Luke 16
The first story makes no sense until it is explained. The explanation echoes the story of the rich man who was disappointed when Jesus told him to sell all he had (Mark 10). However here it is expanded. "You cannot serve both God and money." (verse 13, NIV) and "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight." (verse 15, NIV).
Jesus then goes on to tell the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. This is one of the few times Jesus talks about how to get into Heaven. Another is the parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25).
The Rich Man's sin was to not care for the beggar Lazarus at his gate. He knew Lazarus was there, and even knew his name. The Rich Man's sin was worshipping his wealth before God.
All Lazarus had to do to get into Heaven, was the secular sin of being poor.
Who / what do we worship? God, or one of the world's many attractions? How would God answer that question for us?
Luke 16
I still find the first parable hard to understand... unless the master was praising the steward for being cunning? Still doesn't make much sense to me.
But, yes, the theme here is "you got your reward on earth with earthly things, don't expect a reward in heaven - you already got your reward". Rewarded with what you value most: earthly things, or heavenly things.
Parable of the rich man and Lazarus - "surely they will listen, if someone rises from the dead?"
"If they did not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not listen even if someone rises from the dead." (foreshadowing, yes)
When the Pharisees demanded of Jesus a sign, he said "no sign shall be given but the sign of the prophet Jonah" -- whereas when the disciples of John the Baptist came to him, he said "the lame walk, the blind see, the sick are healed" -- in other words, he pointed out the signs which had already been given, because *they* were willing to listen, while the Pharisees were not.
Those who are determined not to believe, will not believe even if they witness things with their own eyes - they would rather declare themselves to be hallucinating, than to believe.
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DaveB
Kerr Avonsen (she/her)