SUNDAY SCHOOL SPRING QUARTER, A Study in Luke 13:22 24:53

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2 Adult Quarterly SUNDAY SCHOOL SPRING QUARTER, 2006 The Life of Christ His Passion A Study in Luke 13:22 24:53 QUARTERLY AIM: The Bible student will grow in appreciation of the love, sacrifice and passion of his Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. MARCH 5 His Compassion His Servants His Forgiveness His Warning APRIL 2 His Teaching His Entrance His Rejection His Return His Last Supper MAY 7 His Trial His Crucifixion His Resurrection His Commission ADULT QUARTERLY, Sunday School, Vol. 93, No. 2, issued March 1, 2006, is published quarterly. Prepared by David Robinson; cover design by Jeff Allen; Larry E. Clements, Editor in Chief, <larryclements@abaptist.org>; Wayne Sewell, Business Manager, <wsewell@abaptist.org>. Copyright 2006, BAPTIST SUNDAY SCHOOL COMMITTEE of the American Baptist Association, 4605 N. State Line Ave., Texarkana, TX , <

3 American Baptist Association Through-the-Bible Series Sunday School Lessons Winter Spring Summer Fall Luke 1 13:21 Isaiah Chronicles Kings Nahum Ephesians John , 2, 3 John Genesis 1 11 Job Exodus Joshua Judges Ruth Mark Galatians Luke 13:22 24 Isaiah Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Daniel Ezekiel Nehemiah Malachi Genesis Romans Acts Samuel Chronicles Kings 1; 2 1 Kings Chronicles Kings 1 13 Joel, Obadiah Hosea, Amos, Micah, Jonah, 2 Kings Chronicles Philemon Philippians Colossians Jeremiah 2 Kings 24; 25 2 Chronicles 36 1 Peter 2 Peter Jude Revelation 1 7 Matthew 1 13 Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Acts James 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians 2 Kings Chronicles Zephaniah Lamentations Habakkuk John 1 12 Zechariah Ezra Haggai, Esther Revelation 8 22 Matthew Hebrews 1 Samuel 2 Samuel Chronicles 1 10 Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon

4 1 His Compassion March 5, 2006 Text: Luke 13:22-35 Focus: Luke 13:22-35 Key Verse: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Luke 13:34 Sunday Devotional: The First Shall Be Last, Mark 10: Application: The student should understand, experience and extend the great love of Jesus Christ for people. A FIRST LOOK Jesus was traveling toward Jerusalem. He knew that He was nearing the end of His public ministry on earth, but He was not in any way discouraged. We will see that Jesus seemed to be seizing every opportunity to minister to those who crossed His path. Although He knew that His time on earth was limited, He was reaching out to all who would hear Him. This shows the great compassion and concern that Jesus had for ordinary people. In truth all people are ordinary. We separate people according to artificial criteria, but, to God, all men are lost sinners and all need to hear and receive the gospel. When we do the will of God, we should never stop. God has not led us to start Daily Devotionals M. Journeying Toward Jerusalem, Mark 10: T. Enter the Strait Gate, Matthew 7: W. We Must Know Jesus, Matthew 7: T. God s Love for Israel, Psalm 81: F. God s Longing for Israel, Isaiah 48: S. Reliving Israel s Past Mistakes, Jeremiah 44:1-6. 4

5 4 His Compassion and then quit short of achieving our goal. Jesus knew that many would reject Him. He knew that a cross was waiting at the end of His journey in life, but these facts did not deter Him from complete obedience to His Father. The life of our Lord was not driven by circumstance; it was driven by His desire to do the will of God. When we follow Jesus, our lives will be patterned after His. We cannot do much about our circumstances, but we have total control in the matter of allowing the will of God to have first place in our lives. A CLOSER LOOK I. A Question Answered Luke 13: And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23.Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24. Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25.When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26.Then shall ye begin to say,we have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. As Jesus was traveling toward Jerusalem, one of His disciples asked Him a searching question. The question concerned whether there would be few or many who were saved. The disciple did not ask for a specific number, but he did slant the question. He could have asked whether there would be many who were saved.

6 Text: Luke 13: This question could have arisen out of simple curiosity. Obviously, Jesus had been preaching salvation, and the man may have simply wondered how many had truly received the message. But the question could also have come from the teaching of the Jews that all Jews would be saved. The Jews believed that being born a Jew meant that eventually you would go to Heaven. Jesus had taught that nationality and religion had nothing to do with salvation. So this question could have represented a desire to know if most people were lost. One of the fundamental dividing lines in our thinking concerns how we view humanity. Are people basically good, even though they do a few bad things from time to time? Or are people basically bad, even though they may do a few good things occasionally? Most people, especially those who have never read the Bible, think of human nature as basically good. The Bible is plain on this matter. Human beings are born in sin and conceived in iniquity. Left alone and to their own devices, people will die lost and will go to hell. Only the saving grace of God can make a change in a human heart. So the question is certainly worth considering. Jesus answered this question. He responded that the way to salvation is a strait gate. This suggests that there is a specific and well-defined way to be saved. We are not at liberty to invent a way of salvation. If we are saved at all, it will be according to the plan plainly set forth in the Bible (Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5). There are not many ways to be saved; there is only one. This is not a convoluted path that has many twists and turns. It is a direct process. We hear the gospel, repent of our sins and place our faith in Jesus Christ. We are to strive to enter in at this gate. That suggests that we must take spiritual matters seriously. We will not be saved automatically nor accidentally. We have to have an earnest desire to find eternal life. Not everyone who thinks that he is saved is truly redeemed. Salvation is not a matter of the opinion of mankind. It is the result of a new birth toward God. Salvation is of the Lord.

7 7 His Compassion II. A Judgment Promised Luke 13: There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 29.And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 30. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last. Jesus used this occasion to discuss a scene of judgment. He predicted that there would be those who would claim great works in judgment only to have their true nature revealed. While these self-deceived individuals thought they were serving the Lord, they were in truth workers of iniquity. Salvation is not a matter of what we do or what we do not do. It is about what God does for us and our acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus. At this scene of judgment there will be great disappointment. The disappointment here does not lead to repentance. Instead of falling down and repenting, these evil workers weep and gnash their teeth. Emotion and anger are their response to the truth of God. In judgment, as in life, Jesus will always speak the truth. No one can fool God. Jesus knows whether or not you are saved. The lost will see that there are others who are saved while they (the lost) are cast out of God s kingdom. There were leaders of Israel who were truly the children of God, and these will be present in God s kingdom. But there are also many who were born as Jews who will not be there. Jesus made an interesting point that those in His kingdom will come from all parts of the earth. They will come from north, south, east and west. There is no geographic region that is uniquely represented, and none is left out. The place where you were born does not guarantee your salvation. Neither does the circumstance of your birth.

8 Text: Luke 13: Note also the direct answer to the question. Heaven will be a place of surprises. Those who were presumed to be first will in truth be last. And those who were thought to be least and last will have a prominent part in the Lord s work. The class structure that matters so much to men does not matter at all to God. God is no respecter of persons. He will save the man who truly repents of his sin and places his full trust in Jesus Christ. There are many who are safe and secure in their own minds who will be lost. And, many who may be overlooked by the world will be with Jesus in paradise (Luke 16:19-30). III. A King Rebuked Luke 13: The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. 32.And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. 33. Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. On this same day the Pharisees came to Jesus, not with a question, but with a warning. They told Jesus that Herod was looking for Him to kill Him. These Pharisees were going against the tide of opinion. Most Pharisees hated Jesus and wanted to see Him dead. But some Pharisees had not rejected Him. Jesus was in Herod s territory and Herod had already killed John the Baptist. Now He sought to kill Jesus as well. Jesus did not fear the plot of Herod. Instead, He sent a message to Herod that was essentially repeating the gospel that John had preached. Jesus told Herod that on the third day, His ministry would be completed and perfected. It was the resurrection that crushed the head of the serpent and completed God s plan for our redemption. Many men could do

9 9 His Compassion good works. A good man might even die for others. But only the Son of God could come forth from the grave victorious over death and hell. But Jesus had to fulfill the prophecies that were given in the Old Testament. Jesus used the imperative word must here. He was doing the will of His Father and nothing would stop Him or change what He did. The threats of Herod were insignificant in the light of the eternal truths that were being worked out in the life and ministry of Christ. Jesus underlined this by stating that His ministry had to end in Jerusalem. His death had to be a result of His witness in that city. Herod s court was not in Jerusalem, and Herod had no power to determine the circumstances of the death of our Lord. Often men think that they are in control. The kings of the earth make decisions every day and they imagine that they are in control. But the truth is that God has always had ultimate control in the affairs of men. The rulers of the earth can only act according to the permissive will of God. IV. A City Mourned Luke 13:34, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! 35. Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you,ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. When Jesus looked on Jerusalem, He wept. He saw this city as a representative of the formal and heartless religion that had rejected all the efforts of God to bring the city to repentance. Jerusalem had killed the messengers sent to warn the city. They had rejected the love of God time and time again. Years of history prove this statement. Jerusalem was filled with the tombs of the prophets but not with people who had believed the testimony of the

10 Text: Luke 13: prophets. But God was gracious. He would have accepted these people, even in their desperation, had they turned to Him. But they would not. This city had made a decision and the decision was to reject God and His Son, Jesus. Because of their own decision, the city was left desolate. A few years later, this city would be utterly destroyed. Life is short, opportunities are few and eternity is forever. What better motive do we need to turn to the Lord right now? A FINAL WORD In the pronouncement of destruction on Jerusalem, Jesus answered the question about how many people would be saved. Only a few would. Men are not saved by excellent preaching. They are not saved by faithful prayer. They are not saved by the repeated attempts of loved ones to win them to Christ. Men are only saved when they personally repent of their sins and give their hearts to Jesus. No one can be saved for you, no matter how much they love you. Life is short and judgment is certain. As surely as we will die, we will face the Lord in judgment (Heb. 9:27). Judgment is not a jury trial. There are no prosecutors and no defense attorneys. The only thing that will matter there is whether or not we have been saved. After salvation, the judgment of the saved will be based on our faithfulness to the truth we have been shown. No one needs to be unprepared to face the Lord. We can trust Jesus as our personal Savior and we can serve Him faithfully. We can have a daily walk with Him and be guided by His Spirit and taught by His Word. This was the pattern that Jesus followed in His life, and it is the pattern that we should seek to follow in ours. When we do, we need not fear the threatenings of men like Herod, or the folly of men like the Pharisees. We will not be expecting things to get better and better. We will be expecting Jesus to come again and receive us unto Himself that, where He is, there we may be also.

11 2 His Servants March 12, 2006 Text: Luke 14:1-35 Focus: Luke 14:25-35 Key Verse: And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27 Sunday Devotional: Living the Crucified Life, Galatians 2:20. Application: True discipleship is costly. God would have us count the cost, pay the price and become genuine disciples. A FIRST LOOK This lesson is about being a disciple of Christ. Many people consider themselves to be disciples of Christ. Ultimately, it matters little what men think of each other, and it matters a great deal what God thinks of men. In this matter Jesus was being kind and considerate to those who came into His life. The great crowds that were gathered had not come in true support and understanding of His ministry. They had come out of curiosity, perhaps even out of patriotic zeal. They may have felt an affinity to Jesus because He exposed the hypocrisy of those in charge. We do not know for sure why they came, but we do know how Jesus reacted to their presence. He did not try to turn them away. But He did ask them to make an informed 11 Daily Devotionals M. Mercy Is Always in Order, Luke 14:1-6. T. A Parable About Pride, Luke 14:7-14. W. A Parable of the Master s Mercy, Luke 14: T. Love Jesus Most, Matthew 10: F. Living Godly Brings Persecution, 2 Timothy 3:12. S. Joshua Counted the Cost, Joshua 24:15-25.

12 Text: Luke 14: decision about following Him. Before we decide to follow anyone, we need to be sure where he is going. Jesus was going to Jerusalem to die on the cross. Those who went with Him needed to know this, and they needed to take any commitment they made to Him very seriously. Jesus was not speaking here of being saved. Being a disciple is not the same as being saved. Many saved people never become disciples of Jesus. Jesus taught us that once we are saved, we should never take our service to the Lord lightly. Spiritual decisions are the most lasting and serious decisions that we will ever make. We may be married until death alone shall part us. We may work at a job for the rest of our lives. We may live in a certain place for years and years, but the spiritual decisions that we make will be with us throughout eternity. A CLOSER LOOK I. Decision and Self-Denial Luke 14: And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26. If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Jesus turned to the great crowds that followed Him and gave them two simple challenges. First, He told them that they must leave some things and people that are precious to them. Notice the groups mentioned. Fathers, mothers, wives, children, brothers, sisters and even our own lives are to be set aside for the sake of doing the will of God. The words hate not do not refer to hatred as we usually use the term. God taught us that we should even love our enemies (Luke 6:27). What Jesus was teaching is a matter of

13 13 His Servants preference and choice. To be a true disciple of Christ, we must put Jesus first, and this means that He must come before all others. No matter what claim another person may have on our time or talents, we must put Jesus first to be His disciple. Perhaps the hardest of these choices is the last one. We must love Jesus more than we love our own lives. Any Christian, one who is truly saved, should realize that there is life after death. We should know that we will stand before Jesus after we die and then only the things we have done for Him will be important. It is not easy to give up people and things that are precious to us, but we must do so if we truly put Jesus first. Jesus stated plainly that we must be willing to bear a heavy burden. Like the first requirement, this one is expressed negatively. There is no choice offered here. We will either bear our cross or we will not be a disciple of Christ. There is no way to avoid the cross and still be a disciple. This is clearly a metaphor. Jesus does not expect us to literally carry around a large wooden timber. He was referring to the way the Romans executed the worst of their prisoners. Crucifixion was considered a punishment so severe that no Roman citizen could be lawfully crucified. The man who was carrying a cross had said goodbye to all other concerns of life. He had only one path to take and that was to his own death. Such a man had left the world behind and eternity was very close to him. This suggests the attitude that a disciple of Jesus should have. Jesus further teaches that the true disciple will not carry his cross down a road of his own choosing. Instead, he will follow after Christ. A disciple is committed to follow in the steps of his master. It was easy to follow Jesus as He went about teaching and preaching. It would be much more difficult to follow Him to the judgment halls of Herod and Pilate, or on the way to the cross. We read that all His disciples forsook Him and fled at those trying moments (Matt. 26:56). Jesus was plainly refuting the notion that discipleship is a pleasant accessory to life. So many seem to view things that way. They see their lives as being mostly good and pleasant.

14 Text: Luke 14: They add a drop or two of religion to make things perfect. This is exactly the opposite of what Jesus taught. He taught that we must trust Him completely and serve Him exclusively. II. Thoughtful Commitment Luke 14: For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29. Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30. Saying,This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32. Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. Any commitment to Christ should be deliberate and well thought out. If we make a spur of the moment decision to follow Jesus, we can as easily decide to follow someone else. To illustrate the seriousness of our spiritual decisions, Jesus used two real situations that were familiar to those who followed them. One involved large sums of money, and the other involved the sacrifice of human lives. The first involved a builder who had great plans for a building. Any builder will testify that it is easier to imagine and plan than it is to actually build a structure. In this case the building project was a tower. A decision had been made to build the tower. A location had been chosen, and the necessary planning had been accomplished, but there was one important part of planning that was needed before work was actually started. The builder needed to consider the resources at his command. He needed to count the cost before construction began.

15 15 His Servants The alternative to this wisdom was to allow a great work to become a mockery. The builder might lay the foundation and then run out of money or material. The result would be that his own workers would ridicule him for his poor judgment. The lesson is that anyone who wants to be a disciple of Jesus should consider the cost of his decision. This is not given to discourage anyone from making a decision to follow Christ. Living for Jesus is the best way in all the world to live. It is the best way to get from wherever we are to eternity in glory. This cross is not the ordinary difficulties of living. We may refer to our troubles in this way, but Jesus was clearly speaking of the particular troubles that come from our decision to follow Him. No man had to build a tower. He could use his resources in any way he chose. But, if he did build a tower, he needed to count the cost. The cost of discipleship to Christ will be reproach, suffering, loneliness and perhaps even death. Jesus asked us to choose voluntarily such a life for His sake. It is possible to avoid a cross and live as a Christian in name only. But, if we determine to be totally committed to Christ, we can expect to experience the same kind of satanic opposition that Jesus knew while He was here on earth. The second illustration was of a king going to war. The king did not have to fight. He could seek peace with the other king. But, if the king chose to fight, he had to realize that men were going to die in his cause. He might be able to win with a smaller force, but it might also require great sacrifice on the part of his army. Jesus was not teaching that such sacrifice was wrong or even imprudent. He was saying that the wise king would consider all the factors before he sent his army into battle. Likewise we should realize that we need total commitment to Jesus. We are called into a lifelong battle where good men can lose their lives. But, there is an eternal reward for those who are faithful. III. Exclusive Commitment Luke 14: So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

16 Text: Luke 14: Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35.It is neither fit for the land,nor yet for the dunghill;but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Here many are tempted to put words into Jesus mouth. He did not say that we had to be willing to forsake all that we have. He said that we have to actually do it. This is a mental and spiritual decision that places Jesus and His will first and all other people and things next. Jesus knew what He was saying. He realized that there was no other way to be a disciple than to put Him first and give up everything else. He wants His children to love Him more than everything else in the world. The man who is truly a success in life is the man who gives up everything for Christ s sake. The world will not think so, but this is the best possible choice. We are asked to carry our cross for a few years in this life, but, in the world that is soon to come, we have everlasting life and a never fading reward. In following Jesus we can send our treasure beyond the grave. The only true wealth is to be rich in the grace of God and the knowledge of Jesus. And, best of all, in following Jesus we gain that good part, which shall not be taken away (Luke 10:42). Jesus then addressed the error of appearance versus reality. Salt that was truly salt was valuable. We get our word for salary from the Latin word for salt. But salt that only looked like salt was worthless. It was not even good for fertilizer. It is relatively easy to appear to be a disciple of Jesus. We might even get a jury of our peers to agree that we are disciples. But what really matters is in our hearts. When God looks into your heart, He sees what is important to you. You know it as well. If we put our family and friends or our money and reputation first, we are not putting Jesus first. If we place our own welfare ahead of serving the Lord, we are not putting Jesus first. We may appear sincere and dedicated to everyone who sees us, but to God we are not useful. The highest compliment God can pay any one of His children is to use them in His service. But we should hear the clear warning of Jesus. A halfhearted choice is worthless. Like

17 17 His Servants salt that has lost its saltiness, it cannot penetrate and preserve anything. In the end its true nature will be revealed and it will be cast out as good for nothing. A FINAL WORD Jesus warned this crowd to use their God-given ability to hear and listen to what He was saying to them. Some would not hear at all. His words would fall on their ears, but never enter into their hearts. Such people could never become disciples of Jesus. Being a disciple of Jesus was a matter of having a personal relationship with Him. This would not happen because curiosity or concern caused them to be a part of a crowd. Jesus warned that an uninformed decision would only result in failure. This was not a way to discourage us to make a decision; instead, it was an encouragement to make a wise decision. God wants us to enter His service with our eyes open and our hearts full. A halfhearted disciple is no good to the Lord and no good to himself. Once we are presented with spiritual truth, we have a decision to make. We can reject the truth. We can turn and walk away from it. Of course we can accept the truth and change our hearts and minds to conform to the standards of Jesus. But there is a third choice. We can make an outward profession that does not reflect an inner commitment. We can look like a Christian and act like a Christian without ever being a Christian. It is to such people that these words are given.

18 3 His Forgiveness March 19, 2006 Text: Luke 15:1-32 Focus: Luke 15:11-24 Key Verse: And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Luke 15:20 Sunday Devotional: The Blessedness of Forgiveness, Psalm 32:1-5. Application: People cannot so sin that God cannot forgive, but they must repent to enjoy His pardon. A FIRST LOOK This chapter in Luke is about lost things. There are three great illustrations, or parables, that teach us about the love and concern our Heavenly Father has for the souls of men. These are the stories of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son. We will examine the last of these in the lesson today. As in all parables, we must be especially careful in our interpretation. It is easy to make one of two mistakes when we read a parable. We can glean too little information from it, or we can make the parable teach things that it was never meant to teach. Jesus taught us how to interpret parables in Matthew 13. It might be well to review this beginning of parables and the interpretation that Jesus gave there as an example of proper interpretative principles. 18 Daily Devotionals M. Parable of the Lost Sheep, Luke 15:1-7. T. Parable of the Lost Coin, Luke 15:8-10. W. The Other Prodigal Son, Luke 15: T. Confession and Restoration, Psalm 51:1-13. F. God Is Faithful To Forgive, 1 John 1:8-10. S. Christ Came To Save Sinners, 1 Timothy 1:13-16.

19 19 His Forgiveness Every detail in every parable does not have a specific application and meaning. But there is an overall lesson presented. In this account the lesson is about a loving father who never gave up on his son, no matter how selfishly and foolishly the son behaved. This is one of the most often told and most loved stories in all the world. It is easy to understand because all of us are sinners. We often act against our own best interests, and we all need the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father to forgive us and reinstate us. A CLOSER LOOK I. A Foolish Decision Luke 15: And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12. And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. This account begins with a foolish decision by a selfish son. The son begins his address to his father with the words, give me. How often do our prayers only contain our requests. This son was not thankful to his father; instead, he was only thinking about money. He wanted his inheritance. Do we realize that this son was as much as saying that he wished that his father were dead? Usually, we only gain an inheritance upon the death of our parents. This son was literally implying that to him his father was as good as dead. This man had not earned the money he desired. His father had earned it, and he did not at this time deserve his inheritance. But he selfishly asked for it anyway. Notice that he

20 Text: Luke 15: does not say, please. He had no concern for the effect this gift might have on his father or on his brother. He only wanted what he considered to be his. He also wanted his independence. He did not want to wait until his father and brother were through with the estate. He was the younger son, and he knew that it might be many years before his father and brother had passed on. In the normal scheme of things, the estate would have passed to the older brother first, so this was a plea for independence as much as it was for money. The father, realizing that the son was settled in his mind in this demand, divided up his goods and gave the younger son his portion. As soon as the young man had the money, his true character was revealed. He did not want this money so that he could help others. He only wanted to satisfy his own desires. The younger son gathered all his possessions together and traveled to a far country. He wanted to get as far as possible away from his father and older brother. Once in the far country, he wasted the money in riotous living. The money that his father had earned by hard labor and judicious decisions was wasted in a short time with little or no benefit to the younger son. II. A Desperate Situation Luke 15: And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15.And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16.And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. As happens in so many young minds, this man never took any thought for the inevitable disasters of life. He spent all his money. He did not save any at all. And when he had done so, a great famine came to the far country. Famine is a nat-

21 21 His Forgiveness ural disaster that can come in any society. Now this young man was broke and the whole country where he lived was in a famine. Now he was humiliated and destitute. He was no longer able to spend foolishly. Instead, he was in want, and there was no resource to supply his needs. He was hungry, and he had no money. He had wasted his resources in riotous living, and now he was in a desperate situation. But to his credit, he was not lazy. He found a citizen in the far country who had not lost all that he had. This man still had some hogs that needed to be fed. This nameless citizen was an illustration that it is possible, through wisdom, to endure the worst of times. Even in the time of extreme famine, this man had food for his hogs. The son now got a job feeding the swine. For a Jew this was a horrible and degrading occupation. The man was so hungry that he considered eating the husks that were meant for the swine. He had now lost his arrogance and pride. He had come from being a person who demanded what was due him to being a man who would eat hog food gladly. But the saddest part of this account may be in the last words of verse 16. No man offered to help him in any way. His good time friends were long gone. No one would offer him food to eat. His employer might pay him for his labor; this was his due, but no one would give him anything. It is sobering and sad to realize that we need much more than what we are due. We need grace. We need someone to give us something. III. A Repentant Attitude Luke 15: And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18.I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him,father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19.And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. Repentance is the beginning of real sanity. This man came to himself. He began to think rationally about who he was,

22 Text: Luke 15: where he was and what he was doing. He could not do this while he was engaged in riotous living. Notice what he realized when he began to think properly. He realized the enormous good that he had forsaken for the evil pleasures of the far country. His father was a wise and generous employer. The servants in his father s house had bread to spare. They were eating well while he was slowly dying of hunger. He realized that his lot in the far country was hopeless. He was going to die there unless something changed. He did not see the far country as a death trap when he went there, but now he realized that his folly would cost him his life unless something changed. He developed an entirely different attitude. He was no longer the brash, demanding son who demanded his inheritance. Now he had the mind of a servant. He decided internally to get up and go back home. He planned what he would say when he saw his father again. He planned to admit his sin. Notice that he did not say that he had sinned against his father or against his brother. He had sinned against Heaven. Ultimately all sin was directed against God. The sin was before his father, but it was against Heaven. Then he planned to ask for the status of a servant when he returned. Solomon said that it was better to be a living dog than a dead lion (Eccl. 9:4). While enjoying the riotous living, this man would never have thought of being a servant. But now being a servant did not seem like such a bad life. A hired servant who was well fed and provided for was much better than having the empty privilege of being a starving son. So many of the artificial distinctions that we place on each other and ourselves are meaningless and silly when we face the realities of life and the certainties of eternity. IV. A Loving Father Luke 15: And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

23 23 His Forgiveness 21. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23.And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.and they began to be merry. True repentance will always lead to positive action. This man s repentance would have meant little had he not acted on it and got up and returned to his father s house. We know what the prodigal son expected to find when he got home. His hope was that his father would take him in and give him a job as one of the hired servants. Had the father done that, the young man would have been happy and satisfied. He had no money left and he had no real justification for his actions. But a father s heart is filled with love, not justice. The father saw his son coming home. He had compassion for him, ran to him, hugged him and kissed him. The decision to leave had been the son s alone. His father did not want to see him go. The son then told his father what was in his heart. Note that this is word for word what the man had said to himself in the far country with one exception. He did not ask for a job. He left this in the hands of his father. But his father did abundantly more than this man could ask or think. The father gave him a robe. This restored him to a position of authority. It recognized that this man was his father s son. He gave him a ring. This elevated the young man far above the position of a servant. It gave the man the right to represent his father in business dealings. He gave him shoes. This means that he enjoyed the benefits and luxuries that the father afforded to his own household.

24 Text: Luke 15: And he gave him a celebration. This showed the full reconciliation that was in the heart of the father. Notice that all the son wanted was a good meal to eat. His father provided him with a feast. Not only this son, but also all those present enjoyed the bounty of the occasion. The father explained it all by simply saying that my son was considered dead and now he is alive again. He was lost and now he is found. This made almost everyone present merry. A FINAL WORD In verses 7 and 10, Jesus told us exactly what this story means. There is joy in Heaven when a sinner repents. There is no joy when a man goes astray. There was no joy while he was wasting his substance in riotous living. But there is joy when anyone, no matter who he is or what he has done, turns from his wickedness and repents of his sin. This man did that, and he found that his father was more than willing to receive him back into his home. Our Father in Heaven will likewise forgive us when we pray to Him (1 John 1:9). But there is an important and somber warning that must be sounded here. This man did not have another inheritance. The elder brother resented the feast and told his father so. His father plainly told the elder brother that all that the father had belonged to him now (Luke 15:31). The younger brother had wasted his inheritance, and it would not be replaced. He could live in the house and eat at the table, but he would not inherit the estate. There is a loss, a permanent loss, in sinning. We will at least lose the time we could have spent in serving the Lord. We may very well lose in other ways. The best thing this man could have done was to stay home in the first place. The best way to deal with sin is not to commit it. But, when we do, we can be comforted in the sure knowledge that our Father in Heaven will forgive us and take us back, no matter what.

25 4 His Warning March 26, 2006 Text: Luke 16:1-31 Focus: Luke 16:10-18 Key Verse: 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. Luke 16:13 Sunday Devotional: The Dangers of Wealth, 1 Timothy 6:6-10. Application: Some people in Jesus day, as today, were consumed with covetousness. His warning is still in effect against this affluence driven enemy of the soul. A FIRST LOOK Jesus Himself gave the introduction and conclusion to this lesson. The introduction is in the parable of the unjust steward. The conclusion is in the account of the rich man and Lazarus. Please read both of these passages before you attempt to study the verses of the lesson. Jesus had a lot to say about money. He said on one occasion that the foxes had holes and the birds had nests, but He did not have a place to lay his head (Luke 9:58). Jesus did not own any property. He did not have a bank account. He did not have a reserve of gold or silver to use in an emergency. But in another way, Jesus was wealthy beyond measure. His Father owns the whole world. The cattle on a thousand hills were His (Psalm 50:10). The true wealth of Christ is spiritu- 25 Daily Devotionals M. Use Your Wealth for God, Luke 16:1-9. T. Wealth Cannot Save the Soul, Luke 16: W. True Riches in Faith, James 2:5. T. Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Ephesians 3:8. F. Choose Whom You Will Serve, Joshua 24:15. S. The Emptiness of Worldly Wealth, Ecclesiastes 5:10-15.

26 Text: Luke 16: al. He is Lord of lords and King of kings. In this lesson He is showing His followers that the wealth of eternity is to be chosen over the temporary gain of the money we have while we live on earth. Many people will not learn this lesson. Sadly, those who refuse the teaching of Jesus will lose all that they have. We will leave this world exactly as we came into it. We cannot take any of the wealth of the world with us, but we can have treasures in the life to come. We do this through our spiritual service to the Lord. Jesus may have been poor while He was on earth, but He is rich beyond comprehension in eternity. A CLOSER LOOK I. True Riches Luke 16: He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12. And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? Faithfulness is never a matter of degree. There are many who excuse their unfaithfulness to God by saying that they do not have much to offer and that they will not be missed when they omit their service to the Lord. Likewise, unjust actions are not a matter of degree. If we cheat in small matters, we will also cheat in great matters. It is not so much that we are creatures of habit as it is that we are creatures of character. It is what is inside us that finds its way out in our everyday lives. The truly faithful man will make the great decision to give himself to the Lord. Once that decision is made, all the little decisions about service will naturally follow. A truly faithful

27 27 His Warning disciple of Jesus does not decide whether or not to pray every day. He does not have to think about whether or not to read his Bible or whether he should attend church services or not. The life changing decision to give our hearts to Jesus will take care of all the little matters. Those who imagine that they can be unfaithful in all the small matters of life and then find great faith for great occasions are only deceiving themselves. We are what we believe, and our faith is revealed through our behavior. Whether we are faithful or unjust does not depend on the magnitude of our circumstances. It depends on the standing of our hearts before the Lord and our understanding of the brevity of life and the urgency of eternity. God has allowed us to use certain resources while we are on earth. Money is one of them. Mammon is another term for money, or wealth. We only have money while we are here on earth. What we do with our money is a kind of spiritual test. If we use our money wisely, God will trust us with real or true riches. Now this does not necessarily mean that He will give us more money. But it does mean that He will show us what true riches are. The truly rich man is the one who has riches in glory. This is what Jesus taught when he said, Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal (Matt. 6:19, 20). In eternity we will quickly discover the nature of true wealth. Many will not have any treasure there. Their miserly conduct on earth will effectively rob them of riches in glory. The lesson here is plain. If we cannot be trusted with the property of others, how can we expect to be given something of our own to manage? God has made us stewards. Some are stewards of little and some are stewards of much. The amount is not important; the faithful discharge of our duty is. Everyone has some money. God is watching us to see how we use it.

28 Text: Luke 16: II. True Dedication 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. 14. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. The real problem is a matter of divided loyalty. At the heart of every matter is a matter of the heart. Jesus only gives us two options. From a human standpoint we imagine that we are well able to serve two masters. Although we see others who cannot do this, we imagine that we are exceptions and that we can somehow manage such a life. But Jesus plainly told us that this is impossible. The problem is one of love and hate. Complete dedication to any one person will exclude all others. The word hate is used here as it was in chapter 14. It indicates an exclusive choice. When we choose one, then we have by definition rejected the other. Jesus was speaking here of masters. We might indeed show allegiance to two individuals, neither of whom we regarded as our master. Many people are their own master. If that is the case, you might well serve two disparate causes. But, when you truly make one other person your master, all others are excluded. The clear implication is that we should make Jesus our Master and that our choice will then be exclusive. Even if the choice is only partial, there will still be a preference. We will hold to one and despise the other. We are creatures of choice, and only ignorance can truly make us ambiguous. Every day we make choices about matters that do not really even concern us. We hear of a case in the news, and we immediately take one side or the other. Often such choices are passionate even when the facts are in dispute. This is a natural tendency, and it has an expression in our discipleship. If we do not positively choose to serve and follow Jesus, we will by default choose to serve and follow mammon. The

29 29 His Warning choice is not between a life of service to God and a life of sin and degradation. The choice is between serving God and money. Jesus said plainly that the choice was exclusive. We cannot serve God and serve money, too. One or the other will take the place of master in our lives. As each of us should know our spiritual condition, we should know in our hearts what we really want. Do you truly want to hear the well done of Jesus? Or do you truly want to have a lot of money here on earth? When this lesson was presented, the Pharisees derided Jesus for saying these things. To deride something means to mock at it or scoff at it. We often do this when we have no real answer for what has been said. They did not tell Him that what He said was not true. The Pharisees derided Jesus because they were covetous. They pretended to be pious and generous, but in truth they were selfish. They wanted what others had. Jesus specifically warned about this sin in Luke 12:45. Yet, few see it as the evil it truly is. We look at coveting the things others have as a kind of sport, a pleasant diversion that spurs us to industry. This is a clever cover-up for a dreadful and harmful sin. Covetous people will make fun of the truth of God s Word; yet, it is that truth by which we will all be judged. In scenes of judgment no one is asked to produce a statement of net worth. The only thing that will matter is whether or not we have done the will of God. III. True Justification Luke 16: And he said unto them,ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. 16.The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. 17.And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.