Total Depravity 16

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus acknowledged man’s fallen condition in their unreceptive hearts to the gospel.

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. (Luke 8:11-14 ESV)

He spoke concerning man’s priorities which reveal his depraved soul.

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:57-62 ESV)

Jesus also gave attention to fallen man’s excuses.

But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. (Luke 14:16-20 ESV)

Regarding the Gospel of John, one commentator has written, “Towering above the mountain peaks of Scripture looms the highest summit for the doctrines of grace – the Mount Everest of Theology – the gospel of John” (Foundations of Grace 271). In what is referred to as the “most theological of the gospels” the doctrine of total depravity looms large.