LUKE
Don’g Play the Game
© 2006 Eric Bain
NOTE: This sermon is available in audio format @ www.sanctuary-church.com
BI - Don’t play the Game of Death!
Good morning… For those of you that may not know, my name is Eric and I am the pastor here at Sanctuary.
I don’t know if you heard this news story about Howard (Hawthorne)… in Oklahoma…
• Howard – described by friends as… an easy to get along with - appliance repair man
• Had been having an argument with his neighbor over his fence
• Apparently, his neighbor believed that when Howard put in the fence he had somehow blocked off about 10 feet of the neighbor’s property.
• Well, just last month (Nov 10, 2006) Howard called the police, because he’d had enough – so apparently, at least in his own mind – he genuinely believed he was in the right.
• Nonetheless, the police told him this was a matter for civil court… Howard seemed calm… everybody seemed calm… so they left.
• An hour later, police were called back to the Hawthorne residence because in front of as many as six witnesses… Howard shot and killed…
o His neighbor
o His neighbor’s son
o His neighbor’s friend
• As police drove up, they watched as Howard then turned the gun on himself and fired.
All over a fence… and 10 feet!
Do you ever find yourself hearing of stories like that and think…
• What in the heck happened?
• How could those people be so foolish?
• Or, get this… Why didn’t somebody stop it!
o I mean, the argument was going on for years
o There were at least six witnesses to the shootings
o Why didn’t somebody… somewhere along the way… say, “Guys, this is dumb! It’s not worth fighting about!” But nobody did!
• How could these people be so foolish?
(pause)
The past few weeks, I’ve worked some very long days… I don’t tell you that to impress you – In fact, I’m ashamed sometimes of how much I work. Because as someone with workaholic tendencies, I will sometimes put my job over things that are far more important
• Nonetheless, knowing myself, I have given my wife full permission to sort of call me on this… to reel me in.
• And… she had… several times – over the past several weeks.
• In fact, I could tell that she was getting to the point where she was no longer reeling me in because she was being nice and friendly… but rather, she was getting sort of irritated. (I’m sure some of you can relate)
• Nonetheless… Last Tuesday was one of those days, in a string of days. I had gotten up and left the house by 6:30 and as I was returning home that night. And as I was driving, I found myself …
o Boy… I need to really love on my wife, tonight!
o I need to be extra careful
o Extra sensitive
o I need to turn on the listening ears and really tune into what’s going on
o I need to be there when I get home!
• So, when I get home, I notice that Cortnie was a little distant… a little irritated.
• But I’m aware… I’m in the know…. You see, when I got married I promised myself that I wouldn’t be one of those husbands! Those husbands that are just sort of un-aware and oblivious.
• So, I key in on the fact that she’s a little distant… a little irritated. And I give her a hug. And I start loving on her.
• And as I listen, I realize that she’s had a hard day… and there’s some stuff that she’s processing through… Some important stuff. She just wants me to listen to her … (you see, I’m pretty good huh?)
• So, I listen to her for a while… But then I make the classic man mistake… and I tell her how to fix her problems.
• Now, I don’t really need to tell you the rest of the story… because I believe you kind of already know it in your heart… plus, it went on for about 4 hours… but here’s how it ended. It ended with me, storming out of the room… only pausing long enough… to turn around to say, and I’m quoting myself here…
Well fine!... I don’t really care… if you get your hair… cut….
You say, well Eric, what does a hair cut have to do with things?
I don’t know! It’s just that we sort of got into this rhythm… this dance… this game really.
• I made my move…
• And then she made her move… (ect!)
Until, finally, I felt as if the only move I had left… was to storm out of the room… and yell something! But it had to be yelled as I exited the room because I didn’t want her to be able to respond… thus ensuring my victory!
(pause)
But really, all I did… was killed.
• I killed great intentions
• I killed a great evening
• And I would even suggest… that in a small way… I killed my wife!
(pause)
Open your Bibles to the book of Matthew, Chapter 26, v. 47… At this point, Jesus is in a garden praying and his disciples had been near by sleeping… Why are you sleeping at such an important hour! And then this happens…
MT 26:47 While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
Now, we know things have been bad between Jesus and the religious leaders for some time… It looks like they’re about to go from bad to worse!
48 Now (Judas) the betrayer had arranged a signal with the mob: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
MT 26:50 Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for."
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword… drew it out… and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
Oh... not good! Things have gone from bad to worse… And if you didn’t already know the story… If you didn’t know who Jesus was… what would you think was going to happen next?
Killing!
(pause)
You see, I have told you these three stories this morning to point out a pattern. Three stories…
1. Howard Hawthorne and his neighbors
2. Eric & Cortnie
3. Jesus & the religious leaders
I tell you these stories to point out a pattern…
• A pattern that seems to have existed since the earliest of times
• A pattern that is lived out and repeated over and over
• And none of us seem to be exempt
• You see, its that pattern in which somebody wrongs us… and we’re hurt… and we somehow believe that if we strike back it will make the situation better. So we retaliate. And when we retaliate, we often up the ante. It’s like a dance…. A game…
• With Howard Hawthorne, it started with a disagreement over a fence and it ended in death!
• With Cortnie and I, it started with a desire to love and understand… and it ended in death.
• With Jesus, it started with Christ, the Messiah coming… and its heading for death!
Do you see the pattern? Have you ever played that game?
But look back at the text… verse 51…
MT 26:51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword… drew it out… and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
MT 26:52 But Jesus said, "Put your sword back in its place!
You see, Jesus is different! I’ve said before, he changes things… In this case, he changes the pattern! This pattern that exists and is so deeply rooted in who we are.
He continues and says…
53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
In other words… Jesus has the ability to say something that I have always wanted to say….
Why’d you bring a knife… to a gun fight?
Only with Jesus… It’s so much more… it’s like why did you bring swords and clubs… (Act out)
• Like Superman only better…
• And then the heavenly host shows up
• Or he could make it rain down burning sulfur
You see, Jesus could play that game… and play it so much better than anybody! But note… Jesus doesn’t play that Game!
(pause)
Oh, there’s a pattern. The pattern is that…
• If you hate me… I’ll hate you even more!
• If you curse me… I’ll curse you all the more!
• If you strike me… I’ll strike you all the more!
You see, it’s a game we play. And while we’re playing it, we get so wrapped up in the game, that we don’t recognize that what we’re doing is killing each other!
But Jesus doesn’t play that game! That game leads to death. But Jesus came to bring life… In fact, Jesus says that he not only came to bring life… but life to it’s fullest!
So today we’re going to think about what it means to you and me.
-- PRAY --
Turn to the book of Luke, Chapter 6, verse 27… We’ve been working our way through the book of Luke here at Sanctuary. And we are now at a point where Jesus gives a sermon.
You may remember that this is the second sermon that Jesus gives in the book of Luke…
• The first was given in his home town of Nazareth to people that never became his followers.
• Do you remember what the Big Idea of that message was?
o Jesus has a plan…
o He’s going somewhere…
o So either Get on the Bus… or Get Left Behind
But that was his first sermon, this is his second. And this one is especially important (from our perspective) because it’s the first teaching that Jesus does that’s specifically addressed to those people that are already on the bus… Hopefully people like you and me.
Jesus starts… Luke, Chapter 6, verse 27…
LK 6:27 "But I tell you who hear me (us that are on the bus): Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Alright, I want us to realize… right up front… what Jesus is doing here. You see, Jesus isn’t just giving some suggestions, here. But rather, he’s giving his followers some very specific commands. In fact, he gives four very specific commands and then follows them up with some illustrations.
The Four Commands are these… (You may want to write them down)
1. Love your enemies
2. Do good to those who hate you (your enemies)
3. Bless those who curse you (your enemies)
4. Pray for those who mistreat you (your enemies)
So, who are we talking about here? Our enemies! People that hate us… or curse us… or mistreat us!
That being the case, wouldn’t you say that people can be our enemies for a life time… But isn’t it also true that people can be our enemies for short periods of time? For instance, a spouse is not generally someone you think of as your enemy (at least I hope not!)… but isn’t it true that at times they can mistreat us… or they can hate us… and, they may even curse us! (Although, I hate to think of that, because it carries with it this connotation of death! I.e. wishing you were dead… Not a good thing for a marriage!)
Note: These commands are not based on feeling… but on action!
• Jesus doesn’t say, If you feel like loving your enemy… you never would!
• Do Good – Hate
• Bless – Curse
• Pray – Mistreat
Nonetheless, another thing I want you to notice about these four commands… is that through them, we see that our enemy is doing something…
• They’re engaging us!
• They’re hurting us!
• Causing us pain…
• Whether it be emotionally or physically...
• They’re upping the ante…
In other words… they are playing the game! But Jesus doesn’t play that game… And he commands us not to play it either!
So again… this enemy could be somebody that has been a lifelong enemy… or it could also be someone as close as a family member, or a spouse, but nonetheless, they’re engaging us… and they’re hurting us… but Jesus commands… (Not based on feelings) If you’re one of his followers, you don’t play the game!
(pause)
Hmmmmm… Now just in case we’re not tracking here. Jesus gives us some illustrations:
• First, he says…
29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.
Now I got to tell you… It’s highly likely that Jesus isn’t referring to a physical punch in the face, like we might think. Rather, he’s referring to a backhanded strike across the face… which in that day and age, would have been considered highly insulting. And it would have insinuated that you were inferior to the person that did it.
So, when Jesus says… If someone strikes you on one cheek… what he’s getting at, is if someone insults you… or thinks they’re better than you… Then, let them live with they’re illusion… and don’t respond to their insults. (pause) In other words… don’t play their game!
Then he says…
• If someone takes your jacket… Don’t play their game… give them your sweater!
• If you enemy asks you for something that they want or need… Don’t play their game… give it to them!
• If your enemy takes something… you might ask for it back… but don’t engage in the game and demand it back.
Finally, he closes by saying…
Simply do to your enemy, what you wish they would do to you.
I wish my enemy would stop being my enemy!
• Stop hurting me
• Stop hating me
• Stop cursing me
(pause)
• Love your Enemy
• Do good to them
• Bless them
• Pray for them
But Jesus! They’re my enemy!!!!
• They hate me!
• They hurt me!
• Why would I be so nice to them?
Again, it’s funny how Jesus anticipates our response. He continues… v. 32…
LK 6:32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even `sinners’ love those who love them.
“Sinners” = people that aren’t on the bus
33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even `sinners’ do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even `sinners’ lend to `sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies… do good to them… and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
A couple of great things here…
First of all, Jesus says… Big deal! Big deal if you don’t play the game with people that don’t want to play the game with you. What credit is that to you! Anybody can do that!
But what I’m saying… is don’t play the game… with people that want to engage you in it! That’s a BIG DEAL!
Then your reward will be great!
What is that reward??? Is it eternal? Are we talking about mansions in heaven? (Go back to underlined text)
• You will be… sons of the Most High – Who is the Son of the Most High? Who is the Son of God? Jesus is! In other words, if you don’t play the game… then you will be like Jesus! And what does Jesus do? He brings life that conquers death.
You see, your reward will be life! Life where there would otherwise be death. That’s what sons of the Most High do… they bring life to where there was once death… (Just like Christ)… because they’re…
kind to the ungrateful and wicked
And they’re merciful… when people don’t deserve mercy!
You see, by following Jesus, we have the opportunity to stop the pattern… to bring life… Don’t believe it, just try it once…
ILL – The next time you’re met at the door with…
Take off your shoes! I’ve asked you a hundred times before! They’re dirty… and they stink!
Say… You know, you’re right. And I’m sorry I haven’t listened.
ILL – The next time your neighbor comes over and says…
Hey, stupid! You put your fence on my property!
Say… I’m sorry. I thought that was my property. But if I made a mistake, I’ll surely make it right.
Jesus Commands his followers to…
1. Love our enemies
2. Do good to those who hate us
3. Bless those who curse us
4. Pray for those who mistreat us
It’s pretty simple, really. Don’t play the Game! And I’d love to think that I’ve been clear enough. But the truth is… I’m not sure that I’ve really done enough to beat the importance of this… into your heads. Here’s why… Jesus isn’t done with his sermon!
Look back at your Bibles… v. 37…
LK 6:37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Now, I’ll tell you…
• I’ve heard people say (based on this text) that if Christians are judgmental, then they’re not going to get to go to heaven.
• And I’ve heard pastors use this text to guilt people into putting more money in the offering plate.
But both of these are incorrect understandings of what Jesus is saying here. Cause what he’s saying is…
• If you do what he says
• And you don’t play the game
• You’ll break the pattern that leads to death!
In other words, he’s reiterating that this is really, really important! That’s why they’re commands…
1. Love our enemies
2. Do good to those who hate us
3. Bless those who curse us
4. Pray for those who mistreat us
But Jesus is still not done yet, cause then he tells them this parable… v. 39…
LK 6:39 …"Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
Can 2 people that engage in the game stop? No, generally they can’t! The game consumes them. And where do they end up? The pit! Death! But as Christians, we can be like our teacher… we can be like Christ… and we can break the pattern! Brining death to life!
It’s just that important!
But Jesus isn’t done yet. He continues…
LK 6:41 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, `Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
In other words, when someone engages you… don’t immediately fire back… but rather, first consider the validity in what they are saying. And then do something about it!
• How many lives would be saved? ILL
• How many friendships would be preserved? ILL
• How many marriages would be saved? ILL
• How many wars would be stopped? ILL
Moving on, Jesus says this…
LK 6:43 "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. / People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. / 45 The good person brings good things out of the good stored up in their heart, and the evil person brings evil things out of the evil stored up in their heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
• People will recognize us as Christians by our actions!
• People will come to us for love & mercy!
We’re Christians… we’re good… Don’t stoop to playing the game of death!
Again, you get the impression that Jesus thinks this is really, really important!
(pause)
And then he closes with this… And I think this is very telling of our situation in the world today…
LK 6:46 "Why do you call me, `Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
In other words… Jesus is saying… Why do you call me Lord… Why do you say you’re my follower… But then so often you don’t follow me on this most important of things?!!!!
(pause)
Guys… Those harsh words and actions are killing people… they’re leading to death…. And Jesus commands us to stop! When asked what was the most important Law in the OT system of laws Jesus responded with a two fold answer.
• Love the Lord your God (heart… soul… mind…)
• And then love your neighbor (and as we’ve seen this morning… sometimes our neighbor is our enemy)
Guys, I can’t stress enough how important Jesus believed this to be!
© 2006 Eric Bain
