“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 6:37-49:

In this lesson we will conclude Jesus' sermon to His disciples. Luke's recorded sermon is shorter than Matthew's due to the difference in audiences being written to; however, both are the words of the Lord and are vital! It is recommended that you read Matthew's entire version at the end of this lesson, for the full account (Matthew 5-7).

Now, as we take a look at our lesson, remember that we are looking at the Old Testament precepts being set straight by the Lord. We are then relating to the New Testament precepts given for application to you and me.

Text#1:

Luke 6:37-42 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
39 And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. 41 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye.”

Corresponding passage in Matthew's account:

Matthew 7:1-6 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”

Before we get into the precepts being given, it is important to understand that Jesus is referring to hypocritical judgment and is not saying not to judge at all. We know that there are instances when those who practiced evil were to be recognized for their works (vs.43-45). What is being recognized and condemned by the Lord are visual prejudices. Those being deemed unworthy because of physical status or appearance among men, note:

John 7:24 “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

A hypocrite is one who pretends to be something he is not. The lesson revolves around the concept that a man who himself is kind to all, generous, and has his good character established, will also find many ready to help him, when found in similar circumstances. However, he who is parsimonious, miserly, and prejudice will find few who will help in time of need.

Old Testament precepts:

Proverbs 19:7 “All the brothers of the poor hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.”

Proverbs 24:23 “These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.”

Deuteronomy 15:7-8 “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.”

New Testament precepts:

James 2:1-9 “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”

Text #2:

Luke 6:43-45 “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

Corresponding passage in Matthew's account:

Matthew 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” 

Matthew's account reveals the target of this teaching, “false Prophets”. False prophets are those who utter falsehoods under divine pretense, usually for personal good. The Lord would teach that the real treasure of a man's heart will bear him out. If he is good he will produce good works, if evil; likewise, he will produce self centered works (evil).

Old Testament precepts:

Jeremiah 23:9-11 “My heart within me is broken Because of the prophets; All my bones shake. I am like a drunken man, And like a man whom wine has overcome, Because of the LORD, And because of His holy words. 10 For the land is full of adulterers; For because of a curse the land mourns. The pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up. Their course of life is evil, And their might is not right. 11 “ For both prophet and priest are profane; Yes, in My house I have found their wickedness,” says the LORD.” (See also: Vs. 30-32, 37)

New Testament precepts:

2 Timothy 2:19 “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

2 Peter 2:9-10 “then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,” (Read the entire chapter of 2 Peter 2 , as the whole chapter deals with false teachers and prophets)

Text #3:

Luke 6:46-49 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

Corresponding passage in Matthew's account:

Matthew 7:21-27 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

What an amazing way to end this great sermon to His disciples! To teach what God has required from the very beginning of man; that righteousness exists in the simple obedience to His instructions.

Old Testament precepts:

Deuteronomy 10:12 “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,”

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.”

Micah 6:7-8 “Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”

New Testament precepts:

1 Corinthians 3:11 “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

James 1:25 “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

1 John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”

Consider what a different life style this sermon teaches those who were instructed by the rabbi's, Pharisees, and scribes. It should not surprise us that the actual teachings of God are often far from those who claim to serve Him! Unfortunately, you wouldn't hear many sermons like this from pulpits today!

Matthew's account would deliver a fitting end to this great sermon, by recording the response of those who were privileged to hear the Lord's words.

Matthew 7:28-29 “And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes .”

Next: “More Mighty Works”