On Line Bible Study - For the Week March 28-April 3, 2011

Lesson 486

Luke 15: Luke 16: ¹ Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. ² So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’ ³ “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— ⁴ I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

⁵ “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ ⁶ “‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied.“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’

⁷ “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ “‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

⁸ “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. ⁹ I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

Scholar Darrell Bock lists no fewer than 6 possible interpretations for this parable, and writes: "The parable of the 'unjust steward' is one of the most difficult of Jesus' parables to understand."

His "preferred view" is that this "is an exhortation to use money wisely and generously so as to enter heaven fully blessed". It "lacks any note of approaching crisis."[1] Given how difficult the parable is to interpret, Bock acknowledges there is broad consensus among scholars that this is an original parable with Jesus; the church is “not likely to have created such a difficult parable.”

Some of the interesting – and difficult – details include the following: The steward kept careful records – he apparently did little to hide the fraud. At the same time, he seems not to have known what was owed his master by some fairly large accounts. This seems to be a contradiction. Or – Does he have the debtor state aloud the amount they owe so they will better appreciate the deal he is making with them? And, when the master confronts him, the steward says nothing in his own defense. Finally, the master commends the steward for precisely the kind of behavior that got him into trouble in the first place.

The steward acknowledges his laziness and pride – not strong enough to dig, ashamed to beg… His fate is sealed with the master; he must build other bridges. What exactly was the steward doing when he lowered the amount owed? Was he undercutting the boss? Was he removing the interest that had been added, bringing the transaction into alignment with the Mosaic Law (Exodus 22:25)? Was he sacrificing his own commission? Which would be the most likely to create sympathy for him when he was fired?

Verse 8 seems to reveal the point of the story – shrewdness. Bock points out this is the only time the phrase is used in Luke’s writing. But there is also a sense of generosity here. Is that what Jesus is commending?

Darrell Bock sums it up this way: “Jesus is saying that God’s children, who have a heavenly future, should be as diligent in assessing the long-term effect of their actions as those who do not know God are in protecting their earthly well-being.”

In other words – not just prudence (shrewdness), but generosity must be the rule.

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[1] Darrell Bock, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament – Luke – Vol. B. Published by Baker Publishing Group, PO Box 6287, grand Rapids, Michigan 49516. © 1996. Page 1338.

On Line Bible Study - For the Week Mardh 21-27, 2011

Lesson 485

Luke 15: ¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them."

Click on the above text for the full story of 'The Prodigal Son' - or, as Darrell Bock prefers, 'The Parable of the Forgiving Father'.

Pharisees and teachers of the law have been grousing again - This man welcomes sinners and eats with them, they note. (See Luke 15:1.) The thing is, these religious folk were not far from God; but they were light years away from understanding God's blessings, intended for all the world.

To recap - the younger of two sons asks his father for his inheritance; he takes the money and squanders it, ending up impoverished and friendless. Heading home, he is ready to do whatever menial task his father might offer him so that he might have room and board. His father is looking for him, sees him coming in the distance, and orders the fatted calf prepared for a feast. The older son sees the preparations for a party, inquires as to the purpose of the celebration, and is informed that his brother has come home. Incredulous, the older son complains that he has slaved for his father and never so much as gotten a goat to share with his friends. The father explains that all he has belongs to his son - he could have had a party any time he wanted ... but your brother was dead and is alive, and was lost and is found...

Remember that this story follows on the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin. This parable of the prodigal, or the 'forgiving father', is a story about reversal. The only one who gets what he hopes for is the father, and that is because he is willing to forgive.

In Rob Bells' recent (and for some, somewhat controversial) book called Love Wins, he points out some interesting characteristics in this parable of Jesus.

First, the youngest son comes home ready to repent, and prepared for whatever punishment his father might dole out to him. "I am no longer worthy to be called your son," he is prepared to say. The contrast between this young, repentant son and his father is significant. What if the youngest son had insisted on HIS interpretation of things? He never would have entered his father's house. He would have embarked on a life of chores and hard labor.

Jesus is making an important point here. We have read elsewhere that we are to seek; but this story suggests God is seeking after us as well.

The older son hears the festivities, and finding out what has happened he refuses to go into the party. This is a boy who has lived under the roof of his father's love and protection, with all the family wealth available to him. His take on the situation is also very different from his father's, for he harbors resentment. Apparently it never occurred to him to fully appreciate or enjoy what his father had to offer.

Bell suggests that we consider the proximity to the father of both these sons. Now, both are once again living under their father's roof. One of the sons has stepped into heaven; the other is determined to live in hell. Proximity to their father and all the family wealth has nothing to do with their capacity to enjoy the blessings of their situation. Their attitude is the key factor.

Perhaps the question we might ponder is not whether we have found God, but whether we are willing to let God find us.

On Line Bible Study - For the Week March 14-20, 2011

Lesson 484

Luke 15: ¹ Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

³ Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

⁸ “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ ¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Tax collectors were shunned because of the work they did and their unholy alliance with Rome. "Sinners" is a less specific term suggesting a group of people who were separated from God because of the life style they chose to lead. (Darrell Bock's Commentary on Luke.) That these people were eating with Jesus was all the more distasteful because of the implication that their lifestyle was acceptable. One did not sit at table with those whose reputation was soiled.

We can extract at least two lessons from this passage.

First, these two simple stories point to the importance of recognizing the need for a change of status. Heaven is not inhabited by those who think of themselves as perfect; rather those who dwell there are those who know of their need for God and acknowledge it.

Second, Jesus stands as the model for evangelism. In our pursuit of righteousness it is important to remember that we don't become righteous by withdrawing from the world. Thomas Merton writes: One of the worst illusions in the life of contemplation would be to try to find God by barricading yourself inside your own soul, shutting out all external reality by sheer concentration and will-power, cutting yourself off from the world and other people by stuffing yourself inside your own mind and closing the door... (New Seeds of Contemplation.)

It seems God has a heart for those who are neither too proud, to arrogant, or too foolish to admit their need for what only God can provide.

"Evangelism," writes Darrell Bock, "is grounded in the joy of recovery." To "recover" is to repent. As anyone who faithfully attends AA meetings will tell you, "recovery" is not a once-for-all kind of thing. It is a decision we make every moment of every day.

On Line Bible Study - For the Week March 7-13, 2011

Lesson 483

Luke 14: ²⁵ Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ²⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

³¹ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? ³² If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. ³³ In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

³⁴ “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? ³⁵ It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

I remember the chant at high school sporting events: "We're Number One!" It was a statement of pride, accomplishment, and in its own innocent way, arrogance. Sinatra sang it - "I want to wake up in that city that doesn't sleep, and find I'm king of the hill, top of the heap ..."

In Luke's gospel, you might recall the section just previous to this has Jesus telling stories about a great banquet, who is invited, and who chooses to come. The text we consider today is related. The general sense of it is this: Unless Jesus is 'Number One' in our life, we won't have the discipline to stay long at the table with him. And if we don't remain with him, our life will lose its savor, its potency, its purpose.

Darrell Bock puts it in plain English: Discipleship is not to be considered casually. When the gospel was written a Jewish person who chose to follow Jesus very likely had to "leave" their family - they were disowned.

Our situation is different, and perhaps not quite as immediately dramatic. But as I live with the gospel I often find myself in an 'Either / Or' position. It is a bit unnerving. I have a sense of "What Jesus Would Do". And I have direct experience with what's actually happening. Then I wrestle with myself - how do I know that I have the right 'take' on what Jesus would do? But then, the gospel is so clear, and so plain! But how will this affect my life, and the life of the people I love? So goes the interior dialogue.

Now I am in the game, adding up the "pros" and the "cons" of it all, trying for the life of me to make a decision based on objective criteria.

The push back on this has to do with the idea that Jesus doesn't offer a clear picture of what "discipleship" actually looks like, other than this idea that it won't work if it is not our top priority - and then there is that haunting, unsettling reference to "carrying our cross".

Hmmm.... what is this going to cost?

Jesus is not looking for "almost a Christian". As John Wesley noted in one of his more famous sermons, we are called to be "altogether Christian". (You can read that sermon by clicking here.) Count the cost. But then, also count the cost of being anything other than a disciple of Jesus.

On Line Bible Study - For the Week February 28-March 6, 2011

Lesson 482

Luke 14: ¹⁵ When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” ¹⁶ Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. ¹⁷ At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ ¹⁸ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

¹⁹ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ ²⁰ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

²¹ “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ ²² “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

²³ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. ²⁴ I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

We concluded the previous lesson with the warning to think and pray before choosing your seat at the table. For this lesson the warning might more aptly be: Whatever you do, make sure you GET to the table!

We have to recall the previous verses in order to understand Luke 14:15 .... It reads like this: Luke 14: ¹³ But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, ¹⁴ and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

"Blessed is the one [are those] who eat at this banquet" - Indeed! The reference is to the banquet that takes place when God's people are vindicated. Darrell Bock suggests that the person making this comment assumes he is going to be present at the table. This inspires Jesus to share the parable that follows.

While this parable in Luke runs a parallel course with the story in Matthew 22:1-14, there are some differences between the two. Luke tells us one servant is sent to let the guests know the meal is ready. In Matthew, many servants are charged with the task. Is Jesus the 'servant' in Luke?

What about the nature of the excuses for not attending? Bock suggests the reasons for not attending the banquet were every bit as unsubstantial then as they sound today.

Notice how much time the master spends lamenting the fact that the invited guests have chosen not to attend ... He is angry; but he does not beg anyone to come. Instead, he re-writes the guest list.

I heard a sermon once the theme of which has stayed with me. The title of the message was: "If You Don't, Somebody Else Will". The theme is obvious. Taking one biblical character after another the preacher pointed out that God's purposes will be carried out - either by us, or by someone else.

It was amazing for First Century Jewish folk to hear and have to consider that the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame would get an invitation to this gathering. Their very status rendered them unclean. As the story comes to a conclusion it's important to remember: Those who didn't come, didn't come by their own choice.

Are we choosing the banquet? Or has the invitation to receive all that God wants for us been displaced by all the other important things in life?