Good evening, church.
First of all, happy Mother's Day to all our moms here tonight.
I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day so far.
Preparing a sermon for a total rookie preacher like me can be a daunting task.
But this week, I am so grateful to God because He has given me so much grace.
First of all, I just stumbled upon this wonderful book by Paul Miller.
And the book is called Love Walked Among Us.
And I found a lot of resources in this book, just purely by accident.
I picked up this book and I just found a lot of resources that, you know, helped me prepare for tonight's sermon.
And secondly, you know, I am grateful to our pastors because they've been very supportive and also very encouraging.
So, you know, for somebody who just preached like two, three times in his whole life, it can be a very nerve-wracking task.
But with a lot of support and a lot of encouragement from our pastors, you know, the task can be also a lot less daunting.
So, I thank my pastors.
And, you know, as we were called to encourage one another, I also, you know, gently urge all of us to, as we encourage one another, don't forget to encourage our pastors.
Last Sunday, Pastor Greg taught us about how Jesus met oppositions.
As he cast out demons, there were people saying, oh, he must be the prince of demons.
And they were demanding, you know, heavenly signs.
And Jesus said, there is no sign for you except the sign of Jonah.
Somebody greater than Jonah is here, but, and yet, you guys still refuse to believe.
And tonight, we continue.
So, Jesus, after, you know, telling the group, the people that there is no sign other than Jonah,
he resumes his teaching by talking about the parable of light.
Now, the interesting thing about this parable is just a couple of chapters before, in Luke chapter 8,
he told them the exact same parable about the light.
And this parable is also found in Mark chapter 5, and also found in Matthew chapter 5, verses 14 and 16.
So, this parable must be important and significant for Jesus to repeat all over again.
So, tonight's passage, we'll look at from Luke chapter 11, verses 33, all the way to chapter 12, verses 1 to 3.
But I'd like to look at the first three verses, and also the last three verses first.
Because I believe it's a continuous teaching of Jesus about the parable of light.
But in the middle, he is interrupted by Pharisees, because one of the Pharisees invite him to a meal.
So, let's turn to Luke chapter 11.
It's found on page 870 in your pew Bible.
We'll read chapter 11, verses 33 to 36, and then we'll skip to chapter 12, verses 2 and 3.
No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand,
so that those who enter may see the light.
Therefore, your eye is the lamp of your body.
When your body is healthy, your whole, I'm sorry, when your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light.
But when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.
Therefore, be careful, lest the light in you be darkness.
If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright.
As when a lamp with its rays gives you light.
Now, we're going to chapter 12, verses 2 and 3.
Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed or hidden that will not be known.
Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light.
And whatever you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
Now, just quickly go back a few chapters to Luke chapter 8, verses 16 and 17.
It's on page 8, 865.
Chapter 8, verses 16 and 17.
No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed,
but puts it on a stand so that those who enter may see the light.
For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.
So, I mean, this sounds like a very, you know, pretty common sense, right?
Who puts the lamp under a basket or hides the light?
The whole purpose of light is to illumine in the room.
But why is Jesus...
Talks about this parable over and over, and all three Gospels record this parable.
What is the significance and what is the importance about this parable?
So, what is this light that Jesus is talking about?
Or could it be who is Jesus talking about when he talks about this light?
Now, in John chapter 3, Jesus, you know, Jesus told us,
the light has come into the world.
But people did not like the light.
Because when the light came, the things that were done in darkness,
all their evil deeds, their sinful nature was revealed.
So, what Jesus is telling us here is,
when you receive me, when you have Jesus in you,
when you have the Gospel, when you have Jesus' mission in you,
now you bear the light.
In Matthew chapter 5, the same parable,
Jesus tells us, you are the city on the hill.
Cannot be hidden.
So, I will just read from John chapter 3.
You don't have to go there.
The light has come into the world,
and people love the darkness rather than the light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light,
and does not come to the light,
lest his works should be exposed.
But whoever does what is true comes to the light,
so that he may be clearly seen
that his works have been carried out in God.
So, in this first three verses of tonight's passage,
Jesus tells us,
you are the light.
If you receive me,
and do what I tell you to do,
you are like the light
that's supposed to be standing on a lampstand.
Not be hidden, not be covered,
but to make the room bright,
chasing away all the darkness.
And in chapter 12, verse 2,
you know, verse 8,
it was in,
it was one, you know,
he talks about the lamp,
and then he says,
nothing will be hidden.
In this chapter,
it was broken up
in chapter 11 and chapter 12,
like I said,
because before he even finished
telling the disciples
what he said in verse 2 and 3,
he was invited to have a meal
with the Pharisee.
So,
Jesus is keep telling his disciples and us,
you guys are the light,
and you guys are supposed to
shine the light
by,
you know,
obeying my words
and do
what I tell you to do.
And then we will explore
more of that
when we come back
after we
study the next section.
So now,
let's look at
Luke chapter 11,
verses 37
to
53.
So as Jesus is
having a meal
at this Pharisee's house,
he also exposes
their hypocrisy.
The same
account,
the more detailed
and more expanded account
of this,
this parallel
account,
my kids are laughing right now,
because
every time I say
the word parallel,
they think
I don't pronounce it correctly.
So,
sometimes,
you know,
they'll sit me down
and say,
Dad,
this is how you say
the word parallel,
parallel.
So,
every time I use
the word parallel,
they are laughing.
They're picking on
their poor immigrant dad.
So,
the same
account
is also found
in Matthew
chapter 23.
We're not going to go there.
If you want to look at it later,
it is much
more detailed
account of
what Pharisees
and the lawyers.
So,
basically,
the Pharisees,
if you're not familiar
with the term,
these were the religious leaders
at the time.
They were the Bible teachers
and the lawyers
because it was
during the theocratic society.
The lawyers,
pretty much,
they're the religious law experts.
So,
Pharisees and the religious law experts,
they are watching
what Jesus is doing
and they are just basically
kind of trying to see
what he says
to,
you know,
trap him.
verse 37.
While Jesus was speaking,
a Pharisee asked him
to dine with him.
So,
he went in
and reclined
at the table.
The Pharisee was
astonished
to see that
he did not first
wash
before
dinner.
So,
they must have said,
you know,
to themselves,
look at him.
He doesn't even wash.
What kind of teacher
is he?
So,
Jesus knew
what they were thinking.
Verse 38.
And the Lord said to him,
now you Pharisees
cleanse the outside
of the cup
and of the dish,
but inside
you are full
of greed
and wickedness.
So,
these so-called
religious leaders,
experts in Bible,
they were so focused
on how they appear
in public.
In other parts
of the gospel,
you know,
they make these
long prayers.
They would like
to pray in public.
They want people
to see how they pray,
what they pray.
There was one
incident where,
you know,
this Pharisee
is just praying
to God
and he sees
a tax collector
who couldn't even
raise his head
and yet he says,
thank God,
you know,
I am not
like this tax collector.
I fast,
I do this,
I do that,
thank God,
I am not like him.
So,
the Pharisees
were so,
so,
it's almost like
they're just
image driven.
as long as
they appear
holy and,
you know,
righteous
in front of the people
and yet,
inside,
Jesus said,
you guys are just
full of
wickedness
and greed.
Verse 30,
verse 39,
and the Lord,
I'm sorry,
verse 40,
you fools,
did not him
who made the outside
make the inside also,
but give as elms
those things
that are within
and behold,
everything is
clean for you.
But woe to you,
Pharisees,
for you tithe
mint
and rue
and every herb
and neglect justice
and the love of God.
These you ought
to have done
without neglecting
the others.
So,
even giving offering
or tithe,
giving one tenth,
they are so careful
whatever they grow
in their garden,
whether it's a mint,
any kind of herb,
they are so careful
to even give
ten percent
of that.
And I sometimes
wonder whether
they did that
so they can say,
oh,
look at so and so.
they consume
all their vegetables,
their gluttons.
Look at me.
I give tenth
of everything
including
all the things
that I grow
in the garden.
I wonder if they missed
the real,
what God really wants
from us is
heart of David.
King David said,
everything came
from you,
from what we have
received from your hand,
we give back.
So,
it's almost like
returning
a portion.
Do we really
give something
to God
or are we just
simply returning
some portion
of it
that we
receive from God?
Apostle Paul says,
God loves
cheerful giver.
So,
these Pharisees,
sometimes I wonder
whether they
did this
so methodically
to look good,
to appear,
I am so holy.
Everything
that I grow,
even the little
herbs,
I give tenth
back,
you know,
as a tide.
And Jesus
says,
but you guys
neglect
looking after
the poor.
giving to the poor.
You guys
do all these
things,
but you
neglect justice
and you
neglect to
look after
the poor.
Verse 43,
woe to you
Pharisees,
for you love
the best seat
in the synagogues
and greetings
in the marketplaces.
Again,
they like
to be
revered,
I'm sure
they were.
because people
probably looked
up to them
because they
were,
you know,
religious leaders
and because
they constantly
kept up this
image of being
holy and
righteous.
I'm sure a lot
of people,
they looked up
to them.
But Jesus
said,
you guys
are looking
for greetings
in a marketplace.
Probably,
you know,
they enjoy being
called rabbi,
teacher.
when people
called them
rabbi,
when people
greeted them,
when they
were sitting
at the best
seat in the
synagogue,
they were
probably just
gloating.
But,
is that,
is that the
attitude
Jesus had?
Did Jesus
come
to be
respected,
honored,
seated at the
best seat in
the synagogue?
Basically,
did he come
here to be
served?
served.
It was
totally
opposite.
Jesus
came to
serve,
instead of
being served.
But the
Pharisees
here,
it sounds
like,
they just
want to be
served,
instead of
serving.
They want
to be greeted
at a marketplace,
be called
teachers,
rabbis.
verse 44,
woe to
you,
for you
are like
unmarked
graves,
and people
walk over
them without
knowing it.
In the
Old Testament,
if you
come in
contact with
the dead
body or
grave,
you are
considered
unclean
for seven
days.
So,
people are
very careful
not to
touch the
dead body
or touch
the grave.
But what
Jesus is
saying is,
you guys
are like
unmarked
graves.
People
may
associate
with you
not knowing
what's inside
of you.
You may
appear holy
and righteous
on the
outside,
but inside,
because you
are full
of greed
and arrogance
and wickedness,
it's almost
like you
caused them
to sin.
If the
graves were
marked,
people would
not have
touched
it.
But because
Pharisees were
like unmarked
graves,
people stumble
upon them.
And verse
40,
45,
now one of
the lawyers
answered him,
teacher,
in saying
these things,
you insult
us also.
And he
said,
woe to
your lawyers
also,
for you
load
people
with
burdens
hard to
bear,
and you
yourselves
do not
touch the
burdens
with one
of your
fingers.
Woe to
you,
for you
build the
tombs of
the prophets
whom your
fathers killed.
So you
are witnesses
and you
consent to
the deeds
of your
fathers,
for they
killed them
and you
build their
tombs.
so now
the religious
law experts
are offended.
So they
say,
Jesus,
why are you
offending
us?
And Jesus
said,
because you
guys make
these incredible
demands.
You have to
do this,
this,
this.
You make
these demands
on people
and you
don't even
lift your
finger to
help them.
And then
he also
talks about
your
forefathers
have killed
all these
prophets.
And then
you build
the tomb,
the monuments,
so you're
basically
consenting to
it.
So in
Matthew
chapter 23,
these lawyers
tell Jesus,
well,
the lawyers
have this
thing,
they say,
well,
if we
lived in
our
ancestors'
time,
we would
have never
done that.
They say,
if we
lived during
our ancestors'
time,
we would
have never
killed those
prophets.
So again,
they have
this self-righteous
attitude.
And Jesus
keeps pointing
these out.
Verse
52.
I'm
sorry,
verse 49.
Therefore,
also the
wisdom of
God said,
I will
send them
prophets and
apostles,
some of
whom they
will kill
and persecute,
so that the
blood of all
the prophets
shed from
the foundation
of the world
may be
charged against
this generation.
from the
blood of
Abel to
the blood
of Zechariah,
who perished
between the
altar and
the sanctuary.
Yes,
I tell you,
it will be
required of
this generation.
So
throughout
the Old
Testament,
you'll see
how when
prophets
come,
so prophets
are like
the light.
they come
and they
tell the
nation,
you guys
are doing
wrong.
You guys
are worshipping
idols,
you need to
turn from
worshipping
idols,
you need to
turn to
God.
So
they are
lights
pointing
people to
God,
but so
many of
the prophets,
they were
killed.
So many
kings,
when you
read the
kings and
the
chronicles,
when they
don't like
what they
hear,
they will
put prophets
in prison
or kill
them altogether.
So
Jesus is
saying,
you
ancestors
and you
guys are
guilty of
this.
And
isn't that
true,
how they
continue to
do that?
And
eventually
they kill
Jesus.
Verse 52,
woe to
you lawyers
for you
have taken
away the
key knowledge,
key of
knowledge.
You did
not enter
yourselves
and you
hindered
those who
are,
who were
entering.
I believe
the key
knowledge
that they
were sort
of putting
behind while
they were
loading people
with these
burdensome
rituals and
the laws
they demand.
The key
knowledge,
I believe,
is love
the Lord
your God
with all
your heart,
with all
your soul,
with all
your might,
and love
your neighbor.
Instead of
pointing the
people to
God and
his kingdom,
these law
experts
would just
keep laying
down these
rules and
laws.
So they,
instead of
focusing on
what's really
important and
crucial,
they are
just focusing
on these
other things.
so in
Deuteronomy
chapter 10
verses 12
to 20,
this is what
God told
his people.
And now
Israel,
what does
the Lord
your God
require of
you?
God,
but to
fear the
Lord
your God,
to walk
in all
his ways,
to love
him,
to serve
the Lord
your God
with all
your heart
and with
all your
soul,
and to
keep the
commandments
and statutes
of the
Lord,
which I
am commanding
you today
for your
good.
Behold,
to the
Lord your
God belong
heaven and
the heaven
of heavens,
and the earth
with all that
is in it.
Yet the
Lord set
his heart
in love
on your
fathers and
chose their
offspring after
them.
You above
all peoples,
as you are
this day,
circumcise
therefore the
foreskin of
your heart
and be no
longer stubborn.
For the
Lord your
God is
God of
gods and
Lord of
lords,
the great,
the mighty,
and the
awesome God,
who is not
partial and
takes no
bribe.
He
executes
justice for
the fatherless
and the
widow and
loves the
sojourner,
giving him
food and
clothing.
Love the
sojourner,
therefore,
for you are
sojourners in
the land of
Egypt.
You shall
fear the
Lord your
God,
you shall
serve him
and hold
fast to
him,
and by
his name
you shall
swear.
So God
told his
people to
love me,
and then
have
compassion
on
fatherless,
the widow,
the sojourners,
basically people
who can be
marginalized in
society.
And yet,
the scribes,
the lawyers,
and the
Pharisees,
it sounds
like they
completely
ignored this,
and they
were so
busy
putting
themselves
in public,
having the
form of
holiness,
but inside,
it was all
just their
greed,
wickedness,
neglecting the
poor.
In other
parts of the
gospel,
Jesus rebukes
lawyers,
because they
were swallowing
up,
probably,
with those
properties,
using their
technicality to
take up
with those
properties.
So,
what can
we learn
from,
you know,
all this
exposed
hypocrisy
of Pharisees
and lawyers?
are we
to just
say,
oh,
you know,
those are
terrible
people,
they're a
bunch of
hypocrites?
I think
we,
we need
to also,
you know,
examine
ourselves,
reflect upon
this.
The book
that I just
mentioned,
Love Walked
Among Us,
he mentions
three interesting
things.
He says,
judging,
blocks
compassion.
Judging
blocks
compassion.
Self-righteousness
blocks
compassion.
Legalism
blocks
compassion.
And I
would like
to just
share
a couple
of points
from that
book.
Paul
Miller
says,
we are
remarkably
perceptive
of
others'
shortcomings
and sins,
but curiously
blind
to our
own.
We are
remarkably
perceptive
of others'
shortcomings
and sins,
but curiously
blind
to our
own.
people.
We'll
often notice
things wrong
with people,
but does
that initial
look lead
to compassion
and helping
or to
judging
and
distance?
We'll
often notice
things wrong
with people,
but does
that initial
look lead
to compassion
and helping
or to
judging
and distance?
When we
realize that
we don't
have it
all together,
we can
care for
people because
we no longer
feel morally
superior to
them.
Consequently,
we are
quicker to
help than
to give
advice,
quicker to
listen than
to lecture.
Lastly,
Paul Miller
says,
our helplessness
is the door
to the knowledge
of God.
without
changing
the heart,
obsessing
over rules
is like
spray painting
garbage.
I think
we all
are guilty
or at
least have
done this
to others,
whether
we have
done this
to our
family members,
our
coworkers,
our friends,
or even
in our
church
community.
that we
judged.
We felt,
hey,
I am,
I never
do that.
This,
I am
holier than
thou kind
of attitude,
this arrogance.
And maybe
sometimes we
really push
that legalism.
so,
if I can
make a
contrast
between
the
platform
that
Pharisees
and the
scribes
were standing
on,
it was
judging.
It was
self-righteousness
and arrogance
and the
legalism.
Now,
Jesus,
on the other
hand,
he's standing
on this
platform
that is
abundantly
mercy,
love,
compassion,
and forgiveness.
What a
contrast.
Now,
in John
chapter 8,
there is
this
woman
who was
caught
in the
middle of
adultery.
So,
they brought
this woman,
you know,
in that
time,
in that
society,
it was
lawful
to stone
this woman
to death.
And they
brought her
to Jesus
and they
start
asking Jesus,
Moses told
us to stone
someone like
this who
was committing
adultery.
What do you
say?
And Jesus
wrote something
on the ground
and then
he told
the crowd,
those of
you who
have never
sinned,
throw the
first stone.
And then
one by
one,
the Bible
says,
starting from
the old
to young,
they dropped
the stone
and then
they walked
away.
at the
end,
it was
just
the woman
and Jesus.
And Jesus
asked the
woman,
where are
they?
Has no
one condemned
you?
She said,
no one,
Lord.
And Jesus
said,
neither do I
condemn you.
Go
and sin
no more.
No more.
instead of
having
judgmental,
I am
better than
you,
I am
holier than
you,
or being
so caught
up in
legalism,
can we
be,
can we
be like
Jesus?
Neither
do I
condemn
you.
Jesus
had every
right,
to
condemn
this
woman.
Jesus
had
every
right
to
judge
her,
punish
her,
and
condemn
her.
But
Jesus
didn't.
The
mercy,
the
forgiveness,
the
compassion,
Jesus
said,
I do
not
condemn
you
either.
Go
and
sin
no
more.
How
quickly
we
judge
our
brothers
and
sisters.
How
quickly
we
judge
our
co-workers,
our
family
members.
And how
often we
feel,
hey,
I,
just like
the scribe,
the lawyers
said,
if we
lived during
our
ancestors'
time,
we would
have never
killed those
prophets,
never.
And how
often we
have that
same attitude.
Oh,
I would
have never
done that.
I would
have never
done that.
and how
quickly we
apply.
Well,
that's against
the law,
that's against
the Bible,
that's against
this.
Using the
legalism
to put
others down.
And I
would also
like to
ask,
I'm sure
some of
us here
tonight
were hurt
in the
past,
or maybe
still hurting
from these
remarks,
or people
passed,
you know,
judgment on
you,
or people
pressed you
with legalism.
Maybe you
were taught
in a
such a,
in a very
legalistic
you know,
teachings.
Whatever it
is,
if you
are carrying
such a
burden,
or wounds
from the
past,
bring it
to Jesus,
where is
he's waiting.
He's waiting
for us
with
mercy,
compassion,
love,
and
forgiveness.
People may
have
hurt you
in the
past,
with this
Pharisee-like,
scribe-like
teachings and
attitude,
but what
Jesus is
saying is,
come to
me.
I do
not condemn
you.
Come
and receive
healing,
receive
mercy,
receive my
love,
my compassion.
now,
chapter 12,
verse 1.
In the
meantime,
when so
many thousands
of people
had gathered
together,
that they
were trampling
one another,
he began
to say to
his disciples
first,
beware of
the leaving
of the
Pharisees,
which is
hypocrisy.
nothing is
covered up
that will
not be
revealed,
or hidden
that will
not be
known.
Therefore,
whatever you
have said
in the
dark
shall be
heard in
the light,
and what
you have
whispered in
private rooms
shall be
proclaimed on
the housetops.
Verse 3 was
a little bit,
it was a little
bit tricky.
what is he
saying that
all this
hypocrisy
will be
revealed,
or is he
saying,
you have
light in
you,
and proclaim
the gospel.
Now,
next week,
Pastor Matt
is going to
continue
chapter 12
where Jesus
talks about,
do not fear
the man,
acknowledge
me before
man.
So,
I wonder
if
verse 3,
chapter 12
verse 3
is
Jesus
leading
people,
his
disciples
saying,
proclaim
the gospel.
Do not
fear
man,
acknowledge
me before
man.
Now,
now,
the light,
going back
to the light,
parable of
light,
I will
read this
parable from
Matthew,
chapter 5,
verses 14
to 16,
and listen
to what
Jesus is
telling all
of us
to do.
You are
the light
of the
world,
a city
set on
a hill
cannot
be hidden,
nor do
people light
a lamp
and put
it under
a basket,
but on
a stand,
and it
gives light
to all
in the
house.
In the
same way,
let your
light shine
before others
so that
they may
see your
good works
and give
glory
to your
Father
who is
in
heaven.
So,
do you
have
Jesus'
light in
you?
And are
you
let the
light
shine
so that
people
around
you
can be
drawn
to that
light?
Or are
we still
in the
darkness
like the
Pharisees
and the
law
experts
because
we're so
busy
judging
and we
feel that
we are
doing okay,
holy,
better than
others?
Oh,
I keep
the law.
I read
the Bible
and I
follow the
Bible.
Are we
all just
wrapped up
in that
which is
basically
darkness?
Or are
we like
Jesus
where
the light
shines
and the
mercy
and love
and compassion
and forgiveness
just flows
out
to others?
In a
minute,
we're going
to sing
a song
that talks
about
there is
a fountain
and this
fountain
consists of
Jesus'
blood.
Come to
the fountain
and receive
the light
so that
we can
be the
light of
the world.
Whatever it
is,
bring it
to Jesus.
whatever
that was
you're
struggling
in the
darkness,
when you
receive
Jesus
and when
he is
the source
of light
in you,
it will
clear away
the darkness.
Every
corner of
the room
will be
illumined.
So,
we are
the light
of the
world
and let
our light
shine
before others
so that
they may
see our
good works
and give
glory to
our Father
who is
in heaven.
Let us
pray.
Amen.
Lord Jesus,
thank you
for
coming
to this
world
and thank
you for
being the
light
that chases
away all
the darkness
and Lord
we pray
that we
will have
you,
the gospel,
your mission
in us
like a
bright light
that shines
so that
others
can see
the light
and be
equally
be blessed
and all
that we
do,
Lord,
help us
to do
for the
glory of
God.
In Jesus
name we
pray.
Amen.
Let's
stand
together
and let's
sing.
there's
a fountain
filled with
our
drawn from Emmanuel's hand,
and sinners' plans beneath and blood lose all.