What the Bible says about Wealth, Lesson 7

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZrvO9mEwAU

What the Bible says about Wealth

Lesson 7

(the words of Jesus)

Text: Luke 6:20-25 “And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. 24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.”

Intro: This lesson we begin to look at the direct words and teaching of Jesus. In our last study, we looked at the parables, and we extracted some thoughts form those, but in this lesson, it is more of a direct look at what Jesus said.

The Teachings of Jesus,
1. The Sermon on the Mount, (Matthew 5-7 & Luke 6)
  1. Early in the Ministry of Jesus,
    1. it is thought that this series of teachings was given fairly early in the ministry of Jesus.
      - Most often when one is referring to them, they will use the Gospel of Matthew.
        
        It tends to given a more detailed, both in Luke and Matthew these verses are considered the beatitudes.
        
        Beatitude- comes from the Latin meaning the supreme blessings
    2. And as we look at these in particular, it is what some scholars have called “The Great Reversal” of the Ministry of Jesus.
      - During the 400 years of silence in the bible, was the rise of the Roman empire, but before them, were the Hasmonean Dynasty.
        
        And it come down to two brothers, one very orthodox-ed in his beliefs and one very Hellenistic in his.
        
        These two gave rise to the Pharisees and the Sadducee.
        
        Both of these parties put emphasis on people of high stature.
        
        Favoring the wealthy over the poor. And this was in contrast to the teaching of Jesus.
      - Jesus came on the scene teaching and preaching preparation for the kingdom rather than preparing for this world.
        
        As He reads form Isaiah 61
        
        Luke 4:18&19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”
    3. In this lesson there are two important lessons to highlight,
  2. Two Lessons here,
    1. First, the poor will be provided for as they seek God
    2. Second, the wealthy must be careful not to delight and trust in their wealth rather than God.
      - It is not poverty that makes one blessed, rather the dependence on God
      - likewise it is not wealth that makes one a reproach, but the dependence and trust in that wealth.
        
        Riches are unrighteous only if they are unrighteously obtained and used, which is a common occurrence in a fallen world.
2. The rich Young Ruler, (Luke 18:18-30 “And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. 20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. 21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. 22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. 24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? 27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. 28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. 29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, 30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.)”
  1. How Can One Be Saved?
    1. Let’s not forget the question here:
      - vs.18 “what shall I do to inherit eternal life”
      - Jesus points out the law, keep in mind the purpose of the law was to bring one to Christ.
        
        And the young man said I have kept the law,
        
        it is worth noting here that this man felt he had kept the law, yet he knew there was something missing. Otherwise he had no need of asking Jesus the how of to receive eternal life.
        
        Jesus tells him there is still one thing…
    2. OK, what is that one thing?
      - Surly we don’t think that selling all we own is a way to be saved do we?
      - In fact, the words of Jesus suggest on the surface that there are 4 things needed,
        
        1- sell all you own,
        
        2- give the proceeds to the poor,
        
        3- come to Jesus
        
        4- follow after Him.
        
        And tho, I can spiritualize #3&4, I see 1&2 and there must be something else.
        
        And actually, this is all tatted on to the end of keeping the law,
    3. So what is the point and purpose:
      - simply put, this is a picture of complete submission to Jesus.
        
        The wealth of the young man was an idol, and Jesus was telling him to turn from the idols, stop trusting in them and turn to Jesus and trust in Him.
  2. The Resonance,
    1. First, he was sorrowful, vs.23 says he was, and vs.24 says Jesus saw that he was.
      - Being sorry is not repentance. Repentance is what we just said, turning from the old ways into the new.
    2. Second, vs.24 “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
      - Lets view the word riches here as wealth, and look at it in the context of the verses.
        
        The wealth was what the man was trusting in, and when someone trust in something, other than God, they find it hard to let go of, and trust in God.
        
        And the concept of wealth here can mean millions, or barely getting by.
        
        If we trust in that over Christ.
    3. In order to clarify this, Jesus qualifies it by saying:
  3. “For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God”
    1. What did the original hearers hear?
      - There are a few translations of this, however I think it is wise to state from the onset, they all are to show an absurdity, such as when Jesus stated that they would strain a gnat, and swallow a camel. No one actually thought someone would swallow a camel.
        
        First, the Jewish traditions (Talmud) refereed to something as being unlikely as a elephant going through the eye of a needle, and yes it is referring to a sewing needle.
        
        Second, in the Midrash, it states that if you will open to me your door as big as a needles eye, I will make a hole big enough for camels to come through.
        
        Third, the camel gate, the first references to this can be traced back to the 9^th century, yet there is no evidence that it is true. But the idea was that of a gate where travelers could enter the city at night, but they would have to unpack their camels to crawl in this small opening. Thus, the willingness to lay down the goods.
      - What all these represent is something that is seemingly impossible
    2. But Jesus follows it up with: “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God”
      - which is His response when they say, then who can be saved… With God, anyone can.
  4. What Was Given Up,
    1. vs28-30 “Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. 29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, 30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting”
      - Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
      - notice the trade off is worth it, it is not necessary wealth as this world defines wealth, but the blessings of God.
        
        Both in this world, as well as the world to come.
    2. This is the concept of putting our treasures where they can not be affected by this world.