The New Testament BIBLE STORY #17

 The New Testament BIBLE STORY #17

Especially written for children

Chapter Twenty-five:

More Important Teachings

THE FOOLISH RICH MAN

     One from the multitude of people around Jesus one day asked,

"Teacher, I would like you to tell my brother to divide the

inheritance with me."

     "I have come to teach and preach the Kingdom of God, not to

be a lawyer or judge of such matter between you and your

brother," replied Jesus.

     He could see there was more behind this question than what

most standing there could perceive. Jesus could see the man's

heart and intent of wanting more physical wealth and goods. 

So He went on to say:

     "You need to take heed and beware of COVETOUSNESS; 

for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of how many

possessions he has. Let me tell you about a rich man who brought

forth plentiful in his daily work and business transaction. He

thought within himself, 'What am I going to do, for I have no

more space to store all my crops and physical goods? Ah, I know

what I'll do, I will pull down my old barns and build larger

ones, and in them I will store all my grains and goods. And I

will further say to my soul, life, you have ample goods laid up

is storage for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink, be

merry, have a blast.' But God said to him, 'Foolish man! This

night your life is required, you will die, and all the things you

have set your mind upon and coveted in your heart, to lay up for

yourself, now who will they belong to?' So is he who lays up

treasure for himself, and is NOT RICH TOWARDS God" 

(Luke 12: 13-21).

     We have seen, and the word of God teaches with many

examples, such as Abraham, Solomon, King David, and Job, 

among others, that it is not wrong to have physical wealth. It is 

wrong when your mind and the way you live is all wrapped up in 

your material possessions and the money you have in the bank, 

to the point where you have no time for God, and giving to others. 

With physical wealth comes great responsibility. If you are blessed

with such wealth you need to use it to do God's service, to do

His work, which yes, includes spreading the Gospel so others can

be saved into God's family, but it also includes helping those in

need, giving to charities, helping the genuine poor and needy.

     I may have mentioned the man in Vancouver, B.C. who some

years sold his land and found himself with 20 million dollars. He

was elderly, had done well in business, and he and his wife and

children (all now grown and doing well physically for themselves)

were living comfortably. He said he did not need 95 per cent of

the 20 million dollars, and so was having a ball, getting high we

might say, in giving it all away to needy individuals and charities.

     This is what Jesus was getting at, not setting your heart on

more and more physical goods and possessions and money, but if

having it all in abundance, to use it to do good for God's work

and to help the poor and those good organizations we today

call "charities."

     We shall come later to where Jesus clearly shows us His

concern for the legitimate "poor" and needy of the land, in what

he tells a young rich man to do with his great wealth, because it

was a stumbling block to him in being in the Kingdom of God.

TRUST IN GOD AND THE LITTLE FLOCK

     This was the time and opportunity to once more reiterate

what He had said in his sermon on the mount. People needed to 

NOT be anxious and overly worried, and all consumed with the 

material things of life. They needed to seek God's Kingdom first 

and then know with confidence that God would provide all the

necessities of this life. They needed to have FAITH!

     He did add one important thing this time, concerning the

SIZE of His church, the number of members that would be His

flock. He said, "Fear not LITTLE flock, for it is your Father's

good pleasure to give you the Kingdom."

     The Greek for "little flock" is a DOUBLE diminutive, and in

English we would say something like, "Fear not VERY LITTLE flock"

or "Fear not LITTLE LITTLE flock." The true church of Christ, the

church of God, would never be the large in number "Christian"

church among those who use the name "Christian." It would always

be relatively very small, just the very little flock.

     Then to them, the little flock, Jesus finished this teaching

of His, by saying, "So sell your possessions, and give away much

of what you have, if you have great material goods; provide for

yourselves purses that do not grow old, with treasures in heaven

that do not fail you, where no thief can break in and steal from

you, and moths cannot eat and destroy. For where your treasure

is, there will your HEART be also" (Luke 12: 22-34).

     Jesus was saying that we need to prioritize our priorities.

If you have an abundance of physical wealth make sure you use it

in a godly way.

PARABLE OF THE WATCHFUL SERVANT

     Jesus knew something that they then did not know, and we

today still do not know. They and us do not know when exactly 

the Lord will return from heaven to establish the Kingdom of God 

on earth. They then, and us today, do not know when it is our last

day in this physical life. We hear and see the news each day of

people who went to do their daily work one day, as the day before

(think of those who were in the two trade buildings in New York

on September the 11th 2001), and did not know it was going to be

their last day to live for them in this life time. This parable

is very important for everyone in all ages. Jesus said:

     "Let your clothes be on and your lamps be burning, and be

like people who are waiting for their master to come home from

the marriage feast, so they may open the door for him when he

comes and knocks. Blessed indeed are those servants who are

awake and alert when their master comes. Truly, he will be so

pleased that he will put on the servants uniform and have them

sit at the table and he will serve them the meal. If he comes in

the second watch or in the third (anywhere from 9 p.m. to 3 a. m.

- Keith Hunt), and finds them so watching for him, they are

blessed indeed.

     Now this, that if the house-owner had known the hour that

the thief was coming, he would have been awake and ready, so his

house would not have been broken into. You also must be READY;

for I tell you, the Son of man is coming again at an hour and

time you least expect Him to come."

     "Lord," said Peter, "are you telling this parable to just us

or to all people?"

     Jesus answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise servant,

whom his master will set over his household goods, to give his

family their portion of food at the correct time? Blessed is that

servant who is doing their work when their master comes. Truly 

I tell you, he will give even more responsibilities to that servant

in handling his possessions. But, if that servant says within his

heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to

beat the men servants and maid servants under him, and to eat 

and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on 

a day when he least expects him to come, and in an hour that he is

not looking for him to come, and will punish him and put him with

the unfaithful. 

     And that servant who KNEW his master's will, but did not

make himself ready nor did according to his will, shall receive a

SEVERE punishment. But he who did NOT know, and did what 

deserved a punishment, shall receive a lighter punishment. 

     Every one to whom MUCH is given, of him will much be

required; and to the person to whom people give more

responsibilities they will demand the more in fulfilling

those responsibilities" (Luke 12: 35-48).

     If God has given us knowledge of Himself, His plan of

salvation, the understanding of His basic truths, then we are 

to use them wisely and carefully. We are to appreciate them, to 

keep them, to do His will in our lives all the time. We are not 

to slack off, get complacent, or fall into wrong ideas of theology,

such as thinking we or others, know the year (or even the day as

some have proclaimed in just about every age over the last

2,000 years)  of Christ's return. We are not to give up because

we think Jesus is delaying His coming again, and so delude

ourselves into thinking we can, eat, drink, be merry, or

as the saying goes, have our, "wine, women, and song." We are 

to always be vigilant, watchful, careful, doing our Master's will,

and be ready for His coming, for His coming is as soon as our

last day of life on this earth, and most of us never know when

exactly that day may come.

INTERPRETING THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES

     Jesus again talked about the fact that He had not come this

time to bring peace on earth, but that people in household

families would be divided over Him, and some would despise 

others who followed Him. He talked again about being able to 

interpret the signs of the sky, when it was going to rain etc. but 

that they could not decern the present time which proved the Messiah

was among them. He talked about how they should judge what was

correct and if they were in the wrong they better settle out of

court with their adversary, unless they find themselves in much

deeper trouble with the courts (Luke 12: 49-59).

REPENTANCE IS A KEY TO SALVATION

     There were some present who asked Him about the individuals

that Pilate (It might be interesting to know a few things about

Pilate. He was not a Roman by nationality, but by citizenship. 

He was born a Spaniard and educated in Spain as far as the schools

of that country could take him. Then he went to Britain to study

in the universities of that country under the administration of

the Druids. It was Pilates ambition to become a Roman lawyer 

and the future governor of Palestine. He studied long enough in

Britain to achieve not only his ambition but to absorb the

Druidic philosophy rather than the Greek and Roman. Vide Pilate's

question to our Lord as they were walking out the Praetorium,

"What is Truth?" This was the question which the Druids were ever

accustomed to debate) had killed while they were sacrificing and

mingled their blood with that of the blood of the sacrifices.

They were wanting to know if they were "great" sinners because

this happened to them. The Roman Government usually left the 

Jews alone to worship in freedom. We are not told why Pilate in 

this case had them killed.

     Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were

worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered so?

I tell you, NO; but unless you REPENT you will all likewise

PERISH. Or, those eighteen upon whom the tower of Siloam 

fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders 

and sinners than all others who dwelt in Jerusalem and/or worked 

on constructing buildings? I tell you, NO; but unless you REPENT 

you will likewise PERISH!"

     And He told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in

his vineyard; and he came one day seeking fruit on it and found

none. So he said to his gardener, 'I have come these last three

years seeking fruit from this fig tree, and I have found none. 

I want you to cut it down; why should it use up good valuable

ground?' And he answered him,'I think you should leave it stand,

sir, till I dig around it and put on manure. And if it bears fruit next 

year, well and good; but if not, then I shall cut it down' " 

(Luke 13: 1-9).

     Jesus was in all this explanation talking about having life

eternal, or being cut down, destroyed, perishing, and never

gaining eternal life. There are few things to note. One, is that

God is willing to be patient with people to a point. He will work

with them, trying to nurture them and bring them along to what 

is require for His grace and love, but there comes a day when if no

fruit is produced by the individual, He will have no choice but

to let them perish. We also note, that REPENTANCE is an absolute

requirement if you are going to live forever and not perish. And

we also note, that just because some people die in terrible

natural calamities and even by the hands of other human beings,

does not mean they are sinners above other people, and that God

is handing out severe punishment upon them.

     The MAIN point Jesus was wanting to get across was for

people to think about sin in relation to salvation, not so much

about trying to tie horrible events in an individuals physical

life to sin. As the subject was to do with "sin" He was pointing

out that people have to REPENT or they will one day perish 

fully and for ever, never to live again.

HEALING ON THE SABBATH MEETS WITH CRITICISM

     It was a Sabbath day and Jesus was teaching in one of the

synagogues, and there was present a woman who had an infirmity

for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten

herself. When Jesus saw her He called her to come to Him and 

said to her, "Lady, you are freed from your infirmity." He laid hands

on her and she was immediately healed and stood up straight. With

joyous and uplifted voice she praised God. 

     But the ruler of the synagogue (they were usually Pharisees)

became very indignant because Jesus had done this healing on 

the Sabbath day. He turned and said to the people assembled there,

"There are six days on which work ought to be done; be healed on

those days, but not on the Sabbath day."

     The Lord Jesus answered him, "You HYPOCRITES! Does not 

each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his horse from the manger,

and lead it away to water it? So should not this woman, a daughter 

of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from 

this bond on the Sabbath day?"

     When Jesus put it to them this way, all His adversaries got

red in the face and were put to shame. The general people

rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by Him 

(Luke 13: 10-17).

ARE ONLY FEW SAVED ?

     Jesus and His disciples still had not yet arrived in

Jerusalem. They were passing through many towns and villages. 

An individual came to him and asked, "Lord, will those who are 

saved by few in number?"

     And He said, "You must strive to enter by the NARROW door,

for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

When once the householder had risen up and closed the door, 

you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying,

'Lord. open to us.' He will answer you, 'I do not know where you

come from.' Then they will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in

your presence, and you taught in our streets.' But he will say,

'I tell you, I do not know where you come from, you are strangers

to me, depart from me, all you workers of lawlessness!'  I tell

you, you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abraham,

and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of

God and you yourselves cast out. And men will come from the 

east and west, and from the north and south, and sit in fellowship

together in the Kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who

will be first, and some first who will be last" (Luke 13: 22-30).

     Some of the words of Jesus are VERY SOBERING! Some of 

His words are pretty PLAIN also. When Jesus comes again in glory,

when the resurrection takes place, when Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,

are raised to life in that resurrection, when the prophets are

raised, and many others from the four quarters of the earth,

there will be many who thought they were "Christians" - who

thought they knew Jesus, thought they ate and drank with Him,

were "church" going people, and took it for granted they would 

be with Jesus in His Kingdom. But they will not be in that first

resurrection at His coming again. And the reason as to the WHY,

Jesus gives.....they were workers of lawlessness!  Lawlessness is

the breaking of God's holy and righteous commandments, the 

Ten Commandments being the basic foundation.

     Many people will not be in that first resurrection who

thought they would be. They will have to wait for the general

white throne judgment resurrection, at the end of the 1,000 year

reign of Christ on earth, that we have talked about in past

chapters of this Gospel story.

     Some near the end of this age, shortly before Jesus comes,

will be converted, will acknowledge sin, will repent, will turn

from lawlessness to walk in righteousness, and be in the first

resurrection, be in the Kingdom of God. They will be some of 

the very last ones to find true repentance and conversion since 

the time of Adam and Eve. So, it will be as Jesus said, the first

(long time ago could have found the true way of God and

followed it) will be some of the very last to enter the Kingdom,

while some of the last of this age will find true repentance and

enter the Kingdom first (Rev. 7), at the time of Christ's coming

again.

     Then again, some of those first to have salvation offered to

them, who even thought they had it in their pocket so to speak,

but who would not turn fully from lawlessness (think about the

4th commandment, and how many Christians really observe and 

obey it), will not even be in the Kingdom period! They will be

weeping and gnashing their teeth. There will be many "Christians"

when Jesus returns who will be standing in their flesh, thinking

they should be changed from mortal to immortal (1 Cor.15),

thinking they should rise to meet the Lord in the clouds and be

with Him (1 Thes. 4) and THEY WILL NOT!  They will be outside

looking in. There will indeed be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

     We need to be sure we are not among that crowd. We need to

be DOING the law, and not be lawless.

JESUS' ANSWER TO HEROD AND HIS WEEPING 

OVER JERUSALEM

     At that moment when Jesus was just finishing answering the

question about many or few being saved, some friendlier Pharisees

came running up to Him saying, "Get away from here, for Herod

wants to kill you." 

     The word Herod was actually the surname of a family, from

the great and famous "Herod the Great" (37 B.C. to 4 B.C.) There

were a number of male descendants from this "great Herod."  This

one here that the Pharisees were talking about was Herod Antipas

(A.D. 6 to A.D. 39). He ended up (because his father determined

it be so) only being governor over the region of Galilee and Perea, 

which embraced one fourth of the original territory he would have 

liked to have had kingship rule over. It was this Herod that John 

the Baptist denounced for marrying his brother Philip's wife.  

His rule over the territory he did govern was marked with cunning 

and crime. He was, history tells us, intensely selfish and utterly 

destitute of principles.

     This Herod Antipas wanted to see Jesus dead, but Jesus told

the Pharisees to "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons 

and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish 

my course. Nevertheless I must go on my way today and

tomorrow and the next day following; for it cannot be that a

prophet should perish away from the city of Jerusalem.' "

     Jesus was talking in proverbial language to Herod Antipas.

He was in plain language saying,  "Look, you fox, you cannot 

do anything against me today, or tomorrow or any day, until I've

done the work God wants me to do. And even then I could not die

outside of Jerusalem, for so it is ordained, and there is nothing

you can do about it!" 

     As Jesus was thinking about the city of Jerusalem as the

only place where He could be put to death, the city itself came

before His mind, and its history of being a city where many of

God's prophets were killed. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, guilty of

killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! 

How I would have gathered your children together as a hen gathers 

her brood under her wings, and you would not let me do it! You

refused me! So, behold, your house is forsaken! And I tell you,

you will not see me until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in

the name of the Lord!' " (Luke 13: 31-35).

     It was to be yet a while before Jesus would enter the city

of Jerusalem. He was making His way there, but He would not

arrive for sometime. When He did the people would be greeting 

Him with "Hosanna to the son of David, blessed be he who comes 

in the name of the Lord." This we shall see when we get to that 

part of our story.

              ................................

Written November 2002