Sermon #80 Luke
Sermons
Title:
If You Wear Your Halo Too Tight
You Give The Rest Of Us
A Headache!
Text: Luke 11:37-54
Subject: Self-righteousness
Date: Sunday Evening –
Tape # W-99a
Introduction:
The
sign in
Immediately, when I read
that sign, I told Larry, “You will probably hear about that Sunday. I knew the
statement made by that sign was exactly the way I wanted to open my message
tonight. It describes the subject of our text to a tee. It is a denunciation of
self-righteousness and hypocrisy.
I would rather stand before
God guilty of any crime than stand before him in the day of judgment guilty of
self-righteousness. Self-righteousness is man’s foolish, ignorant attempt to make himself
righteous.—It is the hypocritical claim of men and women that they are good,
righteous, and holy.—It is that great noise of religion and piety by which
people try to silence the inward torment of a guilty
conscience.—Self-righteousness is the religion of fools.
“Ye fools!” (Luke
11:41) That is exactly what our Lord called the Pharisees and Scribes of his
day; and that is exactly what I call them today. It takes a little intelligence
to be selfish; but it takes total ignorance to be self-righteous! The word our
Lord uses for “fools” here is not the same word used in the sermon on
the mount (Matt.
There is nothing in all the world so contemptible, so obnoxious, so hateful to our God as self-righteousness. Yet, there is nothing more natural to us!
(Isaiah 65:2-5) "I have spread out my hands all the day
unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good,
after their own thoughts; 3 A people that provoketh me to anger
continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon
altars of brick; 4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the
monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their
vessels; 5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am
holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all
the day."
(1 Corinthians 4:7) "For who maketh thee to differ from
another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst
receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”
Read Luke 11:37-54 with me. Our Lord was invited to have dinner with a Pharisee; and he accepted the invitation. While he was there, the Pharisees, the scribes, the lawyers, those who pretended to be righteous, gave him exactly the background upon which to show the character and folly of self-righteousness.
(Luke
11:37-38) "And as he spake, a
certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to
meat. 38 And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had
not first washed before dinner."
(Luke 11:39-44) "And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye
Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward
part is full of ravening and wickedness. 40 Ye fools, did not he that
made that which is without make that which is within also? 41 But rather
give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto
you. 42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all
manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to
have done, and not to leave the other undone. 43 Woe unto you,
Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in
the markets. 44 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye
are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not
aware of them."
(Luke
11:45) "Then answered one of the
lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also."
(Luke
11:46-52) "And he said, Woe unto
you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne,
and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 Woe
unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed
them. 48 Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers:
for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres. 49 Therefore
also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some
of them they shall slay and persecute: 50 That the blood of all the
prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of
this generation; 51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias,
which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It
shall be required of this generation. 52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye
have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them
that were entering in ye hindered."
(Luke
11:53-54) "And as he said these
things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently,
and to provoke him to speak of many things: 54 Laying wait for him, and
seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him."
I. Self-righteousness is always more concerned about the
traditions of men than the Word of God.
"The Pharisee marveled that He had not first washed before
dinner" (v. 38).
The Pharisees of Christ's day not only held the traditions of the
elders about hand-washing, but in their superstitious zeal bathed their bodies
before eating a meal (Mark 11. 4, R.V.). Yes, the law of God required the
ceremonial purification to which their tradition pointed; but by adding their
traditions to the Word of God they nullified the commandment of God.
·
Creeds
and Confessions
·
Historic
Theology
·
Denominational
Customs
·
Church
Covenants
·
Religious
Taboos
In the heavenly truthful dignity of His character, our Master
purposefully ignored their traditions. We ought to follow his example. The sons
of God are not to be in bondage to the traditions and customs of men! Those who
are made free by Christ are free indeed!
Here is the Son of God, the embodiment of truth and holiness,
standing before this Pharisee. Yet, this self-righteous hypocrite despised the
Lord of Glory and judged him to be a sinner because he did not conform to the
petty custom of washing his hands at a public dinner!
II. Self-righteousness is always more concerned about the
outward form of godliness than heart faith and worship.
"They make clean the outside of the cup, but the inward is
full of ravening and wickedness" (v. 39).
They live for the approval and applause of men, not for the
acceptance of God. Their religion is a religion men can see and measure. All
hypocrites are men pleasers. They will make their hands clean, though their
hearts are full of wickedness. They look upon the things which are seen. They
profess to know God, but in works they deny Him (Titus 1. 16). They deny that
"out of the heart proceed evil thoughts," that these are the
things which defile a man (Matt. 15. 19, 20). They make a great show of
godliness, but have no concern for God or man. Their only object is themselves!
They have a form of godliness, but deny the power of it!
·
They
say their prayers, but know nothing of prayer.
·
They
go to church, but know nothing of worship.
·
They
pay their tithes, but know nothing of giving.
III. Self-righteousness is always totally ignorant of all
things spiritual.—“Ye fools!”—When it comes to spiritual
matters, they have neither mind nor understanding.
I do not say they are not smart. They may be brilliant. I do not
even say they are not orthodox. They may be thoroughly so. But they do not
understand anything about themselves, God, or Christ, sin, righteousness, or
salvation. They know neither the law of God nor the gospel of God. All they
know is religious words, customs, traditions, and facts!
·
Being
ignorant of their own hearts, they vainly imagine they are good!
·
Being
ignorant of God’s righteousness, the go about to establish their own
righteousness.
(Matthew
5:20) "For I say unto you, That
except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes
and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
(Romans
9:30-33) "What shall we say then?
That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to
righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But
(Romans
10:1-4) "Brethren, my heart's
desire and prayer to God for
·
The
self-righteous religionist foolishly convinces himself that God will look on
his outward behavior and thereby be blinded to his heart!
IV. Self-righteousness always stickles for trifles, and
neglects the that which is indispensable.
(Luke
11:40-42) "Ye fools, did not
he that made that which is without make that which is within also? 41 But
rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean
unto you. 42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and
all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye
to have done, and not to leave the other undone."
They attempt to make atonement for their sins, mistakes, faults
and errors by doing good works that men applaud.
A. They give alms and feel very good
about their great philanthropy!
Verse 41 is not a commendation, but an accusation. Our Lord is
saying, “You fools! You wash your cups and platters, fill them by devouring
widows’ houses, and then give alms of such things as you have, and ignorantly
imagine that you are holy and clean before God!”
B. They pay tithes (on the
gross, not the net!) while ignoring both the justice of God and the love
of God.
·
The
self-righteous doe not understand that God truly is just; and he will not deal
with men or God upon the grounds of justice. He is a liar and a deceiver.
·
The
self-righteous love themselves and hate both God and their neighbors while
pretending to love them.
·
In
religious matters they are scrupulously orthodox and equally malicious!—They
will argue vehemently for the rules of Church order and discipline and ignore
the gospel!—They will split hairs about polity and pass over the law of the
spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus!—They will split churches and start new
denominations over the singing of psalms or hymns, and never give a thought
about brotherly love!—After hearing a sermon on Christ’s getting a Bride from
among sinners, they want to discuss where Cain got his bride!
V. Self-righteousness loves recognition.
(Luke
11:43) "Woe unto you, Pharisees!
for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the
markets."
The hypocrite is religious, but only so far as it will help to
honor himself and minister to his vanity. He has no thought of adorning the
doctrine of God our Savior, but he seeks to be adorned by the doctrine. If be
holds office in the Church it is that it may add to his dignity. He may seldom
be out of his place in the house of prayer, but his god is his belly. He will
be very zealous in religion if he can gain the flattery of others.
Someone said, “The hypocrite is like a glow-worm, it seems to have
both light and heat, but when you touch it it has neither."
VI. Self-righteousness is always but hypocritical, a
covering for inward corruption.
Self-righteousness is really a manifestation of self-contempt. The
loud noise of self-righteousness is designed to silence the turmoil in a man’s
guilty soul.
(Luke
11:44) "Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that
walk over them are not aware of them."
We seldom think of the foulness and rottenness inside the graves
and tombs when we walk through a cemetery. ''Within, full of dead men's
bones and of all uncleanness.'' A sow that is washed is only a washed sow.
A hypocrite may manage by his white-washing to give no offence to his
fellow-man, but God looketh upon the heart (1 Sam. 16. 7). Be not deceived, God
is not mocked; the hidden man of the heart is naked and bare before the eyes of
the Lord (Psa. 7. 9). The hypocrite lives for that which is "highly
esteemed among men,'' but this is "an abomination in the sight of
God" (Luke 16. 15).
VII. Self-righteousness is always offended by Christ.
·
John
6
·
Galatians
5:11
(Luke
11:45) "Then answered one of the
lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also."
The self-righteous are offended by everything our Master taught.
Everything revealed in the gospel reproaches them…
·
Divine
Sovereignty
·
Total
Depravity
·
Unconditional
Election
·
Limited
Atonement
·
Irresistible
Grace
·
Perseverance
of the Saints
·
Faith
in a Substitute
·
Free
Justification
·
Imputed
Righteousness
·
Knowledge
by Revelation
VIII. Self-righteousness always imposes upon others laws and
rules that it excuses in itself.
(Luke
11: 46) "And he said, Woe unto you
also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and
ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers."
IX. Self-righteousness is the mother of persecution.—They
build monuments to dead prophets, while honoring the men who killed them and
are themselves persecutors of living prophets.
·
John
Knox
·
John
Bunyan
·
C. H.
Spurgeon
(Luke
11:47-51) "Woe unto you! for ye
build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 Truly
ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed
them, and ye build their sepulchres. 49 Therefore also said the wisdom
of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they
shall slay and persecute: 50 That the blood of all the prophets, which
was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished
between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required
of this generation."
X. Self-righteousness keeps sinners from entering the
kingdom of God.
(Luke
11:52) "Woe unto you, lawyers! for
ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them
that were entering in ye hindered."
While practicing religion, observing religious customs, defending
creeds, and establishing churches, mission boards, denominations, Bible
Colleges and Seminaries, the religious hypocrites of this world…
·
Take
away Christ the Key of Knowledge!
·
Refuse
to Enter the Strait Gate.
·
And
stand in the way, blocking the Door, lest others enter in into life
everlasting!
XI. Self-righteousness is always deceitful,
conniving, and underhanded, never open and above board.
(Luke
11:53-54) "And as he said these
things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently,
and to provoke him to speak of many things: 54 Laying wait for him, and
seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him."
Application: In the light of these
things, let me wrap this message up by declaring once more, with all the
clarity God will give me the Key of Knowledge and open the wide the Door (or at
least step out of the way so that you can see and enter in by that Door that is
opened) Christ Jesus. Oh, may God now bring you into life eternal by the Door!
(Romans
10:1-13) "Brethren, my heart's
desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For
I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to
knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going
about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto
the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to every one that believeth. 5 For Moses describeth the
righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall
live by them. 6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this
wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring
Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that
is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The
word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the
word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy
mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth
unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same
Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."