Luke 11:45-54 – Inconsistency

Our Lord Jesus Christ, without fear or favour, rebukes the sins of the Jewish lawyers. He calls things by their right names. He knows that severe diseases need severe remedies, and that the best friend to our souls is not the one who tells us what we want to hear, but the one who speaks the truth.

It is a great sin to pretend to teach others what we do not practice ourselves. These lawyers require others to observe tiresome religious ceremonies (invented by man not God) which they themselves neglect. They have one standard of behaviour for the people and another for themselves. This is a warning to all who teach others: ministers, elders, parents, etc. We must not tell others to aim at a standard which we do not aim at ourselves. We will not reach perfection in this life, but there should be consistency between our words and our actions.

It is easier to admire dead Christians than living ones. These lawyers claim to honour the memory of the prophets, then live in the very way the prophets condemn. They openly neglect their advice and teaching, and yet they pretend to respect their graves. Many today praise dead Christians, but live in a way these Christians would have criticised and have no time for the living people of God.

Christ speaks of a coming day of judgement for those who have persecuted His people. Thousands of believers have been killed throughout history by cruel and unjust men. But there will come a time when those men will have to answer before the Judge of all the earth for their actions.

Christ warns against the sin of keeping anyone back from the things of God. We must be careful to never discourage anyone, no matter how young, from caring about spiritual things. Instead, we should encourage them, help them, and thank God if they are better than ourselves.

Questions
1. Why is it easier to admire dead Christians?
2. Why does Jesus speak so bluntly?

Prayer Points
1. Pray for Christians being persecuted in other countries.
2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
3. Pray for family matters.