Revelation Themes and Eschatological Applications

Who Much Is Given, Much Is Expected

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2017-06-09

Synopsis: John Weaver expounds Lamentations 4:6 to show that Jerusalem's punishment was greater than Sodom's because Judah sinned against greater light, knowledge, and privilege. The principle is that greater responsibility brings greater culpability. He warns believers not to despise the truth they have received, lest they incur severe chastisement.

[John Weaver] All right. Let me say it's, again, a joy to be here, and I'm thankful for the opportunity. Good to see each one of you here. Glad to have Pat and Audrey Goden. I guess those are grandkids coming in with you? It's wonderful. Grandkids are God's reward for not killing your own kids. And that's a fact. I love them. I appreciate them. Our oldest granddaughter is 28. How old? 29 already. When she was two years old, she and I were lying in bed waiting on Alice to come to bed. And Alice was standing with an earshot, and Renee is her name, and she called herself Nay. She rolled over to me and she patted me on the chest and she said, Nay and Papa are tender, but Granny Alice is a tough old bird. So I keep telling her after all these years, treat me gently because I'm tender.

[John Weaver] But somehow she doesn't really believe me. And I don't know why, but that's the way it goes. Well, I want you to open your Bibles tonight, if you would please, to the book of Lamentations, chapter 4. That's right after the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah not only wrote the book of Jeremiah, but also wrote the book of Lamentations. I want to bring a message tonight. I hope that we'll try to put together everything that I've taught you this week. Actually, the message deals with the greater the responsibility, the greater the culpability. so if you'll notice if you would please in the book of lamentations chapter four and verse six just one simple verse we'll be looking at a lot more but this one verse lamentations four verse six jeremiah writes for the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the

[John Weaver] punishment of the sin of Sodom that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her." Everyone knows that Jeremiah is the weeping prophet, and Jeremiah saw the destruction and the fall of Jerusalem. And actually the book of Lamentations was written as he viewed the fall and destruction of Jerusalem. The word Lamentations actually comes from the ancient custom of composing and singing lamentations over deceased friends and loved ones. For instance, David composed lamentations over Saul and Jonathan in 2 Samuel chapter 1. He also composed a lamentation over Abner in 2 Samuel chapter 3. And so in early times this habit of singing lamentations over fallen loved ones or friends was then extended over cities and countries as well.

[John Weaver] So let me just quote one. And I want you to turn to Jeremiah, chapter seven, if you would, please. But in the book of Amos, chapter five and verse one, God says, Here you this word, which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel. So in the book of Amos, chapter five and verse one, God is taking up a lamentation against the house of Israel. So if you look in Jeremiah chapter seven and verse twenty nine God says it like this just to show you Lamentations was extended to cities in the countries. He says cut off thine hair Oh Jerusalem cast it away and take up a lamentation on high places for the Lord has rejected and forsaken the generation of Israel So God was forsaking and rejecting the people of Judah at that particular time. If you look in Jeremiah, chapter nine and verse nine, just to set the stage, notice what he said, Jeremiah nine in verse nine, shall I not visit for these things set the Lord shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this.

[John Weaver] So we're talking about the nation of Judah. Jerusalem, the capital layer now skip down to verse 17. Thus said the Lord of hosts, consider ye and call for the morning women that they may come and send for cunning women that they may come and let them make haste and take up a whaling for us that our eyes may run down with tears and our eyelids gush out with waters for a voice of whaling is heard out of Zion. How are we spoiled? We are greatly confounded because we have forsaken the land because our dwellings have cast us out Yet hear the word of the lord. Oh you women and let your ear receive the word of his mouth and teach your daughter's wailing watch and everyone her neighbor lamentation for death is come up in our windows and is entered into our palaces to cut off our children from without and the young men from the streets speak thus at the Lord even the carcasses of men shall fall as dung upon the open field and as the handful after the harvest men and none shall gather them so here God is saying Jerusalem is going to be destroyed and they are indeed to take up a lamentation against Jerusalem because God will indeed remove

[John Weaver] the people Now, the Book of Lamentations is indeed a memorial dirge written upon the destruction and humiliation of Jerusalem. It is indeed a cloudburst of grief, a river of tears, and a sea of sobs. It has been called an elegy written in a graveyard. If you look at the Book of Lamentations, you will find that there are five chapters. Really and truly, each of these chapters is an individual poem about the fall and destruction of Jerusalem. For instance, in chapter 1, you have the effects of sin, the people in captivity, the acts of oppression, starvation, tyranny, and scoffing. When you get to Lamentations chapter 2, you see the destruction of Judah as an act of God's wrath against the sins of the people and their impotency to avert that wrath.

[John Weaver] In other words, it's going to come, they cannot stop it. When you get to chapter three, you see the deep spiritual sufferings of God's people in the midst of their general distress. And at the same time, you also see their ability to perceive not only the compassion of God, but the justice of God as well. When you get to chapter four, you see the punishment of the sins of the people as well as their rulers. And then when you finally get to chapter five, The Lord is entreated there to remove the distress from His people and the disgrace as well.

[John Weaver] Now, the thing that really caught my eye a long time ago was verse 6. I want you to look at verse 6 again in Lamentations chapter 4. For Jeremiah wrote, So he's talking about Jerusalem now. So he's talking about Jerusalem now. For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom that was overthrown as in a moment no hands stayed on her. So Jeremiah says very plainly that the destruction and humiliation of Jerusalem and the judgment that Jerusalem received was far greater than the judgment that Sodom and Gomorrah received. Wow.

[John Weaver] So you're going to have to ask yourself this question. Why was Jerusalem judged so strenuously? We certainly know the wickedness, the perversity and the depravity of Sodom and Gomorrah on those cities of the plain. We also know that they deserved exactly what they received. That is utter destruction. But then you have to ask this question. Was Jerusalem as wicked and as vile as Sodom? And the answer comes back. I shall show it to you from scripture that Jerusalem was actually more vile and more wicked than Sodom and Gomorrah. Wow. I want you to turn in your Bibles hold in lamentations for we're coming back there. But I want you to turn first of all to the book of Revelation chapter 11 and then we're going to go back to the book of Deuteronomy. We'll look in Revelation chapter 11 if you would please. And notice, if you would, what God says concerning Judah and Jerusalem. So in Revelation chapter 11 and verse 8, he's talking here about the two witnesses that have been killed. Revelation chapter 11, verse 8, the Bible says, and their dead bodies shall lie on the street of that great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

[John Weaver] Well, where was our Lord crucified? Jerusalem And I want you to pay close attention to the fact that God called Jerusalem spiritually Sodom and Egypt Egypt was known as an enemy of God and an enemy of God's people and Sodom was on horse depravity and its wickedness and God says This city is now called Sodom and Egypt. I want you to go back in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy. Chapter 32, then we're going to go back to. Isaiah, but look in Deuteronomy chapter 32, if you would please just to show you this is no passing reference to Judah and Jerusalem. And Deuteronomy chapter 32 and verse 32. God is still talking about Judah and Jerusalem. And look what he says. Deuteronomy 32, verse 32, for their vine is of the vine as of Sodom and of the fields of Gomorrah, their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter. So he says their vine is of the vine of Sodom and the fields of Gomorrah. Wow. So God is now talking about Jerusalem and he's still calling it Sodom and Gomorrah.

[John Weaver] If you look in your Bibles to the book of Isaiah chapter one Isaiah chapter one and notice if you would beginning there with verse eight still just showing you what God is saying about Judah and Jerusalem. So Isaiah chapter one beginning there with verse eight. Watch carefully in this particular passage God makes it exceedingly clear Isaiah one verse eight. He says, And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as of a seed city, except the Lord of hosts had left us unto us a very small remnant.

[John Weaver] We should have been a Sodom. We should have been made like unto Gomorrah. And now notice what God says to them. Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom. Give ear unto the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah. Wow. Hmm And if you'll go back to verse two He says hero Evans and give ear over earth for the Lord has spoken I've nourished and brought up children and they've rebelled against me. So he's calling his own people here Sodom and Gomorrah Look in Isaiah chapter 3 if you would please beginning there with verse 9 Isaiah chapter 3 look in verse 9. I In fact, go back to verse 8 just so that you can see who is in the context. Verse 8, For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen, because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory. The show of their countenance, that is Judah and Jerusalem, doth witness against them, and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not.

[John Weaver] Woe unto their souls, for they have rewarded evil unto themselves, Say ye to the righteous that it shall be well with him For they shall eat of the fruit of their doings and then he says warned of the wicked It shall be ill with him for the reward of his hands shall be given unto him But notice if you would in verse in verse 9 there He says the show of their countenance of witness against them and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. So just like Sodom was proud, arrogant, and open with their sin and rebellion, so it says Judah and Jerusalem were proud and arrogant and open about their sin and their rebellion as well. So in a multitude of passages, God still refers to Judah and Jerusalem as Sodom and Gomorrah. If you'd look in the book of Jeremiah chapter 23 and verse 14, just over a few pages, Jeremiah 23, notice if you would please verse 14. Look what God says, Jeremiah 23 and verse 14. Now I'm trying to remind you that God said through the prophet Jeremiah, that the punishment of Judah and Jerusalem was worse than the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah.

[John Weaver] Notice if you would, Jeremiah 23, verse 14, God says, I've seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem a horrible thing. They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen also the hands of evildoers that none doth return from his wickedness. They are all of them unto me as Sodom and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. Wow. So God is saying all of the people in Jerusalem are unto him as Sodom and Gomorrah." Now, you understand that Jerusalem not only committed physical sins, but they also committed spiritual sins as well. In one sense of the word, spiritual sins are far greater than physical sins. All sins are against God. You know, we can quote Psalm 51, verse 4. where David is confessing his sin and David says to God against thee and against thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight. Well, let me ask you a question. When David is saying to God against thee and against thee only have I committed this sin and done this evil in thy sight. Did he not sin against Bathsheba?

[John Weaver] Did he not sin against Uriah? Did he not sin against the family, his family, her family? Did he not sin against the nation? And the answer is yes. But what he is saying in Psalm 51 in verse four, that I understand that primarily my sin is directed against God. Now all sin is directed against God. However, there are some sins that are specifically directed against God. For instance, idolatry, blasphemy. Hypocrisy and a host of other spiritual sins are really and truly directed especially against God. In idolatry, you're denying that the one true and the living God is God. In blasphemy, you're cursing the one true and the living God. In hypocrisy, you're pretending that God cannot see and God does not know. So all of these sins are directed specifically against God.

[John Weaver] Now, Jeremiah said that the punishment of Jerusalem was worse than the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah. Let me ask you a question. Do you really and truly know what the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah were? Now, I know what you're thinking in your mind. You're going to say, yes, their sin was sodomy. That is where we get in our word sodomy from the sodomites who lived in Sodom. Well, that is true. That was certainly their sin, but I want you to hold Lamentations chapter 4 and look in your Bibles to the book of Ezekiel chapter 16. Turn right over. Ezekiel chapter 16. And we're going to be reading beginning with verse 44. And I want you to hold this passage because we will come back to it probably just a little bit later. But I want you to see what God says. Now, he's talking about Judah and Jerusalem in this passage. So notice, if you would, Ezekiel 16 and verse 44. God says, And of course, you and I understand that proverb because daughters usually look like mothers, act like mothers, develop the same habits and attitudes and dispositions of their mothers.

[John Weaver] So that's where this proverb originated. And so here's what God says to Judah and Jerusalem. Thou art thy mother's daughter that loatheth her husband and her children. And thou art the sister of thy sisters. Now he's going to tell you who the sisters were, which loatheth their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite. And thine elder sister is Samaria. That's the northern kingdom. That's where Jeroboam made the two golden calves. That's where every king in the northern kingdom was an idolater and led the people in idolatry. So he says, Thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand. Now watch. And thy younger sister that dwelleth at thy right hand is Sodom and her daughters. So here is Jerusalem if you're facing like this. Samaria is here and Sodom is here. So God says, these are your two sisters talking to Judah and Jerusalem. Samaria on the left hand, Sodom on the right hand. And look what he says in verse 47.

[John Weaver] Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations, but as if that were a very little thing, thou hast corrupted more than they in all thy ways. As I live, saith the Lord God, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done thou and thy daughters. What an indictment. What an indictment. We tend to think of the awfulness of the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. And yet God is saying here that the sins of Judah and Jerusalem were far worse than the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. I want you to recall in your mind Lamentations 4 and verse 6, where Jeremiah said, the punishment of the daughter of my people was greater than the punishment of Sodom.

[John Weaver] No hands stayed upon her. Now, what was Sodom's sin? Most everyone is going to say sodomy. And certainly that was part and parcel of it. But may I tell you that Sodom had far more sins than sodomy. In fact, there was a reason Why, that was one of her sins. Just like there's a reason in this country why it is growing by leaps and bounds. If you look in your Bible, so Ezekiel chapter 16, beginning with verse 49, God tells you specifically what the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah were. He says, behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom. Note what he says first.

[John Weaver] Pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty and committed abomination before me. Therefore I took them away as I saw good." Notice if you would please, the committing the abomination before him actually came last. What came first was pride. Then he said, fullness of breath. You know, the Bible says pride growth before destruction and a haughty spirit before fall. Scripture says he that thinketh he standeth, taketh lest he fall. So there was not only pride and arrogance, there was fullness of bread. They had an absolute abundance. They had plenty. And then he goes on to say, and an abundance of idleness.

[John Weaver] You've heard the old adage. I know the older folks in here have. You've heard the old adage that an idle mind is the devil's workshop. May I tell you something? Idle hands are the devil's workshop as well. I got news for you. We're living in a day and time when people complain about a 40 hour work week. And now they're warning a six hour work day. And I think of our founding fathers and I think of the early colonial Farmers and men when you were up at daylight or before daylight And you worked all day and you came in at night and you were so dead tired you really wanted to go to bed I'll tell you what one

[John Weaver] of the problems we have today is indeed an abundance of idleness Especially when when we have a government that is socialistic and Marxist to the core that wants to give everybody everything to everybody without working Notice if you would pride fullness of bread idleness and then they go on to say God goes on to say this Neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor needy In other words, there was no generosity. It was just total selfishness.

[John Weaver] I'm in it for me. I'm going to get what I can get. I'm going to get me in mind. And that's it. And I don't care about you. And then God says arrogance or haughtiness. And then they committed abomination before me. They had all this time to contemplate and think about all their wicked deeds and what all they could do. And they did it. And God said, because they did it, I took them away as I saw fit. Yeah, God did indeed punish Sodom and Gomorrah. He did indeed punish the cities of the plain. That is true. But the Bible still says in Jeremiah chapter four and verse six. That the punishment of the daughter of Jerusalem was far greater than that of the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah.

[John Weaver] And then he said it like this. It was overthrown as in a moment. No hands stayed on her. So let me show you. Go back in your Bibles to the book of Genesis chapter 19. And let me just refresh your mind on this. Here is where God is destroying Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities of the plain. Genesis chapter 19. And notice if you would beginning there with verse 12. Genesis 19 verse 12. Watch carefully. Genesis 19 verse 12.

[John Weaver] And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides, son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters? And whatsoever thou hast in this city, bring them out of this place." I have a message. Well, I've got several messages on this passage. One of them is titled, Lingering Lot. And of course, they had to take Lot by the hand and snatch him out of the city. But I have another message, and I tried to answer the question, why did Lot, Settle and stay in Sodom and Gomorrah Wow That will that will boggle your mind, but it shows you exactly where we are today But notice if you would the men said unto Lot hast thou here any besides son-in-law and thy sons and thy daughters and whatsoever thou hast in the city bring them out of this place for we will destroy this place because The cry of them is wax and grape before the face of the Lord and the Lord has sent us to destroy it And Lot went out and spake

[John Weaver] unto his sons-in-laws, who had married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place, for the Lord will destroy this city. But it seemed as one mocked unto his sons-in-law. And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife and thy two daughters, which are here, lest thou be consumed in the iniquities of the city. And while he lingered, there it is, and while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful unto him. And they brought him forth and set him without the city. And it came to pass when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, escape for thy life.

[John Weaver] Look not behind thee, neither stay thou in the plain. Escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. And Lot said unto them, O not so, my lord. Behold now thy servant that found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shown unto me in saving my life. I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die. Behold now, this city is near to flee unto.

[John Weaver] Is it not a little one? O let me escape thither. Is it not a little one? And my soul shall live. And he said, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, escape thither, for I cannot do anything till thou become thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar.

[John Weaver] Then the Lord reigned upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah, brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven. and he overthrew those cities and all the plain and all the inhabitants of the cities and that which grew up upon the ground. Notice if you would, just time Lot got clean away, just time he entered into Zoar, God sent fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah. You remember what Jeremiah said?

[John Weaver] They were overthrown as in a moment. No hands stayed on her. In other words, the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah was sudden. It was sure it was so one moment they were alive, maybe enjoying their sins, enjoying their substance. They thought all that was well. And the next moment they were dead standing for a righteous holy God. It was instantaneous. However, Jerusalem's punishment was not like this. That's why Jeremiah said, the punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah, which were overthrown in a moment and no hands stayed on her. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Jeremiah chapter 52 and get ready because I want to show you exactly what Jeremiah is talking about. You see Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. Actually Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem twice. The first time he attacked Jerusalem was in 605 B.C. And at that particular time, he just merely defeated the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

[John Weaver] He took lots of prisoners and he made them a tribute city. And then he installed Zedekiah to be king. And Zedekiah ruled for about 11 years until Zedekiah rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. So when Nebuchadnezzar came back in 586 BC, He was going to make dead sure there was no one going to rebel against him anymore in this city. So when he came in 586. He destroyed the wall. He destroyed the temple. He destroyed the people. He killed them. He took prisoners. Watch it. Jeremiah, chapter 52, beginning with verse one. Zedekiah was one in 20 years old when he began to reign and he reigned 11 years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamuto, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libna.

[John Weaver] And he did that, which was evil in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. For through the anger of the Lord, it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah till he had cast them out from his presence. That Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came, he and all of his army against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about, so that the city was besieged until the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

[John Weaver] Verse seven, then the city was broken up and all the men of war fled and went out by the way city by night, et cetera, et cetera. And here is the utter overthrow and defeat of Judah and Jerusalem. But I want you to note that Nebuchadnezzar came, the Bible says, in the ninth year of his reign. And therefore it continued until the 11th year of his reign. So for two years, Jerusalem was surrounded by their enemy. Two years, hands stayed upon Jerusalem, human hands, wicked hands. And not only were people slaughtered, but my goodness, you're going to find and discover the disease, starvation, and all of these things took care of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

[John Weaver] In fact, if you will hold Jeremiah 52, since it's close to the Lamentations, but look in your Bibles to Ezekiel chapter 14. Ezekiel chapter 14. Just turn right over a few pages to Ezekiel chapter 14, and look, if you would please, at verse 21. Ezekiel chapter 14, verse 21, where God talks about his four sore judgments. Look what he says. Ezekiel, chapter 14, verse 21, for thus said the Lord God, how much more when I send my four sword judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword and the famine and the anoints and beast and the pestilence to cut off from it, man and beast. Now, God says, I'm going to use all four of these in destroying Jerusalem. For two years, God used these. Notice if you would, please, in verse 21, he says, how much more when I send my four sword judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and notice the next one, and the famine. So you had the Babylonian soldiers without, and you had famine and disease and pestilence within. Listen to me, the famine inside Jerusalem, was no ordinary famine.

[John Weaver] Let's look back in our Bibles to Lamentations chapter 4. Let's begin at verse 6 again, okay? Watch this carefully, Lamentations 4 verse 6. For Jeremiah says, For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom that was overthrown in a moment, as in a moment, and no hand stayed on her.

[John Weaver] Now, Jeremiah is going to give you some information concerning famine and starvation in Jerusalem during this siege. He says in verse seven, her Nazarites were that's past tense were purer than snow. They were whiter than milk. They were more ruddy embodied in rubies. Their polishing was as a sapphire. Now, he says in verse eight, their visage is blacker than a coal. They're not known in the streets.

[John Weaver] Their skin cleaveth at their bones. It is withered. It has become like a stick. So here are people inside Jerusalem that are walking skeletons. They're actually starving to death. Their body has turned upon itself and it's basically eating itself. In fact, look what he said in verse nine. The famine was so horrible. He said they that be slain with a sword are better than they that be slain with hunger for these pine away stricken through with one of the fruits of the field. So he said one thing about being killed with a sword. Once you're killed with a sword, it's at least over with kind of quickly. Being killed with a sword, he is saying is a whole lot easier and a whole lot better than starving to death. How bad was that famine? Well, look in verse to you.

[John Weaver] The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children. They were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people. Women killed, cooked and ate their own children. His four sword judgments Famine was one of them. Famine, cannibalism and devastation stalked Jerusalem. The destruction of Sodom was over instantly, but not the destruction and devastation of Jerusalem. Two years, two years Nebuchadnezzar fought against that sin.

[John Weaver] Now let me ask you a question. Why? Did Jerusalem suffer more than Sodom? Jeremiah proclaims that fact, that they did. The punishment of the iniquity of the Lord of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom. So the question is, why then did they suffer more?

[John Weaver] Now, go back in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Ezekiel chapter 16. I told you that we'd come right back there, but I want you to look at this again. I want you to notice what the scripture says. This is going to answer why Jerusalem suffered more than Sodom and Gomorrah, at least gives you part of it. Notice, if you would, Ezekiel, Chapter 16, 47 and 48. Look what he said. Talking about Judah and Jerusalem, yet hast thou not walked after their ways, that is Samaria and Sodom, nor done after their abominations, but as if that were a very small thing, thou hast corrupted, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways. As I live, saith the Lord God, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done thou and thy daughters. Wow. So God is saying that Judah and Jerusalem sinned far more greatly than Sodom and Gomorrah. So we can answer the reason that Jerusalem was punished more was that her sins were greater.

[John Weaver] But now that doesn't help me particularly because anyone that can read can pick that up. Here's the question. Why were her sins considered greater. You know, I've heard Christians say, well, sin is sin. All sin is sin. Well, it's true that all sin is sin. And it's true that all sin is wicked, vile and abominable. But you and I both know there are some sins that are worse than others. There are.

[John Weaver] God does not demand the death penalty for theft. He demands restitution. Murder It's far greater than theft. And God demands the death penalty for that. So while it is true all sin is sin, it is also true that there are some sins that are greater than other sins. And so here is the question that you have to ask. Why then were the sins of Judah and Jerusalem considered greater than the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah?

[John Weaver] So let me answer it for you. Here's the principle. The greater the responsibility, the greater the culpability.

[John Weaver] Now the word culpability is from the Latin, and it is an English word that indicates denoting that someone deserves censure or condemnation. So let me try to explain it like this. I just said the greater the responsibility, the greater the culpability. Let me put it down a little plainer. The greater the advantages, the greater the opportunities, the greater the blessings that you have. When you ignore and despise those, the greater is your condemnation. Jerusalem had far greater advantages and far greater blessings and far greater obligations than did Sodom and Gomorrah. Let me spell it out for you like this. What Jerusalem did, what Judah did was they sinned against light. They sinned against truth. They sinned against understanding. So let me, let me try to explain it like this. Okay.

[John Weaver] Let's suppose that you get up in the morning and you open your newspaper and you read where two men robbed the local bank. Well, you look at it and say, I don't even know him. And you kind of ignore it. And you say they're bank robbers all the time. But if you begin to read your paper, and it says, the two bank robbers were caught, They were Nelson and B.J. O'Donnell. What? Those were well men. Now wait a minute.

[John Weaver] It's bad when just anybody violates God's law. But it's even worse when someone who is supposed to be upholding the law violates God's law. But let's suppose you pick up the paper in the morning and instead of you reading Nelson O'Donnell and B.J. have robbed the bank, you read, the bank was robbed by Pastor John Weaver and Pastor Cliff Christman. What? These men have taught for years thou shalt not steal.

[John Weaver] Do you see where I'm going? Let me try to put it to you like this. When you read Leviticus chapter 4, and I would encourage you to read it when you get home, there are different sacrifices to be offered for sin based upon the office, the lot, or the responsibility of the people there. So let me explain it like this. The argument is what you and I would call from the greater to the lesser. So in Leviticus chapter four and verse three, when a priest sinned, he had to bring forth a bullock, a young ox. He had to bring forth, he couldn't bring forth anything else. It had to be a bullet when you get down to verse 13 when the whole congregation had sinned again It had to be a book Couldn't be anything else when you get down then to verse 22 if a single ruler sinned He had to bring a kid of the goats Now wait a minute not a book a kid of the goats a And then when you get down to verses 27 through 32, when an ordinary, everyday person sinned, they could bring either a kid of the goats or a lamb, and it didn't matter whether it was male or female.

[John Weaver] So it starts with the priest. Why did he have to have a bullock? because he had a greater responsibility. He had more blessings. He had more advantages. He had more privileges. What about the whole congregation? That would be the rulers in it all together. Once again, it had to be a bullet, but it was a single ruler. It had to be a goat and it had to be a male, but when it's an ordinary individual, Anything would do goat or lamb. It didn't matter. So God then was requiring a greater sacrifice from those who were in positions of responsibility.

[John Weaver] So let me put it to you again. The greater the privileges, the greater the responsibilities and the greater the opportunities is the greater the sacrifice for sin. And here's why. Because people who have more light and more knowledge. Are more culpable. They demand a greater condemnation or greater censure. I'm going to prove that to you from Scripture. James chapter three, verse one. You know what James said there?

[John Weaver] In fact, go ahead and look there. I can quote it, but I want you to see it because there's another passage in James that I want you to see. Look in James chapter three, Hebrews, James, James chapter three. Notice if you would please verse one. Look what he says. James three, verse one, my brethren be not many masters or teachers knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. What? If I'm standing up here telling you tonight that I'm your teacher and your pastor stands up and says, well, I'm your teacher, guess what?

[John Weaver] God is holding us more accountable than he is you. We will get a greater censure and a greater condemnation because we have a greater responsibility. Look in James four and verse seven. Hang on. James four, verse seven. Verse 17, I'm sorry, James four, verse 17. James four, verse 17. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Why? Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and he doesn't do it, to him it is sin. What are you doing? You're sinning against life. You're sinning against knowledge. You're sinning against understanding. You're sinning against blessing. You're sinning against advantages.

[John Weaver] Years ago, Alice and I, had some dear friends, and they were older than we were. And they had three sons, and they kind of adopted Alice and I, and we always called them Mama and Papa Marsh. We were not related, but we called them Mama and Papa. And he would come to our house, and he played a saxophone. And I'd have to say, Papa, please stop playing that saxophone, because Alice had to sit there and play the piano. I'd say, please stop playing that saxophone just long enough for her to cook supper. And then you can come back and let her play the piano and you can play the saxophone. And he played it beautifully.

[John Weaver] There's no two ways about it. But I stopped at their house, Alice and I did, because they were having a little family reunion and we were counted as family and we stopped there. And I had just come back from a week of preaching and had to stop just for a few hours before I headed home. And time I got in the house, his daughter-in-law began to ask me questions. I mean, just one right after the other. And I was trying to answer the questions.

[John Weaver] And finally, Papa looked at her and he said, Francis, why don't you shut up and leave him alone? Can't you see he's tired? And Francis said, well, Papa, I don't know the answer to these questions and it bothers me. And I never will forget what Papa Mars said. He said, huh? It's not those things I don't know that bothers me, it's those things I do know. To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not to him, it is sin.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 12. Look what our Lord says, Luke chapter 12. Let's begin reading in verse 40, Luke 12, verse 40. Luke chapter 12, verse 40. Our Lord says, Be ye therefore ready also for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when you think not. Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us or even to all? And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward whom his Lord shall make rule over his household to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But, and if that servant say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming, and shall begin to beat the men's servants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken, The Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour when he

[John Weaver] is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, watch it now, and that servant which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according that will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did not commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required. And to whom men shall have committed much, of him they will ask them more."

[John Weaver] Did you just hear what our Lord said? That servant who knew his Lord's will and prepared not himself, neither did that will, he will be beaten with many stripes. The greater the privilege, the greater the advantages, the greater the blessings, the greater the opportunities, the greater the censure and condemnation that you will receive. For he said that man who didn't know and did shall be beaten with few stripes.

[John Weaver] Then he said, of whom much is given, much is required. Now, folks, I'm going to tell you something. There's a vast difference between a sin of ignorance and a sin of presumption. Vast difference between doing something without even thinking and doing something that you thought through and said, yeah, I'm going to do it regardless. I want you to look back in your Bibles to the book of Numbers chapter 15, Numbers chapter 15. And look, if you would, beginning there with verse 29, Numbers 15, verse 29. Look what God says. Numbers 15, verse 29. God says you shall have one law for him that sent it through ignorance.

[John Weaver] both for him that is born among the children of Israel and for the strangers that sojourneth among them. One law for him that sinneth through ignorance, didn't know what he was doing. Verse 30, but the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, he knows what he's doing. Whether he be born in the land or a stranger the same reproach of the Lord and that soul shall be cut off from among his people because he has despised the word of the Lord and broken his commandment. That soul shall utterly be cut off.

[John Weaver] His iniquity shall be upon him. Wow. I hope you begin to see here is an answer as to why Judah and Jerusalem were punished so strenuously. Here is why their punishment was far greater than that of Sodom and Gomorrah. because Judah and Jerusalem sinned against the light. They sinned against knowledge. They sinned against blessings and advantages and opportunities. Let me show you. I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 4. Then we'll go to the book of Romans. But look in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 4, and let's begin reading there verse 6. Deuteronomy chapter 4. In fact, we'll read verse 5. Deuteronomy chapter four verse five.

[John Weaver] Look what God says Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments Moses is saying this even as the Lord my God commanded me that you should do so in the land whether you go to possess it Now look what he says concerning his law his statutes his judgments Keep therefore and do them for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations Which shall hear all these statutes and say surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people For what nation is there so great? Who have got so nigh unto them as the lord our god is in all things that we call upon him for And what nation is there so great? that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day."

[John Weaver] Do you understand that Israel and especially Judah and Jerusalem had a tremendous advantage over all of the other nations? If you will look in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 3, I want you to see what the Apostle Paul said. Romans chapter 3 beginning there with verse 1. Look at it. It should answer your question. Why did God judge Jerusalem so much more than he did Solomon Gomorrah? Look at it. Romans chapter 3 verse 1, What advantage then hath the Jew or the Judahite, that is the people who lived in Judah, or what prophet is there of circumcision? Much of every way, chiefly because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. The Assyrians didn't have the law of God. The Ammonites didn't have the law of God. The Moabites didn't have the law of God. The Egyptians didn't have the law of God. Israel had the law of God. God gave it to them. When you get to the book of Ephesians chapter two, verses 11 and 12, God says, wherefore, remember that you being in times past Gentiles in the flesh who were called uncircumcision by that, which is called circumcision flesh made by hand, that at that time you were without Christ being aliens from the Commonwealth

[John Weaver] of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world. Only Israel had God's oracles. God gave it to them. What did they do? They sinned against life. They sinned against their advantage. They sinned against their opportunity. They sinned against their blessing. When you stop and think about Judah and Jerusalem, may I remind you that it was in Judah at Jerusalem that the tabernacle and later the temple were located. It was in Judah at Jerusalem that God revealed himself in the Shekinah glory. It was in Judah and Jerusalem where the priests and the Levites were. It was in Judah and Jerusalem where the law was and the ceremonies and the rituals and everything that God had revealed. And they sinned against life.

[John Weaver] Their sin was no sin of ignorance. It was a sin of presumption. They basically took the attitude. I don't care what God says. I don't care what God has given us. I don't care We will do what we want to do. We will act the way we want to act We will live the way we want to live. Have you ever wondered? Why david in psalm 19 verse 13 says keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins and let them not have dominion over me What he's praying is don't let me do anything deliberately and willingly that I know better that is wicked and wrong and ungodly So it's one thing to sin in ignorance. It's quite another thing to sin willingly and presumptuously You shall have one law for him that sinned through ignorance He that is born in the land and the stranger through the land, but he that doeth all presumptuously. Sin if against his own soul.

[John Weaver] He shall bear his iniquity. What for he is despised the Lord. Wow. That's why James said, therefore, to him that knoweth do good and doeth it not to him, it is. See. Now. I want you to listen carefully. Here's the point of everything that I've said. Do you realize as the people of God? How blessed you are? To have the word of God. How blessed you are to hear the preaching of his word? How blessed you are to have life?

[John Weaver] Is it the Lord's mercies that were not consumed because his compassions, they fail not. They are new every morning, great is our faithfulness. It is the Lord's mercies that he opened our eyes and gave us understanding. It's the Lord's mercy that he revealed to us the Lord Jesus Christ and his so great sacrifice and his so great salvation. It is the Lord's mercies that he's given us everything that we have.

[John Weaver] And then for you and I, to turn our backs upon God and His truth. His word is a sin of presumption. May I remind you of something? In Mark 24, our Lord said it like this, take heed what you hear. Take heed what you hear. You have a responsibility to make sure that you hear truth. You have a responsibility to make sure that you hear things that are virtuous and praiseworthy and good and honest, like the Bible demands.

[John Weaver] But when you get to Luke chapter 8 and verse 18, he says the same thing, but he says it just a little differently. Now he says, take heed how you hear. What? Take heed how you hear. In other words, you better not come to church. Oh, well. Easy come, easy go. If I listen, I'll have fine. If I don't, I can pick up. No, no, no, no. God said you better take heed how you hear. You better make sure that you hear. And you better make sure what you hear. Because you remember a Hebrew chapter 10. He called it.

[John Weaver] The despising of the spirit of grace, and a trampling of the Lord Jesus Christ under our feet. God has given us tremendous opportunities. Sometimes my mind is just overwhelmed with the goodness and the mercies of God. I think, who am I? Not only to have experienced the grace of God and to be saved by his mercy, but to have understanding and to be able to preach and proclaim his truth. Who am I? And what am I? And yet God did choose us before the foundation of the world. Isn't that amazing? Doesn't that astound you?

[John Weaver] And how then can we treat everything so flippantly? How can we treat everything like, well, it doesn't really matter? It does matter. I want you to return to one last passage. I want you to turn to 2 Thessalonians 2. I want you to see this. I want you to see that it does matter because Sins against light and knowledge and conscience and truth and advantages and blessings and opportunities merit a far greater condemnation. Look, if you would, 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, beginning there with verse 10.

[John Weaver] And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, Why are they perishing? Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. People did not receive the truth. They did not love the truth. Watch verse 11. And for this cause, because they would not receive the love of the truth, nor this cause, God shall send them a strong delusion that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned who believe not the truth. but had pleasure and unrighteousness." Wow. Don't tell me it doesn't matter how you respond to truth. It does matter.

[John Weaver] You remember that passage in 2 Kings chapter 5, where Nahum and the leper came before Elisha. And Elisha just said, go wash in the Jordan seven times, you'll be clean. He went away angry.

[John Weaver] Finally, his men said, if the master didn't do something great, would you not have done it? Yes. How much easier it is to go duck in the Jordan River seven times and be clean. So he went and ducked in the Jordan River seven times and came out clean. And he came back to Elisha, and he wanted to give him money. He wanted to give him changes of garments. Elisha said, No, I don't need anything. Don't want anything. Take it and go. Yeah, Hazel, the servant of Elisha, who was there? Who heard what Elisha said? After Naaman got a good way off, he said, My master stared at but I'll take someone up.

[John Weaver] So he ran after him and caught him. He looked at Nahum and he said, wouldn't know it, two servants of our Lord just happened to show up. Would you give us for them a wedge of silver and a couple of changes of garments? And he did. And his servants bring him back. When Gehazi got them and hid them, he went and saw Elijah. And he looked at Elijah and he said, Elijah said to him, whither went thou? Gehazi said, thy servant went no whither. Elijah said, did not my heart go with thee when the man turned from the chariot? Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cleave unto thee and thy house. What did Gehazi do?

[John Weaver] He sinned against the truth because he heard exactly what Elisha said. And I'm going to tell you something, folks. You can take this for whatever it's worth. I believe a lot of our physical ailments, our physical sicknesses begin with our spiritual sins and wickedness against God. You cannot, you cannot thumb your nose at God. You cannot despise the truth of God. You cannot refuse to obey God and expect to escape his chastisement.

[John Weaver] Now you say, Brother Weaver, that's quite a statement. It may be, but if you'll read 1 Corinthians chapter 11, you remember that passage there where he's talking about the Lord's table? And they were eating it wrongly? And what did Paul say? For this cause many among you are sickly and many sleep. They had physical sins and death because they abused the truth of God. We who have the truth must not dare turn from the truth.

[John Weaver] The greater the opportunities The greater the blessings, the greater the advantages, the more deserving you are of condemnation if you sin against that light. Jeremiah said, the punishment of the daughter of my people was greater than the punishment of Sodom that was overthrown in a moment. No hands stayed on her. But for Jerusalem, hands stayed on her. for two years until she was destroyed. If we do not want destruction, we must stand with the truth and for the truth and apply the truth in our lives.

[John Weaver] And if you've been delivered by the grace of God, God expects you to obey. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow before thee. We thank thee for your love, your grace, your truth, your mercy. Show us, Lord, the importance of this principle, that the greater the responsibility, the greater the culpability. Help us, Lord, to obey and apply. In the name of Jesus Christ we ask, amen.

Who Much Is Given, Much Is Expected

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	691721500
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Revelation Themes and Eschatological Applications
Genre	Sermon
Date	2017-06-09
Dictation Name
Book	Book 141: Revelation Themes and Eschatological Applications — Chapter 10
Source Timed Segments	78

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Context of Lamentations

Weaver introduces the book of Lamentations as a dirge over Jerusalem's fall, written by Jeremiah, and notes that chapter 4 verse 6 declares Jerusalem's punishment greater than Sodom's.

All right. Let me say it's, again, a joy to be here, and I'm thankful for the opportunity. Good to see each one of you here. Glad to have Pat and Audrey Goden. I guess those are grandkids coming in with you? It's wonderful. Grandkids are God's reward for not killing your own kids. And that's a fact. I love them. I appreciate them. Our oldest granddaughter is 28. How old? 29 already. When she was two years old, she and I were lying in bed waiting on Alice to come to bed. And Alice was standing within earshot, and Renee is her name, and she called herself Nay. She rolled over to me and she patted me on the chest and she said, "Nay and Papa are tender, but Granny Alice is a tough old bird." So I keep telling her after all these years, treat me gently because I'm tender.

But somehow she doesn't really believe me. And I don't know why, but that's the way it goes. Well, I want you to open your Bibles tonight, if you would please, to the book of Lamentations, chapter 4. That's right after the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah not only wrote the book of Jeremiah, but also wrote the book of Lamentations. I want to bring a message tonight. I hope that we'll try to put together everything that I've taught you this week. Actually, the message deals with the greater the responsibility, the greater the culpability. So if you'll notice, if you would please, in the book of Lamentations chapter 4 and verse 6, just one simple verse, we'll be looking at a lot more, but this one verse, Lamentations 4 verse 6, Jeremiah writes, "For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the

punishment of the sin of Sodom that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her." Everyone knows that Jeremiah is the weeping prophet, and Jeremiah saw the destruction and the fall of Jerusalem. And actually the book of Lamentations was written as he viewed the fall and destruction of Jerusalem. The word Lamentations actually comes from the ancient custom of composing and singing lamentations over deceased friends and loved ones. For instance, David composed lamentations over Saul and Jonathan in 2 Samuel chapter 1. He also composed a lamentation over Abner in 2 Samuel chapter 3. And so in early times this habit of singing lamentations over fallen loved ones or friends was then extended over cities and countries as well.

Jerusalem Called Sodom and Gomorrah

Scripture repeatedly identifies Jerusalem spiritually as Sodom and Egypt, showing that her wickedness exceeded that of the ancient cities.

So you're going to have to ask yourself this question. Why was Jerusalem judged so strenuously? We certainly know the wickedness, the perversity and the depravity of Sodom and Gomorrah, those cities of the plain. We also know that they deserved exactly what they received. That is utter destruction. But then you have to ask this question. Was Jerusalem as wicked and as vile as Sodom? And the answer comes back. I shall show it to you from scripture that Jerusalem was actually more vile and more wicked than Sodom and Gomorrah. Wow. I want you to turn in your Bibles, hold in Lamentations for we're coming back there. But I want you to turn first of all to the book of Revelation chapter 11 and then we're going to go back to the book of Deuteronomy. We'll look in Revelation chapter 11 if you would please. And notice, if you would, what God says concerning Judah and Jerusalem. So in Revelation chapter 11 and verse 8, he's talking here about the two witnesses that have been killed. Revelation chapter 11, verse 8, the Bible says, "And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified."

Well, where was our Lord crucified? Jerusalem. And I want you to pay close attention to the fact that God called Jerusalem spiritually Sodom and Egypt. Egypt was known as an enemy of God and an enemy of God's people, and Sodom was known for its depravity and its wickedness, and God says, "This city is now called Sodom and Egypt." I want you to go back in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 32, then we're going to go back to Isaiah, but look in Deuteronomy chapter 32, if you would please, just to show you this is no passing reference to Judah and Jerusalem. And Deuteronomy chapter 32 and verse 32. God is still talking about Judah and Jerusalem. And look what he says. Deuteronomy 32, verse 32, "For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter." So he says their vine is of the vine of Sodom and the fields of Gomorrah. Wow. So God is now talking about Jerusalem and he's still calling it Sodom and Gomorrah.

If you look in your Bibles to the book of Isaiah chapter 1, Isaiah chapter 1, and notice if you would beginning there with verse 8, still just showing you what God is saying about Judah and Jerusalem. So Isaiah chapter 1 beginning there with verse 8. Watch carefully in this particular passage God makes it exceedingly clear. Isaiah 1 verse 8. He says,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 1:8-10

"And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah."

And now notice what God says to them.

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 1:8-10

"Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah."

Wow. Hmm. And if you'll go back to verse 2, He says, "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me." So he's calling his own people here Sodom and Gomorrah. Look in Isaiah chapter 3 if you would please, beginning there with verse 9. Isaiah chapter 3, look in verse 9. In fact, go back to verse 8 just so that you can see who is in the context. Verse 8, "For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory. The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not.

Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him." But notice if you would in verse 9 there, He says, "The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not." So just like Sodom was proud, arrogant, and open with their sin and rebellion, so it says Judah and Jerusalem were proud and arrogant and open about their sin and their rebellion as well. So in a multitude of passages, God still refers to Judah and Jerusalem as Sodom and Gomorrah. If you'd look in the book of Jeremiah chapter 23 and verse 14, just over a few pages, Jeremiah 23, notice if you would please verse 14. Look what God says, Jeremiah 23 and verse 14. Now I'm trying to remind you that God said through the prophet Jeremiah, that the punishment of Judah and Jerusalem was worse than the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Notice if you would, Jeremiah 23, verse 14, God says,

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 23:14

"I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah."

Wow. So God is saying all of the people in Jerusalem are unto him as Sodom and Gomorrah. Now, you understand that Jerusalem not only committed physical sins, but they also committed spiritual sins as well. In one sense of the word, spiritual sins are far greater than physical sins. All sins are against God. You know, we can quote Psalm 51, verse 4, where David is confessing his sin and David says to God, "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight." Well, let me ask you a question. When David is saying to God, "Against thee, thee only, have I committed this sin and done this evil in thy sight," did he not sin against Bathsheba?

The Sins of Sodom and Gomorrah

Ezekiel 16:49-50 lists Sodom's sins: pride, fullness of bread, idleness, lack of generosity, haughtiness, and abomination. These preceded the final judgment.

No hands stayed upon her." Now, what was Sodom's sin? Most everyone is going to say sodomy. And certainly that was part and parcel of it. But may I tell you that Sodom had far more sins than sodomy. In fact, there was a reason why that was one of her sins. Just like there's a reason in this country why it is growing by leaps and bounds. If you look in your Bible, so Ezekiel chapter 16, beginning with verse 49, God tells you specifically what the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah were. He says, "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 16:44-50

" Notice if you would please, the committing the abomination before him actually came last. What came first was pride. Then he said, fulness of bread. You know, the Bible says pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Scripture says he that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. So there was not only pride and arrogance, there was fulness of bread. They had an absolute abundance. They had plenty. And then he goes on to say, and abundance of idleness.

You've heard the old adage. I know the older folks in here have. You've heard the old adage that an idle mind is the devil's workshop. May I tell you something? Idle hands are the devil's workshop as well. I got news for you. We're living in a day and time when people complain about a 40 hour work week. And now they're wanting a six hour work day. And I think of our founding fathers and I think of the early colonial farmers and men when you were up at daylight or before daylight and you worked all day and you came in at night and you were so dead tired you really wanted to go to bed. I'll tell you what, one

of the problems we have today is indeed an abundance of idleness. Especially when we have a government that is socialistic and Marxist to the core that wants to give everybody everything without working. Notice if you would, pride, fulness of bread, idleness, and then they go on to say, God goes on to say this, "Neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy." In other words, there was no generosity. It was just total selfishness. I'm in it for me. I'm going to get what I can get. I'm going to get me and mine. And that's it. And I don't care about you. And then God says arrogance or haughtiness. And then they committed abomination before me. They had all this time to contemplate and think about all their wicked deeds and what all they could do. And they did it. And God said, because they did it, I took them away as I saw fit. Yeah, God did indeed punish Sodom and Gomorrah. He did indeed punish the cities of the plain. That is true. But the Bible still says in Jeremiah chapter 4 and verse 6, that the punishment of the daughter of Jerusalem was far greater than that of the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah.

The Nature of Jerusalem's Punishment

Unlike Sodom's instant overthrow, Jerusalem endured a two-year siege with sword, famine, pestilence, and cannibalism, making her punishment far greater.

"They were overthrown as in a moment. No hands stayed on her." In other words, the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah was sudden. It was sure. It was so one moment they were alive, maybe enjoying their sins, enjoying their substance. They thought all was well. And the next moment they were dead standing before a righteous holy God. It was instantaneous. However, Jerusalem's punishment was not like this. That's why Jeremiah said, "the punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah, which were overthrown in a moment and no hands stayed on her." I want you to turn in your Bibles to Jeremiah chapter 52 and get ready because I want to show you exactly what Jeremiah is talking about. You see Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. Actually Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem twice. The first time he attacked Jerusalem was in 605 B.C. And at that particular time, he just merely defeated the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

He took lots of prisoners and he made them a tribute city. And then he installed Zedekiah to be king. And Zedekiah ruled for about 11 years until Zedekiah rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. So when Nebuchadnezzar came back in 586 BC, he was going to make dead sure there was no one going to rebel against him anymore in this city. So when he came in 586, he destroyed the wall. He destroyed the temple. He destroyed the people. He killed them. He took prisoners. Watch it. Jeremiah, chapter 52, beginning with verse 1. "Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. For through the anger of the Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about. So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

Verse 7, "Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night," et cetera, et cetera. And here is the utter overthrow and defeat of Judah and Jerusalem. But I want you to note that Nebuchadnezzar came, the Bible says, in the ninth year of his reign. And therefore it continued until the 11th year of his reign. So for two years, Jerusalem was surrounded by their enemy. Two years, hands stayed upon Jerusalem, human hands, wicked hands. And not only were people slaughtered, but my goodness, you're going to find and discover the disease, starvation, and all of these things took care of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

In fact, if you will hold Jeremiah 52, since it's close to the Lamentations, but look in your Bibles to Ezekiel chapter 14. Ezekiel chapter 14. Just turn right over a few pages to Ezekiel chapter 14, and look, if you would please, at verse 21. Ezekiel chapter 14, verse 21, where God talks about his four sore judgments. Look what he says. Ezekiel, chapter 14, verse 21,

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 14:21

"For thus saith the Lord God; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?"

Now, God says, I'm going to use all four of these in destroying Jerusalem. For two years, God used these. Notice if you would, please, in verse 21, he says,

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 14:21

"How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword,"

and notice the next one, "and the famine." So you had the Babylonian soldiers without, and you had famine and disease and pestilence within. Listen to me, the famine inside Jerusalem was no ordinary famine.

Let's look back in our Bibles to Lamentations chapter 4. Let's begin at verse 6 again, okay? Watch this carefully, Lamentations 4 verse 6. For Jeremiah says, "For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her."

Now, Jeremiah is going to give you some information concerning famine and starvation in Jerusalem during this siege. He says in verse 7, "Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:" Now, he says in verse 8, "Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick." So here are people inside Jerusalem that are walking skeletons. They're actually starving to death. Their body has turned upon itself and it's basically eating itself. In fact, look what he said in verse 9. The famine was so horrible. He said, "They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field." So he said one thing about being killed with a sword. Once you're killed with a sword, it's at least over with kind of quickly. Being killed with a sword, he is saying, is a whole lot easier and a whole lot better than starving to death. How bad was that famine? Well, look in verse 10.

"The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people." Women killed, cooked and ate their own children. His four sore judgments. Famine was one of them. Famine, cannibalism and devastation stalked Jerusalem. The destruction of Sodom was over instantly, but not the destruction and devastation of Jerusalem. Two years, two years Nebuchadnezzar fought against that city.

Why Jerusalem's Sins Were Greater

Jerusalem sinned against greater light, having God's law, temple, and prophets. Her sins were presumptuous, not ignorant, meriting greater condemnation.

Now, go back in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Ezekiel chapter 16. I told you that we'd come right back there, but I want you to look at this again. I want you to notice what the scripture says. This is going to answer why Jerusalem suffered more than Sodom and Gomorrah, at least gives you part of it. Notice, if you would, Ezekiel, Chapter 16, 47 and 48. Look what he said. Talking about Judah and Jerusalem, "Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways. As I live, saith the Lord God, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters." Wow. So God is saying that Judah and Jerusalem sinned far more greatly than Sodom and Gomorrah. So we can answer the reason that Jerusalem was punished more was that her sins were greater.

But now that doesn't help me particularly because anyone that can read can pick that up. Here's the question. Why were her sins considered greater? You know, I've heard Christians say, well, sin is sin. All sin is sin. Well, it's true that all sin is sin. And it's true that all sin is wicked, vile and abominable. But you and I both know there are some sins that are worse than others. There are.

God does not demand the death penalty for theft. He demands restitution. Murder, it's far greater than theft. And God demands the death penalty for that. So while it is true all sin is sin, it is also true that there are some sins that are greater than other sins. And so here is the question that you have to ask. Why then were the sins of Judah and Jerusalem considered greater than the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah?

So let me answer it for you. Here's the principle. The greater the responsibility, the greater the culpability. Now the word culpability is from the Latin, and it is an English word that indicates denoting that someone deserves censure or condemnation. So let me try to explain it like this. I just said the greater the responsibility, the greater the culpability. Let me put it down a little plainer. The greater the advantages, the greater the opportunities, the greater the blessings that you have, when you ignore and despise those, the greater is your condemnation. Jerusalem had far greater advantages and far greater blessings and far greater obligations than did Sodom and Gomorrah. Let me spell it out for you like this. What Jerusalem did, what Judah did was they sinned against light. They sinned against truth. They sinned against understanding. So let me try to explain it like this. Okay.

Let's suppose that you get up in the morning and you open your newspaper and you read where two men robbed the local bank. Well, you look at it and say, I don't even know him. And you kind of ignore it. And you say they're bank robbers all the time. But if you begin to read your paper, and it says, the two bank robbers were caught, they were Nelson and B.J. O'Donnell. What? Those were well men. Now wait a minute.

It's bad when just anybody violates God's law. But it's even worse when someone who is supposed to be upholding the law violates God's law. But let's suppose you pick up the paper in the morning and instead of you reading Nelson O'Donnell and B.J. have robbed the bank, you read, the bank was robbed by Pastor John Weaver and Pastor Cliff Christman. What? These men have taught for years thou shalt not steal. Do you see where I'm going? Let me try to put it to you like this. When you read Leviticus chapter 4, and I would encourage you to read it when you get home, there are different sacrifices to be offered for sin based upon the office, the lot, or the responsibility of the people there. So let me explain it like this. The argument is what you and I would call from the greater to the lesser. So in Leviticus chapter 4 and verse 3, when a priest sinned, he had to bring forth a bullock, a young ox. He had to bring forth, he couldn't bring forth anything else. It had to be a bullock. When you get down to verse 13, when the whole congregation had sinned, again it had to be a bullock. Couldn't be anything else. When you get down then to verse 22, if a single ruler sinned, he had to bring a kid of the goats. Now wait a minute, not a bullock, a kid of the goats. And then when you get down to verses 27 through 32, when an ordinary, everyday person sinned, they could bring either a kid of the goats or a lamb, and it didn't matter whether it was male or female.

So it starts with the priest. Why did he have to have a bullock? Because he had a greater responsibility. He had more blessings. He had more advantages. He had more privileges. What about the whole congregation? That would be the rulers in it all together. Once again, it had to be a bullock, but if it was a single ruler, it had to be a goat and it had to be a male, but when it's an ordinary individual, anything would do, goat or lamb. It didn't matter. So God then was requiring a greater sacrifice from those who were in positions of responsibility.

The Principle of Greater Culpability

Scripture teaches that those with more knowledge and responsibility receive greater judgment (James 3:1; Luke 12:47-48). Sinning against light is far worse.

So let me put it to you again. The greater the privileges, the greater the responsibilities and the greater the opportunities, the greater the sacrifice for sin. And here's why. Because people who have more light and more knowledge are more culpable. They demand a greater condemnation or greater censure. I'm going to prove that to you from Scripture. James chapter 3, verse 1. You know what James said there?

In fact, go ahead and look there. I can quote it, but I want you to see it because there's another passage in James that I want you to see. Look in James chapter 3, Hebrews, James, James chapter 3. Notice if you would please verse 1. Look what he says. James 3, verse 1,

Scripture Reading — James 3:1

"My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation."

What? If I'm standing up here telling you tonight that I'm your teacher and your pastor stands up and says, well, I'm your teacher, guess what?

God is holding us more accountable than he is you. We will get a greater censure and a greater condemnation because we have a greater responsibility. Look in James 4 and verse 17. Hang on. James 4, verse 17. I'm sorry, James 4, verse 17.

Scripture Reading — James 4:17

"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

Why? Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and he doesn't do it, to him it is sin. What are you doing? You're sinning against light. You're sinning against knowledge. You're sinning against understanding. You're sinning against blessing. You're sinning against advantages.

Years ago, Alice and I had some dear friends, and they were older than we were. And they had three sons, and they kind of adopted Alice and I, and we always called them Mama and Papa Marsh. We were not related, but we called them Mama and Papa. And he would come to our house, and he played a saxophone. And I'd have to say, Papa, please stop playing that saxophone, because Alice had to sit there and play the piano. I'd say, please stop playing that saxophone just long enough for her to cook supper. And then you can come back and let her play the piano and you can play the saxophone. And he played it beautifully.

There's no two ways about it. But I stopped at their house, Alice and I did, because they were having a little family reunion and we were counted as family and we stopped there. And I had just come back from a week of preaching and had to stop just for a few hours before I headed home. And time I got in the house, his daughter-in-law began to ask me questions. I mean, just one right after the other. And I was trying to answer the questions. And finally, Papa looked at her and he said, "Francis, why don't you shut up and leave him alone? Can't you see he's tired?" And Francis said, "Well, Papa, I don't know the answer to these questions and it bothers me." And I never will forget what Papa Marsh said. He said, "Huh? It's not those things I don't know that bothers me, it's those things I do know. To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

Look in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 12. Look what our Lord says, Luke chapter 12. Let's begin reading in verse 40, Luke 12, verse 40. Luke chapter 12, verse 40. Our Lord says,

Scripture Reading — Luke 12:40-48

"Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he

is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." Did you just hear what our Lord said? That servant who knew his lord's will and prepared not himself, neither did that will, he will be beaten with many stripes. The greater the privilege, the greater the advantages, the greater the blessings, the greater the opportunities, the greater the censure and condemnation that you will receive. For he said that man who didn't know and did shall be beaten with few stripes.

Then he said, "of whom much is given, much is required." Now, folks, I'm going to tell you something. There's a vast difference between a sin of ignorance and a sin of presumption. Vast difference between doing something without even thinking and doing something that you thought through and said, yeah, I'm going to do it regardless. I want you to look back in your Bibles to the book of Numbers chapter 15, Numbers chapter 15. And look, if you would, beginning there with verse 29, Numbers 15, verse 29. Look what God says. Numbers 15, verse 29. God says, "Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance,

both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them." One law for him that sinneth through ignorance, didn't know what he was doing. Verse 30, "But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off;

Application to Believers Today

Believers have immense privileges in Christ and His Word; to turn away is presumptuous sin that invites severe chastisement. We must take heed how we hear and obey.

He shall bear his iniquity. What for? He hath despised the Lord. Wow. That's why James said, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." Now, I want you to listen carefully. Here's the point of everything that I've said. Do you realize as the people of God how blessed you are? To have the word of God. How blessed you are to hear the preaching of his word? How blessed you are to have light?

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. It is the Lord's mercies that he opened our eyes and gave us understanding. It's the Lord's mercy that he revealed to us the Lord Jesus Christ and his so great sacrifice and his so great salvation. It is the Lord's mercies that he's given us everything that we have. And then for you and I to turn our backs upon God and His truth, His word, is a sin of presumption. May I remind you of something? In Mark 4:24, our Lord said it like this, "Take heed what ye hear." Take heed what you hear. You have a responsibility to make sure that you hear truth. You have a responsibility to make sure that you hear things that are virtuous and praiseworthy and good and honest, like the Bible demands.

But when you get to Luke chapter 8 and verse 18, he says the same thing, but he says it just a little differently. Now he says, "Take heed how ye hear." What? Take heed how you hear. In other words, you better not come to church, oh well, easy come, easy go. If I listen, I'll be fine. If I don't, I can pick up. No, no, no, no. God said you better take heed how you hear. You better make sure that you hear. And you better make sure what you hear. Because you remember in Hebrews chapter 10, he called it

the despising of the Spirit of grace, and a trampling of the Lord Jesus Christ under our feet. God has given us tremendous opportunities. Sometimes my mind is just overwhelmed with the goodness and the mercies of God. I think, who am I? Not only to have experienced the grace of God and to be saved by his mercy, but to have understanding and to be able to preach and proclaim his truth. Who am I? And what am I? And yet God did choose us before the foundation of the world. Isn't that amazing? Doesn't that astound you?

And how then can we treat everything so flippantly? How can we treat everything like, well, it doesn't really matter? It does matter. I want you to return to one last passage. I want you to turn to 2 Thessalonians 2. I want you to see this. I want you to see that it does matter because sins against light and knowledge and conscience and truth and advantages and blessings and opportunities merit a far greater condemnation. Look, if you would, 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, beginning there with verse 10.

"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." People did not receive the truth. They did not love the truth. Watch verse 11. "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." Wow. Don't tell me it doesn't matter how you respond to truth. It does matter. You remember that passage in 2 Kings chapter 5, where Naaman the leper came before Elisha. And Elisha just said, "Go wash in Jordan seven times, and thou shalt be clean." He went away angry.

Finally, his men said, "If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?" So he went and dipped in the Jordan River seven times and came out clean. And he came back to Elisha, and he wanted to give him money. He wanted to give him changes of garments. Elisha said, "No, I don't need anything. Don't want anything. Take it and go." But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, who was there, who heard what Elisha said, after Naaman had gone a good way off, he said, "My master spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him."

So he ran after him and caught him. He looked at Naaman and he said, "My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments." And he did. And his servants brought them back. When Gehazi got them and hid them, he went and stood before Elisha. And Elisha said unto him, "Whence comest thou, Gehazi?" And he said, "Thy servant went no whither." And he said unto him, "Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever." What did Gehazi do?

He sinned against the truth because he heard exactly what Elisha said. And I'm going to tell you something, folks. You can take this for whatever it's worth. I believe a lot of our physical ailments, our physical sicknesses begin with our spiritual sins and wickedness against God. You cannot, you cannot thumb your nose at God. You cannot despise the truth of God. You cannot refuse to obey God and expect to escape his chastisement.

Conclusion and Prayer

Weaver urges obedience to the truth and closes in prayer, asking God to help the congregation apply the principle of greater responsibility leading to greater accountability.

Now you say, Brother Weaver, that's quite a statement. It may be, but if you'll read 1 Corinthians chapter 11, you remember that passage there where he's talking about the Lord's table? And they were eating it wrongly? And what did Paul say? "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." They had physical sickness and death because they abused the truth of God. We who have the truth must not dare turn from the truth. The greater the opportunities, the greater the blessings, the greater the advantages, the more deserving you are of condemnation if you sin against that light. Jeremiah said, "the punishment of the daughter of my people was greater than the punishment of Sodom that was overthrown in a moment. No hands stayed on her." But for Jerusalem, hands stayed on her for two years until she was destroyed. If we do not want destruction, we must stand with the truth and for the truth and apply the truth in our lives.

And if you've been delivered by the grace of God, God expects you to obey. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow before thee. We thank thee for your love, your grace, your truth, your mercy. Show us, Lord, the importance of this principle, that the greater the responsibility, the greater the culpability. Help us, Lord, to obey and apply. In the name of Jesus Christ we ask, amen. And if you've been delivered by the grace of God, God expects you to obey. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow before thee. We thank thee for your love, your grace, your truth, your mercy. Show us, Lord, the importance of this principle, that the greater the responsibility, the greater the culpability. Help us, Lord, to obey and apply. In the name of Jesus Christ we ask, amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Greater Light, Greater Judgment

Summary: Those who have received more revelation and blessings from God face stricter judgment when they sin.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'The greater the advantages, the greater the opportunities, the greater the blessings that you have, when you ignore and despise those, the greater is your condemnation.'

Presumptuous Sin vs. Sin of Ignorance

Summary: Deliberate, knowing sin is far more serious than unintentional sin, as seen in Numbers 15:29-31.

Evidence: Weaver contrasts the one law for sins of ignorance with the cutting off of those who sin presumptuously, despising God's word.

The Danger of Despising Truth

Summary: Rejecting or neglecting known truth leads to strong delusion and divine judgment, as in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12.

Evidence: Weaver warns, 'Don't tell me it doesn't matter how you respond to truth. It does matter.'

God's Chastisement on His People

Summary: Physical ailments and even death can result from abusing spiritual privileges, as with the Corinthians at the Lord's Table.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'I believe a lot of our physical ailments, our physical sicknesses begin with our spiritual sins and wickedness against God.'

Key Arguments

Jerusalem's punishment exceeded Sodom's because her sins were greater.

Summary: Lamentations 4:6 states Jerusalem's punishment was greater; Ezekiel 16:47-48 confirms her corruption exceeded Sodom's.

Evidence: Weaver reads Ezekiel 16:47-48: 'thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways... Sodom thy sister hath not done... as thou hast done.'

Jerusalem sinned against greater light and privilege.

Summary: Israel alone possessed God's oracles, temple, and covenants, making their rebellion more culpable.

Evidence: Weaver cites Romans 3:1-2 and Ephesians 2:11-12 to show Israel's unique advantages.

Scripture teaches degrees of accountability based on knowledge.

Summary: James 3:1 warns teachers of greater condemnation; Luke 12:47-48 distinguishes many stripes from few stripes based on knowledge of the master's will.

Evidence: Weaver reads Luke 12:47-48: 'that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself... shall be beaten with many stripes.'

Presumptuous sin brings severe consequences.

Summary: Numbers 15:30-31 mandates being cut off for despising God's word; David prayed to be kept from presumptuous sins.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Numbers 15:30: 'the soul that doeth ought presumptuously... reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off.'

Believers today have even greater light and must heed the warning.

Summary: Having the full revelation of Christ and Scripture, Christians are without excuse if they turn from truth.

Evidence: Weaver asks, 'Do you realize as the people of God how blessed you are? To have the word of God... How blessed you are to have light?'

Scripture References

Lamentations 4:6

Context: The key verse: Jerusalem's punishment greater than Sodom's.

Amos 5:1

Context: God takes up a lamentation against Israel.

Jeremiah 7:29

Context: Jerusalem told to take up a lamentation; God has rejected them.

Jeremiah 9:9, 17-22

Context: God's vengeance on the nation; wailing and lamentation for Jerusalem's destruction.

Revelation 11:8

Context: Jerusalem spiritually called Sodom and Egypt.

Deuteronomy 32:32

Context: Israel's vine is of the vine of Sodom and fields of Gomorrah.

Isaiah 1:8-10

Context: God addresses rulers of Sodom and people of Gomorrah, referring to Jerusalem.

Isaiah 3:8-9

Context: Jerusalem and Judah declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not.

Jeremiah 23:14

Context: Prophets of Jerusalem are as Sodom and inhabitants as Gomorrah.

Ezekiel 16:44-50

Context: Jerusalem's sins worse than Sodom's; Sodom's sins listed: pride, fullness of bread, idleness, etc.

Genesis 19:12-25

Context: Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; Lot's escape.

Jeremiah 52:1-7

Context: Siege and fall of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.

Ezekiel 14:21

Context: God's four sore judgments on Jerusalem: sword, famine, noisome beast, pestilence.

Lamentations 4:7-10

Context: Famine in Jerusalem; cannibalism among women.

Leviticus 4:3, 13, 22, 27-32

Context: Different sacrifices required based on office and responsibility.

James 3:1

Context: Teachers will receive greater condemnation.

James 4:17

Context: To him that knows to do good and does it not, it is sin.

Luke 12:40-48

Context: Servant who knew his lord's will and did not prepare will be beaten with many stripes; to whom much is given, much required.

Numbers 15:29-31

Context: One law for sins of ignorance; presumptuous sin brings being cut off.

Deuteronomy 4:5-8

Context: Israel's unique wisdom and nearness to God through His statutes.

Historical References

Nebuchadnezzar's sieges of Jerusalem (605 BC and 586 BC)

Context: Weaver describes the two attacks: first in 605 BC making Judah a tribute state, then in 586 BC destroying the city after Zedekiah's rebellion.

Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

Context: Referenced as a sudden, instantaneous judgment contrasted with Jerusalem's prolonged suffering.

Custom of composing lamentations over deceased friends and cities

Context: Weaver explains the ancient practice, citing David's laments for Saul, Jonathan, and Abner.

Important Quotes

For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.

Significance: The central verse of the message, establishing that Jerusalem's judgment exceeded Sodom's.

The greater the advantages, the greater the opportunities, the greater the blessings that you have, when you ignore and despise those, the greater is your condemnation.

Significance: Succinct statement of the sermon's main principle.

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Significance: James 4:17 quoted to show that sinning against knowledge is especially culpable.

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Significance: Luke 12:48, the foundational principle of proportional accountability.

But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

Significance: Numbers 15:30, highlighting the severity of deliberate sin.

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Significance: 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, warning of judgment for rejecting truth.

I believe a lot of our physical ailments, our physical sicknesses begin with our spiritual sins and wickedness against God.

Significance: Application that spiritual rebellion can lead to physical chastisement.

Discussion Questions

Why does God consider Jerusalem's sins worse than Sodom's, and what does that teach us about accountability?

Context: Weaver explains that Jerusalem had greater light and privileges, making their sin more presumptuous.

How does the principle 'to whom much is given, much is required' apply to believers today?

Context: Weaver applies Luke 12:48 to the congregation, emphasizing their responsibility with the truth they have received.

What is the difference between a sin of ignorance and a presumptuous sin, and why does God treat them differently?

Context: Weaver contrasts Numbers 15:29-31 and explains that presumptuous sin despises God's word.

In what ways might we be guilty of 'despising the truth' in our daily lives?

Context: Weaver warns against treating God's word flippantly and not taking heed how we hear.

How can we guard against becoming callous to the light and truth we have received?

Context: Weaver urges obedience and application of truth to avoid chastisement.

Applications

Take heed how you hear God's Word

Summary: Believers must not treat preaching and Scripture casually but receive it with reverence and obedience.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'God said you better take heed how you hear. You better make sure that you hear.'

Do not sin presumptuously against known truth

Summary: Deliberately disobeying what you know is right invites severe judgment; pray as David did to be kept from presumptuous sins.

Evidence: Weaver warns, 'You cannot thumb your nose at God. You cannot despise the truth of God.'

Recognize the greater accountability of teachers and leaders

Summary: Those who teach or lead in the church will receive stricter judgment and must live accordingly.

Evidence: Weaver cites James 3:1 and applies it to himself and the pastor.

Value and obey the light you have received

Summary: Since believers have been given great spiritual blessings, they must not turn back but walk in obedience.

Evidence: Weaver asks, 'How can we treat everything so flippantly? ... It does matter.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T02:38:08Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T15:58:20Z

Clean Transcript

Who Much Is Given, Much Is Expected

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

All right. Let me say it's, again, a joy to be here, and I'm thankful for the opportunity. Good to see each one of you here. Glad to have Pat and Audrey Goden. I guess those are grandkids coming in with you? It's wonderful. Grandkids are God's reward for not killing your own kids. And that's a fact. I love them. I appreciate them. Our oldest granddaughter is 28. How old? 29 already. When she was two years old, she and I were lying in bed waiting on Alice to come to bed. And Alice was standing within earshot, and Renee is her name, and she called herself Nay. She rolled over to me and she patted me on the chest and she said, "Nay and Papa are tender, but Granny Alice is a tough old bird." So I keep telling her after all these years, treat me gently because I'm tender.
#1 | 0:00 to 1:09 | cleaned
But somehow she doesn't really believe me. And I don't know why, but that's the way it goes. Well, I want you to open your Bibles tonight, if you would please, to the book of Lamentations, chapter 4. That's right after the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah not only wrote the book of Jeremiah, but also wrote the book of Lamentations. I want to bring a message tonight. I hope that we'll try to put together everything that I've taught you this week. Actually, the message deals with the greater the responsibility, the greater the culpability. So if you'll notice, if you would please, in the book of Lamentations chapter 4 and verse 6, just one simple verse, we'll be looking at a lot more, but this one verse, Lamentations 4 verse 6, Jeremiah writes, "For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the
#2 | 1:09 to 2:05 | cleaned
punishment of the sin of Sodom that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her." Everyone knows that Jeremiah is the weeping prophet, and Jeremiah saw the destruction and the fall of Jerusalem. And actually the book of Lamentations was written as he viewed the fall and destruction of Jerusalem. The word Lamentations actually comes from the ancient custom of composing and singing lamentations over deceased friends and loved ones. For instance, David composed lamentations over Saul and Jonathan in 2 Samuel chapter 1. He also composed a lamentation over Abner in 2 Samuel chapter 3. And so in early times this habit of singing lamentations over fallen loved ones or friends was then extended over cities and countries as well.
#3 | 2:05 to 3:04 | cleaned
So let me just quote one. And I want you to turn to Jeremiah, chapter 7, if you would, please. But in the book of Amos, chapter 5 and verse 1, God says, "Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel." So in the book of Amos, chapter 5 and verse 1, God is taking up a lamentation against the house of Israel. So if you look in Jeremiah chapter 7 and verse 29, God says it like this, just to show you Lamentations was extended to cities and countries. He says, "Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the Lord hath rejected and forsaken the generation of His wrath." So God was forsaking and rejecting the people of Judah at that particular time. If you look in Jeremiah, chapter 9 and verse 9, just to set the stage, notice what he said, Jeremiah 9 and verse 9, "Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the Lord: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?"
#4 | 3:05 to 4:13 | cleaned
So we're talking about the nation of Judah. Jerusalem, the capital. Now skip down to verse 17. "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come: and let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters. For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out. Yet hear the word of the Lord, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation. For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets. Speak, Thus saith the Lord, Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them." So here God is saying Jerusalem is going to be destroyed and they are indeed to take up a lamentation against Jerusalem because God will indeed remove
#5 | 4:14 to 5:29 | cleaned
the people. Now, the Book of Lamentations is indeed a memorial dirge written upon the destruction and humiliation of Jerusalem. It is indeed a cloudburst of grief, a river of tears, and a sea of sobs. It has been called an elegy written in a graveyard. If you look at the Book of Lamentations, you will find that there are five chapters. Really and truly, each of these chapters is an individual poem about the fall and destruction of Jerusalem. For instance, in chapter 1, you have the effects of sin, the people in captivity, the acts of oppression, starvation, tyranny, and scoffing. When you get to Lamentations chapter 2, you see the destruction of Judah as an act of God's wrath against the sins of the people and their impotency to avert that wrath.
#6 | 5:29 to 6:27 | cleaned
In other words, it's going to come, they cannot stop it. When you get to chapter 3, you see the deep spiritual sufferings of God's people in the midst of their general distress. And at the same time, you also see their ability to perceive not only the compassion of God, but the justice of God as well. When you get to chapter 4, you see the punishment of the sins of the people as well as their rulers. And then when you finally get to chapter 5, the Lord is entreated there to remove the distress from His people and the disgrace as well.
#7 | 6:27 to 7:01 | cleaned
Now, the thing that really caught my eye a long time ago was verse 6. I want you to look at verse 6 again in Lamentations chapter 4. For Jeremiah wrote, "For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her." So he's talking about Jerusalem now. So Jeremiah says very plainly that the destruction and humiliation of Jerusalem and the judgment that Jerusalem received was far greater than the judgment that Sodom and Gomorrah received. Wow.
#8 | 7:02 to 7:50 | cleaned
So you're going to have to ask yourself this question. Why was Jerusalem judged so strenuously? We certainly know the wickedness, the perversity and the depravity of Sodom and Gomorrah, those cities of the plain. We also know that they deserved exactly what they received. That is utter destruction. But then you have to ask this question. Was Jerusalem as wicked and as vile as Sodom? And the answer comes back. I shall show it to you from scripture that Jerusalem was actually more vile and more wicked than Sodom and Gomorrah. Wow. I want you to turn in your Bibles, hold in Lamentations for we're coming back there. But I want you to turn first of all to the book of Revelation chapter 11 and then we're going to go back to the book of Deuteronomy. We'll look in Revelation chapter 11 if you would please. And notice, if you would, what God says concerning Judah and Jerusalem. So in Revelation chapter 11 and verse 8, he's talking here about the two witnesses that have been killed. Revelation chapter 11, verse 8, the Bible says, "And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified."
#9 | 7:52 to 9:17 | cleaned
Well, where was our Lord crucified? Jerusalem. And I want you to pay close attention to the fact that God called Jerusalem spiritually Sodom and Egypt. Egypt was known as an enemy of God and an enemy of God's people, and Sodom was known for its depravity and its wickedness, and God says, "This city is now called Sodom and Egypt." I want you to go back in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 32, then we're going to go back to Isaiah, but look in Deuteronomy chapter 32, if you would please, just to show you this is no passing reference to Judah and Jerusalem. And Deuteronomy chapter 32 and verse 32. God is still talking about Judah and Jerusalem. And look what he says. Deuteronomy 32, verse 32, "For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter." So he says their vine is of the vine of Sodom and the fields of Gomorrah. Wow. So God is now talking about Jerusalem and he's still calling it Sodom and Gomorrah.
#10 | 9:18 to 10:36 | cleaned
If you look in your Bibles to the book of Isaiah chapter 1, Isaiah chapter 1, and notice if you would beginning there with verse 8, still just showing you what God is saying about Judah and Jerusalem. So Isaiah chapter 1 beginning there with verse 8. Watch carefully in this particular passage God makes it exceedingly clear. Isaiah 1 verse 8. He says, "And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant,
#11 | 10:36 to 11:13 | cleaned
we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah." And now notice what God says to them. "Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah." Wow. Hmm. And if you'll go back to verse 2, He says, "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me." So he's calling his own people here Sodom and Gomorrah. Look in Isaiah chapter 3 if you would please, beginning there with verse 9. Isaiah chapter 3, look in verse 9. In fact, go back to verse 8 just so that you can see who is in the context. Verse 8, "For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory. The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not.
#12 | 11:14 to 12:25 | cleaned
Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him." But notice if you would in verse 9 there, He says, "The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not." So just like Sodom was proud, arrogant, and open with their sin and rebellion, so it says Judah and Jerusalem were proud and arrogant and open about their sin and their rebellion as well. So in a multitude of passages, God still refers to Judah and Jerusalem as Sodom and Gomorrah. If you'd look in the book of Jeremiah chapter 23 and verse 14, just over a few pages, Jeremiah 23, notice if you would please verse 14. Look what God says, Jeremiah 23 and verse 14. Now I'm trying to remind you that God said through the prophet Jeremiah, that the punishment of Judah and Jerusalem was worse than the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah.
#13 | 12:26 to 13:39 | cleaned
Notice if you would, Jeremiah 23, verse 14, God says, "I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah." Wow. So God is saying all of the people in Jerusalem are unto him as Sodom and Gomorrah. Now, you understand that Jerusalem not only committed physical sins, but they also committed spiritual sins as well. In one sense of the word, spiritual sins are far greater than physical sins. All sins are against God. You know, we can quote Psalm 51, verse 4, where David is confessing his sin and David says to God, "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight." Well, let me ask you a question. When David is saying to God, "Against thee, thee only, have I committed this sin and done this evil in thy sight," did he not sin against Bathsheba?
#14 | 13:40 to 15:00 | cleaned
Did he not sin against Uriah? Did he not sin against the family, his family, her family? Did he not sin against the nation? And the answer is yes. But what he is saying in Psalm 51 in verse 4, that I understand that primarily my sin is directed against God. Now all sin is directed against God. However, there are some sins that are specifically directed against God. For instance, idolatry, blasphemy, hypocrisy, and a host of other spiritual sins are really and truly directed especially against God. In idolatry, you're denying that the one true and the living God is God. In blasphemy, you're cursing the one true and the living God. In hypocrisy, you're pretending that God cannot see and God does not know. So all of these sins are directed specifically against God.
#15 | 15:00 to 15:56 | cleaned
Now, Jeremiah said that the punishment of Jerusalem was worse than the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah. Let me ask you a question. Do you really and truly know what the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah were? Now, I know what you're thinking in your mind. You're going to say, yes, their sin was sodomy. That is where we get our word sodomy from the sodomites who lived in Sodom. Well, that is true. That was certainly their sin, but I want you to hold Lamentations chapter 4 and look in your Bibles to the book of Ezekiel chapter 16. Turn right over. Ezekiel chapter 16. And we're going to be reading beginning with verse 44. And I want you to hold this passage because we will come back to it probably just a little bit later. But I want you to see what God says. Now, he's talking about Judah and Jerusalem in this passage. So notice, if you would, Ezekiel 16 and verse 44. God says, "Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter." And of course, you and I understand that proverb because daughters usually look like mothers, act like mothers, develop the same habits and attitudes and dispositions of their mothers.
#16 | 15:57 to 17:28 | cleaned
So that's where this proverb originated. And so here's what God says to Judah and Jerusalem. "Thou art thy mother's daughter, that lotheth her husband and her children; and thou art the sister of thy sisters, which lothed their husbands and their children: your mother was an Hittite, and your father an Amorite. And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters." So here is Jerusalem if you're facing like this. Samaria is here and Sodom is here. So God says, these are your two sisters talking to Judah and Jerusalem. Samaria on the left hand, Sodom on the right hand. And look what he says in verse 47.
#17 | 17:30 to 18:39 | cleaned
"Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways. As I live, saith the Lord God, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters." What an indictment. What an indictment. We tend to think of the awfulness of the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. And yet God is saying here that the sins of Judah and Jerusalem were far worse than the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. I want you to recall in your mind Lamentations 4 and verse 6, where Jeremiah said, "the punishment of the daughter of my people was greater than the punishment of Sodom.
#18 | 18:39 to 19:45 | cleaned
No hands stayed upon her." Now, what was Sodom's sin? Most everyone is going to say sodomy. And certainly that was part and parcel of it. But may I tell you that Sodom had far more sins than sodomy. In fact, there was a reason why that was one of her sins. Just like there's a reason in this country why it is growing by leaps and bounds. If you look in your Bible, so Ezekiel chapter 16, beginning with verse 49, God tells you specifically what the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah were. He says, "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good." Notice if you would please, the committing the abomination before him actually came last. What came first was pride. Then he said, fulness of bread. You know, the Bible says pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Scripture says he that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. So there was not only pride and arrogance, there was fulness of bread. They had an absolute abundance. They had plenty. And then he goes on to say, and abundance of idleness.
#19 | 19:46 to 20:40 | cleaned
You've heard the old adage. I know the older folks in here have. You've heard the old adage that an idle mind is the devil's workshop. May I tell you something? Idle hands are the devil's workshop as well. I got news for you. We're living in a day and time when people complain about a 40 hour work week. And now they're wanting a six hour work day. And I think of our founding fathers and I think of the early colonial farmers and men when you were up at daylight or before daylight and you worked all day and you came in at night and you were so dead tired you really wanted to go to bed. I'll tell you what, one
#20 | 20:41 to 21:40 | cleaned
of the problems we have today is indeed an abundance of idleness. Especially when we have a government that is socialistic and Marxist to the core that wants to give everybody everything without working. Notice if you would, pride, fulness of bread, idleness, and then they go on to say, God goes on to say this, "Neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy." In other words, there was no generosity. It was just total selfishness.
#21 | 21:43 to 22:40 | cleaned
I'm in it for me. I'm going to get what I can get. I'm going to get me and mine. And that's it. And I don't care about you. And then God says arrogance or haughtiness. And then they committed abomination before me. They had all this time to contemplate and think about all their wicked deeds and what all they could do. And they did it. And God said, because they did it, I took them away as I saw fit. Yeah, God did indeed punish Sodom and Gomorrah. He did indeed punish the cities of the plain. That is true. But the Bible still says in Jeremiah chapter 4 and verse 6, that the punishment of the daughter of Jerusalem was far greater than that of the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah.
#22 | 22:40 to 23:14 | cleaned
And then he said it like this. "It was overthrown as in a moment. No hands stayed on her." So let me show you. Go back in your Bibles to the book of Genesis chapter 19. And let me just refresh your mind on this. Here is where God is destroying Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities of the plain. Genesis chapter 19. And notice if you would beginning there with verse 12. Genesis 19 verse 12. Watch carefully. Genesis 19 verse 12.
#23 | 23:15 to 23:57 | cleaned
"And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place." I have a message. Well, I've got several messages on this passage. One of them is titled, "Lingering Lot." And of course, they had to take Lot by the hand and snatch him out of the city. But I have another message, and I tried to answer the question, why did Lot settle and stay in Sodom and Gomorrah? Wow. That will boggle your mind, but it shows you exactly where we are today. But notice if you would, "the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it. And Lot went out, and spake
#24 | 23:58 to 24:34 | cleaned
unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life;
#25 | 24:34 to 25:36 | cleaned
look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: behold now, this city is near to flee unto,
#26 | 25:36 to 26:16 | cleaned
and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.
#27 | 26:17 to 26:38 | cleaned
Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. Notice if you would, just the time Lot got clean away, just the time he entered into Zoar, God sent fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah. You remember what Jeremiah said?
#28 | 26:38 to 27:02 | cleaned
"They were overthrown as in a moment. No hands stayed on her." In other words, the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah was sudden. It was sure. It was so one moment they were alive, maybe enjoying their sins, enjoying their substance. They thought all was well. And the next moment they were dead standing before a righteous holy God. It was instantaneous. However, Jerusalem's punishment was not like this. That's why Jeremiah said, "the punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah, which were overthrown in a moment and no hands stayed on her." I want you to turn in your Bibles to Jeremiah chapter 52 and get ready because I want to show you exactly what Jeremiah is talking about. You see Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. Actually Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem twice. The first time he attacked Jerusalem was in 605 B.C. And at that particular time, he just merely defeated the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
#29 | 27:02 to 27:29 | cleaned
He took lots of prisoners and he made them a tribute city. And then he installed Zedekiah to be king. And Zedekiah ruled for about 11 years until Zedekiah rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. So when Nebuchadnezzar came back in 586 BC, he was going to make dead sure there was no one going to rebel against him anymore in this city. So when he came in 586, he destroyed the wall. He destroyed the temple. He destroyed the people. He killed them. He took prisoners. Watch it. Jeremiah, chapter 52, beginning with verse 1. "Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
#30 | 27:30 to 29:01 | cleaned
And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. For through the anger of the Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about. So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.
#31 | 29:02 to 30:05 | cleaned
Verse 7, "Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night," et cetera, et cetera. And here is the utter overthrow and defeat of Judah and Jerusalem. But I want you to note that Nebuchadnezzar came, the Bible says, in the ninth year of his reign. And therefore it continued until the 11th year of his reign. So for two years, Jerusalem was surrounded by their enemy. Two years, hands stayed upon Jerusalem, human hands, wicked hands. And not only were people slaughtered, but my goodness, you're going to find and discover the disease, starvation, and all of these things took care of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
#32 | 30:06 to 30:51 | cleaned
In fact, if you will hold Jeremiah 52, since it's close to the Lamentations, but look in your Bibles to Ezekiel chapter 14. Ezekiel chapter 14. Just turn right over a few pages to Ezekiel chapter 14, and look, if you would please, at verse 21. Ezekiel chapter 14, verse 21, where God talks about his four sore judgments. Look what he says. Ezekiel, chapter 14, verse 21, "For thus saith the Lord God; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?" Now, God says, I'm going to use all four of these in destroying Jerusalem. For two years, God used these. Notice if you would, please, in verse 21, he says, "How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword," and notice the next one, "and the famine." So you had the Babylonian soldiers without, and you had famine and disease and pestilence within. Listen to me, the famine inside Jerusalem was no ordinary famine.
#33 | 30:52 to 31:52 | cleaned
Let's look back in our Bibles to Lamentations chapter 4. Let's begin at verse 6 again, okay? Watch this carefully, Lamentations 4 verse 6. For Jeremiah says, "For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her."
#34 | 31:52 to 33:20 | cleaned
Now, Jeremiah is going to give you some information concerning famine and starvation in Jerusalem during this siege. He says in verse 7, "Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:" Now, he says in verse 8, "Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets:
#35 | 33:21 to 33:43 | cleaned
their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick." So here are people inside Jerusalem that are walking skeletons. They're actually starving to death. Their body has turned upon itself and it's basically eating itself. In fact, look what he said in verse 9. The famine was so horrible. He said, "They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field." So he said one thing about being killed with a sword. Once you're killed with a sword, it's at least over with kind of quickly. Being killed with a sword, he is saying, is a whole lot easier and a whole lot better than starving to death. How bad was that famine? Well, look in verse 10.
#36 | 33:44 to 34:16 | cleaned
"The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people." Women killed, cooked and ate their own children. His four sore judgments. Famine was one of them. Famine, cannibalism and devastation stalked Jerusalem. The destruction of Sodom was over instantly, but not the destruction and devastation of Jerusalem. Two years, two years Nebuchadnezzar fought against that city.
#37 | 34:16 to 35:16 | cleaned
Now let me ask you a question. Why? Did Jerusalem suffer more than Sodom? Jeremiah proclaims that fact, that they did. "The punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom." So the question is, why then did they suffer more?
#38 | 35:19 to 36:05 | cleaned
Now, go back in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Ezekiel chapter 16. I told you that we'd come right back there, but I want you to look at this again. I want you to notice what the scripture says. This is going to answer why Jerusalem suffered more than Sodom and Gomorrah, at least gives you part of it. Notice, if you would, Ezekiel, Chapter 16, 47 and 48. Look what he said. Talking about Judah and Jerusalem, "Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways. As I live, saith the Lord God, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters." Wow. So God is saying that Judah and Jerusalem sinned far more greatly than Sodom and Gomorrah. So we can answer the reason that Jerusalem was punished more was that her sins were greater.
#39 | 36:06 to 36:29 | cleaned
But now that doesn't help me particularly because anyone that can read can pick that up. Here's the question. Why were her sins considered greater? You know, I've heard Christians say, well, sin is sin. All sin is sin. Well, it's true that all sin is sin. And it's true that all sin is wicked, vile and abominable. But you and I both know there are some sins that are worse than others. There are.
#40 | 36:29 to 37:44 | cleaned
God does not demand the death penalty for theft. He demands restitution. Murder, it's far greater than theft. And God demands the death penalty for that. So while it is true all sin is sin, it is also true that there are some sins that are greater than other sins. And so here is the question that you have to ask. Why then were the sins of Judah and Jerusalem considered greater than the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah?
#41 | 37:45 to 38:18 | cleaned
So let me answer it for you. Here's the principle. The greater the responsibility, the greater the culpability.
#42 | 38:19 to 38:52 | cleaned
Now the word culpability is from the Latin, and it is an English word that indicates denoting that someone deserves censure or condemnation. So let me try to explain it like this. I just said the greater the responsibility, the greater the culpability. Let me put it down a little plainer. The greater the advantages, the greater the opportunities, the greater the blessings that you have, when you ignore and despise those, the greater is your condemnation. Jerusalem had far greater advantages and far greater blessings and far greater obligations than did Sodom and Gomorrah. Let me spell it out for you like this. What Jerusalem did, what Judah did was they sinned against light. They sinned against truth. They sinned against understanding. So let me try to explain it like this. Okay.
#43 | 38:55 to 39:06 | cleaned
Let's suppose that you get up in the morning and you open your newspaper and you read where two men robbed the local bank. Well, you look at it and say, I don't even know him. And you kind of ignore it. And you say they're bank robbers all the time. But if you begin to read your paper, and it says, the two bank robbers were caught, they were Nelson and B.J. O'Donnell. What? Those were well men. Now wait a minute.
#44 | 39:07 to 40:18 | cleaned
It's bad when just anybody violates God's law. But it's even worse when someone who is supposed to be upholding the law violates God's law. But let's suppose you pick up the paper in the morning and instead of you reading Nelson O'Donnell and B.J. have robbed the bank, you read, the bank was robbed by Pastor John Weaver and Pastor Cliff Christman. What? These men have taught for years thou shalt not steal.
#45 | 40:19 to 40:59 | cleaned
Do you see where I'm going? Let me try to put it to you like this. When you read Leviticus chapter 4, and I would encourage you to read it when you get home, there are different sacrifices to be offered for sin based upon the office, the lot, or the responsibility of the people there. So let me explain it like this. The argument is what you and I would call from the greater to the lesser. So in Leviticus chapter 4 and verse 3, when a priest sinned, he had to bring forth a bullock, a young ox. He had to bring forth, he couldn't bring forth anything else. It had to be a bullock. When you get down to verse 13, when the whole congregation had sinned, again it had to be a bullock. Couldn't be anything else. When you get down then to verse 22, if a single ruler sinned, he had to bring a kid of the goats. Now wait a minute, not a bullock, a kid of the goats. And then when you get down to verses 27 through 32, when an ordinary, everyday person sinned, they could bring either a kid of the goats or a lamb, and it didn't matter whether it was male or female.
#46 | 41:00 to 41:32 | cleaned
So it starts with the priest. Why did he have to have a bullock? Because he had a greater responsibility. He had more blessings. He had more advantages. He had more privileges. What about the whole congregation? That would be the rulers in it all together. Once again, it had to be a bullock, but if it was a single ruler, it had to be a goat and it had to be a male, but when it's an ordinary individual, anything would do, goat or lamb. It didn't matter. So God then was requiring a greater sacrifice from those who were in positions of responsibility.
#47 | 41:36 to 43:06 | cleaned
So let me put it to you again. The greater the privileges, the greater the responsibilities and the greater the opportunities, the greater the sacrifice for sin. And here's why. Because people who have more light and more knowledge are more culpable. They demand a greater condemnation or greater censure. I'm going to prove that to you from Scripture. James chapter 3, verse 1. You know what James said there?
#48 | 43:07 to 43:45 | cleaned
In fact, go ahead and look there. I can quote it, but I want you to see it because there's another passage in James that I want you to see. Look in James chapter 3, Hebrews, James, James chapter 3. Notice if you would please verse 1. Look what he says. James 3, verse 1, "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." What? If I'm standing up here telling you tonight that I'm your teacher and your pastor stands up and says, well, I'm your teacher, guess what?
#49 | 43:45 to 44:18 | cleaned
God is holding us more accountable than he is you. We will get a greater censure and a greater condemnation because we have a greater responsibility. Look in James 4 and verse 17. Hang on. James 4, verse 17. I'm sorry, James 4, verse 17. "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." Why? Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and he doesn't do it, to him it is sin. What are you doing? You're sinning against light. You're sinning against knowledge. You're sinning against understanding. You're sinning against blessing. You're sinning against advantages.
#50 | 44:20 to 45:04 | cleaned
Years ago, Alice and I had some dear friends, and they were older than we were. And they had three sons, and they kind of adopted Alice and I, and we always called them Mama and Papa Marsh. We were not related, but we called them Mama and Papa. And he would come to our house, and he played a saxophone. And I'd have to say, Papa, please stop playing that saxophone, because Alice had to sit there and play the piano. I'd say, please stop playing that saxophone just long enough for her to cook supper. And then you can come back and let her play the piano and you can play the saxophone. And he played it beautifully.
#51 | 45:05 to 46:00 | cleaned
There's no two ways about it. But I stopped at their house, Alice and I did, because they were having a little family reunion and we were counted as family and we stopped there. And I had just come back from a week of preaching and had to stop just for a few hours before I headed home. And time I got in the house, his daughter-in-law began to ask me questions. I mean, just one right after the other. And I was trying to answer the questions.
#52 | 46:01 to 46:43 | cleaned
And finally, Papa looked at her and he said, "Francis, why don't you shut up and leave him alone? Can't you see he's tired?" And Francis said, "Well, Papa, I don't know the answer to these questions and it bothers me." And I never will forget what Papa Marsh said. He said, "Huh? It's not those things I don't know that bothers me, it's those things I do know. To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin."
#53 | 46:43 to 47:11 | cleaned
Look in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 12. Look what our Lord says, Luke chapter 12. Let's begin reading in verse 40, Luke 12, verse 40. Luke chapter 12, verse 40. Our Lord says, "Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he
#54 | 47:12 to 47:51 | cleaned
is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."
#55 | 47:52 to 48:59 | cleaned
Did you just hear what our Lord said? That servant who knew his lord's will and prepared not himself, neither did that will, he will be beaten with many stripes. The greater the privilege, the greater the advantages, the greater the blessings, the greater the opportunities, the greater the censure and condemnation that you will receive. For he said that man who didn't know and did shall be beaten with few stripes.
#56 | 48:59 to 49:38 | cleaned
Then he said, "of whom much is given, much is required." Now, folks, I'm going to tell you something. There's a vast difference between a sin of ignorance and a sin of presumption. Vast difference between doing something without even thinking and doing something that you thought through and said, yeah, I'm going to do it regardless. I want you to look back in your Bibles to the book of Numbers chapter 15, Numbers chapter 15. And look, if you would, beginning there with verse 29, Numbers 15, verse 29. Look what God says. Numbers 15, verse 29. God says, "Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance,
#57 | 49:39 to 50:09 | cleaned
both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them." One law for him that sinneth through ignorance, didn't know what he was doing. Verse 30, "But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off;
#58 | 50:11 to 51:06 | cleaned
his iniquity shall be upon him." Wow. I hope you begin to see here is an answer as to why Judah and Jerusalem were punished so strenuously. Here is why their punishment was far greater than that of Sodom and Gomorrah. Because Judah and Jerusalem sinned against the light. They sinned against knowledge. They sinned against blessings and advantages and opportunities. Let me show you. I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 4. Then we'll go to the book of Romans. But look in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 4, and let's begin reading there verse 6. Deuteronomy chapter 4. In fact, we'll read verse 5. Deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 5.
#59 | 51:07 to 51:39 | cleaned
Look what God says. "Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?"
#60 | 51:40 to 52:31 | cleaned
Do you understand that Israel and especially Judah and Jerusalem had a tremendous advantage over all of the other nations? If you will look in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 3, I want you to see what the Apostle Paul said. Romans chapter 3 beginning there with verse 1. Look at it. It should answer your question. Why did God judge Jerusalem so much more than he did Sodom and Gomorrah? Look at it. Romans chapter 3 verse 1, "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God." The Assyrians didn't have the law of God. The Ammonites didn't have the law of God. The Moabites didn't have the law of God. The Egyptians didn't have the law of God. Israel had the law of God. God gave it to them. When you get to the book of Ephesians chapter 2, verses 11 and 12, God says, "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth
#61 | 52:31 to 53:21 | cleaned
of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world." Only Israel had God's oracles. God gave it to them. What did they do? They sinned against light. They sinned against their advantage. They sinned against their opportunity. They sinned against their blessing. When you stop and think about Judah and Jerusalem, may I remind you that it was in Judah at Jerusalem that the tabernacle and later the temple were located. It was in Judah at Jerusalem that God revealed himself in the Shekinah glory. It was in Judah and Jerusalem where the priests and the Levites were. It was in Judah and Jerusalem where the law was and the ceremonies and the rituals and everything that God had revealed. And they sinned against light.
#62 | 53:22 to 54:52 | cleaned
Their sin was no sin of ignorance. It was a sin of presumption. They basically took the attitude, I don't care what God says. I don't care what God has given us. I don't care. We will do what we want to do. We will act the way we want to act. We will live the way we want to live. Have you ever wondered why David in Psalm 19 verse 13 says, "Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me." What he's praying is don't let me do anything deliberately and willingly that I know better that is wicked and wrong and ungodly. So it's one thing to sin in ignorance. It's quite another thing to sin willingly and presumptuously. You shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, he that is born in the land and the stranger through the land, but he that doeth ought presumptuously, sinneth against his own soul.
#63 | 54:52 to 56:00 | cleaned
He shall bear his iniquity. What for? He hath despised the Lord. Wow. That's why James said, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." Now, I want you to listen carefully. Here's the point of everything that I've said. Do you realize as the people of God how blessed you are? To have the word of God. How blessed you are to hear the preaching of his word? How blessed you are to have light?
#64 | 56:00 to 57:08 | cleaned
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. It is the Lord's mercies that he opened our eyes and gave us understanding. It's the Lord's mercy that he revealed to us the Lord Jesus Christ and his so great sacrifice and his so great salvation. It is the Lord's mercies that he's given us everything that we have.
#65 | 57:09 to 57:53 | cleaned
And then for you and I to turn our backs upon God and His truth, His word, is a sin of presumption. May I remind you of something? In Mark 4:24, our Lord said it like this, "Take heed what ye hear." Take heed what you hear. You have a responsibility to make sure that you hear truth. You have a responsibility to make sure that you hear things that are virtuous and praiseworthy and good and honest, like the Bible demands.
#66 | 57:56 to 58:20 | cleaned
But when you get to Luke chapter 8 and verse 18, he says the same thing, but he says it just a little differently. Now he says, "Take heed how ye hear." What? Take heed how you hear. In other words, you better not come to church, oh well, easy come, easy go. If I listen, I'll be fine. If I don't, I can pick up. No, no, no, no. God said you better take heed how you hear. You better make sure that you hear. And you better make sure what you hear. Because you remember in Hebrews chapter 10, he called it
#67 | 58:24 to 59:05 | cleaned
the despising of the Spirit of grace, and a trampling of the Lord Jesus Christ under our feet. God has given us tremendous opportunities. Sometimes my mind is just overwhelmed with the goodness and the mercies of God. I think, who am I? Not only to have experienced the grace of God and to be saved by his mercy, but to have understanding and to be able to preach and proclaim his truth. Who am I? And what am I? And yet God did choose us before the foundation of the world. Isn't that amazing? Doesn't that astound you?
#68 | 59:06 to 59:47 | cleaned
And how then can we treat everything so flippantly? How can we treat everything like, well, it doesn't really matter? It does matter. I want you to return to one last passage. I want you to turn to 2 Thessalonians 2. I want you to see this. I want you to see that it does matter because sins against light and knowledge and conscience and truth and advantages and blessings and opportunities merit a far greater condemnation. Look, if you would, 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, beginning there with verse 10.
#69 | 59:49 to 1:00:43 | cleaned
"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." People did not receive the truth. They did not love the truth. Watch verse 11. "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." Wow. Don't tell me it doesn't matter how you respond to truth. It does matter.
#70 | 1:00:50 to 1:01:45 | cleaned
You remember that passage in 2 Kings chapter 5, where Naaman the leper came before Elisha. And Elisha just said, "Go wash in Jordan seven times, and thou shalt be clean." He went away angry.
#71 | 1:01:45 to 1:02:34 | cleaned
Finally, his men said, "If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?" So he went and dipped in the Jordan River seven times and came out clean. And he came back to Elisha, and he wanted to give him money. He wanted to give him changes of garments. Elisha said, "No, I don't need anything. Don't want anything. Take it and go." But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, who was there, who heard what Elisha said, after Naaman had gone a good way off, he said, "My master spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him."
#72 | 1:02:37 to 1:02:56 | cleaned
So he ran after him and caught him. He looked at Naaman and he said, "My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments." And he did. And his servants brought them back. When Gehazi got them and hid them, he went and stood before Elisha. And Elisha said unto him, "Whence comest thou, Gehazi?" And he said, "Thy servant went no whither." And he said unto him, "Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever." What did Gehazi do?
#73 | 1:02:58 to 1:03:45 | cleaned
He sinned against the truth because he heard exactly what Elisha said. And I'm going to tell you something, folks. You can take this for whatever it's worth. I believe a lot of our physical ailments, our physical sicknesses begin with our spiritual sins and wickedness against God. You cannot, you cannot thumb your nose at God. You cannot despise the truth of God. You cannot refuse to obey God and expect to escape his chastisement.
#74 | 1:03:46 to 1:04:47 | cleaned
Now you say, Brother Weaver, that's quite a statement. It may be, but if you'll read 1 Corinthians chapter 11, you remember that passage there where he's talking about the Lord's table? And they were eating it wrongly? And what did Paul say? "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." They had physical sickness and death because they abused the truth of God. We who have the truth must not dare turn from the truth.
#75 | 1:04:49 to 1:05:33 | cleaned
The greater the opportunities, the greater the blessings, the greater the advantages, the more deserving you are of condemnation if you sin against that light. Jeremiah said, "the punishment of the daughter of my people was greater than the punishment of Sodom that was overthrown in a moment. No hands stayed on her." But for Jerusalem, hands stayed on her for two years until she was destroyed. If we do not want destruction, we must stand with the truth and for the truth and apply the truth in our lives.
#76 | 1:05:34 to 1:06:13 | cleaned
And if you've been delivered by the grace of God, God expects you to obey. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow before thee. We thank thee for your love, your grace, your truth, your mercy. Show us, Lord, the importance of this principle, that the greater the responsibility, the greater the culpability. Help us, Lord, to obey and apply. In the name of Jesus Christ we ask, amen.
#77 | 1:06:15 to 1:07:04 | cleaned
And if you've been delivered by the grace of God, God expects you to obey. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow before thee. We thank thee for your love, your grace, your truth, your mercy. Show us, Lord, the importance of this principle, that the greater the responsibility, the greater the culpability. Help us, Lord, to obey and apply. In the name of Jesus Christ we ask, amen.
#78 | 1:07:07 to 1:07:36 | cleaned

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T02:38:08Z

Who Much Is Given, Much Is Expected

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver expounds Lamentations 4:6 to show that Jerusalem's punishment was greater than Sodom's because Judah sinned against greater light, knowledge, and privilege. The principle is that greater responsibility brings greater culpability. He warns believers not to despise the truth they have received, lest they incur severe chastisement.

Introduction and Context of Lamentations

Weaver introduces the book of Lamentations as a dirge over Jerusalem's fall, written by Jeremiah, and notes that chapter 4 verse 6 declares Jerusalem's punishment greater than Sodom's.

Jerusalem Called Sodom and Gomorrah

Scripture repeatedly identifies Jerusalem spiritually as Sodom and Egypt, showing that her wickedness exceeded that of the ancient cities.

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 1:8-10

"And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah."

And now notice what God says to them.

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 1:8-10

"Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah."

Notice if you would, Jeremiah 23, verse 14, God says,

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 23:14

"I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah."

The Sins of Sodom and Gomorrah

Ezekiel 16:49-50 lists Sodom's sins: pride, fullness of bread, idleness, lack of generosity, haughtiness, and abomination. These preceded the final judgment.

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 16:44-50

" Notice if you would please, the committing the abomination before him actually came last. What came first was pride. Then he said, fulness of bread. You know, the Bible says pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Scripture says he that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. So there was not only pride and arrogance, there was fulness of bread. They had an absolute abundance. They had plenty. And then he goes on to say, and abundance of idleness.

The Nature of Jerusalem's Punishment

Unlike Sodom's instant overthrow, Jerusalem endured a two-year siege with sword, famine, pestilence, and cannibalism, making her punishment far greater.

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 14:21

"For thus saith the Lord God; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?"

Now, God says, I'm going to use all four of these in destroying Jerusalem. For two years, God used these. Notice if you would, please, in verse 21, he says,

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 14:21

"How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword,"

Why Jerusalem's Sins Were Greater

Jerusalem sinned against greater light, having God's law, temple, and prophets. Her sins were presumptuous, not ignorant, meriting greater condemnation.

The Principle of Greater Culpability

Scripture teaches that those with more knowledge and responsibility receive greater judgment (James 3:1; Luke 12:47-48). Sinning against light is far worse.

Scripture Reading — James 3:1

"My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation."

What? If I'm standing up here telling you tonight that I'm your teacher and your pastor stands up and says, well, I'm your teacher, guess what?

Scripture Reading — James 4:17

"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

Look in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 12. Look what our Lord says, Luke chapter 12. Let's begin reading in verse 40, Luke 12, verse 40. Luke chapter 12, verse 40. Our Lord says,

Scripture Reading — Luke 12:40-48

"Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he

Application to Believers Today

Believers have immense privileges in Christ and His Word; to turn away is presumptuous sin that invites severe chastisement. We must take heed how we hear and obey.

Conclusion and Prayer

Weaver urges obedience to the truth and closes in prayer, asking God to help the congregation apply the principle of greater responsibility leading to greater accountability.

Who Much Is Given, Much Is Expected

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	691721500
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Revelation Themes and Eschatological Applications
Genre	Sermon
Date	2017-06-09
Dictation Name
Book	Book 141: Revelation Themes and Eschatological Applications — Chapter 10
Source Timed Segments	78

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Context of Lamentations: Weaver introduces the book of Lamentations as a dirge over Jerusalem's fall, written by Jeremiah, and notes that chapter 4 verse 6 declares Jerusalem's punishment greater than Sodom's.
Jerusalem Called Sodom and Gomorrah: Scripture repeatedly identifies Jerusalem spiritually as Sodom and Egypt, showing that her wickedness exceeded that of the ancient cities.
The Sins of Sodom and Gomorrah: Ezekiel 16:49-50 lists Sodom's sins: pride, fullness of bread, idleness, lack of generosity, haughtiness, and abomination. These preceded the final judgment.
The Nature of Jerusalem's Punishment: Unlike Sodom's instant overthrow, Jerusalem endured a two-year siege with sword, famine, pestilence, and cannibalism, making her punishment far greater.
Why Jerusalem's Sins Were Greater: Jerusalem sinned against greater light, having God's law, temple, and prophets. Her sins were presumptuous, not ignorant, meriting greater condemnation.
The Principle of Greater Culpability: Scripture teaches that those with more knowledge and responsibility receive greater judgment (James 3:1; Luke 12:47-48). Sinning against light is far worse.
Application to Believers Today: Believers have immense privileges in Christ and His Word; to turn away is presumptuous sin that invites severe chastisement. We must take heed how we hear and obey.
Conclusion and Prayer: Weaver urges obedience to the truth and closes in prayer, asking God to help the congregation apply the principle of greater responsibility leading to greater accountability.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Jerusalem's punishment exceeded Sodom's because her sins were greater.

Lamentations 4:6 states Jerusalem's punishment was greater; Ezekiel 16:47-48 confirms her corruption exceeded Sodom's.

Weaver reads Ezekiel 16:47-48: 'thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways... Sodom thy sister hath not done... as thou hast done.'

Jerusalem sinned against greater light and privilege.

Israel alone possessed God's oracles, temple, and covenants, making their rebellion more culpable.

Weaver cites Romans 3:1-2 and Ephesians 2:11-12 to show Israel's unique advantages.

Scripture teaches degrees of accountability based on knowledge.

James 3:1 warns teachers of greater condemnation; Luke 12:47-48 distinguishes many stripes from few stripes based on knowledge of the master's will.

Weaver reads Luke 12:47-48: 'that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself... shall be beaten with many stripes.'

Presumptuous sin brings severe consequences.

Numbers 15:30-31 mandates being cut off for despising God's word; David prayed to be kept from presumptuous sins.

Weaver quotes Numbers 15:30: 'the soul that doeth ought presumptuously... reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off.'

Believers today have even greater light and must heed the warning.

Having the full revelation of Christ and Scripture, Christians are without excuse if they turn from truth.

Weaver asks, 'Do you realize as the people of God how blessed you are? To have the word of God... How blessed you are to have light?'

Scripture References

Lamentations 4:6: The key verse: Jerusalem's punishment greater than Sodom's.
Amos 5:1: God takes up a lamentation against Israel.
Jeremiah 7:29: Jerusalem told to take up a lamentation; God has rejected them.
Jeremiah 9:9, 17-22: God's vengeance on the nation; wailing and lamentation for Jerusalem's destruction.
Revelation 11:8: Jerusalem spiritually called Sodom and Egypt.
Deuteronomy 32:32: Israel's vine is of the vine of Sodom and fields of Gomorrah.
Isaiah 1:8-10: God addresses rulers of Sodom and people of Gomorrah, referring to Jerusalem.
Isaiah 3:8-9: Jerusalem and Judah declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not.
Jeremiah 23:14: Prophets of Jerusalem are as Sodom and inhabitants as Gomorrah.
Ezekiel 16:44-50: Jerusalem's sins worse than Sodom's; Sodom's sins listed: pride, fullness of bread, idleness, etc.
Genesis 19:12-25: Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; Lot's escape.
Jeremiah 52:1-7: Siege and fall of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.
Ezekiel 14:21: God's four sore judgments on Jerusalem: sword, famine, noisome beast, pestilence.
Lamentations 4:7-10: Famine in Jerusalem; cannibalism among women.
Leviticus 4:3, 13, 22, 27-32: Different sacrifices required based on office and responsibility.
James 3:1: Teachers will receive greater condemnation.
James 4:17: To him that knows to do good and does it not, it is sin.
Luke 12:40-48: Servant who knew his lord's will and did not prepare will be beaten with many stripes; to whom much is given, much required.
Numbers 15:29-31: One law for sins of ignorance; presumptuous sin brings being cut off.
Deuteronomy 4:5-8: Israel's unique wisdom and nearness to God through His statutes.

Historical References

Nebuchadnezzar's sieges of Jerusalem (605 BC and 586 BC): Weaver describes the two attacks: first in 605 BC making Judah a tribute state, then in 586 BC destroying the city after Zedekiah's rebellion.
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah: Referenced as a sudden, instantaneous judgment contrasted with Jerusalem's prolonged suffering.
Custom of composing lamentations over deceased friends and cities: Weaver explains the ancient practice, citing David's laments for Saul, Jonathan, and Abner.

Important Quotes

For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.

The central verse of the message, establishing that Jerusalem's judgment exceeded Sodom's.

The greater the advantages, the greater the opportunities, the greater the blessings that you have, when you ignore and despise those, the greater is your condemnation.

Succinct statement of the sermon's main principle.

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

James 4:17 quoted to show that sinning against knowledge is especially culpable.

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Luke 12:48, the foundational principle of proportional accountability.

But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

Numbers 15:30, highlighting the severity of deliberate sin.

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, warning of judgment for rejecting truth.

I believe a lot of our physical ailments, our physical sicknesses begin with our spiritual sins and wickedness against God.

Application that spiritual rebellion can lead to physical chastisement.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

Why does God consider Jerusalem's sins worse than Sodom's, and what does that teach us about accountability?

[Context]

Weaver explains that Jerusalem had greater light and privileges, making their sin more presumptuous.

[Question]

How does the principle 'to whom much is given, much is required' apply to believers today?

[Context]

Weaver applies Luke 12:48 to the congregation, emphasizing their responsibility with the truth they have received.

[Question]

What is the difference between a sin of ignorance and a presumptuous sin, and why does God treat them differently?

[Context]

Weaver contrasts Numbers 15:29-31 and explains that presumptuous sin despises God's word.

[Question]

In what ways might we be guilty of 'despising the truth' in our daily lives?

[Context]

Weaver warns against treating God's word flippantly and not taking heed how we hear.

[Question]

How can we guard against becoming callous to the light and truth we have received?

[Context]

Weaver urges obedience and application of truth to avoid chastisement.

Applications

Format deepseek deepseek-v4-pro structured study JSON | Source Commentary.net transcript enrichment

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T15:58:20Z