Luke 12

Study Guide 105: Luke 12:4-16:31 LIFE’ S ILLUSIONS Overview Some of the most familiar of Jesus’ stories are found in these chapters of Luke. Among them are: the Parable of the Rich Fool. exhortation not to worry, but to remember the lilies of the field. the illustration of the narrow door. the Parable of the Great Banquet. the Parable of the Lost Sheep. the Parable of the Prodigal Son. the Parable of the Shrewd Manager. the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Many of the stories involve money, and illustrate the tension that comes as we live in two worlds — the physical and spiritual. Jesus teaches us how to resolve that tension by giving priority to the spiritual, confident that our Heavenly Father will meet our needs. But the stories also have another theme: they expose the games played by people who want to appear spiritual, but who have not really made God’ s priorities their own. There is plenty of material in these chapters for several group sessions: many of the parables could each be given an hour or more of time. But there is profit too in seeing how these stories and events fit together, and apply to the issues that we face today while seeking to live as Jesus’ disciples in the world of here and now.

Commentary It is easy for us to fall victim to illusions. Part of the reason is that a disciple does live in two worlds: the material-social world around him, and the invisible, spiritual world operating within and through the visible. Conflicts between these two worlds often occur. A choice that seems wise according to appearances is often not wise at all. So we seem caught between what we see around us and something that God says is far more real. Standing between the two, the disciple needs to come to the place where he commits himself to one world only. He needs to recognize appearances as mere illusion, and grasp the tremendous fact that what is not apparent to us is far more real. Carol’ s mother insisted she work toward a teaching certificate in college, rather than take the training Carol felt she wanted for missions. Carol’ s mother was moved by a concern for her daughter’ s security; certainly education was the safest course. So it might appear! But appearances can be misleading.

Between Two Worlds: Luke 12:4-48Misleading (Luke 12:4-12). Jesus began to teach that appearances are misleading with a simple warning. He told His disciples not to fear (that is, stand in awe of) powers that can kill the physical body. Instead, stand in awe of God, who can give life to or can destroy the living personality (see Luke 12:4-5). This instruction might well frighten us were it not for Jesus’ next words. Not a sparrow falls, or a hair of our head is lost, but that God knows. So, Jesus said, “ Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’ t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” God’ s power is used for us, not against us. We stand in awe of God not because He will destroy us, but because He who has all power cares! We are important to Him! How important is this realization? Jesus went on to show that when a person acknowledges Christ, that person is acknowledged by Christ in the presence of the angels. What happens on earth is important in heaven! The two worlds which seem so separated are actually linked . . . and God is in control of both! How wonderful to realize that God, who does control, values us and will use His power on our behalf. The rich fool (Luke 12:13-21). It is so easy to think of what is happening here on earth as the important thing. But what a spiritual disaster that is. One man who heard Jesus speak of God’ s control over the material shouted out, asking Christ to make his brother divide an inheritance. This man had completely misunderstood Jesus’ teaching. This world is not the important one! So Jesus warned, “ Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’ s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” How easily we come to think of this world as the important one, and imagine that life is summed up in what we possess. Jesus told of a “ rich fool” who finally felt that he had more than plenty. He had so much that he tore down his barns to build larger ones. He was comforted to think that he had all he would ever need, and told himself, “ You have plenty” (Luke 12:19). Older versions translate this, “ Soul, you have.” In the original, the word so translated means the man himself: his living personality. What this man had done was to confuse his life in this world, his bodily needs, with himself. But a human being is more than an animal. He is more than a body and bodily awareness. A human being, formed in the image of God by God’ s own hand, is a deathless being who will exist in self-conscious awareness throughout eternity — either with God, or separated from Him. The rich man thought that this world was all; that life consisted of luxury and plenty. How blind! What a tragic mistake! That very night, Jesus said, the man’ s personality was separated from his body, to leave this world and to answer to God. And all his things were left behind. When we see reality clearly, we come to realize both that the physical universe is under God’ s control, and that the material is ultimately irrelevant to the real meaning of human life. LINK TO LIFE: CHILDREN It is often hard to help boys and girls realize that things are not necessary for happiness. This is especially so in a society like ours, where TV constantly creates desire for new toys and possessions. Tell the story of Sarah (or Matt, if you teach a boy’ s class). “ Sarah had a mommy who loved her, a daddy who loved her, a brother who loved her (usually), friends to play with, and a happy teacher at school. Sarah felt very happy and safe, because God had given her so many people to love and to love her.” Then list many things that Sarah ordered from a catalog, or bought at a toy store. Let your boys and girls take turns adding one item to the list each turn. But each time, name the item and repeat the quote above about the people God had given Sarah to love and to be loved by. When the children have listed all the popular toys Sarah (or Matt) has received, then begin to work through the list, naming things that happened to the toys. This one was lost. Another was broken. A friend took this one home. Etc. But again, after each item is rubbed off the list, repeat the quote. Finally Sarah (or Matt) will be left with what she had in the beginning; people who are God’ s gifts to her. The things on the toy list were nice, but they were not the things that were really important. Finally ask each child to write a story like Sarah’ s about herself, and read it to parents when she goes home. Lilies of the field (Luke 12:22-34). Jesus warned the crowds not to assume that abundance and luxury are keys to the meaning of life. Now Jesus spoke to the disciples about their attitudes toward life’ s necessities! The disciple is not to be concerned about food and clothing. His attitude is to be one of trust in God, who knows his needs, and who is in control of all things. There are two things that Jesus’ words bring to our attention. (1) Disciples need not live in a state of anxiety. We can trust God for our physical needs as for all else. Because we need not be worried about such things, when we make decisions we’ re free to choose God’ s will, even if it may seem to involve loss of all we possess (Luke 12:33). (2) Our use of material resources will reflect our commitment to God, and the extent to which our hearts are set on His kingdom and righteousness (Luke 12:31). Jesus said, “ Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34). If we treasure things, possessions, or wealth, then our hearts will be drawn away from God. Like the rich fool, we will seek meaning in things. And with our vision clouded, we’ ll lose our way as disciples. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Divide by couples; have singles work individually. Ask each to quickly outline the major categories in the family budget, and estimate amounts spent on each. Then ask each couple: “ If you felt truly free of all concern for necessities, and free of all desire for luxuries, how would your life be different than it is now?” Have two couples, or four singles, discuss this question against the background of their budget review. Watch! (Luke 12:35-48) Jesus closed His discussion of the disciples’ attitudes toward the material world with a warning. Be alert! Christ’ s coming seems to many to stretch farther and farther into the future. How easy to settle down in this world. How quickly we, as servants of God, can come to enjoy what He has left in our charge while He is away. It is not wrong to enjoy. But we do know the Master’ s plan. This present world will be dissolved in fire (2 Peter 3:7-13). Thus all that we do here and now should be done in view of the fact of our Lord’ s appearance. How happy for us if we never let the world around us close our eyes to God. How happy if we resist the constant temptation to build our lives on things rather than on His coming. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Tell your group members the true story of Carla, a college student of the mid-sixties, and her mom. What entered into the decision-making of each? What does Luke 12:4-48 say about their process? How should each have gone about evaluating the situation, and making the decision?

Closing Doors: Luke 12:51-13:9 Christ’ s ministry was now focused on instruction of His disciples. Yet the door to life while swinging shut, was not yet closed to the crowds. And so Jesus warned them: the time is now. You must decide. Christ asked how people who could judge the weather with a glance toward the sky could fail to interpret the meaning of the times in which they live (Luke 12:54-59). The signs had been given: the earth is on its way to court, to appear before the Judge of all. The time to settle is now, out of court, before sentence is passed. But still Jesus’ listeners tried to avoid the issue, and to speak of curiosities. Jesus warned them plainly. Several people killed in a recent disaster were no more guilty than they! “ Unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:5). The Parable of the Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9) is another warning. The tree represented Israel. It had been planted and cared for, but was barren. Now, it was given one last chance. If the tree did not respond, it would be rooted out. The door is closing. The Master of the house draws near. Judgment, or joy, awaits.

Are People Pawns? Luke 13:10-14:35 When my oldest son was 12 we got a game called Jarts, which consists of big outdoor darts that one tosses at a circle marked out on the ground. We enjoyed the game until it became clear that my son was taking the competition too seriously, and was frustrated when I scored more points than he did. Finally I got smart, and changed the rules. Instead of seeing who got to 21 first, we began to see how many tosses it would take us to reach that amount adding our scores together. And then we began to enjoy the game. There’ s something about any win/lose game that can make for frustration and even humiliation. Eric Berne, in Games People Play (Dell), suggests that we all play games with each other; we all try to win. We manipulate other people to make them serve our ends. The desire to “ win,” to feel ourselves better than others, or to gain a benefit at someone else’ s expense is all a part of the distortion that sin has stamped on the human personality. It’ s natural to play such interpersonal games, even for the believer. But it is totally contrary to the way of life of the disciple. Luke illustrated, in the experiences and conversations of Jesus, some of the strategies that people use to gain advantage. And he showed why these are contradictory to the life of discipleship. In probing the inner motives of men, Jesus probes our lives too. He helps us discover hidden patterns in our lives that might hold us back from full experience of the disciple’ s abundant life. Formalism (Luke 13:10-21). Teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath, Jesus saw a woman who had been oppressed for 18 years, bent almost double and unable to straighten up. Jesus called out to her and laid hands on her. Immediately freed, the woman stood upright and praised God. And the president of the synagogue was annoyed!In fact, he was so upset that he announced: “ There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” Immediately, Jesus labeled his response hypocrisy: “ Outward show.” This man was so caught up in the forms and traditions that he lost sight of people! But the same man would think nothing of untying an ox on the Sabbath, and leading it to drink (Luke 13:15). Jesus’ illustration pierced through all the pretense to reveal the utter emptiness of formalism. His words “ humiliated” the leaders, and then Jesus went on to warn. In the kingdom of God, many birds will come roost on the tree that faith produces. Don’ t mistake them for fruit! In the kingdom formalism, the notion that outward show and form is the reality, can, like yeast in flour, too quickly permeate the whole. Name-droppers (Luke 13:22-30). Jesus warned against people who associate with Him without commitment. The day would come, Jesus warned, when such people would find themselves outside! Then they will cry out, “ Sir, open the door for us.” When the door is not opened they will protest, “ We ate and drank with You, and You taught in our streets” (Luke 13:26). Jesus will reject them: “ I don’ t know you or where you come from.” It is origin, not association, that counts! Spend all the time in church you want. Association with believers won’ t make you a Christian. You must have the life that comes from God. Weaknesses (Luke 13:31-35). The Pharisees, who hated Jesus and were plotting to kill Him, now hurried up to warn Christ of impending danger from Herod. The name of this game is, “ find the weakness.” The Pharisees would have been delighted if Herod had killed Jesus. But even the rumor might help them. Rumors make people worry. A lie here or there might upset a person you don’ t like. It might produce uncertainty, or even fear. If a weakness shows up in a person’ s character, you have something to use against him. You have a prop for your own pride; ammunition for belittling remarks. “ Did you hear how Jesus just fell apart when He heard that. . . ?” But Jesus was not afraid. He knew far more than His enemies about His suffering, and He never flinched or drew back. But Jesus took no special pride in His courage. Instead, His heart was touched with compassion for the very men who hated Him and tried to break His spirit. Jesus mourned over the Jerusalem that had rejected, and would soon crucify Him — and in turn would itself be destroyed (Luke 13:34-35). Entrapment (Luke 14:1-6). We have a concept in our legal code called entrapment. It protects a person from being solicited by law enforcement officers to commit a crime, for which he can then be arrested. Crimes must be committed on the initiation of the criminal, not the police. But entrapment is one of the games human beings often play with one another. We set up a trap, into which we hope they will fall. The Pharisees, knowing Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, had Him to the home of one of their most respected members (Luke 14:1). Right across the table from Him they seated a man afflicted with dropsy. And they watched. Jesus brought the issue into the open. “ Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” Then, when the Pharisees would not answer, Jesus healed the man and let him go. Again Christ shamed His critics, pointing out that even a cow fallen into a pit would be lifted out on the Sabbath. This is a bad game to play. Like “ find the weakness,” it is designed to embarrass another person. It is far worse when we bring in an innocent third party to use against our foe. How had the dropsied man felt? Had the Pharisees cared whether he were helped or not? Hardly! The man was merely a pawn, a way to get at Jesus. It is true. When we see others as pawns, and try to use them for our own advantage, we soon begin to treat others as unfeelingly as did the Pharisees. Upstage (Luke 14:7-14). Jesus observed behavior at a feast which illustrates another game, one motivated by pride and selfishness. The point in this game is to make sure that everyone sees and admires you. Jesus noted men competing for better seats at a banquet, for seating in those days was ordered, with the most important guests ranked nearest the head of the table. After pointing out the danger of pushing yourself into a high seat (you might be embarrassed if your host then reseated you lower down!), Jesus noted that anyone constantly trying to gain the spotlight and exalt himself will ultimately be humbled. How empty when we act from motives of “ what will others think?” How meaningless the approval of men, when only God can accurately evaluate, and only His approval counts in the long run. Jesus suggested to His host that he might better invite the poor and the homeless to his banquet — not friends who would repay in kind. How much better to reach out in love to those who no one knows but God. It is not the spotlight, but the knowledge that God will more than repay acts of love, that should motivate us (Luke 14:14). Choice (Luke 14:15-33). Then Jesus told a story to those who were too busy with their games and personal concerns to respond to the feast of life God has prepared. In Jesus’ story the invitation had been extended (Luke 14:16). Many had been invited, even the game players, whose emptiness Jesus has exposed. Jesus came to save us all, even the most sinful. Yet in Jesus’ story the invited guests began to make excuses. Each was simply too busy with profit and pleasures. Whatever the excuse, saying no to the divine invitation remains rejection. A person who fails to respond to Jesus’ invitation to life has rejected Him. Salvation is a yes or no issue, with no room for maybe. Tragically, people of every age judge themselves too busy or too involved in their games to respond. But this will not keep God’ s house from being filled. The Gospel invitation goes out to the whole world, and all who will receive it will be welcomed. For those who will not, the doors will remain closed and they will be excluded from Christ’ s great welcoming feast. Jesus then turned to the crowd (Luke 14:25-33). They too had to choose. Even the closest of humanties that might sway a person against a decisive choice must be set aside. The word “ hate” in Luke 14:26 uses an idiom that men of Christ’ s time would have understood. To “ hate” a person in a legal sense was to decisively reject any claim he might have to a portion of an estate given to another heir. For us, Jesus’ words and actions speak clearly. We must reject every little game people play for personal advantage. Formalism? Let us reject empty show, and care about others whom Jesus loves. Let’ s no longer be concerned with appearance, and value instead our commitment to the Lord. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Jesus exposed several games that people play to gain personal advantage over others. Briefly explain the games and passages to your group members. Then let each select one game, and after studying with a team of others the passage in which it is described, try to establish “ rules” for that game. For example, the rules for the game of formalism might include: (1) set standards higher than most people can keep. (2) be sure to sneer a little when someone else falls short. (3) remember that people’ s needs are less important than “ doing things the right way.” Etc. After defining the rules, let each team try to come up with contemporary examples both within the church and secular world.

People, the Prize: Luke 15-16 What ways of living with others does Jesus commend to His disciples? He decisively rejected playing games that treat others as pawns. Instead, Jesus taught that His disciples are to treat people as the prize! Valuing the sinner (Luke 15:1-10). The Pharisees, whose coldhearted formalism never made them hesitate to use others, began to criticize Jesus for His interpersonal relationships. “ This Man welcomes sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2). In response, Jesus told a story which establishes the theme of these two chapters in Luke’ s Gospel, and which clearly reveals the principles that are to guide us as we live with others. If a man with a hundred sheep loses one (Luke 15:4-7), he will search for it, and rejoice when he finds it. If a woman loses one coin of her dowry (Luke 15:8-9), she’ ll sweep and hunt through the whole house. When she finds it, she will rejoice. It is the same for God, but with people. There is “ rejoicing in the presence of angels over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). To God, people are a prize! We are important and valued, and the transformation of a single sinner brings joy, not only to God, but also to all who share His heart of love. Have we grasped what this means? God won’ t manipulate us or play games with us. We’ re not pawns, even in God’ s ages-long battle with Satan. No, each of us is a shepherd’ s lost lamb, a woman’ s lost dowry coin. God the Father loves us, every one. And all that He does with us will be for our benefit and good. What a wonderful confidence this is. I am not being used by God to gain some mysterious end of His. I am the end, the goal, that in me all His love might be expressed, and that I might thus share His glory. The Prodigal (Luke 15:11-32). How appropriate that the story of the Prodigal Son follows Jesus’ assertion of God’ s love. Does God really love us? We’ ve rejected Him, wandered in far countries, spent the good gifts He has given us in selfish and often sinful pursuits. What is His attitude toward us now? God, like the father in the Prodigal story, is watching for us. When we turn to God, He comes to greet us. Stilling our confession, He assures us of His changeless love. And He prepares abundant life for us: the fatted calf of transformation. But there was an older son, who represents the Pharisees, standing by. This son was unmoved by his brother’ s return. He was angry, and he criticized his father (Luke 15:25-30). In his anger the elder brother refused the love the father offered him — even though the father went out to entreat the angry son to attend the feast. The story raises a vital question. Whose character do we bear? The father’ s, whose love overcame and made a way for the dead to live again? Or the elder son’ s, whose anger at love and at forgiveness so blinded him that he could not even see that he needed forgiveness too? How exciting that when we have experienced the Father’ s love, we are invited to be like Him, freed forever from the cold self-centeredness that cuts people off from one another and from God. LINK TO LIFE: CHILDREN Boys and girls will be able to identify with the experiences of the younger brother. Draw a map on the board of his journey, showing him home, on the road away from home, in a far country at parties, in a far country with the pigs, on the road back home, and home again. Sketch in appropriate scenes. Then show the boys and girls a series of circles, on which happy, sad, surprised, and worried faces have been drawn. Put a circle of tape on the back of each so it can be stuck on the chalkboard. Ask the boys and girls to tell which circle/face shows how the young man felt — at home, leaving home, etc. Then explain that the Prodigal’ s journey is like any time we sin. We leave our Father’ s house (rebellion), we seem to be having a good time at first, but then we discover we feel terrible. When we decide to come back to God and admit we have done wrong, we may worry a bit at first. But God welcomes us and forgives us, and we can be happy again. Encourage the children if they do wrong not to stay miserable, but to confess their sin quickly so they can be forgiven and restored. The shrewd manager (Luke 16:1-14). The Pharisees had turned life upside down. They used people to gain things. Now Jesus set the values right, and pointed to the worth of individuals to a loving God. Jesus showed that the servant of God the Father must use things to gain the good of men and women. This is the point of the story of the shrewd manager, called in some versions the “ unjust steward.” Jesus commended him because he was wise enough to use things to gain other ends. What he did was not right. But at least it put things in perspective as means, not ends. We too are to determine what is to be used, and what is to be gained. We must then remain faithful in our commitment to the truth that people are of greater value. No man, Jesus taught, can serve two masters. You and I and our group members will either be mastered by our love for others, and give of what we own to meet their needs, or we will be mastered by our love for things, and in the end will use people to gain them (see Luke 16:13). The Pharisees heard what Jesus said. And they ridiculed Him, because at heart they were lovers of money (Luke 16:14). The Law and the heart (Luke 16:15-18). Jesus again attacked the Pharisees. “ You advertise your goodness before men. But God knows your heart. And all that you hold splendid is utterly detestable to Him” (Luke 16:15, author’ s paraphrase). It was then Jesus turned to speak of the Law. Why the Law? Because these proud Pharisees actually rooted their pride in the Law of God! Yet no one can read passages like the first chapters of Deuteronomy, or the Prophet Isaiah, without being impressed by the fact that God is concerned with human beings. His every Word is spoken in love. The Law, an expression of the way that men might love one another and show love to the Lord, will not pass away. The Law, in which the Pharisees sourced their pride, condemned them, for they had not responded to its central message: Love God. Love your neighbor. An eternal issue (Luke 16:19-31). This segment of Luke closes with the story of a rich man and Lazarus. It is probably a true story, about real people. Scripture nearly always marks off Jesus’ parables and illustrations, and no parable uses an individual’ s name. The story draws attention to two men. One was rich, yet love for his fellowman didn’ t move him to use even a little for the beggar Lazarus. When death came, the man left his riches behind. With all illusions and false appearances stripped away, he entered the torments of an eternity for which he had not prepared. But Lazarus, who must have sought the meaning of life in God rather than goods, found death a blessing. Jesus now told of a conversation in the afterworld. The rich man gazed across the gulf fixed between blessedness and woe, and saw Abraham (the father of those who believe) with Lazarus. He called for help. But it was too late. Then came an unusual request. If only Lazarus could be sent to the earthly home of the man now in torment, to warn his five brothers who were still living. Certainly they would listen if a familiar man returned from the dead to speak with them. Certainly then they would repent and change the direction of their lives. Abraham’ s answer must have jolted him. “ They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them” (Luke 16:29). They possessed the Word of God, the Word in which even Law breathed love. If they would not listen to God’ s Word, “ They will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:31). We know how true this is from history. Resurrection did not move the Pharisees. The Man who spoke these words was soon to die, and then to be proved victor over death, raised by the Father’ s power. And still many would not believe. How important that we open our hearts to the Word of God. Let us listen to His call to discipleship, reject games that use others, and instead view others as God does: as the prize and focus of our new life in Christ.

Teaching Guide Prepare Read through these chapters, making a list of each story or incident, and of its lesson for us. You may want to select one or more to concentrate on, based on the needs of your group members.

Explore Discuss: “ Have you ever felt that someone was using you?” Talk about why, how, and how it made you feel. Give a brief minilecture tying together the stories and incidents in these chapters.

Expand

1. Use one or more of the “ link-to-life” ideas above (to sense impact of release from financial anxiety), (to check decision-making processes), or (to learn the “ rules” for the games that people play with others, so the attitudes involved can be recognized and rejected).
2. Explore what it is like after death. Does a person become “ nothing,” or a “ spirit,” or what? From Luke 16:19-31 develop together a description of life after death.
3. Select any of the other passages which might be significant to your group members, and ask them to do a scenario for a modern TV special based on this story. Who would each of the central characters of the modern drama be? What would they do? How would they interact? How would the point be made and applied?

Apply Have each person identify a person to whom he or she is close, and suggest one way he can communicate to that person that he or she is a prize rather than a pawn.