The Unsearchable Riches of Christ Cannot Be Found in the Religious Constructs of This Day - Part 930

"Ye are they which justify themselves before men, but God knows your hearts, for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God ... the Law and the prophets were until John; since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." (Luke 16:15-16)

Jesus is speaking here to the Pharisees "who were covetous." When they heard all these things that Jesus had to say in His sermon, "they derided Him." (Luke 16:14) Note that this is not an isolated incident. Jesus makes similar observations about the scribes and the Pharisees that "sit in Moses' seat" in Matthew 23.

In this latter scripture, Jesus states that whatsoever these scribes and Pharisees bid us "observe and do but do not ye after their works -- for they say, and do not." (Matthew 23:1-3) This is similar to the cliche used today. That is, "do as I say and not as I do."

Why? Because these Pharisees "bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders [while] they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers ... but ALL their works they do for to be seen of men; they make broad their phylacteries and enlarge the borders of their garments ... and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, "Rabbi, Rabbi" but be not ye called Rabbi, for one is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren. But He that is greatest among you shall be your servant. " (Matthew 23:1-11)

Then Jesus said in the same chapter, "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in ... woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widow's houses, and for a pretence make long prayer; therefore, ye shall receive the greater damnation." (Matthew 23:13-14; Mark 12:40)

In other words, Jesus did not mince words against a religious culture that seeks to devour those who love Him. Rather, Jesus' desire was that each and every one of us would know (from personal experience) that we are called unto a holy calling -- "not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." (II Timothy 1:7-10)

Moreover, Paul encouraged us to read the Word so that we might understand the knowledge in the mystery of Christ "which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit ... that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel." (Ephesians 3:1-7)

This is the message in Luke 16 -- that as believers in Jesus by faith, we don't settle for the crumbs that consist within the constructs and systems of this world. We don't settle for a religious culture that falls short of worshipping our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ with all our hearts, soul, mind and strength. And that we don't return to the bondage of our forefathers and the Law that attempts to make us beholden to the things of this earth.

Paul wrote: "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ ... and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ; to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him." (Ephesians 3:8-12)

The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ so that we might be justified by faith but after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster -- for ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:24-29)

Therefore, no halfheartedness when it comes to preaching the gospel. No settling for what is acceptable in the eyes of man. Why? Because Jesus -- the same Lord God who created us in the beginning -- willingly paid our debt in full when He shed His precious blood on the cross.

Let him who has ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.