Sermons
The Honor Contest
The Honor Contest
Introduction:
1. In a previous study we addressed the biblical concept of honor.
2. It was observed that what people value determines who they honor. The Cincinnati Reds value and therefore honor a good pitcher. The Cincinnati Bengals, on the other hand, value and therefore honor a good quarterback.
3. The group(s) that you belong to determine how you are honored.
4. But groups of the world do not necessarily hold the same values as the Lord, and so, they do not necessarily honor the people of God.
5. This is clearly illustrated in the events of 1 Kings 18.
Discussion:
I. The honor contest of Mount Carmel is probably the most well-known of the O.T. (1 Kings 18).
A. Polytheism permeated the land of Israel during the days of King Ahab.
B. Biblical revelation stresses the worship of only one God.
1. The Egyptians worshiped many gods. The plagues were designed to show
Yahweh is the one and only.
2. The 10 commandments said, “You shall have no other gods besides Me” (Ex.
20:3; Deut. 5:7).
3. The Jewish prayer of the morning and evening said, “Hear O Israel! The LORD
(Yahweh) is our God, the LORD (Yahweh) is one!” (Deut. 6:4).
C. But Baal was worshiped by the Canaanites and had been adopted into Israel.
King Ahab had married Jezebel, a Canaanite Baal worshiper.
1. Baal was worshiped as god of the storm.
2. Images often had him holding a lightning bolt in his hand.
3. As such he supposedly gave the rain that was the life-blood of agricultural
production.
D. When Elijah, the prophet of Yahweh, announced that there would be no rain it is
an honor challenge to Baal.
1. The challenge is set on Mount Carmel.
2. It is the border between Phoenicia (Baal’sterritory) and Israel.
3. The challenge is to call down fire from heaven to consume the prepared
sacrifice.
4. It has not rained for 3 years and 6 months.
5. Baal is unable to act. He is silent.
6. Elijah poured water on the sacrifice and wet it so thoroughly that it filled the
ditch around the sacrifice.
7. God consumed the sacrifice with fire, burned up the stones, and even licked
up the water in the ditch.
8. The people fell on their faces and said, “The LORD (Yahweh) He is God; the
LORD (Yahweh), He is God” (1 Kings 18:39).
II. Much of Jesus’ life was spent in an honor contest with the Jewish religious leaders.
A. Jesus claimed honor by teaching in the temple (Lk. 19:45-20:18). He had just
cleansed the temple of the money changers and those selling sacrifices.
1. We have observed in the previous study that honor could be ascribed to
someone or earned by their behavior.
2. When they asked, “Who gave you this authority?” they are saying, who
ascribed/assigned you the position of honor to teach and do such things in
the temple?
3. When Jesus asks about John’s baptism and its source, He puts the chief
priests and the scribes in a dilemma. The people all held John to be a
prophet. They honored him. The chief priests and scribes refused to
answer. So, in the court of public opinion Jesus was not dishonored.
B. Just prior to this incident Jesus had come into the city of Jerusalem with
accolades given Him by the people (Lk. 19:29-40).
1. The people were honoring Him by spreading their coats on the road.
2. They were acknowledging His honorable deeds of healing (27).
3. But they were also recognizing His ascribed honor by shouting Psa. 118:26:
“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD; peace in heaven
and glory in the highest!”
4. Some of the Pharisees said, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples” (39).
C. The question about the lawfulness of paying taxes to Caesar is an honor contest
(Lk. 20:19-26).
1. The scribes and the chief priests “praise” Him. They say, “Teacher, we know
that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to any, but teach
the way of God in truth” (20:21).
2. This would align them with the people’s opinion, but “they are pretending to
be righteous in order that they might catch Him in some statement” (20).
3. When He says, “Show me a denarius.” I assume they did so. Remember that
they had moneychangers in the temple to change the money from Roman
coin into something acceptable to them. They are being hypocritical. They
liked the security of Roman coinage. They liked what the Roman government
provided like roads, safety, and military protection but did not want to pay for
it. They have tried to place Jesus between two courts of opinion—the
Romans and the people.
4. When Jesus says, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God
the things that are God’s,” He steps aside from their attempt to dishonor Him.
D. Jesus was constantly undergoing such challenges to His honor. The question is,
“Does He have the ascribed honor necessary to be the Messiah? Does He have
the behavior necessary to the honor of the Messiah?”
1. He has the miracles. This is sufficient for behavioral honor. His teaching is
behaviorally appropriate. So, the people say, “Yes!”
2. But does He have the ascribed honor? The scribes and chief priests say,
“No!” (They would even discredit the miracles. Cf. “He casts out
demons by the power of Beelzubul” (Matt. 12:22-23; Mk. 3:20-27).)
3. He is not what they expect in a king. No military standing. No swords. No
ascription of honor by the religious authorities.
III. The crucifixion is the ultimate dishonor and shaming of Jesus.
A. He was mocked, beaten, blind-folded, and blasphemed (Lk. 22:63).
B. He was accused before Pilate of misleading the nation, forbidding to pay taxes
to Caesar, and saying that He was Christ, a King (Lk. 23:2).
C. He was treated with contempt, mocked, and dressed in a gorgeous robe (Lk.
23:10-11).
D. The people asked for the release of Barabbas and for the crucifixion of Jesus.
Crucifixion was a practice designed to dishonor and to humiliate.
E. The rulers sneered at Him, “Let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His
chosen One” (Lk. 23:35).
F. The soldiers mocked Him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” (Lk.
23:36).
G. The inscription above Him read: “This is the King of the Jews” (Lk. 23:38).
IV. BUT the resurrection is the ultimate ascription of honor by the God of heaven (Cf. Jn. 2:19).
A. Yes, He had been publicly dishonored and shamed for claiming more honor
than He deserved.
B. BUT God validated His honor.
1. “You nailed Him to a cross and put Him to death, BUT God raised Him up”
(Acts 2:23-24).
2. God highly exalted Him (Phil. 2:6-11).
3. Jesus despised the shame (Heb. 12:2).
4. Jesus is honored by God—raised to sit at His right hand (Acts 2:32-36).
C. All this occurred while the disciples argued over who was the greatest among
them (Lk. 22:24ff).
D. The world honors people according to worldly values.
Conclusion:
1. What are the values of the kingdom of God?
2. Humility. Self-sacrifice. Seeing others as more important than yourself. Serving.
3. The world may value status, wealth, beauty, education, and we may exalt ourselves over one another based on such.
4. But God has a different value system. He honors the qualities and behaviors that characterized Jesus.
5. The world may persecute us and say all manner of evil against us falsely. They may dishonor and shame and despise us, but the Lord knows those who are His and He will raise them up. He exalts the humble and humbles the exalted.
6. O Lord, make Me a servant just like your Son! Let me share the sufferings of Christ and not be ashamed but rejoice knowing that at His revelation I will be vindicatedwith Him. Cf. 1 Pet. 4:12-16.
