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About-Him.Com Devotional 03-05-2005
Http://About-Him.Com/ My Thoughts on the Life of Christ, from His Baptism to His Ascension. 168: Parable of the Unjust Steward - Luke 16:1-13 Jesus gave two parables on the proper use of money. Two segments of His usual audience were the ever present Pharisees, who had a high regard for material possessions and converted publicans who prior to their conversion had made their living by the dishonest use of money. The first of the two parables was the The Parable of the Unjust Steward. This parable is not easily understood, and thus has many conflicting interpretations. (My main sources are The Christ of the Gospels by J.W. Shepard and the Pulpit Commentary) Luke 16:1 ¶ And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. 3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. 4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. 5 So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? 6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. 7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. 8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. A certain rich man upon finding out that his steward had been cheating him, dismissed him from his post, but not before a final accounting. The steward, realizing that he was unable to perform manual labor and too proud to beg, came up with an ingenious plan. He called in all of the rich man's debtors and discounted their debt from fifty to eighty percent. He reasoned that he would obtain their gratitude and thus be welcomed into their homes after he was dismissed from his stewardship. The rich man was actually impressed, even though he had just been cheated. Conclusion and Application: Jesus stated (Luke 16:9-13) that the children of the world are more prudent and shrewd in their dealings with one another than we who are laboring for the kingdom. We must use our financial resources in such a way that when our earthly stewardship is over and we enter into the heavenly realm, we will be welcomed their by those whom we have helped along the way. If we cannot be faithful in handling the mammon of this world, how can we be trusted to handle the eternal riches of the kingdom. We simply cannot serve God and mammon. We will cleave to one or the other, we cannot serve both. Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. See God Wants You Rich! http://about-him.com/page45.html 169: Parable of The Rich Man ( Dives) and Lazarus - Luke 16:19-31 Jesus continued speaking to His disciples, many of whom were converted publicans. The Pharisees were also present. To them Jesus gave the parable of The Rich Man (Dives) and Lazarus. You have wondered why that the name Dives never appears in the text. Dives is the Latin adjective for Rich in the Latin Vulgate bible translation. 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. Jesus makes a vivid contrast between the lifestyles of the rich man and the poor beggar. The rich man was clothed in a costly coat of purple which denoted his rank in society. His under garment was made of imported linen. Lazarus was dressed in filthy rags. No doubt the rich man entertained lavishly and set a fine table for his rich and wealthy friends. The beggar had to contend with the dogs for the garbage from the his table. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. The Jews of that day believed that Abraham's bosom was the resting place of the righteous Jewish dead. Gehenna was the place of torment for the sinners. Both places were in Sheol or Hades, the place of departed spirits. (The Christ of the Gospels - J.W. . Shepard, page 428) Jesus used this imagery to make His point. While the beggar was being comforted in heaven, the rich man found himself in fiery torment. Luke 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Suddenly the rich man becomes aware of the poor beggar whom he had often seen eating the garbage from his table. He cried out to Father Abraham to send Lazarus with just a drop of water to cool his tongue and relieve the torment of the flames. Abraham kindly refused and reminded the man of his prior life when he had opportunity to help such as Lazarus, but he was too taken up with self to notice. He also reminded the man that the poor beggar was now in heavenly bliss. Also there was a barrier there that no man could pass over. Luke 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. The rich man then appealed for Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his five brothers. Abraham stated that they had Moses and the prophets. If they would not believe them, they would not believe one who had raised from the dead. Conclusion and Application: What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? If we have been blessed with this life's goods, we have an obligation to those less fortunate. An eternal reward is waiting for things as simple as giving a cup of water in the name of the Lord. (Mt 25) Hell is a real place of torment. Some people feel the much of the imagery used by Jesus is only symbolic and that mention of fire and brimstone are only exaggerations to make a point. I am not of this opinion. It will definitely be eternal. separation from God with much anguish and torment, and in my opinion literal eternal fire. Heaven is very real also and is the hope of the believer. There, we will have no more pain, sorrow or death. The Lord God will wipe all tears from our eyes. It is said that, "As a tree falls so does it lie." It is appointed to man once to die and after this the judgement. I f we haven't made provision for eternity in this life, it will be too late when we get to the other side.
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