Upwards Church

Two powerful parables!  In the first, Jesus deals with how we should handle our possessions and how to be prepared for the future.  In the second parable Jesus gives insight into life after death – it’s a picture of heaven and hell.   Pay close attention.

 Jesus Tells the Parable of the Shrewd Manager / 16:1-18

This passage of Luke begins a section dealing with the wise use of one’s possessions. This parable is one of the most difficult to interpret, but it explains how Jesus’ followers ought to use worldly wealth. Jesus was pointing out that everyone, fully warned of the coming divine judgment, should follow this manager’s example. All people are in a worse predicament than this manager because their eternal destinies hang in the balance. Instead of frantically holding on to possessions which soon will disappear, possessions should be given away, especially to those in need (12:33). Money will not last, but people, God’s word, and his Kingdom will. Will your investments reap eternal dividends?

16:1-2 This manager handled financial matters for the rich man. He had extensive authority over the rich man’s financial affairs, even the ability to make contracts in the master’s name. A person in such a position should have complete integrity. Unfortunately, this manager did not. He was thoroughly dishonest. Having been informed of the problems, the rich man called him in and demanded a financial report. As a consequence, the rich man would strip the manager of his authority, but first he required that the steward prepare the documents. This would take some time, and the manager used this time to his advantage.

• LIFE APPLICATION – MONEY POWER
• Money provides a good test of the lordship of Christ. Use your resources wisely because they belong to God, and not to you. Money can be used for good or evil; use yours for good. Money has a lot of power, so you should use it carefully and thoughtfully. Use your material goods in a way that will foster faith and obedience (see 12:33-34).

16:3-4 The manager just lost his livelihood, but he had a window of time before being fired. So he thought about how best to handle his coming unemployment. Having been a manager, he did not want to dig ditches, he had too much pride to beg, and his mismanagement of his master’s funds would cause no one else to hire him for such a position. So he came up with a plan whereby others would take care of him. By plying upon the code of reciprocity, the manager could find food and housing and possibly a job from those whose debts were reduced.

16:5-7 Much discussion has arisen around exactly what this money manager was doing in this situation. Some commentators suggest that what the manager was doing was removing the interest and his own earnings from each of the debts. Most likely, this manager was acting very shrewdly in figuring out a way to put his master’s debtors in his own debt. The debts here involved are very high (The measure of olive oil -850 gallons represented the yield of nearly 150 trees. The measure of wheat, about 1,000 bushels represented the yield of about 100 acres) these probably would have been commercial transactions. The manager summoned all his master’s debtors and reduced their debts by a substantial amount. In this fraudulent way, the manager earned their good will. Once the debts had been dishonestly reduced, the master could do nothing, but social custom would require these debtors to reciprocate such kindness to the manager. 

• LIFE APPLICATION- SEIZE THE DAY
• In this story, the manager used the time and opportunity he had. Don’t let time run out before you deal with the most important realities of life. Use the opportunities God gives you. Perhaps you worked late every night when your family was young, and now, with savings and security, your son isn’t a Little Leaguer anymore. You missed it.  Perhaps you always wanted to tell your mom what she meant to you, how much you love her. But she died last year, before you ever said it.  Perhaps you always intended to get right with God, to confess your sins, to worship, to serve the Lord. Do it now.

 16:8-9 The commendation for the dishonest rascal raises questions. Why would dishonesty be commended? The manager had cut down the debts, legally made them binding with a third party, and indebted others to him. Thus, there was nothing left for the master to do than to commend the manager for his shrewdness. He had solved his problem—albeit at expense to his master. The commendation seems odd, unless the master was simply appreciating the farsightedness of the plan.

Actually, Jesus did not want his listeners to focus on the details as much as on the lesson to be learned, which he includes here. The citizens of this world are more shrewd than the godly are. Citizens of this world refers to unbelievers, who are neither committed to God nor his eternal standards. The godly refers to the disciples and followers of Jesus. The shrewd manager sized up his situation, made some decisions, came up with a strategy, and did what was needed. Jesus was not commending dishonesty, but rather the manager’s foresight and diligence to follow through and make friends. The manager did not profit directly in reducing the debts, but he used the principle of reciprocity to gain favor with the debtors. By doing a favor for them, the manager could require a favor from them.

Then Jesus added, “I tell you, use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. In this way, your generosity stores up a reward for you in heaven.” Believers are to make wise use of their financial opportunities, not to earn heaven, but to use their resources to make friends by helping the poor. If believers use their money to help those in need or to help others find Christ, their earthly investment will bring eternal benefit. Those who obey God will find that the unselfish use of their possessions will follow. Soon Jesus would spell out some of the applications for gaining friends (16:10-13).

• LIFE APPLICATION – STRATEGIC PLANNING
• Jesus applauded the steward who had assessed the situation clearly, planned bold and decisive action that would benefit others, and executed the plan effectively. This steward was nobody’s fool. Yet many Christians act without skill or finesse when it comes to financial matters compared to their secular counterparts. Many downplay budget, investing, and business principles as though they are unspiritual issues for the church. Should Christians take action strategically? Should they seize opportunities with discernment? Should they find ways to do more with their finances? Jesus commended those who did.

16:10-12 How people handle their worldly wealth shows their trustworthiness. If a person can be trusted with a little bit, if he or she maintains integrity even in small matters, then that person has proven trustworthiness for large matters. The reverse is also true—the one who would willingly steal a dollar may also be willing to steal thousands. Trustworthiness goes to a person’s very core.

• LIFE APPLICATION – MONEY MATTERS
• Integrity often meets its match in money matters. God calls his people to be honest even in small details that could easily be rationalized away. Heaven’s riches are far more valuable than earthly wealth. But those who are not trustworthy with money here (no matter how much or little) will be unfit to handle the vast riches of God’s kingdom. Don’t let your integrity slip in small matters, and it will not fail you in crucial decisions either.

16:13 Money often takes the place of God in people’s lives. How a person handles money indicates how much mastery money has attained in that person’s life. Jesus explained that no one can serve two masters. From a spiritual standpoint, all people will serve someone or something; here Jesus spoke of two choices, God and money. People can choose to serve money—in essence, this means serving themselves and all the pleasure and power money can buy—or they can choose to serve God. But no one can do both, for the two choices are diametrically opposed. No one can seek selfish pleasure and be able to give money away. When money is one’s master, there can be no room for God who requires single-hearted obedience and devotion.

Avoid mistaken judgments here. Many rich people are genuine, mature Christians. Wealth is not the issue. Many mature Christians work hard and expect to be paid. That’s not the issue either. Money for these people is only a means to an end. Yet some people tragically have made wealth an end in itself—the thing to serve, their god. For Christians, money is always a means of service, never an ultimate goal. Money is God’s loan to you for smart stewardship, never a measure of your real worth.

•  LIFE APPLICATION – MASTER MONEY
• Money can easily take God’s place in your life. It can become your master. How can you tell if you are a slave to money? If you answer yes to most of these questions, you have a problem.  Do you think and worry about it frequently?  Do you give up doing what you should do or would like to do in order to make more money?  Do you spend a great deal of your time caring for your possessions?   Is it hard for you to give money away?   Are you in debt?  Money is a hard master and a deceptive one. Wealth promises power and control but often cannot deliver. Great fortunes can be made—and lost—overnight, and no amount of money can provide health, happiness, and eternal life. Instead, let God be your Master. His servants have peace of mind and security, both now and forever.

 16:14-15 Because the Pharisees loved their money, they scoffed at Jesus’ teaching. They may not have thought that they were serving money (16:13), but their laughing at Jesus’ words shows that Jesus had touched a sensitive area. The Pharisees acted piously to get praise from others, but God knew their evil hearts. They considered their wealth to be a sign of God’s approval. God detested their wealth, however, because it caused them to abandon true spirituality. What this world honors is an abomination in the sight of God. People who focus their lives on outward appearance and impressing others serve the wrong master and therefore cannot serve God.

16:16-17 Jesus emphasized that his Kingdom fulfilled the law; it did not cancel it (Matthew 5:17). The Good News of the Kingdom of God was not a new system but the culmination of the old. The same God who had worked through Moses was working through Jesus. John the Baptist’s ministry was the dividing line between the Old and New Testaments (John 1:15-18). Up until his time, the only revelation of God available to people came through the laws of Moses and the messages of the prophets. The Good News was the culmination of all that the Law demanded and the Prophets foresaw. Those who recognized his true identity realized that the Kingdom had come and were forcing their way in, so desiring to be part of it.

16:18 Jesus had just made the point that his coming fulfilled the law and the prophets. That did not mean, however, that the law was no longer valid. In fact, in many cases, Jesus took the law and required even higher standards for those who would follow him (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28, 33-35, 38-39, 43-44). Divorce was a hot topic of debate. Stricter than any of the then-current schools of thought, Jesus’ teachings shocked his hearers (see Matthew 19:10), just as they shake today’s readers. Jesus stated in no uncertain terms that marriage is a lifetime commitment, and he explained that divorce dissolves a divinely formed union. He also explained that marriage after divorce is adultery. (Matthew 19:9 gives one exception: marital unfaithfulness.) While the application of Jesus’ words requires interpretation to specific situations, one truth is inescapable: God created marriage to be a sacred, permanent union and partnership between husband and wife. Anyone who takes this lightly forgets God’s law and his plan for marriage from the very beginning.

Through this statement about divorce, Jesus was showing the unbelieving religious leaders that his words do not violate the law. He also wanted to point out to them their hypocrisy in attempting to keep the letter of the law while failing to fulfill its moral obligations.

 Jesus Tells about the Rich Man and the Beggar / 16:19-31

In Jesus’ parable of a rich man and a poor man, their fortunes were exactly reversed at death: the poor man went to paradise, while the rich man suffered in hell. In agony, the rich man cried out for help, asking Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers of this tragic, irreversible fate.

16:19-21 Finally, regarding the Pharisees’ attitude toward money (they “dearly loved” it, 16:14), Jesus gave an illustration that vividly portrays the value of money in light of future judgment. This Lazarus should not be confused with the Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead in John 11. Incidentally, this is the only person in any of Jesus’ stories who is given a name. The rich man in this parable lived out the lifestyle afforded to the wealthy who lived in the Roman Empire. Splendid clothing, delicious food of all types, and days lived in luxury could be had by those with enough money.

In contrast, there is a poor diseased beggar. Ancient Rome had no middle class—there were the very rich and the very poor. Often the poor were reduced to begging in order to survive. This man, Lazarus, was sick, hungry, and abandoned, so he lay at the rich man’s door, longing for scraps from the rich man’s table. Leftovers were all he desired, and the rich man could easily have shared from his extravagance by sending a servant out with a plateful. But the rich man chose to spend his money on himself, refusing to share, probably not even taking notice of the poor man at his door. His wealth was not sinful, but his selfishness was. While he had everything he could possibly want, Lazarus lay hungry with even the dogs licking his open sores.

• LIFE APPLICATION – HARD-HEARTED HOARDING
• The Pharisees considered wealth to be a proof of a person’s righteousness. Jesus startled them with this story where a diseased beggar is rewarded and a rich man is punished. The rich man did not go to hell because of his wealth but because he lacked faith and compassion by refusing to feed Lazarus, take him in, or care for him. The rich man was hard-hearted despite his great blessings. The amount of money a person has is not as important as the way he or she uses it. What is your attitude toward your money and possessions? Do you hoard them selfishly, or do you use them to help others?

16:22-23 In time, both the rich man and Lazarus died, for death takes everyone regardless of social station or wealth. The rich man ended up in torment in the place of the dead, the destiny of those who have refused to believe. The “torment” is described in 16:24 as “flames.” Added to the torment was the rich man’s ability to see paradise, with Abraham and Lazarus in peace and luxury. The role reversal is obvious—as Lazarus once lay in pain outside the door of the rich man’s house watching him feast, so here the rich man was in torment watching the joy far away in heaven.

In contrast, Lazarus must have been a God-fearing man, despite the fact that God had not allowed him an easy or pleasant lifetime on earth. When Lazarus died, the angels carried him to be with Abraham, another way of describing the Kingdom.

A theology of heaven and hell should not be based on Jesus’ words here. Pressing the details too much will take us away from the main point of the illustration, which is to teach about the danger of pursuing wealth, as well as the finality of God’s judgment.

16:24-25 Not only could the rich man in this story see into heaven’s bliss from his torment, but he could call out to those in paradise as well. He spoke to Father Abraham, a title any Jew would use for Abraham, the father of their nation (John 8:39). The request for Abraham to send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water shows that the rich man’s basic attitude had not changed. For all his deference to Abraham, he still thought of Lazarus as no more than a messenger who could be sent by Abraham to do the rich man a favor.

Abraham sent an answer, but not the one that the rich man wanted or even expected. The rich man may have thought there was a mistake. He had been rich, and if wealth was a sign of God’s blessing, why would he be in agony? Abraham explained that, during their time on earth, the rich man had everything, but Lazarus had nothing. While the rich man could have helped the poor within his reach (such as Lazarus), he chose only personal pleasure. The roles for eternity would be reversed. Lazarus went from pain and hunger to comfort; the rich man went from pleasure and merriment to anguish. This would have unnerved the Pharisees who were listening to this parable. To them, wealth was a sign of God’s blessing, poverty a sign of God’s disfavor. So they enjoyed their wealth and did not attempt to bridge the chasm that separated them from the “disfavored ones.” But Jesus was explaining that another chasm would develop, and they would find themselves on the wrong side.

16:26 Abraham explained to the rich man that he couldn’t send Lazarus because between them and him was a great chasm and no one can cross over. The ultimate fates cannot be changed. God’s decision upon death is final. There is only one life on this earth, and that is the time of decision. People cannot wait until eternity to make their relationship right with God—it will be too late. The judgment will have been made on the basis of their choices, and it will be irreversible.

16:27-29 The rich man still thought Lazarus could be sent on messenger duty. If Lazarus could not come to help him, then he wanted Lazarus sent to warn his five brothers about the place of torment so they wouldn’t have to go there when they died. Abraham simply explained that they could read the words of Moses and the prophets (that is, the Old Testament) and there find the warnings about the place of torment. If those brothers hadn’t heeded the major message of God in his word, they would not heed a messenger.

•  LIFE APPLICATION – HARD-CORE SKEPTIC
• In his life, the rich man refused to listen to God’s command to be generous to the poor. Honest and difficult questions about God will always tug at the minds and hearts of honest searchers who are open and curious and do not regard questions as threats or sins. Hard-core skeptics reject such questions as unsolvable and therefore unimportant. Their minds are resolved to avoid matters of faith, God, and eternity.   If you have questions, that’s good. Keep looking for answers. If you have given up, take this story’s warning. The serious pursuit of good questions is our human responsibility; an uncaring disposition erects a high wall between you and truth. One day all must give an account for rejecting God.

 16:30-31 Perhaps the rich man knew his brothers only too well. The suggestion that they read God’s word (or listen to it read in the synagogue) met with a no. It just wouldn’t happen—probably for the same reasons that the rich man himself never had heeded the warnings therein. So the rich man begged that someone from the dead go back to them. Surely, then, they would turn from their sins. Abraham answered that if these brothers did not listen to Moses and the prophets, then they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead and appears to them.

Notice the irony in Jesus’ statement; on his way to Jerusalem to die, he was fully aware that even when he had risen from the dead, most of the religious leaders would not accept him. They were set in their ways, and neither Scripture nor God’s Son himself would shake them loose.

Until tomorrow, Darrell

Sources:  Bible Background Commentary, Bible Knowledge Commentary, Life Application Bible Commentary, Life Application Concise New Testament Commentary

For more about The Ridge Fellowship or Darrell Koop go to www.ridgefellowship.com

“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”  Meant to be a derogatory statement, this is one of my favorite descriptions of Jesus.  He welcomes me, a sinner and you and wants to spend time with us!  In response, Jesus then told some of the most heartfelt stories in the Bible, the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the classic, Lost or Prodigal Son.   With such beauty they explain God’s love for us.  He seeks us diligently he spares nothing in getting us back to him.  We see the very heart of God in today’s reading.  Let it capture you and change how you see yourself and how you see God.

Jesus Tells the Parable of the Lost Sheep / 15:1-7

 15:1-2 Jesus’ association with notorious sinners in the eyes of the Pharisees has already been documented (5:30; 7:34). Tax collectors were Jews who worked for the Roman Empire in collecting Rome’s taxes from their countrymen. Yet these people came to listen to Jesus teach. These were the very people Jesus had come to reach—those who needed help. In that culture, sitting down and having a meal with a person showed a certain amount of identification and welcome. If Jesus were eating with such horrible people, then he was guilty by association. The Pharisees would not even go near such people, not even to teach them the law or point them to God.

•  LIFE APPLICATION – GUILTLY  BY ASSOCIATION
• There is wisdom in choosing friends wisely. Sports stars are told not to hang out with gamblers. A teenager who runs with druggies stands a good chance of becoming one. In big cities, caring parents forbid youngsters any contact with street gangs.  In Jesus’ case, however, time spent with sinners was part of a mission to spread the Good News to all people. Churches today should be like an oasis in the jungle for sinners of all notorious types.  Investigate this week what your church might do to help different, overlooked, and disreputable people hear and believe God’s message.

 15:3-5 The religious leaders were to picture themselves as shepherds (in reality, as leaders of the nation, they should have been serving as shepherds of God’s people). Each shepherd has one hundred sheep—a typical number for the average flock of sheep. Shepherds counted their sheep every night, for sheep would easily stray away and get lost. When this shepherd counted, he was missing one sheep. Jesus used the shepherd’s concern for each sheep to set up the question, “Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one?” The answer was obvious to these listeners—any caring shepherd would do so. He would search, find the lost sheep, carry it back to the flock, and rejoice.

God’s love for each individual is so great that he seeks each one out and rejoices when he or she is “found.” Jesus associated with sinners because he wanted to bring the lost sheep—people considered beyond hope—the Good News of God’s Kingdom. Just as the shepherd took the initiative to go out and find the sheep, so Jesus actively seeks lost souls. These tax collectors and sinners (15:1) with whom Jesus was associating were like sheep who had strayed away from God and needed to be returned. More than that, they needed the salvation that Jesus offered.

 15:6-7 The shepherd did not rejoice alone. He even called his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him that he found his lost sheep. In reality, the shepherds would not have had a party over one found sheep. Jesus used this element in the story to stress his Kingdom’s reality and the value of one lost person. God rejoices when one lost sinner is found and returns to God.

•  LIFE APPLICATION- LOST AND FOUND
• The Bible is full of gladness when lost valuables are found: the Prodigal Son, the lost coin, and, here, a lost sheep.  Picture yourself in both roles. As the lost sheep, you need a Shepherd-Savior to bring you home. As a shepherd, you have a job to do, and all heaven rejoices when you find a lost person, just as heaven did when you were found. In the shepherd’s role, take a step beyond your comfort zone today. Start a conversation with a stranger, greet a neighbor on the other side of the block, cross a standard dividing line that separates you from others.   And if you’re better cast in the lost-sheep role today, follow the Savior’s voice home without delay or detour.

 Jesus Tells the Parable of the Lost Coin / 15:8-10

In this parable, Jesus portrays God’s love for someone who falls into a life of sin. They are lost, disconnected from their true owner, God himself. But their owner doesn’t give up on people. Instead, he compassionately searches for them, freely offering them forgiveness through his Son, Jesus Christ.

15:8-9 Palestinian women would often receive ten silver coins as a wedding gift. Besides their monetary value, these coins held sentimental value like that of a wedding ring; to lose one would be extremely distressing. The ten coins could have been this woman’s life savings, meant to support her in a time of need. Upon discovering that one of the coins was missing, the woman would light a lamp in order to see into the dark corners, and sweep every part of the dirt-packed floor in hope of finding it. Although the woman still had nine coins, she would not rest until the tenth was retrieved. Her search was rewarded. Like the shepherd, she shared her joy with her friends and neighbors so they could rejoice with her.

15:10 Just as a shepherd would rejoice over finding a lost sheep and a woman would rejoice at finding her lost coin, so all heaven rejoices over a repentant sinner. Each individual is precious to God. He actively seeks those lost ones, and when they are found, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels. Through these two parables, Jesus was explaining to his detractors that, while they were not pleased with him, God was pleased that Jesus was seeking the lost souls and bringing them the Good News of the Kingdom.

•  LIFE APPLICATION- SEARCHING FOR YOU
• It may be easy to understand God forgiving sinners who had come to him for mercy. But God, who tenderly searches for sinners and then joyfully forgives them, must possess an extraordinary love! This love prompted Jesus to come to earth to search for lost people and save them. This is the kind of extraordinary love that God has for you. If you feel far from God, don’t despair. He is searching for you.

 Jesus Tells the Parable of the Lost Son / 15:11-32

The previous two parables—the one of lost sheep and the lost coin—build up to the climax, the parable of the lost son, a parable that is unique to Luke. Through the parable of the lost son, Jesus presents a vivid illustration of God and his mercy for repentant sinners.

15:11-12 Jesus continued with another parable to illustrate the point further that God rejoices when lost sinners repent and find forgiveness. A man had two sons, the younger of whom wanted his share of his father’s estate (inheritance). This would have been one-third of the total estate, with the older son receiving two-thirds, a double portion of the other as prescribed by the law (Deuteronomy 21:17). In most cases, the son would have received this at his father’s death, although fathers sometimes chose to divide up their inheritance early and retire from managing their estates. What is unusual is that the younger son initiated the division of the estate. This showed arrogant disregard for his father’s authority as head of the family.

15:13-14 Within just a few days, the younger son was on his way—indicating that this had been his plan when he had asked for his inheritance in the first place. He packed all his belongings and traveled to a distant land. The young man apparently had wanted to live his own way, be his own master, get out from under the rules of his home and his father. Money was his ticket out, so he took it and ran.

In this distant land, he wasted all his money on wild living. But then his money ran out. To make matters worse, a great famine swept over the land and the boy did not even have money for food.

15:15-16 The young man became so desperate that he began to work feeding pigs. According to Moses’ law, pigs were unclean animals (Leviticus 11:2-8; Deuteronomy 14:8). To protect themselves from defilement, Jews would not even touch pigs. For a Jew to stoop to feeding pigs would have been a great humiliation. The pods were the seeds of the carob tree, which grows around the Mediterranean Sea. That no one gave him anything shows that he was neglected and insignificant; he had truly sunk to the depths.

15:17-19 Sitting among pigs that were better fed than he was, he reflected on life back home. With no money, no dignity, and, so he thought, no claim to sonship in his father’s household, he decided to go home to his father, confess his sin, and ask to be taken on as a hired man. At least there he would not go hungry. The key lies in the words that he planned to say to his father, “I have sinned against both heaven and you.” He wanted to tell his father he was sorry. He wanted to repent of the selfishness that had led him to leave and spend all the money that his father had set aside for his future. Even if it meant living as a hired man in his own home, he would return there in order to say these things to his father.

•  LIFE APPLICATION- COMING TO ONE’S SENSES
• The younger son, like many who are rebellious and immature, wanted to be free to live as he pleased, and he had to hit bottom before he came to his senses. It often takes great sorrow and tragedy to cause people to look to the only one who can help them. For this young man, coming to his senses meant reconnecting his life to those who loved him. He had had his fill of individualistic adventure, and he realized his best prospect was to reconnect with family and friends.   Are you trying to live your own way, selfishly pushing aside any responsibility or commitment that gets in your way? Stop and look before you hit bottom. You will save yourself and your family much grief. In your young adult years, reach high but keep connections strong.

15:20-21 So the son returned home to his father, not knowing what to expect—the best he could anticipate was a cold shoulder, a halfhearted welcome, or a chance to be hired as a slave. The father, however, seemed to have cast his eyes on the horizon many times since his son had left, hoping one day to see him returning. Finally, his father saw him coming even while he was far away. The father ran, embraced, and kissed his son. He was filled with love and compassion at the sight of his son who had come home. The son began to give his father the speech he had prepared (15:19), but he didn’t even get to the part about asking to be hired, for the father wanted to welcome his son back into his home with a grand celebration.

In the two preceding stories, the seeker actively looked for the sheep and the coin, which could not return by themselves. In this story, the father watched and waited. He was dealing with a human being with a will, but he was ready to greet his son if he returned. In the same way, God’s love is constant and patient and welcoming. He will search and give people opportunities to respond, but he will not force them to come to him. Like the father in this story, God waits patiently for people to come to their senses.

• LIFE APPLICATION – ADMIT YOUR MISTAKES
• When the wayward son returned home, he apologized to his father. Though his father loved him anyway, the son needed to apologize in order to heal his own relationship with his father. When you have offended someone, don’t apologize indirectly or halfheartedly. Say it and mean it.   When you have made a mistake, don’t blame bad luck or bad friends. Admit it, and prepare to go on.  When you are embraced by those you have hurt, don’t refuse the forgiveness they offer. Guilt will ruin your recovery. When forgiven, accept the gift and let the past go.

15:22-24 The father immediately restored this destitute and humbled young man as his son. Then the calf that was being fattened up for the time when a special feast should be prepared was to be killed—the father could think of no more fitting celebration. His son had been as good as dead to him, but now had returned to life. He had been lost, but now was found. As the shepherd celebrated upon finding the lost sheep (15:6), and the woman upon finding her lost coin (15:9), so this father celebrated at “finding” his “lost” son.

•  LIFE APPLICATION – FORGIVE AND FORGET
• This father restored his wayward son and celebrated his return. In this reconciliation, the father absorbed the hurt and financial loss and was willing to adjust his hopes and dreams for his child. People are not perfect; your life will not unfold according to blueprints; your children will not develop according to your specifications. You can harbor resentment if you choose, but when it comes to relationships, that choice is always self-defeating.  Joy embraces others; stubbornness shuns them. Peace forgives others; pride prolongs the separation. Love cleans the slate of hurts recorded; self-pity smudges the record until nobody remembers who is at fault or why.  When the lost relationship is found, when apology is genuine, when reconciliation is sought, forgive and forget, absorb the loss and the cost, and let the party begin!

 15:25-27 The older son, according to tradition, would have received a double inheritance. He probably had continued to be under his father’s authority, working on the estate. While he would inherit it, this would not take place until his father’s death. So he was in the fields working, being responsible to do the work that he should do, patiently following the typical plan for passing on the family inheritance. Imagine this other brother’s surprise at returning from a day of hard work to the sound of a grand celebration going on in the house. Naturally he wondered what was going on. The servant simply replied with the facts—the wayward brother had returned, the calf had been killed, the feast had been prepared, and everyone was celebrating the brother’s safe return.

15:28-30 At the report of the news, the older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in to join the celebration. The older son was quite reasonable in his list of complaints. The father could have consented, pacifying his older son with additional gifts and rewards. But relationships prosper on love, not on fairness. Love is the dynamic that sweeps “reasonable claims” into secondary concerns here. When relationships need love, we often must let fairness take a second seat.

While the resentment of this older brother is easy to understand, his volley of words reveals the same sort of self-righteousness that afflicted the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. The key to understanding this story is found in the context of 15:1-2. The younger son stands for the tax collectors and sinners, the waiting father is God, and the older brother represents the religious leaders. The younger son had lived as a notorious sinner, so the brother wanted nothing to do with him. Yet the loving father, who had gone out to meet his younger son, also came out to plead with his elder one who would not take a moment to understand that he would inherit everything that he was working for and that he was dearly loved by his father. He only felt angry that his father was celebrating for an irresponsible person.

The religious leaders, claiming how hard they “slaved” for God, were attempting to keep myriad rules and regulations, many of which God never even demanded. They had the Father’s love, but had chosen to reject it in favor of hard work and self-denial. So when God eagerly welcomed the sinful, common people into the Kingdom, the religious leaders were refusing to join the celebration. But God rejoiced that these sinful people had come “home,” and he invited even these religious leaders to join the party. They had only anger and resentment that their efforts had not earned a party.

•  LIFE APPLICATION- YOUNGER BROTHERS
• It was hard for the older brother to accept his younger brother when he returned, and it is just as difficult to accept “younger brothers” today. People who repent after leading notoriously sinful lives are often held in suspicion; churches are sometimes unwilling to admit them to membership. Instead, we should rejoice like the angels in heaven when an unbeliever repents and turns to God. Like the father in the parable, accept repentant sinners wholeheartedly and give them the support and encouragement that they need to grow in Christ.

15:31-32 The father spoke kindly to his overheated son; the son had not been displaced as the firstborn—he had his relationship with his father (who obviously loved him very much), and he still had his inheritance. The younger son had squandered his, and had gone through great suffering before coming to his senses. The wild life the younger son had sought had brought him only to ruin, and he returned home with no inheritance, humbled from having suffered some hard knocks. The older son needed to get his perspective, be grateful that he had not had to go through such pain, and celebrate this happy day of his brother’s safe return.

Desperate sinners, notorious outcasts, difficult people—all have been offered salvation. God’s people must not stand aside and above, but must join in heaven’s celebration when those who were lost have been found.

 Until tomorrow, Darrell

Sources:  Life Application Bible Commentary, Life Application Concise New Testament Commentary

For more information about The Ridge Fellowship or Darrell Koop go to www.ridgefellowship.com

Today Jesus teaches us how loving actions should trump religious rules.  He goes on tell us how to have humility and how to help those who can not pay us back.   Jesus then tells the story of the Great Feast which represents God’s invitation to the whole world who mostly responds to his invitation with excuses.  Lastly he concludes by sharing the cost of discipleship.  Great reading!

 Jesus Heals a Man with Swollen Limbs / 14:1-6

 In the face of repeated miracles, the Pharisees stood stone-faced. They did not rejoice with the healed man; instead, they accused and condemned Jesus, for having compassion and doing good.

14:1-3 A leader of the Pharisees invited Jesus to his home, but the people were watching Jesus closely. It may be surprising to see Jesus on the Pharisees’ turf after he had denounced them so many times. Perhaps this Pharisee actually wanted to learn from Jesus or was interested in a discussion with him. But the fact that Jesus was being watched seems to reveal that the religious leaders were hoping to trip up Jesus. Because it was another Sabbath, perhaps they again hoped to find Jesus violating their Sabbath rules, for it seems quite suspicious that a man was there in front of Jesus whose arms and legs were swollen. This certainly makes one wonder if this man were not there on purpose—as if planted by the religious leaders so they could again catch Jesus in the act of healing on the Sabbath. It is also possible that the man was an outsider who came in near Jesus, as had the woman who had anointed Jesus’ feet at another Pharisee’s house (7:37-38). Also called “dropsy,” this disease had an abnormal accumulation of fluid in bodily tissues and cavities causing swelling.

Jesus knew what his “watchers” were thinking, so he asked them the question that had caused friction between him and them before, “Is it permitted in the law to heal people on the Sabbath day, or not?” (For more on Sabbath healings, see commentary on 6:1-9; 13:10-17.)

14:4-6 The religious leaders refused to answer Jesus’ question. Why didn’t they explain that it was not lawful and then patiently tell him why? Because they knew Jesus would heal the man and because they were hoping to use it against him. The men had no more concern for their rules at this moment than Jesus did. The rules did not serve the purpose, so they refused to answer. So Jesus touched the sick man and healed him and sent him away. Jesus explained that when it served their purposes, these religious leaders did work on the Sabbath. They could go pull a son or a cow out of a pit if need be, but they were ready to condemn Jesus for touching a man and healing him from a disease. Jesus pointed this out to them, but they had no answer.

• LIFE APPLICATION – SORTING RIGHT FROM WRONG
• Sometimes matters of right and wrong can get appear complicated, as they had become concerning the Sabbath rules the Pharisees had made. Jesus cut through all the complications with a simple appeal to love. 
• Is your faith in gridlock (like the Pharisees) because of overlapping and conflicting regulations that hardly seem to make sense? With each action ask yourself—what does love require?
• Love will always respect God’s rules (the Ten Commandments, for example) and will always serve people’s best interests. Often a simple appeal to love will cut through the fog and clarify a plan of action.

 Jesus Teaches about Seeking Honor / 14:7-14

Jesus wasn’t one to mince words; he didn’t wait for a discreet time to teach and preach. In the midst of his enemies (the Pharisees were carefully watching him to see if they could trap him in any way), Jesus warns them of their arrogance.

• LIFE APPLICATION – SEEKING HONOR
• Here’s practical advice on avoiding embarrassment and practicing the love that serves others:  Direct your ambition for honor toward someone else’s gain. Then if honor comes to you, it will not be due to self-promotion.

14:7-9 In Jesus’ day, Jewish custom at a dinner was to arrange couches in a U shape with a low table in front of them. Guests reclined on the left elbow, and they would be seated according to status, with the place of honor being the seat at the center of the U. The seats would decline in status the farther away from that seat of honor. If arrivals had placed themselves in the best seat and then someone more respected arrived, they would be asked to move to lower seats. By then, the only seat that would still be open would be at the foot of the table.

This may seem like an odd bit of social manners given by Jesus, but his meaning went much deeper. This wedding feast pictures the Messiah’s Kingdom. Those who seek honor for themselves will be disgraced. Jesus explains that honor cannot be taken, it must be given by God. He will not honor those who seek to honor themselves.

•  LIFE APPLICATION – TRULY HUMBLE
• Who are those who exalt themselves? They are the arrogant people. They’re the ones who, in any group of people, would rather talk than listen, dominating the conversation with their own thoughts and ideas. They consistently think everyone else is far less intelligent than they are. They treat people in service occupations as inferior and meant to serve only them.

Who, then, are the humble people? Unfortunately, some people try to give the appearance of humility in order to manipulate others. Still others think that humility means putting themselves down. Truly humble people compare themselves only with Christ, realize their sinfulness, and understand their limitations. They also recognize their gifts and strengths and are willing to use them as Christ directs. Humility is not self-degradation; it is realistic assessment and commitment to serve.

14:10-11 Jesus explained that people should sit at the foot of the table. This would show that the person had not overestimated his or her own importance. Then, the host may ask that person to move to a better place. Then, instead of being disgraced, the person would be honored. The principle would be true in that situation, and in the Kingdom of God—the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored. The host, God himself, will make the final seating arrangements in his Kingdom. People dare not presume upon their own importance; how much better to be honored by God.

14:12-14 While guests ought not presume upon their importance in the eyes of their host (14:7-11), hosts should not be exclusive about whom they invite. Jesus explained that they shouldn’t invite only people who can pay them back. Instead, they should invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. When God’s people can do good, without expecting reward or repayment, they will have truly served him unselfishly. God will reward those who so willingly serve him.

 Jesus Tells the Parable of the Great Feast / 14:15-24

The tie between this parable and the previous one is the resurrection. The host who invites the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind will be rewarded at the resurrection. Jesus went on to explain that God himself, the heavenly host of the messianic banquet, would offer the same invitation.

14:15 Jesus’ words about the resurrection sparked a comment from a man sitting at the table (apparently a Pharisee or teacher, 14:1-3). This Pharisee assumed that he and his fellow Pharisees and other leaders would have the privilege to share in the Kingdom of God. They counted on their ancestry and their law-keeping to have reserved places for them. Jesus would shatter this preconception.

14:16-17 It was customary to send two invitations to a party—the first to announce the event. Thus, this man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. It does not appear that anyone had declined, so the man made final preparations in order to have enough for everyone. The second invitation told the guests that everything was ready. In this case, the man’s servant personally notified all the guests that it was time for them to come.

•  LIFE APPLICATION-JOIN THE FEAST
• Jesus is calling all people to join him in a feast—the wedding supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9), when God and his beloved church will be joined forever. Have you accepted the invitation? Will you be there? 

Are you inviting others?  Do you support the outreach efforts of your church?

 14:18-20 The guests in Jesus’ story insulted the host by making excuses when he issued the second invitation. The guests decided that other matters were more important at the time. The point is that nothing should become an excuse to put off joining God’s Kingdom. All pursuits, no matter how valid they seem, can rob people of the great celebration with Jesus. Let nothing stand in the way of following Christ.

14:21-23 Upon learning how his invitations had been snubbed, the master of the house was angry. But his banquet was ready, the food had been prepared. Instead of abandoning the whole prospect, he sent his servant to bring into the banquet hall the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind (see also 14:13). This done, the servant reported back that there was still room for more. So the master again dispatched the servant to go throughout the country lanes and behind the hedges and fill the house. This story would seem scandalous to Jesus’ audience. No ancient wealthy person would ever invite the poor. This startling statement told Jesus’ hearers that God’s Kingdom is especially for the poor. Not a morsel of food was to go to waste. If the previously invited guests would not accept the hospitality of the master, then he would invite those who would.

• LIFE APPLICATION – TOO LATE
• In Jesus’ story, many people turned down the invitation to the banquet because the timing was inconvenient. People today can also resist or delay responding to God’s invitation, and their excuses may sound reasonable—work duties, family responsibilities, financial needs, and so forth. Nevertheless, God’s invitation is the most important event in life, no matter how inconveniently it may be timed. Are you making excuses to avoid God’s kind and generous invitation? Jesus said that the time will come when God will withdraw his invitation and offer it to others—then it will be too late to get into the banquet.

14:24 In Israel’s history, God’s first invitation came from Moses and the prophets; the second came from his Son. Jesus’ listeners, the religious leaders, accepted the first invitation. They believed that God had called them to be his people. But they insulted God by refusing to accept his Son. They would miss the banquet completely because they refused to accept the Son’s invitation—they would not get even the smallest taste of what had been prepared for them. Thus, just as the master in the story sent his servant into the streets to invite the needy to his banquet, so God was sending his Son to the whole world of needy people (Jews and Gentiles) to tell them that his Kingdom had arrived and was ready for them.

 Jesus Teaches about the Cost of Being a Disciple / 14:25-35

This collection of Jesus’ teachings about discipleship suggests a turning point in Luke’s narrative.  From this point to the end of this “Jerusalem section” around chapter 18, the Gospel contains materials that focus on discipleship.

14:25-26 Great crowds were still following Jesus. Perhaps all these casual followers considered themselves “disciples” of this popular teacher. Jesus explained what it meant to truly be his disciple. His disciples had to love him more than their own family members. Certainly this caused a stir among the people. Who would possibly ask his followers to love him that way?

Jesus was not going against the fifth commandment to honor father and mother (Exodus 20:12). Nor was he attempting to subvert the natural love that exists among family members. Instead, he was saying that his followers’ love for him should be so complete and wholehearted that their love for family members and for life itself would pale in comparison. In first-century Jewish family settings, deciding for Jesus could mean alienation from the family. Jesus warned the would-be disciples that they must be clear about their true allegiance. Those who cannot make that kind of commitment cannot be his disciple.

• LIFE APPLICATION- CASUAL DISCIPLESHIP
• Is your interest in living for Christ halfhearted? The time may come for you to make hard choices because God doesn’t care to be second.  If you make career your idol, or sports or wealth, perhaps you should reevaluate. You will have to decide: to what are you really devoted? To whom are you really loyal? Following Jesus must be your first priority.

14:27 Besides being willing to love Jesus more than any others and more than life itself, the true disciple must be ready to carry his own cross and follow Jesus (see also 9:23 and commentary there). Jesus gave this teaching to get the crowds to think through their enthusiasm for him. He encouraged those who were superficial either to go deeper or to turn back. Following Christ means total submission to him—perhaps even to the point of death.

14:28-30 Jesus promised his followers a Kingdom, but he also said that they would face difficulty and suffering because of their faith. Those on the fence needed to count the cost. When a builder doesn’t count the cost or estimates it inaccurately, his building may be left half-completed. What are those “costs” to believers? Believers may face loss of social status or wealth. They may have to give up control over their money, time, or career. They may be hated, separated from their family, and even put to death. All people must carefully count the cost of becoming Christ’s disciple so that they will know what they are getting into and won’t be tempted to turn back when the going gets tough.

14:31-32 In this second example, Jesus described a wise king’s decision to consider whether his ten thousand soldiers could defeat twice that number coming against him. He has to act, but should he fight or ask for peace? To rush out with his soldiers, without first discussing the options, would invite disaster for his nation. Far better to think it through beforehand. So those who want to follow Jesus should carefully consider their decision.

• LIFE APPLICATION – EASY DECISION?
• If you made a decision sometime in the past to trust Christ for salvation but since then you haven’t paid much attention to your devotion and discipleship, you may be one of those followers who hasn’t counted the cost.
• A decision to trust Christ means that God Almighty is now your Lord and Savior. You had better listen to him, read his Word, follow his teaching. To “commit” and then drift along is no decision at all. If you have trusted Christ, show you mean it by doing what God commands.

14:33 The cost to be counted is giving up everything for Jesus. To be preoccupied with money or possessions is to miss the demands and joys of true discipleship, as with the people who refused the host’s invitation to the Kingdom (14:18-20). Again Jesus painted no rosy picture of a high-paying job with all the benefits. He said that the way would be rough and would be a way of self-sacrifice. Oddly enough, however, this is the only way to true fulfillment and satisfaction.

14:34-35 In the ancient world, salt was used as a seasoning and as a preservative. The salt came mostly from salt marshes in the area southwest of the Dead Sea. This impure salt was susceptible to deterioration and could lose its flavor, leaving only useless crystals. Such salt was simply thrown away. Jesus’ question, “How do you make it salty again?” did not require an answer—for once salt has deteriorated, nothing is left but worthless residue.

Many Believers blend into the world and avoid the cost of standing up for Christ. But Jesus says if Believers lose their distinctive “saltiness,” they become worthless. Just as salt flavors and preserves food, Christ’s disciples are to preserve the good in the world, help keep it from spoiling, and bring new flavor to life. This requires careful planning, willing sacrifice, and unswerving commitment to Christ’s Kingdom. Being “salty” is not easy, but if Believers fail in this function, they fail to represent Christ in the world. The person who is willing to hear should be able to understand these words and apply them.

Sources:   Life Application Bible Commentary, Life Application Concise New Testament Commentary, Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible – Commentary, Preaching the Word

For more information about The Ridge Fellowship or Darrell Koop go to www.ridgefellowship.com