“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 11:47-54:

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.

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.

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!!!

As we began this lesson covering the oral indictment of the Lord concerning the religious leaders of the Jews, we will continue to observe the hypocrisy of these self proclaimed servants of God and learn that just because someone claims to be a servant of God, unless they are busy doing the will of God, as God directs; they too are just hypocrites!

Text #1:

Luke 11:47-51 “Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore the wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,' 50 that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.”

As a reminder, also read: Matthew 23.

As our text continues, the Lord carries on His denouncement of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and scribes (lawyers). Since the leaders of the Jews, by their actions and hearts denied the character and teaching of the prophets of God; Jesus relates this rejection in their hearts as the same as killing the prophets themselves. The fathers killed the prophets in rejection of their message, the Pharisees and scribes bury them in false teaching! Therefore; although they built ornate sepulchers to honor the prophets, God rejected them because of the state of their hypocrisy.

The Lord then goes on to add a statement concerning the wisdom of God in exposing their hypocrisy. He would send them prophets, and apostles (prophets are mouth pieces for God, and apostles are, “one's sent” – like John the Baptist, and like the Lord Himself), to prove that they had the same heart of rejection as their fathers did.

Jesus also takes this opportunity to speak of a specific judgment that has been reserved for “ this generation”. In displaying the same heart of disbelief and rejection of the messengers of God and God's will; Jesus states that God is now going to bring judgment on them for the blood of all the prophets of God from Abel to Zechariah (the entire history of the Old Testament).

• Zechariah – There was a Zachariah of scripture that was killed in the area between the altar and the temple – II Chronicles 24:20-22. However; he was not the son of Berechiah as recorded in Matthew 23:35. The son of Berechiah was also the grandson of Iddo; who was the author of the book of Zechariah. He was one of the priests in the days of Joiakim and a prophet of God (Nehemiah 12:16; Ezra 5:1; 6:14; Zechariah 1:1, 7). He returned with Zerubbabel from Babylonian captivity and prophesied for God concerning the need for the completion of the temple (a contemporary of Haggai). There is no mention in scripture concerning the circumstances of his death; however, the Lord obviously states that he had a similar fate to that of the other Zechariah. Zechariah was an extremely popular name among the children of Israel , which meant - “Whom Jehovah Remembers” (at least 28 different men named Zechariah mentioned in scripture and probably countless others not mentioned). The priority of this statement of the Lord is the extent of the guilt being placed on this generation and their link to all who have turned against the representatives of God.

This Generation: As John the Baptist began his ministry in preparation for the coming of the kingdom, he looked up to see many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming out to him. At this point, he would begin to instruct first, concerning this judgment being mentioned by the Lord in our text; note:

Matthew 3:7 “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”

John asks the religious leaders of the people a rhetorical question that references all the prophets of the Old Testament we have previously discussed. Again the link is established to all their fathers before them whom God judged in various punishments from plague, to captivity, even to death. John would add to this, note:

Matthew 3:8-9 “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.”

First, the universal message of all the prophets sent by God has always been repentance (to turn back to God).

Second, is that John will add that it will no longer benefit them to rely on their pedigree (as decedents of Abraham). God is no longer going to look on them with additional mercy in order to protect the blood lines of the Messiah; as the Messiah is now to come. Although they looked for the Messiah because He was to bring salvation to God's people, He was also to bring judgment to them as well, note:

Isaiah 10:22-23 “For though your people, O Israel , be as the sand of the sea, A remnant of them will return; The destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness. 23 For the Lord GOD of hosts Will make a determined end In the midst of all the land.”

The Apostle Paul, writing to Christians in Rome , would use this passage of scripture from Isaiah in reference to Israel 's rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. In addition, he would state that the coming of God's judgment on Israel would now be just, because of this rejection (Romans 9:14-29).

John would continue his message to the religious leaders and like the Lord in our text would also describe a time frame, note:

Matthew 3:10 “And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Just as Jesus states that all this is going to be brought on “this generation”, John states that the axe is falling. John would go on to add exactly who it was that was going to bring about this judgment on them, note:

Matthew 3:11-12 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

The One to come after John was to submerse them in revelation and judgment (Holy Spirit and fire). Note that the pitch fork used to separate the wheat from the chaff is in His hand. He would be the One who would bring judgment on the hypocrites and turn coats that would cling to the traditions of the fathers and reject Him as the Messiah.

Peter stated this very thing as he preached the Gospel of Christ to the Jews in Jerusalem , note:

Acts 3:23 “And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.”

“That Prophet” is the same Jesus Christ spoken of by John the Baptist, and prophesied concerning by Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15-18).

Now with all this in mind, particularly concerning the practice of hypocrisy that is being condemned, note the conclusion of our text:

Text #2:

Luke 11:52-54 “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”
53 And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, 54 lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, that they might accuse Him.”

First: A true knowledge of scripture would have been the key to serving God acceptably; however, these who copied the Law and were looked to for their understanding of the Law, had by practice, rejected that which they claimed to know. And if that wasn't bad enough, they taught their hypocrisy to others!

Second: In verses 53-54, they are guilty by their response to the Lord of everything we have discussed. This generation was to be subject to the wrath of God for their rejection of all the prophets and particularly their rejection of Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus reaffirmed this to His disciples concerning the coming destruction of Jerusalem and subsequently all those that fit in this category of rebellion, note:

Matthew 24:33-35 “So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”

Jesus affirms that all these things will fall on this generation, just as He states that His disciples would also see with their own eyes these things!

With all that said; it becomes an evident lesson to you and me, that to play the hypocrite in our service to God, to trust tradition, or to supplement the will of God with the wisdom of men is exactly the kind of betrayal God has judged in wrath from the beginning.

He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, we would do well to heed it! II Peter 1:1-21.

Next: “Beware of Hypocrisy”