In this passage we see six marks of religious people who are lost. They made money their God, opposed the truth, justified themselves, sought the applause of man, rejected the gospel of the kingdom, and bent God’s Word to suit their own desires.
[powerpress]
6 Marks of Lost Religious People
Luke 16:14-18
There are only two kinds of people in the world – those who have been reconciled to God through union to Jesus Christ, and those who have not been reconciled to God. They are the sheep and the goats, the saved and the lost, the redeemed and the damned.
However, of those who have not been reconciled to God through union with Jesus Christ, there are also two groups – the religious and the irreligious; the moral and the immoral. We saw both types of sinners in Luke 15 where we examined the two lost sons. The younger brother was an example of the irreligious and immoral sinner. He got his inheritance and went off into a distant country to sow his wild oats. He lived it up in sin until his sin made his life too miserable to bear any longer. On the other hand, the elder brother is an example of the moral, religious sinner. He is proud and self-righteous. He believes he has earned heaven by his good works.
In our passage this morning, we will be examining the marks of the second group of people – lost religious people. The greatest example of lost religious people was the Pharisees. They are the ones that this passage centers on. So, this morning we are going to learn a lot about lost religious people, by finding out what the Pharisees’ lives were marked by.
1. They Were Making Money Their God
Verse 14 says, “Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him.” Remember, that Jesus had just given the Parable of the Unrighteous Steward. In that parable He was urging His disciples to use their money to gain the salvation of the lost, and obtain true eternal riches in heaven. He concluded his teaching by telling them that God and money are masters, and you can’t serve both of them at the same time. You will end up loving one and despising the other. So, how did the Pharisees respond to this teaching on the use of money? They scoffed at Him. Why did they scoff at Jesus’ teaching? Because they were lovers of money. In other words, for all intents and purposes, they had chosen their Master, and it was not God! Money was their master. These Pharisees had made money their God. Now folks, what is it called when we make anything other than the God of the Bible our God? It’s called Idolatry. Even though these Pharisees touted themselves as spiritual, and holy, and religious, their practical lives were filled with idolatry. They loved money. They could profess to love and serve God all they wanted, but Jesus was laying their hearts open and telling them it was a real ugly sight.
Friends, we need to take heed that we don’t find ourselves in the same situation as those Pharisees. Are you a lover of money or a lover of God? How much of your time and energy do you invest in seeking money, and how much of your time and energy do you invest in seeking God? What has your heart? What is your God? Is your God the One revealed in Scripture? Do you love and serve Him supremely? Do you believe in and follow the God who is sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient, eternal, free, gracious, loving, kind, just, and wrathful? The sin of idolatry is not just a sin that lost religious people commit. It is a sin that Christians can fall into. That’s why John ends his first letter with these words, “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.” So, I exhort you this morning, guard yourselves from idols!
2. They Were Opposing The Truth
Verse 14 says that the Pharisees were scoffing at Jesus. The word means to sneer, or to mock, or to ridicule. They were looking down on Jesus with disdain, as though his teaching was lame. They thought what He had to say was ridiculous. Now, why would they scoff and sneer at Jesus’ teaching? Because it condemned them! They knew they were not giving their money to help sinners find salvation. They knew that they loved money. And so, in order to justify themselves, they had to demean and belittle Jesus and His teaching. There are really only two possible responses to the truth. Either you humbly receive the truth, or you proudly oppose the truth. Oh, how much better it would have been if the Pharisees would have submitted themselves to the truth Jesus taught. Wouldn’t it have been wonderful, if they had repented of their love of money, and began to use their money to bring people to salvation?
When Paul was brought before Felix, he discussed righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come with him. How did Felix respond? “He became frightened and said, ‘Go away for the present, and when I f ind time I will summon you” (Acts 24:25). I have a feeling that Paul’s words to Felix were a little too hot for him to handle. They hit a little too close to home, and so he told him when he found time he would summon him. Well, you know how that goes. You never find time to do things you don’t want to do.
Listen to James 1:21, “Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.” How should we receive the Word? In humility! The Word cuts like a sword, it burns like a fire. The only way you will receive it is in humility. You and I need to bow beneath the Word, and submit to it, as a servant submits to his Master.
The Pharisees were hostile to the truth, when it condemned their actions. Friends, we need to love the truth, and allow it to purge the sin from our lives. In 2 Thess. 2:8-12 it says, “Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouthy and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.” Did you hear those words? There are people that God will send a deluding influence upon so that they believe what is false in order that they will be judged! Why will God do that? The text says it is because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. Oh, how important it is for us to love the truth, and in humility receive the truth, and put ourselves under the authority of the truth! Are you doing that?
3. They Were Justifying Themselves
Notice Jesus words in Luke 16:15, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.” There are really only two possible ways for a person to approach God. Since God is righteous and holy, we instinctively realize that anyone who approaches Him must also be righteous and holy. So, either you must justify yourself, and claim you are righteous because of your good works, or you must confess your wretchedness, cast yourself on God’s mercy, and by faith receive the gift of God’s righteousness. Either you will approach God in your own self-righteousness, or you will approach God in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. There are only two options. The Pharisees made the wrong choice. They justified themselves.
Paul said in Philippians 3:9 that he wanted to be “found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.”
However, even though the Pharisees justified themselves, Jesus said that God knew their hearts. They justified themselves, but God did not justify them. The scary thing about people that justify themselves, is that God does not justify them! Jesus told a parable in Luke 18:9-14 to those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt. Jesus was speaking to those that justified themselves. That’s what it means to trust in yourself that you are righteous. He tells a parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector that go up to the temple to pray. After the Pharisee prays a proud, self-congratulatory prayer, and the tax collector prays a humble prayer of confession and supplication for mercy, Jesus gives us the conclusion to the parable. He said that it was the tax collector, rather than the Pharisee who went home justified! For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Jesus goes on to say, “for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.” What is highly esteemed among men? Money, outward morality, religion, good works. Yet, a person can do all of these things and not be motivated for God’s glory or the good of people. He can do all these things out of a desire for the applause of men. While he is showing off his religion and morality, he may be motivated by covetousness, hypocrisy and pride, and that is detestable in the sight of God! The word “detestable” actually refers to what is “abominable” in the sight of God. It is that which God hates. It refers to idol-worship in the Old Testament. My friend, you can do all the right things, but if you are actuated and motivated by love of self, and the applause of others, and the love of money, God hates it!
Oh, be careful to make sure you are not justifying yourself, all the while God has not justified you. Oh, make very sure that you are justified, that is declared righteous in God’s sight. How can a man be justified before God? “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him” (Rom. 5:9). “Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24). Did you hear that? We are justified by faith, by His blood, by His grace. Faith – blood – grace. Are you trusting in yourself or in Another? If you trust in yourself, you will be damned. If you trust in Christ, you shall be justified!
4. They Were Seeking The Applause of Man
Look back at Luke 16:15, and notice very carefully five little words, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men.” There you have it. The Pharisees were working so hard to impress men. They wanted to be praised and applauded by men. They weren’t seeking to be justified in the sight of God. All the outward good works, and religious devotion that they performed was done for the eyes of men, not God! No matter, how many good things they did, in God’s sight they were all an abomination. The only way for something to be a truly good work is for you to do it out of love for God, by faith in God, for the glory of God. God, must be the end of your works. If you do them to be seen of men, you have spoiled that good work, and what’s more you have lost any eternal reward for them. Isn’t that what Jesus taught in Matthew 6:1 when He said, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.” Then he goes on to flesh that principle out in three practical areas – giving, prayer, and fasting. When we give, we are not to call attention to ourselves, but give in secret. When we pray, we are not to do it to be seen of men, but are to go into our prayer closets and pray in secret. When we fast, we are not to put on a gloomy face so that everyone will know we are fasting, but are to anoint our head and wash our face so that our fasting will not be noticed by men. These acts of devotion must be done for God’s applause, not man’s.
When we were meeting at the little storefront building a few years ago, sometimes I would come out and preach to 8 or 10 people. Honestly, that was sometimes very discouraging. Every week we were hoping that new people would come, and when they didn’t, and even some of our own people didn’t come, it was really hard. But before the service, a few of the men would pray together, and I remember Kelly Salas telling me on several occasions, “You are preaching for an Audience of 1!” After we were done with prayer, I could come out and preach my heart out, no matter how many or how few were present.
Have you noticed that if you are truly doing something for God, it doesn’t matter how menial or demeaning, or difficult that thing is. If you are doing it for God, it becomes a sweet privilege. It doesn’t matter if anyone else notices what you are doing. It is enough that God notices, and you have shown your love for Him.
My friends, don’t make the same mistake the Pharisees made. Seek God’s approval and applause above all!
5. They Were Rejecting the Gospel of the Kingdom
We see this truth in verses 16 and 17, “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail.” The “Law and the Prophets” is another way to speak of the Old Testament scriptures. Since there were no New Testament scriptures then, they would not have spoken of the Old Testament scriptures. They simply called their Bible The Law and the Prophets. In verse 17, Jesus refers to the Old Testament scriptures as the Law. The Old Testament could be called The Law and the Prophets, or just abbreviated as The Law. What is Jesus saying? He’s saying that the Old Testament scriptures were proclaimed over and over down through the centuries. The central message of the Law and the Prophets was that God would send a Messiah who would deliver His people. God gave His people pictures of this Messiah over and over in the Old Testament. He was pictured as the animal skins that God covered Adam and Eve with. He was the ark that saved Noah and his family from judgment. He was pictured in Melchizedek, the King of Salem. He was seen in the Feasts and Festivals of Israel, especially the Passover feast, and the Day of Atonement. He was seen in the animal sacrifices, and the Old Testament priests. Furthermore, God gave direct and specific prophecies concerning Him in Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. He told His people that their Messiah would be born in Bethlehem by a virgin. He would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. He would be betrayed by a trusted friend. His hands and His feet would be pierced. People would throw dice to obtain his garments. His death would atone for the sins of others. Then, He would rise from the dead. This was all predicted in the Law and the Prophets.
The Jewish people proclaimed these scriptures and these prophecies until John. When John the Baptist arrived on the scene, there was a radical shift in God’s program. Something brand new was introduced. John the Baptist was the link between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. He lived during the transition between the two. But, at the coming of John the Baptist, something radically new began to be preached – the kingdom of God. This was the message of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” John was sent to prepare the way for the Lord. Essentially, John was proclaiming that the King had come. Messiah was here. All men must repent in order to prepare for His arrival and enter His kingdom.
Now, what was the response to John and Jesus’ preaching of the kingdom? Everyone was forcing their way into it. Of course, this is not to be taken in a wooden literal fashion. Most of the scribes and Pharisees were not forcing their way into it. But a great number of the common people, including the harlots, tax collectors, and notorious sinners were rushing into the kingdom. Mark 1:5 says concerning John, “And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.” Concerning Jesus, Luke 15:1 says, “Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.” The common person heard Him gladly. Through the ministry of John and Jesus, there was a great awakening, a massive spiritual stirring. People were rushing and forcing their way into the kingdom. The violent were taking the kingdom by force. Whatever they had to do to get into this kingdom, they were willing to do. If it meant denying themselves, taking up their cross and following Him, they were willing. If it meant losing their lives for His sake, that was fine. They had to get into this kingdom, and were willing to do whatever it took to get in. The common person embraced the gospel of the kingdom.
However, the Pharisees didn’t! Listen to Luke 7:29-30, “When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God’s justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John.” There you have it. The tax collectors embraced the gospel of the kingdom, but the Pharisees rejected the gospel of the kingdom. They refused to confess their sins, repent, and be baptized. They were too good for that. And thus, they shut themselves out of the kingdom.
Notice verse 17, “But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail.” What is this verse teaching? It is saying that all the prophecies of this Messiah to come would be fulfilled. None of them would fail. All would come to pass. I don’t believe this is giving a teaching on the Law or the 10 Commandments. Jesus was giving a teaching on the Old Testament scriptures. They won’t fail. All those scriptures that pointed to Him would be fulfilled. None would be broken. In Matthew 5:17 Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” There we have the Law and the Prophets again, a synonym for Old Testament scripture. Jesus didn’t come to destroy scripture. He came to fulfill it.
Jesus said it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for any of the Old Testament scriptures to fall to the ground. Heaven and earth are a Hebraism meaning the entire universe. Jesus was saying the whole universe would be destroyed and cease to exist, before any of the scriptures would fail to come to pass. In other words all of the prophecies concerning the Messiah, the Savior, the King of Israel would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Do you see the main point here? While everyone was forcing their way into the kingdom, the Pharisees were being shut out, because they would not humble themselves and seek mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Oh my friends, don’t make their mistake! Instead of rejecting the gospel, embrace it with all your heart! The gospel is the only hope for mankind. Love the gospel! Treasure the gospel. Believe the gospel! Obey the gospel! Live the gospel!
6. They Were Bending God’s Word To Suit Their Own Desires
Notice verse 18, “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.” Jesus is still addressing the character of the Pharisees. At this point in history, there were two schools of thought on divorce and remarriage. The rabbi Hillel taught that you could divorce your wife for any reason. Rabbi Shimmai taught that you could only divorce if your wife committed adultery. Well, the Pharisees liked Rabbi Hillel’s interpretation of Deuteronomy 24. And so at this period, many Pharisees had divorced their wives, and had remarried, not because their wife had been unfaithful to them, but for some other lesser reason. The Pharisees believed they could divorce their wife if she burned his dinner, put too much salt in the meals, spun in the street so someone saw her knees, took her hair down, said something unkind about his mother-in-law, was infertile, or if he found someone prettier than her.
So, what does Jesus teach about divorce and remarriage? He says that the person who does it commits adultery, and the person who marries a divorced woman commits adultery also. Now in Mt. 5:32 and Mt. 19:9 an exception is given – that of sexual immorality. The apostle Paul gives another exception in 1 Corinthians 7 – that of an unbeliever deserting a believer. But, apart from sexual immorality, or desertion by an unbeliever, if a person divorces their wife and remarries, Jesus says they are committing adultery. Why? Because God doesn’t recognize the new marriage. God recognizes the first marriage. So, when one of the Pharisees divorced his wife because he found someone prettier, or she couldn’t give him a son, and then married another woman, Jesus said he was living in adultery. The Pharisees were proliferating adulteries all over the place!
Now, the point here is that the Pharisees were bending the Word of God to suit their own desires. They were playing fast and loose with the Word of God when it contradicted what they wanted. They had found a convenient way to “interpret” the Scriptures so that they could do what they wanted.
My friends, beware of making that same mistake in your own life. I have met many people who have justified their divorce and remarriage. “But God wants me to be happy.” That’s a very popular one. I have heard it a million times. No, actually God wants you to be holy. Your unhappiness is not a Biblical reason for you to be able to divorce your wife and marry someone else.
I’ve heard people say their spouse was abusing them emotionally, and so they could divorce them. I’ve heard people say their spouse was not meeting their needs, and so that was grounds for divorce. I’ve heard people say that their spouse was mismanaging money so they were going to divorce them. As far as I can see in the scriptures, God’s plan is a man and woman married for life. There are only two exceptions in scripture that I can find – sexual immorality or desertion by the unbelieving spouse. Apart from those two, it appears from Scripture, that if a person divorces their spouse and remarries, they commit adultery.
My friends, beware of bending God’s Word to suit your own desires. Beware of misinterpreting God’s Word in order to get your own way. We have a friend who had divorced her husband and wanted to remarry. She found a book by an obscure author who condoned divorce and remarriage. He had a long and involved argument. He said that all of us have misunderstood Jesus’ plain words. If we really understood the Greek, and the culture of that day, we would understand that Jesus wasn’t saying what it seems like He’s saying. Hogwash! My friend, don’t go down that road! Be a person of integrity when it comes to the Bible. Let the Bible say what it says. Don’t try to cram it and force it into your own mold. You need to conform to the Bible. The Bible doesn’t conform to what you want it to say. When you read the Bible, the plain and natural meaning is probably the correct one. If you have to resort to some long, involved, and complicated interpretation of the Bible to justify your actions, you have almost certainly misinterpreted Scripture. You are doing just what the Pharisees did.
Perhaps some of you have gone through a divorce and remarriage, and there’s no way you can undo what you have done. Your ex-husband or wife has remarried also, and there are children from the new unions. If you were not divorced for Biblical reasons, first and foremost, you should confess that as sin to God. If you have gone through a divorce, have you ever confessed that sin to God, and repented of it? I would urge you to deal with the issue through confession and repentance, asking God for His forgiveness, and committing to not make the same mistake again in the future.
Conclusion
The six marks of a religious but lost person, should stir us up to diligence, lest we fall into their same sinful patterns.
Let’s not make money or anything else our God, but make the God of the Bible our God.
Let’s not oppose the truth, but humbly receive and love the truth.
Let’s not justify ourselves, but be justified by God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Let’s not seek the applause of men, but seek the praise of God.
Let’s not reject the gospel of the kingdom, but receive and embrace the gospel.
Let’s not bend the Scriptures to suit ourselves, but obey the plain meaning of the Scriptures.
______________________________
© The Bridge
Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by The Bridge.
Follow Us!