The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls


The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls

On the Gospel Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia

Text from Luke 14:1-11

Trinity XVII

1. This occasion took place on a Sabbath day. It was not uncommon at Jesus' time for Jews to have a feast on the Sabbath after the synagogue service, so long as the food was prepared on the previous day.

2. The text makes clear that host and all guests were Pharisees, except Jesus. Jesus was invited as a friend but they were watching Him closely as vs. 1 indicates. They had much to learn.

3. Vss. 2-6 show how loveless these Pharisees were. The Sabbath Day was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. It was a day of rest to remind the OT Jews of the rest which Christ would give. It was a "sign." Ex. 20:8-11; 31:12-17. It was a type of eternal rest. Christ fulfilled the Sabbath. Col. 2:16. See Heb. 4:1-13. There remains a rest (eternal life) for us. The Sabbath was a day of mercy not of rules to earn eternal life. The Pharisees viewed the Sabbath as a harsh day of strict rules and regulations. Jesus asked the Pharisees: "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" The obvious answer was: "It is lawful." But that was contrary to what they believed. And so they would not answer. They remained silent. They had not yet entered the Kingdom of God. They lacked faith in Christ and love toward their neighbor. That is why Jesus spoke the three parables in vss. 7-11, 12-14, and 16-24.

4. Vss. 7-11 show us the sinful pride of fallen human nature. Vss. 12-14 show us the loveless, selfish attitude of fallen human nature. And vss. 16- 24 show us how these fallen sinners often refuse to repent and heed the call of Jesus to His great Gospel banquet in the church. Notice that each parable has an important concluding sentence. For vss. 7-10 we have vs. 11. For vss. 12-13 we have vs. 14. And for vss. 16-23 we have vs. 24.

5. Our text today is only one of the three parables, vss. 11-14. The principle enunciated in vs. 14 is one of the great laws in the kingdom of God. It is identical with Lk. 18:14. Compare Mt. 23:12 and similarly Mt. 18:4. For the thought compare Mt. 11:23; II Cor. 11:7; Jas. 4:10; I Pet. 5:6 and also Lk. 16:15; Rom. 12:16; I Tim. 6:17.

6. Sinful pride amounts to fear that we won't be recognized for our imagined greatness. But true humility has no fear. It trusts that God will provide, in His mercy, whatever is necessary. The Pharisees were Pharisees even among the Pharisees. They all wanted the most important seats. They were like the Pharisee in Lk. 18 who said: "God I thank You that I am not as the rest of men." That included other Pharisees too. Even in their own company it was impossible for the Pharisees to conceal their Pharisaic tendencies. They are a picture of all of fallen mankind. Natural man, like Adam and Eve, wants to be God. But, like Adam and Eve, he sinks very low and will be ashamed on Judgement Day unless he repents of his sin and believes in the Gospel. Read Php. 2:1-11. If the sinless Son of God humbled Himself so deeply, how much more must not we sinful, proud sinners do so! The Son of man came to serve, not to be served. Mk. 10:45.

7. By repentance and faith a sinner becomes a new creature. II Cor. 5:17. Old things have passed away. All has become new. He constantly cries "Lord have mercy on me, a proud sinner!" A Christian still has an old Adam, a sinful nature, but he confesses it and finds forgiveness in Christ. He begins to live in humility, putting himself last as Christ did. Our newness in Christ rules over our sinful pride.

8. Gal. 5:26 reads "Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." Sinful pride is the cause of all lies, false teachings and sinful strife. Satan is the father of lies, false teachings and strife. Jn. 8. It is impossible for sinful, human nature not to be puffed up by praise for self. Even Paul, who had the spirit of Christ, was kept from sinful pride by the thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet him. II Cor. 12:7. Lord have mercy on me, a proud sinner! Faith in Christ conquers the stubborn flesh.


The Sermon Outline of Harold Buls

On the Gospel Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia

Text from Luke 14:1-11

Trinity XVII

THEME: GOD RESISTS THE PROUD BUT SHOWS MERCY TO THE HUMBLE

INTRODUCTION

Our theme is taken from Prov. 3:34 which is quoted in the NT, Jas. 4:6 and I Pet. 5:5. Read all of Jas. 4 and I Pet. 5. Pride is a characteristic of a pagan person. Humility is a characteristic of a repentant Christian. That is a constant theory in the Bible. See the passages under #5 in the Sermon Notes. That's what Jesus meant when He said in vs. 11 of our text: "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted."

I. GOD RESISTS THE PROUD

II. GOD SHOWS MERCY TO THE HUMBLE

CONCLUSION

God resists the proud but shows mercy to the humble. Cast all your sins of pride on the Lord. He forgives you and helps you to fight your pride and to live the life of a servant to others.


This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.

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