We will be plowing the field of Luke 12, looking primarily at verses 13-34 for this lesson. Luke was the Gospel writer of a different sort. He is not categorized as one of the synoptic Gospel writers because he wrote his account of the Gospel of Jesus Christ well after the first witnesses—Mark,
Matthew and John—wrote theirs. It is commonly accepted that Luke was a bit of a journalist/historian and went to those who knew Jesus while he was traveling this earth. Luke gives us a good understanding of his purpose in this Gospel 1:1-4.
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
The portion of scripture we are going to look into today is part of the rendering of Jesus’ teaching through parables—practical stories that teach deeper truths. In Luke 12:13-34 we come across what has been called the Parable of the Rich Fool, and its practical application to those wanting to live by and in the Kingdom of God. Parts of this Lukan parabolic passage comes from Matthew 6:19-20, 25-34.
The context for this parable is important to establish. By the time we get to Luke 12, Jesus has selected his disciples, has been equipping them for service, preaching and healing. He is deeply into his teaching and preaching ministry, healing the sick and calling all people to live in a new way by his example. This caused a lot of trouble for the religious leaders in the Jewish community at the time. Jesus’ counter-cultural principles stripped them of their power as social-political leaders in many ways. Some were corrupt, others were simply trying to be faithful to what God had established through Moses and other Hebrew leaders and prophets as proper religious and cultural practices. Either way it caused them a lot of trouble.
In Luke 12:1-7 we get a snapshot of some of this trouble.
Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
You can read more of Jesus’ warnings about hypocritical leaders in verses 8-12. But this sets the stage for how Luke integrated the parable of the rich fool and the practical applications that followed. As a powerful and effective teacher, Jesus used stories and parables to teach profound and life-changing truths to live by. These stories are embedded in the agricultural realities of people living in the Middle East at that time.
Jesus was an artful debater as well. So, when a person from the crowd gathered around calls out for some help, he addresses the issue at a far deeper level than what the person appeared to be asking.
Read Luke 12:13-21.
A person called out from the crowd hoping to get some kind of judgment call from this traveling rabbi. It was common in that day for people to adjudicate inheritances, and there were many laws—both Roman and Jewish—that parsed out the difficulties of these. But on occasion someone may not have been satisfied with the outcomes and would appeal to rabbis to influence a decision. While Jesus was a teacher, and clearly held tremendous power (as evidenced in his teaching and healing and the draw of thousands of people), he was careful to point out to the person, the crowd and his disciples that he was not there to simply adjudicate decisions. His purposes were far greater. Commentators across the years have tried to determine the motive behind the person’s request as well as why Jesus did not simply make that judgment call. Several have suggested that Jesus was relying on the established laws to rendering the judgments and stay focused on his true goals. But his parable speaks to something far deeper at work—all kinds of greed versus life.
All Kinds of Greed vs. Life
Why would Jesus give such a stark warning? Greed, covetousness, hording, and selfishness have devastating effects on a person, the community and the world. From the temptation of the serpent in Genesis to the Ten Commandments and on down through all of human history, greed of all kinds has wreaked havoc. The misplaced focus on acquisition of more and being focused on only what can be obtained can lead us into a thankless, hopeless and futile life. Let’s be clear that it doesn’t take a rich person to be greedy. Greed, in all its forms, can take up residence in the heart and mind of any person, no matter their current social or material standing. A poor person can be filled with greed for what they do not have as much as a rich person can be filled with wanting more and more. And greed doesn’t have to be in relation to material things alone. That’s where the reality of coveting, lust and obsessions can force out relationship with God and others. Beware! A life consumed with greed can destroy you.
So, what is life? The world's answers and values can be contrary to God’s answers and values. What we see in the media or read in books, or what is instilled in us by our family or popular culture, can keep us from the true value of life. Thomas Philips wrote, “If we understand a person’s fears and worries, we understand much about what that person values and what motivates them.”[1]
For the certain rich man in the parable, life had been consumed by selfish desires. Look at how many times the word I, me, and mine occur in that short parable. Even his misunderstanding of the source of his wealth was profound. Matthew Henry wrote: “It was folly for him to call the fruits of the ground his fruits and his goods . . . what we have is but lent to us for our use, the property is still in God.”[2]
The Wycliffe Bible Commentary describes three false assumptions made by the rich fool.
1. The soul could be satisfied with goods.
2. That the goods would last for many years.
3. That he would live to enjoy them.[3]
Thomas Philips wrote this jarring reality: “Greed knows no social distinctions. It is insidious and destructive; it seeks ever more and is never sated. It consumes those who cannot learn the peace that comes with a life lived for more than the all-consuming and self-destructive need to acquire and possess.”[4]
Of the things that you value the most, which of them are out of place because of these same or similar assumptions? Take some time now to write out your reflections before we continue to the good news that Jesus declared to his disciples after this encounter.
The Great Reversal: Life vs. All Kinds of Greed
So, if greed can destroy life, what can retain and expand it? What does it mean to be rich towards God? Jesus has the answers.
Read Luke 12:22-34.
Oh, Jesus provides for us the way to reverse the power of greed! It is in understanding who God is, how much he loves us and how deeply he wants to provide for us. It also comes in recognizing the negative power of worry and how it too can take over our lives. Thomas Philips wrote: “From the perspective of the gospel, worry is a kind of functional atheism. Worry is a subtle way to deny God’s active oversight of the world.”[5] That is a painful, but necessary, reality that we must face when we become worried.
When I was in seminary, one of my professors taught a class on Christian ethics. While we the students were taking the lessons very seriously and struggling with what it meant to have Christian values and the ethics toward the poor, he told the story of himself at that same point of struggle. Early in his Christian walk, he had taken the vow of poverty very seriously, so seriously in fact that he sold everything—absolutely everything—except the clothes on his back. What became a stark reality very quickly was that he had no way to survive and help the poor. He laughed at himself and described how the process had helped him to realize that he still needed to care for himself in a simple way so that he could help others. That humor and that reality helped all of us come to a place where we understood Jesus’ teaching more thoroughly and deeply. Craig Keener wrote: “Jesus nowhere prohibits possessions, but he teaches priorities that challenge his followers’ lifestyles; whereas people and their needs matter, possessions beyond one’s needs are worthless.” [6]
With the great words of consolation Jesus gave to his disciples after that parable, we can learn the same lessons. One of the great lessons of the Kingdom of God is that even beyond God’s presence and provision, we live in a community of Christians whose generosity, if valued above their own desire for more, can make a difference. Not only can we become recipients of gracious giving, but we can also give more because we trust God so completely that today’s daily bread is sufficient and can be shared.
Thomas Philips wrote this poignant reminder as well.
His kingdom is a community shaped by the values and teachings of Jesus. The promise that all these things will be given to you as well is not a promise to individuals in isolation. It is a promise to the community. Individual Christian believers have died—and still die—from famine. If the Christian community fails to seek first the kingdom of God, then individual Christians can suffer privation, hunger, even starvation. God keeps this promise through the people of God. When the people of God seek first His kingdom, then everyone is cared for. When the people fail to seek first His kingdom, then privation follows.[7]
Jesus points to birds and flowers to demonstrate the magnificence of God’s care. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary reflects: “Through these images Luke is directing his readers’ imaginations to situations in which their existence seems as helpless and as short-lived as that of ravens and lilies . . . Jesus authoritatively assures his ‘little-faith’ disciples of God’s gracious care for them. To his struggling, opposed, and small group of disciples Jesus promises what is all-important, the kingdom, the powers of which are operative in it.”[8]
It's easy for someone to say, “Don’t worry. Be happy.” But how to we actually do that? Matthew Henry lays out some very practical things that we can do to replace worry and greed with the stuff of real life and richness toward God. I have added some further good things as well.
We can be rich towards God in the following ways:
· rich in the account of God, whose accounting us rich makes us so (Rev. 2:9), [living in the reality when the world tells us we are less than we could or should be]
· rich in the things of God, [giving God praise, being thankful daily, accepting his provision, resting in his sufficiency]
· rich in faith (James 2:5), [growing deeper in our faith through Bible study, prayer and the fellowship of believers.
· rich in good works, [planning to and giving time and money as we are able]
· in the fruits of righteousness (1 Timothy 6:18), [doing all the good when can when we can]
· rich in graces, [being compassionate and kind, exhibiting the ways and spirit of Jesus Christ]
· comforts, [accepting God’s comforts, whether small or large, momentary or ongoing]
· and spiritual gifts. [using the spiritual gifts given to every believer to enhance and edify the church and to reach out to those in need]
The New Jerome Biblical Commentary makes this much more simple.
“Find the meaning in life by acknowledging God and giving alms to the needy.” [9]
We can be so grateful that our Savior Jesus Christ was not distracted by questions of inheritance on this earth and was dedicated to teaching us what real life is all about. In his small and potent parables, he continues to warn us, teach us and console us so that the Kingdom life is what we focus on and need.
May this new year be filled with the right priorities, the love of God and the love of those around us and in the world.
Amen
© M.R.Hyde 2024
[1] Illustrated Bible Life – Winter 2024, Digital Version, Thomas E. Philips, The Foundry Publishing, Kansas City, MO, 2023.
[2] Unabridged Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Osnova digital version.
[3] The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Moody Press, Chicago, IL, 1990, p. 1050.
[4] Illustrated Bible Life – Winter 2024.
[5] Ibid.
[6] The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Craig S. Keener, Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL, 1993, p. 224.
[7] Illustrated Bible Life – Winter 2024.
[8] The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1990, p. 704.
[9] Ibid.
