LUKE 5:33-6:11
HIGHER STANDARDS
I remember a commercial for Hebrew National Hot Dogs. They basically said that while other hot dogs could do certain things to lessen the quality of their franks, Hebrew National could not. Because they were Kosher frankfurters the company said they answered to a "Higher authority".
History declares that Henry Clay was about to introduce a certain bill in Congress when a friend said, "If you do, Clay, it will kill your chance for the presidency." http://www.gospelweb.net/Americana/shortquotes4.htm
"'But is the measure right,' Clay asked, and upon being assured that it was right said, "I would rather be right than president."
According to syndicated columnist Bob Greene, Rob Mouw "played on the soccer team in his senior year at Wheaton Christian High School. In the final seconds of the a big game against favored Waubonsie Valley, with his team behind by one goal, Rob was dribbling the ball in front of him, running at full speed toward the opponent's goal. Just before he shot the ball, though, he caught sight of the scoreboard. The clock read 00.00. But like any good athlete, Rob shot the ball anyway, and it went if for a goal. The referee signaled that the goal counted, and the game finished in a tie.
The Wheaton fans cheered, The Waubonsie Valley fans cried that time had run out.
Rob had a choice to make. He could say nothing and avoid a loss. After all, it was the referee's job to decide the calls not his. Or Rob could do what was right.
Rob asked the referee whether the official time was kept on the scoreboard or the referee's stopwatch.
The referee said the scoreboard time was official and then ran off the field. Rob went to his coaches and explained that just before his kick, he had seen zeros on the scoreboard clock. Sine he hadn't heard a whistle, he kept playing. But his goal was late, and he didn't think it should count.
His coaches agreed, and so they went over to the opposing coaches, explained what had happened and conceded victory to Waubonsie Valley.
Bob Greene ended his article with this quote from Rob Mouw: 'Every time in your life you have an opportunity to do right, you should be thankful. For a person to know what right is, and then not to do it-that would be a sin. To have won the game-I mean, really, who cares? Doing the right thing is more important. It lets you have peace." http://www.gatewaychurch.org/content/view/106/85/
A meat company, a politician, and a high school soccer player had something in common. All three adhered to high standards. It's important to have high standards, but it is possible to have high standards, and find out that they are wrong. High standards are usually good, but when Jesus' standards are higher, they are not.
Tonight we want to look at Jesus living and sharing higher standards that those around him. He was basically in conflict with the Pharisees, who set high standards, especially for others, and didn't always live by them.
We want to see:
THE NEWNESS OF CHRISTIANITY - 5:33-39
THE NATURE OF THE SABBATH - 6:1-5
THE NECESSITY OF DOING GOOD - 6:6-11
Just before this text is the story of Levi or Matthew, the tax collector. Jesus calls Matthew to follow him and Matthew does. Matthew gives a big dinner and tax collectors and probably other unpopular people were there. The Pharisees criticized Jesus because he ate and drank with tax collectors and sinners.
Jesus' answer is classic.
Luke 5:31-32 - And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Jesus was now confronted with a question that probably came from the disciples of John. And it had to do with the
THE NEWNESS OF CHRISTIANITY - 5:33-39
Vs. 33 - Probably the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees were in on this question. Both groups fasted often. The Pharisees even did it twice a week. John's disciples probably did it as a solemn reflection of John's serious ministry of calling sinners to repentance. With fasting came prayers. It was being suggested that the disciples of Jesus were not praying as they should because they were not fasting.
Actually in the Jewish law there was only one day a year where fasting was required. That was the Day of Atonement. It was practiced more often and there are records of people fasting in the Old Testament. Jesus even fasted for 40 days during his time of temptation.
There was certainly a distinction between the ministry of Jesus and those of the Pharisees and disciples of John. Jesus' ministry was more joyful in nature, but did not neglect prayer.
There is record in the Scriptures of Jesus and the disciples praying. The disciples even requested that Jesus teach them to pray.
H.A. Ironside suggested that it was being implied that Jesus' disciples were too happy. The Pharisees and disciples of John the Baptist were probably very serious.
Vs. 34 - Jesus' presence was a time of great joy. He was the bridegroom and the disciples were the friends of the bride. A wedding was a time of joy, and Jesus being with his people was a time of joy.
I think that it is good to point out that for us Christianity is to be an experience of Joy. What reasons do we have to be joyful?
· "The joy of the Lord is thy strength" - Nehemiah 8:10
· We are told to rejoice in the Lord - Philippians 4:4
· The fruit of the Spirit is …joy!
· Jesus is risen!
· We are going to Heaven!
· Jesus said "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."
· God answers prayer.
· Jesus gives more abundant life.
Vs. 35 - Jesus did add that the time would come when the bridegroom would be gone. That would be a time of fasting.
I really don't think that Peter and the other disciples were eating after the death of Jesus. They probably fasted.
Should we fast today? That can be debated. There are times when we are to mourn and repent according to James.
James 4:6-10 - But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
In times of repentance and mourning it is possible that fasting is appropriate.
But by and large, Christianity is a religion of joy.
Eating, and not fasting reflects joy.
Remember too, that we are the temple of God. And the Lord Jesus, the bridegroom lives inside of us. Also remember that we are the Bride of Christ. We should be joyful in the presence of our Husband!
Vs. 36 - Jesus is using an illustration here. He is showing that Christianity is totally new. It was not meant to be a "patch" on Judaism. It was not designed to mend the Hebrew religion.
Jesus is saying that if you cut a piece out of a new garment and patch it on to the old you have ruined two garments. The new garment is ruined and the old garment has a new looking patch that looks totally out of place.
Vs. 37 - A wineskin was made from the skin of a sheep or goat.
The hide was stripped of hair and cured and possibly turned inside out. The neck was used as the spout. All other holes were tied up.
When new wine was poured into a skin it still needed to ferment.
The older skins could not tolerate the fermenting action. They
were not flexible enough.
Both the wine and the wineskins would be lost.
Vs. 38 - New wine had to be placed in new wineskins. The flexible skins of the new wineskins could tolerate the fermenting action of the wine.
Christianity was totally new, therefore could not be contained within the Hebrew religion. Within time, Christianity became totally separate from Judaism. Judaism was a religion of law, Christianity is a religion of grace.
I am also reminded that Christianity is "new" because each person has been made new in Christ. We shouldn't go back to the old way of doing things before we were saved. We no longer fit there.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
I am also reminded that God is going to make a new heaven and a new earth. He will make all things new!
Revelation 21:5 - And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Vs. 39 - This was evidently a well known saying of the day.
People who drank the old wine didn't want to try the new wine. They were satisfied with the old wine.
People were resisting the change that Jesus was bringing.
People were so attached to the Law that they didn't want to try Christ. This is indeed a problem today. People are afraid of giving up their lifestyles in order to try Christ.
They fear the changes that Christ will bring!
They don't realize that the freedom and joy and peace that Christ brings is far better than their old lifestyles. They don't want to give up the old wine of a life without Christ.
But I see something else here. Just as the Jews resisted change, we Christians resist change too.
We don't like new ways of doing things, or new music, or new outreaches. Sometimes we hold on to old programs that don't work anymore and fail to try new programs that might reach a new generation for Christ.
If businesses don't change the way they do things, they often die. Their product or the way they make the product becomes obsolete. If churches don't change how they do things, they often die. A new generation views the church as obsolete.
I am not saying we need to change the message or what we believe. That would be heresy. But perhaps we need to change how we deliver the message.
“You,” said the doctor to the patient, “are in terrible shape. You’ve got to do something about it. First, tell your wife to cook more nutritious meals. Stop working like a dog. Also, inform your wife you’re going to make a budget, and she has to stick to it. And have her keep the kids off your back so you can relax. Unless there are some changes like that in your life, you’ll probably be dead in a month.”
“Doc,” the patient said, “this would sound more official coming from you. Could you please call my wife and give her those instructions?”
When the fellow got home, his wife rushed to him. “I talked to your doctor,” she wailed. “Poor man, you’ve only got thirty days to live.”
Could it be that we'd rather kill someone or ourselves rather than change?
THE NEWNESS OF CHRISTIANITY - 5:33-39
THE NATURE OF THE SABBATH - 6:1-5
Vss. 1 - The disciples were walking through a field and began to pick the grain, break it open and eat it. According to Old Testament Law, this was legal.
Deuteronomy 23:24-25 - When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel. When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn.
Vs. 2 - The Pharisees began to criticize. According to them, what was being done was not legal on the Sabbath Days.
Exodus 20:9-10 - Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Now you and I would not categorize picking grain, popping it open and eating it as "work" on a Sabbath Day. The Pharisees did because the Jewish people had written a book that interpreted God's Law, called the Mishnah.
According to the Pharisees, the disciples were reaping, when they picked the grain, threshing when they popped the grain open, and winnowing when they discarded the chaff.
Vss. 3-4 - Jesus refers the Pharisees back to one of their famous ancestors, David. He reminds them of a time when David ate bread that was intended only for the use of the priests according to God's Law. David and his men were starving and the only bread available was that bread. The priest gave it to him.
What's the point? Human need was more important than ceremonial law.
Jesus was showing that the Sabbath was not designed to create man problems, but to be a blessing.
In Mark's account of the same story there is another verse.
Mark 2:27 - And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
The Sabbath was given so that man would rest and have time to worship God. The Sabbath was given to man to help him. Man was not to be a servant of the Sabbath Day rules so that man would suffer hardship.
Vs. 5 - Here is an important teaching. Jesus is the Son of Man. That's one of His titles. He is Lord of the Sabbath! He has the authority to tell His followers what to do on the Sabbath and to interpret the Scriptures.
The nature of the Sabbath is that Jesus is Lord!
What would He have his disciples do on this day?
He would want them to eat and not starve.
He would want them to enjoy God and His presence.
He would want them to meet the needs of others, if there were a need.
Now how does this teaching relate to you and I?
First of all, we need to remember that the Lord does not require us to keep the Sabbath in the New Testament. The Lord's Day is mentioned when believers assembled. That would be Sunday.
Secondly, we should remember that the principles of worship and rest are still in order. We do not need to rigidly keep a Sabbath but we should rest. Also we are told not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, so we should meet regularly for corporate worship.
Hebrews 10:24-25 - And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Third, we must remember that not only is Jesus Lord of the Sabbath, but He is Lord every day of the week! We are to allow Him to direct our activity in worship and recreation.
John 13:13 - Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
THE NEWNESS OF CHRISTIANITY - 5:33-39
THE NATURE OF THE SABBATH - 6:1-5
THE NECESSITY OF DOING GOOD - 6:6-11
Vs. 6-7 - The stage is set. Jesus is in the synagogue and so are his critics. Notice that they are gathered to see if Jesus would heal, not because they cared about the well being of the man, but because they wanted a reason to accuse Jesus!
Vss. 8-9 - Jesus puts a different perspective on this man's illness.
The Sabbath was being used as an excuse for not doing what was good. People were not supposed to heal on a Sabbath day unless it was a life-threatening situation.
Jesus asks the question of Vs. 9. - Read
I get the impression that Jesus is implying that if we see a need any day and don't try to meet it we are doing evil.
And if we don't strive to preserve life, we are destroying it.
When it comes to helping people, Jesus was not fussy about the day of the week. And he doesn't want his followers to be fussy either.
We are the ones who should be known for our good works.
Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Titus 2:14 - Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
It had been a long day on Capitol Hill for Senator John Stennis. He was looking forward to a bit of relaxation when he got home. After parking the car, he began to walk toward his front door. Then it happened. Two people came out of the darkness, robbed him, and shot him twice. News of the shooting of Senator Stennis, the chairman of the powerful Armed Forces Committee, shocked Washington and the nation.
For nearly seven hours, Senator Stennis was on the operating table at Walter Reed Hospital. Less than two hours later, another politician was driving home when he heard about the shooting.
He turned his car around and drove directly to the hospital. In the hospital, he noticed that the staff was swamped and could not keep up with the incoming calls about the Senator’s condition. He spotted an unattended switchboard, sat down, and voluntarily went to work. He continued taking calls until daylight.
Sometime during that next day, he stood up, stretched, put on his overcoat, and just before leaving, he introduced himself quietly to the other operator, “I’m Mark Hatfield. Happy to help out.” Then Senator Mark Hatfield unobtrusively walked out. The press could hardly handle that story. There seemed to be no way for a conservative Republican to give a liberal Democrat a tip of the hat, let alone spend hours doing a menial task and be “happy to help out.” http://www.bible.org/illus.php?topic_id=756
That's how Jesus was, "Happy to help out."
That's how we should be, "Happy to help out."
Vss. 10-11 - That's what Jesus did - He helped out!
HIGHER STANDARDS:
THE NEWNESS OF CHRISTIANITY - 5:33-39
THE NATURE OF THE SABBATH - 6:1-5
THE NECESSITY OF DOING GOOD - 6:6-11