Pastor Nam Park.
The exhortation to discern this present time.
Luke 12:54 And He was also saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. 55 And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out that way. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?
57 “And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? 58 For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.”
They perceive the "easy" signs of the world, but why can't they read the spiritual signs?
v.54 "cloud rising"
v.55 "a south wind"
v.56 You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?
- They are called hypocrites because they should know better.
- They criticize Jesus for hanging around sinners and tax collectors. They treat the lamb of God poorly when they should honor Him.
Luke 4:17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,
THEY use their minds on foolish things.
- Yes, we want our children to be smart... However, we are to use discernment to learn spiritual things.
- What is the point of "reading," if you don't read the scriptures?
v.54 "cloud rising"
v.55 "a south wind"
v.56 You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?
- They are called hypocrites because they should know better.
- They criticize Jesus for hanging around sinners and tax collectors. They treat the lamb of God poorly when they should honor Him.
Luke 4:17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed,
He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed,
19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”
20 And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
- Jesus was to usher in the "golden age": the power of Jesus Christ to save.
Luke 7:22 And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them.
- What better news could John have received? Since John was a man of the Word, he knew that Jesus was affirming the fact that He [Jesus] was the Messiah.
THEY use their minds on foolish things.
- Yes, we want our children to be smart... However, we are to use discernment to learn spiritual things.
- What is the point of "reading," if you don't read the scriptures?
- DO YOU ANALYZE/UNDERSTAND THIS PRESENT TIME?
- Each one of us [individually] will have to bear an account: "How did you live to glorify the Son?
- It's not for a lack of information that we don't live rightly.
Luke 12:57 “And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? 58 For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.”
- Take this opportunity NOW to make things right, before it's too late.
- It is implied that YOU ARE (I am) guilty.
- Respond now, before it's too late.
- It's not for a lack of information that we don't live rightly.
Luke 12:57 “And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? 58 For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.”
- Take this opportunity NOW to make things right, before it's too late.
- It is implied that YOU ARE (I am) guilty.
- Respond now, before it's too late.
