Eternal Perspective
Luke 16:19-31
The whole chapter 16 challenges us to keep an eternal perspective. The key theme of all the teaching is that the Law and prophets are no longer directly applicable because the Kingdom of God is here, now! But Jesus teaches that if you don’t understand the heart of the Law, you will not receive or commit to following Him.
So, throughout the chapter there are themes of generosity and love that are at the heart of the Law. We need to hear the patriarchs, Moses, and the prophets on generosity - and that is the point of the Lazarus story!
It is a parable and the key to interpreting parables is that they have one point. It is dangerous to try to use them as though they are direct teaching or have lots of detail to be interpreted.
It is a graphic and moving story, well told. So, it is tempting to read all the details as though they are all teaching points. But what this passage does NOT teach is what happens after death and what the Judgment is about!
There are other passages that give some teaching on those questions … and scripture is not as clear and as some people dogmatically assume. There are three alternative views of what happens at Judgment - all three were current in Jesus’ day and in the Early Church when theologians tried to interpret scripture. The three alternatives can be summed up in describing the fire of judgement as
Which view we take will depend on how we read the rest of scripture and how we view God.
The point for now is to focus on what the parable really does teach. What is the one key point?
Learn from Abraham and the Law and prophets how to live generously.
Abraham’s call was to be a blessing to all the nations - Genesis 12:3. The Law provided for the poor and the strangers or refugees - e.g., leaving part of the harvest for them to glean like Ruth did, or freeing slaves after seven years and the Jubilee every 50 years. The prophets frequently called God’s people to act with generosity - e.g., Isaiah 58.
It is shocking to some that Jesus talked so much about wealth. But how we handle what we receive and earn now has eternal significance. If you give freely now, “entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.”
Prayer for ourselves
Lord, work in our hearts so we live generously in all contexts.
Prayer for others
Who needs to share your resources today, whether resources of money, time, help or hospitality?
- Chris Horton
The whole chapter 16 challenges us to keep an eternal perspective. The key theme of all the teaching is that the Law and prophets are no longer directly applicable because the Kingdom of God is here, now! But Jesus teaches that if you don’t understand the heart of the Law, you will not receive or commit to following Him.
So, throughout the chapter there are themes of generosity and love that are at the heart of the Law. We need to hear the patriarchs, Moses, and the prophets on generosity - and that is the point of the Lazarus story!
It is a parable and the key to interpreting parables is that they have one point. It is dangerous to try to use them as though they are direct teaching or have lots of detail to be interpreted.
It is a graphic and moving story, well told. So, it is tempting to read all the details as though they are all teaching points. But what this passage does NOT teach is what happens after death and what the Judgment is about!
There are other passages that give some teaching on those questions … and scripture is not as clear and as some people dogmatically assume. There are three alternative views of what happens at Judgment - all three were current in Jesus’ day and in the Early Church when theologians tried to interpret scripture. The three alternatives can be summed up in describing the fire of judgement as
- consuming (those who reject God are burned up in a moment and the smoke is a memorial for ever)
- tormenting (those who reject God are continuously burning)
- purifying (all people will be reconciled with God in the end).
Which view we take will depend on how we read the rest of scripture and how we view God.
The point for now is to focus on what the parable really does teach. What is the one key point?
Learn from Abraham and the Law and prophets how to live generously.
Abraham’s call was to be a blessing to all the nations - Genesis 12:3. The Law provided for the poor and the strangers or refugees - e.g., leaving part of the harvest for them to glean like Ruth did, or freeing slaves after seven years and the Jubilee every 50 years. The prophets frequently called God’s people to act with generosity - e.g., Isaiah 58.
It is shocking to some that Jesus talked so much about wealth. But how we handle what we receive and earn now has eternal significance. If you give freely now, “entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.”
Prayer for ourselves
Lord, work in our hearts so we live generously in all contexts.
Prayer for others
Who needs to share your resources today, whether resources of money, time, help or hospitality?
- Chris Horton
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