Upwards Church

How to be persistent in prayer, what humility and pride look like and why the faith of children should be imitated all are found in today’s reading.   In addition we see the danger of putting possessions ahead of Jesus and the reason Jesus came – to suffer, die but rise again. 

 Jesus Tells the Parable of the Persistent Widow / 18:1-8

This parable, unique to Luke, illustrates the importance of prayer for believers (a theme of Luke’s, see 5:16; 6:12; 11:1-13). In the same way as the widow, believers should not give up praying to God even when facing indifference and powerful opposition.

18:1 The need for constant prayer and the injunction to never give up should be interpreted in light of the preceding chapter and its focus on the coming Kingdom. Jesus had been discussing with his listeners the aspects of the “in between” time as they lived in a sinful world and awaited the Kingdom. The problem of evil and suffering and the need for justice would plague Jesus’ followers as they experienced pain and awaited vindication. As they wrestled with these difficulties, they could know that their heavenly Father listened and understood and that the answer to their prayers for relief and justice is coming in his time.

• LIFE APPLICATION- PRAY HARD
• Jesus taught his disciples about persistent prayer. A T-shirt reads: “Life is short. Pray hard.” How does a person pray hard?  Persistent prayer involves
• Faith. Unbelievers may succumb to anger, resentment, or despair when they face problems. But you believe God has a solution for you. Prayer builds faith.
• Hope. Life ends, sometimes tragically, but it always ends. God promises eternal life in his Word to those who trust him. When you pray often, you reactivate your trust in future life with God. Constant prayer generates hope.
• Love. To be concerned primarily about yourself, your needs, and your problems is normal. To care about someone other than yourself contradicts your instincts. God wants you to learn to love and to express love to others. Remember, prayer nurtures love.

When life is hard, prayer provides a way for you and God to face it together.

18:2-5 Jesus was not comparing God to this unjust and contemptuous judge, as though he would treat believers in this manner. Instead, this story shows that if even an evil man can be made to deal justly by a persistent woman, how much more would God, who loves his people, care for their requests.

The scene pictures a judge who is godless and contemptuous. He should have been championing those who needed justice, but when a widow came for help, he ignored her. Widows and orphans were among the most vulnerable of all God’s people, and both Old Testament prophets and New Testament apostles insisted that these needy people be properly cared for. (See, for example, Exodus 22:22-24; Isaiah 1:17; 1 Timothy 5:3; James 1:27.) This woman had little hope of gaining the justice she sought, so she used the only weapon she had—persistence. With nothing to lose, she made herself an irritant to the judge. To get rid of her, he saw to it that she got justice.

•  LIFE APPLICATION – HOW MUCH MORE
• Does prayer ever feel as though you are talking to an empty room when nobody’s listening? Do you wonder if your requests are an exercise in auto-suggestion? Is prayer a waste of time because God has more important things to do?
• Jesus used the “how much more” argument to demonstrate that God is not indifferent or inattentive. Do not attribute those qualities to him. God hears your prayers eagerly and compassionately. God acts on your behalf and for your best. God cares about you personally.

When you pray, remember God’s promise to hear your prayer.

18:6-8 If an unjust judge will respond to constant pressure, how much more will a great and loving God respond to his people? They know he loves them; they can believe he will hear their cries for help. They can trust that one day God will give a just decision in the end. As God’s people seek to be obedient in this sinful world, they can know that God will not keep putting them off. It may seem for a time that their cries go unheard. But one day, God will grant justice to them quickly. But Christ has not yet returned. Jesus had made it clear that there would be an intervening time. This would be the church age, the present time. During these years, God’s people help others find the Kingdom and are themselves strengthened in their faith. Their needs cause them to be on their knees constantly, knowing that God alone is their help. Jesus gave no indication of how long this intervening time would last or when he would return. Indeed, he said no one knows (Matthew 24:36), so believers are always to be ready. But Jesus asked, “When I, the Son of Man, return, how many will I find who have faith?” Will people have persisted in faith? Will they be ready and waiting when he comes?

 Jesus Tells the Parable of Two Men Who Prayed / 18:9-14

After encouraging the disciples to be persistent in prayer (18:1-8), Jesus taught them, with a parable, how to pray. This parable sharply contrasts the prayer of a Pharisee with that of a tax collector.

18:9-10 Prayer is important (18:1-8), but the attitude of prayer is vitally important. The people who had great self-confidence and scorned everyone were the Pharisees and other religious leaders who saw themselves as the only ones righteous enough to be acceptable to God. To these people, Jesus told a story about two men who went to the Temple to pray. These two men were as different as could be: the one was a law-keeping and religious Pharisee, and the other was a dishonest tax collector.

18:11-12 This Pharisee’s actions and his prayer provide a picture of his life and occupation—he was a separatist, but his separatism and desire to remain clean before God had hardened into a lifestyle of self-righteousness. He stood by himself and prayed.

The words of this prayer, however, while probably true, were not prayed in the correct attitude of humility before God. He thanked God that he was not a sinner like everyone else. While the Pharisee was probably not like everyone else in a lot of ways, he erred in thinking that he was “not a sinner.” This Pharisee knew that he was far better than the tax collector he saw praying across the way. Tax collectors were not noted for their honesty, so this Pharisee compared himself favorably, telling God that he himself had never cheated or sinned or committed adultery. And, by the way, he also fasted twice a week and tithed from his income.

This Pharisee was confident of himself and his righteousness, while at the same time despising this other man, even though he too was in the Temple praying to the same God. The Pharisee did not welcome the tax collector who may have been seeking God; instead, the Pharisee gloated that he was so much more righteous.

•  LIFE APPLICATION – LOOK AT ME! I’M PRAYING!
• The Pharisee went to the temple to use prayer as an announcement about how good he was. We all know that God was not impressed. Neither are we.
• Prayer that recites our accomplishments is nothing more than pious conceit. When you pray, recite God’s accomplishments instead—all that God has done for you and others. That kind of prayer directs praise to the right mailbox.

18:13-14 The focus shifts to the tax collector who had come to the Temple and seems to have known full well the extent of his sin. He felt so low that he did not think he could even lift his eyes to heaven into God’s face; instead he beat his chest (a sign of sorrow), praying for God to be merciful to him. He recognized himself as a sinner. He had been convicted of his sin and had come to the one place where he could find forgiveness. He had come to God, humbly recognizing that he did not deserve mercy.

Surprisingly enough, only the tax collector returned home justified before God. The word “justified” means God’s act of declaring people “not guilty” of sin. Only the tax collector recognized his sin; therefore, he was the only one God justified. The self-righteous Pharisee had said that he had no sin; therefore, there was nothing for God to justify for him. He returned home no different than when he had entered.

The principle is that no one has anything of value to bring to God in order to deserve salvation, mercy, justification, or even a second glance from God. The proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored. Acceptance before God cannot be achieved by good deeds, piety, or any amount of self-proclaimed righteousness.

•  LIFE APPLICATION – HUMILITY
• Today, guilt is unpopular; feeling “good about myself” is much more in fashion. Anyone found beating his breast in guilt is sent for counseling until such negative behavior is corrected. Humbling oneself is likewise not in vogue. The papers are full of advice that self-asserting behavior and affirming oneself are the means to success.  But God’s grace cannot be found without humility. It is essential to receiving mercy. That’s the point of Jesus’ parable in 18:13-14.  Do you want to be free of guilt? First confess your sins before God with remorse and repentance. Then accept God’s gift to you—the forgiveness that Jesus Christ offers.

 Jesus Blesses the Children / 18:15-17

Jesus used a child’s humility as a striking picture of the appropriate attitude with which to approach God. That type of humility was demonstrated by the tax collector in the previous parable (18:9-14).

18:15 In the first century, Jewish households were patriarchal—men came first, followed by women and children. Adult men were the key members of society, women quite secondary, and children were to be seen but not heard. It was customary, however, for parents to bring their children (the Greek word for “children” is paidia, meaning children ranging in age from babies to pre-teens) to an elder or a scribe so he could touch (or lay hands on) and bless them. The disciples apparently viewed this as an intrusion and a drain of time and energy. So they told the parents not to bother Jesus.

•  LIFE APPLICATION – CHILDREN
• It was customary for a mother to bring her children to an elder or scribe for a blessing, and that is why these mothers gathered around Jesus. The disciples, however, thought the children were unworthy of the Master’s time—less important than whatever else he was doing. But Jesus welcomed them because little children have the kind of faith and trust needed to enter God’s kingdom. Does your church give slight attention and resources to the children’s or youth ministries? Be sure you give generously so these ministries are priorities. It is important to approach Jesus with childlike attitudes of acceptance, faith, and trust, and to introduce children to Jesus so that they can do so as well.

18:16-17 Instead of being too busy for children, Jesus called for them and wanted them to come to him. No one should be stopped from coming to Jesus, no matter how young or old. Jesus explained that the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these, not meaning that heaven is only for children but that people need childlike attitudes of trust in God. The receptiveness of little children was a great contrast to the stubbornness of the religious leaders who let their education and sophistication stand in the way of a simple faith. Anyone who doesn’t have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God. Childlike faith means trusting God no matter what, always knowing that he has your best in mind. You love him because he loves you. You trust completely because the One you trust is completely trustworthy.

• LIFE APPLICATION – THEIR KIND OF FAITH
• How does someone have a child’s kind of faith, as emphasized by Jesus? It means having the simple, trusting attitude that children show to adults on whom they depend. Jesus wants his people to
• enjoy prayer by delighting in his company.
•  find ways in a busy day to read the Bible enthusiastically.
•  seek God’s help in any problem and rely on him for guidance.
•  above all, trust explicitly in his promises.
• Children do all that with adults who love them. How much more should believers have that attitude toward Jesus, who loves them.

Jesus Speaks to the Rich Young Man / 18:18-30

This episode with the rich young man differs greatly with Jesus’ blessing of children in the previous section. The children are an example of innocent faith and trust. The rich young man thought he could gain eternal life by what he did, only to find that he could not have it.

18:18-19 This religious leader addressed Jesus as good teacher (not the more common “rabbi”) and eagerly asked a question about what he should do to get eternal life. He viewed eternal life as something that a person could achieve or earn through certain works or good deeds, and he wanted to make sure that he did everything necessary.

Instead of answering the man’s question, Jesus first took issue with the way the man addressed him. This may have been no more than a flippant attempt at flattery, but Jesus forced the man to think about it. Because only God is truly good, the man had made a statement about Jesus that he probably did not even realize. By asking this question, Jesus was saying, “Do you really know the one to whom you are talking?” The man was correct in calling Jesus good for he was good and also God.

18:20-21 Regarding the man’s question, Jesus at first pointed him back to the commandments (meaning the Ten Commandments). Jesus listed only five of them—those dealing with human relationships. He did not list any of the first four commandments that deal with a person’s relationship to God. All of the ones listed could be easily identified—the man probably could honestly say that he had not committed adultery or murder, had not stolen or lied, and had honored his parents. To keep the letter of these laws would be relatively easy for a wealthy young Jewish man. Yet he still felt strongly that something was lacking in his life. So he asked if there were more he should do. The point is that even if a person could keep all these commandments perfectly, which this man claimed to have done, there would still be a lack of assurance of salvation.

18:22-23 The man saying that he had kept all the commandments led Jesus to focus on the man’s relationship to his material possessions (alluding to the last commandment not to covet) and on his relationship to God (the first four commandments that Jesus had not mentioned). Jesus perceived an area of weakness—his wealth—and so said that it was the money itself that was standing in the way of his reaching eternal life. So Jesus told him to sell everything he owned, give away his money to the poor, and then follow him. This challenge exposed the barrier that would keep this man out of the Kingdom: his love of money. Ironically, his attitude made him unable to keep the first commandment: “Do not worship any other gods besides me” (Exodus 20:3). The young man did not love God with his whole heart as he had presumed. In reality, his many possessions were his god.

The task of selling every possession would not, of itself, give the man eternal life. But such radical obedience would be the first step. The emphasis was not so much on “selling” as on “following.” Jesus’ words to this rich young man were a test of his faith and his willingness to obey. The man thought he needed to do more; Jesus explained that there was plenty more he could do but not in order to obtain eternal life. Instead, he needed an attitude adjustment toward his wealth; only then could he submit humbly to the lordship of Christ. By putting his treasure in heaven and following Jesus along the road of selflessness and service to others, the man could be assured of his eternal destiny. But the young man became sad when he heard this.

Jesus does not ask all believers to sell everything they have. He does ask each person, however, to get rid of anything that has become more important than God. If your basis for security has shifted from God to what you own, you may need to get rid of those possessions.

• LIFE APPLICATION – NOT WHAT YOU OWN BUT WHAT OWNS YOU
• Sometimes people come to Jesus for life insurance—they would rather not lose everything at death. But Jesus’ call is one step deeper, beyond possessions to the real self.  Are you God’s child, whatever you own? Are you Jesus’ disciple, whatever the cost? Becoming a Christian means happily surrendering the best of earth for the brightest of heaven. Have you placed your possessions and wealth fully under God’s control?

18:24-25 Offered discipleship, the man chose to return to his possessions. Jesus sadly pointed out to his disciples that it is hard for rich people to get into the Kingdom of God. This was contrary to conventional wisdom. Most Jews believed that wealth was a sign of God’s blessing on people. Here Jesus explained that riches can often prove to be a stumbling block. Rich people often don’t feel the deep spiritual hunger needed to seek out and find God. They can use their money to buy possessions, trips, and helpers so that they don’t perceive any needs in their lives. With all their advantages and influence, the rich often find it difficult to have the attitude of humility, submission, and service required by Jesus. Because money represents power and success, the rich often miss out on the fact that power and success on earth cannot provide eternal salvation. Even if they use their money to help good causes, they can still miss out on God’s Kingdom.

Jesus used a well-known Jewish proverb to describe the difficulty faced by the rich; he said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.” The Greek word refers to a sewing needle. Jesus’ image was for hyperbolic effect. The camel, the largest animal in Palestine, could get through the eye of a sewing needle easier than a rich person could get into God’s Kingdom. These are indeed sobering words for those whose money and possessions are extremely important to them.

• LIFE APPLICATION – UNTIL JESUS IS ALL
• For true disciples, wealth can be dangerous. Money and possessions can make people
• care more about money than about their role in God’s kingdom.
•  worry more about comfort than about their neighbor’s needs.
•  shop more for possessions to make them happy; search less for answers to life’s big questions.
• anchor happiness in their accomplishments, not in God’s Word.
• cling more to the tangibly immediate, less to the promised future.

 18:26-27 Because the Jewish people saw riches as a sign of God’s special blessing, they were astounded when Jesus said that riches actually worked against people finding God. So they asked, “Then who in the world can be saved?”

Jesus answered that what is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God. People cannot save themselves, no matter how much power, authority, or influence they buy. Salvation comes from God alone. Both rich and poor can be saved, and human impossibilities are divine possibilities. The rich need to hold their riches loosely, remembering that every penny comes from God. And they should willingly use what God has given to advance his Kingdom. This does not come easily for anyone, rich or poor. Money can be a major stumbling block, but God can change anyone.

•  LIFE APPLICATION-RICHES
• Jesus taught that it was nearly impossible for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Because money represents power, authority, and success, often it is difficult for wealthy people to realize their need and their powerlessness to save themselves. The rich in talent or intelligence suffer the same difficulty. Unless God reaches into their lives, they will not come to him.  It is difficult for a self-sufficient person to realize his or her need and come to Jesus, but what is impossible with people is possible with God.

18:28-30 Peter and the other disciples had paid a high price—leaving their homes and jobs—to follow Jesus. They had done what the rich man had been unwilling to do. They had abandoned their former lives.

Jesus reminded Peter that following him has its benefits as well as its sacrifices. Any believer who has had to give up something to follow Christ will be repaid in this life as well as in the next. For example, if you must give up a secure job, you will find that God offers a secure relationship with himself now and forever. If you must give up your family’s approval, you will gain the love of the family of God. For each person the sacrifice may be different, though no less difficult. No matter how much or how little you have, no matter how difficult the sacrifice may be are you willing to do whatever it takes to have eternal life?

•  LIFE APPLICATION – NO LOSS SO GREAT
• Jesus promised much to his followers. Nothing you lose threatens the love, joy, and peace God promises to all his children.
• Not your home. Tornadoes may flatten it.
•  Not your job. Stingy bosses may cancel it.
•  Not your spouse. Cancer may snatch him or her away.
•  Not your friends. They may shun “religious types.”
• Your life’s losses will add up as years go by, but God’s presence in you and promise to you is all the greater a share of your heart’s real treasure. No loss is so great that God does not fill the void.

Jesus Predicts His Death the Third Time / 18:31-34

For the third time, Jesus predicted his death; this time, he graphically described his rejection by the religious leaders and even predicted his own resurrection. Luke placed these predictions within his long section that recounts Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. He placed the first two predictions at the beginning of the journey (9:22, 43-45) and this third prediction toward the end, showing that Jesus was heading to Jerusalem to fulfill these predictions (see 12:50; 13:32-33; 17:25).

18:31 As a warning to his disciples, he gathered them around himself and explained that when they arrived in Jerusalem all the predictions of the ancient prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. Some of those predictions about what would happen to Jesus are in Psalm 41:9 (betrayal); Psalm 22:16-18 and Isaiah 53:4-7 (crucifixion); Psalm 16:10 (resurrection). Jesus explained that the plans had already been in place for thousands of years and soon would be fulfilled.

18:32-34 The first time Jesus told of his impending death, he focused on his rejection by Israel’s leaders (9:21-27); the second time, he added the element of betrayal (9:44-45). Here Jesus mentioned the foretelling of these events by the prophets and the involvement of the Romans. While the Jewish leaders would reject Jesus (as reported in 9:21-27), they had to submit to Rome’s authority in cases of capital punishment. They could punish lesser crimes, but only Rome could call for and enact an execution.

So sad were these words that it seems the disciples didn’t even hear the last sentence—on the third day, he would rise again. Their ignorance and blindness were simply because they could not grasp the scope of God’s plan in Jesus. The disciples didn’t understand Jesus, apparently because they were focusing on what he said about his death. Even though Jesus spoke plainly, they would not grasp the significance of his words until they had seen the risen Christ face-to-face (see 24:13-35).

 Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar / 18:35-43

The healing of the blind man is the last miracle before the Passion Week. On his approach to Jerusalem, Jesus went through Jericho. Here a blind man, a person considered insignificant by others, cried out for mercy and expressed his faith in Jesus as the Messiah who could save him. His bold faith was rewarded.

18:35-36 Continuing on their journey toward Jerusalem, Jesus and the disciples approached Jericho. The Old Testament city of Jericho had been destroyed by the Israelites (Joshua 6:20), but during his rule over Palestine, Herod the Great had rebuilt the city (about a mile south of the original city) as a site for his winter palace. Jericho was a popular and wealthy resort city, not far from the Jordan River, about eighteen miles northeast of Jerusalem.

They came upon a blind beggar who was sitting beside the road. The blind, the lame and others who could not engage in the traditional occupations of the day could secure their living only by begging, normally on a busy roadside. Jewish people considered helping them a righteous deed. Jericho was a prosperous town with a good climate, and this blind man (Timaeus’s son—Mark 10:46) no doubt received ample support there, especially when pilgrims were passing by en route to the festival in Jerusalem.

18:37-39 When the blind man heard that Jesus of Nazareth was going by, he shamelessly cried out for Jesus’ attention. He called “Son of David,” a title for the Messiah (Isaiah 11:1-3). This means that the blind man understood Jesus to be the long-awaited Messiah. The crowds tried to hush the man, perhaps trying to keep Jesus from being harassed by beggars. But that only made the blind man more persistent.

• LIFE APPLICATION- AGAINST THE CROWD
• When did you last reject the pressure to conform and just did it your own way? The crowd here wanted even-tempered decorum, but Bartimaeus wanted Jesus’ attention. He broke a lot of social rules to get it.  What normal social patterns would you have to break to find Jesus? What if your office likes Sunday morning golf, but you want to worship? What if your colleagues’ language is crisp with profanity, and you respect Jesus’ name? What if joking about sexual exploits is common at work, but you believe sex is too special for such calloused treatment?  Add to the list, and bring it to a small group for discussion. Together pray for strength to break through this week, getting closer to Jesus and conforming less to “normal” expectations.

 18:40-41 Any normal human being, heading toward certain death, would be extremely preoccupied and probably not necessarily in the mood to help others. But Jesus did not reject the man as the crowd had done. He ordered that the man be brought to him, then asked him to voice his request. The man replied unhesitatingly, “I want to see!” How many times in his life had he voiced that desire? Probably thousands. But here he stood before the one person in the universe who could actually make his desire a reality. And he would not have asked if he had not believed that it could be so.

• LIFE APPLICATION – I WANT…
• Jesus asked the blind man, “What do you want me to do for you?” What do you want Jesus to do for you? Make a list of six responses you might make to Jesus’ question. Avoid clichés and “safe” items (such as “make me a better Christian”). Get personal and specific. Often the healing that Jesus brings begins with identifying our spiritual needs and having the desire to change. Don’t hesitate to ask for what others label as impossible. Like Bartimaeus, you need Jesus’ help today. Ask for it.

18:42-43 Jesus recognized the man’s faith. As a result of such faith, Jesus healed him. All Jesus did was speak the words and instantly the man could see. He immediately joined the crowd of followers, staying with Jesus, and praising God. This was also the response of the people in the crowd. There were no healings of the blind recorded in the Old Testament, so the Jews believed that such a miracle would be a sign that the messianic age had begun (Isaiah 29:18; 35:5). Jesus healed other blind people as well, so these people knew something special was happening. A poor and blind beggar could see that Jesus was the Messiah, and the crowds understood that God was to be praised for such miracles. But the religious leaders who saw his miracles were blinded to his identity and refused to recognize him as the Messiah.

 Great symbolic value is here in Luke’s account. The man was a beggar sitting by the side of the road, waiting for something to happen. He was blind and could do nothing to improve his condition. The Messiah came through his town (as He had walked through many towns). Immediately the blind man recognized Him as the Messiah, the One who could save him from his blindness. Spiritual outcasts, unable to help themselves, far more readily recognized the Messiah and asked for His help than did the Jewish religious leaders.

*What are we to learn from the blind sight, the marvelous spiritual vision, of the blind beggar?

*First, we must see our need. The man knew he was blind, and he articulated it.  Are you blind? — to your sin, your need of Christ? Or perhaps you are a believer but your sin has cauterized your eyes to what Christ is asking of you. Whatever, you need to ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your heart.

*Second, once you see your need, you need to see who Jesus is. He is “the Son of Man,” the awesome, glorious sovereign whom all peoples and all nations will worship and whose kingdom and dominion will never end. He is “the Son of David,” the deliverer who will fulfill everything King David foreshadowed. He is the Savior, Christ the King.

*Third, you need to cry out, “Jesus, have mercy on me.” Seeing your need, seeing who Jesus really is, now cry out in faith, “Have mercy on me!”

*Do you see yourself? Do you see Jesus? Have you called out to him, “Jesus, have mercy on me”?

 Until tomorrow, Darrell

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

For more about how to make a decision for Christ see:

http://www.ridgefellowship.com/next-step/accept-christ.html

Do you know when to confront someone who has hurt you?  Do you know how often you should forgive someone?  Jesus tells us today.  What is your attitude about serving God?  Are you grateful for what God has done and is that important?  Find out today.  What do you know about Jesus second coming?  Jesus talks about his return in this chapter.   Are you ready?

 Jesus Tells about Forgiveness and Faith / 17:1-10

 17:1 Because people are sinful and because people live in relationship with one another, they will tempt each other to sin. The Greek word skandala used here denotes any hindrance that causes another person to fall into sin, whether through temptation or false teaching. Jesus explained that while there would always be temptations, that did not excuse the person who does the tempting. Jesus may have been referring to the religious leaders who taught their converts their own hypocritical ways (see Matthew 23:15). These leaders were perpetuating an evil system through their false teaching. A person who teaches others has a solemn responsibility (James 3:1).

17:2 Leading another person astray is very serious. Jesus explained that the consequences were so severe that it would be better to have a millstone tied around one’s neck and be thrown into the sea than for a person to face God after causing others to stumble. A “millstone” was a heavy, flat stone used to grind grain.  Even such a death of being plunged into darkness would be minor, however, compared to what this person would face in eternity. Jesus used the term little ones to refer not just to children but to his followers. Those who turn people away from God will receive severe punishment.

• LIFE APPLICATION – THE LITTLE ONES
• Jesus warned about God’s wrath for those who offend, abuse, or lead astray the little ones. Jesus warns off any predators who would hurt children in any way. How appropriate such a warning is in this day when child predators are so common. While we must guard against physical abuse, be aware of and work against the mental and spiritual corruption of children as well.  Jesus’ warning envisions an additional group. The “little ones” can be new disciples. Indifference to the training and treatment of new Christians can leave them theologically vulnerable. Make the follow-through care of recent converts and new members a high priority in your church.

 17:3-4 Careful leadership is important for Jesus’ followers, but so is constant forgiveness. When there is sin among God’s people, they are responsible to rebuke one another. To “rebuke” does not mean to point out every sin, for Jesus also warns against being judgmental (6:37). To “rebuke” (always in love) means to bring sin to a person’s attention with the purpose of restoring that person to God and to fellow humans. In context here, this refers to sin that could pull that person or others away from God, and thus result in serious judgment Jesus spoke of in 17:2. When a person feels that he or she must rebuke another Christian for a sin, it is wise for that person to check his or her attitudes and motivations first. Unless rebuke is tied to forgiveness, it will not help the sinning person. Jesus explained, in fact, that if the other person repents, the rebuker must forgive. And that forgiveness extends constantly.

•  LIFE APPLICATION – EFFECTIVE CONFRONTATION
• Rebuking a fellow believer requires care. Finding fault and expressing it effectively are delicate proceedings. People are easily offended. In a first-time confrontation, try these six steps:

1. Pray for God’s help in getting your concern across without generating antagonism or defensiveness.
2.  Approach the other person as a friend, not an adversary.
3.  Imagine the most innocent possible reason for the other’s fault, not the most insidious or repulsive.
4.  Make your approach a series of gradual and mutual agreements: “Could I speak to you?” “I’m having trouble with something. May I ask you about it?”
5. State your case once clearly. Repetition becomes the pounding of a sledgehammer.
6. Express gratitude for the conversation, confidence in the friendship, and cordial expectations for the future. Show that you harbor no doubt that the matter has been solved.

17:5-6 The disciples told Jesus, “We need more faith.” Jesus didn’t directly answer their question because the amount of faith is not as important as its genuineness. What is faith? It is total dependence on God and a willingness to do his will.

A mustard seed is small, but it is alive and growing. Like a tiny seed, a small amount of genuine faith in God will take root and grow. The apostles didn’t need more faith; a tiny seed of faith would be enough, if it were alive and growing.

Jesus pointed to a nearby mulberry tree and said that even small faith could uproot it and send it into the sea. Mulberry trees grow quite large (as high as thirty-five feet). Matthew’s Gospel records a similar teaching when Jesus said that a mountain could be told to throw itself into the sea (Matthew 21:21). It is the power of God, not faith, that uproots trees and moves mountains, but faith must be present for God to work. Even a small “seed” of faith is sufficient. There is great power in even a little faith when God is there

17:7-10 When Jesus’ followers obey, they have only done their duty and should regard it as a privilege. They should not expect thanks, for they were only doing what they were supposed to do. Jesus used the example of a slave who renders service and does not expect to be thanked. Obedience is not something extra done for God; it is the duty of anyone who desires to be Christ’s follower. Before God, all people are sinners, saved only by God’s grace, but believers are saved and therefore have great worth in God’s Kingdom. They must lay aside selfishness and treat others with respect and common courtesy.

With these words, Jesus was not rendering service as meaningless or useless, nor was he doing away with rewards. He was attacking unwarranted self-esteem and spiritual pride—perhaps such as many of the religious leaders were exhibiting, or what the disciples themselves might be tempted to fall into as they would seek to serve God. Jesus’ followers focus their eyes on God with their goal only to serve and please him. They don’t work for recognition or rewards or even for God to praise them for their hard work. They understand that their duty is to serve the Master.

• LIFE APPLICATION – A SERVANT’S EXPECATIONS
• Everyone in Jesus’ day understood the role of a slave. That person did the duty he or she was purchased to perform. The owner owed no thanks for work done, and a slave wouldn’t expect it. So many people want recognition and appreciation for every small step they take to help or serve. Loyalty and obedience are merely the beginning of a believer’s obligation. When believers seek praise and reward, they serve themselves and not God. Examine your motives. What do you expect when you serve others?

Jesus Heals Ten Men with Leprosy / 17:11-19

Ten lepers were healed, but only one leper—a Samaritan—returned to thank Jesus. This story, unique to Luke, highlights the faith of a foreigner in Israel. One of the major themes of Luke is the remarkable faith of Gentiles. Although many of the Jewish religious leaders rejected Jesus, a number of foreigners wholeheartedly placed their trust in him (7:1-10).

17:11-13 Jesus was traveling along the border between Galilee and Samaria. Galilee was Jewish; Samaria was occupied by Samaritans who were despised by the Jews. The exact location is unknown, but that Jesus was near the border accounts for a Samaritan in the group of lepers. People who had leprosy were required to try to stay away from other people and to announce their presence if they had to come near. Thus these ten lepers were standing at a distance, outside the city, and they were crying out to Jesus for mercy. They called Jesus Master—they knew who he was and what he could do for them. They did not try to get close, however, perhaps because of the crowd that was probably still following Jesus (14:25).

17:14 Jesus sent the ten lepers to the priests (as prescribed by the law, Leviticus 14) before they were healed, and as they went, their leprosy disappeared. Jesus did not touch these men or even speak words of healing as he had done for most of his healings. This time he simply gave them the command to go show themselves to the priests. Jesus was asking the men to respond in faith so that, by their obedience, what they desired would happen. All the men responded in faith, and Jesus healed them on the way.

17:15-16 Jesus healed all ten lepers, but only one of them returned to thank him. It is possible to receive God’s great gifts with an ungrateful spirit—nine of the ten men did so. Only the thankful man, however, learned that his faith had played a role in his healing; and only grateful Christians grow in understanding God’s grace. God does not demand that his people thank him, but he is pleased when they do so. And he uses their responsiveness to teach them more about himself. The surprise of this story is that this Samaritan, used to being despised by Jews (except perhaps for his fellow lepers), would dare to go to this Jewish healer and prostrate himself before him. But this man’s faith went deep enough that he saw God’s hand in the healing. Once again Luke was pointing out that God’s grace is for everybody.

17:17-19 Jesus had been distressed many times with his own people’s lack of acceptance and faith (7:9; 8:25; 12:28). This time was no different. Ten men had been healed, but only one, the foreigner (referring to the man from Samaria), came back to give glory to God. Jesus was not so much concerned about being thanked as he was about the men’s understanding of what had happened. The other nine went off, free from leprosy but not necessarily free from sin through the salvation Jesus could offer. This one man was freed, so Jesus sent him on his way with the knowledge that his faith had made him well. He not only had a restored body, his soul had been restored as well.

*We can assume that Jesus was felt hurt because nobody thanked him.  But he was also disappointed for another reason.  He tells the leper who came back.  “Your faith has made you well.”  Ten were healed, but only one was made well and that’s more important than being healed.  Unless gratitude is a part of our nature we can’t be whole people.  Ingratitude is more contagious and harmful than leprosy. 

 Jesus Teaches about the Coming of the Kingdom of God / 17:20-37

17:20-21 Up to this point in the chapter, Jesus was explaining how his followers should live. From 17:20–18:8, as a response to a question brought by the Pharisees, Jesus discussed when the Kingdom of God would come. The Pharisees did not understand that the Kingdom of God had already arrived with Jesus. Jesus had made this clear in 11:20. In 19:11-27, he will explain that the full expression of God’s Kingdom is yet to come (and is still to come). These are the days “between”—the Kingdom has arrived in Jesus Christ, yet it has not arrived in its fullness. Believers are waiting for it, as Jesus has already described (12:35-48), knowing that it could come at any moment. So Jesus’ words here explain the nature of the Kingdom now.

Jesus explained that the Kingdom isn’t ushered in with visible signs; in other words, no one can project when it will come by looking for supernatural signs. Nor will anyone be able to point to anything that proves that the Kingdom is here or there. The Kingdom of God was among the people because Jesus was among them. When Jesus returned to heaven, the Kingdom remained, and continues today, with the work of God’s Spirit in people’s lives and in relationships. Still, today, believers must resist looking to institutions or programs for evidence of the progress of God’s Kingdom. Instead, they should look for what God is doing in people’s hearts. Rather than looking for signs or trying to figure out timetables, each person should look into his or her own heart to be sure to be ready. When the Kingdom arrives, will you be ushered in or sent away?

17:22 Jesus turned his attention back to his disciples and explained that days would come when they would long to share in the days of the Son of Man, but they won’t be able to. We are not certain whether this longing on the disciples’ part would be for the return of the days when Jesus was among them physically (for he would soon be gone physically), or if their longing looked ahead to the “days” of the end times when the Kingdom would arrive and Jesus would return. Most likely their “longing” would be looking ahead for what had been promised (because the following verses concern the Second Coming). That they won’t be able to share in it means that they would not see his arrival in their lifetimes. There would be an intervening time between Jesus’ first and second comings.

17:23-24 In these intervening days, after Christ has returned to heaven and as his followers await his return, there will be much speculation. Some will attempt to pinpoint exactly when Jesus will return; others will attempt to mock believers’ expectations. Some will claim to be the Messiah; others will say that Jesus has returned—and people will believe them. Jesus warned believers never to take such reports seriously, no matter how convincing they may sound. When Jesus returns, his power and presence will be evident to everyone, like lightning that flashes across the sky. No one will need to spread the message because all will see for themselves.

17:25 Before this great return occurs, however, Jesus would return to heaven from earth. In order for that to occur, he would suffer terribly and be rejected, and then be crucified. This would happen soon, for it would be this generation who would do it, specifically this generation of religious leaders who would arrange for Jesus to be put to death (9:21-27, 37-44; 18:31-34).

17:26-27 To illustrate the suddenness of his return, Jesus used two examples, the first being the flood (see Genesis 6–7). In the days before the flood, life went on as usual for most people, with the exception of Noah who had been building a huge boat for many years. Then, it began to rain, the flood came, and everyone drowned.

Jesus was warning against false security. Although life will continue as usual until the day of Christ’s return, believers must always be ready to go at a moment’s notice. When Christ returns, there will be no second chances. Some will be taken to be with him; the rest will be left behind.

• LIFE APPLICATION  AS THE WORLD TURNS
• In every age, it has been easy to assume that life goes on, never spending a second thought on God’s promised intervention. But don’t think God has forgotten. One day soon all of God’s glory and fury will burst into view. The kingdom that grew slowly—at your local church, in your small-group Bible study, at youth-group outings, and in prayer with friends—will explode into plain sight, and God’s truth will be known by all. Reach out to those yet untold of Christ’s love and mercy. Help them be prepared for Christ’s return.

17:28-29 The second example of the suddenness of Christ’s return is the destruction of the city of Sodom (recorded in Genesis 18–19). Sodom, along with the nearby city of Gomorrah, was destroyed by God because of their great wickedness. Lot, Abraham’s nephew, had chosen to settle in the city of Sodom (Genesis 13:11-13). The people of Sodom, wicked as they were, went about their daily business. Then, the morning Lot left Sodom, the city was destroyed. The destruction came so suddenly that only Lot and his family escaped. Angels came and spared Lot and his family from the fire and burning sulfur.

In the time between Christ’s first and second comings, some may be lulled into complacency by the fact that life continues with its normal activities. Many today see life moving ahead with no interruptions. But Jesus made it clear that judgment would come, unexpectedly, without warning, in the middle of what would begin as a routine day.

•  LIFE APPLICATION  GET READY!
• Christ will return with no warning. Most people will be going about their everyday tasks, indifferent to the demands of God. They will be as surprised by his return as the people in Noah’s day were by the Flood (Genesis 6–8) or as the people in Lot’s day were surprised by the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 19). No one knows when Christ will return, but his return is certain. He may come today, tomorrow, or centuries in the future. Whenever Jesus comes, believers must be morally and spiritually ready. Live as if Jesus were returning today.

17:30-32 When the Son of Man returns, there will be no time to return home for anything. Those outside should not go back inside to try to pack; those working out in the field must not return to town. Jesus exhorted his listeners to remember what happened to Lot’s wife! When angels led Lot and his family out of the city, the angels warned them not to look back (Genesis 19:17). Surely the sound of destruction reached their ears, but they were not to turn around. Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). Clinging to the past, she was unwilling to completely leave the evil of the city and the comfort of her possessions.

The time for deciding about Christ will pass in a single moment. Those who were waiting and longing to see that day (17:22) will rejoice at its arrival. Those who did not believe it would happen will not have time to do anything about it. It will be too late.

17:33 Christ’s return will cause great upheaval and danger. This is described in other prophecies regarding the end times, such as chapter 21 and the book of Revelation. Whoever clings to this life will lose it, for nothing in this life will remain. When Christ returns everything will change. Clinging to this world is foolish, for it will pass away. Clinging to life is foolish, for it too will pass away. Jesus said much the same thing in 9:24  and Matthew 10:39; 16:25; Mark 8:35; John 12:25.)

17:34-35 The sudden return of Christ and the sudden end of all chances to change one’s decision about him will result in sudden separation of his followers from those who chose not to follow. People may be close enough in this world—even sleeping in the same bed or working together at the same job.  While these people may have looked no different from the outside, one difference will separate them forever. When Jesus returns, he will take his followers to be with him (see 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17).

•  LIFE APPLICATION  –  ARE YOU GOING?
• When God’s kingdom comes, will you be included? You can be sure of it! Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior today. In a prayer, admit your need, ask for pardon from your sin, and thank God for welcoming you into his family. Live for your Lord today. Help someone overcome a problem. Give someone an encouraging word from the Bible. Pray for someone in trouble.

17:37 Those listening to Jesus’ words of warning wanted to know where all of this would take place. To answer the disciples’ question, Jesus quoted a familiar proverb. One vulture circling overhead does not mean much, but a gathering of vultures means that a dead body is nearby. Likewise, one sign of the end may not be significant, but when many signs occur, the Second Coming (the end) is near.

 Until tomorrow, Darrell

Sources:   Life Application Bible Commentary, Life Application Concise New Testament Commentary, Mastering the New Testament/Luke

For more about The Ridge Fellowship click: www.ridgefellowship.com

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