Looking For Signs (Luke 11:16-32)
Rev. William L. Barron, April 2, 2017Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
People look for signs as to who Jesus was and is. The Pharisees rejected the meaning o the signs, but the woman venerated Mary and missed the point of God with us. Gideon demanded a sign, and God gave him the fleece. Regarding Jonah, he himself was the sign of judgment, but Ninevah believed and repented. Jesus is a sign of the need to repent, but a much greater sign. If Solomon had the sign of wisdom, how much wiser is Jesus? But the people rejected the signs. Repentance in the face of relentless evil is all the more necessary. We must stand firm always. God is on our side, and His Word is our strength.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « Behold, The Man! | None | His Lovingkindness Is Everlasting » |
Luke 11:16–32 (Listen)
16 while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
24 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”
27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
(ESV)