“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 16:14-18:

We introduced this chapter in the previous lesson with a precise understanding that the entire chapter deals with a single subject; GREED!

In or last lesson we covered the first two parts of the outline of the chapter:

Vs. 1-8 – Commendation of the Greedy Unfaithful Servant

Vs. 9-13 – Jesus Applied the Story to His Greedy Audience

In this lesson we will cover the next two parts:

Vs. 14-15 – The Greedy Pharisees' Reaction and Jesus' Response

Vs. 16-18 – John the Baptist, A Faithful Steward

Text #1:

Luke 16:14-15 “Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. 15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”

Lovers of Money: The Pharisees manifested an attitude about wealth and seeking it that we should pay close attention too. Thus, there also can be no doubt about whom the parable of the unjust steward was leveled at!

Because they loved money to an extent that they served it, they created traditions that implied that the more wealth you had the more righteous you must be. We need to make sure that we understand exactly what the Lord is stating here. He is talking about greed! Greed is that which causes an individual to exert great effort and anxiety towards. Greed is something that points a man in a direction by which he fails to see anything else, or if he does, he is unwilling to truly recognize it.

This is a disease that plagued many in the introduction of Christian dispensation as well as this very day.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

James 1:9-11 “Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.”

The Lord is not talking about the God given command to provide for the basic necessities of life. The key for the true servant of God is contentment in the things of this life; but a persistent pursuit of God and His righteousness. There is an old saying that has always reminded me of this very lesson; note:

“Never love things and use people and God! Always use things and love God and people!”

Note:

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

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.”

There can be little doubt that God expects us to support ourselves and provide for those whom we have been entrusted with. To work hard and make a good living is wholesome! Provided that it does not consume us and cause us to forsake the purpose of our creation – “Fear God and keep His commandments” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

Remember that the Pharisees claimed to be servants of God! Jesus said this title has been given them by them, for the sake of justifying themselves before men in order to truly serve greed! This is why they turned there noses up at the teaching of the Lord (“Derided Him”).

He stated that in fact, the things they held in high esteem were an abomination before God.

Text #2:

Luke 16:16-18 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.
18 “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.”

A Faithful Steward Contrasted: Earlier; in verse 10, the Lord said “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful in much”. Jesus is now going to introduce an exact illustration of this statement.

John and the Law: The Law of Moses is the Law by which John and even the Lord lived while here on earth. This is the same law that the Pharisees claimed to live under. Yet, what a stark contrast between the Pharisees and John the Baptist.

John the Baptist and Jesus preached the kingdom of God is at hand (Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:14-15). Jesus said that not one jot or tittle of the Law would pass away until all of it had been fulfilled (Matthew 5:17-18). This is given to make sure that Jesus is not recognizing two different standards of righteousness. The universal standard of righteousness being used here is the Law of Moses.

This Law would be abrogated (done away with by the power of God – Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 7:18-19 - with the exception of its ability to be a school master to bring us to Christ, in order to be justified by Christ's covenant, Galatians 3:24) by God at the death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord our Christ.

Now that the standard has been established, the contrast is made!

What did John have?

Matthew 3:4 “Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.”

It sure doesn't sound like much, particularly in comparison to what the Pharisees are knocking themselves out to gain!

Yet, what did God think of him?

Luke 1:15  “ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.”

Why was he imprisoned and finally killed?

Luke 3:19-20  “But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, 20 also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.”

Unlike the Pharisees who were around Herod all the time (that old fox – as Jesus would call him, Luke 13:32), John would only teach and stand on the commandments of the Law of Moses; especially the Laws teaching concerning marriage. Herod had violated God's Law! Where were the Pharisees? John was not a prophet of God who could be bought or silenced with money. He would not claim to forgive debts for His master for profit. He stood on the righteousness of God till death!

This made him faithful in what is least in the eyes of men, but faithful in much in the eyes of God!

In the next lesson, the Lord will continue to demonstrate that the man made traditions of the Pharisees towards wealth are folly!

Next: “The Rich Man and Lazarus”