Luke 16:1-18
Luke 16:1-18
“Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” -Francis Chan
Yesterday we finished what I consider the greatest chapter in the whole Bible. The story of the compassionate father ends with an implied question—how will the older brother respond? This question penetrated the hearts of Jesus’ listeners, and every generation who has read the parable since.
The series of parables in chapter 15 were based on the grumbling of the Pharisees and scribes, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Remember that chapter and verse numbers aren’t inspired, and that although we are changing chapters, the scenario hasn’t changed.
The first parable of Luke 16 (1–8) recounts a manager who wasted the master’s possessions. I don’t know if Jesus was looking at the Pharisee’s implying they are the managers like he did with the olderbrother or not. I think probably not, because the point of the parable is the shrewdness of the manager to save his own skin and secure his future.His actions weren’t condoned, only his shrewdness.The “shrewdness” of 16:8a and urges believers to act as prudently with regard to divine things as unbelievers do with regard to earthly things.
For the first time since the beginning of chapter 15, the Pharisees responded ridiculing Jesus. We must deeply consider Jesus’ response, 1. “God knows your heart.” & 2.“What is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” Christ goes on to say the Law hasn’t been voided, however, John stood on the precipice of transition in Biblical history—the time between the Old Testament Covenant and the New. Every person brought into the New Covenant through the “Good News of the Kingdom of God” does so, not of their own ability, but in spite of themselves.
All of this points to a simple fact, the rule of the Pharisees is over. They’re words and rules are meaningless. Instead, the force of this section encourages “sons of light” (8) to prepare for and invest in eternity.
Now, verse 18. This verse seems so disjointed to the context. Perhaps, Jesus brings it up for two possible reasons. First, is to show the Law on divorce still reflects the heart of God and will therefore carry on. And, second, as a practical example of the Pharisees violation of the Law.
The translation of verse 18 doesn’t clarify the circumstance to which Jesus was referring. The Greek helps us understand that men were divorcing their wives in order tomarry another woman. The Pharisees played fast and loose with Deuteronomy 24:1,which allowed men to divorce based on finding an “indecency.” It seems the Pharisees wrote certificates of divorce for any reason whatsoever, even if a man was just trading for another woman.
The second half of the verse is more difficult because it seems as though an innocent party (the woman) has been left high and dry by her husband and is then unable to remarry. Based on the proper understanding in the first half, my opinion seems that “innocent” may not be the word to describe this woman. I think there is more going on here than we can know. Jesus’ point was that the Law had been violated by the Pharisees.
Malachi makes clear that God hates divorce. Every divorcee I know hates it too. It’s a terrible, evil thing. In Matthew 19:8, Jesus makes clear that divorce was a concession to limit a greater sin. Perhaps divorce gets mentioned because God’s heart desires covenant fidelity. The Pharisees had missed God’s heart. In the context, those who wish to invest in eternity, who want
to be trusted with greater things, must also maintain covenant fidelity with God and others—and that’s especially true in the most important human relationship that symbolizes so much of who God is and how Christ relates to his Church.
In these things we must succeed because they are what matters.
By: Tyler Short
“Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” -Francis Chan
Yesterday we finished what I consider the greatest chapter in the whole Bible. The story of the compassionate father ends with an implied question—how will the older brother respond? This question penetrated the hearts of Jesus’ listeners, and every generation who has read the parable since.
The series of parables in chapter 15 were based on the grumbling of the Pharisees and scribes, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Remember that chapter and verse numbers aren’t inspired, and that although we are changing chapters, the scenario hasn’t changed.
The first parable of Luke 16 (1–8) recounts a manager who wasted the master’s possessions. I don’t know if Jesus was looking at the Pharisee’s implying they are the managers like he did with the olderbrother or not. I think probably not, because the point of the parable is the shrewdness of the manager to save his own skin and secure his future.His actions weren’t condoned, only his shrewdness.The “shrewdness” of 16:8a and urges believers to act as prudently with regard to divine things as unbelievers do with regard to earthly things.
For the first time since the beginning of chapter 15, the Pharisees responded ridiculing Jesus. We must deeply consider Jesus’ response, 1. “God knows your heart.” & 2.“What is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” Christ goes on to say the Law hasn’t been voided, however, John stood on the precipice of transition in Biblical history—the time between the Old Testament Covenant and the New. Every person brought into the New Covenant through the “Good News of the Kingdom of God” does so, not of their own ability, but in spite of themselves.
All of this points to a simple fact, the rule of the Pharisees is over. They’re words and rules are meaningless. Instead, the force of this section encourages “sons of light” (8) to prepare for and invest in eternity.
Now, verse 18. This verse seems so disjointed to the context. Perhaps, Jesus brings it up for two possible reasons. First, is to show the Law on divorce still reflects the heart of God and will therefore carry on. And, second, as a practical example of the Pharisees violation of the Law.
The translation of verse 18 doesn’t clarify the circumstance to which Jesus was referring. The Greek helps us understand that men were divorcing their wives in order tomarry another woman. The Pharisees played fast and loose with Deuteronomy 24:1,which allowed men to divorce based on finding an “indecency.” It seems the Pharisees wrote certificates of divorce for any reason whatsoever, even if a man was just trading for another woman.
The second half of the verse is more difficult because it seems as though an innocent party (the woman) has been left high and dry by her husband and is then unable to remarry. Based on the proper understanding in the first half, my opinion seems that “innocent” may not be the word to describe this woman. I think there is more going on here than we can know. Jesus’ point was that the Law had been violated by the Pharisees.
Malachi makes clear that God hates divorce. Every divorcee I know hates it too. It’s a terrible, evil thing. In Matthew 19:8, Jesus makes clear that divorce was a concession to limit a greater sin. Perhaps divorce gets mentioned because God’s heart desires covenant fidelity. The Pharisees had missed God’s heart. In the context, those who wish to invest in eternity, who want
to be trusted with greater things, must also maintain covenant fidelity with God and others—and that’s especially true in the most important human relationship that symbolizes so much of who God is and how Christ relates to his Church.
In these things we must succeed because they are what matters.
By: Tyler Short
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