16 Parables Exclusive to Luke

Transcription

1 Study 3. Luke s Unique Parables Part 1: The Pharisees.

2 16 Parables Exclusive to Luke The Moneylender Lk 7:41-43 The Good Samaritan 10:30-37 The Friend in Need 11:5-8 The Rich Fool 12:16-21 The Unfruitful Fig Tree 13:6-9 The Lowest Seat at the Banquet 14:7-11 Who to Invite 14:12-14 The Great Supper 14:16-24 The Cost of Discipleship 14:26-33 The Lost Coin 15:8-10 The Prodigal Son 15:11-32 The Shrewd Manager 16:1-13 The Rich Man and Lazarus 16:19-31 The Master and Servant 17:7-10 The Persistent Widow 18:2-8 The Pharisee and the Publican 18:9-14

3 The Good Samaritan Luke 10: And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

4 25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said to him, What is written in the law? What is your reading of it? 27 So he answered and said, You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself. 28 And He said to him, You have answered rightly; do this and you will live. 29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbour? A test question indicating he thinks he knows the answer Only Christ ever passed this test so self justification requires new definitions. This self-justification is based on ego and self election.

5 From: "Jewish History, Jewish Religion: The Weight of Three Thousand Years by Professor Israel Shahak...we should not do any act of mercy except to the people who know God and worship Him...Behold, with this intention our reward [from God] when we withhold mercy from the others is equal to that for doing [merciful deeds] to members of our own people. In explaining the ban against delaying a worker's wage ( 238) the author is careful to point out that the sin is less serious if the worker is Gentile... Similarly, the prohibitions against giving misleading advice, hating other people, shaming them or taking revenge on them ( 240, 245, 246, 247) apply only to fellow-jews. Hear their own words: "A Jew sees a Gentile fall into the sea, let him by no means lift him out; for it is written, Thou shalt not rise up against the blood of thy neighbour: - but this is not thy neighbour." Maimon. From Adam Clarke s Commentary on the Bible.

6 31 a certain priest... passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite... passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.

7 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbour to him who fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He who showed mercy on him. Then Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise. Argument against exclusivity. We are all responsible to all. Challenge to our prejudices Mercy, not obedience, is at the centre of salvation.

8 A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho Jerusalem. 2,133 2,756 feet above sea level. Jericho is 853 feet below sea level. Jericho - the lowest city on the earth?

9 Brother H Whittaker s Interpretation... from Jerusalem to Jericho, thieves stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and left him half dead. a certain priest passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, But a certain Samaritan had compassion. bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine set him on his own animal brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you. Humanity s descent to death Humanity plundered by sin The powerlessness of Law to save The despised outsider who: Identified Provided Word and the Sacrifice In identification, brings him to a resting place Provides the exact equivalent of the money required for atonement. Promises to personally return.

10 It is the despised outsider who, having compassion, saves the traveller. Christ is the despised Samaritan outsider, thus this parable continues the theme of the outsider. Christ does what the Law cannot do, and provides salvation on the basis of his grace.

11 The Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-32 Lost Coin 15; :1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, This Man receives sinners and eats with them. See also Lost Coin 15:8-10 Lost Sheep 15:4-7

12 Loss Sheep Coin Son Finding followed by joyous celebration Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep/coin/son which was lost! 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninetynine just persons who need no repentance.

13 28 But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him. Blinded to self. Self justification. I deserve reward because of who I am. who need no repentance Loveless condemnation. Sinners deserve to be lost and forgotten. Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found. Blinded to situation.

14 The position of the Pharisees is that of the elder son who resents the joy of his father at his younger son s return Repentance meant nothing to them because they had already made their categories. They were the ones that were worthy of the rewards so there was no need for mercy and forgiveness. The central ideas are mercy and compassion as opposed to pride and self justification. Repentance is the key to salvation. Repentance causes great joy in heaven.

15 The rich man and Lazarus Luke 16: Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.

16 This parable looks at the same themes that we have seen The outsider is Lazarus poor beggar Crippled Starving terrible sores dogs licking them Dies and is carried to Abraham s bosom and reward The insider is the rich man Every material comfort Abundant food Dies and is carried to Hades Torments of flames Terrible thirst Can see Lazarus and his reward Separated by a great gulf Begs Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers.. Abraham says they have Moses and the prophets and won t be persuaded even by Lazarus returning from the dead.

17 The parable is partly satirical on: 1. Contemporary attitudes to life after death. For contemporary thinking on Abraham's bosom and the torments of Hades and almost an exact equivalent of the parable see Josephus s Discourse to the Greeks Concerning Hades. 2. The prosperity gospel people who are favoured by God will be materially successful, and also that materially successful people are successful because God favoured them Disability/poverty was a punishment from God for sin 15 And He said to them, You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

18 Success cannot be mistaken for God s blessing; nor can another s misfortune be read as God s punishment Spiritual rewards are far richer than material success and sometimes they flourish in adverse circumstances It is the despised outsider who receives the blessing from God

19 The Pharisee and the Publican Luke 18: Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

20 The publican, the despised outsider prays in the temple prays to God humble knows he needs forgiveness pleads for mercy forgiven The Pharisee, the self appointed insider. prays in the temple prayed to himself egotistical self appointed righteousness achieved through rule making, sacrifice and obedience condemned

21 Pharisaism is essentially thinking too much of yourself and too little of others. Pharisaism is a state of mind AND Rules are the mechanism by which it happens. BUT Danger! Danger! Danger! BECAUSE Salvation to the despised and the rejection of those in power.

22 The Great Warning....for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Lk 18:14 & 14:11

23