject we want to spend some time with, we will continue this lesson.

Next: “This Generation!”