Kingdom Weal and Worldly Woes, Part 3.
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Analyzing the profound woe of pursuing popularity and acceptance at the expense of truth.
Text: Luke 6:24-26
Date: 03/20/2022, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 56
Description:
After presenting four Beatitudes that express the state of blessedness of those who are redeemed by the grace of God, Luke alone among the Gospel writers offsets them with four corresponding woes. Each one of these woes expresses the opposite situation-- the state of cursedness of those who reject Jesus and fill their lives with the idols of the fallen world. As we did with the Beatitudes, we will carefully evaluate each statement, realizing that Jesus is once again speaking spiritually using physical and material illustrations. Ultimately, we will consider these woes as they apply to Christians, and analyze and lament the devastating consequences when the church loses its focus and exchanges Kingdom Weal for Worldly Woes! This is the third of three sermons on this passage (originally written as one), focusing on the woes of seeking the favor of man rather than the favor of God.
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I. Introduction, James 3:1, Heb. 13:17, Jer. 23:9-32.
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 6:24-26.
A. Context
1. The first three weals and woes.
a. The weals.
b. The woes.
2. The fourth beatitude.
a. The world's reaction, Luke 6:22.
b. An important reference, Luke 6:23.
B. What Jesus does not mean.
4. To be well-liked is not sinful, 2Sam. 3:36, Esth. 10:3, Rom. 12:18, 1Tim. 3:7, 1Pet. 2:12.
C. What Jesus does mean.
4. The idol of "popularity", vs. 26.
a. Qualifying the woe.
i. Identifying "all people", John 3:19-20, 15:18-20, Rom. 1:29-32.
ii. The essence of the woe revealed, John 15:19, Rom. 12:2, James 4:4.
b. The "weal" perspective, Luke 6:22-23, 1Pet. 2:11.
c. Focus on false teaching.
i. Noticing the final phrase.
ii. Persecuting the real prophets, Matt. 23:29-33.
iii. Adoring the false prophets, 2Tim. 4:3-4, Jer. 23:25-27, John 7:7.
iv. The idol of "acceptance", Rom. 16:17-18, Matt. 10:34-36.
III. Application
A. Overview.
1. A warning not to believe the devil, John 8:42,44-45, Gen. 3:4, John 14:6, Matt. 25:41
2. A focused warning for the church, Luke 6:20.
B. The warning against idolatry and its consequences.
4. The danger of false teaching, Jer. 8:11.
a. Woe to me!
b. Woe to teachers who crave acceptance, John 5:44,45, Matt. 18:6.
c. Woe to the false teachers, Jer. 8:11.
d. Woe to you!
C. A practical application.
IV. Conclusion
