WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.679 Please turn with me to Luke 17, verses 1 through 19. 00:00:10.679 --> 00:00:14.880 For those of you who don't have a Bible, we did print it for you this time around because 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:18.039 we don't have Bibles to give out today. 00:00:22.519 --> 00:00:24.839 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's Word. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:37.719 Heavenly Father, we have gathered in your name and we now ask that you speak to us from 00:00:37.719 --> 00:00:38.159 your Word. 00:00:38.299 --> 00:00:44.620 Teach us about the nature of faith, what it looks like to believe in you, to follow you. 00:00:49.019 --> 00:00:54.260 The preciousness of faith, the humility and gratitude that should characterize people of 00:00:54.260 --> 00:00:54.539 faith. 00:00:55.140 --> 00:00:57.100 And we pray that you will make us more like that. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:08.299 We submit to you and to your Word this morning. 00:01:08.819 --> 00:01:10.960 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:01:14.460 --> 00:01:17.640 I'll read it out for us, Luke 17, 1 to 19. 00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:20.379 And he said to his disciples, 00:01:20.379 --> 00:01:25.719 Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come. 00:01:26.780 --> 00:01:31.659 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into 00:01:31.659 --> 00:01:35.460 the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:38.140 Pay attention to yourselves. 00:01:38.140 --> 00:01:40.280 If your brother sins, rebuke him. 00:01:40.700 --> 00:01:42.760 And if he repents, forgive him. 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:47.519 And if he sins against you seven times in the day and turns to you seven times saying, 00:01:47.659 --> 00:01:50.219 I repent, you must forgive him. 00:01:51.180 --> 00:01:53.060 The apostles said to the Lord, 00:01:54.040 --> 00:01:55.240 Increase our faith. 00:01:56.079 --> 00:01:56.879 And the Lord said, 00:01:56.879 --> 00:02:02.859 If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, be uprooted 00:02:02.859 --> 00:02:05.280 and planted in the sea, and it would obey you. 00:02:06.179 --> 00:02:11.919 Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come 00:02:11.919 --> 00:02:15.240 in from the field, come at once and recline at table? 00:02:16.620 --> 00:02:22.740 Will he not rather say to him, prepare supper for me and dress properly and serve me while 00:02:22.740 --> 00:02:25.360 I eat and drink and afterward you will eat and drink? 00:02:26.760 --> 00:02:29.640 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 00:02:30.420 --> 00:02:34.159 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 00:02:34.640 --> 00:02:36.040 We are unworthy servants. 00:02:36.260 --> 00:02:38.240 We have only done what was our duty. 00:02:39.460 --> 00:02:44.000 On the way to Jerusalem, he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 00:02:44.420 --> 00:02:49.340 And as he entered the village, he was met by ten lepers who stood at a distance and lifted 00:02:49.340 --> 00:02:55.439 up their voices, saying, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 00:02:56.420 --> 00:03:00.900 When he saw them, he said to them, Go and show yourselves to the priests. 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:04.460 And as they went, they were cleansed. 00:03:05.420 --> 00:03:10.640 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud 00:03:10.640 --> 00:03:14.719 voice, and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. 00:03:15.379 --> 00:03:17.520 Now he was a Samaritan. 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:21.800 Then Jesus answered, Were not ten cleansed? 00:03:22.260 --> 00:03:23.460 Where are the nine? 00:03:24.120 --> 00:03:28.219 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? 00:03:28.740 --> 00:03:32.120 And he said to him, Rise and go your way. 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:34.640 Your faith has made you well. 00:03:35.620 --> 00:03:37.960 This is God's holy and authoritative word. 00:03:37.960 --> 00:03:46.500 Having spent chapter 16 teaching his disciples and warning the Pharisees about the need to 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:51.520 repent of our sins and believe in Jesus for salvation, he's now teaching his disciples about 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:55.260 what it looks like to be a disciple, what it looks like to have faith in Jesus and to follow 00:03:55.260 --> 00:03:55.580 him. 00:03:56.439 --> 00:04:00.960 So I titled the sermon, What Faith Looks Like, from Luke 17, 1 to 19. 00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:06.400 First, in verses 1 to 6, he teaches us about the preciousness of faith. 00:04:06.740 --> 00:04:07.580 Can you guys hear me okay? 00:04:09.080 --> 00:04:09.319 Okay. 00:04:09.960 --> 00:04:16.500 And he says to his disciples in verse 1, Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one 00:04:16.500 --> 00:04:17.920 through whom they come. 00:04:18.540 --> 00:04:21.000 So this is really emphatic, the way it's pressed. 00:04:21.240 --> 00:04:24.600 The phrase here, temptations to sin are sure to come. 00:04:24.699 --> 00:04:28.540 Meaning, temptations to sin, it's impossible for them not to come. 00:04:28.540 --> 00:04:30.300 They will surely come. 00:04:31.300 --> 00:04:38.360 And the phrase in English, temptations to sin, is a translation of a single Greek word that 00:04:38.360 --> 00:04:43.939 can mean, more literally be translated as a scandal, a trap, or a snare. 00:04:44.540 --> 00:04:49.939 It's referring to something that makes people stumble into sin, something that entraps people, 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:51.300 ensnares them. 00:04:51.300 --> 00:04:58.639 And so the English translation, the New American Standard Bible, translates it this way. 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:02.400 It says, it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come. 00:05:03.840 --> 00:05:09.660 So it can be discouraging for us when we hear of other believers who fall into grave sin and 00:05:09.660 --> 00:05:10.080 scandal. 00:05:10.280 --> 00:05:11.939 And I'm sure you've heard of something like that. 00:05:12.379 --> 00:05:16.740 Too often it happens to believers in very prominent positions. 00:05:16.740 --> 00:05:19.060 Maybe famous ministers. 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:22.600 And it brings great disrepute to Christ and the church. 00:05:23.180 --> 00:05:27.220 But it should not come as a surprise to us when these scandals happen. 00:05:27.379 --> 00:05:33.100 Jesus already warned us in this passage that such snares and scandals are sure to come. 00:05:33.400 --> 00:05:34.780 It's inevitable that they come. 00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:40.199 However, the fact that these scandals are inevitable does not mean that they are therefore 00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:43.040 unimportant or admissible. 00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:43.600 Right? 00:05:43.980 --> 00:05:44.780 Because Jesus says, 00:05:44.900 --> 00:05:49.379 Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come. 00:05:50.040 --> 00:05:51.900 Woe is the opposite of blessing. 00:05:52.300 --> 00:05:52.400 Right? 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:56.340 It's to pronounce woe on someone is to pronounce pity. 00:05:56.820 --> 00:05:57.740 How pitiful. 00:05:57.980 --> 00:05:59.460 Because it's such a sad condition. 00:06:00.100 --> 00:06:01.300 It's a misfortune. 00:06:02.140 --> 00:06:04.320 And it's so severe. 00:06:04.400 --> 00:06:08.580 The punishment that will come upon someone that causes someone to stumble into sin is so 00:06:08.580 --> 00:06:10.939 severe that Jesus feels pity for such a person. 00:06:10.939 --> 00:06:13.579 And Jesus explains that further in verse 2. 00:06:13.719 --> 00:06:17.920 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:22.000 into the sea than he should cause one of these little ones to sin. 00:06:22.540 --> 00:06:27.519 The word for millstone used here, it refers to the heavy duty kind that they used in the 00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:28.079 ancient world. 00:06:28.500 --> 00:06:32.439 Maybe about half the size of this rock over here. 00:06:32.899 --> 00:06:35.100 That people wouldn't be strong enough to turn. 00:06:35.159 --> 00:06:37.779 They would use the beast of burden to turn. 00:06:37.779 --> 00:06:42.439 So imagine having something half that size hung around your neck and being thrown into 00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:42.799 the sea. 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:45.759 It's short to cause death. 00:06:45.899 --> 00:06:46.559 You'd be drowning. 00:06:46.719 --> 00:06:48.539 There's no way to swim out of that. 00:06:49.099 --> 00:06:53.659 And the little ones that Jesus is referring to here are not literal children, but they're 00:06:53.659 --> 00:06:54.619 figurative children. 00:06:55.299 --> 00:06:56.579 It's the children of God. 00:06:57.059 --> 00:07:01.559 Jesus often uses the figure of a child as an illustration for children of God. 00:07:01.659 --> 00:07:04.619 Christians who come to God with childlike humility and faith. 00:07:04.620 --> 00:07:09.740 That we saw that early in Luke chapter 10 verse 21, Jesus prays to the Father this way, 00:07:09.819 --> 00:07:15.300 You have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little 00:07:15.300 --> 00:07:16.000 children. 00:07:16.500 --> 00:07:22.560 The little children, it's are those who come to God, not pretending about their own wisdom 00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:27.079 and understanding, but coming to God humbly and saying, No, I need you to save me. 00:07:27.160 --> 00:07:28.439 I'm unable to save myself. 00:07:28.439 --> 00:07:34.120 I need to listen and believe in God's revelation instead, what God has revealed to me. 00:07:35.019 --> 00:07:36.879 Those are the little ones that are in view here. 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:42.399 So even though Jesus is addressing his disciples here, we also have to keep in mind that the 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:43.779 Pharisees are still in the background. 00:07:44.740 --> 00:07:47.000 They are within earshot of Jesus' teaching. 00:07:47.459 --> 00:07:51.540 They were the main subjects of Jesus' instruction, objects of Jesus' instruction in the previous 00:07:51.540 --> 00:07:51.920 chapter. 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:57.699 And Jesus had rebuked them previously for their self-justifying hypocrisy and love of 00:07:57.699 --> 00:07:58.460 money, their greed. 00:07:59.280 --> 00:08:06.300 And with that background in mind, the woe that Jesus is pronouncing here in verses 1 to 2 would 00:08:06.300 --> 00:08:11.900 certainly apply to the Pharisees because they were misleading God's people into greed and 00:08:11.900 --> 00:08:17.259 love of money and pride and self-justifying hypocrisy, which were an abomination in the sight 00:08:17.259 --> 00:08:19.360 of God, as Jesus said in chapter 16. 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:22.860 And this is consistent throughout Scripture. 00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:30.900 God holds people who teach others, who are in a position to lead others to a higher standard. 00:08:31.660 --> 00:08:34.000 It says in James chapter 3 verse 1, 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:39.779 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will 00:08:39.779 --> 00:08:41.919 be judged with greater strictness. 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:45.139 And in Matthew 5 verse 19, Jesus says, 00:08:45.139 --> 00:08:51.159 Whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called 00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:52.860 least in the kingdom of heaven. 00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:58.980 Because the people of God, the children of God are so precious to Him, anyone who is in 00:08:58.980 --> 00:09:04.299 a position to lead or teach and they mislead them and teach them and lead them, make them 00:09:04.299 --> 00:09:11.319 stumble into sin will be, anyone that scandalizes them, causes them to stumble, it would be better 00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:15.080 for them to have a millstone hung around their neck and thrown into the sea. 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:16.920 It's a scary thought. 00:09:18.340 --> 00:09:24.040 And so He's speaking about faith, the preciousness of it and how it must be safeguarded in even 00:09:24.040 --> 00:09:28.460 those people who have frail faith, who are little ones among us. 00:09:28.460 --> 00:09:32.120 And that's why Jesus continues it this way in verses 3 to 4. 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:33.960 Pay attention to yourselves. 00:09:34.120 --> 00:09:35.840 If your brother sins, rebuke him. 00:09:36.280 --> 00:09:37.840 And if he repents, forgive him. 00:09:38.180 --> 00:09:42.259 And if he sins against you seven times in the day and turns to you seven times saying, 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:44.240 I repent, you must forgive him. 00:09:45.320 --> 00:09:48.759 Christians are here called brothers and also sisters. 00:09:49.600 --> 00:09:54.700 Since they are the little ones of God, because we are children of God, because we have the 00:09:54.700 --> 00:09:58.900 same heavenly Father, we're called brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:09:59.400 --> 00:10:01.640 And we become siblings through faith in Jesus. 00:10:01.820 --> 00:10:06.759 And as brothers and sisters in the family of God, we must pay attention to ourselves so 00:10:06.759 --> 00:10:08.340 that we do not stumble and sin. 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:14.320 And it says here that being alert to sin in our own lives involves two things. 00:10:14.740 --> 00:10:21.879 When a fellow Christian brother or sister sins against us, we must rebuke him or her. 00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:28.860 But if that person subsequently repents of sin, then we ought to forgive. 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:30.460 So rebuke and forgive. 00:10:30.600 --> 00:10:33.299 There's two responsibilities that this passage highlights. 00:10:33.939 --> 00:10:37.379 It's hard to do either of those things well, right? 00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:41.179 And it's especially hard to do both of those things well. 00:10:41.779 --> 00:10:45.860 I think most of us are better at one than the other. 00:10:45.860 --> 00:10:52.399 Some of us are too eager and gleeful about rebuking other people. 00:10:53.399 --> 00:10:58.919 And some of us are too casual and indulgent in forgiving other people, right? 00:10:59.379 --> 00:11:07.399 But both rebuke and forgiveness have to be offered not glibly, but seriously and lovingly. 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:12.079 So the command to rebuke a brother here, we need to be careful to understand, 00:11:12.439 --> 00:11:17.199 it's not an appointment in the church to the office of church watchdog, right? 00:11:17.799 --> 00:11:22.059 To feel like you should be going up to everybody and to their face, 00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:24.279 tell them about all their sins that they're doing. 00:11:25.139 --> 00:11:26.620 Notice it says in verse 4, 00:11:26.620 --> 00:11:34.700 This is referring to times when a fellow Christian sins against you in particular. 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:39.100 So unless it is your responsibility, for example, 00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:42.720 pastors or people that God has placed to oversee the church, 00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:47.360 you shouldn't be going up to everybody to rebuke them for whatever sin you can see. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:50.220 It's when they sin against you, 00:11:50.580 --> 00:11:54.080 you should go up to that person one-on-one to confront. 00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:59.320 And this is important because resorting to gossip and slander 00:11:59.320 --> 00:12:03.680 is a cowardly way to deal with someone when they sin against you. 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:07.520 Instead, you should rebuke them personally, which takes courage. 00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:11.680 It ensures peace of the church and the unity of the church. 00:12:12.220 --> 00:12:16.520 Instead of talking about the brother or sister that sinned against you to someone else, 00:12:16.820 --> 00:12:19.560 you should talk to that brother or sister that sinned against you. 00:12:20.860 --> 00:12:22.680 And we are to rebuke, 00:12:22.679 --> 00:12:26.039 and the goal of that rebuke is not condemnation, 00:12:26.239 --> 00:12:27.079 but it's redemption. 00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:29.859 It's an invitation to repentance 00:12:29.859 --> 00:12:32.399 so that you can extend forgiveness, 00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:35.439 not a form of rejection and condemnation. 00:12:36.179 --> 00:12:37.939 So if we're self-righteous, 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:41.259 if we're instead of mourning over our brother or sister's sin, 00:12:41.419 --> 00:12:43.459 we gloat over them, point our fingers at them, 00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:45.779 then that's not the attitude that Jesus has in mind here. 00:12:45.779 --> 00:12:55.159 The German Christian who was really martyred for standing up to Nazi Germany, 00:12:55.259 --> 00:12:56.199 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 00:12:56.379 --> 00:12:58.600 he puts it this way in his book, Life Together. 00:12:58.600 --> 00:13:04.519 Nothing can be more cruel than that leniency which abandons others to sin. 00:13:05.159 --> 00:13:09.240 Nothing can be more compassionate than that severe reprimand 00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:13.639 which calls another Christian in one's community back from the path of sin. 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:16.279 That's what we have in mind when we rebuke one another, 00:13:16.540 --> 00:13:18.740 when we sin against one another. 00:13:18.740 --> 00:13:22.460 A church that tolerates all manners of sin among its members 00:13:22.460 --> 00:13:26.820 just because it claims to be tolerant or open or inclusive or affirming 00:13:26.820 --> 00:13:29.560 is not practicing compassionate interest. 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:32.379 They're actually practicing cruel indifference, 00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:35.080 saying that it doesn't matter to me whether you sin or not 00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:37.639 because I actually don't really care that much about you. 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:40.299 It's the people that we care nothing about 00:13:40.299 --> 00:13:42.279 that we leave to do, make bad decisions, 00:13:42.379 --> 00:13:43.399 and to do whatever they want. 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:45.419 People that we really care about and love, 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:46.440 our family members, 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:47.980 the friends that we love, 00:13:47.980 --> 00:13:49.120 are invested in. 00:13:49.259 --> 00:13:49.940 We rebuke them. 00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:51.120 We correct them. 00:13:51.180 --> 00:13:52.259 We speak the truth to them. 00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:55.379 That's what this command has in mind. 00:13:56.220 --> 00:13:58.539 We are to be true family in Christ. 00:13:58.759 --> 00:14:00.820 Rebuke one another when we sin against each other. 00:14:01.940 --> 00:14:04.200 And if that brother or sister who has sinned against you 00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:06.720 responds to your rebuke with repentance, 00:14:07.180 --> 00:14:08.440 our call then is to forgive. 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:11.300 Ephesians chapter 4 verse 32 says, 00:14:11.300 --> 00:14:14.659 Forgive one another as God in Christ forgave you. 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:17.500 It's because God has already forgiven us 00:14:17.500 --> 00:14:20.820 of our sins that we can forgive one another 00:14:20.820 --> 00:14:23.620 without expecting anything back in return. 00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:28.539 God's, because not their posture necessarily, 00:14:28.820 --> 00:14:30.799 but what God has done for us already, 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:33.080 that's the basis for our forgiveness. 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:35.940 Again, Dietrich Bonhoeffer puts it this way in the same book. 00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:36.240 He says, 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:38.960 Anybody who lives beneath the cross 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:41.399 and who has discerned in the cross of Jesus 00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:44.860 the utter wickedness of all men and of his own heart 00:14:44.860 --> 00:14:48.360 will find there is no sin that can ever be alien to him. 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:51.059 Anybody who has once been horrified 00:14:51.059 --> 00:14:52.819 by the dreadfulness of his own sin 00:14:52.819 --> 00:14:54.699 that nailed Jesus to the cross 00:14:54.699 --> 00:14:56.759 will no longer be horrified 00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:59.480 by even the rankest sins of a brother. 00:14:59.480 --> 00:15:02.639 Because we live before the cross, 00:15:02.840 --> 00:15:04.700 because we live before the awareness 00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:06.840 that God has forgiven us 00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:09.519 and paid a costly price in the death of his son, 00:15:09.800 --> 00:15:14.000 we can hear even the confession of the worst of sinners 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:15.680 and be able to forgive. 00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:19.120 And we must never offer that forgiveness lightly. 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:25.259 Forgiveness offered lightly makes light of sin. 00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:28.159 And sin is never a trifling matter. 00:15:29.419 --> 00:15:31.200 Sure, yes, everybody sins. 00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:31.960 That's true. 00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:34.200 But the fact that sin is inevitable, 00:15:34.340 --> 00:15:35.319 like I mentioned before, 00:15:35.379 --> 00:15:37.679 does not mean that sin is admissible. 00:15:38.919 --> 00:15:41.399 Our sin put Jesus, the Son of God, 00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:42.620 to death on the cross. 00:15:43.439 --> 00:15:45.620 Our sin required that God the Father 00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:48.720 pour out his full wrath on his Son. 00:15:49.340 --> 00:15:50.700 It's not a light matter. 00:15:51.819 --> 00:15:54.519 And so we should always acknowledge the gravity of sin 00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:59.019 Brother, the wages of sin is death. 00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:02.220 Your sins have grave consequences. 00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:05.059 They have wounded me deeply. 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:08.439 They have hurt and affected the body of Christ. 00:16:09.419 --> 00:16:12.779 But Christ has paid even for your sins. 00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:16.460 Because Christ didn't withhold his forgiveness from me, 00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:18.559 who am I to withhold forgiveness from you? 00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:20.519 That's how we extend forgiveness. 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:21.740 Not make light of sin, 00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:23.220 acknowledge its gravity, 00:16:23.220 --> 00:16:24.960 but acknowledge at the same time 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:26.560 the even greater work of redemption 00:16:26.560 --> 00:16:28.420 that Christ has done on the cross for us. 00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:31.440 So we're to offer costly forgiveness, 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.560 not cheap forgiveness. 00:16:33.420 --> 00:16:35.060 But because of what Christ has done, 00:16:35.160 --> 00:16:37.660 even when a brother does this seven times in a day, 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:38.820 I mean, 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.060 that's, 00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:41.500 that number is, 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:41.940 it's, 00:16:41.940 --> 00:16:41.960 it's, 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:41.980 it's, 00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:42.179 it's, 00:16:42.179 --> 00:16:42.200 it's, 00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:44.899 it's not saying after seven on the eighth time, 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:45.899 you don't have to forgive them. 00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:48.960 It's saying you forgive them every time they come to you. 00:16:49.860 --> 00:16:50.379 I mean, 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:50.879 that's hard, 00:16:50.919 --> 00:16:51.259 isn't it? 00:16:51.299 --> 00:16:55.419 Can you imagine the same person coming back to you seven times on the same day? 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:56.200 I mean, 00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:58.759 at some point you're going to start to question their sincerity. 00:16:58.940 --> 00:16:59.080 Like, 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:00.120 did you really mean that? 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:01.779 You really repented of your sins, 00:17:01.779 --> 00:17:03.199 but Jesus says instead, 00:17:03.299 --> 00:17:03.419 no, 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:04.720 even seven times, 00:17:05.139 --> 00:17:07.559 forgive them because I have forgiven you. 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:09.779 And God's forgiven us many more than seven times. 00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:10.859 And, 00:17:10.899 --> 00:17:11.440 and when we, 00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:13.339 so when we actually recognize, 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:15.819 come to grips with how difficult this command is, 00:17:16.359 --> 00:17:19.259 our response will be the same as that of these apostles 00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:23.519 because they recognize the weighty task of ministering to one another, 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:25.379 keeping one another accountable, 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:26.579 rebuking for sin, 00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:28.740 and forgiving for repentance, 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:30.579 in response to repentance. 00:17:30.579 --> 00:17:33.919 Because we recognize the inadequacy of our own faith. 00:17:34.659 --> 00:17:37.559 And so the apostles responded the same way in verse five. 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:39.000 The apostles said to the Lord, 00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:40.939 increase our faith. 00:17:41.919 --> 00:17:44.519 And then Jesus turns their question around in verse six. 00:17:45.079 --> 00:17:45.179 If, 00:17:45.379 --> 00:17:47.039 if request around in verse six, 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:47.799 if you had faith, 00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:49.139 like a grain of mustard seed, 00:17:49.419 --> 00:17:51.039 you could say to this mulberry tree, 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:52.819 be uprooted and planted in the sea, 00:17:53.099 --> 00:17:54.220 and it would obey you. 00:17:54.819 --> 00:17:56.019 So Jesus, 00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:59.859 instead of focusing on the degree or level of faith, 00:17:59.859 --> 00:18:02.919 instead focuses on having faith at all, 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:05.199 however small it may be. 00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:08.379 A grain of mustard seed is one of the smallest garden seeds. 00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:11.500 It's barely visible if you put it on the palm of your hand. 00:18:11.959 --> 00:18:16.959 Yet even faith as small as a grain of mustard seed is enough to uproot and 00:18:16.959 --> 00:18:19.459 replant a mulberry tree in the sea. 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:27.759 A mulberry tree referenced here is known for a vast root system that stretches so long and deep 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:30.779 that these trees can live up to 600 years. 00:18:31.660 --> 00:18:33.559 Can you imagine trying to uproot that kind of tree? 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:35.519 A spate of a mustard seed, 00:18:35.600 --> 00:18:36.740 as small as a mustard seed, 00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:37.420 can, 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:41.819 that kind of formidable tree can be uprooted and replanted with this faith that small. 00:18:41.819 --> 00:18:44.819 This is not a literal teaching, 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.179 but a proverbial teaching. 00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:49.460 It's similar to the phrase that Jesus uses in other places, 00:18:49.919 --> 00:18:51.419 faith that can move mountains. 00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:55.679 He's speaking of faith that can accomplish seemingly impossible things. 00:18:56.179 --> 00:18:58.359 He's saying that even the smallest faith, 00:18:58.460 --> 00:19:00.419 if it is genuine and if it is present, 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:02.759 can accomplish great things, 00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:04.539 seemingly impossible things. 00:19:05.299 --> 00:19:07.159 And this applies to our salvation. 00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:10.359 We are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus. 00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:11.719 It's, 00:19:11.719 --> 00:19:12.119 it's, 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:12.500 it's, 00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:13.539 it's seemingly impossible. 00:19:13.699 --> 00:19:16.119 We're sinners in deserving God's wrath. 00:19:16.459 --> 00:19:18.419 Sinners deserving eternal damnation. 00:19:18.639 --> 00:19:20.459 Yet through faith in Jesus Christ, 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:23.039 God gives us grace and mercy and love. 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:24.799 And we can be saved. 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:25.759 And, 00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:28.679 and it's not a matter of how strong your faith is. 00:19:28.879 --> 00:19:31.319 It's whether or not you have faith at all. 00:19:31.619 --> 00:19:34.699 And sometimes in our life of obedience to God, 00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:35.219 in our trying to, 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:36.779 in the discipleship trying to follow God, 00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:38.139 we lack faith. 00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:38.879 We're faithless. 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:40.540 And so we disobey. 00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:43.040 But if there's any faith at all, 00:19:43.100 --> 00:19:44.200 even the smallest faith, 00:19:44.380 --> 00:19:46.840 we can repent of our sins in faith, 00:19:47.320 --> 00:19:49.360 knowing that God will receive us and forgive us. 00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:51.340 We can rebuke one another in faith, 00:19:51.840 --> 00:19:53.380 believing that they will also repent. 00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:55.960 We can forgive one another in faith, 00:19:56.120 --> 00:20:00.280 knowing that God in Christ forgives all of his people of their sins. 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:02.940 And that's the preciousness of faith, 00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:09.039 that even this small faith can have such powerful effect in the life of the body of Christ, 00:20:09.099 --> 00:20:09.839 in the family of God. 00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:12.180 So not because of that, 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.859 we have to safeguard one another's faith, 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:15.079 given how precious it is. 00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:19.460 But we also ought to make sure that our faith is characterized by humility. 00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:21.119 And that's the second point, 00:20:21.420 --> 00:20:22.259 humility of faith, 00:20:22.420 --> 00:20:23.500 in verses 7 to 10. 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:29.160 Here he uses an illustration to teach us about what humble faith looks like. 00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:31.619 Let's read verses 7 to 10. 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:32.960 Let me read it out loud for us. 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:52.380 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 00:20:52.380 --> 00:20:53.920 So you also, 00:20:54.040 --> 00:20:55.980 when you have done all that you were commanded, 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:56.500 say, 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.300 We are unworthy servants. 00:20:58.420 --> 00:21:00.800 We have only done what was our duty. 00:21:01.540 --> 00:21:06.980 The household servant in the ancient world was expected to serve his master dinner 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:09.820 and wait at table until he was finished. 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:11.860 And then afterward he would eat. 00:21:12.080 --> 00:21:14.380 It's very similar to when we go to restaurants. 00:21:14.800 --> 00:21:16.340 If you go to a restaurant for lunch, 00:21:17.040 --> 00:21:18.600 the people who wait on you, 00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:19.140 the waiters, 00:21:19.280 --> 00:21:19.900 waitresses there, 00:21:19.900 --> 00:21:23.080 not going to eat until all the clients, 00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:25.540 all the patrons of the restaurant have been served. 00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:27.900 And then afterward they will sit down to eat. 00:21:28.080 --> 00:21:31.240 So the same idea was observed by the household servants in the ancient world. 00:21:31.780 --> 00:21:34.220 And it was not only customary for them to do that, 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:36.759 it would be a great breach of social etiquette 00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:39.480 for the servant to come in from a long day of work 00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:39.940 and then say, 00:21:40.060 --> 00:21:40.240 Well, 00:21:40.620 --> 00:21:41.000 Master, 00:21:41.120 --> 00:21:41.940 I've had a long day, 00:21:42.060 --> 00:21:43.720 so why don't you just wait a little bit 00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:45.400 and I'm going to get my meal first 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:46.460 and then I'll come and help you. 00:21:46.920 --> 00:21:49.640 That would be a breach of social etiquette. 00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:53.480 It would be really a sign of insolence on the servant's part. 00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:56.920 And the proper attitude of the servant Jesus is teaching here 00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:57.700 is this, 00:21:57.800 --> 00:21:59.640 We are unworthy servants. 00:22:00.300 --> 00:22:02.800 We have only done what was our duty. 00:22:04.080 --> 00:22:06.040 It's the servant's job to work out in the field. 00:22:06.580 --> 00:22:08.920 It's the servant's duty to attend to the master 00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:11.660 and wait while he eats. 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:15.620 Doing what is our duty as Christian servants of God 00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:19.559 does not get us any extra credit or merit before God. 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:24.659 It doesn't accumulate any good standing or favor from God. 00:22:25.459 --> 00:22:29.059 It's rather something that we ought to do. 00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:30.719 It's our responsibility. 00:22:31.739 --> 00:22:33.359 And this is an important lesson, 00:22:33.479 --> 00:22:35.479 especially after Jesus' teaching 00:22:35.479 --> 00:22:38.319 about how we ought to safeguard each other's faith. 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:42.240 Because not only do we have to be extremely careful 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:43.759 about safeguarding one another's faith, 00:22:43.859 --> 00:22:44.799 not making them stumble, 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:46.919 we also have to rebuke one another 00:22:46.919 --> 00:22:48.240 and forgive one another. 00:22:48.639 --> 00:22:50.039 And this is all hard work. 00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:51.839 And when you do hard work, 00:22:51.899 --> 00:22:54.159 it's easy to develop 00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:56.820 develop a sense of entitlement. 00:22:58.300 --> 00:22:58.779 Lord, 00:22:59.160 --> 00:23:02.700 do you know how much I have suffered for your name's sake? 00:23:04.100 --> 00:23:04.580 Lord, 00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:07.680 do you know how much this brother or sister has hurt me 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:09.100 over and over again 00:23:09.100 --> 00:23:10.880 and how many times I've forgiven him or her? 00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:12.660 Lord, 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:14.640 do you know how much money I've given 00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:16.200 to your church and to your ministry? 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:17.759 Lord, 00:23:17.840 --> 00:23:19.400 do you know how much I love and care 00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:21.100 for these brothers and sisters of mine, 00:23:21.380 --> 00:23:23.480 how painstakingly I try to prepare 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:25.019 to lead them or teach them? 00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:27.099 And they're so unresponsive 00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:28.240 and unappreciative. 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:30.200 Well, 00:23:30.339 --> 00:23:32.019 since you know that I've had a long day 00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:33.960 out in the field plowing and keeping sheep, 00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:34.420 now, 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:36.319 if you'd please excuse me, 00:23:36.360 --> 00:23:37.759 I'm going to stretch out my legs, 00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:39.720 have a nice hot meal, 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:41.299 and then I'll come back to you 00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:42.140 to attend to you. 00:23:43.860 --> 00:23:45.200 That's the attitude 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:46.539 of entitlement. 00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:48.460 That's the posture 00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:49.620 of an impudent servant. 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:52.539 We should say instead 00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:54.119 we are unworthy servants. 00:23:54.399 --> 00:23:55.259 We have only done 00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:56.420 what was our duty. 00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:58.019 The word unworthy 00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:58.839 there literally 00:23:58.839 --> 00:24:00.099 means useless. 00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:02.259 We are useless servants. 00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:03.159 We've only done 00:24:03.159 --> 00:24:04.200 what was our duty. 00:24:04.659 --> 00:24:05.000 Of course, 00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:06.039 the servant that does 00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:06.500 his duty 00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:07.299 is not useless. 00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:08.539 This is rather 00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:09.299 an expression 00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:10.279 of humility. 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:12.579 It's a recognition 00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:13.700 of the fact 00:24:13.700 --> 00:24:14.059 that there's 00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:15.059 a vast difference 00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:16.059 between the supreme 00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:16.720 worthiness 00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:18.240 of the Lord and Master 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:19.059 whom we serve 00:24:19.059 --> 00:24:20.779 and our relative 00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:21.639 unworthiness. 00:24:21.859 --> 00:24:22.740 It's because 00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:23.720 when we recognize 00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:24.460 that all we can say 00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:24.879 to him, 00:24:25.099 --> 00:24:26.159 even after we have 00:24:26.159 --> 00:24:27.119 rendered much service 00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:27.519 to him, 00:24:27.659 --> 00:24:28.019 God, 00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:28.539 I have been 00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:29.460 a useless servant 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:30.819 because what you deserve 00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:31.659 is so much more 00:24:31.659 --> 00:24:32.500 than what I am able 00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:33.019 to give you. 00:24:33.399 --> 00:24:34.539 I'm a useless servant. 00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:35.899 I've only done 00:24:35.899 --> 00:24:37.799 what was my duty. 00:24:38.659 --> 00:24:39.859 Because we serve 00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:40.599 the creator 00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:41.480 of the universe, 00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:42.799 because we serve 00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:43.700 the supreme Lord 00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:44.419 over all, 00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:45.779 because we serve 00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:46.879 a gracious Father 00:24:46.879 --> 00:24:47.839 and a Lord Jesus 00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:48.519 who has died 00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.259 for our sins, 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:50.539 laid down his own life 00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:51.160 to save us 00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:51.859 and redeem us. 00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:53.980 We can give 00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:54.740 every ounce 00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:55.420 of our energy 00:24:55.420 --> 00:24:56.639 and every second 00:24:56.639 --> 00:24:57.379 of our lives. 00:24:57.660 --> 00:24:58.279 We could even 00:24:58.279 --> 00:24:59.700 lay down our very lives 00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:00.519 to serve him 00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.920 and to love him. 00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:03.200 Even that would not 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:03.920 be enough 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:05.200 to repay all 00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:05.720 that he has done 00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.200 for us. 00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:07.579 And so all we can say 00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:08.740 as his servants 00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:10.200 is we are useless servants. 00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:11.899 We have only done 00:25:11.899 --> 00:25:13.019 what was our duty. 00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:14.940 And so when you start 00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:16.019 to feel entitled 00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:17.940 or disgruntled 00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:19.360 by the treatment 00:25:19.360 --> 00:25:19.900 you're getting, 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.580 maybe by the lack 00:25:21.580 --> 00:25:22.180 of recognition, 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:23.259 maybe that you feel 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:23.720 from God 00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:24.580 or from his people, 00:25:25.080 --> 00:25:26.299 instead of dwelling 00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:27.340 on how amazing 00:25:27.340 --> 00:25:28.059 you are 00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:29.220 and thinking about 00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:30.420 all that you have done, 00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:31.740 think instead 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.340 and meditate 00:25:32.340 --> 00:25:33.680 on what God 00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:34.860 has done for you 00:25:34.860 --> 00:25:36.320 and who God is. 00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:37.860 Then our posture 00:25:37.860 --> 00:25:38.320 will change. 00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:39.140 Instead of entitlement, 00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:39.980 we'll have humility 00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:40.940 and we'll be able 00:25:40.940 --> 00:25:42.200 to say what this servant 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:43.140 says to his master. 00:25:43.140 --> 00:25:45.680 And that's a nice segue 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:46.340 to Jesus' 00:25:46.660 --> 00:25:47.500 next lesson, 00:25:47.600 --> 00:25:48.020 this passage 00:25:48.020 --> 00:25:49.160 and it's the praise 00:25:49.160 --> 00:25:49.600 of faith. 00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:50.200 Faith is supposed 00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:51.000 to lead to praise 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.820 and gratitude. 00:25:52.660 --> 00:25:53.400 Humble servants 00:25:53.400 --> 00:25:54.180 who recognize 00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:54.900 what their master 00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:55.560 has done for them 00:25:55.560 --> 00:25:56.800 will live their life 00:25:56.800 --> 00:25:57.800 praising him, 00:25:58.440 --> 00:25:59.580 worshipping him. 00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:00.940 And we see this 00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:01.820 in the next story 00:26:01.820 --> 00:26:03.840 about the ten lepers. 00:26:05.860 --> 00:26:06.920 It says in verses, 00:26:07.380 --> 00:26:08.620 it begins this way 00:26:08.620 --> 00:26:09.280 in verse 11, 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:10.700 on the way to Jerusalem, 00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:12.160 he was passing along 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:12.940 between Samaria 00:26:12.940 --> 00:26:13.680 and Galilee 00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:14.759 and as he entered 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.200 the village, 00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:15.940 he was met 00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:16.859 by ten lepers 00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:17.920 who stood at a distance 00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:18.519 and lifted up 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:19.379 their voices saying, 00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:20.119 Jesus, 00:26:20.359 --> 00:26:20.720 Master, 00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:21.980 have mercy on us. 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:24.240 The term leprosy 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:25.899 is in the Old Testament 00:26:25.899 --> 00:26:26.799 and New Testament. 00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:27.740 It's a generic word 00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.299 that refers to 00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:29.700 all kinds of skin diseases. 00:26:30.579 --> 00:26:32.139 Leprosy proper, 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:33.299 if you give 00:26:33.299 --> 00:26:34.680 a medicinal definition, 00:26:35.379 --> 00:26:36.859 it's known 00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:38.019 as Hanson's disease. 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:39.440 It's a long-term 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:41.839 bacterial infection. 00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:43.500 It inflames the skin 00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:44.680 and the nervous system 00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:45.500 and it damages 00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.799 the nerves so severely 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:48.599 that you no longer 00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:49.559 feel pain 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:51.299 in your body, 00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:52.460 in the affected 00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:53.259 parts of your body, 00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:54.799 which often leads 00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:55.599 to further injuries 00:26:55.599 --> 00:26:56.639 because when you're 00:26:56.639 --> 00:26:57.240 touching something 00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.059 that's scalding hot 00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:58.920 and you don't feel it, 00:26:59.000 --> 00:26:59.500 obviously you're going 00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:00.400 to keep your hands there 00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:02.299 and get even more injured. 00:27:02.879 --> 00:27:03.500 And so that's 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.359 the kind of disease 00:27:04.359 --> 00:27:05.779 that's in view here. 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:06.859 It's some kind of 00:27:06.859 --> 00:27:08.919 contagious skin disease. 00:27:09.859 --> 00:27:11.059 And the physical 00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:12.059 consequences of this 00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:13.179 disease was bad, 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:14.059 but the social 00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:15.299 consequences were 00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:16.359 even worse 00:27:16.359 --> 00:27:18.299 because a leper 00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:19.439 was contagious 00:27:19.439 --> 00:27:20.659 and they had to be, 00:27:21.099 --> 00:27:22.179 they were considered 00:27:22.179 --> 00:27:23.199 ritually unclean 00:27:23.199 --> 00:27:23.699 by Jews 00:27:23.699 --> 00:27:24.740 and they were 00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:25.839 separated from 00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:27.059 the town 00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:28.279 and had to live 00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:28.979 in their own 00:27:28.979 --> 00:27:30.079 village community 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:31.019 in exile, really. 00:27:31.699 --> 00:27:32.619 In the same way, 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:33.479 and this is not 00:27:33.479 --> 00:27:34.159 to be cruel, 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.179 it's just a way 00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:36.240 of quarantining people 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:36.720 and protecting 00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.700 the rest of the population 00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:38.420 in the same way 00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:39.940 at Cambridge Public Schools. 00:27:40.380 --> 00:27:41.100 If your kids 00:27:41.100 --> 00:27:42.680 have an unidentified 00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:43.600 skin disease, 00:27:43.799 --> 00:27:44.620 they tell parents 00:27:44.620 --> 00:27:45.279 to keep them home. 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:46.700 It's the same idea. 00:27:47.740 --> 00:27:49.779 And so that's why 00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:50.240 you could see 00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:51.000 that these lepers, 00:27:51.560 --> 00:27:52.400 instead of approaching 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:52.880 Jesus, 00:27:53.120 --> 00:27:53.640 it says that they 00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:54.960 stood at a distance 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:56.259 and lifted up 00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:56.840 their voice 00:27:56.840 --> 00:27:57.820 because they are 00:27:57.820 --> 00:27:58.420 not allowed 00:27:58.420 --> 00:27:59.060 to approach them. 00:27:59.420 --> 00:28:00.299 They might contaminate 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:00.720 them and spread 00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:01.180 their disease. 00:28:01.380 --> 00:28:02.400 So they're shouting 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:03.420 to Jesus from a distance, 00:28:03.560 --> 00:28:04.519 Lord have mercy 00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:05.460 on us. 00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:06.120 And they call 00:28:06.120 --> 00:28:07.720 Jesus Master, 00:28:07.860 --> 00:28:09.080 which is interesting 00:28:09.080 --> 00:28:10.400 because it's a word 00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:11.780 that only the disciples 00:28:11.780 --> 00:28:12.300 of Jesus 00:28:12.300 --> 00:28:12.960 and the apostles 00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:13.400 of Jesus 00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:14.240 use in the Gospel 00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:14.640 of Luke. 00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:16.220 And it's a recognition 00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:17.259 of his lordship, 00:28:17.380 --> 00:28:17.840 the fact that he 00:28:17.840 --> 00:28:18.880 represents God 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:20.000 and the fact that 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:21.259 he has the power 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:22.519 to have mercy 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.019 on them, 00:28:23.140 --> 00:28:23.700 that he is their 00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:24.259 superior. 00:28:25.100 --> 00:28:26.120 And they plead 00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:26.740 for mercy. 00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:28.840 And Jesus' response 00:28:28.840 --> 00:28:30.240 to them in verse 14 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.960 is curious. 00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:32.799 It says, 00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:33.799 when he saw them, 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:34.579 he said to them, 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:36.279 go and show yourselves 00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:36.960 to the priests. 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:39.000 This is interesting 00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:40.359 because Old Testament law, 00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:41.120 the Jewish law, 00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:42.200 stipulated that 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.420 leper is to show 00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:44.420 himself to the priest 00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:45.799 after he has been 00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:46.299 cleansed. 00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:48.579 It's a way of verifying 00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:49.240 that you have been 00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:49.819 cleansed. 00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:51.579 But Jesus here 00:28:51.579 --> 00:28:52.720 tells them to go 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:53.460 and show themselves 00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:54.180 to the priests 00:28:54.180 --> 00:28:56.039 before their healing. 00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:57.940 Jesus' command 00:28:57.940 --> 00:28:59.099 does seem to 00:28:59.099 --> 00:28:59.839 promise 00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:00.480 healing, 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:01.939 but it will only 00:29:01.939 --> 00:29:02.799 take effect 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:03.959 when they step out 00:29:03.959 --> 00:29:04.519 in faith 00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:05.079 and obedience 00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:06.279 and start to 00:29:06.279 --> 00:29:07.980 go to the priest, 00:29:08.159 --> 00:29:08.859 to show themselves 00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:09.500 to the priest. 00:29:09.899 --> 00:29:10.799 And that's what happens 00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:11.899 at the end of verse 14. 00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:13.119 As they went, 00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.740 they were cleansed. 00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:16.379 And the word 00:29:16.379 --> 00:29:17.559 cleansed is used here 00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:18.220 to show that 00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:18.759 it's not just 00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:19.619 the physical healing 00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:20.379 that they receive, 00:29:20.699 --> 00:29:21.259 but it's also 00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:22.240 the ritual cleansing 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:23.599 that they are now 00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:24.439 able to be admitted 00:29:24.439 --> 00:29:25.399 back into society, 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:26.259 into the community 00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:27.259 of the people of God. 00:29:28.359 --> 00:29:29.139 And it says, 00:29:29.140 --> 00:29:30.080 after the healing 00:29:30.080 --> 00:29:31.700 in verses 15 to 16, 00:29:31.780 --> 00:29:32.680 that one of them, 00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:33.840 when he saw 00:29:33.840 --> 00:29:34.720 that he was healed, 00:29:34.840 --> 00:29:35.440 turned back, 00:29:35.560 --> 00:29:36.180 praising God 00:29:36.180 --> 00:29:37.020 with a loud voice, 00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:38.600 and he fell on his face 00:29:38.600 --> 00:29:39.640 at Jesus' feet, 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:41.140 giving him thanks. 00:29:41.620 --> 00:29:42.460 Now he was 00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:43.620 a Samaritan. 00:29:44.820 --> 00:29:46.100 This Samaritan 00:29:46.100 --> 00:29:47.240 recognizes 00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:48.400 that he was healed 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:49.840 and comes to Jesus. 00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:50.660 And this time 00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:51.600 when he comes to Jesus, 00:29:51.880 --> 00:29:53.040 he does not have to 00:29:53.040 --> 00:29:54.040 stay at a distance 00:29:54.040 --> 00:29:54.980 and shout at Jesus. 00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:56.940 He runs right up to him 00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:58.980 and falls at his feet 00:29:58.980 --> 00:30:01.000 and praises God 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:03.039 and he thanks Jesus 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:03.599 for it. 00:30:04.099 --> 00:30:04.920 And the parallel 00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:05.519 phrases here, 00:30:05.579 --> 00:30:06.160 the fact that he 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:06.799 turns back, 00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:07.559 praising God 00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:08.440 with a loud voice, 00:30:08.599 --> 00:30:09.559 but then he falls 00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:10.799 before Jesus' feet, 00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:11.559 giving him thanks, 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:12.839 it shows that he 00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:13.960 recognizes that Jesus 00:30:13.960 --> 00:30:15.079 is God's representative, 00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:17.680 that Jesus healed him 00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:19.279 with God's power, 00:30:19.380 --> 00:30:19.980 that he is... 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:22.620 And so he's humbling 00:30:22.620 --> 00:30:23.900 himself before Jesus 00:30:23.900 --> 00:30:24.640 as a master 00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:25.559 and as before a king. 00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:28.099 And the kicker 00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:28.940 at the end of all this, 00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:30.180 what's surprising 00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:31.240 is at the end 00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:31.960 of verse 15, 00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:33.259 now he was 00:30:33.259 --> 00:30:34.140 a Samaritan. 00:30:35.180 --> 00:30:36.059 This detail 00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:36.799 is added here 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:37.839 for emphasis. 00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:38.940 We know 00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:40.279 from the Gospel of John 00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:41.240 that the Samaritans 00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:41.599 and Jews 00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:42.319 don't get along. 00:30:42.620 --> 00:30:43.180 The Samaritans 00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:44.240 were a mixed race 00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:44.759 of Jew 00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:46.180 and other nations. 00:30:46.900 --> 00:30:47.620 They were... 00:30:47.620 --> 00:30:48.599 And their theology 00:30:48.599 --> 00:30:49.579 was also a little bit 00:30:49.579 --> 00:30:50.099 mixed up. 00:30:50.379 --> 00:30:50.980 So the Jews 00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:51.579 considered them 00:30:51.579 --> 00:30:52.119 not only 00:30:52.119 --> 00:30:53.720 an ethnic half-breed, 00:30:53.919 --> 00:30:54.599 but also 00:30:54.599 --> 00:30:56.579 a religious heretic. 00:30:57.299 --> 00:30:58.919 And it's incredible 00:30:58.919 --> 00:30:59.720 that the hero 00:30:59.720 --> 00:31:00.559 of this story, 00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:01.659 the one person 00:31:01.659 --> 00:31:02.279 that comes back 00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:03.019 to thank Jesus, 00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:04.939 is a Samaritan. 00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:06.980 And Jesus comments 00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:08.319 on this surprising reality 00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:09.779 in verses 17 and 18, 00:31:10.159 --> 00:31:11.619 were not ten cleansed. 00:31:12.179 --> 00:31:12.939 Where are the nine? 00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.599 Was no one found 00:31:14.599 --> 00:31:15.059 to return 00:31:15.059 --> 00:31:16.079 and give praise to God 00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:18.220 except this foreigner? 00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:20.600 This is the only time 00:31:20.600 --> 00:31:21.779 in the entire New Testament 00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:23.140 that this Greek word 00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:23.779 for foreigner 00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:24.420 is used. 00:31:25.059 --> 00:31:26.640 It's in the Jewish temple. 00:31:27.059 --> 00:31:28.120 There was a wall 00:31:28.120 --> 00:31:28.880 that separated 00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:30.160 the Jewish sanctuary, 00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:31.299 the parts that Jews 00:31:31.299 --> 00:31:32.220 were admitted to, 00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:33.319 and the court 00:31:33.319 --> 00:31:34.140 of the Gentiles 00:31:34.140 --> 00:31:35.519 where the Gentiles, 00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:37.079 the farthest 00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:37.720 that the Gentiles 00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:38.160 could go 00:31:38.160 --> 00:31:39.220 in the temple. 00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:40.720 And in that wall, 00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:41.660 there was an inscription 00:31:41.660 --> 00:31:43.299 chiseled on the wall 00:31:43.299 --> 00:31:43.759 itself 00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:44.620 that read this, 00:31:44.619 --> 00:31:46.099 No foreigner 00:31:46.099 --> 00:31:47.439 is permitted 00:31:47.439 --> 00:31:48.839 inside the partition 00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:49.819 and wall around 00:31:49.819 --> 00:31:50.279 the temple. 00:31:50.979 --> 00:31:52.139 Whoever is caught 00:31:52.139 --> 00:31:53.579 will have himself 00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:54.199 to blame 00:31:54.199 --> 00:31:56.479 for his ensuing death. 00:31:57.899 --> 00:31:59.019 It's a threat. 00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:00.479 You're not 00:32:00.479 --> 00:32:01.619 the chosen people of God. 00:32:01.699 --> 00:32:02.559 You cannot go 00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:03.799 beyond this point. 00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:05.679 So foreigner 00:32:05.679 --> 00:32:06.839 is a loaded word. 00:32:07.439 --> 00:32:08.479 It's the word 00:32:08.479 --> 00:32:09.619 that Jews used 00:32:09.619 --> 00:32:10.619 in order to alienate 00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:12.919 those of different 00:32:12.920 --> 00:32:14.640 ethnic descent. 00:32:15.900 --> 00:32:16.640 That alien, 00:32:17.300 --> 00:32:18.120 that pagan, 00:32:18.920 --> 00:32:20.220 that heathen, 00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:22.560 that gringo, 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:24.539 that gook, 00:32:25.400 --> 00:32:26.480 that guelo. 00:32:27.640 --> 00:32:29.060 That's the kind of 00:32:29.060 --> 00:32:30.800 connotation 00:32:30.800 --> 00:32:31.660 that this word has. 00:32:32.120 --> 00:32:33.200 Jesus uses that word 00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:34.100 here intentionally 00:32:34.100 --> 00:32:35.039 to teach that 00:32:35.039 --> 00:32:37.259 God makes no racial 00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:38.980 or ethnic distinction 00:32:38.980 --> 00:32:40.220 when it comes 00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:41.200 to saving those 00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:42.220 who approach him 00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:43.579 in repentance 00:32:43.579 --> 00:32:44.259 and faith. 00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:45.740 That foreigner 00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:46.700 that you look down on 00:32:46.700 --> 00:32:48.480 was the only one 00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:49.000 who returned 00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:50.220 to give thanks. 00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:51.940 And Jesus 00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:53.079 commends that Samaritan 00:32:53.079 --> 00:32:53.839 and says to him, 00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:55.140 Rise and go 00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:55.779 your way. 00:32:56.460 --> 00:32:57.100 Your faith 00:32:57.100 --> 00:32:58.339 has made you 00:32:58.339 --> 00:32:58.759 well. 00:32:59.620 --> 00:33:00.319 More literally, 00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:00.880 it says, 00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:01.620 Your faith 00:33:01.620 --> 00:33:03.059 has saved you. 00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:04.100 It's the exact 00:33:04.100 --> 00:33:04.779 same phrase 00:33:04.779 --> 00:33:05.700 that Jesus used 00:33:05.700 --> 00:33:06.799 to speak 00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:07.640 to the sinful woman 00:33:07.640 --> 00:33:08.380 in chapter 7, 00:33:08.420 --> 00:33:08.940 verse 50 00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:09.940 when he said, 00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:10.620 Your faith 00:33:10.620 --> 00:33:11.640 has saved you. 00:33:11.640 --> 00:33:12.500 and refers 00:33:12.500 --> 00:33:12.940 not only 00:33:12.940 --> 00:33:13.600 to the leper's 00:33:13.600 --> 00:33:14.620 physical healing 00:33:14.620 --> 00:33:15.720 and ritual cleansing 00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:17.200 and readmission 00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:18.200 to the community 00:33:18.200 --> 00:33:19.060 but also 00:33:19.060 --> 00:33:19.820 to his 00:33:19.820 --> 00:33:21.580 holistic salvation 00:33:21.580 --> 00:33:23.540 that he has 00:33:23.540 --> 00:33:25.520 repented of his sins 00:33:25.520 --> 00:33:26.360 and he's been accepted. 00:33:26.600 --> 00:33:27.900 It's an example 00:33:27.900 --> 00:33:28.640 really of what 00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:29.540 Jesus taught earlier 00:33:29.540 --> 00:33:30.960 that even the faith 00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:32.180 of a mustard seed 00:33:32.180 --> 00:33:33.980 can do, 00:33:34.280 --> 00:33:35.120 accomplish great things. 00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:35.820 They can uproot 00:33:35.820 --> 00:33:36.620 a mulberry tree 00:33:36.620 --> 00:33:37.259 and be planted. 00:33:37.840 --> 00:33:39.240 This Samaritan's life, 00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:40.240 that small faith 00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:41.200 that he had 00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:41.559 that Jesus 00:33:41.559 --> 00:33:42.220 can heal him 00:33:42.220 --> 00:33:42.980 and save him 00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:44.180 now has brought 00:33:44.180 --> 00:33:44.920 this foreigner 00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:45.660 into the kingdom 00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:46.140 of God 00:33:46.140 --> 00:33:47.700 in equal standing 00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:48.380 as citizens 00:33:48.380 --> 00:33:49.700 of his kingdom. 00:33:50.579 --> 00:33:52.819 And it's this faith 00:33:52.819 --> 00:33:54.420 that separated him 00:33:54.420 --> 00:33:55.039 from the other 00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:55.720 nine lepers. 00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:57.059 And this is an 00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:57.799 important distinction 00:33:57.799 --> 00:33:58.500 because the other 00:33:58.500 --> 00:33:59.059 nine lepers 00:33:59.059 --> 00:33:59.920 also benefited 00:33:59.920 --> 00:34:00.980 from Jesus' ministry. 00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:02.339 They were also 00:34:02.339 --> 00:34:03.000 healed of their 00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:03.839 physical disease 00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:05.539 but only the one 00:34:05.539 --> 00:34:06.359 who returned 00:34:06.359 --> 00:34:06.919 with Jesus 00:34:06.919 --> 00:34:07.819 in faith 00:34:07.819 --> 00:34:09.159 receives that 00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:09.880 pronunciation, 00:34:10.019 --> 00:34:10.679 the pronouncement 00:34:10.679 --> 00:34:11.719 your faith 00:34:11.719 --> 00:34:12.480 has saved you, 00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:13.139 your faith 00:34:13.139 --> 00:34:14.860 has made you well. 00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:16.880 And Jesus 00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:17.779 kind of made a, 00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:19.079 kind of gave an 00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:19.819 extended teaching 00:34:19.819 --> 00:34:20.380 on this earlier 00:34:20.380 --> 00:34:21.199 in chapter 11 00:34:21.199 --> 00:34:22.860 that merely 00:34:22.860 --> 00:34:23.759 benefiting from 00:34:23.759 --> 00:34:24.679 Jesus' healing 00:34:24.679 --> 00:34:25.699 is not enough 00:34:25.699 --> 00:34:26.199 if you don't 00:34:26.199 --> 00:34:26.819 have faith. 00:34:27.239 --> 00:34:28.279 What good is it 00:34:28.279 --> 00:34:29.299 for you to receive 00:34:29.299 --> 00:34:30.819 healing for a disease 00:34:30.819 --> 00:34:31.559 if you're going to 00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:33.139 die without faith 00:34:33.139 --> 00:34:34.179 and perish forever? 00:34:34.739 --> 00:34:35.460 What good is it 00:34:35.460 --> 00:34:36.059 for you to have 00:34:36.059 --> 00:34:37.139 a demon exercised 00:34:37.139 --> 00:34:37.599 from you 00:34:37.599 --> 00:34:38.379 as Jesus said 00:34:38.379 --> 00:34:39.159 if you refuse 00:34:39.159 --> 00:34:39.980 to believe in Jesus 00:34:39.980 --> 00:34:40.480 and are filled 00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:41.440 by his Holy Spirit 00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:42.379 so that you remain 00:34:42.379 --> 00:34:43.400 vulnerable to these 00:34:43.400 --> 00:34:44.299 other evil spirits? 00:34:44.839 --> 00:34:45.480 The nine lepers 00:34:45.480 --> 00:34:46.400 did not return 00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:47.440 and so they 00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:48.099 misthought on 00:34:48.099 --> 00:34:49.059 the ultimate benefit 00:34:49.059 --> 00:34:50.239 of Jesus' ministry 00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:51.639 and this is important 00:34:51.639 --> 00:34:52.879 for us to heed as well. 00:34:53.619 --> 00:34:54.859 The church can offer 00:34:54.859 --> 00:34:55.799 financial help 00:34:55.799 --> 00:34:56.639 to people in need, 00:34:57.379 --> 00:34:58.379 emotional support 00:34:58.379 --> 00:34:59.599 to those who are struggling. 00:35:00.359 --> 00:35:01.019 It could offer 00:35:01.019 --> 00:35:02.379 recovery programs 00:35:02.380 --> 00:35:03.180 for addicts 00:35:03.180 --> 00:35:04.180 and do many 00:35:04.180 --> 00:35:04.980 other things 00:35:04.980 --> 00:35:06.300 but if you receive 00:35:06.300 --> 00:35:07.220 those benefits 00:35:07.220 --> 00:35:08.860 without repenting 00:35:08.860 --> 00:35:10.000 of your sins 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:11.079 and believing 00:35:11.079 --> 00:35:11.960 in Jesus 00:35:11.960 --> 00:35:12.760 for salvation 00:35:12.760 --> 00:35:13.539 you're going to 00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:14.140 miss out on 00:35:14.140 --> 00:35:15.119 the ultimate benefit, 00:35:15.700 --> 00:35:16.480 the ultimate reason 00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:17.579 for which Christ came 00:35:17.579 --> 00:35:18.280 to save us 00:35:18.280 --> 00:35:18.920 and to grant us 00:35:18.920 --> 00:35:19.640 eternal life. 00:35:20.200 --> 00:35:21.079 We cannot just 00:35:21.079 --> 00:35:21.860 receive the gifts 00:35:21.860 --> 00:35:22.320 of God 00:35:22.320 --> 00:35:23.200 without receiving 00:35:23.200 --> 00:35:23.820 and repenting 00:35:23.820 --> 00:35:24.380 and receiving 00:35:24.380 --> 00:35:26.079 coming into relationship 00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:26.780 with the giver 00:35:26.780 --> 00:35:27.800 of all the good gifts 00:35:27.800 --> 00:35:28.240 himself. 00:35:29.320 --> 00:35:30.340 The temporal healing 00:35:30.340 --> 00:35:31.120 in this life 00:35:31.120 --> 00:35:32.220 must lead also 00:35:32.220 --> 00:35:33.360 to eternal salvation 00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:34.180 in the next life 00:35:34.180 --> 00:35:35.900 and that's why 00:35:35.900 --> 00:35:36.579 Jesus came. 00:35:37.019 --> 00:35:37.820 He came to save 00:35:37.820 --> 00:35:38.840 sinners like you and me. 00:35:38.920 --> 00:35:40.460 He was able to pronounce 00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:42.600 salvation on this Samaritan 00:35:42.600 --> 00:35:44.340 because as it says 00:35:44.340 --> 00:35:45.039 in verse 11 00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:46.220 he was on the way 00:35:46.220 --> 00:35:46.920 to Jerusalem 00:35:46.920 --> 00:35:49.180 and in the Gospel of Luke 00:35:49.180 --> 00:35:50.500 that means he's on the way 00:35:50.500 --> 00:35:51.019 to die. 00:35:51.400 --> 00:35:52.700 On the way to Jerusalem 00:35:52.700 --> 00:35:53.700 to die for our sins 00:35:53.700 --> 00:35:54.320 on the cross. 00:35:55.320 --> 00:35:56.640 On the way to Jerusalem 00:35:56.639 --> 00:35:58.539 to be the perfect 00:35:58.539 --> 00:36:00.019 blameless Lamb of God 00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:01.559 the perfect Son of God 00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:02.579 who never sinned 00:36:02.579 --> 00:36:03.920 had no blemish on Him 00:36:03.920 --> 00:36:05.440 but taking on 00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:06.259 the blemish 00:36:06.259 --> 00:36:07.440 of all of our sins 00:36:07.440 --> 00:36:08.480 taking on 00:36:08.480 --> 00:36:09.420 our own leprosy 00:36:09.420 --> 00:36:10.239 upon Himself 00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:11.519 in order to pay 00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:12.239 for our sins 00:36:12.239 --> 00:36:13.119 on the cross 00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:13.659 and be raised 00:36:13.659 --> 00:36:14.179 to new life 00:36:14.179 --> 00:36:15.159 to save us 00:36:15.159 --> 00:36:16.099 so that we 00:36:16.099 --> 00:36:17.199 who were formerly 00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:18.119 cut off from 00:36:18.119 --> 00:36:19.420 the presence of God 00:36:19.420 --> 00:36:20.759 and we who formerly 00:36:20.759 --> 00:36:21.679 could only like 00:36:21.679 --> 00:36:22.139 these lepers 00:36:22.139 --> 00:36:23.239 stand at a distance 00:36:23.239 --> 00:36:24.179 and shout 00:36:24.179 --> 00:36:25.619 and plead for mercy 00:36:25.619 --> 00:36:26.799 that we can be 00:36:26.799 --> 00:36:27.799 brought near to God 00:36:27.799 --> 00:36:28.359 through Jesus 00:36:28.359 --> 00:36:29.159 and what He has done 00:36:29.159 --> 00:36:30.239 and be accepted 00:36:30.239 --> 00:36:31.199 into the family of God. 00:36:31.259 --> 00:36:32.019 That's what Jesus 00:36:32.019 --> 00:36:32.779 is on His way 00:36:32.779 --> 00:36:33.639 to do in Jerusalem 00:36:33.639 --> 00:36:34.980 and that's why 00:36:34.980 --> 00:36:35.699 because He knows 00:36:35.699 --> 00:36:36.480 that He can pronounce 00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:37.539 this salvation 00:36:37.539 --> 00:36:39.019 on this leper. 00:36:40.319 --> 00:36:42.299 And as I conclude 00:36:42.299 --> 00:36:43.139 I want to 00:36:43.139 --> 00:36:44.759 exhort some of you 00:36:44.759 --> 00:36:45.639 who may not have 00:36:45.639 --> 00:36:46.159 this faith 00:36:46.159 --> 00:36:47.119 in Jesus Christ yet. 00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:48.859 Some of you 00:36:48.859 --> 00:36:49.799 have not taken 00:36:49.799 --> 00:36:50.659 the step of faith. 00:36:51.199 --> 00:36:52.099 Maybe you're skeptical. 00:36:52.980 --> 00:36:54.000 Maybe you're holding on 00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:55.019 for more evidence. 00:36:55.619 --> 00:36:56.639 But I urge you 00:36:56.639 --> 00:36:57.279 to take the step 00:36:57.279 --> 00:36:57.699 of faith. 00:36:58.259 --> 00:36:59.099 As Jesus told 00:36:59.099 --> 00:36:59.679 the ten lepers 00:36:59.679 --> 00:37:00.559 in verse 14 00:37:00.559 --> 00:37:02.339 go and show yourselves 00:37:02.339 --> 00:37:03.159 to the priests. 00:37:04.319 --> 00:37:05.339 It was only after 00:37:05.339 --> 00:37:06.179 they stepped out 00:37:06.179 --> 00:37:06.579 in faith 00:37:06.579 --> 00:37:07.699 to go to the priests 00:37:07.699 --> 00:37:08.880 that they received 00:37:08.880 --> 00:37:09.639 healing. 00:37:10.900 --> 00:37:11.739 A fourth century 00:37:11.739 --> 00:37:12.559 Christian pastor 00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:13.139 Augustine 00:37:13.139 --> 00:37:13.900 puts it this way 00:37:13.900 --> 00:37:15.759 faith is to believe 00:37:15.759 --> 00:37:16.960 what you do not see. 00:37:17.420 --> 00:37:18.279 The reward 00:37:18.279 --> 00:37:19.420 of this faith 00:37:19.420 --> 00:37:20.239 is to see 00:37:20.239 --> 00:37:21.039 what you believe. 00:37:22.519 --> 00:37:23.819 Don't wait to see 00:37:23.819 --> 00:37:24.920 so that you can believe. 00:37:24.920 --> 00:37:25.539 believe 00:37:25.539 --> 00:37:26.740 and stop it in faith 00:37:26.740 --> 00:37:27.559 and you will see 00:37:27.559 --> 00:37:28.940 and you will experience 00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:29.980 and you will receive 00:37:29.980 --> 00:37:30.840 the grace of God 00:37:30.840 --> 00:37:32.079 and His Holy Spirit. 00:37:32.740 --> 00:37:33.559 And that's really 00:37:33.559 --> 00:37:34.220 the main point 00:37:34.220 --> 00:37:35.059 that we should take away 00:37:35.059 --> 00:37:36.180 from this passage 00:37:36.180 --> 00:37:36.940 for us today. 00:37:36.940 --> 00:37:38.760 for chodzi MCNHGH 00:37:38.760 --> 00:37:40.220 for Pilgrim. 00:37:42.539 --> 00:37:43.460 Thank you for饌 Team... 00:37:48.940 --> 00:37:49.880 ...