Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- 1st Century Israel is very different to 21st Century UK
- Now:
- A very secular society
- Very little Bible knowledge
- Not a religious country
- Then:
- All Jews would go the synagogue and partake in festivals
- Jews had a religious identity
- They were different groups - the Essenes, the Zealots, the Sadducees, the Pharisees
- Despite all their religion - called by Jesus a faithless and unbelieving society
- Luke 9:41 - "Faithless and perverse generation"
- Luke 11:29 - "An evil generation"
- The general disposition of the people was to disbelieve the promises of God
- v29 - Therefore, the description of large crowds drawing around Jesus does not mean a real seeking after truth
- The Pharisees had accused Jesus of casting out a demon by the power of the devil
- Jesus does not preach John 3:16 but speaks of judgment as they failed to appreciate who He was
- He did not speak words of love when there was hostility in the hearts of others - instead He spoke words of challenge from a heart of live
- What words would Jesus speak to us today?
- What is our attitude to the Bible?
- What is our attitude to the person of Jesus Christ?
- What is our attitude to ourselves?
- Is there living faith in your heart?
- Jesus gives two examples of pagan peoples who received the word of God - repentance at the preaching of Jonah and the wisdom of Solomon
- He gave two illustrations
Two Illustrations
The Story of Jonah
- Explanation
- Genuine repentance of sin
- What a contrast with the Jewish people
- Jonah:
- Was reluctant to go
- A message of warning
- He didn't like the Assyrians
- The failure and disobedient one
- Jesus:
- Obedient
- Gladly proclaiming the gospel
- A message of warning but of salvation
- What a contrast between the Ninevites and the Jews!
- What a contrast to today
- So many available resources
- So many opportunities to hear God's word
- Such Christian families
- What have we done with this?
- Often pagan and tribal people believe
- The sign of Jonah the prophet:
- He metaphorically experienced death and resurrection - in the belly of the fish
- So Jesus will be to this generation
- John 2:18-19
- The gospel message is the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
- Is the gospel enough for you?
- We do not put our trust in preachers
- We do not look to man but look to God
The Story of the Queen of Sheba
- Explanation
- Yet Solomon was a sinner and greviously sinned against God in the end
- Christ is the wisdom and word of God
- One greater than Solomon is here
Jesus is greater than Jonah and Solomon
- v32 - do you think about the Judgement
- Jesus warned many about judgement
- God is just and fair
- God expects us to respond
- A repentant heart
- To truly believe in Jesus Christ
- To follow Him all of our days
The Parable of the Lighted Lamp
- v33-36 – A New Illustration
- Jesus' light shone clearly for all to see
- The eye to our heart - explanation
- Do not feed upon sensual pleasures
- If the eye is bad - we will be full of darkness
- If the ye is good and we look to God - our body will be full of light
- Do not be fooled by 'light' that is actually darkness
- Example of Paul
- Example of Cain
- Jesus has come to take us darkness to light
- If we receive Him - the light enters into our lives
Closing Remarks
- Beware of the darkness of unbelief
- We will be judged on the light and whether we have believed
- Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ