Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 16 : 1 - 13 "OBSERVABLE ORGANIZED THEMES"
Day 193 – Luke 16
Text: Luke 16 : 1 – 13
OBSERVABLE ORGANIZED THEMES
When Luke began his research for his Gospel, we noted how carefully he went about doing his work. From the very beginning, Luke organized the contents that went to make up his study of the Life and Ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let’s highlight some of the things he organized as we do a quick review of what we have read from the Gospel of Luke.
1. The Birth narrative of the Lord Jesus Christ. Luke 1-2
2. The Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptiser. Luke 3
3. The Commencement of Jesus Public Ministry. Luke 4
4. The Calling and Training of the Disciples. Luke 5-6
5. General Ministry and Review of the Multitude. Luke 7-8
8. Sending of the Disciples to Preach. Luke 9
9. The Beginning of His teaching Concerning His Suffering. Luke 9
10. More Disciples are sent out. Luke 10
11. Public Rebuke of the Pharisees as they clash with Him. Luke 11-13
This of course is but a sketch of the way Luke understood the Life and Ministry of Jesus. The initial period saw Jesus caught up with ministering to Multitudes. The latter period saw Jesus engaged in debate with His detractors. At all times, however Jesus taught His Disciples and cared for those who were sick.
No matter the pressure of work, Jesus never lost sight of His destiny. He was destined to be the Suffering Messiah. He did not flinch, even for a moment! Neither did He forsake His close communion with His Father. Daily He sought to be in touch with His Father in prayer!
THEOLOGICAL THEMES TOO
Not only did Luke try to present an organized life and ministry of Jesus, he also sought to organize some of theological themes The Master dealt with. For example,
1. The Subject of Repentance and Salvation with reference to entrance into the Kingdom of God . Luke 13-14
2. The Controversial Subject of the Keeping of the Sabbath. Luke 13-14 (It is interesting to see how Luke noted the way Jesus dealt with the sub-theme of “Eating” (Luke 14:1) and then went on teach great spiritual truths. Luke must have marveled at the teaching skills of the Lord Jesus.
3. Luke grouped together a series of Parables on the sub-theme of “The Lost” in Luke 15.
While we note and appreciate the great theological truths Luke brought across in his Gospel, we cannot help but note that the author was deeply impressed with his Subject – the Lord Jesus Christ. He too marveled at the authority that Jesus displayed in his life and ministry. As we continue to read the Gospel of Luke, let us seek also to be deeply impacted by the life of Jesus. That’s what “But We See Jesus” is all about!
ANOTHER THEME DEALT WITH- “MONEY”
In Luke 16, Jesus dealt with the theme of “Money”. He did not shy away from speaking on this topic. His Disciples needed much correction and instruction with reference to this subject. They had an inadequate view of this subject.
On the other hand, Jesus also had to deal with the Pharisees, who were described as “lovers of money” (Luke 16:14). As we embark on the study of the theme of money, let us seek to have as clear an understanding as possible concerning this topic.
AN INADEQUATE VIEW OF “MONEY”
Jesus told an interesting but very puzzling parable as He began to teach His Disciples about how they ought to regard money. This parable is often called, “The Parable of the Unjust Steward” (Luke 16:1-9).
In this parable, Jesus featured a dishonest steward. He even seemed to hold him up as an example in the parable. He went on to pronounce another enigmatic statement.
“The sons of this world are more shrewd
in their generation than the sons of light.”
Luke 16:8
AN IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
It must be said, at the very outset, that Jesus was NOT commending dishonesty. He was not condoning the misdeeds of the dishonest steward. The fact that he was described as being sacked from his job would tell us that “crime does not pay”.
Jesus cannot be associated with evil. He befriended tax collectors and sinners, but He never condoned their wrongdoing. Neither was Jesus expressing a love for money.
THE NEED FOR AN ADQUATE VIEW OF “MONEY”
What was Jesus trying to teach when He made the dishonest steward the central figure in his parable? He was essentially trying to teach His Disciples how to obtain an adequate view of money.
Yes, Jesus had taught people that they must desire and seek the Kingdom of God. There is no question about the fact that Jesus personally disdained wealth!
Nevertheless, Jesus did not want His Disciples to become “so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good”. They were indeed “sons of light”. But they also appeared to have lost out to “the sons of this world” insofar as understanding of “money”.
There were probably some who misunderstood Jesus and fought shy of “making money”. To these people, Jesus said, “Make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon” (Luke 16:9).
Being a Disciple does not mean that we cannot have friends in the world. It does not mean that we cannot make money. The “sons of this world” seemed to have fared better with reference to the issue of “making money”.
A BALANCED VIEW OF LIFE
The system of teaching that Jesus espoused was far more balanced than people gave Him credit for. Jesus stood for a balanced view of life.