Warnings from Jesus

Luke 11:37-53

Introduction:

• We teach our kids to obey for several reasons
• Here we see warnings from the God-man Jesus Christ
• In this passage we will see warnings from Jesus.
• Woe’s can demonstrate indignation, grief or denunciation.
• It is to warn, to condemn action, to express sorrow.
• Jesus is interacting with the Pharisees and condemning there action.

• Jesus is condemning their hypocrisy.
• Often we view the outwardly religious with a sense of brotherhood because there actions are pious- perhaps similar to ours.
• These religious people had attributed Jesus' works to the prince of Demons (15).
• They had been called a wicked generation by Jesus (29).
• And now his warnings and condemnation will be more direct.
• He is going to warn his followers
• Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees (12:1).
• What he is saying is be aware of there spiritual pride, hypocrisy, and self righteousness.

• FCF- We, like the Pharisees, have a tendency to maintain our outward spirituality and neglect our inner man and his allegiance to Christ.
• What does this look like?
• What does this prideful spirit result in? Destruction
• Brothers and Sisters, we have an inner pharisee in all of us….

1. Jesus Invited to Dinner (11:37–39a)
2. Jesus is welcomed in by a pharisee who had not yet become hostile it seems.
3. This is astonishing to the Pharisee.

1. Jesus Rebuke of the Pharisees (11:39b–44)
2. They Neglect the Heart (11:39b–41)
3. Why does God hate this so much?
4. Man looks on the outward- God looks on the heart.
5. To prioritize outward appearance above the inner purity and love for God is to fear men above God.
6. God must be preeminent in our minds and hearts.
7. As such we begin with an inward love for him that pushes outward into our actions.
8. Heart change should drive action if we get it twisted we end with dead formality and legalism.
9. Luke 11:41But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.
10. Giving was seen in Jewish times as a high act of religiousness.
11. Jesus is saying when your inner man is given to God wholly everything is clean.
12. They Neglect Love and Justice (11:42)
13. Why is this a problem?
14. Giving to God was a Command.
15. Love and Justice are key aspects of the character of God.
16. Vs 42 These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
17. We need re-evaluation of positions to ensure they hold true.
18. They Prioritize Position (11:43)
19. We mentioned God is preeminent.
20. The conflict is greater exposed here for the Pharisee cannot seek there own prominence and the preeminence of God.
21. Result: They Defile and Destroy People (11:44)
22. The teachings that contradict the Scriptures can choke out Biblical truth if we allow it.
23. Defile people by contact with a dead
24. Lev 19:11-13 11 “Whoever touches the dead body of any person shall be unclean seven days. 12 He shall cleanse himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day, and so be clean. But if he does not cleanse himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not become clean. 13 Whoever touches a dead person, the body of anyone who has died, and does not cleanse himself, defiles the tabernacle of the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from Israel; because the water for impurity was not thrown on him, he shall be unclean. His uncleanness is still on him.
25. Appeals to Levitical law that they would have known.
26. Jesus Rebuke of the Lawyers (11:45–52) The Lawyers feel attacked along with the Pharisees – Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.
27. They Hypocritically Burden People (11:46b–46c)
28. They are so burdensome of people they actually direct them away from God.
29. They don't carry the burden themselves.
30. They Consent to Murder (11:47–51)
31. The hypocritical, self-righteous spirit in them was the same one that led there ancestors to kill the prophets.
32. They Took Knowledge Away (11:52b–52c)
33. In burdening, hypocrisy, and killing the true prophets they took away the key of Knowledge
34. Result: They Hindered People Entering the Kingdom (11:52b–52c)
35. They are the ones who scatter!
36. The Leaders Oppose Jesus (11:53–54)
37. They Press and Provoke (11:53)

1. They Set out to Destroy Him (11:54)

John 12:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 

• The Pharisees and Scribes would ultimately kill Jesus but all that will do is spark a wildfire.
• Jesus is the seed that fell into the Earth and died and by it he brought forth trees of good fruit.
• People from all over will see his sacrifice and spread there faith.
• How will we respond to the teachings and life of Jesus.
• Will we respond in opposition as the Pharisees?
• Will we have tender hearts ready to receive God’s Word and let it change us.
• Respond in trust to Christ.