Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7

“Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!” (Isaiah 5:1–7, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 13:1-9 

“There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.’ And he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’’” (Luke 13:1–9, 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

In the introduction to the previous sermon, I reminded you of the setting in which Jesus delivered the teachings found in Luke 12:1-13:9, and I wish to remind you of the setting again. We must remember that a very large crowd had assembled around Jesus. Many in the crowd were followers of his – the twelve, the seventy, and others – but many were not. In fact, there were some in the crowd who were very hostile towards Jesus – the Scribes, Lawyers, and Pharisees. So, this multitude was mixed. 

At the beginning of Luke 12, we are told that Jesus spoke to his disciples and delivered teachings to them to encourage them in the faith and to further their growth in holiness. He warned his disciples concerning sins of the heart. Isn’t it interesting to think that as Jesus spoke to his disciples, the unbelieving multitudes listened in? The teaching was not aimed at them, but they could learn and benefit from what was said by Christ to the disciples.  

It was in Luke 12:54 that Christ turned his attention to those who were unbelieving (and even hostile) in the crowd. It is no surprise that Jesus addressed the unbeliever differently. Christ did not seek to strengthen their faith (for they had none) nor did he seek to further their sanctification (for that process was not at work within them). Instead, he urged the unbelieving crowds to repent and believe upon him, recognizing him to be the Lord’s Messiah. As Christ addressed the unbelievers in the crowd, his disciples listened in. Again I say, that although the teaching was not aimed at them, they learned and benefitted from what was said by Christ to the crowd. 

This reminds me somewhat of the church and of the job of a minister of the Word of God. The job of a minister is to preach and teach the Word of God to the believer, to remind them of the precious truths of the gospel, to encourage them in their faith, and to exhort them to progress in their sanctification. But the minister of the Word – the pastor – must never forget the non-believers who assemble with the congregation each Lord’s Day. Think of the children in the congregation who have not yet turned from their sins to believe upon Christ. Think of the visitors in our midst. Think of those who have attended church for many years and consider themselves to be Christians, who have not yet understood the gospel, and turned from their sins to place their faith in Christ truly. The minister of the Word must always be mindful of the fact that the multitude to whom he preaches, however large or small, is likely mixed. The minister’s task will always be to edify the Saints with the Word of God and to call sinners to repentence and faith in Jesus Christ through the preaching of God’s law and God’s gospel. 

As I have said, in Luke 12:54-13:9, Christ has his sights set on the unbelievers in the crowd. Generally speaking, he confronts them concerning their errors and sins and calls them to repentance. This he does in four stages. First, he exhorts them to properly interpret the times. Secondly, he urges them to settle their debts with their accuser (to get right with God). Thirdly, he commands them to repent lest they perish. And fourthly, he warns them that time is running out. We considered the first two points last Sunday. Today we will fix our attention on the last two points drawn from Luke 13:1-9. 

Repent And Believe, Lest You Perish

It is in Luke 13:1-5 that Christ calls the unbelievers in the crowd to repentance and warns that if they do not repent, they will perish. 

Jesus took the opportunity to call the crowds to repentance and faith and to warn of judgment when a group of men spoke to him about a terrible thing that had happened. Look with me at verse 1. There the text says, “There were some present at that very time who told [Jesus] about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices” (Luke 13:1, ESV). 

We don’t know much about this event beyond what is said here in Luke. It seems that the Roman Governor, Pilate, had a group of men killed while they were in the courtyard of the temple where the Old Covenant sacrifices were offered up to God. Perhaps they were insurrectionists – religious zealots –  who were a threat to Pilate’s rule, and so he had them put down, even as they were in the courtyard of the temple offering up their sacrifices to God.  

Though I cannot prove it, I do wonder if these people who brought this terrible news to Jesus did so, not to help Jesus stay up to date on current events, nor to merely shoot the breeze with him about political affairs, but to test him somewhat to see how he would respond to the news. Perhaps they hoped he would respond by mobilizing the great multitude who had gathered around him to revolt against Pilate and Rome. Again, I’ll admit the text does not say this explicitly. But I do believe there are good reasons to think in this direction.

One, we know there were zealots in Jesus’ day who would have been very pleased to see Jesus lead this great multitude into armed rebellion against Pilate and Rome. Things like this happened fairly frequently in Jesus’ day (see Acts 5:36-37 & 21:38). I think it is almost certain that there were some with this revolutionary spirit in the crowd. 

Two, we should remember that just before this, Jesus told his disciples what their expectations for the future should be. It was in Luke 12:49 that we heard Jesus say, “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division” (Luke 12:49–51, ESV). We know that Jesus kingdom is not of this world. We know that the division of which Jesus spoke was not spiritual and not the result of armed conflict. But I’m sure that some in the crowd took this to mean that Jesus was interested in armed rebellion.  

Three, in the teachings of Luke 12, we find Jesus consistently urging men to lift their eyes up from the earth to heaven, and from this present evil age to eternity. Remember that the rich farmer was a fool because he trusted in his earthly possessions but did not think of God or his eternal destiny. The multitudes were also rebuked for expertly reading the signs of nature concerning rain and heat while being blind to the signs from heaven concerning the grace of God and judgments of God associated with the arrival of God’s Messiah, Christ Jesus the Lord. I do believe that something similar is happening here. Christ claimed to be the King of God’s kingdom. No doubt, some were thinking in an earthly way. So, Jesus must again direct our attention to the spiritual, heavenly, and eternal. 

Notice carefully the way that Jesus responds to the news of this terrible act of violence. He does not rant and rave about Pilates’ wickedness, nor does he entertain the thought of revolt or rebellion. Instead, he speaks about sin, its consequences, and the way of salvation. 

Christ answered them in verse 2: “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?” 

This is an important question, isn’t it? Suffering and tragedy are a fact of life in this fallen world, and these things must be interpreted. What are we to think when someone experiences trials and tribulations? What are we to think when someone suffers? How are we to interpret these realities? This is the question that Jesus addressed when he asked, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?” In other words, given that they died in this terrible way – their blood being mixed with the blood of the sacrifices they offered up at the temple – can we necessarily conclude that they must have been particularly terrible sinners? Jesus’  answer is found in verse 3: Christ says “no, I tell you”. Then he adds these words: “but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3, ESV)

After this, Christ mentioned another tragic event. In verse 4 we read, “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?” Again, Christ said, “No”. 

Listen to what John Gill says in his commentary about this passage: 

“…there was a pool near Jerusalem, called the Pool of Shiloam,  John ix. 7. near or over which, was a tower built, which fell down and killed eighteen men; very likely as they were purifying themselves in the pool, and so was a case very much like the other… and this Christ the rather observes, and puts them in mind of, that they might see that not Galileans only, whom they had in great contempt, but even inhabitants of Jerusalem, died violent deaths, and came to untimely ends; and yet, as not in the former case, so neither in this was it to be concluded from hence, that they were sinners of a greater size, or their state worse than that of other men…”

So then, Christ rejects the idea that suffering, violent and tragic deaths, or, what we might perceive to be, untilemly ends, should be interpreted to mean that the person who experiences such things is a worse sinner than those who suffer less in life or die more peacefully at a ripe old age. 

This teaching from Christ about how to interpret suffering is important for two reasons. As has already been suggested, we face experiences and questions like these. We must have the mind of Christ on this issue. Is the suffering that we and others experience the direct result of sin? In a sense, yes. All suffering and death is the result of sin. But this does not mean that every instance of suffering and death is the direct result of some particular sin, or that those who suffer greatly are necessarily great sinners. Two, Jesus’ teaching about suffering and death is especially important because it enables us to properly interpret the sufferings and death that he would endure, and the sufferings and deaths of his disciples after his ascension to the Father’s right hand. 

Did Christ suffer and die because of sin? You know, there are two ways to answer this. Yes, and no. Yes, he died because of sin, but not because of his own sin. Christ was innocent and pure. He did not deserve to suffer and die. And yet he suffered and died to atone for the sins of many. This might sound strange, and I hope I am not misunderstood, but I do think there is a sense in which those men who were killed by Pilate as they offered up sacrifices at the altar did in some way anticipate and prefigure the death of Jesus. Pilate was the one who put these men to death, and Pilate would have Jesus put to death. The blood of these men was mingled with sacrificial blood, and the blood of Christ was offered up as sacrificial blood for the remission of sins. Here Christ teaches that we should not conclude that these men died because they were worse sinners than the other Galileans, and neither should we suppose that Christ suffered and died because he himself was guilty of sin. No, it was for our sake God made “him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV). And I do believe that something similar can be said about the 18 men who died when the tower of Siloam fell upon them. It was the wrath of God that fell upon Christ at the cross. He endured this outpouring of God’s wrath in the place of God’s elect so that we might be cleansed by him through faith and ascend to heaven through him. God’s wrath fell upon Christ because of sin, but it was not his personal sin, for he had none. No, it was for the sin of others that Christ endured the wrath of God poured out from on high. 

The main point is this: if we hold to the erroneous view that all suffering and death is the direct result of some personal and particular sin, then we will have a very difficult time understanding the terrible sufferings endured by Christ, his Apostles, and faithful followers of his throughout history, sometimes, even our own. Stated succinctly, when you experience trials and tribulations, it does not necessarily mean that God is displeased with you.      

Let us now go to the twice repeated warning, “but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” A few things need to be said about this warning: 

First of all, clearly, Christ does not mean that all who are unrepentant will die by being murdered by a governor or have a dilapidated tower fall on their head. I think you would agree that this interpretation would be far too literal. 

Secondly, this saying of Jesus does not imply that those who are repentant will not experience physical death, for we know that even God’s faithful pass from this life into the next through the door of physical death.

Thirdly, Christ must be speaking of spiritual and eternal death. The meaning is, unless you repent, you will all likewise perish spiritually and eternally.   

Fourthly, I do believe that the word “likewise”, which means “similarly” or in “like manner”, does push us to see a connection between how those who were killed by Pilate in the temple before the altar and those upon whom the tower of Siloam fell died physically and how those who are unrepentant will perish spiritually and eternally. In other words, I think we must see a connection or similarity between these instances of physical death and the spiritual death that will be experienced by all (and especially the Hebrews) who are unrepentant. 

I believe the connection is this: Where did the Galileans perish? They perished before the altar of sacrifice in the temple. So too, all who put their trust in the sacrificial system of the Old Testament will perish spiritually and eternally. And where did the 18 men upon whom the tower fell perish? They perished at the pool of Siloam where they sought purification and healing. So too, all who put their trust in ceremonial washings will perish spiritually and eternally. It is not the blood of bulls and goats that cleanses the conscience. It is only the blood of Christ! And it is not the ceremonial water that purifies the soul. Only the blood of Christ can heal and purify us body and soul. 

Fifthly, when Christ calls us to repentance, he also calls us to faith in him. In the Scriptures, when repentance is mentioned, faith in Christ is always implied. And when faith in Christ is mentioned, repentance is implied. A careful reading of the Scriptures reveals that two things go together like two sides to the same coin.  When Christ said, ​​“but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish”, he called the crowds to turn from their sin and place their faith in him, confessing him to be their Lord and the Messiah.

As I have said, I do believe the word “likewise” pushes us to see some connection between these two events – one in the temple and one near the pool of Siloam – and the spiritual and eternal death that will be experienced by all who do not repent and believe upon Jesus. But there is a more general observation to make about our interpretation of tragedies, sufferings, and death. Brothers and sisters, whenever we see or experience sickness, persecution, wars, natural disasters, accidents, or death it should remind us that man has fallen into sin, that the wages of sin is death, that God has shown mercy to sinners to delay the full and final judgment, and he has delayed leaving room for the accomplishment and application of redemption to his elect (see 2 Peter 3:1-10). The LORD is a God “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6, ESV), but judgment day is coming. The sufferings, tragedies, and deaths that we see in the world should remind us that God has determined to show mercy to sinners to delay his full and final judgment and that judgment day is soon coming. 

The Time Is Short

In fact, this is what Christ warns us about next. It is through the parable of the fig tree that Christ warns us that time is short.

Look with me at verses 6 through 9. There we read,  “And [Jesus] told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down’” (Luke 13:6–9, ESV).

The general meaning of this parable is very clear,  just as a fruit tree that does not bear fruit will eventually be cut down and replaced with another so as to not take up valuable space in a vineyard or orchard, so too, those who do not bear the fruit of repentance and faith will eventually come under God’s condemnation when they pass from this life to the next. But God is patient towards sinners. He delays his judgment to leave room for repentance. However, his patience will not last forever. Someday, everyone will die and will stand before the throne of judgment. In general, this parable supplements the warning issued by Christ in the previous section, “but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish”. Here the message is, do not delay. Do not presume upon the riches of God’s kindness and forbearance and patience but know that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance (see Romans 2:4–5). This is the general meaning. 

Specifically, it does seem that this parable had special meaning for the original audience. The fig tree symbolizes Israel. Notice that the vineyard owner waited three years for the fig to bear fruit. Not only is this how long it typically a fig tree to produce substantial fruit, but it was also the length of Jesus’ earthly ministry. He was going to Jerusalem, remember? His earthly ministry was drawing to a close. For about three years he had proclaimed the word of God and called the people to faith and repentence while performing signs and wonders. The harvest was rather meager as many remained unrepentant. But what did the vinedresser request of the owner? Give it a little more time. So then, God is the owner of the vineyard, Christ is the vinedresser, and the fig tree is Isarel. The request for a little more time communicates two things: One, God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Two, time was running out. And time did run out. Not long after this, Israel would have her Messiah crucified, the Old Covenant order would pass away, and a New Covenant would be instituted. In other words, the kingdom of God would be taken away from Israel and given a people producing its fruits (see Matthew 21:43). So then, while this parable is a warning to all of us not to toy around or presume upon God’s kindness and to bear the fruits of repentance and faith today, it was especially a warning to the people of Israel, many of who remained unrepentant during the three years of Jesus’ earthly ministry. 

Conclusion

I’ll not move this sermon toward a conclusion by presenting you with a few suggestions for application. 

Firstly, may the trials and tribulations of this life and the sufferings we witness and endure produce within us a deeper awareness of sin and its effects, a greater appreciation for the redemption that Christ has earned through his suffering, and a more substantial longing for life in the new heavens and earth. Stated differently, may the sufferings of this cause us to lift our eyes heavenward to God and Christ and to place our trust firmly in them. Here is a great difference between the worldly person and the Christian who is born from above: while the worldly man will look to things of earth for salvation, the Christian will look to God and to Christ. I think of Psalm 121, a song of Ascents. ​​There the Psalmist says, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1–2, ESV). 

Secondly, may all who hear these words take the warning of Christ very seriously: “unless you repent, you will… likewise perish” (Luke 13:5, ESV). It is very well possible that some are listening to this message who have not turned from their sins to place their faith in Christ.  It is important for you to hear these words: ​​ “unless you repent, you will… perish” (Luke 13:5, ESV). And the perishing of which Christ here speaks is not merely physical, but spiritual and eternal. The Scriptures are clear. On the last day there those who have trusted in Christ and obeyed him will be put on his right, while those who rejected him persisting in their sin and rebellion will be placed on his left. To those on his right he will say, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34, ESV), “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41, ESV). If you have you not yet believed upon Christ, I pray that you will take his words of warning seriously, “unless you repent, you will… likewise perish”. Friends, I implore you, to turn from your sins and trust in Jesus. Believe in him in the heart, confess that he is Lord with your lips, and express your devotion to him through the ordinances, first through water baptism, and then at the Lord’s Table. 

Thirdly, do not drag your feet or delay. Repentance and faith must be your highest priority. The Lord has shown you mercy all of these years of your life, whether they be few or many, but do not assume that you will have many more days. You do not know how many days the Lord will give you. For all you know, death could visit you tonight. And so do not delay. Turn from your sins and confess Jesus as your Lord. If you are ignorant concerning the Scriptures and the good news about salvation through faith in Jesus Christ contained within, speak to a pastor. Make knowing the truth about God, sin, and salvation in Jesus Christ your highest priority. Do not allow another day or week to pass you by. 

Fourthly, and finally, if you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, I exhort you, having heard the warnings that our Lord delivers to non-believers, to draw nearer to Christ than you have before. And as you abide in him, be sure to continuously bear the fruits of repentance and faith. As you do, speak with others about the hope that you have within, urging them to repent and believe so that they might have this hope along with you.  

Old Testament Reading: Psalm 72

“OF SOLOMON. Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice! Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness! May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor! May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more! May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him! For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight. Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day! May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field! May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.” (Psalm 72, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 12:54–59 

“He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.’” (Luke 12:54–59, 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.

1. Introduction
   1. As we moved slowly through Luke 12, I regularly reminded you that Christ delivered those teachings to his disciples. He spoke to his followers – the Twelve Apostles, the seventy, and the others – and he warned them of the heart-sins of hypocrisy, the fear of man, anxiety, and inattentiveness. He also addressed their expectations for the future to be sure they were squared with reality. Each of the teachings of Christ, recorded for us in Luke 12, has special relevance for the disciples of Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we must be sure to keep our hearts pure lest we be distracted, derailed, and rendered infected and fruitless (or worse) by these sins of the heart and mind.  
   2. While it was good for us to remember that Christ delivered the teachings of Luke 12 to his disciples, we must not forget that a great multitude of people stood about and listened to what Christ had to say to them. Do not forget what Luke 12:1 says: “In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.’”
      1. So then, the teachings of Christ found in Luke 12 were for the disciples of Christ, but many who had not yet followed after Christ overheard what Christ had to say to them. This reminds me of the church. When the church assembles for worship, the word of God is to be read and preached to the church. But there will always be non-believers in our midst (or at least we should hope so). And we should pray that the word of God would affect those who do not yet believe to draw them to faith and repentance. 
   3. Here in the passage that is open before us today, Christ turns his attention from his disciples to the crowd. Luke 12:54 says, “He also said to the crowds…” I trust you can see why it is important to pay careful attention to who the audience is. When Christ spoke to his disciples, he did not call them to faith and repentance, for they had already turned from their sins to trust in him. He warned them about sins of the heart as he sought to strengthen their faith and to sanctify them further. But when Christ spoke to the non-believing crowds, he sought their conversion and warned them of impending doom and destruction should they remain in their sins and unbelief. 
   4. Here in our text, and also in the next one, Christ calls sinners to repentance and faith in four stages. First, he exhorts them to properly interpret the times. Secondly, he urges them to settle their debts with their accuser. Thirdly, he commands them to repent lest they perish. And fourthly, he warns them that time is running out. We will consider the first two points today and the final two points next Sunday, Lord willing. 
2. Properly Interpret The Times
   1. First, Christ exhorts the unbelieving crowds to properly interpret the times. Look with me at Luke 12:54. There we read, “He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” (Luke 12:54–56, ESV)
      1. To understand this saying of Jesus, we must first put ourselves in the place of those to whom these words were originally spoken. This saying of Jesus has application for us, but Christ did not speak these words to us first. We must put ourselves in the place of those to whom Christ originally spoke, lest we misinterpret this passage.
         1. Jesus spoke these words to the crowd in the days of his earthly ministry. Most of the people in the crowd were Jews. They lived under the Old Mosaic Covenant. I think it is right to assume that most of them were very familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures. And many within the crowd, it must be remembered, were religious leaders – Scribes, lawyers, and Pharisees. These men were very well acquainted with God’s Word, therefore. 
         2. And we must not forget the great significance of the time in which these people lived. They lived in the most extraordinary of times. They lived in the days of the Messiah. The lived in the days wherein the Son of God incarnate walked the earth for us and our salvation. They lived in the days in which many of the prophecies of the Old Testament were fulfilled. 
         3. Furthermore, we must remember that Jesus Christ was shown to be the promised and long-awaited Messiah in many ways. His earthly ministry, his claims, and his teachings were confirmed by signs and wonders. Jesus healed the sick, calmed the wind and waves, fed the multitudes, cast out demons, and even raised the dead, all as a sign or demonstration that he is the Son of God incarnate, the King of God’s everlasting Kingdom, the Redeemer of God’s elect, the Messiah who was promised from long ago. 
         4. When we remember that these people were very well acquainted with the sacred writings of the Old Testament, that they lived in the days of the Messiah, and that they heard the teachings of the Messiah with their own ears, and witnessed many of the signs and wonders he performed with their own eyes, it is not surprising that Jesus rebuked them for their failure to properly interpret the signs of the times and for their heart-hearted unbelief. There were many signs. And these signs were quite obvious and clear. And yet so many failed to interpret the signs correctly. 
      2. Notice that Christ rebuked the unbelievers for their spiritual blindness and inability to interpret the signs of the times in which they lived by contrasting this inability and obtuseness with their ability and proficiency at interpreting the signs of nature.
         1. Christ spoke to the crowds, saying, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens.” In Palestine, storms typically develop to the west over the Mediterranean Sea before moving onshore to dump the much-needed, refreshing, and life-giving rain on that semi-arid environment. 
         2. Furthermore, Christ said, “And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens.” The south wind is the wind that comes up into Palestine from the south, that is to say, from the hot, desert regions of Egypt, bringing with it a wave of heat. 
         3. You and I love to talk about the weather. Two things will especially get us talking: the promise of rain and the threat of a heat wave. But think of how interested these people were in the weather. They would have been especially interested in the promise of rain from the west, and the threat of a heat wave from the south, because of they were concerned for their crops. They did not live in Egypt where they could depend on the flow of the Nile. And they did not have the advanced reservoirs or irrigation systems that we rely on today in times of drought or heat. For them, rain from the west would mean the promise of life and prosperity on earth. Conversely, the scorching heat from the south could lead to the destruction of their crops, which could result in poverty, famine, or death. 
         4. It is not surprising that these people were profoundly attuned to the weather patterns. Who can fault them for that? But Christ rebuked them and called them hypocrites! He spoke to them, saying, “You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” 
         5. Why did Christ rebuke these people so sharply and call them hypocrites? Please hear me. Christ did not rebuke them because they were concerned about the weather and attuned to the patterns of nature. Any farmer with experience will naturally learn to do that! No, Christ rebuked them because, while they diligently and astutely observed the natural world being deeply concerned about their prosperity on earth, they failed to observe and interpret the signs of the times pertaining to the arrival of the Messiah, the inauguration of God’s eternal Kingdom, and the New Covenant through which salvation comes to the world. Stated differently, Christ rebuked the unbelieving crowds because they were preoccupied with the world and the things of this world and blind to the things of God. Their attention was fixed upon the earth. Often, they would lift their eyes up toward heaven to observe the clouds and the winds. But up to this point, they had failed to recognize that Jesus is from heaven, that he is the Lord’s Messiah, the King of God’s heavenly and everlasting kingdom.     
         6. You see, Christ called these people “hypocrites” because they were preoccupied with external and worldly things – rain and heatwaves, a fruitful harvest, and the wealth that would come as a result. By the way, we must not forget the parable of the rich, covetous, and foolish farmer of Luke 12:13-21. That man set all of his hopes on his riches. He reaped a bountiful harvest and spoke to his own soul, saying, “‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’” This rich farmer was a fool, not because he was a successful farmer, but because he set his hope on the things of this earth. Likewise, these crowds were worldly. They were preoccupied with the world and the things of this world. They were religious, but their religion was superficial and worldly. They were truly blind to things spiritual and eternal. 
         7. Think of it. Jesus the Messiah, the one to whom the Old Testament Scriptures point, stood right in front of them. All signs indicated that he was the Messiah. But these so-called “experts in the law” could not see it. They could interpret the signs of nature. They could not interpret the signs of that present time.  
         8. These people could predict with certainty that rain would soon come, but they could not see that the Messiah was in those days showering the land with God’s kindness and grace. Indeed, Jesus, in fulfillment of Psalm 72:6, was to Israel, and is now to the world, “like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!” Indeed, “In his days… the righteous flourish…” In those who are united to him by faith peace abounds, and will continue to abound “till the moon be no more!” (Psalm 72:7, ESV). But these unbelieving multitudes could not see in Christ the rain of God’s grace that was about to fall from heaven. Indeed, it had already begun to fall. 
         9. Furthermore, these people could predict with certainty that a heatwave was drawing near, but they could not see that Messiah would soon bear the scorching heat of the wrath of God as he died on the cross in the place of those given to him by the Father in eternity. This he would do to shield them from the scorching heat of God’s wrath. But do not forget that at the cross, a fire would be kindled (remember Luke 12:49). It is the fire of the gospel that burns in the hearts of all who are enlivened by the Holy Spirit, but for those who remain outside of Christ and in their unbelief. This fire would be kindled at the cross of Christ. And this fire would spread from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria and to the ends of the earth (see Acts 1:8). Yes, the gospel would spread like fire. But so too would the judgments of God. As you know, Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. The temple was demolished. And in these last days, there are wars and rumors of wars. To quote Psalm 2, the nations continue to rage and the people plot in vain. “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, ‘Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.’ He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, ‘As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.’” The Psalmist goes on to say, “I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’” And then the Psalmist warns the nations. “Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (Psalm 2, ESV). Dear friends, God’s wrath is continually being poured out in a partial way upon peoples and nations. And God’s wrath will be poured out on all who are not in Christ Jesus on the last when Christ returns to judge and make all things new. 
         10. So then, did Christ come to pour out the refreshing rain of God’s mercy and grace upon the earth, or did he come to pour out the scorching heat of God’s wrath upon the earth? The answer is, both. In Christ, God’s grace is offered to sinners even now through the preaching of the gospel. Those who believe the gospel now are refreshed by it. Their spiritual thirst is satiated.  The righteous are made to flourish a tree planted by streams of living water. On the last day when Christ returns, the full enjoyment of God’s mercy and grace will be experienced by all who believe upon Christ.  But it is also true that through Christ, God’s judgments are administered. The judgments of God are being poured out in a partial way even now as God is patient towards sinners. On the last day, God will judge fully and finally through Christ the Son. 
         11. Jesus Christ brings the refreshing rain of God’s mercy and grace and the scorching heat of God’s wrath. While the unbelieving multitudes could predict with precision the natural rains and the natural heat, they were blind to the spiritual rains and spiritual heat that Jesus the Messiah came to bring. Even as he stood before them, being attested to by signs and wonders from the heaven of heavens, they could not see it. Christ set captives free, fed the hungry, healed the sick, and raised the dead, but those who were dead in the sins could perceive him to be the Lord’s Messiah.  
         12. So Christ rebuked them: “You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” (Luke 12:56, ESV).
3. Settle With Your Accuser
   1. The verses that follow are intimately related to the passage we have just considered. In verses 57-59, Christ exhorts the unbelieving multitudes to make the right choice and to settle with their accuser while there is still time. In other words, Christ exhorted the unbelievers in the crowd to get right with God!
   2. Look with me at verse 57. There Christ says, “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?” The meaning is this: why do not come to the correct conclusions concerning what is righteous, that is to say, that which God requires of you? This is what the word translated as “right” (δίκαιος) means: “pertaining to being in accordance with what God requires—‘righteous, just.’” (Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 743.) Stated yet another way, the question that Jesus asks the unbeliever is, how can you not see that you are not right before God because of your sin? How can you not see that you are guilty and indebted to God because of your breaking of the law of God?
   3. To drive the point home, Jesus illustrates using an earthly example and argues from the lesser to the greater. In verse 58 Christ says, “As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny” (Luke 12:57–59, ESV).
      1. As I have said, this is an earthly illustration. If you wronged someone and they are accusing you and taking you to court, it would be best to settle with them before you go to court lest you be put and prison and be forced to pay the pentalty there. 
      2. And as I have said, this is an argument from the lesser to the greater. No, this passage is not teaching the doctrine of purgatory, as the Roman Catholics claim. When it comes to our sins and God’s judgment, the Scriptures are very clear, the punishment of hell is eternal. Purgatory is nowhere taught in the Scriptures, friends. When Christ returns, there is the judgment. Those in Christ will be welcomed into heaven by the grace of God alone through faith in Christ alone. All who are not in Christ will be cast into hell forever and ever. The point that Christ makes here is, if it is true that it is wise to settle with your accusers here on earth before they drag you before a judge, how much more should we be concerned about settling with God before the day of judgment?  
      3. Dear friends, the truth is you are not right with God unless you have faith in Christ. We have all sinned against God by violating his commandments. If not in Christ, God is our accuser. If not in Christ, the law of God is our accuser. If not in Christ, Satan can justly accuse us. But Christ came to fix all that. He took upon himself the wrath of God that was due to us for sin. He kept the law of God to meet all of its righteous demands for us and in our place. He even defeated Satan for us and freed us from the curse of death. 
      4. When Christ spoke to these unbelievers and asked them, “why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?”, and afterward exhorted them to settle with their accuser, he was imploring them to wake up to the reality of the guilt of their sin and of their need for a Redeemer. Jesus Christ is the Redeemer. The only way to settle with God before the day of judgment is to settle through Christ, for he alone has paid the ransom to redeem us from the guilt of our sin and misery (see Matthew 20:28).  
4. Conclusion
   1. In the introduction to this sermon, I said that it was important for us to put ourselves in the place of those who first received this teaching from Jesus in order to properly interpret this text. I also stated that this text does apply to us today. So let us conclude by first identifying the aspects of this text that were unique to the original audience. After that, we will seek to apply this text to our own lives.
      1. First, it must be understood that when Jesus rebuked the unbelievers in the crowd for failing to interpret the times, he was speaking to those who were alive at his first coming and not to those of us who are awaiting his second coming.
         1. As you probably know, there are many Christians alive today who spend a great deal of time and energy attempting to interpret the times. They obsess over current events and try to connect those current events with prophesies found in the Holy Scriptures, especially the Book of Revelation. But I do believe their approach is misguided. For one, they badly misinterpret the Book of Revelation. Two, they ignore the clear teaching of Holy Scripture concerning the mystery surrounding the time of the end.
            1. As it pertains to the misinterpretation of the book of Revelation, their fatal flaw is their assumption that the book of Revelation is mainly about the time of the end. It is not. There are portions of the book of Revelation that are about the end of time. For example, Revelation 20:4 through to the end of chapter 22 are clearly about the return of Christ, the final judgment, and the new heavens and earth. But the majority of that glorious book is about the time between Christ’s first and second comings. After all, the first verse of the book of Revelation says, “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place” (Revelation 1:1, ESV). The book was written by the Apostle John in the first century AD. The majority of the book describes things that were experienced even by the Christians living in those days. For those of you who were around when I taught on eschatology and preached through the book of Revelation a few years ago, you may remember that the book is not mainly about the future, but is about these last days, the days between Christ’s first and second comings. Call it the church age, if you’d like. Call it the New Covenant era or dispensation. Whatever you call, know for certain that the book of Revelation was given to equip Christians living in the first century on to the end of time to walk faithfully with Christ in this world. In these last days (which began when Christ rose from the dead, ascended, and sent forth the Holy Spirit), Satan will be active. He will work through the beast (political powers that persecute), the false prophet (false teachers), and the harlot (the seductiveness of the world) to oppose God’s people. But God will preserve his people. He will keep them from the evil one. And he will restrain the evil one from deceiving the nations so that the gospel will succeed. The book of Revelation tells that story before culminating in the return of Christ, the rescue of God’s people, the judgment, and the consummation. The book is not mainly about the future, friends. It is very much about the past and the present too. It meant as much for the Christians alive in the first century as it does for us today. It recapitulates over and over again as it looks at these last days – the days between Christ’s first and second comings – from different vantage points or angles. The book was not written to confound or confuse but to comfort God’s New Covenant people living in every time and place. Let us be careful not to mishandle that glorious and helpful book by using it to speculate about current events.          
            2. As it pertains to the clear teaching of Holy Scripture concerning the mystery of the time of the end, allow me to quote a few verses:
               1. Matthew 24:36 is about the return of Christ on the last day. There Christ says, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:36–42, ESV)
               2. In Acts 1:6-7 we read, “So when [the disciples of Jesus] had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.’” (Acts 1:6–7, ESV)
               3. Finally, listen to Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6. “Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1–6, ESV)
         2. Those who were alive in Jesus’ day who did not recognize him to be the Messiah were rightly rebuked by Christ for their inability to interpret the times. They had the Old Testament Scriptures that testified to him. And when he came into the world, he did not come quickly or suddenly like a thief in the night,  but slowly and methodically. He was born of a virgin. Angels testified concerning him. He performed many signs and wonders. He fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament Scriptures. Some of them even indicated the time of his coming (the seventy-weeks of Daniel), which is why Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel. Furthermore, it had been revealed to Simeon “by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26, ESV). The Scribes, lawyers, and Pharisees had no excuse for their failure to interpret the times. 
         3. But things will be different when Christ returns to judge. The time of his return is a mystery. When he comes, he will come suddenly and unexpectedly, like a thief. And immediately after he comes he will judge and usher in the new heaven and new earth. There will be no 1,000-year reign after Christ’s return, as some suppose (this view is based upon a misinterpretation of Revelation 20:1-3). No Christ will return, the dead will be raised. And “then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.” (1 Corinthians 15:24, ESV)
         4. Dear brothers and sisters, I pray that you will not waste your time and energy speculating about things the Scripture say no one can know. 
      2. This leads to my second point of application. Spend your time and energy instead seeking to be a faithful servant of Christ as you live in the world in these last days. I’ve said it over and over again. The last days are not the days right before Christ returns. No. The last days are all of the days between Christ’s first and second comings.
         1. Listen to what Paul said to Timothy in the first century AD. “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.” I’m afraid that many Christians will take this to mean that this is about the future and the time right before the end. But listen to what Paul says to Timothy next: “Avoid such people” (2 Timothy 3:1–5, ESV)! Paul and Timothy lived in the last days just as you and I do.
         2. Hebrews 1:1-2 is also important. It says, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (Hebrews 1:1–2, ESV). Friends, it was the life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ that marked the beginning of the last days. 
         3. When the Scriptures say that these are the last days, it does not mean that there are only a few of them. The word last (ἔσχατος) means, “pertaining to being the last in a series of objects or events” (Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 610. The days of the Old Covenant era were not the last days, for it was promised that the Messiah would come to establish a New Covenant. But the days of the New Covenant era are the last days, for when these days are finished, there will be no more succession of days, only the unending day of God’s glory and the eternal enjoyment of God’s Sabbath rest. Whether the last days are many or few is not stated. So far there have been 2,000 years worth of last days. How many more will there be? I haven’t a clue. And the Scriptures plainly teach that I shouldn’t be concerned about it?
         4. What then should we be concerned about? We should be concerned about being found faithful in Christ Jesus should he return when we are alive or when he calls us home through death.
            1. The Messiah has come into the world, friends. He is Jesus Christ the Lord. Have you rightly interpreted his first coming? Can you see that he came to shower the world with God’s grace and that he will judge the world with the scorching heat of God’s wrath on the last day?
            2. Furthermore, have you judged rightly concerning your need for a redeemer? Have you turned from your sins to trust in him? And having placed your faith in him, are you walking worthily with him, being about the work that he has given us to do in this last era, epoch, or dispensation before the end? Lord help us. Amen.