Tag: luke

One of the Worst Sins, Part 3 – Luke 16:15

God sees and knows every human heart. Nothing is hidden from Him. Jesus speaks in this passage about the inner person—the heart—which God examines fully. As He exposed the hearts of the Pharisees, so He knows ours.

The idolatrous heart is detestable in the sight of God.
The heart is the center of thought, desire, and moral decision-making. It reflects who we truly are and how we respond to God. God’s knowledge of the heart goes beyond outward behavior to inner motives and intentions. We cannot conceal our hearts from Him.

What does God do with man’s heart?

  • He exposes what is within it.
  • He breaks the heart (mind and will) through suffering, frustration, circumstances, and failure.
  • He purifies and renews the heart through new life in Christ.

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

For believers, this truth is comforting. God knows our weaknesses and invites us to approach Him humbly for grace, comfort, and peace.
“A bruised reed he will not break…” (Isaiah 42:3).

Yet Scripture also teaches that evil flows from the human heart.
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts…” (Mark 7:21–23).

The Bible describes hearts that are hardened, divided, proud, or unbelieving. The greatest barrier to spiritual growth is not merely sin, but an unwilling heart. A spiritually dead heart requires God’s intervention and renewal.

Jeremiah 17:9 declares:
“The heart is deceitful above all things and extremely sick…”

Because the human heart is deceitful, people cannot fully understand themselves. Unbelief and hypocrisy grow from this self-deception. Only the Holy Spirit can convict, lead to repentance, and bring saving faith in Christ.

Modern culture encourages people to “follow your heart,” but Scripture warns that this leads to destruction. Apart from God, the heart cannot be healed. Only the light of the gospel reveals the true human condition.

Jesus, the true Light, exposes the heart and brings salvation to those who receive Him (John 1:9–12). He revealed the Pharisees’ idolatry—they loved money and power more than God.

“To be free of idols you must live with God…” (J. Douma).

The proud heart is detestable in the sight of God.
The Pharisees were not only idolaters but also proud. Pride places self on the throne rather than God. All sinners possess pride because God is not central in their lives.

Even believers can harbor subtle pride, often revealed through anxiety, discontentment, frustration, or a victim mentality. This mindset resists correction and avoids repentance. Pride is especially offensive to God because it is a vertical sin against Him and damages all relationships. Scripture records God’s severe judgment against the proud (Acts 12:22–23).

Believers must remain vigilant, for “a proud heart is Satan’s throne” (Charles Bridges). Pride separates people from God, as seen in Adam, Eve, and Moses. Pride relies on self and rejects God’s word.

Jesus Christ is the supreme example of humility.
“Have this way of thinking in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3, 5).

Pride is destroyed only through union with Christ. When the old self is crucified, Christ reigns in the heart. Humility marks those who truly abide in Him.

The Pharisees refused to die to self and were therefore an abomination to God. This warning remains true today. We must examine our lives for idolatry and pride and repent.

Let us ask whether idolatry or pride characterizes our daily lives. If so, may we repent and walk humbly before our Lord.

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One of the Worst Sins, Part 2 – Luke 16:14-15

We sin every day, but we usually only count the sins that are made in the sight of man. We must remember that sin is always committed in the sight of God. While all sin is sin, not all sin is equal. Scripture clearly distinguishes between sin in ignorance and intentional sin. God considers motivation, impact, and their heart of rebellion when evaluating sin. (John 19:11). In our text, we see some of the worst sins.

The Love of Money

Money is a tool, but when you love money, it is an abomination. The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil (1 Tim 6:10). When money is loved, it replaces love for God, leading to idolatry. The love of money motivates sinful behavior, creates spiritual blindness, and aligns our hearts with worldly values instead of Godly virtues. You cannot serve God and money together.

Unbelief

Unbelief is demonstrated by scoffing, turning up the nose, and holding Jesus in contempt. Even with Christ’s miracles, great teaching, and genuine character, those who practice unbelief refuse to believe. This refusal stems from a corrupted heart—morally ruined, spiritually diseased, and possessing a darkened mind. Unbelief is the suppression of the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18-19). Healing from this deep corruption requires God’s regeneration and new life, revealed through the Holy Spirit’s correction and rebuke.

Undenied Self

The third severe sin is the outcome of the undenied self. Self is the root of human problems; it is the source of pride, self-seeking, and rebellion, ruling our hearts and decisions apart from God. Inside, we are all born full of robbery and wickedness (Luke 11:39).

Self-justification is when a person defends their own actions and motives instead of acknowledging their mistakes. In a spiritual sense, this practice is extremely dangerous because it:

  • Prevents Repentance: It keeps us busy defending the self, leading to no confession of sin.
  • Hardens the Heart: It blinds us to spiritual reality, causing repeated sin without remorse.
  • Blocks Grace: Self-justification makes one proud and unable to receive the grace offered through Christ (Luke 23:39).
  • Opposes Christ: It is the ultimate rebellion, denying the cross and rejecting the grace of Jesus. Self-justification claims we do not need Christ, who alone is the antidote for sin (Galatians 2:21).

We must embrace being crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20). This is not physical death but the daily, spiritual mortification of the self. It means surrendering self-centered pride, letting Christ’s life govern our actions, and yielding to God’s will over self-control. We live by faith, trusting Jesus who died for us. A Christian should obey before understanding. That doesn’t mean we don’t understand but we obey even if we don’t understand.

Seeking Human Approval

This is another worst sin we practice often. Seeking human approval means valuing the praise, acceptance, and recognition of people more than what is God-honoring. The Pharisees were trapped in this sin, seeking to justify themselves “in the sight of man” (Luke 16:15). They seek popularity and attention (Matthew 23:5).

Seeking human approval is devastating because it:

  • Replaces God: It is a form of idolatry, replacing our loyalty to God with loyalty to people.
  • Produces Hypocrisy: It corrupts motives, turning worship into performance and sincerity into showmanship (Matthew 6:1-2, 5).
  • Suppresses Obedience: Fear of man’s disapproval leads to silence regarding the truth and the rejection of God’s will.

A key cause of people-pleasing is a lack of fear of God. When people look strong, and God seems weak, the fear of man becomes a snare.

Cure for Human Approval: We must find our identity in Christ. Your worth is rooted in being loved and adopted by Him. We must grow in the fear of God, knowing He judges perfectly, seeing the inside, while man only sees the outside. Make it your daily aim to please God, because pleasing people leads only to slavery. We are called to live for eternal evaluation.

Remember, we are all God’s kingdom priests. The work of salvation is finished by Jesus. There is no room for self. We are called to seek His kingdom and His righteousness, defeating these worst sins by choosing simply to trust and obey Him every day.

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One of the Worst Sins – Luke 16:14-15

In today’s passage, Jesus shifts His focus from the disciples to the Pharisees. The Pharisees, the religious leaders of Israel, appeared outwardly righteous but were inwardly marked by hypocrisy and lawlessness (Matt. 23:28). John MacArthur issues a sober warning about those who outwardly seem devoted to God but inwardly oppose Him: “It is a paradoxical truth that those who are the most dangerous enemies of God are not the ones who openly oppose Him, but rather those who outwardly appear the most devoted to Him… Apostate Judaism and false Christianity, along with all their deceiving teachers, are haters of divine truth and of God.” This is not only a warning about false religion but also a caution to Christians, who can fall into the same temptations—particularly the lure of wealth—which gives rise to hypocrisy. Jesus exposes two of the worst sins produced by false religion, both prominently displayed by the Pharisees.

The first great sin is the Pharisees’ love of money and love of self (v. 14; 2 Tim. 3:2). Jesus had just taught, “No servant can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and wealth” (v. 13). The Pharisees were “lovers of money.” False religion elevates the self to the place of God, and money becomes the means of glorifying the self before others. Since the fall, false religion has been unable to address the brokenness of the human heart. In contrast, true faith demands self-denial, crucifying the flesh, and following Christ (Matt. 16:23). The dividing line is faith.

The Pharisees boasted about their religiosity and wealth, believing that material prosperity proved God’s favor. Scripture teaches the opposite: true blessing comes from saving faith, which produces a transformed life and peace with God. Wealth has no connection to genuine divine blessing.

Loving money is among the gravest sins because it becomes an idol that competes with God for the heart. It often leads to moral corruption—greed, deceit, injustice—and hardens the soul against righteousness. Money itself is not sinful, but the love of it leads to spiritual blindness and lawlessness. Judas Iscariot is a vivid example: though he heard Jesus’ teaching daily for years, his love for money prevented true repentance and faith. Scripture warns soberly, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10).

What are some signs that we love money?
– When money, rather than God, determines our decisions.
– Anxiety or fear when finances are threatened; loss of peace when income fluctuates.
– Difficulty giving generously or sacrificially; resentment toward those who have more.
– Finding identity or pride in financial success.
– Compromising integrity for financial gain.
– Constant preoccupation with money, leaving little room for God.
– Treating people differently based on wealth.
– Neglecting spiritual growth because of busyness or worldly concerns.

When money displaces God in the heart, it becomes one of the greatest spiritual dangers, blocking God’s work within us. Warren Wiersbe writes, “They professed to trust God, but they measured life by wealth and possessions… Far too many professed Christians today are making the same mistake. With their lips they honor the Lord, but with their wealth they live like the world.”

Money is merely a tool—given to meet our needs and to advance God’s kingdom. Living this way acknowledges Christ’s kingship and keeps us under His rule rather than living apart from it. We must cultivate contentment: “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment… If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content” (1 Tim. 6:6–8).

A Christian’s life is also marked by serving God and storing up treasures in heaven. Our hope is fixed on our eternal home, and we should regularly reflect on it. A believer rejects sordid gain and trusts in God’s provision. Because we are not orphans, our confidence must rest fully in our Father. Guarding our hearts against the love of money is essential for living a simple, God-centered life.

The second great sin is unbelief, expressed in rejecting Jesus Christ. The Pharisees listened to Jesus—not to believe but to accuse and destroy. After hearing His teachings on money, they scoffed at Him. This is the nature of unbelief: sinners refuse to come to Christ for life (John 5:40).

The Pharisees rejected Jesus for several reasons:
– They despised Him because He was a Galilean.
– They viewed His teachings as foolish and impractical.
– They felt threatened because He challenged their authority and placed Scripture above their oral traditions.
– He exposed their secret love of money.

Even today, unbelief does not stem from a lack of evidence but from a moral refusal to submit to Christ. People reject Him because their hearts are self-reliant and attached to other loves. Every unbeliever treasures something above God. Christians, too, must guard against the drift toward unbelief. Many believers subtly resist Christ’s commands, thinking they are too radical or meant only for a select few. We often assume Jesus’ warnings apply to others but not to ourselves. The love of money and the desire for earthly comfort can make us defensive and spiritually dull. Are we living primarily for this present life rather than for our eternal home?

Hear the Lord’s rebuke:
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot… Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and pitiable and poor and blind and naked” (Rev. 3:15–17).

And His invitation:
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20).

Most people profess love for Jesus with their lips while their hearts cling to something else. In America, especially, the love of money often prevents Christ from being Lord over one’s life.

Unbelief is not mere ignorance; it is a deliberate rejection of Jesus Christ. We cannot place Him on the margins of our lives. He must dwell at the center. If He does not abide in our hearts, we must repent without delay. Tragically, so many Christians lose their spiritual effectiveness because of their idols. Let us stop pretending to love Christ, for He knows our hearts.

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You Can’t Serve God and Money – Luke 16:13

In the world of sports, many athletes excel, but only a few have played multiple sports at a high level—figures such as Bo Jackson or Deion Sanders come to mind. Even they, however, were not dominant in both sports equally. This illustrates an important truth: it is impossible to be great at two things simultaneously. Jesus uses this very point when He teaches that no one can serve two masters—specifically, God and wealth. A Christian cannot faithfully or equally serve both. One will always take precedence over the other. Some believers may think they can manage both loyalties, but history proves that every attempt has ended in failure.

When Jesus declares that “no servant” can serve two masters, He means that such divided service is utterly impossible. To serve is to reveal our treasure and where our heart truly rests (Matt. 6:21). Service expresses what we act upon, what directs our decisions, and ultimately what becomes our god or idol. The two masters Jesus describes have fundamentally different purposes and ways. Therefore, a loyal servant cannot faithfully serve both.

Jesus gives clear reasons why divided service cannot exist. First, service requires undivided devotion. There is no room for divided loyalty because wholehearted commitment is necessary for true obedience. God does not compromise on this. As Jesus explains, one will love one master and hate the other. God commands us to love Him with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind (Luke 10:27). He requires the same devotion when He tells the rich young ruler to sell all his possessions in order to follow Him (Luke 18:22). Jesus makes it clear that discipleship demands complete devotion—even to the point of hating one’s own life in comparison (Luke 14:26).

Serving wealth is an insult to the Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture distinguishes between loving money and serving it. Loving money reveals our interest in it; serving money means obeying it, shaping our lives around it, and allowing it to dictate our actions. Those who serve money may honor God with their lips but serve another master in their hearts. Their devotion is misplaced, revealing a rebellious spirit. Jesus warns us against attempting to serve both masters because, in practice, either God will be elevated in our lives or money will be. Wealth is meant to serve us—not to rule us—and it must be used for God’s glory.

At the beginning of verse 13, Jesus speaks vaguely of “no servant,” but by the end He addresses His disciples directly: “you cannot.” This is a command to obey God and avoid the sin of serving money. Ultimately, our loyalty must belong to God alone. To serve money is idolatry.

Even Christians may fall into idolatry when money becomes their highest priority. When this happens, money—not God—rules the heart. We must ask ourselves: is our first thought each morning to earn more money, or to glorify God? We must resist the lie that money can offer lasting security, comfort, or happiness. More often, it brings sorrow and destruction. When our emotions are driven by greed, fear, and covetousness, wealth has become an idol. John Calvin once wrote, “Where riches hold the dominion of the heart, God has lost His authority.”

Ten diagnostic questions reveal whether money has become our master:

  1. Does money influence your decisions more than prayer does?
  2. Do you feel more anxiety about finances than trust in God’s provision?
  3. Do you struggle to give generously because you feel you “can’t afford it”?
  4. Do you think about money more often than God?
  5. Do you avoid obeying God when obedience may affect your income or comfort?
  6. Do you find identity in what you earn or own?
  7. Do you envy others’ income, lifestyle, or possessions?
  8. Do unexpected expenses provoke fear or irritation?
  9. Do you neglect time with God because you are busy pursuing financial goals?
  10. Would losing money trouble you more than losing intimacy with God?

These questions serve as early warning signs of a heart drifting toward idolatry. As J.C. Ryle warns, “We may love money without having it, just as we may have money without loving it. It is an evil that works very deceitfully… Once let it get the mastery, and it will harden, palsy, sear, freeze, blight, and wither our souls. It overthrew an apostle of Christ; let us take heed that it does not overthrow us. One leak may sink a ship; one unmortified sin may ruin a soul.”

How can we avoid idolizing money?

  1. Recognize that money is a tool for God’s glory.
    The amount we earn is not what matters most. What matters is how we use what God has entrusted to us—whether little or much. Prayer reminds us of our dependence on God and His provision.
  2. Remember that God owns everything.
    We are stewards of His possessions, not owners. When we truly grasp this, we freely use our resources for His purposes.
  3. Cultivate contentment.
    Loving God over money produces genuine contentment. To place our contentment in wealth is spiritual death. Only when we surrender everything to God does He shape us into vessels useful for His work.
    Jerry Bridges describes discontentment as questioning the goodness of God. In contrast, the contented believer rests in God’s provision and grace, finding satisfaction that greed and envy never provide.
  4. Practice generous giving.
    Giving is an expression of true life. Generosity flows from understanding that all we have belongs to God and that we were created for good works (Eph. 2:10). God’s sufficient grace enables us to give cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7–8).
    As Charles Spurgeon said, “Giving is true having.”
    Biblical giving is self-sacrificial and unconcerned with the amount. True generosity gives—and forgets.

Whatever our financial circumstances, we must remember that Jesus is our Rescuer. In Him, we find rest, and in Him, our deepest hunger and thirst are satisfied. We must serve Christ as our only master. Although the temptation to serve money is real, we can resist because Christ has loved us and demonstrated His love through His life and death.

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Faithful Stewardship – Luke 16:10-12

Heaven is the place where believers will ultimately enter and be rewarded for their stewardship (2 Tim. 4:7–8). One of the most frequently overlooked commands is the call to be a faithful steward. Although salvation is guaranteed for the believer, heavenly reward can be minimal—or even lost. Our desire as Christians should be to enter heaven and receive the full reward of faithfulness. For that reason, Jesus emphasizes the essential quality of a faithful steward: character.

Character matters—especially regarding how we handle financial and spiritual responsibilities. Biblical character is Christlike character: living out God’s truth from the inside out. It is a life oriented toward God and righteousness. Jesus teaches that the character of stewardship is tested by God, particularly in relation to heavenly rewards.

In Luke 16:10, Jesus underscores faithfulness as a defining biblical characteristic. To be faithful is to be trustworthy. He states that “whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much.” This principle is widely understood as a universal maxim. But why does faithfulness in small matters matter so greatly? Because consistent faithfulness in the small things reveals a heart that can be trusted with greater responsibility.

In this context, the “very little” refers specifically to money. God uses our stewardship of money as a litmus test of our loyalty to Him. How, then, can we demonstrate faithfulness with our finances?

  • By being thoughtful and intentional
  • By maintaining a God-centered, not self-centered, mindset
  • By being eternally minded rather than earthly focused
  • By setting our thoughts on heavenly reward

Money may seem like a small matter in comparison with eternal spiritual truths, yet Jesus calls it “little” precisely to show that if we cannot be faithful with something so temporary, we cannot be trusted with “much,” meaning greater spiritual responsibilities. Joseph’s life illustrates this principle: after proving faithful in ordinary, humble tasks, God elevated him to a position of authority second only to Pharaoh.

The life of William Colgate—founder of the Colgate company—offers a modern example. Colgate, a Baptist and church deacon, gave faithfully when he earned little, and as his income grew, he continued to increase his giving. He did not view a percentage of his income as God’s portion and the remainder as his own. Rather, he recognized that everything he possessed belonged to God. His financial success did not change his faithfulness because he had been faithful with little.

In contrast, Jesus warns that “the one who is unrighteous in a very little is also unrighteous in much.” If believers cannot be trusted to use earthly, unrighteous wealth for God’s purposes, why would God entrust them with true riches (v. 11)? Money is considered “unrighteous” because it belongs to a fallen world and is often used for selfish gain. The world’s system is driven by greed, injustice, and the love of money, which fuels sin and destruction. Christians, too, can fall into unfaithfulness—as seen in the life of Lot (2 Pet. 2:8)—but such unfaithfulness must not remain. A believer may misuse money for a season, but faithful stewardship should be the direction of spiritual growth.

What, then, are the “true riches” Jesus refers to? These are eternal blessings—spiritual wealth and heavenly reward. John Gill describes them as works that “will follow [believers], and will be found to praise, and honor, and glory, and will be graciously rewarded by Christ at His appearing and kingdom.”

In verse 12, Jesus teaches that what we have—ultimately God’s possession—is entrusted to us to manage faithfully. This verse also implies that while our salvation is secure, our eternal rewards are not. Scripture warns believers not to lose what they have worked for:

  • “Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward” (2 John 1:8).
  • “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to his work” (Rev. 22:12).

What keeps Christians from caring about heavenly reward?

  • Ignoring or denying God’s ownership of all things
  • Unfaithfulness with resources
  • Love for the world
  • Misunderstanding stewardship as merely financial, rather than spiritual
  • Failing to see earthly money as a test of eternal faithfulness

Salvation is not the end of the Christian journey. Stewardship is a means of sanctification—evidence of a life being transformed into Christlikeness.

John MacArthur questioned it pointedly:

“Do you think God is going to reward you in eternity if you have frittered and wasted your opportunity, your stewardship? You can buy yourself endless junk and trinkets and creature comforts and earthly possessions… and when you come into the presence of the Lord do you expect Him to give you the true riches… that eternal reward that comes to those that are faithful?”

Jesus taught:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6:19–20).

The world seeks honor and applause for accomplishments, sacrifice, and success. But God calls His people to something different—to honor Him through faithful stewardship of His resources. A Christian of true character surrenders not only their heart but also their wallet to Christ. Giving may feel like loss, yet in the eyes of Christ, it is gain. Scripture tells us that giving is better than receiving because it aligns us with God’s heart of generosity and yields eternal reward.

May we, then, serve the Lord with faithfulness and live as wise stewards of all He has entrusted to us.

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Biblical Stewardship – Luke 16:9-13

We are looking again at the parable of the unrighteous steward, where Jesus is challenging His disciples to be much more shrewd and wise than their worldly counterparts in securing their eternal future. Worldly people are shrewd for earthly security, but we ought to be much more shrewd to gain eternal security. It matters because there is an afterlife. This life is much shorter than our next life. We know this because Jesus proved eternal life is real when He died and rose again. Our eternal future, portrayed as “eternal dwelling,” “true riches,” and “your own,” is real and will not be disappointing. Jesus emphasizes His message using the phrase “I say to you”, a phrase Jesus used to declare truth with full divine revelation and authority, similar to His “I am” statements. When Jesus uses this “I,” He declares Himself as God (Isaiah 46:9). Ultimately, Luke 16:13 mandates that you must serve Jesus, the true master, instead of money. As John Wesley observed, the last part of a person to be converted is his wallet. If you have not surrendered your wallet, you have not fully converted in your surrender to Jesus Christ.

Jesus is addressing the believer. A believer is both a disciple and a steward. Discipleship is following Jesus as Lord, which requires not just believing but obeying, and it changes who you are. Stewardship is managing what belongs to God — your time, money, body, and all the resources He has entrusted to you. While discipleship is internal, stewardship is external. Stewardship is the expression of your discipleship; the two go hand in hand. A mature disciple is a wise steward. The unrighteous steward in the parable was shrewd in securing his earthly future, but Christians must be even more shrewd and wise in eternal matters. This parable does not refer to being saved, as every Christian is saved, but about being a good steward to gain a future reward. If you are not shrewd, you might be saved but still miss out on future rewards.

How do we prepare for our eternal future, especially when dealing with money? Money, or “mammon: in Aramaic, refers to wealth, possessions, or anything we might put our trust in, meaning it easily becomes an idol. Jesus wants disciples to secure their eternal future by using their money wisely and faithfully. We are commanded to “make friends” using the “wealth of unrighteousness. Money is worldly and has caused much wickedness, making it the “wealth of unrighteousness”. This command does not mean buying friendship, but it means to evangelize, advance the kingdom of God, and make friends who will dwell with you in heaven one day. This involves using all our resources, whether it be time or money, helping unbelievers know Jesus and getting close to them. For example, taking an unbeliever out to lunch to build a relationship and share the gospel with them.

Remember, you are a steward, and it is God’s money, not yours. Use your money as a tool, not an end. We must invest in people, avoid unnecessary debt, keep an eternal view, and be charitable and generous. Spending money for the glory of God is not wasteful; it is heavenly investing. This investment is a channel to draw rewards from heaven, ensuring that when you “make your friends for yourselves,” it benefits you eternally. How wise, wonderful, and necessary it is to use what God has given us for His glory and our eternal reward. It is shameful and foolish to invest in earthly things like the world does. We have a greater promise, therefore, even more so, we must be diligent and shrewd stewards of what God has given us. 

Everyone is equal in salvation and will enter heaven, but not all are equal in reward, which is based on faithful stewardship. The Apostle Paul labored to gain a reward, not satisfied with salvation alone. The phrase “When it fails” (Luke 16:9) reminds us that one day, we will die, and all our money, accomplishments, and memories will vanish. Only our eternal investment will remain. The friends we make with our finances—those whom we have evangelized and rescued—are the “they” who will take us into eternal dwellings. Imagine those you helped reach glory before you, waiting to welcome you into heaven. What a joyful thought. If you are worried you have not made any friends yet, start today with just one sinner. Heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7). The Lord encourages us to diligently, sacrificially, and faithfully invest in others for Him, and we will be rich in heaven.

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Hope for the Religious – Luke 15:31-32

In today’s text, Jesus offers hope for the older son in the parable of the prodigal—representing those who are religious yet spiritually lost. Though outwardly moral and devoted, the religious often remain unsaved. They paint themselves with the colors of service and virtue, yet their hearts are marked by self-righteousness, hypocrisy, and a fixation on external traditions rather than inward transformation. Still, God extends hope even to them—the hope of escaping final judgment through his compassion, his promise of salvation by faith alone, and his joy over the lost who are found.

God’s Compassion for the Religious

God’s heart is tender, even toward the self-righteous. As long as there is life, redemption remains possible. In verse 31, the father calls the older son “son,” a translation of the Greek huios, which conveys deep affection, sympathy, and pity. This same word appears in Luke 16:25, where Abraham compassionately addresses the rich man. The repetition underscores God’s compassion toward those who seem furthest from grace. His mercy offers the religious another chance to repent and believe.

Christians, therefore, are called to share this same compassion by clearly presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ—the only source of true hope and salvation. Through the gospel, even those bound by legalism can experience freedom and forgiveness.

The Promise of Salvation Through Faith Alone

God’s promise of salvation rests entirely on faith in him. This promise holds both present and future dimensions: forgiveness now, and the hope of eternal glory to come. God’s promises are rooted in his unchanging nature and perfect faithfulness—when he speaks, he fulfills.

In the parable, the father reminds the older son that “all that I have is yours.” This represents the blessings of God’s covenant offered to Israel and, by extension, to all who believe. Yet many religious people fail to recognize these blessings. They strive for acceptance through performance, not realizing that God’s grace has already been extended. Their ingratitude blinds them to the fullness of God’s promise.

The Religious Misunderstanding of Salvation

The tragedy of religion without relationship is that it mistakes service for salvation. The elder son points to his years of labor and obedience as evidence of his worthiness, yet he remains estranged from his father. This mirrors the heart of the religious person who seeks to earn God’s favor through moral effort.

Such striving breeds self-righteousness, not forgiveness. Because they have not received grace, the religious cannot extend it to others. In verse 31, the father gently invites his son into personal relationship through faith—a call the religious often resist, preferring to labor in vain rather than rest in grace.

Faith and Inner Transformation

True faith is more than belief—it is the reception of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, resulting in an inward transformation by the Holy Spirit. Those who receive Christ walk daily with him in loving obedience, not out of duty but devotion. This promise of personal relationship is available to all, even the most hardened religious heart. Faith in the gospel is the only path to forgiveness and salvation—the only hope of true life.

God’s Joy in Redemption

God’s greatest glory is revealed in redemption. Jesus declares, “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7), and again, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10).

In every act of redemption, God’s justice, mercy, and love shine together in perfect harmony. Heaven rejoices because salvation magnifies God’s character. Christians, too, should rejoice, recognizing that every person’s greatest need is salvation through faith in Christ. Once enslaved by sin and separated from God, believers have been redeemed and set free by his power.

The elder son, however, could not comprehend this joy. Spiritually dead, he could not understand the miracle before him—that his brother, once lost, was now found; once dead, was now alive (v. 32).

God’s Relentless Pursuit of the Lost

God’s pursuit of sinners is relentless and rooted in eternal love. “But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Even when hearts grow cold and consciences harden, the Holy Spirit continues to stir and awaken the lost. Christ’s ongoing intercession before the Father reveals God’s active pursuit—he does not wait for sinners to come to him but initiates redemption himself.

God patiently calls for repentance, as Peter reminds us: “The Lord is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). His compassion precedes our turning, and his love endures even in our rebellion.

A Call to Examine Our Hearts

This passage invites believers to examine their own hearts. Do we still find joy in God and his word? When our delight in him fades, we risk becoming like the elder son—religious but distant, busy in service yet barren in love.

When serving becomes mere duty, knowledge turns cold, and worship loses its truth. True worship flows from a heart anchored in God’s word and shaped by faith, not emotion. To avoid falling into empty religiosity, we must daily fight to love Christ, walk by faith, and depend on prayer. Only then can our service be joyful, our worship sincere, and our relationship with God alive.

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The Religious Son, Part 2 – Luke 15:25-29

We’ve been talking about the dangers of being religious. The word “religion” itself is sacred and good (James 1:26), referring to godly and true faith characterized by humility and love for God and others. However, in most circumstances, when referring to the religious, it carries a negative tone, characterizing those who are religious externally but not internally. This external religion is wicked, artificial, and ultimately useless (James 1:26).

The worst nightmare is believing you are a true Christian based on outward religious deeds, only to wake up and find that Jesus does not know you (Matthew 15:8-9; Luke 13:27). The sign of the truly religious is childlike faith. We’ve been going over the signs of external religion by examining the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son.

Characteristics of the Religious

1. They Cannot Value the True Knowledge of Salvation

The religious fail to appreciate the value of salvation in themselves or in others. The elder son’s response to hearing his brother come back safe and sound was to become angry. Instead of being joyful, this son could not appreciate that his brother was rescued and saved.

When a sinner repents, it is the most joyful moment for believers (Luke 15:1-2). We must appreciate how wonderful salvation is. Our salvation is unlike anything else. By common grace, a man can be great, like Caesar or Alexander the Great, but he cannot be saved. Salvation is God’s special, particular gift. It is precious because it overcomes death, for Jesus is the author of life (Acts 3:15). It restores completely, not even leaving any scars behind. There is nothing as valuable and amazing as the salvation of the sinner by God’s grace. The religious fail to understand or experience that.

2. They Lack the Fear of God

The elder son did not fear his father. When the father came out and began pleading with him to join the celebration, the son refused. While the Bible often presents God’s actions descriptively, because God says it, it becomes prescriptive, a command that must be obeyed (Psalm 9:10 example). While the father was asking, because it was his father, it should have been taken as a command.

Instead of fearing and obeying, the religious rebuke and scold the Father, demanding recognition for their works. They think they have credit with God. They present their own merit as the basis of their boldness before God. Their obedience is superficial. When things go against their expectations, they turn their obedience into evidence against God. It is only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ that we can know how to fear God rightly. Jesus loved the Father and feared Him up to His death.

3. They Are Full of Self

The religious are me-centered. Every Christian must practice self-denial, which is not self-hatred, but surrendering our own will to God’s will (Galatians 2:20). The religious son’s words are proof of his self-focus (Luke 15:29). He says, “Look!” or “Behold!”—demanding attention. He continually uses the word “I”. I did this, and I deserve that. If we fail to deny ourselves, we cannot follow Christ properly. This self-focus manifests as self-righteousness and self-serving.

The religious rely on performance: “For so many years I have been serving you and never have I neglected a command of yours”. Self-righteousness goes against God’s grace and relies on works. It denies our need for God, produces pride and contempt toward others (Luke 18:11-12), and blinds the heart (1 Timothy 1:13).

Self-serving means putting self-interest above others. The elder son wanted to celebrate by himself, demanding a goat so he could “celebrate with my friends” without his father. He desired no relationship with his father, and the father’s joy was not his joy.

4. They Lack the Knowledge or Ability to Forgive

The religious desire to be forgiven but not want to forgive others. The elder son holds onto his bitterness and accuses the younger son of his past sins, calling him “this son of yours” and recalling how he “devoured your wealth with prostitutes”.

  • The reason they cannot forgive is that they themselves are not forgiven.
  • They are legalistic, loving cause and effect, and believe forgiveness is earned, not gifted. They believe there should be consequences for sins and that forgiveness must be earned by good deeds.
  • Fail to understand the Father’s love and care. “Child, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours”. God loves so much that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, so that we might be forgiven through faith in Him. (John 3:16) Jesus is our most precious gift from our loving Father.
  • God’s forgiveness is the complete removal of sin and guilt through Christ, both legal and relational (John 8:11). It is unearned and unconditional for those in Christ. In Christ alone are we forgiven.
  • The forgiven are humble, open to correction, and free from pride (2 Samuel 16:11).
  • Forgiveness covers a multitude of sins. Love seeks reconciliation rather than making others’ sins bigger than they need to be. Forgiveness doesn’t mean we condone sin or tolerate sin, but it means we overcome sin.
  • Forgiving others is the best way to experience the forgiveness and love of God, allowing us to understand the heart of Christ and the Father.

The religious son is not genuinely born again and therefore has not experienced or tasted the true forgiveness of God. We must seriously examine ourselves daily to ensure we are not living as the religious son, but as true believers who have been transformed internally and convicted in Christ alone.

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The Religious Son – Luke 15:25-28

In today’s passage, we are introduced to the elder son. At first glance, he appears upright and obedient, yet beneath the surface lies a spiritual condition more troubling than that of the prodigal son before his repentance. A modern illustration helps clarify this dynamic. In 2008, Rachel Lee, a teenager from Calabasas, California, seemed like any ordinary high-school student. Outwardly, she was a dutiful daughter, but privately she lived a double life. Lee became the ringleader of the “Bling Ring,” a group of seven teenagers who burglarized celebrity homes over the course of a year, stealing nearly $3 million in possessions. Her case illustrates the danger of appearances: she looked respectable, but her hidden life revealed something entirely different. Similarly, the elder son projected religious devotion while inwardly harboring sin, pride, and hypocrisy. His legalism exposed the fact that he was not a true son but merely religious, and his reaction to his brother’s return revealed his lack of relationship with the father.

A Callous Heart

The elder son’s initial response to his brother’s return was anger and hardness of heart. He could not grasp his father’s compassion because he did not share in his father’s love. Even when the father personally came and pleaded with him, the elder son refused to celebrate the forgiveness shown to his brother. His actions revealed the emptiness of outward religiosity without inward transformation. As John reminds us, “No one who denies the Son has the Father” (1 John 2:23–24). The elder son’s inability to rejoice exposed that he was not truly a child of God (1 John 3:1). Likewise, throughout history and even today, many reject the Father because they do not know or love the Son, Jesus Christ. Religion without Christ is deadly; it led people to hate and crucify Him. Yet for those who believe, Christ secures eternal fellowship with the Father, the Lord of heaven and earth.

Lack of Joy

One of the clearest marks of this emptiness is the absence of joy. Christian joy—rooted in salvation through Christ—naturally produces obedience and fellowship with Him. When the elder son approached the house and heard music and dancing, he should have recognized the joy of a household celebrating new life. Instead, he demanded an explanation from a servant, revealing his own lifelessness. In first-century Palestine, such celebrations signaled momentous occasions, but the elder son remained detached and unmoved. His blindness mirrors that of many who lack the Spirit; without true salvation, they cannot perceive the joy of heaven.

Christ, however, desires His church to be marked by joy. A joyless church risks rejection, as Christ warned the church in Ephesus in Revelation. Even as Jesus endured the cross, He did so “for the joy set before Him” (Heb. 12:2). Paul reminds us that “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). As Martyn Lloyd-Jones observed, Christian joy is not fickle or circumstantial but flows from the assurance that one’s sins are forgiven and that one has been adopted into God’s family. Without that joy, one has not yet grasped the heart of Christianity.

Selective Listening

The elder son also illustrates another danger: selective listening. The self-righteous resist any truth that exposes their sin or undermines their pride. He sought only to magnify his external righteousness and rejected his father’s grace. Likewise, the religious often rely on half-truths and head knowledge rather than repentance and faith. Yet the gospel calls for more than intellectual assent. Salvation requires hearing, believing, and receiving God’s grace through Christ, which alone leads to eternal life (Rom. 6:23).

Easily Agitated

Finally, the elder son embodies the agitation and anger that flow from self-righteousness. When he refused to enter the celebration, his bitterness revealed a heart untouched by grace. He resented the father’s mercy toward his brother and failed to see his own desperate need for it. This is the hallmark of the religious but unconverted: their lives remain marked by pride, anger, and lawlessness because they have never been transformed by the Spirit.

The story of the elder son compels us to self-examination. Are we living in pride, clinging to outward religion, yet devoid of joy? Do we respond with anger and resentment rather than grace and humility? Scripture warns that no one enters heaven by religious performance or outward acts. Salvation is the free gift of God’s grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, received by faith alone. Tomorrow is not promised; today is the day of salvation. Let us examine ourselves honestly to see whether we are merely religious—or truly saved.

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True Conversion According to Christ, Part 2 – Luke 15:20-24

We’ve been exploring the characteristics of true conversion as revealed in Luke 15:20-24, focusing on the prodigal son’s return. Regeneration is an act of God, renewing the mind and changing the heart of a man for repentance. After regeneration comes conversion. True conversion is not mere profession but a genuine possession of faith, evident through a changed life and character. It marks the beginning of a struggle against the world for every Christian. Conversion is the outward display of an inward regeneration, a new direction in life, where we are justified and undergoing sanctification, though not yet glorified.

True conversion is characterized by three key elements: Self-Denial, God’s Righteousness, and Joy.

Self-Denial
True conversion initiates a journey of self-denial, where we give up our sinful desires and ambitions to live for Christ, saying “no” to our will and “yes” to God’s will. The prodigal son’s words in Luke 15:21, expressing unworthiness and a desire to be a hired servant, starkly contrast with his earlier demanding attitude in Luke 15:12-13. This shows a profound shift from self-will to humility.

  • Humility as the Foundation: Humility is the soil from which self-denial grows. It involves genuinely admitting guilt, like David in 2 Samuel 12:13, and acknowledging our inability to be righteous (Romans 3:10). This is a denial of pride and self-righteousness.
  • Continual Repentance: Self-denial is an ongoing lifestyle, not a one-time event, flowing from continuous repentance.
  • Jesus, Our Example: Jesus perfectly exemplified self-denial and humility, being obedient to the point of death, stating, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Philippians 2:8, Luke 4:20-42).

In self-denial, a truly converted person will always welcome God, His nature, and His will first.

Righteousness of God True conversion means putting on God’s righteousness and becoming like Him. God declares, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” Before conversion, the sinner is spiritually bankrupt (Proverbs 14:12); however, God’s way is to renew and restore the sinner.

The Father’s immediate response to the prodigal son illustrates God’s swift and complete restoration:

  • No Rebuke, Quick Healing: The Father does not scold or delay; His primary concern is to heal and restore the son quickly. God is ready and quick to save, not requiring a long journey or process (Acts 8:37).
  • The Best Robe: This new garment signifies honor and covers every sin, representing the righteousness of Jesus Christ that believers put on, uniting them with Christ and covering all their sin.
  • A Ring on His Hand: The ring is a sign of an heir, power, and authority, signifying permanent belonging to God, sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).
  • Sandals on His Feet: Sandals symbolize freedom and full access to God, unlike slaves who walked barefoot. We, through Christ, have complete access to God’s presence, not needing to remove our “sandals” (John 1:12, Hebrews 4:16).
  • The Fattened Calf: This special calf, reserved for momentous celebrations, represents God’s abundant, sweet, and limitless grace (Hosea 14:1,4). It demonstrates how God makes us righteous in His righteousness.

This righteousness is transferred to the sinner through saving faith. Saving faith is not just an intellectual belief but a life-transforming reliance on Jesus Christ. It acknowledges Jesus as the only way and is evidenced by obedience: “faith without works is dead”. True saving faith brings a quick and continuous change from the inside out, leading to a life lived on God’s terms, not our own.

Joy True conversion brings profound joy, both to God and to the converted.

  • Heaven’s Joy: There is immense joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7, 10, 23-24). God rejoices over the lost being found and the dead coming to life, understanding that being spiritually dead and lost is the “worst of the worst” condition (Luke 15:23-24).
  • Jesus’ Joy: Jesus Himself, “for the joy set before Him, endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2), finding joy in the salvation of the lost and dead, even amidst His suffering.
  • Our Joy: If God is joyful, we should also be. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, not something we conjure up ourselves, but something we must actively seek by spending time in God’s presence, His Word, and prayer.
  • Cultivating Joy: Lacking joy can stem from a lack of assurance of salvation, neglecting devotion, a lack of gratitude for God’s forgiveness, a lack of expectation for future glory, or misunderstanding trials and suffering. We can experience deeper joy by understanding God’s faithfulness through trials (James 1:2-4) and continually seeking His presence.

True conversion, therefore, encompasses self-denial rooted in humility, the imputation of God’s righteousness through saving faith, and an active, Spirit-given joy that reflects God’s own delight in salvation. May we reflect on our salvation and examine whether we have these characteristics. May we also remember that we are called to cultivate and develop these characteristics as we grow in Christ.

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