Bible Studies
The Subtly of Idolatry in the New Testament (Matt. 19:16-26)
Series: Lessons on IdolatryIntroduction:
1. The rich young ruler asked Jesus, “What good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” 2. Jesus enumerated five of the Ten Commandments and added that one should love his neighbor as himself. All of the commandments enumerated involved one’s relationship with other men. 3. Observe the commandments that Jesus omitted. Cf. Ex. 20.
a. You shall have no other gods.
b. You shall not make an idol or image.
c. You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain.
d. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
e. You shall not covet.
4. I used to believe that this young ruler was guilty of coveting. I am coming to believe that he was guilty of idolatry and that coveting was only a manifestation of his idolatry. Cf. Eph. 5:5; Col. 3:8. 5. Idolatry in the O.T. was often blatant; people worshiped images. They made golden calves; idols of gold, stone and wood. 6. In the N.T. idolatry takes a subtle, refined, sophisticated form and while we maynot worship images, idolatry is a very real danger in our generation.
Discussion:
I. The idolatry of the rich young ruler.
A. He has not made a physical image, but his wealth has become an idol.
1. The second command takes its form from the first: “You shall have no other gods.” Images are other gods, but not the only form that “other gods” may take.
2. Anything or anyone that takes the preeminent position in our life becomes an idol to us.
a. Thus, Peter says, “We have left everything and followed You.”
b. And Jesus said, “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.”
1) Note these must be forsaken “for My name’s sake.” Reflects just how exalted His name is.
2) Cf. to “You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain.” We think we have done this as long as we do not curse. To take the Lord’s name in vain is to profane Him, to treat Him as common. When one exalts anything higher than God he has profaned His name. He has treated God with disrespect.
c. Not only houses, farms, but people can come between us and our relationship with the Lord. If you want to inherit eternal life nothing can come before the Lord. “You shall have no other gods.”
3. Thus coveting is identified as idolatry in Eph. 5:5 and Col. 3:8.
4. Remembering the Sabbath day involved ceasing from buying and selling. “Now you are saying it is wrong to work on Sunday.” I am not!!! Their failure to stop reflected disregard for God in exchange for merchandizing (Neh. 13:15ff) which reflected the intensity of their desire for more. Working on the Sabbath was not the problem. It was their love for more that was elevated above their love for the Lord.
B. How are you tempted to idolatry?
1. Satan tempted Jesus with “all the kingdoms of the world.” “These I will give you if you fall down and worship me” (Matt. 4:9). Jesus’ response comes from Deut. 6:13 a passage warning against idolatry (Deut. 6:14).
2. We talked last week about how wealth can become an idol to us.
a. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters.” “You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matt. 6:24).
b. Does that mean it is wrong to have anything? Wrong to have a nice house or a nice car? No!!! Money is not sinful, but the love of money is(1 Tim. 6:10). If we put wealth aheadof our relationship with God, that is idolatry.
3. We talked about how position can become an idol to us.
a. The scribes and Pharisees loved the honor, respectful greetings, and being called Rabbi (Matt. 23:1ff).
b. Does that mean it is wrong to be a teacher or leader? No!!! But if you put the honor associated with it ahead of your relationship with God that is idolatry.
4. We talked about how we can practice righteousness to bring honor to ourselves.
a. Jesus warned against it in Matt. 6:1ff.
b. Does this mean it is wrong to give, to pray, to fast? No!!! But if you put the praise of men ahead of your relationship with the Lord it is idolatry.
II. The Pharisees and scribes practiced idolatry when they elevated their tradition above the commandment of God (Matt. 15:1-9).
A. The problem was not that they were worshiping physical images they were not. The problem was that they had not given their hearts to the Lord and so elevated the precepts of men above the commandment of God.
B. We have made the point that idolatry in the N.T. is subtler than the idolatry generally practiced in the O.T., but God through Isaiah condemned that generation of just such idolatry as the Pharisees and scribes were committing in the first century.
1. Idolatry in the first century may have had a different brand name, but it was still idolatry.
2. Evil deeds spring from an idolatrous heart (Matt. 15:10-20). Note the illustration of blindness here (v. 14) and its connection with lack of understanding (v. 15). Compare Isa. 6:9-10: “Keep on listening, but do not perceive; keep on looking, but do not understand. Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes dim, otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and return and be healed.”
C. Matthew then presents the Canaanite woman as contrast to the Pharisees and scribes (Matt. 15:21ff). In humility she said, “Even the dogs feed on the crumbs that fall from the Master’s table.”
D. In Luke’s account of the rich young ruler he precedes it with the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. The Pharisee, trusting in himself, exalting himself, thanks God that he is righteous. On the other hand, the publican, beats his breast saying, “God be merciful to me, the sinner” (Lk. 18:9ff).
III. The worship of the true and living God is exclusive. It is genuine. It is total. It is a religion of hearts given to God. NOTHING can be withheld. NOTHING can come between us and our God. NOTHING!
A. Let us not be idolaters like those in ancient Israel who closed their eyes and shut their ears to the living God and chose for themselves gods of gold and silver and wood.
B. Let us not be idolaters like those in N.T. days who closed their eyes and shut their ears to the living God and chose for themselves subtle forms of idolatry—gods of wealth and the traditions of men.
C. Let us humbly give our hearts genuinely and completely to the Lord.
Conclusion:
1. Like the disciples, leave everything and follow the Lord. 2. If you have not been baptized you have not given yourself to Him, yet. 3. If you have been baptized realize the full meaning of what you have done. Nothing can be withheld. NOTHING! 4. If you are withholding . . . kneel at the cross; give up your idols up and find the healing that comes from the presence of the Lord. Possible songs to use: 126 Open My Eyes that I May See 270 Give Me Thy Heart 331 Kneel at the Cross 332 I Surrender All
