WARNINGS FROM THE SON OF MAN

v.1-2. WARNING AGAINST OFFENDING LITTLE ONES: when we sin against others. Influence over others has a great responsibility. Rebuking has restoration in view. Forgiveness following repentance is essential.

• Offenders are a reality to be faced.
• Offenders are warned ahead of time: there is very severe punishment.

v.3-4. WARNING AGAINST LACK OF FORGIVENESS: when others sin against us. Radical forgiveness must be genuine. Faith is the key to forgiveness. We must absolutely depend on God to enable us to do what is not natural.

• Be prepared personally.
• Be willing to say what is necessary.
• Be willing to forgive.
• Be willing to forgive every time a trespass against you is made.

v.5-10. WARNING AGAINST LACK OF FAITH: faith to serve. Real faith grows, even though it may not be easily seen. It is not something we advertise. Faith will ultimately produce visible results if it is alive and growing. Plowing or feeding [v.7], he did his duty for the Master just because he is His servant. We don’t advertise what we do for God because we can never repay what we owe Him. All credit or glory goes to Him for everything.

• Faith comes from God’s Word.
• Faith has great power.
• Faith accepts what is right regardless of how I feel about it.
• Faith does not exalt itself, is not proud.
• Faith does what is necessary and appropriate.

v.11-19. WARNING AGAINST FAILING TO GIVE GOD GLORY: the healing of the lepers. Standing afar off was according to the law of the leper. In faith they went to show themselves to the priest before they were healed. That was faith and they were healed while they went. Appreciation for the Lord is the response of faith. The more we grasp what God has done, the more we will learn by faith. God’s grace extends to the Samaritans again. Faith is open to all.

• Mercy to the hopeless is reason to give God glory.
• Cleansing for the defiled is reason to give God glory.
• Appreciation for blessing is reason to give God glory.
• Humbling oneself in thanksgiving is reason to give God glory.
• A new life to live is reason to give God glory.
• Wholeness of body, soul and spirit is reason to give God glory.

v.20-30. WARNING AGAINST FALSE PROPHECIES: coming of the kingdom. The Pharisees didn’t know the kingdom of God was here because they refused to see the evidence of it in the ministry of the Lord Jesus. His kingdom doesn’t have boundaries. It is God’s working in lives of those in the kingdom. Even today we look for outward evidence of the kingdom of God rather than looking for evidence in the believers.

• False teaching about the kingdom of God.
• False teaching about present events.
• False teaching about the Son of man, the Lord Jesus Christ.
• False teaching about coming events.
• False teaching about coming judgment.

v.31-37. WARNINGS AGAINST FAILURE TO HEED WARNINGS: we do not know the date or time of Christ’s return. Do not follow those who make such claims. When it happens there will be evidence. People will be carrying on normal activities of life. Our responsibility is not to know when, but to be ready for it when it happens unexpectedly. Lot’s wife thought of what she leaving rather than where she was going. Don’t hang tightly on to “things.” Separations are going to occur. Where they are taken in the tribulation will be seen by the gathering of vultures; when will be seen by increasing evidence of events.

• Listen and learn.
• Remember and repent.

• Lose and win.
• Save and lose.
• Taken or left behind.