What is Your Top Priority? (A study of the Prophet Haggai)

Sports were my top priority as a teenager.  I played three sports in high school: football, basketball and baseball. One day after a football game against Barrington High School, my coach asked me to stick around so he could talk to me after the game.  I thought he was going to praise me for my performance.  I had three sacks and caught a 53 yard pass.  It was one of my better football games in my career.  I walked up to my coach ready for my pat on the back, but instead he questioned by priorities.  He questioned who my friends were and my loyalties to the football team.  My friends were not athletes and they had a reputation of being a little wild. My coach out of genuine concern for me questioned my priorities.  I had to ask myself, “What is my top priority?”

            There are certain times in everyone’s life when decisions have to be made to display one’s top priorities. My coach question my priorities and he wanted me to respond by showing him that football was more of a priority than my friends.  Have you ever been put in a situation when you had to make a choice to choose your priority?  Maybe you have had to choose between a new job and more time at home.  Maybe you have had to choose between moving up the corporate ladder and church involvement.  Our real-life decisions reveal our top priorities.  So what is your top priority?

            I pray that question would be revealed to you as we study the short prophecy of Haggai.  Haggai prophesied to post-exilic Judah.  The Jews had been able to return to their homeland having been shown favor by Darius, the Persian King (522 -486 B.C.).  Haggai’s prophecy was given to the leaders of Judah: Zerubbabel and Joshua, Haggai 1:1,

In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest:

Haggai sent this prophecy to expose the people’s priorities.  We all have priorities, but our true priorities are revealed by our actions.  God’s Word helps reveals the difference between our stated priorities and are true priorities.

Our Priorities are Revealed by our Spending

            Haggai starts his prophecy by showing the people how they are neglecting God’s house in favor of building their own houses.  Haggai 1:2-6,

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.” Then the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. (Haggai 1:2-6)

There were certain people claiming that it was not time to rebuild the temple.  The temple rebuilding began in 536 B.C., but quickly ceased due to local opposition.  Instead of restarting the building of the temple, the Jews rather turned to establish their own homes.  The key question is in verse 4, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” 

            [1] And it was not that they were just providing themselves a place to live, but they were dwelling in paneled homes implying they were not focused on necessities, but luxuries. This may seem dramatic, but their spending revealed their priorities. They did not prioritize the worship of God, but showed their priority of self.  What would your spending reveal about your priorities?  If someone examined your purchases over the last 6 months what would they reveal?  There is a big difference in our stated priorities and our true priorities. 

Remember the temple was the place where God’s presence dwelt.  So these Jews were focusing on their own homes while the Lord remained homeless.

            Haggai twice in these first eleven verses challenges the leaders to “consider their ways.”  This is one of the most important things that we can do for ourselves and for others.  One of the greatest challenges of ministry in the West is the sheer volume of noise, entertainment and busyness.  We have so much going on and so many escapes that very rarely do we stop and consider our ways.  Haggai was calling the people to slow down and consider their ways. The Lord revealed through Haggai that the reason for the recent trouble in the land is because of the priority of the people.  Verse 5-11,

Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.” (Haggai 1:5-11)

The Lord brought discipline upon His people because of their selfishness and lack of concern for God and His people. 

            I am glad that I do not have cable, because if I did I would watch way too much HGTV.  I love watching home remodel or house flipping shows.  The worst part of those shows is when we have to leave without seeing the big reveal at end.  Although I enjoy watching the shows, there is an undercurrent that subtly attempts to shift wants to needs.  Do I need granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances? No. Are they nice to have? Yes. My concern in living in the west is that we shift too many wants to needs and therefore neglect the building up of God’s house, the church.  Our society wants you to focus on renovating your American Dream at the expense of renovating God’s house.  What is your top priority? 

            John Piper has encouraged and modeled a wartime lifestyle. I think it would be appropriate to quote him at length,

The answer to the question is no. A wartime lifestyle does not mean that you after providing yourself and your family with a modest housing, food, clothing, now you are obliged to give all the surplus away immediately. That is not what wartime lifestyle says. Rather, the call for wartime way of life says with a lot more nuance and complexity that the remainder of our resources, so after you have provided for yourself those necessities, might be 10 dollars, might be 10 million dollars left over. That is the one that is being asked about. What is left over is managed, stewarded for the good of others, the glory of God, the advancement of his saving and sanctifying and healing purposes in the world rather than for personal aggrandizement.[2]

What we do with our money after we meet our needs reveals our priorities.  Haggai encouraged Judah to consider your ways; it would be wise to follow his counsel.

Our Priorities are Revealed by our Submission

            Our priorities are ultimately revealed in what we think about doing, but in what we actually do.  Would Zerubbabel and Joshua submit to God’s Word? Haggai 1:12-15,

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD. Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD's message, “I am with you, declares the LORD.” And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king. (Haggai 1:12-15)

Three key phrases in this section show that Judah true priorities had changed. First, they obeyed the voice of the Lord their God.  Second, the people feared the Lord. And third, the Lord stirred up the spirit of the people. Repentance is an act of God.

            God spoke to the people, “I am with you declares the Lord.”  They do not have to fear opposition because the Lord is in their midst.  Think of how encouraging this word would have been to the people recently returned from exiles.  God is in their midst.  It is God speaking and God stirring that bring the people to work on the house of the Lord.  It is a simple and sweet reminder that if God’s temple, the church, is going to change today, it will be because the Lord stirs up the hearts of His people.  Let us pray that God would be gracious to stir up our hearts to obedience changing our priorities from selfishness to selflessness.  For as Christians, we want our priorities to be God’s priorities.

God’s Priorities are Revealed by the Spirit

            The people are building the temple and it is clear that it will be far inferior to the one built by Solomon as the Lord asks, “Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?” It was obvious to everyone that this temple would pale in comparison to the previous one and it would have caused them to think that the past glory was greater than the future glory. 

Whenever we hold on to the past glory over present glory discouragement and despair are sure to come.  Life will never be like it was.  There is a hopelessness that comes when we cling to past success, but the promise of the Scripture is always of a future glory that will far exceed the past. Haggai 2:4-9,

Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.’” (Haggai 2:4-9)

The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former glory.  This promise is speaking about the day when the glory of the Lord will fill the earth as the water covers the seas.

           

The author of Hebrews picks up this prophecy and brings it to the saints in saying, Hebrews 12:26b-29,

He has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

The Spirit reveals the Lord’s priority in creating a kingdom that will not be shaken.  The promise that God made to Abraham was alive and well for the people of Judah after the exile and it will continue to New Testament saints until the Lord comes and shakes the earth and also the heavens. So how is this going to happen?  God’s priorities are most clearly revealed in His Son

God’s Priorities are Revealed by the Son

Haggai shares that the people of Judah are unclean (2:10-19).  Their uncleanness has brought trouble upon them, but the Lord has promised them “from this day on I will bless you.” How does the Lord bless unclean people?  He does it through His Son. The Lord promises this at the end of Haggai’s prophecy, verses 2:20-23,

The word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother. On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts.” (Haggai 2:20-23).

The signet ring was given as a sign of authority.  God has given the signet ring to Zerubbabel. And in giving the ring to Zerubbabel, God is restoring the royal line of King David and reaffirming His covenant that one day there will be a forever king on a forever throne. 

            Therefore we read Zerubbabel’s name in the lineage of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:12. God gave the signet ring to Zerubbabel to point the Jews to look to the promise of the Messiah who would come and cleanse His people from their sin.  The Messiah would come and live a pure and clean life fully trusting God always living in line with God’s priorities. His perfect life would end in a brutal death. The Messiah, Jesus Christ, would die for His people, but on the third day be raised from the dead.  And after He rose, He ascended into heaven seated at the right hand of God.  So those who trust in Christ, have the hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (Heb. 10:22). Jesus blesses a defiled people by making them clean through His own blood.  God’s priority of redemption is clearly seen in the promise of His Son through the signet ring given to Zerubbabel. God promises to make you clean if you would consider your ways, turn and trust in Christ for salvation. God made it a priority to offer your redemption; will you make it a priority to receive it?

           

Are your priorities God’s priorities? Are you living for the greater glory promised by the Spirit where the glory of the Lord will fill the earth? Are you prioritizing redemption and the forgiveness of sin for all who trust in Christ?  Or are you so focused on your own comfort and peace that you are neglecting what truly matters?

            I pray that you would consider your ways.  Ask God to reveal your current priorities and then by His grace help you reorder them to His.  What is your top priority? Let it be the Lord and none other.

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[1] ESV Study Bible Note on 1:4 pg 1744

[2] http://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/wartime-wisdom-for-the-wealthy accessed on 10.22.2014
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Gospel Signs

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” Luke 22:19-20

Beloved,

I still remember when I took my test to get my driver’s permit.  I waited in the long DMV line took the test and brought it back up to the lady at the counter.  She looked at me and said, “You didn’t answer a question.” I replied, “Is it going to matter?” “Yes.”  She gave me the test back and I proceeded to get the wrong answer and failed my permit test.  I finally grabbed the study booklet and started to review the meaning of all the various signs one sees on the road in the hopes of passing the test. Each sign I studied was a symbol for what drivers needed to know in order be aware of their surroundings. 

Signs are powerful tools to protect people from dangers as well as to encourage them that they are traveling in the right direction.  The Lord Jesus has given His people two signs for the Christian gospel: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Both these signs were commanded by Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry.  These signs are known as ordinances.  These two ordinances are signs both to the church community and to the world of who has identified themselves with Christ death and resurrection. 

Baptism is the sign symbolizing one has entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Individuals are buried under the water to identify with Christ’s death and are raised out of the water to identify with Christ’s resurrection. This is an outward symbol of an inward change. The Lord’s Supper is a sign symbolizing that one is continuing in their relationship with Jesus Christ.  The bread and cup represent Christ’s broken body and His shed blood.  In partaking of the Lord’s Supper you are showing you have communion with God and with His people. 

These two ordinances are signed to distinguish between God’s people and the world.  As Timothy Keller says they are, “boundary markers,” for the covenant church community.  Baptism is a sign you are now a part of the church while the Lord’s Supper is a sign that you are still a part of the church. These signs protect the church’s membership and clarify to the world who is and who is not part of God’s people. Therefore, these signs make the gospel visible to the church and to the world.  I pray that when you see these signs, your, “seeing leads to believing[1].”

In Christ,

Pastor Dave

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[1] J.I. Packer quoted by Tim Keller in New City Catechism Question 43.

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Dave Kiehn 10 19 2014 "Engage in Kingdom Business"

Engage in Kingdom Business (Luke 19:11-27)

            There is nothing like the excitement of waiting for a child to be born.  I remember the mix of excitement and nervousness sitting in the hospital room waiting to go back for the delivery.  Yet the waiting and preparation for the baby begins long before the delivery. Expectant mothers have to prepare their bodies for delivery by eating healthy and hydrating ensuring their blood pressure and vitals are correct. Expectant fathers have to say goodbye to their office or “man cave” by transforming it into a nursery. Parents have to assemble the crib, paint the walls new colors, and hang the appropriate pictures.  There are showers for the baby to load up on clothes and diapers. Expectant parents know the baby is coming, and when they know the baby is coming they engage in preparing for the arrival. 

            In this waiting and expectation, Christians are like expectant parents.  We know God is going to come and will deliver his kingdom. And because we know his arrival is coming, we must engage in preparing for His arrival.  Many Jews believed that the Messiah was going to come as a powerful political king restoring the nation of Israel.  They supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.  Ask any expectant mother at month 7 and they will tell you that they are ready for the baby to be born, but they do not have any control over the timing of the delivery.  We do not have control over the timing of the Lord’s return.  We know that it is going to happen, but all we can do is to wait for it.  Luke 19:11,

As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.

Jesus shared this parable to illustrate that His kingdom will not be fully established until some later date. In this parable Jesus shows three distinct groups of people. I pray that the Holy Spirit clarifies which group you are in and convicts you to respond accordingly. Let me frame this passage by asking you three questions, the first,

Are you Engaging in Kingdom Business?

Luke 19:12-19,

He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ (Luke 19:12-19)

The parable is of a nobleman who went to a far country to receive for himself a kingdom. Before he left, he called ten of his servants together giving them each one mina (or about 3 months salary) and tells them, “Engage in business until I come.” These ten servants were called to engage in the King’s business while he was away to prepare for his return. In this way the nobleman represents Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ returned home and was given all power and dominion and authority, seated at the right hand of the God.  He has gone to receive a kingdom.

This is an interesting parable for Luke’s gospel. For most of Luke’s gospel he mentions the kingdom being near or present, but here Luke is speaking about the kingdom that is to come. This is where we get the “already, but not yet” theology of the kingdom.  Jesus Christ has brought the kingdom to us in part, but will one day bring the kingdom to us completely.  So we are called to live in the “already” (born again, redeemed, holy, righteous people of God) and the not-yet (still living in the flesh, battling the world and the devil).  Jesus has already won us the victory, but we have not experienced ceasefire. 

I think one of the key phrases of this parable is at the end of verse 13, “Engage in business until I come.” We see two realities here: what we are called to do- engage in the King’s business, and how long we are called to do it – until Christ comes.  We see in the parable what happens when the King returns.  It says in verse 15, “When he returned, having received the kingdom,” he is coming back after fully establishing the kingdom. He calls all the servants to him and judges their engagement in the master’s business. The first two servants provide a return for the investment. I love the interchange with the first servant and the master, verses 16-17,

The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’

This man is rewarded for his faithfulness. He has been faithful with little so he has been entrusted with much. God will always reward the faithfulness of his people.

I love those words, “well done.”  The task is over.  The race has been run.  The job is finished. Well done!! These words are promised for all who engage in kingdom business, so how do you know if you are engaging in kingdom business?  First of all, it doesn’t mean that you are saved, because of your work, but rather your engagement in work is a sign that you are saved, for Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Engaging in kingdom business does not earn us merit with God, but proves that we are abiding in Jesus. So another way to frame the question is, “Are you abiding or remaining in Christ?” Paul uses the similar concept of walking throughout his epistles.  Are you walking with Christ? Are you abiding in Christ? This is kingdom engagement.

Or yet another way to look at engaging in kingdom business would be to ask, “Are we being good stewards of the lives God have given us? The nobleman gave each servant a mina and then judged them based on their stewardship. So are we using our money, our talents, and our time for kingdom business?  Paul weds both these concepts together in Ephesians 5,

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:15-21)

Making the best use of your time is intimately connected to serving and living together with one another. 

We can divorce spirituality from Christ and his people. I hear many people say that they do not attend church because they are more spiritual than religious.  Although it may sound trendy and be a cultural buzzword, biblical spirituality cannot be divorced from Christ and his people.  Theologian and Biblical scholar, Andreas Kostenberger writes,

“Growth in spirituality is evidenced in the form of active obedience, love, mission, and corporate unity and peace. We therefore progress in spirituality (engage in kingdom business) as we express love for others in practical and concrete ways, make our day-by-day decisions in obedience to God’s commands, involve ourselves, in the fulfillment of God’s mission in the world, and promote peace and unity within God’s church.[1]

All that to say is that one of the most profound and biblical ways to engage in kingdom business is to be a faithful member in a local church. 

Love each other during difficult times. Forgive and bear with each other when you are offended. Visit widows regularly. Give cards on special days. Grieve with each other.  Pray for each other’s lost family members.  Rejoice with those who rejoice.  Outdo one another in showing honor.  In this age where radical spirituality is promoted, wouldn’t it be surprising that the greatest kingdom business we can engage in is right here in the local church.  Our love for God will almost always be expressed in concrete acts of love to others.  Be a faithful church member and be confident that you are engaging in kingdom business.

Second question:

Are you Ignoring Kingdom Business?

            If we are not engaging in kingdom business, we may be ignoring it. And there are grave consequences for ignoring kingdom business, Luke 19:19-26,

Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

This servant did not receive is commendation, but a condemnation.  He was condemned because he did not respond in loving obedience to the King.

            Let’s analyze this servant’s attitude and character.  First, he was afraid of the master because he believed him to be a severe man.  He did not trust his graciousness and kindness, but lived in a state of fear. 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”  Second, he was lazy and selfish. If he was truly afraid, he would have been motivated to try and bring a return, but his fear never changed his behavior.  His laziness and selfishness causes him to ignore kingdom business.  Lasty, he is wicked, verse 22, “I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant.” So his fearful, self-serving lazy, wicked attitude brought him condemnation.

            A very similar parable is told in Matthew 25.  The servant was rebuked in Matthew 25 by the master with these words,

‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25:26-30). 

Luke does not have such a stinging, clear end. The wicked servant in Matthew ends in Hell, the place of outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

            Now remember Jesus told this parable to those who thought the kingdom of God was going to come immediately.  There was going to be some considerable time between the first and second coming of Christ.  This passage is an encouragement to those who are engaging in kingdom business to press on and remain steadfast, but this passage is also a warning to those who are part of the community yet are ignoring kingdom business.  In a church community, there are some of you who need to be encouraged in your gospel engagement, while there are others they need to be warned. For if you are ignoring kingdom business, indifferent in loving one another, refusing to use your gifts to build up the body, desiring to be served rather than to serve, withholding forgiveness from others, stirring up strife, harboring bitterness, etc., you may not a good and faithful servant of Christ.

            The great Christian theologian Augustine of Hippo said the church will always be a mixed community.  True believers will always be among false believers.  Jesus shared the parable of the weeds in Matthew 13,

²⁷ So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’²⁸ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ ²⁹ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” (Matthew 13:27-30 NKJV)

Jesus said, “Let them both grow together until the harvest time,” then the separation will come. 

Farmers are very familiar with wheat and tares.  If you look at baby wheat and baby tares, they are indistinguishable.  It is impossible to tell the difference until the harvest. Both the wheat and tares are harvested in the spring. The tare stands tall and proud while the wheat bows from its weight.  It is a great illustration. The tare, like the wicked servant, stands tall in his pride, not truly recognizing the King while the wheat bows in humble submission the one who has received the kingdom.  Those ignoring kingdom business are usually those too proud to humble themselves in service of others. Be warned that there is a judgment awaiting all those who did not recognize Christ as the true king.

Third Question,

Are you Against Kingdom Business?

            The previous warning was to those who are in the community, but the last group Jesus addresses in this parable, are those who reject him.  Verse 14, “But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’” It was common in those days, for Jews to send a delegation to oppose someone’s reign. Jewish Historian Josephus mentions one such time when the Jews sent a delegation to oppose Archelaus’s reign.  The Jews despised him for he massacred 3,000 Jews during one Passover so the citizens referenced in verse 14 would have been receive by the audience as a clear reference to the Jews hatred of Jesus.[2] Jesus finished the parable with these words regarding the Jews, “But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’” These enemies do not hear his words only feel his wrath.

            The truth is that all of us at one time were enemies of God. We were wicked servants rejecting our King’s reign for our own rule. Jesus Christ is the only true King.  He came to us, his enemies.  He was born as a man, lived a perfect life, and died for all those who want Jesus to reign over them.  He came as a man died and was resurrected from the dead. And after showing himself to his disciples, God exalted Him the highest place giving Him full authority over His Kingdom as the one true King.  His kingdom will not come immediately, but it will come.  And when it comes, no one will be able to stand, except for those who have already been humbled and have invited Jesus to reign over them as King. Jesus is the only true King, but the greatness of his reign is that it started in death so that we could live. Who would not want to follow a King that would die for them?

            So which words will you hear on that day? Well done, my good and faithful servant, you have been faithful with little so you will receive much? Or you lazy, wicked servant, you are condemned with your own words? You can know today what words you are going to hear on that day. All true citizens of the kingdom of heaven who engage in kingdom business will be rewarded for their faithfulness. Engage in kingdom business, until He comes.

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[1] Kostenberg, Andreas. Excellence: The Character of God and the pursuit of Scholarly Virtue. Crossway. Wheaton, IL 2011. Pg. 75.

[2] Bock, Darrell. BEC. Luke 9:51-23:53. Pg. 1533

Does God Keep His Promises? (A study of the prophet Zephaniah)

           

At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, a young American soldier was growing in acclaim for his military prowess.  He helped the American forces capture the British garrison at Fort Ticonderoga in 1775.  He later was instrumental in forcing the surrender of the British army at Saratoga in 1777. Although he was growing as an American hero, he never felt that he received the recognition for his efforts.  So this budding American hero started secret negotiations with the British to help them take WestPoint in exchange for money and a high post in the British army.  He broke his promise to his fellow soldiers and betrayed his friends to win favor with the enemy. This once American war hero, Benedict Arnold, has now become a synonym with the word, “traitor.” Broken promises can change heroes into traitors. 

            Has someone ever broken a promise they made to you? Did you feel betrayed? Was it harder to trust them again?  It is no surprise that we live in a world of broken promises. From politicians not fulfilling their campaign promises to athletes using performance enhancing drugs, we are daily bombarded with seeing a string of broken promises.  And as we see broken promises, we are inevitably tempted to ask, “Can anyone be trusted?” And if we doubt whether we can trust any human person we can see, we may also be tempted to doubt God who we can’t see. Does God keep His promises? Can God be trusted?

            This is the question we hope to answer through the prophecy of Zephaniah.  Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of Josiah who reigned from 640 – 609 B.C.  Josiah was the young, righteous king who helped to restore true worship in Judah which had fallen out of practice since his great-grandfather Hezekiah.  Zephaniah also came from the line of Hezekiah which we read in verse 1,         

The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

Zephaniah is going to say some very difficult things to the nation of Judah so the prophecy starts by showing his national pedigree. Although his pedigree helps to legitimize his message, ultimately it is the Word of the Lord spoken through Zephaniah.  And God makes bold promises in this book. First,

God Promises Punishment on the Day of the Lord

            The nation of Judah had fallen into idolatrous religious practices.  They had abandoned the first of the Ten Commandments, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex. 20:3).  And because of this rejection of God, God makes a promise of punishment.   Zephaniah 1:2-9,

“I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD. “I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, and the rubble with the wicked. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD. “I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal and the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests, those who bow down on the roofs to the host of the heavens, those who bow down and swear to the LORD and yet swear by Milcom, those who have turned back from following the LORD, who do not seek the LORD or inquire of him. Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests. And on the day of the LORD's sacrifice— “I will punish the officials and the king's sons and all who array themselves in foreign attire. On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master's house with violence and fraud.”

The Lord promises to punish those who bow to another God. He will do this on the Day of the Lord.  It cannot be avoided.  God will keep his promise for the Day of the Lord is near (1:7).

            Did God keep his promise to punish Judah? He fulfilled his promise of punishment against Judah by allowing His people to be carried into exile. God is patient, but He will punish His people. We do not like to think about punishment.  It is not a conversation that usually brings happiness and joy to the heart. Our culture has adopted a philosophy that wants to remove all notions of punishment based on our own individual choices. We live in an age where is it becoming criminal to speak about God’s punishment on our various forms of idolatry.

            This past week the city of Houston has requested sermons of local pastors that have spoken against the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance. This ordinance attempts to create public accommodations for gender identity and sexuality.  City attorneys requested subpoenas of, “all speeches, presentations, or sermons related to HERO, the Petition, Mayor Annise Parker, homosexuality, or gender identity prepared by, delivered by, revised by, or approved by you or in your possession.” The city of Houston believes that is wrong for any pastor to proclaim God’s promised punishment against idolatry.  God would say that these lawyers are claiming to be wise, but they actually have become fools for, they are exchanging,

The truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (Romans 1:25)

The officials of the city of Houston do not believe that God keeps His promises to judge idolatry.  Do not be deceived, God will always keep his word.

            Beloved, we must fight for the truth of the gospel.  We must not be complacent thinking that God is not active. We can’t think that He will not judge us for our complacency for He did in Zephaniah’s day,

On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master's house with violence and fraud. “On that day,” declares the LORD, “a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, a loud crash from the hills. Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar! For all the traders are no more; all who weigh out silver are cut off. At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill.’ Their goods shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.” (Zephaniah 1:9-13)

Many mainline Christian denominations have become complacent and have joined with the spirit of the age.  They have become complacent thinking that God will not do good or will not do ill.  God is not passive.  He is active.

            Zephaniah should sober and humble us as we come face to face with His mighty and ferocious promise.  Our God is jealous for His name and His glory. He will have no rivals.  Let us tremble as we hear the Lord describing that Day,

The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there. A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements. I will bring distress on mankind, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the LORD. In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth. (Zephaniah 1:14-18)

That coming Day should cause us to tremble and repent. 

            Chapter 1 deals mainly with how God is going to handle His own people, while Zephaniah extends this promised judgment to all the nations that stand against the Lord in chapter 2 and in chapter 3. As you read them you see again and again the totality of destruction that will come on the Day of the Lord, but also you see promises of protection for those who repent.

God Promises Protection on the Day of the Lord

Zephaniah 2:1-3,

Gather together, yes, gather, O shameless nation, before the decree takes effect —before the day passes away like chaff— before there comes upon you the burning anger of the LORD, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the LORD. Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD. (Zephaniah 2:1-3)

Do you see how gracious and merciful God is?  The Day of the Lord is coming and God is promising protection to those who rebelled against them.  Those who seek righteousness and humility may perhaps be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord. 

            Imagine standing in the plains of African with a herd of wild elephants heading right towards

you. There is not enough time to move to the left or to the right. You are trapped waiting the coming trampling of these 10,000 pound behemoths. There is nothing else to do, but to fall on your knees and pray. When you fall to your knees, a huge rock falls from the sky right in front of you diverting all the elephants keeping you hidden and protected from destruction.  This is what the Lord is offering to the nations that rebelled against Him.  The Lord said to Moses,

But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” And the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. (Exodus 33:20-22)

The only hope for protection on the Day of the Lord is given by Lord through Jesus Christ and through the humble recognition of His Lordship.  Jesus said of Peter’s confession that He was the Christ that on that rock He would build His church.

            The cleft of the rock that will hide us from God’s coming judgment is the confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the World. We all have sinned and broken the first commandment of having no other gods. We all are idolaters.  And God has promised punishment for such sin and He always keeps His promise so He sent His own Son to be punished in our place.  Jesus Christ has become the cleft of the rock that keeps us hidden from the anger of the Lord. For those who believe in Christ, “have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” We are hidden with Christ as Christ has taken God’s punishment.

            This is the message we must share with the people of Houston and the entire world. God has promised judgment. He will keep His promise to judge the world on the Day of the Lord. And yet, He offers protection on that Day through Christ!!  We must never be silenced in sharing both the promised punishment for sin and the promised protection from sin offered in Christ.

God Promises Praise on the Day of the Lord

            The Day of the Lord will be great in regards to the destruction of the rebellious, but it will also be great in regards to delight of the redeemed. Zephaniah 3:9-13,

“For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord. From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering. “On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain. But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD, those who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.” (Zephaniah 3:9-13)

God is going to bring praise to His name from people from every tribe, people, and language.  He alludes to the great harvest and the throne room of heaven by saying, “beyond the rivers of Cush, my worshipers shall bring my offering.” 

            In this section Zephaniah focuses on the changed speech of the people as a sign of a changed heart. We know from Jesus that our speech reveals what is in our heart so here we see a people whose hearts have been changed by the grace of God. It is a foreshadow of Peter’s words that the church is a,

Chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Our speech and our praise is a sign that we have become God’s people.  It is a sign that we have received mercy.  God has not given us what our sins deserved, but has given us mercy.

Zephaniah begins with woe and judgment, but ends with praise and joy.  Zephaniah 3:14-20,

Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach. Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the LORD. (Zephaniah 3:14-20)

Do you ever feel that you are not loved by God? Ever feel that God has to put up with you, but He is not really happy about it?  I hope that those of you who ever doubt God’s love for you would remember these verses.

            Right before Ellen and I started dating we took a cross country road trip together to make a video for my mother’s 50^th Birthday.  The night before Ellen was packing in her room and singing as loud as she could to some of her favorite songs. Her roommates were amazed at how happy and excited she was to spend the next few days with me.  Ellen’s joyful singing for the opportunity to spend four days with her future husband is just a glimpse of the joyful singing God does over us for the opportunity to spend eternity with us.  God sings over us because we are in Christ.  God is no longer angry towards us, but looks at us and sings, “These my children with whom I am well pleased.” God has shown His pleasure with Christ and by extension because we are united with Christ, He is pleased with us, so we must know, “The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

            It is hard for some to believe that God will keep His promise of punishment while it is hard for others to believe that God will keep his promise of praise over His people.  Whatever side you find yourself on you must always remember that God always keeps His promises. He promises to punish sin. He promises to protect those hidden in Christ. And He promises to exult over you with loud singing.” Trust His promises, they will be kept. 

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Hear and Believe

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Beloved,

True Christian discipleship starts with the Word of God.  All Scripture has been given to us by God to build us up in Christ Jesus.  All Christians should regularly study and meditate on the Word of God.  We should not do so begrudgingly, but joyfully because it is profitable to our souls.  The Psalmist calls the man blessed who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night (Psalm 1:1-2).  He goes on to say, “He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

It does not take a whole lot of convincing to see the importance and the benefit of spending time in and with the Word of God.  But even though we know its value, are we making the Word a priority in our lives? Satan often uses good things to shift our priority from the Word.  Whatever means Satan uses whether it is activities, entertainment, recreation or rest (all good things), we can never sacrifice the primacy of God’s Word in our life.  For God’s Word should inform our activities, entertainment, recreation and rest.  We want to be people that submit to the authority of God’s Word in theory and in practice.

Immediately following the declarative power of God’s Word, pastors are commanded to publicly declare God’s Word. 2 Timothy 4:1-2a, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word.” Pastors, must preach the Word. And therefore, Christians must hear the Word.  Every age will challenge the authority of God’s Word, and our age is no different.  Beloved, we must make the reading and hearing of God’s Word the foundation of our life. And when we hear it, we must accept it not as the word of man, but as what it truly is, the Word of God in obedience and faith (1 Thess. 2:13). 

So what is hindering your time in the Word?  If the Word will make us complete and equipped for every good work, then we must lay aside every weight that hinders our meditation and delight in God’s Word. This world is full of good things, but we cannot sacrifice the BEST for the good. Let us reprioritize our lives around the Word rather than the arranging the Word around our lives. 

_____________________

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blog post adapted from one I previously wrote in May 2013.

The Story of Salvation - Luke 19:1-10

        (Watch Video Here)

            When was the last time you asked someone to tell you their story? Everyone has a story to tell. One of the problems with our super busy culture is that we do not stop enough to listen to people’s stories.  We think that we know people by how they dress, the mannerisms, where they grew up, or by what they do for a living, but is thinking you know something the same as knowing something? 

            Take Todd for example.  Todd is married with 4 children and lives in a nice home in a nice

neighborhood.  He is an insurance agent for a big company and attends a small Baptist church just outside of town.  He drives a moderately new sedan and always is dressed professionally.  In looking at Todd, you may think that you know him, but you may not know that he has battled internet pornography since he was exposed to it as a pre-teen.  Or that he puts on a smile every day at work even though he hates his job.  Or that his marriage is very rocky and he feels his wife doesn’t respect him. Or that his mother died when he was young and he has held a quiet bitterness against God ever since.

            Or maybe take Susan. She has been homeless for several years and is addicted to heroin. She only eats full meals twice a week when a local church opens their soup kitchen.  She rarely bathes and always seems to be carrying a foul odor.  In looking at Susan, you may think you know her, but you may not know that she is the daughter of a prominent business owner in the neighboring county.  She grew up in a Southern Baptist Church where she was active in her G.A.s and her church youth group.  She was the youngest of three daughters who all were members of the National Honor Society.  She met a boy after high school that introduced her to marijuana which quickly spiraled into cocaine.  Her parents tried to convince her to leave her boyfriend, but only drew her farther into his arms.  She left home at 19 married her boyfriend who left her within 6 months after introducing her to heroin.  She misses her family, but cannot break from her addiction. 

            When was the last time you asked someone their story?  Or when was the last time you were bold enough to share your true story?  You may be surprised on the stories of the people you will find sitting next you.  We all have a story and it is important for us to understand the stories of others. In this text, we have the privilege to get a glimpse into the story of a man named Zacchaeus.

The Story of a Sinner

Luke 19:1-2,

He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.

Jesus is continuing his journey to Jericho.  Last week, we discussed how Jesus met the blind man begging on the side of the road while today we meet a man from the other end of the spectrum.  His name was Zacchaeus.  Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and was rich.  The title of chief tax collector is only used here in the New Testament. Jericho would have been a major toll collection point for those traveling both from the east and the west. 

            Tax collectors were Jews who were tasked by the oppressive Roman government to garner the wages of the people.  Tax collectors were despised by their fellow Jews because they were willing to work for their enemies, the Romans. The Romans allowed tax collectors to take more than the required amount for their wages.  Most tax collectors did not only take what they needed to live on, but rather charged the Jews far more than what was required. They stole from their own people to pad their pockets. They were the Bernie Madoff’s of their day, but what they did was legal. They stole from their own people and were despised because it.

Zacchaeus was one of the chief tax collectors either in collecting the most taxes or in overseeing other tax collectors which made him rich.  This is the third person classified as “rich” over the last few chapters. Luke introduced one rich man who interacted with Lazarus and the rich young ruler who had an encounter with Jesus. Zacchaeus is rich and based on the previous information in this gospel, we would assume that what would follow would show the negative aspect of that wealth. 

    

  Let’s take a moment to just think about a little bit about Zacchaeus. Did he have any reservations about working for the Romans? Would he have lost friends when he became a tax collector? Maybe he began as an honest man, but as people ostracized him, he felt that his extortion was justified. Or maybe he was picked on because of his size and stealing was his way to get even with those who hurt him? Did he ever feel guilty in defrauding people? Did he ever feel guilty in what he was teaching his family? Was he a happy person or depressed?  Did he like himself or was he plagued by a guilty conscience?  What was his relationship with his father?

      There are many questions we could ask, but we will never get the answers to those questions from the text.  I think it is important to realize that Zacchaeus had a story as all sinners have a story. And beloved, we are a church full of sinners who all have a story. Do you think we would be a closer community if we knew more of each other’s stories? Do you think it would grow our empathy and love for one another?

The Seeking of a Sinner

Luke 19:3-4,

And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.

Zacchaeus was seeking to see who Jesus was.  This is the beginning of faith. He was curious about whom Jesus was and the miracles that he did.  And we see that he overcame some obstacles in order to get a good view of the real Jesus.

            His height limited him from seeing so he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a tree so that he could see Jesus. Something was happening in Zacchaeus’s heart that encouraged him to go the extra mile in order that he could see Jesus.  This past Wednesday there was a lunar eclipse.  I was invited to meet at a parking lot at 6:15 a.m. to watch the eclipse with friends.  And you know what I did? I slept in until 7 a.m.  The desire to see the lunar eclipse was not motivation enough for me to go the extra mile of getting out of bed early to drive across town before dawn.  And yet, the desire for Zacchaeus to see Jesus made him willing to do whatever he had to do to see Jesus. 

            We do not know exactly when Zacchaeus becomes a believer in this story.  Did he have saving faith before he climbed the tree or after he invited Jesus into his house or after his pledge?  We know that he eventually had saving faith, but we can see that he was being drawn to Jesus long before he made the final decision to follow him.  Something was going on in Zacchaeus that was encouraging him to take a long hard look at the person and work of Jesus Christ.  This should be encouraging to us, because God is still working in our lives and the lives of our lost family and friends.

            When we share our faith, we have to believe that God is already moving in the lives of the people we are talking to.  During a mission trip, a few of my teammates went to a local pool to go swimming. The problem was the pool was closed and my friends jumped the fence to cool off on a hot day.  A police officer saw the break-in and came to arrest them. As the police officer was questioning my missionary friends, he gave his life to Christ.  God was already moving in that man’s heart long before my friends ever had even decided to go swimming. God is drawing people all around us to Himself. They are beginning to seek Him. We must open our eyes and look at who the Lord is drawing to Himself. 

The Seeking of the Savior

            It is interesting that as the lost Zacchaeus is going the extra mile to see Jesus, Jesus has already gone the extra mile to seek Him. Luke 19:5-6,

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.

Jesus came to Zacchaeus and called him into fellowship.  And Zacchaeus received the invitation with joy. 

           

Remember what had to happen in order for Jesus to come to Jericho.  Jesus had to become a man.  He had to humble himself taking on the very nature of a servant be clothed in human likeness.  He had to be made like us in every respect so that He could become our merciful and faithful high priest.  Jesus came to that place, because he was heading for another place. He was heading for Jerusalem where he would be crucified and to bear the wrath of God on the cross.  The simple fact that Jesus met Zacchaeus was a sign of divine mercy. 

            Friend, if you are here and would not consider yourself a follower of Jesus, have you ever considered how merciful God has been to you in your story?  The Bible says that none of us deserve mercy, but wrath.  We deserve to pay for our sins.  Zacchaeus deserved to pay for his, just like you and me.  And yet, God gives us time to turn to him.  He fills our days with countless examples of his mercy that we so often take for granted.  Even as we sit in this room, we are experiencing the mercy of friendship, air conditioning, hearing, speaking, and thinking. Every breath we take is a symbol of his mercy.  The greatest mercy that has ever been known is God becoming man to bring us mercy. I pray that as we study how God brought mercy to Zacchaeus that you would see that God can bring divine mercy to you. 

            It is not always a blessing when people invite themselves over to your house, but Zacchaeus did not look at this as an inconvenience.  He was delighted to bring Jesus into his home.  It would have been very rare for a righteous teacher to enter into the home of a tax collector.  Some scholars even would say that the joyful response of Zacchaeus shows the beginnings of saving faith.  And as Zacchaeus was thrilled, the rest of the crowd grumbled.

The Slander of a Sinner

Luke 19:7,

And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

The crowd was unhappy with Jesus’ choice of a houseguest.  Luke comments that “they all grumbled,” showing how pervasive the negative view of tax collectors was in the culture.  The crowd was outraged that Jesus would go and eat with a sinner.  Grumbling is almost always framed with negative connotations in the New Testament. Their grumbling is not a good thing, but why do you think they grumbled? How did their cultural context condition them for outrage over a simple choice of a traveling teacher?

            As I have said before, everyone has a story and even the people in the crowd have a story.  Let us ask, “Why did they all grumble?” How many times had the crowd been taken advantage of by Zacchaeus? How many times has he knocked on their door and asked for their taxes? How many times has Zacchaeus taken their money leaving them with little money for food? Maybe their hunger or poverty is intimately connected with Zacchaeus. Remember tax collectors were looked at as traitors so it is possible that Zacchaeus was the symbol of betrayal. Their grumbling could be a sign of their own jealousy and pride.  They could be mad that their homes were not chosen by Jesus.  Maybe their pride was hurt because they felt they should be rewarded for their good deeds rather than a thief and a traitor.

            The text does not give us the reason behind their grumbling, but we know that their grumbling is wrong.  And even though their grumbling is wrong, it is important to understand the story behind their grumbling.  There are going to be people in your life that are going to grumble against you.  The natural response is to get angry or hurt, but the way of love is to empathize with those who “appear” to be against you. I have been leading organizations since my mid 20’s and I have received a lot of grumbling against my leadership during those years.  At first, I responded with exasperation and frustration that people would be against my decisions, but I have learned that it vital to understand the reason behind their frustration and grumbling.  Sometimes in learning people’s stories I have found that their grumbling has more to do with them rather than me, and other times I have found that their grumbling was sparked by something that I had done.  Learn the story of saints and sinners before responding in frustration.

            I believe that the crowd grumbled because they saw Zacchaeus as an enemy rather than one who needed the mercy of God. They looked down upon Zacchaeus because of his sin, forgetting that they too are sinners in need of Jesus presence.

The Salvation of the Savior

Luke 19:8-10,

And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The story seems to skip to after the meal at Zacchaeus’s house.  It is as if you were watching a movie and see Jesus meeting Zacchaeus on the road, then the screen goes black and the next moment they are finishing up the meal at the house.  We do not know the details of the conversation that took place over the meal, but we can imagine it had to do with repentance and the kingdom of God. 

            Zacchaeus was confronted with his sin of defrauding the people and his need to repent and receive the Jesus Christ as Lord.  And we find out that is exactly what he did.  Zacchaeus stood up and said, “Behold, Lord.”  Zacchaeus is submitting himself to the Jesus Christ, and notice that true faith does not come in mere words, but in action. Verse 8,

Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything I restore it fourfold.

Zacchaeus repented.  He changed his behavior.  True belief always comes with a change of behavior. 

 

            This is the story of salvation. Everyone has to be confronted with their sin and realize they need a Savior.  The first step to salvation is the knowledge that you need to take the first step.  It is only in Jesus Christ graciously confronting Zacchaeus in his sin that causes him to turn. It is not the condemning nature of his sin that causes him to turn, but the overwhelming grace extended to Zacchaeus in Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ came to seek and save the lost.  He came to Zacchaeus with grace and love.  Verse 9 is a powerful verse,

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.”

It is an interesting statement because Zacchaeus was already a physical son of Abraham. He was a Jew, therefore he was a son of Abraham…or was he?

Zacchaeus became a son of Abraham through faith in God’s promise of salvation. (Romans 4 goes into detail explaining this, which would be wise for you to take time to read this afternoon) In calling Zacchaeus a true son of Abraham, Jesus Christ is throwing open the door wide for salvation. Salvation is not only for the Jews, but it is for all who have faith in Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is the Son of Man that came to seek and to save the lost. 

We all have a story. Our stories are all different, and yet, they are all the same.  We all have sinned and we all need a Savior.  Jesus Christ came to take your sin upon the cross.  He came to seek you and to save you by offering his life for yours.  The details of our stories may be different, but the only story of salvation comes through the cross of Christ.  Where are you in the story of salvation?  Are you like Zacchaeus at the beginning of the story: curious about Christ, yet unsure? Or are you like him at the end of the story, where his joy in Christ caused him to give away his treasured possessions because he had found a better Treasure? Or maybe you are like those grumbling along the way, so focused on yourself that you cannot see how Jesus is seeking those sinners around you?  What’s your story? 

  Regardless of where you are in your story, know this; Jesus invites you to be part of his story. He is inviting you to join his story of salvation by repenting of your sins and trusting in his life, death and resurrection by faith. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. We all have our own story, but I pray that you allow His story to become your story.  

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