“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 14:25-35:

We started this chapter with the Lord eating with a ruler of the Pharisees. We know that they are actively trying to catch the Lord in something that they can use to destroy His influence on the multitudes. Yet, even though the Lord knows their hearts, He has brought the wisdom and truth of God's word directly to them. He has dared them to find fault with doing good on the Sabbath; they could not! He has pointed out that their attempts at self exaltation are going to be their downfall, unless they can learn true humility in serving God; they will not!

Luke 14:11 “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

He then showed the destructive nature of the Pharisees in their hypocrisy and rejection of His word and Him as the Son of God, by teaching the parable of the supper.

He is now going to fulfill His own instruction in the parable and turn to the masses. As they followed Him during his circuit, He will turn to them and again instruct concerning true discipleship.

Text #1:

Luke 14:25-27 “Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

See also: Matthew 10:34-39; Luke 12:49-53, for similar teaching.

Hate: This term is used in an appearance form. What that means is, that unless it appears that one does not hate the ones mentioned by committing to follow the Lord, He cannot be His disciple. To literally hate ones mother or father, children, etc… would be against the existing law of Moses.

This teaching indicates that those who commit in the fashion of true discipleship, will in fact be at odds with those of their own families who either reject outright the Lord or will not commit to the same extent.

Christ came to rouse many into spiritual conflict based on this one reality, note:

John 3:18-21 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

Having used this shocking language to startle the masses listening, He now uses this startled attention to teach two parables concerning this statement.

Text #2:

Luke 14:28-30 “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it-- 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.”

True discipleship is a character building activity; however, shame waits for the individual that attempts discipleship with only half of his heart. Unless anyone coming after the Lord has it in his mind to finish the course set before him, the failure of this parable is his destiny.

Text #3:

Luke 14:31-32 “Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.”

In the same fashion as the first parable, a wise commander would not declare war against another before he had studied the differences in strength between the two armies. Likewise, if the force against him is too great; if he is wise, he would seek peace with that powerful force.

When the message of repentance in preparation for the coming kingdom rings in the ears of these listening to the preaching of the Lord, they are faced with the choice of rejecting it or making peace. If they make peace, they must see the treaty to its end or face destruction.

This is emphasized in the next verse.

Text #4:

Luke 14:33 “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

There is little need to speculate on the meaning of the parable, as the Lord stresses the point by reiterating the introduction. In order to be a disciple of the Lord, one has to fully renounce his rebellion (serving his own desires!).

Text #5:

Luke 14:34-35 "Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

See also: Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50, for similar teaching.

Salt: Salt was used in ancient times in virtually the same way as it is used today; seasoning and preserving. In this particular case the Lord is using the term figuratively to describe salts seasoning quality.

Thus for one to begin a journey of discipleship and then to lose the ability to flavor or ability to season, it is no longer fit and cannot find a place.

Matthew 5:13-16 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

The Lord taught in the Sermon on the Mount, that His disciples would be good salt if men could see their good works. The ability to season then, would be the ability to influence others to the glory of God.

Only a disciple who is determined to start, work, and more importantly finish his or her stewardship, will be able to maintain their ability to season and maintain their value.

This is a fitting illustration to the teaching of the Lord at the end of this chapter and to contrast the attitude of the religious leaders that He began His instruction toward at the beginning of this chapter.

Next: “Jesus and the Lost”