* "The Rich Fool" was made possible by "The Artsy Bible Study".
>1. What event motivated Jesus to tell this parable?
* Luke 12:13 "Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
* "divide the inheritance" -Deuteronomy 21:17 gave the general rule that an elder son received double a younger one's portion. Disputes over such matters were normally settled by rabbis. This man's request of Jesus was selfish and materialistic. There is no indication that they man had been listening seriously to what Jesus had bee saying in verses 1-11. Jesus replied with a parable about the consequences of greed.
* Luke is the only one to record this event.
Luke records many events unique to his gospel, starting in Luke 9:51 (or 10:1) till Luke 18:14 (i.e., the sending of the seventy-two in 10:1-23, a unique visit to Martha and Mary's house in 10:38-42, ten healed of leprosy in 17:11-19). Much in these eight plus chapters are parables unique to Luke's gospel. (See a chart comparing Jesus' parables by using the link above.)
Luke 18:15, Matthew 19:13, and Mark 10:13 record the same event, people bringing little children to Jesus.
The events only recorded in Luke's mid-chapters seems to document events that happened during Jesus' trip to Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication (winter) as John 10:22 records, and his last trip just before Jesus was crucified during the Feast of Passover (spring). If these facts are true than its possible that Luke 13:22 and 31 documents the start of Jesus' final trip to Jerusalem. (See chart.) He stopped in every town on this last journey to Jerusalem (14:25, 17:11, 18:31).
Listen to the above comments on Luke 12:13.
>Why did Jesus refuse to be involved in the fight of this family over property?
* Luke 12:14 "Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"
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>As Christians, what lessons can we learn from verses 13-15?
* Luke 12:15 "Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
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* The Lord has graciously allowed me to see people in many parts of the world. Several years ago on a short mission trip, he sent me to one of the poorest nations in the world. where most of the people were friendly, happy, and satisfied. Upon my return, I traveled through many of the richest nations in the world where people were hostile, depressed, and wanting more. A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. (15)
John the Baptist said concerning greed, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?"
"Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them.
Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?"
He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay." (Luke 3:11-14)
Apostle Paul wrote, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:12-13)
Considering some who taught false doctrines that included "Godliness is a means to financial gain," the Apostle Paul wrote, "Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:6-10)
Live and rejoice in God at the moment and be thankful for what he supplies today. Worrying about tomorrow is like smoke in the wind. "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6)
Listen to the above comments on Luke 12:13-15.
>2. What happy problem did the rich man in the parable have?
* Luke 12:16-17 "And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'"
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>How did he decide to solve the problem?
* Luke 12:18-19 "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."'
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>3. What was his belief about life security?
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* Investing involves time. Both long-term and short-term investments must be considered. Short-term investments should not endanger long-term investments.
Investing does not only involve finances. One must also invest in the body, mind, and emotions. Physical planning determines what, when, and how much I eat and includes proper physical exercise. Mental investing demarcates what, when, and how much I allow my senses to feed my mind and includes proper mental exercise. Emotional investing delimitates what, when, and how much I control and exercise emotions. These four; financial, body, mind, and emotions are short-term investments.
Jesus's parable reveals a fifth investment, the premiere investment. This investment is in God and his kingdom. This is the only long-term investment. The rich man in the parable gave the short-term investments his undue attention while ignoring the long-term investment of God and his kingdom. Jesus taught his disciples, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal... But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:19, 33)
Listen to the above comments on Luke 12:16-21.
>Why was he a fool?
* Luke 12:20 "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'"
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>4. Why can't material things solve ones life security problem?
* Luke 12:21 "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
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>What is real life security?
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II. Do Not Worry (22-34)
>5. What basic things do most people including disciples worry about?
* Luke 12:22 "Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear."
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>In what respect are these things necessary to physical life?
* "about your life, what you will eat"
* "about your body, what you will wear"
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* "Jesus Preaching to the Multitude" is by Dore. It is in Bibles and is now in public domain.
>6. What does Jesus mean when he says that life is more important that food and the body more important than clothes?
* Luke 12:23 "Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes."
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>7. What is the example of the ravens?
* Luke 12:24 "Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!"
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>What should we learn from them?
* Luke 12:25-26 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?"
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>What is accomplished by worrying?
* Worry, mentioned four times in this passage is the universal menace subject of this passage. Worry can affect all; no matter being rich, poor, or of moderate income. A sociable elite and a society outcast will worry about an unfathomable future. Living on the north and south poles, on the equator, and anywhere in between will not stave someone from worry. Worry is in the fabric that binds our bones. We could fall to pieces at any moment.
Jesus prescribes the only salve to worry. He does not merely command, "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear." Nor does he not merely give the reason not to worry, "Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes." Nor does Jesus stop at giving me the illustrations of the worry-free raven and the lilies of the field. No, Jesus does not stop here.
Jesus points to the problem and solves it. The medical ointment to worry is faith. "O you of little faith!" (28) The faith that Jesus prescribes is faith in God's love. "How much more valuable you are than these!" (24) "Your heavenly Father knows..." (30) God love me. Believe it. Live it. Set my mind, will, and emotions on God and his kingdom. (31) Get my faith priorities right. Then my bones will be free of worry.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 12:22-31.
>8. What lesson does Jesus teach from the lilies?
* Luke 12:27 "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these."
* "Consider how the lilies grow."
* "They do not labor or spin"
* "Solomon"
* "in all his splendor was dressed like one of these."
* "If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire," -not eternal like the human soul and spirit.
* "how much more will he clothe you," -The human soul and spirit are eternal, meant to be in the presence of God.
>What is the basic cause of worrying? (28b)
* Luke 12:28 "If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!"
* "O you of little faith"
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>9. What must God's children seek in contrast to the pagan world?
* Luke 12:29 "And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it."
* "And do not set your heart"
* "n what you will eat or drink"
* "do not worry about it." -Worry can occupy the soul which drives a person's life direction.
>What assurance does Jesus give disciples? (30-31)
* Luke 12:30-31 "For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well."
* "For the pagan world runs after all such things"
* "your Father knows that you need them."
* Jesus tells me to seek first the kingdom of his Father (aka the Kingdom of Heaven). Jesus has mentioned the kingdom of God at least thirteen times before (4:43, 6:20, 7:28, 8:1, 10, 9:2, 11, 27, 62, etc.). The kingdom of God is mentioned over 1,300 times in the Bible.
Many of Jesus' parables concern the Kingdom of God, especially in the coming chapters. Jesus stated that he "preached the good news of the Kingdom of God" from town to town. (Luke 4:43, 8:1, 9:11) Jesus sent out his disciples to preach about the Kingdom of God. (Luke 9:1) Jesus often told people, "The Kingdom of God is near you," or at least something similar. (Matt. 12:28, Mark 1:15, Mark 12:34, Luke 10:9, 11, 20) When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, the second subject (after honoring God our Father) he told them to pray for was The Kingdom of God's coming. "Thy kingdom come," he taught his disciples to pray, "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
The question is often raised, or at least should be raised; what is Jesus asking us to seek when he said, ".seek his kingdom"? What was Jesus referring to when he spoke of the Kingdom of God? Is it a real place? Is it in this world? Is it the church (congregation)? Is it in heaven or is it heaven itself? Is it something yet to come? Is it some mystical realm in another dimension? Will it be on the moon or some other planet in a galaxy far away? Is it the same as the Kingdom of Heaven? Sadly most today including many modern Christians have either no idea or the wrong idea of the Kingdom of God because most, including modern believers, seldom take time to think about the Kingdom of God let alone talk about it and study what the Bible has to say about it.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 12:31 (#1).
* Rebuking worry Jesus said, "But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
The Kingdom of God is where King Jesus rules completely and unquestionably. (John 14:15-24) The bride of the Kingdom of God thinks about him, loves him, and lives to enjoy him and fulfill his will. Luke 17:20-21 records, "Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The Kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the Kingdom of God is within you." Jesus transfers people from being subjects of the worldly kingdom to subjects of God's kingdom. The transformation starts in the heart, mind, and will continue until one's whole being is changed. (Rom. 12:2) Paul calls it circumcision of the heart. (Rom. 2:29) Colossians 1:13-14 states, "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Mark 10:13-15 states, "People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." The Kingdom of God is where Jesus rules the humble repentant heart.
People who are subjects to this world's kingdoms have their minds and hearts set on this world. They do all they can to build up a stockpile of goods for themselves. A famous bumper sticker reads, "The one with the most toys wins." After Jesus told the parables concerning the Kingdom of God (seeds parable), he finished with, "The secret of the Kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'" (Mark 4:11-12) A person whose heart is set on this world will not be given the secrets of Jesus' kingdom. If a heart willingly is transformed, Jesus will reveal his truths to it.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 12:31 (#2).
>10. What is the most precious gift from the Father?
* Luke 12:32-34 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
* Jesus will start his final long journey to Jerusalem after teaching this series (13:22, 31, 14:25, 17:11). While walking from town to town, he will seek to focus his disciples' attention on his death, resurrection, and ascension and on what they are to do when he is gone.
These three verses concern his kingdom which the Father is pleased to give to them (32). Jesus tells his flock not to be afraid, for the kingdom is theirs. Jesus is speaking to believers, who already possess the kingdom. His command is to believers who should seek the spiritual benefits of the kingdom, rather than the riches of the world (33).
The treasure-full purses we are to pursue are heavenly and thus do not wear out and will never never be exhausted. Heavenly treasure which we acquire by faithful obedience now will never be stolen nor dropped through a hole in our purses because a moth eats through it.
Many faithful have often sacrificed worldly treasure in obedience to their King's call. They value his treasure more than the wealth of this world. They know and believe what Jesus offers is better than fine living.
The heavenly treasure is the approval of our heavenly Father, which is represented as wealth stored up in heaven, ready to be enjoyed hereafter. The earthly treasure is not only wealth (though that is its most striking exemplification), but everything lower than God Himself on which men set their hearts,-honor, fame, pleasure, ease, power, excitement, luxury, and animal enjoyment.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 12:32-34.
>How can we claim this gift and be rich toward God?
* "Do not be afraid"
* "Sell your possessions and give to the poor."
* "Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out"
