Message Notes

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 16 AUGUST 2020

Text: Luke 16

Subject: Money Matters II

THE PARABLE OF THE UNJUST STEWARD
(Luke 16:1-13)

1. This was not well-received by the Pharisees

2. A brief description of them and their response:

a) They were lovers of money

b) They derided the Lord Jesus

i) They disagreed with Him

ii) They mocked Him

iii) They ridiculed Him

THE RESPONSE OF THE LORD JESUS TO THE PHARISEES
(Luke 16:15)

1. Justification before God

a) To be imputed with righteousness

b) To be made righteous

c) To live righteously

2. Justification before men

a) They were not concerned about justification from God

b) They were only concerned about justifying themselves before men

i) They wanted to appear righteous

ii) Even if they were not righteous

3. God’s omniscience

a) God knew their hearts

b) They may fake righteousness before men

c) But not before God

4. Two different perspectives

a) Man’s perspective

i) Money is highly esteemed 

ii) Money is loved for its own sake

b) God’s perspective

i) Money is not esteemed at all

ii) It is an abomination in the sight of God if it is worshiped as Mammon

A BRIEF TEACHING ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
(Luke 16:16-18)

1. The Law and the Prophets

a) The Law came first

i) God instructed Moses

ii) He then taught “The Law” to the children of Israel

b) The Prophets

i) God sent them to instruct Israel

ii) They sought to bring special messages from God

iii) They sought to bring backsliding Israel back to the Lord

2. The preaching about the kingdom of heaven

a) This was an important turning point 

b) The focus was the Kingdom of heaven

c) John was preparing the way for the Messiah (Mark 1:2)

3. People were pressing to enter into the kingdom of heaven

a) There were people who recognized their sinfulness

b) They repented and were baptised

c) They learned more about the kingdom of heaven from the Lord Jesus

d) There were some who became believers and they entered His Kingdom

4. There were those who were outside the kingdom of heaven

a) They were lovers of money

b) They sought justification from men

c) They abused the Law for their own purposes

i) They used the law to sue for divorce

ii) They did not show a proper regard for the Law

d) It was hard for these to enter into the kingdom of heaven

THE WORD OF GOD

1. The word of God would never fail

a) Whether it is the law

b) The preaching of the prophets

c) The proclamation of John the Baptiser

2. There must be proper regard for the word of God

a) For the teachings of the Lord Jesus in this context

b) They may deride the Lord Jesus, but at the peril of their lives

c) They may justify themselves before men but the final judgment would come from God 

THE PARABLE OF LAZARUS AND THE RICH MAN
(Luke 16:20-31)

1. Features of the Parable

a) A rich man

b) His lifestyle

i) He was clothed in purple

ii) He wore fine linen

iii) He ate sumptuously every day

c) A beggar called Lazarus

i) He was destitute

ii) He had to beg for a living

iii) He was covered with sores

iv) He was outside the gates of the rich man’s house

v) He looked forward to the crumbs that may fall off the table

vi) His “friends” were the dogs that licked his sores

d) Death came

i) To Lazarus

ii) To the rich man

e) The final state of Lazarus

i) The angels carried him to Abraham’s bosom

ii) He was in the kingdom of heaven

f) The final state of the rich man

i) He was in Hades

ii) He lifted up his eyes and saw Lazarus with Abraham

g) The plea of the rich man

i) He was tormented by fire

ii) He was terribly thirsty

iii) He asked for a drop of water

h) The reply of Abraham concerning the past

i) The rich man

He had everything good

ii) Lazarus

He only had evil things

i) Heaven or Hades

i) The final destination was not given consideration

ii) Lazarus was in the kingdom of God

iii) The rich man was in Hades

j) The Gulf between Heaven and Hades

i) There is a huge gulf

ii) There is no passage way

k) Another plea of the rich man

i) Send Lazarus to his five brothers

ii) They must be warned or they might end up in Hades too

l) Abraham’s reply

i) They have Moses (The Law)

ii) They also have the Prophets

iii) They have to do their part in reading the Scriptures

iv) They must give heed to them

m) The rich’s man further argument

i) He knew that his five brothers would not read the Scriptures

ii) They might repent if Lazarus went to them

n) Abraham’s final word

i) His reasoning was wrong

ii) If they would not heed the teachings of Moses

iii) If they would not heed the prophets

iv) They would not heed Lazarus even if he were to be sent to speak to them

CONCLUSION

1. The danger of loving money is highlighted (1 Timothy 6:10)

2. The love for Wealth

a) It blinds our sight concerning the kingdom of heaven

b) It hardens the heart so that it does not care for people

c) The ears become deaf to God speaking:

i) Through the Law

ii) Through the prophets

iii) Through special servants like John the Baptiser

iv) Through the Lord Jesus Christ

3. The consequences

They are deadly and they are irreversible!