In this chapter, Jesus warns the disciples about the deceitfulness of riches. As Bible commentator Adam Clarke put’s it, “Riches promise MUCH, and perform NOTHING: they excite hope and confidence, and deceive both: in making a man depend on them for happiness, they rob him of the salvation of God and of eternal glory. For these reasons, they are represented as unjust and deceitful”.

The chapter begins with the parable of the unjust steward – a man who had acted deceitfully toward his boss, and as a result loses his job. But before he is dismissed, he calls all those who owe his boss. Using the authority of his position (while it lasts) he writes off much of the outstanding debt of these people – reducing the amount they individually owe to his boss, in the hope that his act of kindness toward them will be reciprocated to him when he is shortly to be looking for work!

Jesus uses this example to make the point that “the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light”. v8

“[Jesus] was not commending his unrighteous action or his sin, but only his wisdom in that, knowing the limited amount of time he had left he used his position to prepare for his future” – Arnold Fruchtenbaum

How much thought and care do those in the world give to their (earthly) future, their inheritance, and to maximizing their opportunities? In contrast, how much do the Children of God give time to their inheritance and maximizing their opportunities now? Is it not a sad reflection on the Church, in general, that it does not have the same zeal for Godly things, laying up treasure in Heaven, that the world has for material things and the acquisition of the world’s riches?

The lesson Jesus is teaching is twofold: Firstly, trusting in riches is a great deception. Secondly, his disciples should be as focussed on using our time, money and gifts for His glory and the coming kingdom as the children of this world are in their pursuit of worldly gain.

Psalm 119 gives us a number of insights into how our attitude should be toward riches:

• I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. v14
• Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. v17
• Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. v36
• The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. v61
• The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. v72
• Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. v111
• I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. v127

We cannot serve (or pursue) money and God. Only one can be the overruling passion of our lives.

We then come to one of the most well-known parables in the New Testament – the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus!

The key point of the parable, in keeping with all that Jesus had been saying, was that you can live for the pursuit of wealth, gain the world, and lose your soul! – Mark 8:36

However, the parable also gives us a glimpse into the unseen world and what happens after death. Jesus taught that there were two eternal destinations for all mankind.

–Heaven or Hell

However, ‘Hell’ is a word that can refer to two different and distinct locations.

• Firstly, the ‘Eternal abode of the wicked’
  • Also referred to as the ‘Lake of Fire’
    • Rev 19:20 / Rev 20:13

We know from Matthew 25:41 that Hell (the eternal Lake of Fire) was not originally intended for man, but for the devil and his angels. God did everything possible to prevent any man ever having to go there; He sent His only Son that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but instead, have everlasting life! However, those who reject this offer of Salvation in Jesus will ultimately end up in this place of eternal punishment. According to Revelation 19:20 / 20:13, the first souls to enter Hell will be ‘Antichrist’ & the ‘False Prophet’ – at the time of the Second Coming. No other being will be confined to this place until the Great White Throne judgment as recorded in Revelation 20:11-15.

So, this begs the question, what happens to unbelievers when they die, until then? Throughout the Old and New Testament allusion is made to a ‘temporary holding place’ – seemingly at the centre of the earth – were all the departed souls will await the final judgment.

This place is also referred to as ‘Hell’, but is also referred to as:

• Hell
  • Ps 139:8 / 2 Sam 22:6 / Ps 16:10 / Prov 9:18
• Sheol (OT Hebrew)
  • Ps 16:10 / Is 14:15
• Hades (NT Greek)
  • Acts 2:27 / 1 Cor 15:55
• The Pit
  • Num 16:33 / Isaiah 14:15 / Ezek 26:20
• The ‘low parts of the earth’
  • Ezek 26:20

It is the place were all souls went upon death. It is the bottomless it of Revelation 17:8, and it is the place where Satan will be bound for 1000 years during Christ’s reign on Earth.

However, until the Cross, this ‘holding place’ was split into two distinct areas – as alluded to in this parable.

–The righteous section: Paradise / Abraham’s bosom

–The wicked section: Hell / Sheol / Hades / The Pit etc.

At the time of the Crucifixion Jesus descended into hell – but not the ‘bad’ part! – Acts 2:27 / Eph 4:9. He told the thief on the cross ‘today you will be WITH ME in Paradise’

But why did Jesus need to go to this place? –Certainly not to suffer!

From scripture we know that there is salvation in no other name! Only by accepting Jesus as Lord can you go to Heaven! But this is also true for Adam, Noah, David, Elijah & Daniel et al. They all had to put their faith in Jesus, which is why Jesus presented Himself to them following His crucifixion so they could believe on Him!

Then Jesus literally shifted ‘Paradise’ from being ‘captive’ within the Earth, to Heaven. We read in Ephesians 4:7-10: “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.   Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.   (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?   He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)” 

When Jesus ascended, He took that which had been help captive in the lower parts of the Earth and moved it to Heaven. Now when a believer dies they immediately go to Heaven to be ‘with the Lord’ –   Phil 1:23 / 2 Cor 5:8.

What Christ has done for us is truly amazing grace! …and just as with Lazarus, though we may have endured hardship here on Earth, in Heaven we will be comforted and honoured.

“When we shall come home and enter to the possession of our Brother’s fair kingdom, and when our heads shall find the weight of the eternal crown of glory, and when we shall look back to pains and sufferings; then shall we see life and sorrow to be less than one step or stride from a prison to glory; and that our little inch of time-suffering is not worthy of our first night’s welcome home to heaven.”   –  Samuel Rutherford

May you be blessed and encouraged by this study.

The post Luke Ch16 first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

In our study of the preceding verses (1-15) Luke recounts the parable Jesus taught about the four different types of soil – that speak of the condition of men’s hearts when they hear the word of God.

─The Way Side  – This is those who reject the Word of God (the Devil snatches the seed before it can germinate)

─The Rocky Soil – This is those who hear the Word with joy, but then doubt takes a hold and we give into the age-old temptation  ‘has God really said?’

─The Thorny Soil – This is those who are indifferent (the cares of this life take precedence) and the Word of God is choked out.

─The Good Soil – This is those who hear and believe the Word of God (it is received with faith & produces fruit)

This applies to response of unbelievers who hear the gospel, but it is also the way we (as Christians) respond the to promises of God. We will either simply reject them (the devil will snatch them away) and they will have no effect on us; or we might receive them with joy, such as the promise that God does not put sickness on people or desire them to be sick! But sadly, temptation comes and we hear the voice saying ‘has God really said?’. We doubt God’s Word, and so unbelief takes hold and the Seed doesn’t grow, and consequently don’t see any fruit. Maybe we are so caught up with the cares of this life that we don’t really have the time to consider these things… or we might be those who receive His Word by faith and produce a fruit a hundredfold!

“No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light”. (Luke 8:16)

We are to be light-bearers for Christ in this world. That light should shine to all around, but it will only have a impact if it is a flame kindled by the Holy Spirit. So many of us are trying to replicate that light by our own efforts and then wonder why we are not having an impact on this unbelieving world. That which we bring to God, that which is pleasing to Him, and that which is lasting is the light kindled by the flame of the Holy Spirit. In Numbers chapter 10 we read of Nadab and Abihu who wanted to bring an offering to God, but used their own fire, rather than the fire God had set ablaze. It was not acceptable to God.

This is like so many of us; we try and serve God by our own (best) efforts, but we don’t see the results. In fact, like Nadab and Abihu, our best efforts before God are like ‘filthy rags’ (Isaiah 64:6 / Rom 7:18). But when we ‘discover’ the Fire of God’s Holy Spirit, and when that is lit, all around will see it!

In the book ‘They Found the Secret’ by V Raymon Edman, which looks at the lives of many who impacted their generations for Christ, he summarises a problem common to all of us who have tried to shine brightly for Jesus by our own well-intentioned efforts: “Every now and then we come across a life that is radiant, revealing a richness, a warmth, a triumph that intrigues and challenges us. The details of their experiences are usually quite different yet as we listen to their stories and watch their lives, we begin to see a pattern that reveals their secret. Out of discouragement and defeat they have come into victory. Out of weakness and weariness they have been made strong. Out of ineffectiveness and apparent uselessness they have become efficient and enthusiastic. The pattern seems to be self-centeredness, self-effort, increasing inner dissatisfaction and outer discouragement, a temptation to give it all up because there is no better way, and then finding the Spirit of God to be their strength, their guide, their confidence and companion – in a word, their life!”

That life is possible! That is why in Luke 8:18 Jesus says ‘Take heed therefore how you hear!‘ Don’t let God’s Word be taken away from your heart by unbelief or the cares of this world. Take it by faith, believing, and let it grow.

After the, when Jesus was speaking to the crowd and his family arrive, He cryptically says “My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it”.  His family, those who have the most intimate relationship with Him are those who ‘hear the Word of God and do it‘. It is the kind of hearing that produces action that God is looking for. The Word of God sown into a believing heart!

Jesus’ rebuke to the disciples after he calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee (Luke 8:22-25) was “Where is your faith?”.  The disciples had defaulted to the ‘second soil type’ – Jesus had said they were going to go to the other side of the lake (Sea of Galilee), but when the storm arose, temptation took hold and they doubted! ‘Has God really said…?’ (Gen 3:1).

God is looking for hearts of faith that take Him at His Word.

To be continued…

May you be blessed and encouraged by this teaching.

The post Luke Ch8 16-25 first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.