WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:07.679 Well, there is this famous saying from a rather famous person, Socrates, who lived in the 5th century BC. 00:00:07.919 --> 00:00:13.839 You've probably heard this saying that the unexamined life is not worth living. 00:00:14.240 --> 00:00:17.280 The unexamined life is not worth living. 00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:25.039 And what he's getting after, this philosopher there, is that a life worth living is one where you're contemplating, you're thinking. 00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:28.079 Well, why are we doing what we're doing? 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:35.280 You're not just a cog and a peg, having the whole thing, you're not just a hamster on a wheel. 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:37.119 Why are you here? 00:00:37.520 --> 00:00:39.600 And what are you doing? 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:47.119 The philosopher gives a great question, but he doesn't really have much of an answer. 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:48.719 But his question's right. 00:00:48.880 --> 00:00:51.200 The unexamined life is not worth living. 00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:53.679 Like, think about what you're doing. 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:59.840 And this happens to all kinds of people: religious people, non-religious people, everyone. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.640 We just kind of get into life. 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:17.599 And, you know, life, it just happens, and you gotta work, and you gotta provide, and you gotta do this, and and you know, the years just kind of tick by and you feel in general like you know what you're doing, and kind of in general, why you're doing what you're doing. 00:01:18.319 --> 00:01:26.799 But if you stop and you begin to really dig, and you ask that why question, just again and again, going deeper and deeper. 00:01:26.959 --> 00:01:28.159 Why am I doing this? 00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:30.719 Well, why am I really doing this? 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:33.439 Why is society saying we should do this? 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:36.400 Why is the pastor saying we should do this? 00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:39.359 You're digging down. 00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:47.920 Another way to ask this question is really, what is it that you're looking for in your life? 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:50.239 What is it you are looking for? 00:01:51.519 --> 00:01:53.120 It's a simple question. 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:54.959 It's a hard answer. 00:01:55.280 --> 00:02:06.959 You take any senior, college or even high school, you take a middle-aged person, someone on the brink of retirement, and you ask them, what are you looking for out of life? 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:11.520 This can be a very challenging question to answer. 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:24.080 And because for most people, like we know in general we want to live a good life, we want to enjoy life, have good relationships, we want to have a nice place to live, have our meals, we want to eat. 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:27.039 But there's something deeper down. 00:02:28.560 --> 00:02:36.800 This intrinsic meaning, something it's hard to put into words, hard to even wrap our minds around at times. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:40.479 But we know that we're made for more. 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:45.120 Not just to kind of go through a routine. 00:02:45.599 --> 00:02:50.319 We're made for something meaningful, purposeful, intentional. 00:02:50.879 --> 00:03:01.360 And Jesus, in his teaching, which is always so profound and yet so practical, gets at this in this passage. 00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:04.960 What are you looking for? 00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:09.280 Have you examined your life? 00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:29.919 Jesus would go on to teach the Pharisees and the Lords, because if you have, you would notice all these inconsistencies, all these false reasons in this just massive facade, this fake reality in your life. 00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:43.520 Anyone can live a fake life, but a fake life doesn't produce a meaningful life, a purposeful life. 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:54.240 The first chunk of verses, 14 through 26, and the first point here is Are you looking for truth? 00:03:56.159 --> 00:04:08.400 The scene is set, Jesus is here, and he casting cast out a demon from a man that was mute, and the demon has gone, the man spoke, and people marveled. 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:15.360 But some of them said, he cast out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons. 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:24.800 And then others test him, keep asking for a sign from heaven. 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:30.959 What's interesting about just those first few verses is we begin to understand the crowd. 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:33.759 So something miraculous happens. 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:37.519 A man was made mute by a demon, right? 00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:40.720 So that should tell us that the power that demons have. 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:47.360 They can make someone mute, unable to speak, and Jesus delivers this man. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:50.319 He speaks, and everyone marvels at this. 00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:51.839 This is amazing. 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:52.560 Right? 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:56.879 There's no doubt that something miraculous has happened. 00:04:57.120 --> 00:05:00.319 But what is the response to this miraculous thing? 00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:02.560 Well, some begin this accusation. 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:08.560 Well, he's doing that by Beelzebub or Satan, the prince of demons. 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:14.639 And others are like, well, I don't know about that, but Jesus, can you give us a sign? 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:18.879 Can you do something to show us that you're who you say you are? 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:24.560 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, begins to address them. 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:30.240 That every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste. 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:34.000 And a divided household falls. 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:46.480 He begins to listen, to tell them, listen, if you think I'm casting out demons by Beelzebuble, whom do your sons cast them out? 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:51.600 It was a practice within Judaism to cast out demons as well. 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:58.240 And Jesus is saying, well, if you're saying I'm doing that by the power of Satan, how do your sons, how do you guys do that? 00:05:58.399 --> 00:06:00.480 Is that also by Satan? 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:04.000 He's taking your logic and reversing it on them. 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:14.720 But if it is my finger, it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, and the kingdom of God has come upon you. 00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:25.279 See, even in all the way back in Exodus chapter 8, there's this language. 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:33.120 The magicians said to Pharaoh about Moses, this is the finger of God. 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:37.279 It's this language of the finger of God. 00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:46.639 And Jesus is saying, if I'm doing this by the power of demons, by Satan's power, then so must you. 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:49.279 As your logic would say. 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:56.959 But rather, if I'm doing this by the power of God, the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:03.759 Jesus is squaring up the room, making things clear of what's going on here. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:09.519 Either he is belongs to Satan, or he is God. 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:14.800 Then he gives this picture, this illustration. 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:29.920 When a strong man is fully armed and guards his own palace, his goods are safe, but when one strong then he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:37.120 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:40.800 Jesus is making it very clear. 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:50.800 And if he's a strong man in that community, like he's he's riding high, he's doing well. 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:56.560 But when someone else comes in, stronger than him, what happens? 00:07:56.720 --> 00:07:57.759 He's defeated. 00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:00.240 He's vanquished, all of his goods are taken. 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:02.240 He's not safe anymore. 00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:14.000 And in the in the reality of good and evil and demons and the Son of God, Satan, who is the strong man? 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:16.399 Who's the strongest man? 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:23.839 So Jesus revealing to them the power structure, the power dynamic of what's going on here. 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:34.720 Although Satan and his demons might feel powerful, because they can make a man mute, they can possess, they do all kinds of things. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:37.919 They feel pretty good about that. 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:43.919 But when the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords rolls up, they're done. 00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:47.679 Jesus is drawing this line. 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:54.720 Whoever then with me is against me, whoever does not gather with me scatters. 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:59.360 He draws this very distinct line in the sand. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:02.799 And we'll see how people respond to that in a moment. 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:12.799 But Jesus goes on to teach them when the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest. 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:16.399 And finding none, it says, I'll return to my house from which I came. 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:21.200 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:29.440 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. 00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:34.480 And the last state of that person is worse than the first. 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:46.639 Oftentimes, in our day and age, we don't see kind of like the demonic world as much in the way that they saw in first century Judaism. 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:49.519 And there's all kinds of ways we can attribute that. 00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:57.759 Some people say, well, you know, the devil's just not as active, or there's been so much grace cast across America, we don't see those things. 00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:01.519 And maybe, but also I think it's here. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:12.399 I think we've just we've had all these other ways of masking it, all these other methods of like, well, that's just mental illness, or that's just this. 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:14.799 There is genuine mental illness. 00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:16.399 I fully believe that. 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:27.759 But as a culture that does not want to accept or believe in supernatural things, unless it's like some kind of prayer that we want answered for our little world. 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:30.320 Other than that, we don't accept these things. 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:34.080 These things do manifest themselves in other ways. 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:35.679 And Jesus is teaching them. 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:43.600 So someone has rid themselves or they're free of a demon, they clean themselves up, they put everything in order. 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:46.559 But what's the reality? 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:50.240 Well, if you don't replace that with anything, guess what's going to happen? 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:51.519 The demons will come back. 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:51.840 R. 00:10:52.159 --> 00:11:06.000 Kit Hughes puts it this way: Jesus is saying to his religious hearers that self-reformation without regeneration in the indwelling of God, the Holy Spirit, is fatal. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:14.159 Self-reformation without regeneration in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is fatal. 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:18.720 We can't just clean and say, hey, look, I've got my life together and I'm good. 00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:22.480 I finally beat the demons of this and beat the demons of that and I'm good. 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:26.000 And pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and go on. 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:37.600 Again, Hughes goes on to say, if a man or a woman is empty and without God, any sin, any perversion is possible. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:41.279 A vacuum has to be filled with something. 00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:46.559 And if it is not the Spirit of God, there's no telling what it will be. 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:48.480 So it's reality. 00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:51.919 And there are demons in the world. 00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:57.200 Take into account, if we, if you're a person, you just kind of leave yourself open. 00:11:57.360 --> 00:11:59.440 You say, well, I don't really know what I believe. 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:05.440 I'm just kind of open to whatever or whatever the universe wants to tell me or whatever I feel like at 8 a.m. 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:06.720 in the morning. 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:10.240 You don't know what you're dealing with. 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:13.519 You don't know the powers that you're opening yourself up to. 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:21.840 You don't know the reality that there is a strong man who will guard his castle, his palace. 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:32.559 And unless a stronger man comes, unless the king of kings comes, you will be enslaved by the strong man. 00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:36.639 This warning that Jesus is giving. 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:39.759 You can clean yourself up from the outside. 00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:42.399 You can kind of get rid of all those things. 00:12:43.039 --> 00:12:51.759 But if nothing else happens, just your life's going to enter into more darkness, more bondage, and more hopelessness. 00:12:52.559 --> 00:13:01.919 That's the reality if you reject Jesus, if you are against him, if you scatter and don't gather with him. 00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:08.480 Which is very different than what Jesus says to those who would gather and would be with him. 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:12.320 He says this the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles in John 7. 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:16.639 If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:24.879 Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:31.039 So you have two very different pictures, two very different realities. 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:47.759 If you're looking for truth, if you're looking for what is true, not just living an unexamined life, not just kind of going through your days, but you're looking for what's true, you'll find Jesus. 00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:51.679 He is the source of all truth. 00:13:52.399 --> 00:14:02.480 When you come to him and you drink and you believe streams of living living water, through the power of the Holy Spirit, flow from you. 00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:11.200 Flow within you, which is very different than the demons who are possessing who are possessed within you. 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:24.240 For those who reject, those who seek to find miraculous power, so to speak, or supernatural power, but not from God. 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:27.360 And this is a reality in our culture. 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:31.919 The occult and all the witchcraft and all these things that are increasing. 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:36.320 These things are not games. 00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:44.399 And there are people turning to demons, to Satan, to do supernatural things. 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:47.840 Things that Satan can do and wants to do. 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:29.759 That should lead people in a good amount of fear and sobriety. 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:33.039 So there's no kind of middle path here. 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:34.799 Like I'm cool. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:36.240 Appreciate Jesus. 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:39.600 Appreciate, you know, there's people over here, but I'm just kind of doing my own thing. 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:41.360 There's no middle ground. 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:44.000 There is no middle ground. 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:52.159 And Jesus begins to answer their questions. 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:55.840 And you just assume, like, look at look at me in verse 27. 00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:05.919 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, Blessed is the womb that bore you in the breast which you nursed. 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:12.000 But Jesus said, Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it. 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:15.600 I just want to make a note for a second. 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:19.679 Clearly in Luke 1, we read about the blessing of Mary. 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:21.679 Jesus isn't denying that. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:39.840 But he's saying, after talking about all this demon activity and all these things, his solution isn't go like memorize this kind of poem or memorize this thing, or make sure you put this kind of cross over your headboard at night, or only sleep in this direction, or any of those things. 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:43.120 Silly, stupid things. 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:49.840 What he says is, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it. 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:54.720 Blessed are those who hear the word and keep it. 00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:56.879 And it's so simple. 00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:59.039 It's easy for us to miss this, right? 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:06.559 You know, this the supernatural realm, and it's it's complex, and it's confusing, we really don't know much about it, and it's terrifying. 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:16.160 The fact that some kind of demon can come in and make a person mute or make them lame or throw them into the fire, and all these things. 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:21.599 And you want like some real tangible solution. 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:22.559 Right? 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:28.160 Like something that you can just go and you can do it, and it's transacted, and you're safe. 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:35.680 Hear the word of God, follow it. 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:41.920 Another way of saying that is gather with me. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:44.640 Be with me. 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:48.000 Don't be against me, don't scatter from me. 00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:54.319 Again, as John says, come to me and drink and believe. 00:17:55.839 --> 00:18:03.839 The solution to the fear that might cause that come from all this talk about demons and their power and what they can do. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:05.359 What's the solution? 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:07.279 Come to Jesus. 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:10.880 Find your rest in Jesus. 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:16.640 Where you are safe, where you are secure. 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:20.799 This next section. 00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:22.400 Verse 29. 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:33.039 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, This generation is an evil generation. 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:35.200 It seeks for a sign. 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:41.279 Remember, they asked for a sign earlier, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:47.039 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:53.519 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them. 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:58.000 For she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. 00:18:58.319 --> 00:19:02.400 And behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:08.799 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it. 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:13.279 For they repented and at the preaching of Jonah. 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:18.400 And behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:27.839 Jesus is revealing to them what's the lay of the land, if you will. 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:51.599 He's saying, listen, even Jonah, who came, who was also in a fish, this is Matthew's account in Matthew 12, Jesus saying, for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:57.279 Jesus revealing to them this sign of Jonah that would be that would come. 00:19:58.319 --> 00:20:08.160 And what happened in Nineveh, this Gentile, pagan, wicked city, massively wicked city, in just a massive city. 00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.839 They repented. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:13.599 They heard the message of Jonah and they repented. 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:22.799 The queen of Sheba came from the south to see Solomon's wisdom and his authority and his riches. 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:28.319 She wouldn't hear the wisdom of Solomon. 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:34.799 Here, the very source of wisdom is now present. 00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:40.720 Wisdom incarnate is here, and they're rejecting it. 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:43.599 They're rejecting it. 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:52.400 So when the judgment comes, this generation will stand in judgment, Jesus is saying. 00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:58.880 People responded with marvel to his healing work. 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:02.160 They accused him. 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:06.000 Why did they accuse him? 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:09.440 Because they healed some because he healed someone? 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:10.000 No. 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:19.440 Not because he healed someone, but because he was revealing to them what they were truly after, what they were looking for. 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:25.839 And then there's even the skeptical seekers, which is really common in our day. 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:31.279 Like people were like, you know, I'm looking, but it's gonna line up with everything I want. 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:36.079 Jesus is just blowing all this out of the water. 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:38.640 It's just not how it works. 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:47.359 He gives these examples from Jonah and the Queen of the South rising up to judge. 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:50.400 Look at this in verse 33. 00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:59.759 No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so those who enter may see the light. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:00.640 Light. 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:04.640 Your eye is the lamp of your body. 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:09.359 When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light. 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:14.559 But when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:21.039 Therefore, be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:33.119 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright as when the lamp with its rays gives you light. 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:36.720 Jesus is giving this warning. 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:39.039 And this is the middle of this whole passage. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:42.400 I think this is the point that Jesus is after. 00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:55.200 With those who are making the false accusations, those who are talking about spirits and unclean spirits, and those who get to the Pharisees and the lawyers, this is his point. 00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:59.359 Your eye is the lamp of your body. 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:00.880 Your eye is healthy. 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:02.480 What's a healthy eye? 00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:04.160 What's that mean? 00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:08.160 One of the translations says a simple eye. 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:13.279 It's single-minded, it's dedicated to the Lord alone. 00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:18.720 You're not looking and saying, okay, I want to serve Jesus and I want to serve myself. 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:23.839 I want to follow the scriptures and I want to follow the thinking of this age. 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:32.480 But when your eye is focused, it's simple, it's dedicated to the Lord, it's meditating on his word. 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:37.920 It's taking in what is good and true and right and rejecting what is false. 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:41.599 When that's going on, there's light in your body. 00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:43.920 And you're able to see then. 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:48.319 You're able to see what you're looking for. 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:52.960 You're able to see reality for how things really are. 00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:56.400 An example of this is just temptation. 00:23:56.720 --> 00:24:04.400 When temptation comes your way, comes into your mind, you're tempted to think something. 00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:08.079 Maybe you're tempted to believe a lie about God. 00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:10.960 Maybe you're tempted to believe a lie about yourself. 00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:14.079 Maybe you're tempted to lust after someone. 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:18.799 Maybe you're tempted to covet something that someone else has. 00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:27.599 Either way, the temptation comes in your mind, and at that moment, your mind is going to do one of two things. 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:34.799 It's going to believe the lie, it's going to see it, like, yeah, I'm going to go with that. 00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:40.400 Now there might be a little bit of a warning sign, like, well, that's probably not like the best thing. 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:46.480 But if you follow through with that temptation, what you've said is, yeah, but it's going to be okay. 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:49.680 It's not going to cost me, or it's not going to cost me much. 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.720 It's going to be okay. 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:51.200 Right? 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:53.839 You believed that line somehow. 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:55.440 You've stepped into that. 00:24:55.759 --> 00:25:00.480 Or the temptation's going to come and you're going to say, no, my flesh wants that. 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:02.720 My sin nature wants that. 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:04.480 But I know what that is. 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.839 That's sin. 00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:09.359 Sin, as James says, sin brings death. 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:16.000 If I give in to that temptation, my affections for the Lord, it's going to kill something there. 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:19.519 My hunger for righteousness, it's going to kill something there. 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:24.480 What's going on in that moment, that scene when the temptation comes? 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:26.880 Well, do you have a healthy eye? 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:33.200 Is your eye able to see, to be clear and simple, and to say, no, I'm following God's word. 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:35.279 I'm following his instructions. 00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:37.039 Reject temptation. 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:42.960 You reject the warning. 00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:45.200 You reject God's word enough. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:47.279 Your eye is dark. 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:52.720 Or if you've never, if you're, if you are not a Christian, your eye is dark. 00:25:53.119 --> 00:25:54.640 And so what's that mean? 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:58.400 It means you don't see things the way they truly are. 00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:03.920 I know that's an offensive thing to say to someone, but I think it's genuinely true. 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:10.480 If you're not a Christian, you don't see things for how they really are. 00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:17.039 And that doesn't mean that as Christians, we're just like patting each other on the back, like, hey, ha ha ha, at least we can see. 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:20.000 Because that's a pure grace from God. 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:22.000 But it is true. 00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:23.519 It is true. 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:30.000 So Jesus is revealing to them this eye, if it's healthy, then you're going to see all the things. 00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:34.319 It's going to illuminate for you the lies of the world. 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:41.119 It's going to illuminate for you the lies of your own heart and the deceptive nature of your own heart. 00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:42.720 It's going to illuminate. 00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:48.720 Well, why are you asking for a sign when he just cast out a demon? 00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:55.200 Why are you asking for a sign when he's revealing the truth of scripture to you? 00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:57.039 Why are you asking for a sign? 00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:57.759 Right? 00:26:58.079 --> 00:27:01.920 A light, an eye with a heart with light in it, is going to reveal that. 00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:04.720 Why is it that you're wanting the praise of man? 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:13.519 Why is it that you're wanting people to acknowledge you or to pat you on the back for your knowledge of the scriptures and for your righteousness? 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:23.519 But if you don't see any of that, if you have a dark, a body full of darkness, you're deceived. 00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:39.440 And when the judgment comes, the light will come and you will see things as they really are, not because the light's in you at judgment, but because Christ has come to judge, and you will see things plainly and clearly, and you will know yourself to be condemned. 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:43.119 You have rejected God. 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:48.480 Then secondly, are you looking for the truth? 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:51.359 And secondly, are you looking with clarity? 00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:55.599 So Jesus gives this teaching and then he goes right into application. 00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:58.160 There's this long conversation, right? 00:27:58.240 --> 00:28:01.440 So Jesus does this, and the Pharisees are like, well, let's have them to dinner. 00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:02.319 Let's recline. 00:28:02.559 --> 00:28:06.960 And they wash their hands, and Jesus washed his hands, which is a huge offense to them. 00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:12.480 I mean, there's so much in the Shema about how they're supposed to wash, and I mean, it's just like ridiculous, like all these rituals. 00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:15.920 And Jesus would have known all those things, and he knew what he was doing. 00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:21.519 He wasn't just kind of like, hey, I'm just going to be a jerk and not wash my hands, and my heads are dirty, and we'll see what they do. 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:23.920 He's revealing their name their nature. 00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:26.000 He's revealing their hearts. 00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:34.240 I mean, imagine this guy claiming to be God, casts out demons, he's doing his healings, he's doing all his teaching. 00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:38.000 Then you bring him to dinner, he doesn't wash his hands the right way. 00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:39.680 And you're just like, no way. 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:43.119 Like he can't be, he can't be like God. 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.880 There's just no way. 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:56.400 And Jesus said to him, Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup of the in the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:58.319 You fools. 00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:02.640 Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:06.319 What a rebuke from the Lord. 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:10.000 What a rebuke to the Pharisees. 00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:15.759 And he goes on and talking about how they're so good at giving. 00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:17.920 And the Pharisees were phenomenal givers. 00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:19.279 They would tithe on everything. 00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:25.759 A tenth of everything that came in, every grain, every little bit of seasoning, like literally everything. 00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:28.160 They were just phenomenal tithers. 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:31.680 But that's about as far as it went. 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:37.759 They give, but they neglect justice, verse 42 says. 00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:40.160 They forget the love of God. 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:44.079 You should have done one, not the other. 00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:45.599 So what's he say in 43? 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:47.599 Woe to you, Pharisees. 00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:53.279 You love the best seats in the synagogue and you greet greetings in the marketplace. 00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:56.400 Woe to you, for you are like unmarked graves. 00:29:56.640 --> 00:30:00.240 People walk over them without knowing it. 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:04.880 Could there have been a greater insult to the Pharisees? 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:06.480 You're nothing. 00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:08.880 You're like an unmarked grave. 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:10.240 People just walk all over you. 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:11.519 They don't know it. 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:13.519 You are not remembered. 00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:15.440 You're meaningless. 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:20.000 And then the lawyers who are apparently there. 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:21.759 Well, hold on. 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:23.039 Question here. 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:25.599 That's kind of insulting us, too, you know? 00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:27.119 And Jesus is like, yeah. 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:30.559 So for you guys, woe to you, lawyers. 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:31.839 Why? 00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:34.240 You load the people with burdens. 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:36.640 This law, these commandments. 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:40.480 Like you gotta do this, you gotta do this, you gotta wash your hands this way, and you gotta do this thing. 00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:41.839 Woe to you. 00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:47.599 For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. 00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:52.000 I mean, Jesus is not holding back at all. 00:30:52.160 --> 00:30:54.079 He's just saying, listen, woe to you. 00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:59.039 You're building the tombs for the prophets that your fathers killed. 00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:04.640 You are in cahoots, you're with your fathers who killed the prophets. 00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:07.440 You are against God. 00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:11.759 Verse 49. 00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:32.720 Therefore also the wisdom of God said, I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute, so that the blood of all the prophets shed from the foundation of the world may be charged against this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. 00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:36.640 Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:42.319 Woe to you, lawyers, for you have taken away the keys of knowledge. 00:31:42.640 --> 00:31:48.000 You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering. 00:31:50.000 --> 00:32:03.519 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard, and to provoke him to speak about many things, lying in wait for him to catch him in something that he might say. 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:08.240 What a powerful interaction. 00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:11.119 Here these guys have brought Jesus in for lunch. 00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:15.440 I have no idea if he got to the lunch part with these guys and all. 00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:20.000 But these rebukes, why? 00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:24.160 Why is Jesus using such strong and harsh language? 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:30.240 I would submit to you, this is an act of love from Jesus to them. 00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:32.160 He's rebuking them. 00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:34.720 He's telling them their error. 00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:37.839 He's telling them their faults. 00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:44.079 In all his ministry on earth, he's been teaching about repentance. 00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:47.599 Teaching about repentance. 00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:52.640 We know later on in the gospel of Luke, there are some Pharisees who repent. 00:32:54.640 --> 00:32:57.519 But Jesus is making it very clear. 00:32:58.799 --> 00:33:01.039 He's revealing to them their actions. 00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:05.519 He's saying, are you looking with clarity? 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:10.319 Are you looking to be those who follow God? 00:33:10.720 --> 00:33:18.079 Or are you just looking to be people who make their own laws and then slap each other on the back for keeping part of these laws? 00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:21.920 Are you worshipers of God? 00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:25.359 Are you lawmakers? 00:33:28.079 --> 00:33:30.319 Another quote here from a commentary. 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:35.519 Jesus' appeal was similar to his response on a similar occasion. 00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:38.000 Quote, you hypocrites. 00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:41.359 Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you. 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:45.839 These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:47.440 They worship me in vain. 00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:50.720 Their teachings are but rules taught by men. 00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:55.839 This is Jesus in Matthew 15, quoting Isaiah 29. 00:33:56.720 --> 00:34:02.240 Their external lip service was at odds with their internal heart reality. 00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:10.639 Their freshly washed hands and their clean garments did not match the condition of their hearts. 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:18.480 And how easy it is for us also to get caught up. 00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:30.880 I think it is hard for us to understand just the reality of Israel at this time with the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the law and how religious the system was in this culture. 00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:33.199 It's hard for us to even grasp that. 00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:37.760 But the reality of our heart, the nature of our heart, is similar. 00:34:38.320 --> 00:35:01.760 We do do this where we kind of make rules, and then we want to keep the rules, and we want others to keep the rules, and maybe they're good rules, but if they're not from the Bible, then what we're doing is we're creating law that's going to make us prideful, it's going to make us arrogant. 00:35:02.719 --> 00:35:05.039