Sermon # 78 Luke
Sermons
Title:
“Behold, A Greater
Than Solomon is Here!”
Text: Luke 11:31
Subject: The Queen of
Date: Sunday Evening –
Tape # W-96a
Introduction:
Here is a poem I often read to myself when I am
preparing a message for you. I keep it in the back of my Bible and frequently
read it silently, as a prayer to God just before I stand up to preach. It was
written a long, long time ago by another preacher – Francis Havergal.
Lord, speak to me
that I may speak
In living words of Thy
grace;
As Thou sought me, so let me
seek
Thine elect sons of every
race.
Lord, Oh, lead me
that I may lead
The wandering and the
wavering feet;
Feed me, Lord, that I may
feed
Others with Thy manna sweet.
Lord, strengthen me
that as I stand
Firm on the Rock and strong
in Thee,
I may stretch out a loving
hand
To weary ones on a troubled
sea.
Oh, teach me, Lord,
that I may teach
The precious truth Thou dost
impart,
And bless my words that they
may reach
The hidden depths of another
heart.
Supply my needs, O gracious
Lord,
That I may give to those in
need;
I long to show along life’s
road
My love not only in Word but
in deed.
Oh, use me, Lord, even me,
Just as you will and when
and where,
Until Thy blessed face I
see,
Thy rest, Thy joy, and Thy
glory there.
That is my prayer to God as
I deliver my message tonight. My text is Luke 11:31.
(Luke 11:31) "The queen of the south shall rise up in
the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came
from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold,
a greater than Solomon is here."
Proposition: Our Lord’s doctrine here is
crystal clear.—Unbelief is inexcusable.
He tells us that the Queen
of the South, the Queen of Sheba, shall rise from the dead, and stand as a
witness against this generation (those who see and hear the things you see and
hear) at the day of judgment, and that by her example and practices she will
condemn you who stoutly refuse to believe on him. She will stand in the day of
judgment to declare the justice of your everlasting condemnation.
“For she came from
the uttermost parts of the earth,” from a far away country
to Jerusalem, expending great trouble, time, and money, “to hear the
wisdom of Solomon.” This woman, who was a Gentile, came all
that great distance to hear Solomon’s wisdom “concerning the name of
the Lord.”
“And behold, a greater
than Solomon is here.”—The Lord Jesus Christ is infinitely greater than
Solomon. Yet, you ignore him. He is distinctly greater than Solomon in those
very things in which Solomon excelled above all other men.
·
In Wisdom, for Christ is the Wisdom of God!
·
In Riches, for He possesses all things.
·
In Peace, for He is the Prince of Peace!
·
In Dominion, for He is the King of kings and Lord of lords!
Let’s go back to 1 Kings 10
and see what the Lord is teaching us in this verse. Clearly, the Queen of Sheba
is held before us as an example of the way in which sinners ought to come to
Christ seeking the wisdom of God in him, applying their hearts to wisdom,
seeking God’s salvation.
(1 Kings
10:1) "And when the queen of
Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to
prove him with hard questions."
1. This woman "heard
of the fame of Solomon." By one means or another, she heard
about Solomon.
·
She heard from others that God had given Solomon a wise and
understanding heart (1 Kings 3:5-14; 4:29-30).
(1 Kings
4:29-30) "And God gave Solomon
wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the
sand that is on the sea shore. (30) And Solomon's wisdom excelled
the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of
Egypt."
·
She heard great reports concerning his acts, his wisdom, and concerning
the wealth and glory of his kingdom (1 Kings 10:4-6).
2. Like the Queen of Sheba, you
have heard of one infinitely greater than Solomon. You have heard the
report of God’s own Word concerning the person and work of the Lord Jesus
Christ (Rom. 5:6-11; Gal. 4:4-5; Isa. 7:14; Isa. 9:6).
(Romans
5:6-11) "For when we were yet
without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (7) For
scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some
would even dare to die. (8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in
that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (9) Much more then,
being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
(10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death
of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (11)
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus
Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."
(Galatians
4:4-5) "But when the fulness of the
time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
(5) To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the
adoption of sons."
·
His Eternal Deity and Redemptive Glory (Heb. 1:1-5).
(Hebrews
1:1-5) "God, who at sundry times
and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
(2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath
appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (3) Who
being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person,
and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself
purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (4) Being
made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more
excellent name than they. (5) For unto which of the angels said he at
any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be
to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?"
·
His Mediatorial Wisdom and Sovereign Power (Col. 1:16-19).
(Colossians
1:16-18) "For by him were all
things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and
invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or
powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (17) And he is
before all things, and by him all things consist. (18) And he is the
head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the
dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."
·
His Substitutionary Death and Blood Atonement (Rom. 8:1-4).
(Romans
8:1-4) "There is therefore
now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in
Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (3) For
what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending
his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the
flesh: (4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
·
As Paul told Festus, "These things were not done in a corner"
(Acts 26:25-26).
(1 Kings
10:1-2) "And when the queen of
Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to
prove him with hard questions. (2) And she came to Jerusalem with a very
great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious
stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was
in her heart."
Hearing the things she did
about Solomon, the Queen of Sheba came to see him and hear him for herself. She
took the right course; she came directly to Solomon.
This is what I call you to
do. Come to Christ. Come directly to him. Do not be satisfied with only hearing
of Him (Matt. 11:28-30; John 7:37-39; John 6:37-39). “Behold, a
greater than Solomon is here!”
(Matthew
11:28-30) "Come unto me, all ye that
labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke
upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find
rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is
light."
(John
6:37-39) "All that the Father
giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast
out. (38) For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the
will of him that sent me. (39) And this is the Father's will which hath
sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should
raise it up again at the last day."
(John
7:37-39) "In the last day, that
great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man
thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (38) He that believeth on me,
as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(39) (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him
should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus
was not yet glorified.)"
Someone once asked his
pastor, "Please write down in black and white what I am to believe. There
are so many texts; give me one to read and believe." The pastor replied,
"It is not any one text nor any number of texts that save, anymore than a
man-slayer could be saved by reading the sign posts on the road to the city of
refuge. He must go to and enter the city. Salvation is in Christ and in coming
to him. When a man is thirsty, he is not satisfied by studying the well, but by
drinking (John 6:53-57-, Col. 1:27; Gal. 4:1-9).
The queen came to prove
Solomon with many hard questions. She “communed with him all that was
in her heart." She asked questions she could not answer and
others could not answer, but Solomon could.
“Behold, a greater
than Solomon is here!”—Christ is the Wisdom of God. He is Wisdom.
Christ is the Truth. If you would know God and the mysteries of redemption and
grace, salvation and eternal life, ask Christ (Luke 10:22; John 1:18) the great
and hard questions that confuse you. He
will answer. Indeed, he has answered them.
·
How can a man be just with God? How can he be clean that is born of
woman? (Rom. 3:19-23)
·
How can God be just and justifier? (Rom. 3:24-26)
·
How can a man be born when he is old? (John 3:4-8)
·
If a man die, shall he live again? (John 11:25-27)
·
How is it that God sees and knows all things, yet does not see and does not remember our sins? (Heb.
10:11-17)
·
All Old Testament prophecies, pictures, types, and sacrifices point to
someone and to some great event. Who is He? (Luke 24:44-47; Acts 10:43)
(Luke
24:44-47) "And he said unto them,
These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you,
that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in
the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. (45) Then
opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
(46) And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to
suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: (47) And that
repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem."
(Acts 10:43) "To him give all the prophets witness,
that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of
sins."
(1 Kings
10:3) "And Solomon told her all
her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told
her not."
"And Solomon told
her all her questions." As a type and picture of our blessed Lord,
"there was not anything hid from the King" (John
3:34-35"). “Behold, a greater than Solomon is here!”
(John
3:34-35) "For he whom God hath sent
speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto
him. (35) The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his
hand."
(1 Kings
10:4-7) "And when the queen of
Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,
(5) And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the
attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his
ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit
in her. (6) And she said to the king, It was a true report that I
heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. (7) Howbeit
I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and,
behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame
which I heard."
When the queen had seen
Solomon's wisdom, the house he had built, his riches and devotion, she was
utterly astonished. She was like one in an ecstatic trance. She hardly had
power to speak because what she saw and heard simply overwhelmed her.
She said to the King, "What they told me
about you was true. But it did not compare to what I have seen and heard for
myself! Not even the half was told me Your wisdom and prosperity exceed
everything I thought and everything I heard. It was not until I came and saw
that I really believed."
Bear me witness, my brothers
and sisters.—“Behold, a greater than Solomon is here!”—Though
we heard of Christ's love, mercy, grace, and glory, it was not until we came to
him ourselves, it was not until we trusted him for ourselves that we saw and
experienced in him the wisdom and power and glory of God (Job 42:1-6; Isa.
6:1-4; John 1:1-4). We stand amazed (Is
it not so?) in the presence of our all-glorious Lord and Savior, realizing that
it is impossible to put into words the riches of His grace and glory (2 Cor.
12:2-4).
(1 Kings
10:8) "Happy are thy men,
happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and
that hear thy wisdom."
“Behold, a greater
than Solomon is here!”—Let me tell you this. Those who belong to
Christ are truly blessed! O Blessed Son of God, “Happy are thy men, happy
are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy
wisdom!”
"Blessed is the man
whom thou chooseth" (Psalm 65:4) "Blessed is the man whose sin
is covered" (Psalm 32:1-2). "Blessed are the eyes that see and
the ears that hear" (Matt. 13:16). "Blessed is the man whose
delight is in the Lord" (Psalm 1:1-3). Blessed are those who know Him,
love Him, and dwell by faith in Him.
(1 Kings
10:9) "Blessed be the LORD thy
God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the
LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and
justice."
The Queen of Sheba blessed
the Lord God Who delighted in Solomon, Who put him on the throne of Israel to
exercise judgment and mercy.
“Behold, a greater
than Solomon is here!”—The Father loves the Son and has given
"all things" into his hands (John 3:35). The Father delights
in the Son and gave him preeminence in all things and over all things (Pro.
8:23-30; Matt. 3:17; Col. 1:18). The Father made Christ the Surety, Prophet,
Priest, and King of his Israel because he loved us in Christ with an
everlasting love. Christ came to the earth to honor God's law, satisfy god's
justice, to do judgment and justice that God may be just and justifier of all
who believe (Rom. 3:25-26).
Now, look at
verse 13, and let me show you one more thing.
(1 Kings
10:13) "And king Solomon gave
unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which
Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own
country, she and her servants."
“Behold, a greater
than Solomon is here!”—I am here to tell you upon the authority of
the King’s own Word, as his ambassador to your soul, that the Lord Jesus Christ
will receive every sinner who comes to him for grace.
·
He will give you, not of his royal bounty, but all his royal bounty
(John 17:22).
·
He will give you all that your soul
desires!—Forgiveness!—Righteousness!—Grace!—Eternal Life!
(Matthew
11:28-30) "Come unto me, all ye that
labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke
upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find
rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is
light."