Make the Right Bet
John MacArthur Sermon Summary
Did you make the right bet for your life? What do you really believe in? Christ condemned Israel’s religious leaders for exploiting the poor and rejecting Him, while professing to believe in the Messiah of the Bible. Let’s learn from Christ’s last week before His crucifixion on who He is and the religious leaders’ wrong bet. [1]
On the Monday before His crucifixion, Christ triumphantly entered Jerusalem. On Tuesday, He cleansed the temple, accusing the Pharisees and Sadducees of hypocrisy, as they used the temple and their blessings to make themselves rich. [2]
Then, on Wednesday, Christ gave His last public message about His identity as both man and God.
In the message, Christ asked the Jewish leaders that if the Messiah was to be David’s son as they believed, who would destroy their enemies and establish everlasting kingdom, then why would David, speaking by the Holy Spirit, call “his son” Lord? [3]
The Jewish leaders couldn’t answer, but it is because David’s Lord is the divine Creator, who is omnipotent, omnipresent, immutable, full of wisdom, loving, sinless, and righteous. David’s Lord forgives sin, pronounces judgment, knows everything, and accepts worship. If God were to become a man, His life and words would manifest such attributes, just as Christ’s life did. [4]
Christ then condemned Israel’s religious leaders, who, in exchange for their blessings, devoured widows’ houses and grew rich exploiting the most vulnerable. He predicted severe punishment for them, as well as the total destruction of the temple, the symbol of their belief and power. [5]
On Thursday night, Christ told the disciples that He would fulfill the prophecy of being grouped among the sinners and that He would be killed to take upon Himself their offenses. [6]
Christ’s final sermon was about His identity. He condemned the hypocritical religious leaders for abusing their power and focusing on wealth. And He again predicted His forthcoming suffering and death for the wrongdoers.
Do you bet your life on transient earthly wealth and power, as the religious leaders did? Or do you put your trust in Christ, the Savior?
Summary of a sermon by John MacArthur, “Who Is Jesus?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-6ouCbZDhM&t=10s
On the Monday before His crucifixion, Christ triumphantly entered Jerusalem. On Tuesday, He cleansed the temple, accusing the Pharisees and Sadducees of hypocrisy, as they used the temple and their blessings to make themselves rich. [2]
Then, on Wednesday, Christ gave His last public message about His identity as both man and God.
In the message, Christ asked the Jewish leaders that if the Messiah was to be David’s son as they believed, who would destroy their enemies and establish everlasting kingdom, then why would David, speaking by the Holy Spirit, call “his son” Lord? [3]
The Jewish leaders couldn’t answer, but it is because David’s Lord is the divine Creator, who is omnipotent, omnipresent, immutable, full of wisdom, loving, sinless, and righteous. David’s Lord forgives sin, pronounces judgment, knows everything, and accepts worship. If God were to become a man, His life and words would manifest such attributes, just as Christ’s life did. [4]
Christ then condemned Israel’s religious leaders, who, in exchange for their blessings, devoured widows’ houses and grew rich exploiting the most vulnerable. He predicted severe punishment for them, as well as the total destruction of the temple, the symbol of their belief and power. [5]
On Thursday night, Christ told the disciples that He would fulfill the prophecy of being grouped among the sinners and that He would be killed to take upon Himself their offenses. [6]
Christ’s final sermon was about His identity. He condemned the hypocritical religious leaders for abusing their power and focusing on wealth. And He again predicted His forthcoming suffering and death for the wrongdoers.
Do you bet your life on transient earthly wealth and power, as the religious leaders did? Or do you put your trust in Christ, the Savior?
Summary of a sermon by John MacArthur, “Who Is Jesus?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-6ouCbZDhM&t=10s
[1] Luke 20:41-21:6
[2] Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:13
[3] Matthew 22:41-44, 9:27, 12; 2 Samuel 7; Luke 18; Luke 1:69; Mark 12:36; Psalm 110
[4] 1 peter 3:22, acts 2:36, Matthew 28:18, John 1:14
[5] Luke 20:46-21:6, Mark 12:41-44, Matthew 23, James 2
[6] Luke 22:37, Isaiah 53, Zechariah 12:10