Expository Thoughts On Luke - Luke 7:31-35
J.C. Ryle reveals how Jesus exposes the unreasonable and perverse unbelief of His generation, illustrating the hardness of human hearts against God's messengers.
In this expository sermon on Luke 7:31-35, J.C. Ryle explores how Jesus exposes the unreasonable unbelief of His generation. Ryle highlights the perverse and hard-hearted nature of those who reject God's messengers, whether John the Baptist or Jesus Himself. This sermon challenges listeners to examine their own hearts and attitudes toward God's truth.
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JESUS EXPOSES THE UNREASONABLENESS OF UNBELIEF
We learn, in the first place, from these verses, that the hearts of unconverted men are often desperately perverse as well as wicked.
Our Lord brings out this lesson in a remarkable comparison, describing the generation of men among whom He lived while He was on earth. He compares them to children. He says, that children at play were not more wayward, perverse, and hard to please, than the Jews of His day. Nothing would satisfy them. They were always finding fault. Whatever ministry God employed among them, they took exception to it. Whatever messenger God sent among them, they were not pleased. First came John the Baptist, living a retired, ascetic, self-denying life. At once the Jews said, "he has a devil." After him the Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and adopting habits of social life like the ordinary run of men. At once the Jews accused Him of being "a gluttonous man, and a wine bibber." In short, it became evident that the Jews were determined to receive no message from God at all. Their pretended objections were only a cloak to cover over their hatred of God\
Sermon Outline
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I. The Perverse Nature of Unconverted Hearts
- Hearts are desperately perverse and wicked
- Comparison to wayward children at play
- Unreasonableness in rejecting God's message
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II. The Two Ministries and Their Reception
- John the Baptist's ascetic life rejected as demonic
- Jesus' social life accused of gluttony and drunkenness
- Both ministries refused by the same generation
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III. The Root Cause: Hatred of God
- Objections were a cloak for hatred
- Determined to reject all messages from God
- Illustrates the hardness of human hearts
Key Quotes
“The hearts of unconverted men are often desperately perverse as well as wicked.” — J.C. Ryle
“Children at play were not more wayward, perverse, and hard to please, than the Jews of His day.” — J.C. Ryle
“Their pretended objections were only a cloak to cover over their hatred of God.” — J.C. Ryle
Application Points
- Examine your heart for any unreasonable resistance to God's word.
- Recognize that rejection of God's message often stems from deeper spiritual issues.
- Be open to God's messengers regardless of their methods or lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Jesus compare the generation to?
Jesus compares the generation to children who are wayward, perverse, and hard to please.
Why did the Jews reject John the Baptist?
They accused John the Baptist of having a devil because of his ascetic lifestyle.
How did the Jews respond to Jesus' ministry?
They accused Jesus of being a glutton and a winebibber due to His social habits.
What is the underlying reason for their rejection?
Their objections were a cover for their hatred of God.
What lesson does this teach about unbelief?
Unbelief is often unreasonable and rooted in a perverse heart that refuses to accept God's truth.