The One Year Bible Club with Teaching
Commentary by Nick Boork
April 13
Luke 16:1-18
Commentary by Nick Boork
April 13
Luke 16:1-18
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April 13 - Luke 16:1-18
He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. 2 So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’ 3 “Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.’ 5 “So he called every one of his master’s debtors to him, and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 And he said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ So he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ So he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.
9 “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. 10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? 13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” 14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. 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. 16 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail. 18 “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.
OKAY, HERE'S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
Jesus had some very interesting things to say about money. He told a parable about a manager that was accused of embezzling funds. This was a serious accusation and he knew he was going to lose his job. So what did he do? He decided to go make friends quickly with everyone that owed the company he worked for money. He did this with the motive to be welcomed by one of these suppliers after he lost his job because of the favor he would show in reducing the debt they owed his company.
Jesus told this parable to illustrate to his disciples how to use money for kingdom of God purposes. This is why Jesus said make friends for yourselves using unrighteous mammon so that when you fail or when you die some of those that you have influenced to receive Jesus Christ by blessing them with finances and helping to meet needs will be on the other side waiting for you in Heaven to welcome you! In other words, Jesus was saying: guys, you need to understand money and keep it in it’s proper place. This is truly a heavenly perspective concerning the use of money. The point is, be sure to use money to show the goodness of God and influence people to salvation in Jesus Christ. This is also why Jesus said you cannot serve God and Mammon. Does this mean everyone should quit their job and just go preach Gospel? Of course not! The Bible says if we don't take care of our own family we’re worse than unbelievers and deny the faith! 1 Timothy 5:8. But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
God expects his people to work and to make an honest living to provide for our families and not be in poverty. What Jesus teaching is priorities. Our relationship with God must be first and our money must be submitted to Him if Jesus Christ is Lord of our lives. Money should not be the goal of our lives nor control us as Christians. Money will pass away but relationships are eternal.
What’s the Bottom Line?
1. According to Jesus we need to understand that money is a tool and not our master.
2. Money should be used to influence people to Jesus Christ through doing good works.
3. If we use money to make friends for Jesus Christ some of them will be waiting in Heaven welcoming you when you cross over into the glory of God!
4. We can't serve both God and Mammon. Either Jesus Christ is Lord or money controls us.
He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. 2 So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’ 3 “Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.’ 5 “So he called every one of his master’s debtors to him, and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 And he said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ So he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ So he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.
9 “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. 10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? 13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” 14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. 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. 16 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail. 18 “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.
OKAY, HERE'S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
Jesus had some very interesting things to say about money. He told a parable about a manager that was accused of embezzling funds. This was a serious accusation and he knew he was going to lose his job. So what did he do? He decided to go make friends quickly with everyone that owed the company he worked for money. He did this with the motive to be welcomed by one of these suppliers after he lost his job because of the favor he would show in reducing the debt they owed his company.
Jesus told this parable to illustrate to his disciples how to use money for kingdom of God purposes. This is why Jesus said make friends for yourselves using unrighteous mammon so that when you fail or when you die some of those that you have influenced to receive Jesus Christ by blessing them with finances and helping to meet needs will be on the other side waiting for you in Heaven to welcome you! In other words, Jesus was saying: guys, you need to understand money and keep it in it’s proper place. This is truly a heavenly perspective concerning the use of money. The point is, be sure to use money to show the goodness of God and influence people to salvation in Jesus Christ. This is also why Jesus said you cannot serve God and Mammon. Does this mean everyone should quit their job and just go preach Gospel? Of course not! The Bible says if we don't take care of our own family we’re worse than unbelievers and deny the faith! 1 Timothy 5:8. But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
God expects his people to work and to make an honest living to provide for our families and not be in poverty. What Jesus teaching is priorities. Our relationship with God must be first and our money must be submitted to Him if Jesus Christ is Lord of our lives. Money should not be the goal of our lives nor control us as Christians. Money will pass away but relationships are eternal.
What’s the Bottom Line?
1. According to Jesus we need to understand that money is a tool and not our master.
2. Money should be used to influence people to Jesus Christ through doing good works.
3. If we use money to make friends for Jesus Christ some of them will be waiting in Heaven welcoming you when you cross over into the glory of God!
4. We can't serve both God and Mammon. Either Jesus Christ is Lord or money controls us.
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll