The Life of Christ in the Synoptic Gospels
HEARING AND DOING
The Life of Christ in the Synoptic Gospels
HEARING AND DOING
Lesson Plan:
1. Foundation of Clear Understanding (v 39)
2. Foundation of Christ's Example (v 40)
3. Foundation of Humility (vs 41, 42; Matt. 7:1-5)
4. Foundation of Sincerity (vs 43-45; Matt. 7:15-20)
5. Foundation of Obedience (v 46; Matt. 7:21-23; James 1:22-27)
6. Enduring Foundation (vs 47-49; Matt. 7:24-29)
Lesson Setting:
Time: Summer of 28 A.D.
Place: A hill west of the Sea of Galilee
Inductive Study of the Lesson:
a. Read the lesson text, with the corresponding passages in Matthew 7 and James 1:22-27.
b. With
verse 39 compare Proverbs 19:27; Matthew 15:14; Romans 2:19
c. In connect with verse 40 read Matthew 10:24, 25; Luke. 22:27; John 13:16; 15:20
d. Find further
illustrations of verse 43 in James 3:11, 12
e. With verse 45 compare Matthew 12:34, 35; Isaiah 32:6
f. In connection with verse 46 read Malachi 1:6; Matthew 25:11, 12; Luke 13:25
Foundations
Introduction: Foundations in life. Why is this an important subject? – (a) Because it is difficult
to lay strong and sure foundations. (b) Because the foundations must be laid in youth; and, when a
foundation is once laid and a building erected upon it, it is hard work to strengthen it. (c)
Because a poor foundation will destroy the finest building.
Illustration: A builder determining to build within the walls of old Jerusalem, laying a foundation on the rock of David's time, will find it necessary to excavate through many feel of accumulated rubbish. Likewise, the centuries have been prolific in 'religious' rubbish, and whoever now will build with the Son of David must dig down through superstition, priest-craft, tradition, and prejudiced interpretations, until he finds the Holy Word of the living God.
Illustration: Constructing a modern, high rise office building, much time is required digging down to a solid foundation. Illustration: When, after many years' interval, it was decided to complete the Washington Monument, the engineers discovered that the foundations were unequal to the vast burden that was to be placed upon them. General T. L. Casey was assigned the task of digging down under the 150 feet of granite and marble already piled up, laying a base of solid rock 146 feet square. This was done, though at fearful risk to life and at great cost of time, money and strength.
Our lesson suggests courses of the foundation upon which we may safely build the loftiest of all structures, an immortal life. These courses are: Foundation of Clear Understanding (v 39); Foundation of Christ's Example (v 40); Foundation of Humility (vs 41, 42; Matt. 7:1-5); Foundation of Sincerity (vs 43-45; Matt. 7:15-20); Foundation of Obedience (v 46; Matt. 7:21- 23; James 1:22-27); Enduring Foundation (vs 47-49; Matt. 7:24-29)
Scripture Reading: Luke 6:39 (also read Matt. 15:14)
1. Foundation of Clear Understanding
What is a parable? – A parable is a story from ordinary life, picturing moral or spiritual truth. An allegory is a story in which qualities are personified. A proverb, if it implies an illustration at all, condenses it into a single sentence. Luke ends the Sermon on the Mount with four comparisons of a parabolic nature – blind leaders of the blind, the mote and beam, good and bad fruit, and the two houses; the first three are greatly condensed parables, and the last is more extended.
Upon what common experiences did Christ base His parable of the blind leading the blind? – The blind are very numerous in the East. It is no uncommon sight to see them groping their way along, even occasionally trying to guide each other. The result of such guiding was likely to be that they would ...
v 39 ... "both fall into the ditch" (R.V. 'a pit'), no doubt referring to one of the unfenced wells or quarries that abound in Palestine.
What is the meaning of this parable? – In Matthew it is applied to those blind leaders, the Pharisees – bigoted teachers leading ignorant disciples into the ditch of error and absurdity, ultimately leading to destruction. In Luke it is applied to the disciple of Christ. He is to be a leader like his Master, but he cannot lead safely unless he can see the way. A clear understanding is a foundation of Christian character and efficiency. No one can be a useful Christian if he has a blurred vision of Christ and of Christ's will for him. That spiritual vision comes only from personal Bible reading and study, illuminated by prayer and meditation.
Illustration: Coming home from kindergarten, a little girl said, "Mamma, do I know as much now as I don't know?" The farther that little girl went in knowledge, the more she found that she didn't know.
Illustration: "Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much! Wisdom is humble that he knows no more" (William Cowper, 1731-1800). Cowper spoke truth, yet we can all know the greatest things, i.e., God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, heaven, and duty.
Illustration: "He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool; avoid him. He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is simple; teach him. He who knows, and knows that he knows, is a wise man; follow him" (Arabian Proverb).
Some of us desire to lead others to the same friendship with the Lord we ourselves have found; but our blundering incompetence of life, our slowness of speech, our lack of tact, our sins of omission and commission, stand ever in our way. Comfort is ours in recollecting that a wisdom beyond our own can be ours, and that when we honestly seek her we shall find her sitting at our gates.
Scripture Reading: Luke 6:40 (also read Matt. 10:24)
2. Foundation of Christ's Example
v 40 ... "shall be as his master." If we are disciples of Christ, what must be our great life- foundation? His example. We set before us the hope and glad expectation that when we are perfected (v 40, R.V.) 'we shall be as our master.' We can wish nothing better for ourselves than Christ's character, Christ's possessions, Christ's power, Christ's glory, and Christ's destiny. And only as we become like our great example can those whom we are seeking to lead, our disciples, safely follow our example. This saying is both an incentive and a warning.
How can we lay this foundation? – Only by studying the life of Christ so thoroughly that it has become a part of our minds. Then we shall know instinctively just what our great Example would do at any time if He were in our place. This is (or should be) the chief purpose of Bible school.
What is the result of following Christ's example? – We become like Him more and more each day; and all around us, seeing Christ's likeness in us, will also become more like Him.
Illustration: Plutarch says that Caesar's soldiers, though under other commanders they did not excel other soldiers in valor, yet under the great general they were so inspired by his courage as to become irresistible. It is thus with the faithful soldiers of Christ.
Illustration: "The mother crab said to the daughter, 'Go forward, my daughter, go forward!' The daughter replied, 'Good mother, do you show me the way!' Whereupon the mother crawling backward and sidling as she was wont, the daughter cried out, 'Lo, mother, I go just as you do!'" (Griffith).
Scripture Reading: Luke 6:41, 42 (also read Matt. 7:1-5)
3. Foundation of Humility
What did Christ mean by the mote and the beam? – The word 'mote' suggests dust. The figure is that of a minute chip or splinter of the same material with the beam, representing a little fault, while the beam, i.e., a log, joist, or rafter, is a graphic and almost droll representation of a comparatively great fault.
How can one with a beam in his eye see a mote in another's eye? – This, which is absurd in the natural realm, is absolutely true in the spiritual realm. Our evil tempers and passions make us quick to detect the like passions and tempers in others – so quick, indeed, that we sometimes see them when they are not even there. Thus a quarrelsome man is always finding others quarrelsome. But this is seeing with the intellect and not with the heart, and cannot be relied upon. It is not from lack of intellect that the rum-seller pleads for his nefarious traffic as right. An intellect with a bias in it is an eye with a beam in it, and, however strong, cannot be trusted.
What is the fundamental difficulty of the man with the beam? – A lack of humility and love. The tendency to judge others constitutes in itself an obstacle in the eye which may be compared to a large fragment of wood, a beam; and this obstacle renders it impossible for us to remove the fine and filmy mote from a brother's eye. The mere wish to judge another is an immediate proof of our incapacity.
Why is humility a foundation virtue? – The very word, from the Latin ‘humus’, ground, implies that humility is the soil from which all other virtues spring. The first quality of a student is teachableness; no one can be taught who thinks he 'knows it all.' Humility sees one's self as one really is. The more we examine ourselves, the more we discover the infirmities of our own character. Self-knowledge is of fundamental importance to our spiritual life in Christ. A thousand of your neighbors greatest faults are of less consequence to you spiritually than one of the smallest in yourself. Have you pardoned absurdities in yourself which you have not (or will not) pardon in others? We all desperately need to cast out the beams of impenitence; pride; self- will; and love of this world. Above all, we need to cast out the two grandest of beams, i.e., carelessness and indifference. Then, and only then, can we learn how to correct our brother.
Scripture Reading: Luke 6:43-45 (also read Matt. 7:15-20)
4. Foundation of Sincerity
What in nature may have suggested Christ's statement that men do not gather figs from thorns or grapes from bramble bushes? – "This imagery is taken from what is a common sight in Palestine; behind rough hedges of thorn and of the prickly pear fig-trees are often seen completely covered with the twining tendrils of vine branches" (Pulpit Commentary). Thorns may produce a little black berry, which, in the early spring, resembles the black grape; thistles of a certain description will have a blossom not altogether unlike the fig-tree.
What is the teaching of this condensed parable? – That sincerity, absolute truthfulness, is an essential foundation for a successful life. Hypocrisy is always disclosed sooner or later. Just as in nature all things produce fruit after their kind, so the heart produces fruit in life after its kind. Even in the matter of speech, which would seem to be so easily made hypocritical, the bad heart will finally in some way show itself. You cannot hide what you are. You need not try.
Illustration: A farm boy's father had been having trouble with his young son obedience. He told him to sow barley in a certain field, but the boy sowed oats instead. When the oats came up, the father, with switch in hand, took him behind the wood shed and asked his son why he had disobeyed him. The young boy answered, "I sowed oats in the hope that barley would come up." "What silly idea is this?" asked his dad. "Haven't you ever heard of it?" the boy replied. "Why you are constantly sowing in town the seeds of lying and cheating, and yet go to church every Sunday expecting to reap fruits of virtue in the resurrection day. So I thought I might get barley by sowing oats." The father was abashed at the reply, and let his son go.
Are you sowing lies? Then you will reap lies. Are you sowing gossip? Then you will reap gossip. Are you sowing to the winds of evil? Then you will reap a whirlwind. In the early struggle of Christianity against Rome, the thirty legions, the white-robed senators, the ivory scepter, and the curule chair, are all gone, defeated by the cross, the vilest symbol of slave torture. The greatest of earthly empires with all her power and dominion, eventually vanished, but the gospel is still preached by unlettered peasants, a race which Rome, in her glory, most despised. Why did this happen? Because a tree is known by its fruits, and every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. The fruits of Rome had been selfishness, cruelty, and corruption; the fruits of Christianity were love, joy, peace, long-suffering, temperance, goodness, faith, meekness, and charity. The constant flood of foul, idle, and malicious talk drowning the world from movies, television, books, and gushing from the minds of people, one is appalled. What a seething fountain of inky black water. Only through Jesus Christ can we ever hope to become clean. Praise His Holy name.
How can we lay this foundation of sincerity? – Beware of the false in everything; encourage the instinct and spirit of truth. Be as true as fire, a perpetual disinfectant, a test that can never be deceived. Have in you, dwelling in the temple of your heart, the spirit of truth: then you will shudder when the false man is within a mile of you, as the wind in some parts of the sea has a sudden chill in it because of the far-off icebergs. Beware of the false in everything, i.e., false prophets, false directions, false appearances.
Scripture Reading: Luke 6:46 (also read Matt. 7:21-23; James 1:22-27)
5. Foundation of Obedience
Whom did Christ next address? – Not the true disciples, but those that were disciples outwardly, calling Jesus, Master and Lord, but did not obey Him.
What was to be the fate of all such? – The fuller report in Matthew gives us the answer: they were to be outcasts from the kingdom of heaven; and in the Day of Judgment, Christ will say to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me."
What is the place of obedience to Christ in the Christian life? – All true religion consists in obedience. And therefore, however much you may approve of Christianity, you have no religion unless you obey it. The highest human duty consists in an intelligent obedience to God's holy will. Intelligent obedience. Blind obedience worships God with only a part of our nature; an intelligent obedience offers God our whole being.
Illustration: The pagan sacrificed his milk-white heifer, and went forth justified before his god. The Mohammedan bathes in the stream, and turns nine times toward holy Mecca, and is cleansed from all his iniquities. The meek and patient Hindu eats not of that which has life, and blesses his beloved Ganges, and these things are counted unto him for righteousness. But the Christian must offer up to God some heart that he has lightened; some sick he has prayer for; and he must come to the altar surrounded by fatherless children and widows.
Illustration: When you read and study your Bible, do you seize hold of it, taking it into your heart; practicing it, making it a part of your life? Or do you receive it into your mind, approve it, and never practice it? Are you really listening to God's message to you through His Holy Word? Our religion is not true unless the statesman taking it to Congress, the merchant taking it into business, the man or woman carrying it with them wherever they go in all their ordinary occupations and amusements, do indeed find in it the power of purity and strength.
What will be the result of our obedience or disobedience? – Acceptance or rejection by Christ in the great judgment day. There will be nothing arbitrary in this judgment, but it will merely record what we have ourselves written in our characters.
Dr. Harrison pictured the scene when Christ will simply remove the restrictions and restraints that have concealed our real natures in this world, "and each soul, without one word of condemnation or approval, seeks its own place: one, by an inner power, to the right hand; another, by a like power, to the left; these up to heaven, and these down to hell." By our disobedience or obedience, day by day, we are preparing for ourselves this eternal destiny.
Scripture Reading: Luke 6:47-49 (also read Matt. 7:24-29)
6. Enduring Foundation
What picture of good building did Christ draw from common life? – That of a house built upon the solid rock. The mode of building in Christ's own town of Nazareth even today suggests the possible source of this image. Visiting in that part of the world, Dr. James E. Priest wrote, "I was entertained at the house of a Greek Arab. The house had just been built. In order to lay the foundation they had dug down to solid rock, as is usual throughout the country here, to the depth of thirty feet and from there built up arches." It is in this way that some of the great buildings in Chicago are supported, concrete pillars carrying the firmness of the deep-laid rock up sometimes more than a hundred feet through the treacherous soil.
What picture of bad building did Christ contrast with this, drawing His illustration from common experience? – A house built upon the sand, in one of the wadies or brook-ravines so often found in Palestine and the neighboring countries. In dry weather they are either quite dry or supplied with only a trickling stream. But when the heavy rains come, not only does a deep river tear down the wady, but, as the Arabs of Sinai say, 'It is not a river, it is the sea.' Nothing can stand against these floods. Trees are uprooted, huge rocks carried along, and the luckless party of travelers is swept utterly away. The sand can be made quicksand by the force of water; and that which is a passable road in the dry season could easily swallow up a horseman in the wet season. In crossing the sandy mouth of a stream by the seashore in those countries, the traveler should always look out for quicksand. Sometimes, too, the dry approach of wind and sand can swallow up a house.
What did Christ symbolize by these contrasted pictures? – He made the tremendous claim; the only solid foundation for life is Jesus and His Words. Peter's confession of Him made Peter a rock-man. Upon that confession Christ built His church. Jesus is the Rock of Ages, upon which everyone must by an inevitable dilemma either build or split. "Other foundation can no man lay." They are all sand: the foundations of pride, false professions, hypocrisy, conceit, self-deception, human learning, fame, and power – all will be swept away by the severe experiences and tests of life; but as an elderly Christian lady said, "The foundation of God standeth sure."
What lessons are there for us in this meaningful parable? – Dr. William Harrison once unfolded them: "A common temptation is to neglect foundation-work in religion, and run up the building quickly. This plan for the present saves a great deal of trouble; but if you build quickly because you build without a foundation, your time and toil are thrown away. The absence of a foundation will not be known at once. Houses without foundations may stand for years. Death alone will discover some impostures. O ye builders, care not merely for the present, but build for death, and judgment, and eternity! You cannot do a right thing too well. Dig deep if you do dig a foundation. If it be repentance, let it be an intensely earnest repentance. If it be faith that you talk of, believe right up to the hilt. Be downright in everything. When a man digs a deep foundation he has much earth to throw out; so he that builds for eternity has a great deal to get ride of. Self- trust, love of sin, worldliness, pride, self-seeking, all sorts of iniquity must be cast aside. The man that builds securely builds on Scripture. What God has said is a rock: what man teaches is shifting sand. Bind your building to the rock. The house must take a grip of the rock, and the rock must grasp the house. It is of no use saying, 'Yes, I confide in Christ, in grace, in revelation,' unless your very life enters into these things, and they enter into you. The wise builder had the most costly part of his house buried in the ground; but the other man showed all that he had above ground. Beware of a religion of show. Bad work in the foundation influences all the rest of the courses. When you get into the habit of slovenly work in secret the tendency is to be slovenly in public, too. By the stream the very debris of the ruined house was swept away; nothing was left. If you fail in business you may start again in trade and perhaps realize a fortune; but if you lose your soul the loss is irretrievable. Once lost, lost forever."
Illustration: From time to time, areas of a little Pennsylvania coal town have sunk into the ground. Built over out-worked coal mines, the upper surface was supported by pillars and stays in the mine, and those at length gave way. It is always dangerous to build on a hollow foundation – not only dangerous thus to build houses, but just as perilous to build lives and characters.
Illustration: Dr. Harrison once said in a sermon, "We want more Christians like the Irishman who, when asked if he trembled during a certain bad storm while standing out upon a rocky eminence, said, 'Yes, my legs trembled, but the rock didn't, and because my feet were on the rock I felt safe.'"
