“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 12:29-38:

In our last lesson, we began to explore the command of the Lord to His disciples; “do not worry about your life”. The primary theme for the opening of this part of His sermon to His disciples; if you can't add one moment to your life by seeking the things of this life, why worry over things that won't matter when your gone?

As we continue to look into this sermon, we will now explore a simple fact that will help us all to understand how we are to keep from worrying about things; “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21; Luke 12:34).

Text #1:

Luke 12:29-31 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Do Not Seek: The issue here is not the understanding that we are to provide for the necessities of life, it is the understanding that providing for things we need is not to become an obsession.

To Christians, the Apostle Paul wrote:

2 Thessalonians 3:10 “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”

1 Timothy 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

The key in understanding the instruction of the Lord is found in the term, “seek”. The Lord is using this word in the sense of coveting earnestly; striving after (Greek – “Zeteo ” - seek). Again, He is enforcing that to fixate over the things of this earth is something that a true disciple of Christ cannot abide nor have anxiety about. He goes on to teach that this is what the world does (those who deny their creator and have chosen the temporal over the spiritual).

Your Father Knows: God as the creator knows about our needs better than anyone and has taught His creation that to work with his hands for provision is wisdom from above.

This was the instruction to Christians in Thessalonica, note:

2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 “For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.”

As the Lord taught His disciples to pray prior to the kingdom; He taught them to ask the Father to day by day give them their daily bread or sustenance (Luke 11:3). This is teaching the recognition of needs, but day by day so as not to obsess or have anxiety about it.

Text #2:

Luke 12:31-34 “But seek the kingdom of God , and all these things shall be added to you.
32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

But: As He has previously instructed His disciples not to covet earnestly, or strive after the things of this life; He now instructs to covet earnestly and strive after something of more value. They were to seek the kingdom of God as their only priority, the only thing they should covet, and the only thing they should strive after. If this priority is established in the life of a disciple, he knows that if all the things of this life are taken from him, his treasure is safe and proper effort will be placed in accordance for the necessities of life.

Do Not Fear: Since the physical is what is real to us, since we touch, taste, smell, use, and see the things of this life, it is hard not to be concerned about them. Here the Lord is teaching His disciples that they can trust in something that they cannot touch, taste, smell, or see. He proceeds to use temporal illustrations to add value to the treasure they have permission to covet and describes that nothing and no one in this world can take their treasure from them!

He even uses a double diminutive (“little flock”), indicating all at once the extreme smallness of the group of disciples and His tenderness for them, in understanding that this instruction was not going to be easy to achieve. But in order to successfully find their God, they were going to have to seek treasure in the kingdom of God as their only obsession. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” .

Luke 16:13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Apostolic instruction:

Colossians 3:1-4 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content”

2 Timothy 4:18 “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!”

Now as we continue in the text, since they are to seek the kingdom of God and it has yet to come, there is a distinct need to be ready and watchful for its coming! This is the instruction of the Lord as He continues His sermon.

Text #3:

Luke 12:35 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;”

Similar teaching: Matthew 24:42-51.

This statement becomes the theme for verses 36-48.

Both commands are designed to indicate that they are to be prepared at all times and in all aspects for the coming of the kingdom of God . The long robes often worn in this part of the world had to be lifted up and girded about the waist in order to step quickly. In addition, if the lamps are not lit before dark, how will you see anything or anyone when it comes at night? Thus the impression is given that preparedness was to be constant and without wavering. See also: Luke 19:11-27.

In the remainder of this portion of the text, we will be given a series of illustrations concerning this need for preparation.

Text #4:

Luke 12:36-38 “and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.”

1st Illustration: This illustration consists of the servants being prepared to receive their Master after He returns from a wedding. Since the subject of their preparedness is the coming kingdom, this wedding is the Christ to His bride (the church or kingdom). See: Psalms 45; Ephesians 5:22-27; Revelation 21:9-27.

Blessed Are Those Whom He Finds Watching: Those whom the Lord finds ready when he sets on His throne and sends back the Spirit of God to bring forth His kingdom (Acts 2), will be blessed by entrance and hospitality in the kingdom.

Acts 2:41 “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.”

Acts 2:47 “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

Watches: The Jewish day was separated into two sets of watches, a day watch and a night watch. Since almost all weddings were conducted in the first night watch in order for guests to come after the work of the day, the watches being spoken of here are the night watches.

The night watches are broke down like this:

•  1 st watch – Sunset to 9PM.

•  2 nd watch – 9PM to midnight.

•  3 rd watch – midnight to 3AM.

•  4 th watch – 3AM to dawn.

They were to be prepared to receive the master even until the third watch in order to be blessed by the Master.

Next: “Illustration 2&3”