Luke 16 (3)

Pray Psalm 24.9, 10.
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
He is the King of glory.

Sing Psalm 24.9, 10.
(Foundation: How Firm a Foundation)
O Who is this King, Who approaches our gate?
His might is before us, His glory is great!
This King is the Lord of all glory above,
Who comes to indwell us in mercy and love!

Read Luke 16.1-15; meditate on verses 14 and 15.

Preparation
1. How did Luke describe the Pharisees?

2. What warning did Jesus give them?

Meditation
Jesus did not point out the Pharisees as the specific object of His teaching about mammon. But He piqued their hearts anyway. All the people knew that their religious leaders were money-grubbing phonies, but what could they do? If they said anything, they’d be thrown out of the synagogue, which meant being cut off completely from their community.

Jesus often taught the truth “slant”; at other times – as in verse 15 – He was more direct. The Pharisees derided Jesus (v. 14), which was their way of defending their lifestyle against His not-so-veiled criticism. Jesus exposed their hypocrisy. They were more interested in impressing men than in finding favor with God. They doubtless had an array of ready justifications for their extravagance. The riches, power, and esteem of men which the Pharisees sought was an abomination to God.

The Pharisees “turned up their noses” at Jesus (the meaning of the verb, “derided”). Jesus warned that they were a stench in the nostrils of God.

The religious leaders could justify their lifestyle before the people because they held the power of excommunication over them. But they would not be able to justify themselves before God. He saw their hearts – greedy, cold, indifferent to the needs of others, self-seeking and self-serving – and theirs were not the hearts of stewards.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Tim. 6, 10). Paul warned of the same pitfall Jesus addressed.

There is nothing innately wrong with an inanimate coin or the stuff that the coin can purchase; but when our hearts love that more than we love God or others, it has become evil. Plain and simple.

And the worst part? None of this is done outside the perusal of God. For, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Prov. 15.3). And even more convicting? He not only sees us, but He also knows us thoroughly—inside and out (Lk. 16.15). He knows where, and on whom and what, our affections lie.

We can try and justify ourselves, as most people do, but it is to no avail (Lk. 16.15).

And what about all the things that people think are cool? Popularity, face time in front of whoever will look, money, lots of stuff, no wrinkles, power, a perfect body, acceptance of anything and everything…but the caveat? Be careful, because “what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Lk. 16.15).

As God said to the prophet Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16.7).

What does God like to see?
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams” (1 Sam. 15.22).
Obedience to His Law is certainly one thing that He likes to see.
Another is for us, “to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Mic. 6.8).

Jesus was indeed direct in His words about greed and serving the wrong master. He was also direct in this:

“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn. 14.15).

But also this: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain…” (Jn. 15.16).

Never do we need wonder what God thinks about sin, or about righteous living. When anyone turns away from abominable living, God speaks the same words as the merciful father of the prodigal did: It was right that we should make merry and be glad for you were dead, and now are alive, you were lost and now found! (Lk. 15.32).

If the choice is between that kind of love, or stuff,
and since we can’t live for both,
why would we ever not choose Jesus? (Lk. 16.13)

For reflection
1. Why does the mammon of this world present so strong a temptation?

2. How can you tell when that temptation is beginning to overcome you?

3. What should you do when you find that to be the case?

To this parable our Lord added a solemn warning. Ye cannot serve God and the world, so divided are the two interests. When our Lord spoke thus, the covetous Pharisees treated his instructions with contempt. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Luke 16.13-15

Pray Psalm 24.1-6.
Praise God for His majestic greatness. Praise Jesus for His glorious exaltation and reign. Praise the Holy Spirit for His indwelling and transforming power. Pray that God will be mightily at work in your today, making you willing and able to obey Him and know His pleasure, and transforming you increasingly into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Sing Psalm 24.1-6.
(Foundation: How Firm a Foundation)
The earth is the Lord’s, as is all it contains.
The world and its peoples He daily sustains.
He founded it fast on the seas long ago,
and bid gentle rivers throughout it to flow.

Oh, who may ascend to the Lord’s holy place?
And who may appear to His glorious face?
All they who are clean in their hearts and their hands
and true in their souls with the Savior shall stand.

A blessing all they from the Lord shall receive
who seek Him and on His salvation believe.
For these are His people, the children of grace,
who earnestly, eagerly seek for His face.

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.