Wednesday
Evening Bible Study
October 3, 2001
Introduction
Jesus has been having a meal at the house of a prominent Pharisee.
While there, He was challenged on His practice of healing people on the
Sabbath. Jesus challenged the people
that they seemed to care more about helping their animals on the Sabbath than
they did people.
Jesus then talked to the other guests at the party, challenging their proud
behavior as they fought over who would have the most prominent seat at the
table. He told them they needed to be
humble.
Then Jesus challenged the host of the party and talked about inviting
people to a feast who could not pay you back.
He also gave a parable about a great man who invited his guests to a feast,
but instead of coming to the feast, the guests only gave excuses – Jesus was
talking about how God had invited the Jews to His feast, but they were not
responding by following Jesus.
As Jesus continued in His ministry, healing people and challenging the religious
beliefs of others, the crowds that followed Him continued to grow.
:25-33 Count the cost
:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto
them,
there went … with – sumporeuomai
– to go or journey together; to come together, to assemble
multitudes – ochlos – a
crowd; a throng; a multitude
he turned – strepho – to
turn, turn around; to turn one’s self (i.e. to turn the back to one; of one who
no longer cares for another); metaph. to turn one’s self from one’s course of
conduct, i.e. to change one’s mind
:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife,
and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot
be my disciple.
hate – miseo – to
hate, pursue with hatred, detest
soul – psuche –
breath; the breath of life; the soul; the seat of the feelings, desires,
affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.)
cannot be – dunamai –
to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or
of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of
law or custom; to be able to do something; to be capable, strong and powerful
disciple – mathetes –
a learner, pupil, disciple
Don’t think of this word as describing some kind of “super saint”. Sometimes
we can use the word “disciple” either to conjure up some kind of crazy person
wearing long white robes, or some kind of awesome powerful person who performs
miracles and calls fire down from heaven.
This is a very simple word. This is simply describing the person who wants
to learn more about Jesus, a person who considers Jesus to be their teacher and
model.
Lesson
More than others
We can take this idea of “hate” towards people the wrong way. As we try to
understand what Jesus is saying, we need to keep the rest of Scripture in mind.
Scripture isn’t going to contradict scripture.
The Bible tells us we are to love one another
(John
13:34-35 KJV) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I
have loved you, that ye also love one another. {35} By this shall all men know
that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
(1 John
3:11 KJV) For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we
should love one another.
(1 John
3:16 KJV) Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life
for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
(1 John
4:7-8 KJV) Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every
one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. {8} He that loveth not knoweth
not God; for God is love.
(1 John
4:11 KJV) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
The Bible also tells us that if we “hate” people (same Greek word), then we
must not be followers of Jesus.
(Mat
5:43-44 KJV) Ye have heard that it hath
been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. {44} But I say
unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
(1 John
3:15 KJV) Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no
murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
(1 John
4:20 KJV) If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar:
for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom
he hath not seen?
So what does this mean? It means that we must love Jesus and respect His
leading above that of any other person. If we love or respect any other person
above Jesus, then we are vulnerable because that other person can direct us in
ways that are contrary to Jesus.
Jesus had just told a parable about a man who had invited people to a great
feast and the excuses he began to receive from his invited guests. One of the
excuses was that of family –
(Luke
14:20 KJV) And another said, I have
married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
Jesus is now saying that if you love your wife more than
you love Jesus, then you cannot be His disciple.
Lesson
More than self
We are to love Jesus more than our own selves (life), more than our own
emotional well being, more than our own comfort.
Here’s where things can get a little confusing.
When is Jesus telling me to do something, and when am I just telling myself
that Jesus is telling me to do this?
I have known instances where very spiritually oriented
people have chosen to disobey those who were in authority over them. And I’ve
heard excuses like, “It’s okay that I disobey my husband because Jesus gave me
permission to do that”. The circumstances I’m thinking of weren’t life or death
issues. These weren’t issues that are clearly spelled out in Scripture like,
“Thou shalt not steal”. These were simple little decisions.
There is a sense in which each of us is covered by a type of “umbrella” of
authority. There are people to whom we
are responsible, and we are in a safe place when we obey those in
authority. When you step outside your
umbrella of authority and decide to disobey your boss at work, your teacher at
school, your parents, or your husband, you need to be very careful that your
disobedience is truly let by the Lord an not just by your own “soul”.
The disciples disobeyed the authority of the Sanhedrin.
But the Sanhedrin was telling them to stop doing something that Jesus Himself
had ordered them to do. The Sanhedrin was telling the disciples to stop
preaching the gospel. The disciples’ response –
(Acts 5:29
KJV) Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God
rather than men.
Jesus wants us to honor Him above what makes us comfortable.
:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my
disciple.
bear – bastazo – to
take up with the hands; to bear what is burdensome
cross – stauros – a
cross; a well known instrument of most cruel and ignominious punishment,
borrowed by the Greeks and Romans from the Phoenicians; to it were affixed
among the Romans, down to the time of Constantine the Great, the guiltiest
criminals, particularly the basest slaves, robbers, the authors and abetters of
insurrections.
after – opiso – back,
behind, after, afterwards
cannot be – dunamai – to
be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of
a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law
or custom; to be able to do something; to be capable, strong and powerful
disciple – mathetes – a
learner, pupil, disciple
Lesson
More than pain (consequences)
We have this idea of the “cross” being simply some kind of symbol of
Christianity. But as Jesus was speaking this to His disciples, this wasn’t what
was in their minds. A cross was the cruelest punishment for the world’s vilest
offenders. Jesus was aware that His message was going to offend people and
bring responses such as torture and death. This is exactly what happened to His
disciples.
We might say in our culture, “whosoever does not bear his electric chair
…”
From Fox's Book of Martyrs: (pg.6-7) – Persecution of Emperor Domitian –
“Among the numerous martyrs that suffered during this persecution was
Simeon, bishop of Jerusalem, who was crucified; and St. John, who was boiled in
oil, and afterward banished to Patmos. Flavis, the daughter of a Roman senator,
was likewise banished to Pontus; and a law was made, “That no Christian, once
brought before the tribunal, should be exempted from punishment without
renouncing his religion.””
“Timothy was the celebrated disciple of St. Paul, and bishop of Ephesus,
where he zealously governed the Church until A.D. 97. At this period, as the
pagans were about to celebrate a feast called Catagogion, Timothy, meeting the
procession, severely reproved them for their ridiculous idolatry, which so
exasperated the people that they fell upon him wth their clubs, and beat him in
so dreadful a manner that he expired of the bruises two days after.”
Lesson
Take Jesus seriously
What Jesus says is in the face of having lots of people follow Him. Jesus
doesn’t just want lots of people following Him, He wants people who are willing
to be disciples.
I think we need to be careful when we talk about Jesus to others. Sometimes our hearts are so concerned that
this person is saved, that we can tend to water down the gospel and sugar coat
it instead clarifying what a person is choosing to do.
:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first,
and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
intending – thelo – to will, have in mind, intend; to be resolved or
determined, to purpose; to desire, to wish
tower – purgos – a tower;
a fortified structure rising to a considerable height, to repel a hostile
attack or to enable a watchman to see in every direction
sitteth – kathizo – to
make to sit down; to sit down
counteth – psephizo – to
count with pebbles, to compute, calculate, reckon; to give one’s vote by
casting a pebble into the urn; to decide by voting
the cost – dapane –
expense, cost
to finish – apartismos –
completion
:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to
finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
is not able – ischuo – to
be strong; to be strong in body, to be robust, to be in sound health; to have
power; to be able, can
to finish – ekteleo – to
finish, complete
that behold – theoreo –
to be a spectator, look at, behold; to view attentively, take a view of,
survey; to see
to mock – empaizo –
to play with, trifle with; to mock; from paizo
– to play like a child; to play, sport, jest; to give way to hilarity, esp.
by joking singing, dancing
Lesson
People are watching
There are people that are observing you, knowing that you are a
Christian. They are watching to see if
it’s just “another phase” you’re going through.
:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
It’s a sad thing to see a building project that has started but sits
unfinished.
This kind of thing will happen when the things discussed in verses 26 &
27 aren’t followed.
When you don’t love Jesus more than any other person, your own life, or
your own comfort, you will find that you will run out of resources and you’ll
want to quit, if not quit.
:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down
first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that
cometh against him with twenty thousand?
to make – sumballo – to
throw together, to bring together; to bring together in one’s mind, confer with
one’s self; to encounter in a hostile sense; to fight with one
war – polemos – a war; a
fight, a battle; a dispute, strife, quarrel
sitteth – kathizo –
to make to sit down; to sit down
In both of Jesus’ examples, the person making the decision “sits down” and
considers what he is about to do.
It is a wise thing to stop and slow down before you make big decisions.
consulteth – bouleuo –
to deliberate with one’s self, consider; to take counsel, resolve
This is what President Bush has been doing over the last few weeks,
consulting before he makes war.
to meet – apantao – to go
to meet, to meet; in a military sense: a hostile meeting
:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an
ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
a great way off – porrho –
far, at a distance, a great way off
ambassage – presbeia –
age, dignity, right of the first-born; the business normally entrusted to
elders, spec. the office of an ambassador, an embassy
sendeth – apostello – to
order (one) to go to a place appointed; to send away, dismiss
desireth – erotao – to
question; to ask; to request, entreat, beg, beseech
:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he
hath, he cannot be my disciple.
forsaketh – apotassomai –
to set apart, separate; to separate one’s self, withdraw one’s self from
anyone; to take leave of, bid farewell to; to renounce, forsake
that he hath – huparchonta –
possessions, goods, wealth, property
he cannot – dunamai – to
be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of
a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law
or custom; to be able to do something; to be capable, strong and powerful
The person who has not done what Jesus says in verses 26,27 will be like
the person who fails to complete the building project or who loses the war.
:34-35 Salt
:34 Salt is good:
good – kalos – beautiful,
handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable,
commendable, admirable
salt – halas – salt with
which food is seasoned and sacrifices are sprinkled
Salt is a flavor enhancer – it makes things taste good.
As Christians, we ought to make the things of God, we ought to help make
life “taste good”.
Salt is a preservative.
The world around us stinks, but as Christians we add a preserving quality
in the world. We are what is keeping
the world from totally spoiling.
Salt makes you thirsty
As Christians, we ought to make people thirsty for the things of God,
thirsty for the Living Water.
Illustration
Howard Hendricks writes,
I dare you to eat one pretzel. All I have to do is to pick up one of those
things, and I’m hooked. The salt in that pretzel creates a desire for more. A
number of years ago, when I was a student at the seminary, I was invited to preach
in west Texas. You’ve all heard of Nowhere? Well, this was twenty-five miles
beyond that. The teeming crowds were gathering—all seventeen of them. (I think
it was Rally Day!) I preached with all of the fervor and passion of my heart.
When I got through, this tall Texan came up and said, “You were wrong.”
“Well, sir,” I said, “I’ve been wrong on many occasions. Give me the
information.”
He said, “In your sermon you made a moronic statement. You said you can
lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. And that ain’t true,
‘cause you can feed him salt.”
-- Howard Hendricks,
"Beyond the Bottom Line," Preaching Today, Tape No. 101.
:34 but if the salt have lost his
savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
lost his savour – moraino –
to be foolish, to act foolishly; to make foolish; to prove a person or a thing
foolish; to make flat and tasteless; of salt that has lost its strength and
flavour
shall it be seasoned – artuo –
to prepare, arrange, with respect to food; to season, make savory
(Luke 14:34 NASB) "Therefore, salt is good; but if even
salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned?
:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast
it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
land – ge – arable land;
the ground, the earth as a standing place; the earth as a whole
the dunghill – kopria –
dung, manure
fit – euthetos – well
placed; fit; useful
Lesson
Saltiness comes from Jesus being
first.
I think that’s the point here. If
we are to be salt in this world, it will never come unless Jesus is first in
our life.
If we become more concerned about what people are going to think, about
being afraid to talk about Jesus, how will we ever affect the world?
To sum it all up …
Lesson
Strength comes from commitment
(Prov 24:10 KJV) If
thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
I don’t like this verse. But it’s
true. When I’m going through difficult
times and I faint or want to faint, my strength is small. Solomon doesn’t tell us how to have more strength,
he simply states the fact.
From our passage tonight, we see that our strength comes from our
commitment to Jesus.
When I allow my love for other people to grow greater than
my love for Jesus, when I become more concerned about what others will think
than what Jesus thinks, I’m going to fail.
When I allow myself to be more concerned about my own
“feelings” than serving Jesus, I’m going to fail.
Wild eyed fanatics –
Illustration
Towards the end of World War II, the Japanese began a
desperate attempt to stop the United States Navy.
Kamikaze is the Japanese word for “divine wind.”
And divine the wind was in 1281 -- never was a typhoon more God-sent, if one
were Japanese. The typhoon crushed the invasion fleet mounted by the ambitious
Mongol emperor Kublai Khan (Marco Poli Kublai) in the wake of his conquest of
China’s Sung dynasty. To take the wind out of the sails of the United States
naval juggernaut, the retreating Japanese organized their own kamikaze — a
suicide air force. Navy pilots slammed their bomb-laden planes—and
themselves—into American ships in the Pacific. Twelve hundred pilots killed
themselves taking out thirty four U.S. ships. (Beyond Trivia)
Illustration
We now know another taste of what men can do who are
willing to give up their lives for their cause. Nineteen terrorists were willing to spend years training and
burrowing into America. They were
willing to give up their lives for their cause as they hijacked and flew the
commercial airliners into their targets.
I’ve heard numerous people on TV comment that the fact that these men
are willing to die for their cause makes it so much more difficult to stop
them.
It is incredibly sad that these men were willing to die
for a cause that is based on hate.
Jesus desires that we be willing to die for a cause that
is based on love.
The apostle Paul was one of the greatest examples for us to follow. At one
point in his ministry, he began to receive warnings through the prophets that
he was going to be arrested in Jerusalem. Many people told him that he
shouldn’t go to Jerusalem, but Paul knew that Jesus wanted him to go. Paul
said,
(Acts 20:22-24 KJV) And now,
behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that
shall befall me there: {23} Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city,
saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. {24} But none of these things
move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish
my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus,
to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
For Paul, his “cross” was the bonds and afflictions that
were ahead. Yet knowing these things were ahead did not stop him from doing his
ministry. These things did not “move”
him. Paul had the strength to keep
going because his commitment stayed strong.
(Prov
24:16 KJV) For a just man falleth seven
times, and riseth up again