STUDY NOTES on previous study
A Wasted Life (Luke
Once
again we find ourselves dealing with passages that cause us to struggle. While the story of the rich man and Lazarus
is often treated in sermons and studies, I have heard very few serious
treatments of the first ten verses of chapter 17. Yet, all these verses continue the teaching
of Jesus about the true nature of life.
It is so easy to fall into the trap of thinking life is about us! Is the story of the rich man that much
different from how many of us live?
Maybe we don’t have the poor at our gates, but they are surely in our
cities! Do we live sumptuous lives while
others starve? Here Jesus is continuing
to teach us about the heart of God. He
is concerned about all of His children (all of humanity), and if we are well
blessed, we must not think that means we are free to do what we want with what
we have. If we are blessed with earthly
wealth, if we are not faithful over that which ultimately has no meaning
(earthly wealth), why should we expect to be blessed with true and eternal
riches? If we separate ourselves from
God’s heart and passion now, why would we expect to be accepted into His bosom
after physical death?
The rich
man seemed to have it all, but a gate (which could be opened, but was not)
separated him from his opportunity to meet the needs of his fellow man. I used to think his sin was that he didn’t
notice Lazarus. But the story reveals
that he did, which makes him even more culpable. He called Lazarus by name in the afterlife. So, as Jesus tells the story, he is
describing a man so fully consumed by his own well being that he would not even
share the discarded food from his table with the beggar at his gate. Lazarus’ condition was so desperate that
scavenging dogs feasted on his oozing wounds.
Not many
years ago, I had the opportunity to teach for a few weeks at a preacher’s
school in
It’s easy
for me to condemn that church in
The
difference in the lives of Lazarus and the rich man is immediately seen at
death. Lazarus is carried by angels to
be with Abraham. We are not told why he
is given such exalted treatment, but the story would lead one to believe that
God was saying to His angels, “he has suffered enough, now give him
comfort.” The rich man is simply buried. He finds himself in torment, agonizing in
flames. This picture rips at our modern
sensitivities. In fact, some have
refused to believe the Christian message because of its teachings concerning
hell as a place of torment for the wicked.
It seems to me we had better heed the warning and believe! I am not sure how much this parable is
intended to be an actual description of what happens after death. It is, however, a powerful description of a
wasted life! If we live in sumptuous,
self-focused “dignity” in this life, and we throw our wealth away by soaking up
the gracious gifts of God for ourselves, and we miss the reason for which we
were created – to live in His image as a generous giver, what else should we
expect but punishment? What was once a
moveable gate – all it took would have been for the rich man to open his gate
to an ill and starving man and give him the scraps from his table – now
became an unmovable, fixed chasm. The
rich man’s wasted life had built an immovable separation between himself and
the comforting rest provided by God in the bosom of Abraham.
Pathetically,
the rich man quickly insists that Lazarus relieve his suffering. Unwilling to express mercy by giving Lazarus
the scraps from his table in life, he did not hesitate to ask Abraham for
mercy, calling on Lazarus to bring him relief from his agony. There is a clear brazenness to the rich man’s
behavior even in death. He refers to
Abraham as “father” even though there was nothing in his life to show such a
relationship other than his self-supposed status. His language even suggests he expects Lazarus
to serve him because of his earthly status!
We see no signs of repentance – only self concern.
Even in
what is often seen as a redeeming behavior in the rich man (his request for his
brothers) we see the self-serving nature of his heart. He did not request the chance to make his
wrongs right. He wanted to save his
brothers. His circle of concern were
those with whom he shared his earthly status.
He didn’t ask for his wealth to be distributed among the poor. He wanted to warn those closest to him to
avoid the suffering he was experiencing.
But Abraham correctly pointed out that even if one was raised from the
dead, those living such a life would not repent. This truth would be verified by the
resurrection of Jesus Himself. When
confronted with the reality of His resurrection, the religious leaders
immediately concocted a story of His body being stolen rather than facing the
truth vindicated by Jesus’ coming to life.
Oh, the dangers of a self-focused life.
Even One raised from the dead will not be heard by those satisfied by a
life of sumptuous self focus.
The real
question is “What do we see as the purpose for our lives?” If we live for the accumulation of wealth, it
is a wasted life. Earthly status and
wealth ultimately have no value or meaning.
We cannot serve both God and wealth.
Chapter
17:1-10 brings to an end the section of Luke dealing with the question, “Who
will participate in the end time
On the
other hand, the disciple of Jesus must be ready to confront sinful behavior,
and upon repentance of the sinner, forgive without limit. No keeping score, no partial
forgiveness. Life in the merciful
community of God must express His continual forgiveness. This was clearly difficult for Jesus’
disciples, for they immediately cried for more faith. Jesus’ response must be understood. The apostles did not need “more faith.” They needed faith. True faith.
For true faith is so powerful that in its most meager expression could
blow a deep rooted mulberry tree into the sea!
The
following story expresses Jesus’ dismay at the apparent difficulty that the
disciples had with unlimited forgiveness.
If one were able to so forgive, he or she should not expect favored
status. It was no big thing. This was simply expected behavior in the
Do not
despair, brothers and sisters. We are
apprentices of Jesus and we have much yet to learn. But look at how far we’ve come. The road ahead is difficult; the walk in the
The Coming of the Kingdom (Luke 17:11-37)
:
After having read the study notes,
answer the following questions:
1.
What can we do to keep from falling into the trap of living in luxury
(like the rich man) and not seeing and responding to the needs of those around
us?
2.
What are some specific ways we can keep from causing “the little ones to
stumble”?
3.
Why was it so hard for the apostles to accept that they were to continue
to forgive one another? Are we sometimes
guilty of not being willing to forgive? Why?
4.
Why is it important to realize that all we do for God is only what we
ought to do and we should expect nothing special in return for it?
Read Luke 17:11-19
1.
Why did the lepers “keep their distance”?
2.
Why did Jesus ask them to “show themselves to the priests”?
3.
Why does Luke point out that it is a Samaritan that turns back and
thanks Jesus?
4.
Are we sometimes guilty of the sin of the “nine”? How?
Read
1.
What do you think the Pharisees meant when they asked about the coming “
2.
Why did Jesus respond that the coming of the kingdom was not going to be
things that could be observed?
3.
What do you think Jesus meant when he said the kingdom was already among
them?
4.
How is the
Read 17:22-30
1.
What were the days of the Son of Man of which Jesus spoke?
2.
What must happen first? Why?
3.
How will the day of the son of Man be like those of Noah and
4.
What is the message for us in these verses?
Read 17:31-37
1.
What are we to remember about
2.
Who will lose their lives in those days?
3.
What do you think Jesus meant by his reference to the gathering of vultures?
4.
What should be our concern about the coming of the Son of Man?