Bible

Back in the Bible room today, we continue reading in the book of Luke with Session 6, the summaries of chapters 15 and 16.

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Luke

Session 6

Chapter 15. Found

Sinners gather closely around Jesus so they can hear Him speak:

• The Pharisees and scribes note Jesus even eats with sinners;
• So, Jesus teaches them through some of His parables:
• He says: Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep;
• And one of them gets lost from the other ninety-nine;
• You would leave all of them to go find the one that is lost;
• When that one is found there would be a great celebration;
• More celebrating for the lost one found than the ninety-nine;
• Then Jesus says: Imagine a woman who has ten silver coins;
• For some reason one of those coins is missing;
• That woman will light a lamp and search the whole house;
• When the coin is found, there is great celebrating;
• There is rejoicing in heaven when one sinner repents;
• Then Jesus says: A certain man has two sons;
• The younger son asks for his inheritance so he can leave home;
• Free from home he wastes his possessions in prodigal living;
• Starving, even to the point of eating with the swine in pens;
• Eventually, he comes to his senses, decides to go back home;
• He will tell his father he is no longer worthy to be his son;
• Back home, his father welcomes him with open arms;
• His father calls for a great celebration, his son has come home;
• The older son is offended by the extravagant celebration;
• Angry, he tells his father he has always been a good son;
• Never disobeying any command his father gave him;
• Yet he has never had a celebration with his friends;
• His father tells him he can have everything he wants;
• But he says his brother who was dead is living again;
• He was lost and is now found.

Chapter 16. Mammon

Jesus continues speaking to His disciples in parables:

• A rich man’s steward is accused of wasting his possessions;
• So, the rich man calls the steward to an accounting;
• Fearing the loss of his job, the steward devises a plan;
• If the master fires him, he will need to find another job;
• So, he will call in all the people who are in debt to his master;
• And he will reduce the amounts they all owe;
• The master commends his steward for his shrewd dealings;
• The master says he was trying to protect his future;
• However, anyone who is unfaithful in evil things,
• Cannot be trusted to be in charge of truly good things;
• No servant can serve God and mammon;
• As lovers of money, the Pharisees mock what Jesus says;
• Then Jesus begins teaching them about the kingdom of God;
• God hates the things that make men proud before others;
• Before John, there was the law and the prophets;
• Now, it’s all about the kingdom of God, the law is fulfilled;
• Adultery is committed by one who remarries after a divorce;
• There was a rich man who lived very well;
• There was another man, a beggar named Lazarus;
• This beggar ate only the crumbs the rich man dropped;
• The beggar dies and is carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom;
• The rich man dies, is buried, and is sent into Hades;
• From there, he can see Lazarus in the company of Abraham;
• He begs Abraham to send him Lazarus with a drop of water,
• To cool his tongue as he is tormented in the flame;
• Abraham reminds him of why they are in separate places:
• He had lived a life of luxury, feeding crumbs to Lazarus:
• And he had allowed Lazarus to live with illness and poverty;
• Besides that, they are separated by an immense gulf of space;
• No one can cross this space, either coming or going;
• The rich man begs him to send Lazarus to his five brothers;
• To tell them not to come to this place of torment;
• Abraham says they have Moses and the prophets to tell them;
• And even if one came back from the dead they will not listen.

End of Session 6 of the book of Luke.