May 25
25
Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 22:1–10
“Thus says the LORD: ‘Go down to the house of the king of Judah and speak there this word, and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, who sits on the throne of David, you, and your servants, and your people who enter these gates. Thus says the LORD: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. For if you will indeed obey this word, then there shall enter the gates of this house kings who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their servants and their people. But if you will not obey these words, I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.’ For thus says the LORD concerning the house of the king of Judah: ‘You are like Gilead to me, like the summit of Lebanon, yet surely I will make you a desert, an uninhabited city. I will prepare destroyers against you, each with his weapons, and they shall cut down your choicest cedars and cast them into the fire. And many nations will pass by this city, and every man will say to his neighbor, ‘Why has the LORD dealt thus with this great city?’ And they will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God and worshiped other gods and served them.’ Weep not for him who is dead, nor grieve for him, but weep bitterly for him who goes away, for he shall return no more to see his native land.” (Jeremiah 22:1–10, ESV)
New Testament Reading: Luke 20:45–21:4
“And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’ Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, ‘Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.’” (Luke 20:45–21:4, ESV)
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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church, but without the benefit of proofreading.
Introduction
I’m sure you have heard about families and organizations developing an ethos or culture over time. It’s bound to happen. The core beliefs, values, and priorities of a group will certainly affect the spirit or culture of a group. And I am sure you have heard of the significant impact that leaders will have on a group’s culture. Leaders will likely set the tone for the ethos of the rest of the group. Owners and managers will have a large effect on a company’s culture. Fathers and mothers will set the tone for the family. Elders and deacons are bound to affect the culture of a church. But who is the true head of the church, brothers and sisters? Who is the one who sets the tone and determines the ethos of the Christian community, except Jesus Christ, the Lord?
I do love to read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John with this principle in mind. Not only are we to pay attention to the words that Christ spoke and the things he did, but also to the manner or way in which he did them. Now, granted, not everything that Jesus did is to be done by his disciples, for he is the Messiah, and we are not. But the Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the church. His words are to be obeyed, therefore, and his way of life is to be imitated too. Christ must determine the ethos or culture of the community that bears his name. Christians are to love as Christ has loved (John 13:44; Ephesians 5:25), forgive as we have been forgiven (Ephesians 4:23), value what Christ values (Luke 12:33), and endeavor to align our priorities with his (Matthew 6:33).
It seems to me, there is a lot to learn from the passage that is open before us today, as it pertains to the ethos or culture of Christ’s church.
To set the stage, we must remember that at this point in Christ’s ministry, he was having conflict with the religious elite within Isarel. Upon his entering Jerusalem and the temple, the chief priests, elders, and scribes swarmed Jesus, like bees protecting their hive. They challenged his authority in an attempt to drive him away. But they could not prevail against him. Again and again, he answered them truthfully and winsomely.
Jesus eventually turned his attention to the scribes to question them. They were considered expert interpreters of the Old Testament Scriptures, remember, and so they were used to having legal and religious questions asked of them. Jesus must have embarrassed the scribes when he demonstrated that they did not understand what the Scriptures say about the Messiah. He asked them a question about a very important Messianic Psalm—Psalm 110. “[H]e said to them, ‘How can they say that the Christ is David’s son? For David himself says in the Book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’ David thus calls him Lord, so how is he his son?” (Luke 20:41–44, ESV). They could not answer him, revealing their ignorance regarding the Messiah—his person and work.
Here in the passage that is open before us today, Jesus continues to focus his attention on the scribes. Here he exposes not their ignorance but the corruption of their hearts, particularly their pride, selfish ambition, and greed. And make no mistake about it, friends, there is often a connection between these two things. Willful ignorance and false teaching often go hand in hand with the heart sins of pride, selfish ambition, and greed. And what is the connection? Well, speaking the truth in this world is rarely a lucrative business. It is often costly. Men and women who love to receive praise from others—men who love wealth above all else— will often be willing to compromise the truth to maintain their position of privilege and prestige.
Our text is quite simple. We will consider it in two parts. First, we will consider the warning that Jesus Christ delivers to all who follow him. Beware of the scribes!, Christ says. Secondly, we will consider the story of the widow’s offering. The chapter break (which was not original to the Gospel of Luke but was added much later for convenience’s sake) might give the impression that the two passages are unrelated, but I believe they are connected. Beware of the pride, selfish ambition, and greed of the scribes, Christ warns. And then we are told of the poor widow and the generous offering she made.
This story is meant to encourage humility, selflessness, compassion, and generosity amongst the disciples of Jesus. This must be the culture or ethos of Christ’s church.
Beware!
Immediately after Christ finished pressing the scribes with his question about Psalm 110—a question they could not, or at least were not willing, to answer—he issued a warning to his disciples concerning the scribes. “Beware of the scribes”, Christ said.
I believe Jesus’ warning about the scribes should be applied in three ways. First of all, the disciples of Jesus were, quite literally, to beware of the scribes. Many of the scribes who lived in Jesus’ day were men of corrupt character. They were dangerous men, therefore, and so Christ warned his disciples to beware of them. Secondly, disciples of Jesus, living in all times and places, are instructed by this text to beware of others, especially those who have religious authority, who are infected by the same moral corruptions as the scribes. Thirdly, disciples of Jesus are instructed by this text to guard their own hearts and minds lest the sin of the scribes corrupt them.
Our text begins with these words: “And in the hearing of all the people [Jesus] said to his disciples, ‘Beware of the scribes…’” Now, what was it about the scribes who lived in Jesus’ day that his disciples were to beware of?
Jesus mentions six things:
One, they liked to walk around in long robes.
In Jesus’ day, it was common for men to wear robes, even long robes. But the scribes liked to distinguish themselves from others by wearing robes that were longer still.
Here is the way that Matthew puts it in his gospel: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long…” (Matthew 23:1–5, ESV).
When all is considered, it is clear that these men loved to put on a show. They dressed to be distinguished from and noticed by others. Their long robes would catch the eye and appear glorious and grand, but it was all a facade. Underneath, these men were vile and corrupt.
Some might interpret this passage to mean that preachers and teachers should not dress in a distinguished way. I disagree. When a man stands behind a pulpit to read and preach the word of God, or when he stands behind the Lord’s Table to administer the Lord’s Supper, it is good and right for him to be dressed in a way that fits the occasion.
Two, they loved greetings in the marketplaces.
Three, they loved the best seats in the synagogues.
Four, they loved the places of honor at feasts.
Five, they devoured widows’ houses.
Six, for a pretence, they made long prayers.
They will receive greater condemnation.
“And the Lord said to him, ‘Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.’” (Luke 11:39, ESV)
The scribes were dangerous. They had religious authority. It was thought that they cared about the truth. But here Christ warns of their inner corruption. They did not care about the truth as much as they cared about themselves. They would be willing to sacrifice the truth, therefore, to maintain their power, prestige, and pleasure.
This warning that Jesus delivered about the scribes has relevance for disciples of Christ today. Though we do not have scribes in our midst, we must beware of others with prideful, selfishly ambitious, and greedy hearts.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15, ESV)
“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.” (Romans 16:17–18, ESV)
“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you
have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” (Philippians 3:17–19, ESV)
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” (2 Timothy 3:1–5, ESV)
This warning that Jesus delivered about the scribes should also cause us to look inward and to beware, lest the heart sin of pride, selfish ambition, and greed infect us!
These heart sins are particularly deadly for they lead to many other sins.
The best way to guard against these heart sins is to think often of the glory of God and of the mercy that has been shown to us in Christ to save us from our sins.
Those in Christ Jesus must pursue humility, contentment, selflessness, and genersoisty.
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1–3, ESV)
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” (Colossians 3:12–15, ESV)
Beware of the scribes, Jesus warned. His disciples were to, quite literally, beware of those dangerous men who possessed religious authority in their day. And his disciples in every age are to beware of those who are like them. Also, as disciples of Jesus we must beware lest the heart sins of pride and greed lest they infect us. Instead, we are to pursue humility in Christ Jesus. The ethos of the Christian community is to be marked by humility, selflessness, compassion, and generosity.
Be Humble, Selfless, Compassionate, And Generous Instead
Ignore the chapter break, brothers and sisters, for do believe that the story about the poor widow’s offering is is meant to be considered along with this text.
“Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, ‘Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.’” (Luke 21:1–4, ESV)
Notice her humility.
Notice her love for God, as expressed through her extreme generosity.
Perhaps there is an indictment against the scribes here, for they devoured widows’ houses.
Conclusion
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:1–8, ESV)
