Luke 11:29-12:3
Is Image Everything?

I. Is Image Everything?
1. A lot of people will pay more for the sizzle even if they get less steak.
2. Beautiful people make 5% more than their homely counterparts.
3. Guys care a lot about looking good and like they don’t care how they appear.
4. Our image dazzled culture is more about appearing than being. We see the importance of being.
II. Be Aware (11:29-30)
1. Be aware of the sign that God has given you: the resurrection of Jesus.
2. Seeking a sign is “evil” because it shows a lack of awareness of who Jesus is.
3. Jesus is not just another teacher like Confucius or someone who can be put off for a while.
4. Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh by reappearing after 3 days. So will Jesus.
III. Be Amazed (11:31-32)
1. The Queen of Sheba, was amazed at Solomon (2 Chronicles 9).
2. She will condemn those who were less amazed at Jesus than she was at Solomon.
3. The people of Nineveh were amazed at a prophet who came out of a fish and so repented.
4. People who say they believe in Jesus but continue unrepentant show they aren’t amazed at Jesus.
5. Who talks like this? Who calls Himself “greater than Solomon”?
6. C. S. Lewis: Jesus is either (1) an egotistical liar, or (2) a lunatic (deluded) or (3) the Lord.
IV. Be Light (11:33-36)
1. If we’re to share light with others, first we need light in ourselves. We need to be lighted.
2. First, recognize where the light comes from. The light comes from outside, from the Lord.
3. Just like our physical eye sees light so the eyes of our heart can see the light.
4. If our spiritual eye is imperceptible to the light of the world, then we’re in the dark.
5. “Be careful” (11:35): Be careful whether you have light within you. Care about that most.
V. Be Clean (11:37-44): A Pharisee was astonished that Jesus didn’t follow the cleansing ritual
A. Be Cleansed of the Love of Money
1. Why clean the outside of a cup but not the inside? Inside they were full of greed.
2. They were scrupulous tithers. Jesus says “these things you ought to have done” (11:42).
3. Their focus on these small matters made them overlook the justice and the love of God.
4. Be clean of greed by giving from a pure heart; then “everything is clean for you.”
B. Be Cleansed of the Love of Prestige
1. A lot of people get into religion for the prestige. They want to look good.
2. They loved the best seats in the synagogue; up front, facing the congregation.
3. Don’t be like an unmarked grave, that looks like nothing, but is full of dead bones, defiling.
VI. Be Aghast (11:45-54): Woe to the scribes
1. Woe to you for loading people with burdens but doing nothing to help people follow it.
2. Be appalled at the coming judgment because you wanted to appear like someone you aren’t.
3. Woe to those who take away the key of knowledge of God’s Word; hindering others
4. Jesus had torn off the mask of their hypocritical religion and they hated that..
VII. Beware (12:1-3): “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees”
1. A little leaven infiltrates a large lump of dough. Hypocrisy is like an infection. It’s contagious.
2. You’ve been exposed to the contagion of hypocrisy. Beware that you didn’t catch the disease.
3. The hypocrite is a functional atheist. He is thinking and living as if there is no God.
4. The hypocrite believes nothing will be revealed; his reality will stay hidden.
5. Woe to you if you’ve been infected with a disease that makes you that delusional.
VIII. Invitation: Be aware of who Jesus is. He is the judge who sees. Beware that the time is coming when who really are will be proclaimed from the housetops. Don’t think appearing like a believer, like a lover of God, a giver, a champion of justice, a humble follower of Jesus is enough. Be one.