Monday, July 24, 2006
MORALITY
Vv 43-45. "Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and does not find it. 44. "Then it says, `I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45. "Then it goes, and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation."
Jesus refusal to show the religious their demanded sign has failed the trap that was intended to destroy Him once and for all as the scribes and Pharisees had planned. What happened actually happened was that their plans backfired and they have been twice rebuked. Jesus, however, is not through with them yet. He will once again point out the fact that they are and evil generation.
The scribes and Pharisees were the height of morality, but morality is mere outward righteousness that Jesus plainly taught was worthless in the Sermon on the Mount. MacArthur correctly states, “Christians cannot but be concerned about moral and ethical issues, because God’s Word is unequivocal and unmatched in its standards of righteous living, justice, and social responsibility. But Scripture also makes clear that morality by itself, with out a right relationship with God, is in many ways more dangerous that immorality.” Morality leads to self-righteousness, which is fatal to one’s eternity. One who does not recognize himself as a sinner will see no need of the Savior who personally said, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32) This is why He spent time with those who the moralists would hold in contempt.
Jesus refusal to show the religious their demanded sign has failed the trap that was intended to destroy Him once and for all as the scribes and Pharisees had planned. What happened actually happened was that their plans backfired and they have been twice rebuked. Jesus, however, is not through with them yet. He will once again point out the fact that they are and evil generation.
The scribes and Pharisees were the height of morality, but morality is mere outward righteousness that Jesus plainly taught was worthless in the Sermon on the Mount. MacArthur correctly states, “Christians cannot but be concerned about moral and ethical issues, because God’s Word is unequivocal and unmatched in its standards of righteous living, justice, and social responsibility. But Scripture also makes clear that morality by itself, with out a right relationship with God, is in many ways more dangerous that immorality.” Morality leads to self-righteousness, which is fatal to one’s eternity. One who does not recognize himself as a sinner will see no need of the Savior who personally said, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32) This is why He spent time with those who the moralists would hold in contempt.
# posted by Castusfumus : 6:23 PM
