Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- We love to speak about the weather
- We sometimes use this topic to change conversations
- Jesus is coming to the end of a long discourse
- First to the multitudes and second to the disciples
- v54 onwards - turning to the multitudes
- He brings up the subject of weather
- They can discern the weather
- However, they cannot discern the one subject that matters
- He gives an illustration
- People need forgiveness before they meet the great judge
- Thought provoking teaching
- v56 - He calls the people hypocrites
- He wants them to face reality
- A third striking lesson
- The Jews were prone to judge people when calamity happens
- Jesus speaks of the Galileans, those in the tower of Siloam - they were no different to anyone else
- He tells a parable about a fig tree
- There must be fruit in the Jewish nation
- Overview
- Don't deliberately avoid what really matters
- Remember to settle things quickly before you meet the judge
- Don't compare yourself/judge others and produce fruit
Do not deliberately avoid what really matters
- As humans we are good at predicting things and outcomes
- Examples
- But do we apply the same rationale to things that really matter?
- Spiritual things
- Our soul
- Jesus knew these people were more concerned with the peripheral matters of life
- v54-55 - they could discern the weather
- They were not able to discern the time of Jesus
- They were not able to see that Jesus was the Messiah, the fulfiller of Old Testament prophecies
- They willfully did not want to see it! - "Hypocrites"
- Is this you this morning?
- Are you ignoring the big issues of life?
- Do not avoid the big matters in life
Do settle things quickly before you meet the judge
- v57 - why do you not judge that which is right?
- Can you not see what I am doing?
- Why do you not judge aright?
- Get right before you meet your maker v58-59
- Explanation
- Better to sort things out before they get worse
- Better to be a peacemaker rather than hold a grudge
- Better to settle accounts
- You need to find pardon before you die - settle your debts before God
- Jesus Christ came to pay the debt of sin and in forgiveness to wipe the slate clean
- This is the only way you can meet the Judge of all the earth
- Other teachings:
- Be reconciled to others
- Do not leave undone things in life - Example of Zacchaeus
- Get right with God and then get right with others
- If we have not found forgiveness then we will have to pay for our sin
Do not unfavourably judge others and produce fruit
- Do not judge others
- Jesus says the Galileans were not worse sinners than others
- Have you fallen into the trap of judging others?
- Thinking they are terribly wicked and reaping the results of their sin
- Have you looked into your heart to see your own sin?
- Judgment will come to all men when they die
- Example of Job - he was not being judged for his sin
- Example of the man born blind - he was not born blind because of sin
- We need to be careful in saying that people are being judged by God
- This was the mindset of the Jews at this time
- Do we magnify the sins of others and minimise our own sin?
- Do we understand our own sin?
- Do we neglect the big issues of life?
- Example
- v6-9 - Parable of the fig tree
- Jesus found no fruit in Jerusalem
- If people do not produce fruit - they will be cut down in judgment
- God is patient and longsuffering
- Yet people are living on borrowed time
- The fig tree has had 3 years - it will get 1 year, then time is up
- If there is fruit then all is well, if not then it will be cut down
- Quote from James and Corinthians - do not wait for tomorrow, come to Jesus today
Closing Remarks
- Come to Jesus today
- He gives these lessons because He cares
- There is a welcome to all who come to Christ
- Come to Christ today