Undivided Allegiances (Luke 16:14-18)
When Jesus we can’t serve both God and money, the religious leaders of His day (as in ours) were particularly struck. They loved money and the power of their position. Probably more than Hod Himself, if they were being honest. So, the poo-pooed Jesus’s teaching. When Jesus heard them, He rebuked them. Not only were they elevating something above God, which is the essence of idolatry. They were elevating themselves above God. This is the idolatry of Adam and Eve. This is the cult of self, where we declare ourselves to be lord and god of our own lives.
Jesus goes on to clarify. The Law was given as revelation by God, but not as the solution to our sin and idolatry problem. It exposed our problem and provided a promise of a solution. We can’t hope to fulfill the law and save ourselves. Up until John the Baptist, the Law was in effect. With the coming of Jesus, a new covenant is being established. We relate to God, not on our own merit, but on Christ’s. This does not negate the Law. Jesus fulfilled it. However, those who accept the urgent invitation into the Kingdom of God must allow themselves to be changed. Rather than slaves to sin and the desires of our untrustworthy hearts, we now a subject to the law of heaven written on our hearts being transformed.
The Law does not pass away. It is fulfilled and incarnated in us through Jesus.
As an example of how this works, Jesus proposes a new level of obedience. Not to the letter of the law, but to the transformation of our hearts. The law provided for a means of divorce. Jesus says that the new covenant does not. In the same way, we see examples of saying that the new covenant is not just concerned with murder, but with hate. It does not forbid adultery, but lust. Not in a “jump through the hoops” sense, but in a “transformed passions” sense.
Jesus goes on to clarify. The Law was given as revelation by God, but not as the solution to our sin and idolatry problem. It exposed our problem and provided a promise of a solution. We can’t hope to fulfill the law and save ourselves. Up until John the Baptist, the Law was in effect. With the coming of Jesus, a new covenant is being established. We relate to God, not on our own merit, but on Christ’s. This does not negate the Law. Jesus fulfilled it. However, those who accept the urgent invitation into the Kingdom of God must allow themselves to be changed. Rather than slaves to sin and the desires of our untrustworthy hearts, we now a subject to the law of heaven written on our hearts being transformed.
The Law does not pass away. It is fulfilled and incarnated in us through Jesus.
As an example of how this works, Jesus proposes a new level of obedience. Not to the letter of the law, but to the transformation of our hearts. The law provided for a means of divorce. Jesus says that the new covenant does not. In the same way, we see examples of saying that the new covenant is not just concerned with murder, but with hate. It does not forbid adultery, but lust. Not in a “jump through the hoops” sense, but in a “transformed passions” sense.
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