What prompts the Olivet Discourse is the disciples' response to Jesus' words about the Temple in Matthew 23:38, "Your house is left to you desolate."
In this chapter, as in Mark 3:5, we see that our Lord experienced rage. What infuriated the Lord Jesus?'
Jesus was grieved in the core of his being at hard-hearted people who were so trapped in legalism they refused to help people in desperate need (Mark 3:6).
Legalism includes people who believe they are good and look down on others (Luke 18:10-14). Belief that people who "do the best they can" will go to heaven is deeply embedded in much of the Christian church. It's why I often cite how good a person was at the funeral and then add, "But he was not good enough to go to heaven." Then I proclaim the good news of salvation received through grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone."
But legalism also includes a focus on externals to the neglect of religion of the heart. We see that so clearly in Jesus' scathing denunciations in such places as Matthew 23:23, regarding silly observances of tithing; Matthew 23:25-28, regarding outward goodness as a mask for gross wickedness; and above all in Matthew 23:13, hindering people from connecting with God.
Such people can be very evangelistic, but they make their converts, "Twice as much a son of hell as yourselves" (Matthew 23:15).
Jesus warned that all the innocent blood shed from the beginning of the Hebrew Bible until its end would be required of those who were hearing his voice (Matthew 23:32-36).
Featuring a sermon puts it on the front page of the site and is the most effective way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands including all mobile platforms + newsletter.
Text-Featuring a sermon is a less expensive way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands on the right bar with optional newsletter inclusion. As low as $30/day.
After serving Grace Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Louisiana, Bob was honorably retired on Sunday, September 27, 2015, and given the title "Pastor Emeritus." This was forty years to the day after he became their pastor.
He now works for the Presbytery of the Gulf South as...
sermonaudio.com | iphone | android | mobile | podcast | transcript | kindle | tablets | gospel of john © 2024 SermonAudio.com. All rights reserved. Site Design: Animotion Studios